In a Cave
(Present)
Splat!
“Pinkie, will ya stop jumpin’ in the snow!” Applejack yelled as she pulled her coat closer to herself. “Yer gettin’ me wetter then I already am!” Applejack shivered as she trudged forward in the unending blizzard. The ice pierce her hide as the wind roared. And for the life of her, she could never figure out how the Element of Laughter could be so damn happy in snow. It’s miserable, cold, and wet. But the pink pony is just laughing away and jumping in the biggest pile of snow she could find. It seems that Pinkie Pie was currently ignoring her. Grrr…
Splat!
“Pinkie!” Applejack screeched. The pink pony finally stopped, in midair. How does she do that? Without magic no less?
“What is it, Applejack?” Pinkie Pie asked with a tilt of her head. A second later she fell right back into the white powdery shit. It splattered onto Applejack’s face. The snow melted as Applejack’s temper grew hot.
“PINKIE!” Applejack screamed.
“APPLEJACK!” Pinkie screamed back.
“Will you, in Celestia’s good name—”
BOOM!
“Oh, no! AVALANCHE!” Pinkie yelled as the falling white danger came hurtling towards them. “Quick! Into the dragon mouth shaped cave!” They ran as fast as their legs could carry them. Applejack dove headfirst into the cave, barely missing the snow. Pinkie, on the other hoof, wasn’t so lucky. Her bottom half got stuck in the pile of snow.
“Um… Applejack?” Pinkie asked, “Can you…? Can you please help me? I’m… stuck.” Her pleading eyes bored into the side of Applejack’s skull. With a huff and a growl, Applejack got off the stone floor and stomped towards Pinkie. Applejack grabbed ahold of Pinkie’s hooves and pulled. And pulled. And pulled once again. Pinkie went flying into the air and headed like an arrow straight for a stalagmite. Bang went Pinkie as she smashed headfirst into the stone pillar.
“Owwww…. Fuck, that hurts! What the hell, Applejack?!” Pinkie growled. She stomped towards Applejack while rubbing her head. “What was that for?” Tilting her head to the side.
“Well, serves you right for jumpin’ in the snow and getting’ me all wet!” Applejack snickered not feeling apologetic in the slightest.
“Isn’t getting you wet your partner’s job?” Pinkie snarked. She shook her head to clear the ringing in her ears.
Applejack just rolled her eyes at Pinkie’s comment. “It would be if I wasn’t so funkin' single!” She griped as she walked around the disgruntled Pinkie. “I mean there’s not a lot of choices back at home, now is there?”
“You do have a point,” Pinkie said, “I say we need to get you laid.”
“Hah! Good luck with that, Pinkie! I got high standards.” Applejack laughed as she walked further into the cave. Careful to not trip, she walked towards the only light source in the cave. “Pinkie, I think that I found away outta here!”
“That’s funerific!” Pinkie said, “Because we clearly can’t go back the other way! Let’s see what’s ahead! Race ya!” Then she was off like a bolt. Applejack tried to call out to her but Pinkie was to far away to hear her. Applejack just sighed, tugged at her hat, and started walking. In what seemed like hours but was only a few minutes, she finally caught up to Pinkie. She was just sitting on the ground, staring at multi-color, psychedelic wall. Flashes of blue, green, yellow, white, red, and pink light danced across Pinkie’s face as she sat there, mesmerize.
“Pinkie?” Applejack asked as she slowly approached the hypnotized pink pony. “Are you okay? Pinkie? Hello?” She waved her hoof in front of her friend’s face. It didn’t seem to work. Pinkie just sat there, doing nothing. Absolutely nothing. Nothing. Applejack sighed and turned towards the swirling wall.
‘It look like one of those fancy abstract paintin’s that’d cost millions but shouldn’t. It’s jest blobs o’ paint on a canvas! At least this abstract art was movin’! Can’t say the same about them Other art pieces at art museum that Rarity dragged me too. That one experience I’m ain’t plannin’ on repeatin’ ever again.’ She thought as she tilted her head to study it closely. Stepping closer, she reached for the wall. A tingling sensation raced down her leg as she got closer. It got worse as she drew closer. To the point where she felt pens and needles run up and down her leg. A solid surface met her hoof as she finally touch the swirling lights.
