//------------------------------//
// 32- Replik 
// Story: The Chalk Prince and the Clover 
// by FrostTheWolf 
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When Albedo had asked Twilight and her friends where Klee was, he was under the impression that either they or the students of the school of friendship might have an idea as to where she was or had someone keeping an eye on her. As it turned out, finding the whereabouts of his sister turned out to be a bit more difficult than they expected. At least, that was the case at first. For only mere moments after they left the old castle to go look for them, they happened to find her with three familiar fillies at a hut that was along the edge of the Forest.

It was also when they found them that Albedo happened to meet another resident of the Everfree Forest. A zebra shaman known by the locals as Zecora. According to her, she had asked for the assistance of Apple Bloom and her friends to find some rare herbs for a concoction she was brewing. While it sounded simple, the only catch was that it was farther into the Everfree Forest, where monsters would be wandering about and possibly attack if they even saw them.

Much to their surprise though, the very same monsters that the zebra told them about actually ran away at the first sight of Klee. Which, to her, was strange since the beasts that called the forest their home had never demonstrated such behavior before. To Albedo though, after their trip to the Everfree to visit Harmonia and Klee decided to have fun with the timberwolves they came across, he honestly expected something like this. Whenever it came to whatever mischief that his sister had gotten herself into, word traveled rather quickly.

After all, how else was it that a certain wolf boy and the pack he was raised in referred to her as the ‘red burny girl’?

By the time that they found her and understood the whole situation, the sun was already setting in the distance. Meaning that whatever Albedo wished to have Klee help with would have to wait until the following day. After all, it wouldn’t be a wise idea to have her try to have her help if she was half awake and hungry. Fortunately though, he and Moondancer had made a lot of significant progress today to go with the research they had so far.

If they were lucky, in a few more days, their combined efforts would possibly bear fruit. Still, that was a major if. While there hadn’t been any complications now, it would’ve been foolish to get their hopes up this early. The alchemist had to be certain that the Crucible would work before he would make any attempt to try and go home. For if something went wrong, there would possibly be greater complications.

Yet, seeing that elements from Teyvat could somehow exist in a completely different world like Equestria brought on a new set of possibilities. If Earth Pony magic represented Dendro, then what other elements could possibly be represented by other species? It was an avenue worth exploring, but at a later date.

For now, rest was the chalk prince’s highest priority. Rest for him and for his sister.



Once again, Luna found herself trotting through the realm that contained the numerous doors that represented her subjects. As she did every night, the princess of the night would walk through each one, watch over the dreams of the subject inside and intervene if she happened to find that the particular subject she was visiting was under the influence of a nightmare. Though, tonight was much different from other nights. For since the arrival of Albedo and his sister Klee, she had not had the chance to visit their dreams so often because of her duties.

Yet, tonight, Luna just so happened to be rather fortunate. For her subjects dreams showed no signs of being plagued by nightmares this evening. This provided her the opportunity to visit the dreams of the alchemist without being disturbed by more important matters. Plus, if her last visit taught her anything, it would allow Luna the chance to possibly learn more about Albedo and where he was from.

However, unlike the previous dream that she had visited, the princess found herself in the middle of a snowstorm as cold air churned furiously all around her on the side of a massive mountain. One that made the peaks that were to the north of the Crystal Empire pale in comparison. Yet, there was something about this place that didn’t feel right with Luna. Like something foul was festering in the ground under her hooves.

It was as Luna tried to look through the storm that was around her that the princess noticed a strange red glow farther out from where she was. Immediately, the first thought that came to her mind was that the glow belonged to a campfire of sorts and with it, a possible shelter nearby. Instinct soon kicked in as the alicorn tried to move closer and closer. She felt warmth and heat radiate throughout her fur as the outline of a cave soon came into view. 

Yet, when she pushed forth into the cave itself, whatever Luna expected to find when she trotted in from the snow wasn’t there. Instead of a warm campfire, the crimson glow came from what looked to be red crystals that spiked forth from the ground. Not much snow was inside and the princess could see what looked to be rocks and plants. However, the plants gave off the same shade of red as the crystals and the rocks were actually giant fangs that had been broken off and left dormant on the ground.

However, what caught the princess’ attention immediately is what she saw at the end of the cave. Her pupils shrank as the alicorn stared at what was along the back wall. A crystalline orb with swirling crimson all around it as it would beat like a heart. Scarlet veins were outstretched among the wall and above it as well, with several stretching to the ceiling as if they were roots to a tree. Yet, the appearance of everything made the alicorn sick to her stomach. “Dear sister, w-what is this?”

If this wasn’t bothering Luna enough, it was shortly after this discovery that she began to hear a voice. “What is it that makes one a failure?”

“Wha-?” Luna turned around, expecting to find somepony there. Only to find that the cavern was empty, “W-who’s there?!”

“What is it that makes you different? What makes you the successful one? What allows you to experience the joys of being brought into the world, and leave me in the belly of the dragon?” the voice continued on as it sent shivers down the alicorn’s spine. It sounded exactly like Albedo, but the tone was venomous and chilling, “What makes me the failure in the eyes of our creator? What did Rhinedotter see in you that was absent in me?”

Many questions were beginning to bounce off the walls of Luna’s mind as she tried to make sense of everything. Who was this person and who were they speaking to? More importantly, how did any of this relate to Albedo at all? This was supposed to be his dream, so why hadn’t she seen him?

“You’re not even a real human, yet you somehow have become one of our master’s greatest masterpieces. Is it because she thinks that your existence will atone for the sins brought out by her and her creations? To atone for Durin, whose remains and blood soak into the ground and have turned this mountain into a cradle of monstrous possibilities? To atone for Khaenri'ah, where her actions led to the fall of a nation? What hope is there to atone the actions of ‘The Great Sinner’?”

As they spoke, the alicorn began to see images that appeared all around A laboratory that had alchemical notes and a chamber with what looked to be someone inside and someone watching them. Then, a monstrous dragon that was defeated by another, yet poison tormented the victor for eons. A disaster that laid waste to a prosperous dynasty and the nation it called home. With each one, Luna couldn’t help but think of one possibility that formed in her mind.

Were these burdens that Albedo was forced to bear? And if so, for how long?

“Wherever you are or not is not my concern. Yet, unlike you, I do not plan to wait and stand idly by.”

As that was said, it looked as if the scarlet heart had a crack that began to take form as more energy began to circulate around it. Luna was unsure of what was happening, but found herself backing away from it as the crack grew wider in scale. “If your conviction has been the driving force behind your will to survive, then I shall replicate it for my own. I care not where you are now, but once you step foot on this cradle again, you will not find a moment of respite.”

The alicorn watched as the crystalline heart now began to open like that of a cocoon as a new figure came forth. To Luna’s shock and horror, it was a being that looked almost exactly like Albedo… yet, what was missing was the star shaped marking around the neck. “As the one that was abandoned, and you the survivor of the Primordial Human Project, I will do everything in my capabilities to rid the world of your existence. For only then, will I experience the joy of being born into the world.”

As the lookalike turned directly at Luna, that was when everything began to go white and her vision began to fade, before her body was yanked forth from the dream.