//------------------------------// // Chapter 41: Noble Blood(loss) // Story: Chaotic Harmony // by shirotora //------------------------------// June 22, 1005, The sunlight stirred a headache like no other. I suddenly found myself wanting to punch Celestia. “Jynx?” I tried calling but it only came out as a whisper, “Jynx!?” “Shiro, you're awake!” called an excited voice, “You had me so worried.” I felt hooves around me, but couldn't lift my arms to return it. Why am I so weak? I asked myself. I opened my eyes to see my loving wife holding me. I asked weakly, “What's going on?” The memories of the fight came flooding back. “Midnight!” I said a little louder, “Is he OK? Did he get hurt?” “It's OK, Shiro.” Jynx said, “He's fine. He's playing with the crusaders. Twilight and Waya are watching him while you're in here.” “How did I get here?” I asked, “The last thing I remember was fighting, and a dragon, then I passed out.” “I carried you, master.” said a deep voice from the corner. “What the hell?” I looked in the direction of the voice. In the corner was a jet black stallion with a red mane and tail that was slicked back like it had grease in it. I had never seen a black pony, but the weirdest things were his eyes and teeth. His eyes were bright yellow and slitted while his teeth were almost as sharp as mine. “Who are you?” I asked. “My name is Jetaga, master.” answered the strange pony. “OK, Jetaga, why do you keep calling me master?” I asked. “Because you are my master.” he said, “I was put in stone to await the time my master pulls the Wind Bound Spear from my grasp. You are he that wields the spear and so you are my master.” “Wait, from your grasp?” I thought back to the dragon statue that came to life, “You're a dragony?” Jetaga cocked an eyebrow, “I'm not familiar with dragony. I am half dragon, half pony... ah I see. Dragon, pony... dragony. Is this what it means?” I nodded my head, “Then yes, I'm dragony. Is it so common that a word has been coined for it?” “Not common, but well known.” Jynx said, “We even have a dragony living in town, but she's trying to keep it a secret.” “What is the year?” Jetaga asked. “It's the year 1005.” Jynx said. “I've been imprisoned in stone for eight hundred years.” he said, “I thought it would be longer.” “Eight hundred years?” I whispered out, “And here I thought three months was bad. Speaking of days what's today?” “It's the 22nd. You missed all yesterday.” Jynx said, “But since Twilight used a healing spell on you and closed up your wounds, you can come home to recover from your blood loss. I know how much you hate hospitals.” “OK thanks.” I said and drifted back to sleep. Nearly bleeding to death really takes it outta ya. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- June 23, 1005, When I woke up again I was feeling a bit better, but still far from 100%. That black pony was sitting in the corner keeping watch over me. Wow, did all that really happen? I wondered about the first time I woke up. I was completely out of it. Jynx was sleeping in the bed next to me. I looked at the clock. “8:00 in the evening huh.” I said, “Hey um... Jet, Jetsomething?” “Jetaga, master.” said the black dragony, “Do you need assistance?” “Do you know when dinner's going to be served. I’m starving.” I asked. He said, “Breakfast should be served shortly.” “Breakfast?!” I tried to yell but it was more of a flutteryell, “Damn I missed another day?” “You lost more blood than should be possible and survive. Exhaustion is to be expected.” said Jetaga. “OK, well in the mean time I have some questions for you.” I said. “I will answer what I can, master.” he replied. “OK, first stop calling me master.” I said, “It makes me feel weird.” “I apologize but you are my master.” he said, “What would you have me call you?” “My name.” I said, “It's Shiro.” “Very well, master Shiro.” he said. I facepawed, “God you're so cliche. It's just Shiro. Not master, not master Shiro, just Shiro.” “It is not proper for a servant to call his master by such a formal name.” he said. “I don't care. Listen, I don't like being called “master”, OK.” I said, “Now I’m guessing we're going to be seeing a lot of each other so why don't you tell me a bit about yourself.” “Very well, ma... Shiro.” he said, “I was born in the year 288. My mother was a pegasus named Flowing River, my father was a shadow dragon by the name of Jadota. We lived in seclusion, as dragony were feared and hated by all the races. The only thing of consequence in my life was when I was approached by the dragon seer Laalia.” “Wait,” I interrupted, “Laalia? The sun dragon?” “I take it you know of her.” he started. “Yeah, she gave me a prophecy not too long ago.” I said, “Not to mention I’m friends with her granddaughter.” His eyes widened with shock, “The dragony you spoke of is Laalia's kin?” “Yeah,” I said, “You'll meet her later. Continue the story, please.” “Of course,” he complied, “She told me I would be needed. She said that it was my destiny to hold the Wind Bound Spear in stone. One day I would awaken to see a lone warrior standing against many to defend a foal. She said that I must do as he commands me to do.” “Is that so.” I thought about his story for a moment, “What's so special about the Wind Bound Spear anyway?” “It is one of the divine elements.” he said, “It was crafted by Gaea, the mother of Equestria. What it's purpose is I am unsure. I recovered it for you before I delivered you to the physician.” Interesting, I contemplated what he said. Another element, and a weapon at that. Piercing light was powerful, but was made by Discord, a minor god. One made by Gaea was sure to be more powerful. Then again Discord was a warrior, Gaea was peaceful. “Thank you,” I said, “I suppose I should tell you about myself...” My story took a bit longer then his. It went through breakfast, and lunch. Jynx had woken up about halfway through breakfast and was able to help me tell it. It was a good thing to because it was hard to talk that much with how tired I was. We finished telling my story at about 12:30. Jetaga sat in silence for a while. It was a lot of information to take in. I mean the first year I was here was wild enough. Things slowed down a lot after that but still. Eventually he spoke, “I see why I was indentured to you.” “Alright listen up.” I had enough of that, “I'm your master, right, and you have to do as I say?” “Yes.” “Fine, then I order you to live your life as you wish.” I said, “You are no longer