“Jumpin’ June bugs!” She said in awe. In amazement, she watched as the six colors converged together and started to float towards her hoof. When they finally touch her hoof, she heard a sound of six pony screaming in agony. Her ears started to bleed from the force of the sound. Their voices continue to go higher and higher, until they reached a fever pitch. With a resounding boom, Applejack felt her body fly through the air until something soft broke her fall.
“Ow, Applejack, get off me,” Pinkie snapped, pushing on Applejacks back, “Get your fucking fat ass off of me!” Applejack scrambled off of Pinkie Pie, apologizing profusely in the process. Pinkie got on to her hooves, grumbling that her back was killing her.
“Good gravy, Pinkie Pie, I said I was sorry!” She said as she straightened her coat. Pinkie glared in response.
“Tell that to my back!” Pinkie complained. “I’m done with this place. I want to go home now, Applejack, let’s go home now!”
“Well, sugar cube, we can’t.” Applejack stated mater of factly.
“And why the hell not?” Pinkie screeched.
“The entrance is blocked.”
“Oh…”
“Exactly.” Applejack said, turning towards the snow-covered entrance. “And if we want to get out of here, we’re gonna hafta to dig our way out.” Pinkie started to grumble. Applejack thought she heard the pink pony mumble you’re next in line to be turned into a cupcake, but she just chalked it up to hearing things. The orange pony sat down and started to plan on how they would proceed.
“Pinkie, do we—” a scream of six ponies interrupted Applejack as a powerful wind blew behind her. She felt her body move against her will towards the caved in entrance. As she turned her head towards Pinkie to grab ahold of her, she saw a dragon-like claw stretching out of the glowing wall and grabbed a hold of the pink pony. With a yank, it pulled Pinkie inside of the wall. The second that Pinkie disappeared the claw came back and wrapped its scaly claws around Applejack’s neck. The last thing she remembered was her body hurtling towards the wailing wall before she was blinded by a white light.
Ω
ΩSombraΩ
“No, no, Midnight, what have you done?” I said in disbelief. Midnight, my Midnight, was an Ethereal! How could this be? And not only was she hurt, having three broken legs and burns along her body, but she just lost her statice of being Harmony’s creation. Her magic would never be the same ever again. The gentle ocean that was once her magic was now a raging storm that will stay with her until her last breath of her sixth life. And from this day forth she will be hunted. Void always takes away what I deemed special. Why must they do that? How could they do this? Why does it have to be her? Why could it not be so---
“What do you mean?” Her sweet voice cut through my destructive thoughts. “Did I do something wrong?” Her amethyst eyes grew bright with tears. My heart ached seeing her eyes fill unshed tears. So, I did the only thing I could think of. I pulled her close to my chest, murmuring sweet nothings to her shaking form.
“No, no, love, you did nothing wrong,” I whispered in her ear, pulling her closer to my chest. “ I am just very concerned for you with this new development. My job just became all the more difficult.”
“Your job?” She laughed, emotion thickened her words.
Chuckling, I answered, “Yes, my very important job. A job that I take very, very seriously.”
Her bright purple eyes regarded me as she leaned back to catch my own. She tilted her head to the side, her eyes filled with questions. I smiled. She was so adorable. So innocent. And once I find Void, I am going to free her from the responsibilities of being the priest of Void. She would never have blood on her hooves, not if I have anything to say about it.
“What job that you take very seriously?” She asked, a smirk forming on her perfect lips. I leaned over, my lips slightly brushing her ear and whispered, “Your safety, cariad aur.” I smirked as I felt her shiver. I fought the temptation to bite her ear. What would her reaction be? Would it be delicious as I am imagining it? Oh, sweet Harmony, I really need to stop thinking these thoughts now. Bad, Sombra, bad. This was not the time and place.
“Pffff,” she laughed, “You’re funny.” Wait! Did she hear my thoughts? Oh, no!
“Funny how?” Please, please, please you did not hear my thoughts!
