//------------------------------// // EP 2: Bearers of The Seed, part 1|CH 1 // Story: 8 Realms of Magic // by AzuraKeres //------------------------------// Lune Star’s descent down the Cosmic root narrowed the further she dropped. The dirt hole her elder brother, Ratty, had dug was enclosing upon her. Thank the Cosmos she wasn’t claustrophobic, else this would be a nightmare. Though even this predicament didn’t strike fear into her… “Hey,” Star called. “How much longer is this going to take? I feel like we’ve been at this for an hour now.” Star heard a scratching noise resonate beneath her. However, because of how narrow her space was, she couldn’t look over herself to make out what lied below. She then felt a warm fur touch her hoof as the scratching noise resounded louder before her. “Have patience, will ya?” Star recognized her brother’s voice. He drugged through the space around Star, giving her room to stretch out her hooves. “We should be close now.” “We better be,” Star said as she crawled her body into a burrow Ratty made beside the downward path. Though their surroundings were pitch black, Star’s trusty dark vision revealed all to her. “I feel like I’m being dragged into another of mom’s training sessions.” “I’d rather not think too much about her.” Ratty lounged onto Star’s belly and withdrew a nut from his purse to munch on. “I don’t want to think about the things she will do to us if she catches us.” “Mom has to understand what I’m doing. Besides, I’ve been given an important mission by Mistmane. I can’t go disappointing an ancient spirit.” “What about her makes her so ancient? You’ve only known for at least a few minutes. And I’ve never heard that name in my life.” “Well, duh, she did say she came from another world.” “And you don’t find any of that questionable?” Ratty raised his brow. “We’re here now, so quit your complaining. What I’m more worried about is getting out of this stupid hole.” After taking their break, Star and Ratty continued their descent under the chaliced Cosmic root. Ratty many times returned to Star’s side to claw her into some space, which gradually worked on both of their nerves. However, both were finally remedied of this annoyance when a bright light shone from beneath them. Ratty was the first to fall into the light. Star followed inside with no hesitation. The wonders of what she may find ahead made her anxious yet ecstatic. And so, she fell unceremoniously atop a large root. If her mother had seen Star, Hild would have made Star repeat her landing a hundred times until it was perfect. However, those thoughts were immediately flushed away when her breath was taken by the sight before her. The night sky shrouded the world around her. Billions of stars sprinkled within the distance. Many she had never seen at bright nights and constellations she had only read from textbooks. But what astonished her more were the roots. Lengths of massive roots as long as highways sprouted all around Star like a dense jungle. A jungle suspended across the starry space. Star stood slack-jawed. She has read about this place for most of her life, but to see it for herself shook her to her depths. Her senses only came back when Ratty patted her side. “Welcome to the Cosmic Network,” Ratty said. “The place that connects every realm we have come to know.” Star had read extensively about the Cosmic Network from her mother’s study. It was theorized to begin as a tiny sprout that grew over the millennium. All from its mysterious life that showed no limit to its power. Enough to create nine worlds from its own being. Still, Star was shocked by the sheer size of the roots. Each was as tall as a three-story building, leading towards paths with no end in sight. Star noted her brother giving her a buck grin. “So,” Ratty said. “What do you think? Worth the mile drop, right?” Star rolled her eyes, but her smile gave Ratty the reaction he wanted. “Okay, I’ll admit that this has exceeded my expectations. Honestly, I didn’t expect this place to be this massive. Then again, it’s hard to imagine what to think from a tree that houses nine realms.” Star walked before the edge of a root she stood upon and stared down into the depths of the Cosmic Network. The tower-sized roots continued their mazy highways beneath her, disappearing into a pitch blackness far below where she could only assume to lead to one place. Mutebis. Star sensed a strange eerie from the darkness below her. It was as if she could sense danger staring directly at her. Yet despite the ominous feeling she felt, she oddly found comfort in it. “Hey Ratty,” Star said. “Where are the other realms? I’d figured they would’ve stood out in this place.” “Not really,” Ratty responded. “With how these giant roots are bundled together, it’d be impossible to see all of them at once. If we want to find one, we’ll have to move out from the center.” “That’s right,” Star realized. “Sollothus is set above all other realms. Most of them tend to stick out at the far ends of the Network.” Star then looked above her and witnessed a pure white light radiating. She saw many of the Cosmic roots constricted upon the light like veins. This light was Sollothus. Her home. “It’s kind of weird looking at it from the outside,” Star confessed. “Move a distance away from it and we’ll get a clearer look at it. You’ll