indentured to me. You're released from your service. If Laalia gave you this task then she would have known I would say this, so it was in her plans all along.” He looked at me, contemplating my argument, “Very well. You make a fine point. I will choose my path, and the path I choose is to serve you of my own free will.” god damn it, “You are a noble guardian. You've dedicated your life here to protecting those who cannot protect themselves. If you are not worthy of my loyalty, there is none that is.” “Well, it seems you've already obtained a vassal of your own.” said the imposing figure of Princess Celestia. “Welcome to the party, Sunshine.” I said weakly. “Shiro, I’ve come here to give you some good news.” said the goddess of the sun, “You are to be made a lord in my court.” I couldn't help but laugh, “That's funny... tell me you're joking” “I would but that would be lying. You and your family are now nobility.” she said. “As such you have say in Parliament, and can be made a general in the Equestrian military.” “I don't think I'm the right one for the job. I've never had any desire to to have power.” I replied. “Which is exactly why you're qualified for the position.” Celestia explained, “Those who seek power are the ones who abuse it. Of course this means you will have to start being more formal toward me in public.” “I don't have a choice in the matter do I?” I asked “No you don't.” said Tia, “You don't have to participate in delegations, you merely have the right to. For the most part I'm doing this to make it easier for you to do whatever you need to safeguard my little ponies. Nobles have access to resources others do not. For instance it will give you full access to the Canterlot archives, including the restricted sections.” I perked up at that bit. Maybe the whole noble thing wasn't going to be so bad. A whole archive full of knowledge... god I’m such an egghead. Celestia noticed my reaction, “I thought you'd like that little perk. It's no wonder you and Jynx ended up together. You're both brilliant, though you rarely act like it.” “I do when I must.” I laughed. “That you do.” Celestia remained quiet for a moment as her face became grave. I knew what was coming, “Jynx you may want to go to the desk and start on Shiro's release papers.” Jynx looked at Tia then back at me. I gave her a nod and she complied. After she left Celestia gave a sigh as her mane seemed to lose some of it's luster. In an instant she looked... old. “I went to the temple and used a rewind spell to see what happened.” she said as she shuddered, “I'm so sorry I had to put you through that. Please understand that in my position I must put the good of the nation before the good of those I consider friends. You had the best chance of succeeding.” “It's OK, Tia, I understand.” I reassured her, “I know I’m tougher than most ponies. Even then look how I turned out. If not for Jetaga here, I'd have died. I doubt anyone else would have survived.” “Yes I saw his intervention.” Tia said and turned to the dragony, “I thank you for bringing my friend back. Are you OK?” I looked over to see the black stallion. He was looking very nervous. “M, my apologies your m, majesty.” he stammered, “I hope you take no offense, I merely pride myself on my virtue.” “Huh?” I said. I looked over at Celestia who's eye's went wide as saucers. Her face lit up in red. “Oh, um, I take it you know of that... um... faze of mine.” she said doing a very good Fluttershy impression, “I assure you I no longer do... that.” “What the hell's going on?” I asked. Celestia looked at me with a wince, “Let's just say I went through fazes after the incident with my sister. First I was very angry, and hateful, then after that I was... I was the opposite.” “So you were loving?” I said before I started placing the pieces together, wait, loving? Pride in his virtue? Oh my god! She's real!. She sighed in shame, “They even had a name for me they thought I didn't know.. Princess M, Molestia.” Luckily I was able to keep from laughing, “So you were affected by something you had to do. If you were able to send Luna away without it affecting you you'd be a monster. You were just trying to fill the void her absence left. Trust me I know a bit about that.” I pulled myself up to look at her. I knew what else was eating at her, “It's the same with these cultists. They were dangerous and had to be dealt with. I know you're feeling like shit because of it. I feel like a monster myself, but that's exactly how I know I’m not. I hate what I had to do out there, it's tearing me up inside, but if I didn't do what I did Midnight would be dead and Equestria would be plunged into darkness. There's a name for things like that on Earth. It's called a “necessary evil”. Sometimes the only way to prevent evil is with an evil act of your own, but the day it feels good is the day you've lost yourself.” “It's amazing. At 31 you already know what it took me 2000 years to learn, and still have trouble accepting.” she smiled at me, “I have a feeling you're perfect for nobility.” “Thanks, Sunshine.” I said. Jynx came in after a few more minutes with a wheel chair, “You ready to go, honey?” “That I am.” I looked over to Jetaga, “Do we have room for him?” “Not yet but Fluttershy might be able to help.” said my baby momma, “I'll ask her to sing something from a tree for him. She told me about one of her songs that can shape trees.” Celestia levitated me into the chair and Jynx strapped me in. and with that the four of us left the hospital and headed home. ****************************************** Authors note: Yet another stopping point. I’m putting this story on hold for a bit. It's not going on hiatus because I’m not going to be away from it for too long. Plus I’m still going to be working on it some. This will give me time to figure out where I’m going from here. I already have the vast majority planned out but most of it will take place after Shiro graduates. I don't want another two year time jump so I need something to fill the gaps. In the mean time I'm going to be working on book four of my Dawn Shield series, as well as another fic that's been bouncing around in my head for a while. It's another HiE, but slightly different. It's about an 8 year old girl who found herself in Equestria but disappeared shortly after. Twelve years later another human finds himself there and tries to find out what happened. The story is told from the perspectives of Lyra and Rainbow Dash.