“You, being serious.” Oh, thank Void. “I find that really funny.”
“Well thanks, I feel very appreciated,” I grumbled as I tried to chase away inappropriate thoughts. Fun fact, it was really hard. No, not that! Get your mind out of the gutter.
“Sombra?” Midnight asked, waving her hoof in front of my face. “Are you ok? You have a blank look on your face.”
“I am fine.” I said, “Just lost in thought.”
“What were you thinking?” she tilted her head in question.
“You do not want to know.” I said as I thinned my lips. Those thoughts are going to the grave with me. Never to see the light. Oh great, Pierre was now giving ME a knowing look. That Kinku! I just shot him a glare. Maybe he would stink his nose some where else besides me and my inappropriate thoughts. And now he is laughing. Great.
“Yes, I do!” Midnight said.
“No, no, you do not.” I countered.
“Yes, yes, I do.” Midnight countered.
“No, you do not.”
“Yes, I do!”
“No, you do NOT!”
“Ah, young lo—” Pierre sighed dreamily with his paws on his chest, smiling cheekily.
“SHUT UP, PIERRE!” I interrupted him before he could finish that sentence. I got a mouth full of Midnight’s tail for my efforts.
“Let him finish his sentence!” She yelled. Oh, sweet Harmony, she was adorable when she becomes angry. Like a little kitten. A kitten that now has the ability to rival Discord and his power. Oh, boy.
“No, I do not think I will.” I said simply. She bared her little teeth in frustration at my answer. She opened her mouth to tear into me, no doubt, but was interrupt with Pierre throwing up his paws and yelling, “Celebrations! The barrier is down! I am not going to suffocate!”
“You were never going to.” I said to Pierre as I got up. Midnight tried to cover a pout, but I saw it. “Where did you get the idea that you would suffocate?”
“In the records there is a story of an Ethereal taking the air out the barrier and suffocated the inhabitants inside.” Pierre said matter of factly. His eyes was changing from a bright silver to a rich honey brown.
“Ethereals can do that if they so wish,” I corrected him, “but that would be counter intuitive of one to suffocate themselves in a barrier of their own making. Besides that, Ethereal had perfect reasoning for do that. If he had not done what he did, we would be still in war.”
“War? War with who?” Midnight asked.
“I will tell you when you are older.” I said as I wrapped my wing around her. “OH! We are in a cave. Huh? Who knew?” Pierre just glared at me. What? What did I do?
“Quite.”
“Oh, stop being a drama queen, Pierre,” I said as I started walking, looking for the exit. “It is very unbecoming.” I heard a little growl behind me. I felt a sudden weight on top of my head.
“I am not a drama queen,” I heard him say in between my ears. Apparently, that is where his seat was. On. My. Head. Like little hat.
Now to find a way out of here. It seems like we were in an unground cavern in the Andonis region? If that was true, then it saves me four weeks on my journey. Ha! Beat that Void! I just moved up the timetable! I am going get my mother and be back home before the next summer solstice! I am going to win! I will have Midnight and Mother; what more could I ask for? Nothing, clearly. Oh, wait! I stopped dead in my tracks. Midnight bumped into my leg.
“Ow, Sombra, why is your leg so hard?” Do not laugh, do not laugh, Do not laugh! “I mean, sheesh, it’s really hard!” AAAHHHH! WHY MUST YOU TEST ME?! THIS WAS NOT RIGHT! NOOOOOO!!!
“Midnight, please have mercy on a poor soul!” I pleaded, my sides were hurting from keeping my laughter in. This must not be heathy to holding all this laughter in. It was just not fair!
“Are you ok?” Midnight asked, her eyes filled with concern. No, no I do not think so. I have a very dirty mind right now and normally I would have somepony to slate this hunger. But, alas I do not have that luxury right now. Me and my poor---
“I think he is having a mid-life crisis,” Pierre graciously interrupted my thoughts. Yeah, sure that was it. I am sooooo having a mid-life crisis here. Sure, yeah, sure. I am having crisis here and sure not that!
“Sorry, sorry.” I snorted, “It is not that, Pierre. I had funny thought and I was holding in the laughter. And little miss Star did not help. Thanks.”