probably think of it as a giant bulb.” “Maybe,” Star said as her eyes laid at the darkness below. “And maybe I’ll get a good look at Mutebis as well.” “Yeah, no.” Ratty shook his head. “There’s no way we’re going down there. I’ve heard a horrific giant hound is guarding the entrance. I’m not going to become a dog toy.” “Oh, that’s right. The entrance to Mutebis is guarded by a creature known as Garm. It’s astonishing that it only takes one oversized mutt to keep every creature away.” “Not just that. The thickets into the entrance are infested with all sorts of nightmarish creatures. We’d be chowed down long before the mutt could get a bite.” “It’s not that nightmarish if other ponies are living there,” Star countered. “Then they’re obviously more frightening than the monsters. Look, we’re not going to Mutebis. So, pick somewhere else.” “What’s this?” Star crooked a smile on her face. “Does Ratty have a fear of Mutebisseans? Oh, don’t you worry Ratty. I promise I won’t bite.” “Are you going to pick a place or not?” Star spared her brother of any further teasing. There would be much more to come while they’re exploring the numerous realms of the Cosmos. But where should she go first? When Star met Mistmane, the mysterious mare advised that Star should go wherever the wind took her. Such a cliche line could mean anything. She could have at least been considerate to recommend a place. Star and Ratty ventured up a root and came atop its hill, where she laid her eyes upon a new world. Within the distance, Star saw a large sphere of cyan. A massive bulb of light with roots entrenched upon it like veins. “That one is Nimbus, right?” Star asked. “That’s right,” Ratty confirmed. “The realm of skies where the clouds are just as limitless as the sea in Eklaria.” “Limitless, huh?” Star chuckled. “Did you get that from one of those epic stories?” “Just take at the moment,” Ratty advised. Star and Ratty sat atop the hill, looking across the thicket of roots and stars around them. She discovered crevices within the roots that revealed sparkling rivers inside. Star jumped from the hilly root and slid down it until she came close to the crevice. Glitters of light flowed inside the root-like blood. In a way, that would be accurate. “Hey,” Ratty called, sliding down to Star’s side. “Why’d you run off like that?” “Look at this.” Star nodded toward the glittery light. “Don’t you know what this is?” “Yeah, it’s the Cosmic sap everyone uses. You act like it’s your first time seeing it.” “It’s my first time seeing where it comes from,” Star argued. “To think everyone leaves their realm to grab a fill of this in a plain spot like this. I’d figured it’d be somewhere more mystical.” “How grand, did you read that from one of your books?” “Ha-ha, very funny,” Star deadpanned. “But seriously, I didn’t think they would all be in the open like this.” “It flows through all the roots, Star. You could pretty much exit an inch of your realm and grab some.” “Maybe I should take some for the road. You never know when you need a new rune in your arsenal.” “We’re good, Star.” Ratty hopped atop her back. “Our inventory will do just fine.” “Where’s your sense of adventure? We should be grabbing anything that catches our eye.” “We’re stocked up as it is. Maybe loosen up your bag before you start hoarding things.” Star’s bag was bulk full of books, food, and rune tools she had enchanted in her past. She didn’t know what exactly to leave behind, finding all her belongings too valuable to leave behind. It might be a long time before she could see them all again. “But enough about that,” Ratty said. “Where are we off to first?” “I guess...Nimbus,” Star decided. “It’s standing right before us. Might as well start there.” Ratty and Star ventured through the roots, jumping and hiking down massive roots to reach Nimbus. Nearing its emerald light, Star noted small bits of clouds floating around her. The clouds were thin and did not impair Star’s sight too much. If she wanted, she could look back at the sphere that held Sollothus. Its clear white being felt as if Star was staring into a sunbeam. “We’re really going to Nimbus,” Star said. “The first thing we need to do is find some sky nuts,” Ratty suggested. “I’ve heard they have a juicy taste to them.” Star couldn’t help but feel giddy. Her first adventure into the other realms was about to begin. She was going to experience a world she has only read from books. Meet new creatures far unlike herself. The possibilities were endless. And most importantly, she would find a hint of her destiny. Star and Ratty continued their path to Nimbus. As they neared the sphere of Nimbus, the two discussed an alternative route to get inside. Every known entrance to every realm was guarded by their knights to verify those who entered them. One would need a passport to be given clearance, which Star has never been approved of. So of course, Star and Ratty would have to take a detour. However, as they plotted their plan, Star couldn’t shake off a prickling feeling on her neck. At first, she thought it was her brother, but soon she began to think it was something else. Star stopped and looked around at her surroundings. She noted a dark space within the white mist. It was strange, considering Sollothus was beaming its bright light from that direction. “Why’d