“Your welcome!” she chirped, “So, do I have the pleasure knowing the thought?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because.”
“Because why?”
“Midnight, stand in front of me.” I said, changing the subject. “I need to do something before we go. Now get your little rump over here.” I tapped my hoof. Midnight shuffled in front of me. She tilted her head up and sat promptly down.
“There ya happy?” She snarked. Oh, Harmony, give me strength. I shook my head at her antics. Her becoming one of the Ethereals did make her mature overnight. I smiled and without warning set my magic out. She squeaked when my magic enveloped her. I did not want the world see her Ethereal mark, so I did the only thing I knew how. I changed it.
Ω
ΩMidnightΩ
I squeaked when Sombra’s magic wrapped around me. What the hack does he want? He placed me right in front of him. Sombra smiled and then suddenly I felt a tingling sensation on my flanks.
“There, now no one will know who you are.” Sombra said, “Safe and sound. As a hidden Ethereal can be. It would have been easier for me if you had your own cutie make to begin with, like I did when I became one. I just had to use a little imagination, though I will admit I am a bit rusty on that end.” I just blinked at him.
“Ok…?” I dawdled, waving my hoof in a circle for him to continue. “I don’t get it. You got give me more information than that. I am still at loss here.” I raised my eyebrows and waited for him to give me more information. His lips thinned as a look of concentration flashed across his face. I have a feeling that the wheels in his head were turning. “Do I see smoke comin’ out of ya ears?” I asked in a deep bumpkin accent. “I do declare! I do see smoke comin’ out of ya ears. Darling, I do believe ya need to calm down on da thinkin’. Won’t ya agree?” Red feathers came out of no were and whack me upside the head and knocked me down. Sombra just walked past me, his tail whacking me in the face. His laughter echoing in the wind as I scrambled to stand. In the corner of my eye, I noticed that my cutie mark changed.
“What the heck! SOMBRA EMILIO VON HOMONICS WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?” I screaked as I looked at my new cutie mark. It was an opened book with a six-pointed star flouting above it. It was pretty but… WHAT THE HECK!
“Emilio von what now?” Sombra asked, stopping in his tracks. “What are you going on about?”
“I don’t know your full name!” I shouted as I felt the blood rush towards my face. It felt as if fire was burning under my skin. I was so embarrassed. Sombra raised an eyebrow. It looked kinda weird as he was really bald. I miss his mane. It so long and lushes and silky and…
“And you never will.” Say what now? He started to walk away. “Now move those tiny little legs of yours before I put you on my back. I know how much you like your independence. Harmony know how much I heard about on the walk to Canterlot. Those dang cacti… I never had so much hate for a dang plant before.” He shuddered and in a high-pitched voice he started to chant, “Cactus, bird, cactus, sigh… and repeat. Cactus, sand, cactus, sigh… and repeat! Cactus, cat, cactus, si…”
“I get it!” I interrupted him before he could go on. And he would. Trust me. He could go on for hours. Shudder. “I was very annoying. But I have two things to say!”
“Just two things?” He smirked.
“Yes, just two,” I glared at him. Gah!! Why does he have to be so infuriatingly hansom? “One: I do not say sigh! That would be ridiculous! And second! I do not, nor have I ever said, ‘and repeat!” He started laughing and that dang Kinku joined in. Are they both ganging up on me? Why was their laughter so addicting? And why were my sides hurting?
“What is so funny? I would love to know so I may join you?” Luna’s lilting voice cut though our rambunctious laughter.
“AH, Luna, lovely little Luna, how are you this fine evening?” Sombra asked, waving his wings with a flourish. “It is evening, correct? I cannot tell, with what being in cave in and all.” He grinned. Luna giggled. The corner of my eyes turned green. A nasty feeling came over me. Was I…? No… Can’t be! Me… jealous? No! I am not jealous, no, not me. I am not jealous. I will not bite her head off. I will not…
“Midnight?” Luna asked, interrupting my stupid thoughts. “Are you feeling well? You are looking a little green. Are you sick?” She walked up to me and placed her hoof on my forehead. “You are not burning up. How is your stomach feeling? Does it hurt?” I shook my head. I don’t know how I feel about this. I looked to Sombra, who mind you was trying not to laugh. The jerk.
“Shut up, baldie.” I said, trying to glare a hole in the middle of his shiny head. His jaw hit the floor with a thud. Blinking multiple of times, he shook his head and gave me a funny look.
“What are you talking about?” he asked, his voice filling with horror. “Why did you call me baldie? What did you do to it?” He growled the last words. His horn lit up with magic and a mirror formed beside him. With a snort, he turned towards it and froze. I don’t mean he stopped moving in shock. No, I mean he look like he was not even breathing. Pierre, who was leaning over Sombra’s head, didn’t twitch his ear. And Luna was frozen in mid-step. It was as if time itself has stopped. I looked around to find even the drops of water had stopped in mid-air. I saw Celestia in the distance coming towards us, but she was petrified also. I started to freak out. What was going on? What was happening?
Ah, finally. We are alone. A lilting feminine voice sang in my mind as my ears started to ring. It is quite hilarious to see the Second Being’s son torn up over something as trivial as a mane. He certainly as much pride in his mane. But enough about that oaf, I am here for you, my most curious Ethereal. Out of the shadows came a gray cat. Walking on its hind legs, it shimmered through Sombra. It flicked its black paw in disgust as it continued to walk gracefully towards me. I suddenly came to the realization that this was the cat that came out of the barrier! I took a step back. Something was not right about this cat. As the cat got closer, I started to notice some details that I had initially didn’t notice. For one, what I thought was tar on their paws was actually shiny black fur and on the tips of its ear was also black. A black spade covered its right eye. White eyebrows raised over smiling violet eyes.
Checking me out, little mortal?[Laughed the cat while striking a pose. I know that I am glorious to look at. Do you not agree?
“Uh… maybe?” I shrugged, “Though I more curious about you and why the heck everyone is frozen and not me? It all started when you showed up. So, you have some explaining to do, Cat!”
Oooh, I think I like you! The cat smiled; clapping their paws and jumping up and down. You, my Ethereal, are most interesting. I look forward to our future conversations. But alas I must bid thee adieu. For I have overstayed my welcome, but you are so intriguing I had to talk to you again. The first time you saw me you were not afraid of me. And now you are a little afraid of me but still commanded me to explain what had happened. I explained what happen, because I like you, I just did not to be bothered. They just shrugged and promptly turned around on their toes. I stood there in shock as I watched the gray cat walk through Sombra’s side. The cat abruptly stopped with their tail sticking out of Sombra’s side. In a blink of my eye, the cat’s face suddenly was there instead of their tail.
Oh! I almost forgot. They said with a voice as loud as thunder and as deep as the Great Neptune Lake. You will not speak, talk, or voice what has happened to the Somber One. Nor will you tell your little alicorn servants what has happened. This is only between you and me. No one, no body, no creature will ever know what we talk about. Understand?
Blood dripped from my nose as I nodded. I don’t know what this creature was, all I know was that they were powerful and I don’t want to upset them. The cat flashed a toothy grin and disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke. Once the smoke dissipated everypony started to move. Sombra’s cry of utter dismay echoed across the cave’s walls. Luna jumped in surprise. I walked over to Sombra while wiping the blood off my face. Blood streaked across my blue fur. I hope that he doesn’t notice.
“My mane! My beautiful mane!” Sombra wailed as he touched his shiny dome, “What did they do you? This is an utter tragedy! My good looks. Gone! My legacy. Destroyed! I am ruined!” He crashes into the floor, crying, “Wwwhhhyyy?”
“It’s going to be alright, Sombra.” I said as I put a hoof around his shoulders. “It will grow back.” He just gave me a withering look. I just shrugged. Well I tried, can’t blame me.
“My mane and looks were my one claim to fame.” He whined. “What do I do now?”
“What do you mean your looks is your only claim to fame?” I asked, “There are plenty of things that make you famous. I didn’t really know you for your looks. I knew you for your powers and leadership skills, not your mane. I hero worshipped you for the feats you did in the past. Now get over yourself and let’s leave this Discord forsaking place cave. Eh?”