you stop?” Ratty asked. “We’re almost there.” “We’re not alone,” Star whispered. “I think there’s someone over there.” Star stared deep into the dark space and noticed something peculiar. The darkness had a texture to it. It looked like scales. Star and Ratty then shook at the sound of growl echoing through the mist. The black space shifted and revealed red slit eyes shimmering towards Star and Ratty. Small quakes shook from Star, stood as a large black figure climbed over the roots and landed before them. Its black wings spread wide to soften its landing. Its sets of sharp fangs bathed in black flames from the figure’s breath. Without a doubt, a dark wyvern had appeared before them. Star and Ratty gaped, aghast at the creature. They wondered why it was here. Why is something so grim lurking so close to the realm of light? “You,” the dark wyvern spoke with a hoarse voice. “The pony. You bear the brand of the Cosmic Tree. You must be Lune Star.” “Huh?” Star said, confused. “Oh, you must have confused me with someone else. I’m just your everyday pony heading to Nimbus. You see, I’m going to become a Nimbussean guard.” Star feigned a warm, simple, hoping her story would convince the dark wyvern. However, his eyes arched in annoyance. “Don’t try to lie to me,” the wyvern responded. “Your brand tells me everything I need to know about you.” “...And what does it say about me, exactly?” Star asked, curious of what the wyvern was insinuating. All of her senses were screaming at her to run, but the fact that this random wyvern knew of her identity intrigued her. She has yet to etch her name anywhere across the realms, so it made her wonder how this wyvern knew of her. Ratty straddled onto Star’s neck and whispered in her ear, “What are you doing? We need to book it now.” Star looked back at the realm of Nimbus that laid miles from afar. Getting there would still take time, but if she were to take a shortcut through the roots… Star noted a shift from the wyvern’s head. “Don’t try anything funny, “the wyvern warned. Whatever secret this wyvern held, Star concluded she would have to get them on her terms. It wasn’t safe for her to be greedy at a time like this. Not if it meant putting Ratty and herself at risk. “Why would I go anywhere?” Star responded to the wyvern. “You say you know about me, right/ That’s kind of why I’m out here. Please, can you tell me what you know?” “You mean, you don’t know?” the wyvern asked, befuddled. “Fine then, allow me to tell you of your”—before the wyvern could begin his tale, Star immediately dashed into the thin mist of clouds towards Nimbus — “Hey!” Ratty tightened his grip onto Star as she began to parkour through the branches. She ran across them like walls and jumped through narrow openings to skip through curvy paths. Star was thankful for her training with her mother. Who knew all that torturous training on the field would work this much in her favor. She took a large leap toward another giant root. However, when she was halfway to the other root, the wyvern flipped underneath her. Its large mass widened as it opened its toothy fangs to grab her. Star’s horn lit a red light that converted into dark flames. It quickly consumed her and Ratty’s body, allowing themselves to phase through the wyvern. When she came upon the giant root, she quickly dispelled her magic and fell unceremoniously atop it. However, she and Ratty preserved through the collision and continued their rush for Nimbus. As Star continued to gallop, she couldn’t help but ask, “Do wyverns like that normally hang around here?” “I don’t know?” Ratty admitted. “But I would’ve put in my resignation fast if that were the case.” Star stopped before the edge of a root and discovered Nimbus beneath her. All they had to do now was work their way down and they would be home free. With this predicament, it would probably be safer to lure the wyvern to the Nimbussean guards to let the authorities handle it. However, before Star could set her plan into motion, the wyvern came ascending before them. It breathes black flames at Star, surrounding her in a ring. Star flinched in the intense heat. “Don’t think you can get away from me,” the dark wyvern said. “I’m taking you with me.” “Star,” Ratty cried. “If you have anything else up your sleeve, now would be a great time to draw it.” As the wyvern neared them, Star desperately looked at her surroundings for an opening. Phasing through the flames with her phantom spell was possible, but it wouldn’t protect her from being burned by the heat. She could phase down the root, but who knows how long of a drop that would be. So, the only thing she could do was create her own path. Star quickly withdrew the obsidian cube from her saddlebag. Its form was clean and pristine as if it was freshly made. She then chanted its rune inscription, “Laguz, ehwaz, jera!” Her voice echoed into the cube, and its yellow light shone brightly through the thin mist. And then came the cube’s flashing pulse that blinded the wyvern. Its pulse dissipated the flames, allowing her a chance to escape. However, what she did not account for was the roots rattled wide in response to the obsidian cube. The massive roots whipped about, knocking the wyvern away and tossing Star and Ratty off its form. Star and Ratty screamed as they fell onto the top of Nimbus.