“Mmmmph… whatever…” He mumbled and got up.
A sound like glass shattering had me jumping on Sombra and clinging onto his shoulder. The jerk had the audacity to laugh. A FULL BLOWN BELLY LAUGH! How dare he?! I glared a hole in the side of his head, hoping that he would combust. But… alas, he didn’t. Dang.
Red magic engulfed me and gently pried me from his shoulder. In the blink of my eye, I found myself face to face with the smiling foxy face of Pierre. I was back on Sombra’s back. Ehh… I didn’t want to walk anyways. I snuggled down on his bony back and blinked at Pierre. He just pursed lips in thought. I mouthed “what” to him, but all he did was just shrugged. What kind of answer was that?
“Midnight?” A voice in the distance called. But I ignored it because I was trying to figure out the foxie hat. I mean that dang Kinku gave me a weird look. Now I’m going figure…
“Midnight?!” It’s that voice again. Shut up! I am on a very important mission here! I am going to….
“Midnight!!!” The deep baritone blasted in my ears, causing my poor ears to ring again. So I did the only thing I knew, I yelled back. “WHAT?!”
“Well, you did not have to yell!” Sombra yelled back. I glared daggers at those ruby eyes. A growl formed inside of my chest.
“You yelled first, you moronic idiot!” I yelled through the growl that burst through my chest. The moronic idiot just raised his eyebrow. Grrr….
“I did not yell.” He stated in an annoyingly calm voice. “I was simply trying to get your attention. Your constant chatter in my head about Pierre was giving me a headache.”
“He gave me a weird a look!”
“And?”
“I-I had to investigate!”
“AND?”
“And… and… SHUT UP!” I crossed my hooves over my chest. “Are we going to leave the dang cave or not?” I quickly changed the subject.
“I know what you trying to do.” Sombra sang in a sugary sweet voice, swaying his head side to side. “Your trying to change the subject! Buuuuutttt I will allow it. This time.” I just rolled my eyes and groaned. I heard Pierre snicker above me. Sombra started talking with Luna, but I drowned them out. I was getting tired. It had been a long day. My eyes started to drupe as the feeling of Sombra’s gait and soothing voice lulled me into a trance. I will just close my eyes for a bit. I thought as I rested my head on his back. Darkness consumed me and my dreams were filled with a smiling cat.
Ω
ΩSombraΩ
I smiled as I heard the soft snores of my beloved. By Harmony do I love her. She was so dang cute. Pierre was snickering and Luna was smiling at the cuteness on my back. Luna followed me, chatting as I searched for the exit. I walked for what felt like several minutes without finding one. It seemed that I was going in circles. I swear I have passed that stalagmite about three times already. So I stopped dead in my tracks. Luna bumped into my leg, causing her to go silent. I turned towards her. She took a step back. It must be the look in my eye because I smelt a small amount fear wafting off her. I shrugged it off.
“Luna, do you pray tell know were exit is?” I asked, weaving sugar into my words. Luna started to blush. It was cute in all, but she was not my Star. I raised my eyebrow at this display. Unfortunately all it did was made her blush more.
“Luna, the way out please?” I asked adding some steal to my voice. She finally snapped out of it.
“T-this w-way, my Lord,” she stammered as her horn lit up in a blue light. I know that Midnight would be angry with me but I am in hurry and cannot stop for a moment. Besides she is asleep. What Midnight does not know would not hurt her. I followed the young alicorn and watched as the walls of the cave ripple and change. So we were in an illusion then. Was she trying to stall for time? If so why?
“Luna! Where are you going?”
Ahhh! That answers my question. Celestia came stomping up to us, snorting smoke out of her nose. Her lilac eyes flashed with fury when they landed on me. “What are you doing?” She seethed. Luna hung her head in shame at her sister’s outburst. I growled at the white alicorn causing her to step back.
“There is no need to be mad at her!” I said, quiet fury boiling inside of me. “She was only doing what I have asked.”
“I was talking to you!” She said through clenched teeth. “What… Are… You… Doing?” She readied her stance for a fight. One which I did not want to be a part of. I rolled my eyes and stepped around her. I really do not have time for this. I saw the opening of the cave, smiled, and headed straight for it. Oh, sweet sunshine, how I have missed you.
“Where are you going?!” I heard a screech behind me, “Luna! Luna, get back here! Sombra, I am not finished talking with you!”
“Oh, but I am.” I threw over my shoulder, “I do not have time for your theatrics, Celestia. So I must be going. See you on my journey back!” I kept on moving. White glitter plashed in my face, subsequently got it in my mouth. Why does this keep happening to me?
“Why are you in such a hurry?” Celestia asked as I was hacking glitter out of my mouth. “Well?”
“Cannot say,” I croaked.
“Cannot or would not say?” She asked, getting into my face. She has to be joking! I am literally choking here!
“Cannot.”
“Why can you not say?”
“Forbidden.”
“Forbidden? Ha! Forbidden by whom?”
“Void.” I choked out with last piece of glitter. Bleh. I looked back to make sure that Midnight was still asleep. Thankfully she was. I turned back and found a gob smacked Celestia standing in my way. Ugh…
“Please move out of my way.” See I can be nice when I am annoyed.
“V-Void?” Celestia stammered, “d-did y-you say Void?” Her eyes filled with terror at the mention of my grandparent’s name.
“Yes, Void. Master of souls, Watcher of Time, Owner of Fate, The First Being and The All-Around Pain in my butt,” I said with a roll of my eyes, “that is the one I am talking about. They forbade me from talking about my mission that I have been doing for the past fifty years. A mission, mind you, that they put me on. It did not give me any real time off. Now move so I can complete it and enjoy what little time I have before I have to start it all over again.”
Celestia just blinked. After a few minutes she shuffled to the side. I smiled as I passed her shaking form. But her next words stopped me in my tracks.
“Leave Midnight with me until you come back.”
A deathly silent descended upon me. An uncontrollable fury flooded my veins like white hot magma. I gnashed my teeth as lifted my head to check my precious Midnight, as her slight form shifted for a better position on my back. I nuzzled her sleepy face, smiling slightly at her grumble. My eyes flash as looked back at Celestia.
“Why do you insist on keeping Midnight?” I asked with a false calm, trying to keep my anger under control. “What is she to you?”
“I see a broken, shattered soul that has seen too much.” Celestia whispered to the ground. “A beautiful creature that I want to protect and put back together. Someone that has put a smile on my little sister’s face. One I have not seen in decades. And it baffles me that you would bring this frail creature into danger and claim that you are protecting her! I know that I have not been kind to you nor have I instilled confidence in my actions. But on my word I will do everything in my power to make sure that nothing comes to harm your Midnight.” Her eyes shown with conviction and steadfastness at her proclamation. She believed every word that came out of her mouth. But that was not enough.
“I cannot in good conscience leave her alone with you.”
“Why not?” She tilted her head in confusion. Her hoof tapped while waiting for my answer. That is going to get old real quick.
“When she first came to me, she was so afraid of me for looking like an alicorn that she ran. Ran from me and Harmony. When we finally caught her, she began to plead, in the arms of my MOTHER, to let her keep her horn. Months after that incident she was attacked by your kind. The blood loss would have killed her if I didn’t find her in time, AND THOSE ARE JUST THE FEW THINGS I KNOW ABOUT! Her previous ‘alicorn master’, whom I had the greatest pleasure of devouring, did unimaginable horrors that I may never know about! I’ve barely received her fragile trust and you think for one second that I’m going to jeopardize it just for you to have your fragile ego stroked?! Well, think again! I don’t trust you and I sure as hell don’t think she trusts you either! SO… BACK… OFF!” I yelled, my voice filling with thunder. My emotions were welling up inside of me at the memories and trying my best to take a deep breath to calm down. My teeth bared in agitation at the owlish look in her eyes.
I turned and stomped out the cave. The cool forest air did nothing to quell my anger. Red flames licked my wings as my anger grew. It singed the grass as I stormed across the forest floor. I cast my eyes over my shoulder and watched my flames gently caress my sleeping Star. At least my emotions have not harmed her in any way.
“You love her.” That whisper stopped me dead in my tracks. “You love her but are unable to tell her.” I turned to find Celestia was the one talking. Yeesh, when the sisters whisper, they sound like each other. “The only way that you know how to tell her you love is to protect her. You cannot say the words, so instead you try to show it. But how can you feel this strong emotion when you are an alicorn?” She looked absolutely confused at this concept. So I put out of her misery.
“It is easy, Celestia,” I said, “for I am not an alicorn. I am a created god, a demigod if you will. I have a soul of my own while you have a fragment of my mother’s. I feel the hole spectrum of emotions that the morals feel because I made them. I made emotions. You only feel a fraction of them because you are part of my creation. But who am I not to know these things? I am just a lazy being who do not know the suffering of his ponies. Who cannot feel their pain; who cannot find the root of the problem to stop it, because his grandparent decided to, for their amusement, was to send their only grandchild on an endless, futile mission that he has no time for anything else! It could’t be any of those reasons.” I huffed and started walking away. I rolled my eyes at the sound of hooves. She couldn’t be quiet, can she?
“So where are we going?” Luna asked, startling me. “I am very good at tracking . Especially when it is night! I can help you with whatever you need!”
Now I know why Celestia was overprotective of the little alicorn. She was so innocent. I smiled at what she said.
“Thank you for the offer, but I have to decline.” I said. Her face fell and that felt like a kick in the gut. “B-but it is not of my choice!”
“ ‘Tis not?”
“ ‘Tis not, fair maiden. It is the law of my grandparent that I must abide. But I do have a trade to offer you instead.” Hope filled her eyes at my words. She started dance. I chuckled at this along with Celestia.
“What is it?” Luna asked, jumping on the tips of her hooves. “What is your trade?”
“My trade is this,” I said, unwilling to keep the smile off my face, “if you can help Midnight get over her fear of alicorns, then I will teach you some spells. Spells that no other creature knows about. Do we have a deal?”
“Yes!” She squealed. “A thousand times yes! But I do have a question?”
“What is your question?”
“Is Midnight really afraid of my kind?”
“Absolutely terrified.”
“T-then how i-is it t-that Midnight gets along with me?” She stammered, looking at the ground. “If she is terrified of alicorns?”
“Because you are different. You are kind and gentle. You are a pure soul and I believe that Midnight sees it too. But I cannot definitely say that, just what I have observed. That is why I believe that you will help her conquer her fears.”
Luna’s smile lit up the world in a blinding light. “I will do my best!” She nodded and bowed. “Thank you, my Lord, for this opportunity. I will do my utmost best. I will not let you down.”
“I do not believe that you will.” I smiled. Luna skipped ahead of me in bounding leaps of joy. It was so good to see some good that came out of the mess of the last few days.
“Oh!” Luna stopped in her tracks. “Am I to call you master now?”
“What?!” Screeched Celestia. I nearly choked on the air that I was breathing. Master? Uhhhh…..
“I -ehem- prefer that you not.” I said after I found my air.
“Why?” She tilted her head to the side. “Are you not my teacher and I your apprentice?”
“Well err… umm… uhhh…” I stammered as Celestia’s eyes burned holes into my head. “Yes? But please refrain from calling me master. Your sister would not like that.”
“Okey.” She shrugged and promptly returned back to skipping. I sighed a sigh of relief. I really dodged a projectile there.
I walked with Celestia in a peaceful silence for a few hours. But I did notice that she wanted to ask me something. It was driving me slightly crazy. What with her constantly glancing at me, biting her lip, and shaking her head. It was bothersome. I could not enjoy the great trees of the Everfree Forest that I normally would have. So I did the first thing that came to my mind.
“What is it?” I asked causing her to jump. “Your indecisiveness is driving me crazy.”
“I have a question,” she whispered.
“Clearly.” She shot me a glare. I indicated for her to continue. She nodded and took a breath. Her next words turned my blood into ice.
“How are you going to protect Midnight when she is an Ethereal?”