I light my horn, looking at the three young zebras. “We mean no harm, we arrived in peace, we shall depart the same.”
The one who spoke earlier takes a step forward, her spear held steady. “I have no issue with how you arrived or how you choose to depart.” Pointing his spear to the structure, “But what you have done while you were at the forbidden temple, is what we have issue with.”
“Forbidden temple?” I tilt my head looking confused, “What I did? What did I do? I was just talking with…the original owner.”
One of the others raises his voice. “You obviously did more than talk!” Snorting, he scuffs a forehoof, “What you did, everyzebra could feel that, even one not attuned to the magic of the ponies.” He almost screams.
“Wait,” I blink before turning to look at Dawn, then look around the area. “Just how far away could that magic be felt?”
Dawn frowns, considering. “It probably depends on how sensitive you are to magic, and how powerful the creature is the dragon king in the dragon lands likely, the Great Vizir might have felt that.” Dawn says, then she looks in the other direction, “You did the impossible.”
“Celestia?” I say with a gulp.
Dawn shivers once, “Maybe, if she was awake.”
The sound of something moving through the jungle has my ears perking forward and me taking a step backwards, my wings extending out from under my robes in surprise as I almost trip over my own robes.
“An alicorn.” The first zebra says softly. She looks at her two compatriots before bowing before us. “Oh Celestial Prince. I apologize for our belligerence. Truly we did not know Princess Celestia had added to the royalty of Equestria.” The other two join her in bowing. “Pardon my friends here. I am Upepo, my compatriots are Maua.” She gestures to the other mare, then to the stallion. “And Kichaka. We are but humble zebras and we were in the forests to acquire herbs for our medicine.”
Ghaliya sidles up next to me. “All is fine, but, just in case Celestia did feel that magic. We might want to get out of here as quickly as we can.”
I nod before taking a step closer to the zebras. “I apologize for the disturbance, but I am not from Equestria.”
Their eyes widen in unison as dozens more zebras emerge into the clearing. They all look at each other, then at me. And one by one, they kneel before me. “But Great Prince. We have seen the carvings on the forbidden temple. We have heard and passed down the stories. And we have waited, since they left, those who walked the land before. Those commanded the very elements of the world, and beyond.” Upepo says, her face planted into the ground, as she motions to the sun.
“Please get up.” I mutter. “I’m no prince. I don’t deserve to be treated any different.”
“You are a prince, it is your birthright, your title. All of your kind are royalty.” She looks around and raises her voice. “A new Prince has come! The one of the old ones are to return!”
This is greeted with a cheer by the assembled zebras. I blanch. “No, no! It’s just me!”
That gets confusion from the zebras. Kichaka steps forward, his voice tremulous, yet gentle. “Great Prince, we mean no offence, it may simply be because you have forgotten, or are too young to understand.” Turning he motions to the temple, “Since the great cataclysm, there have been just two of the royal line left. It was just Celestia and Luna, then the darkness came. Now there is just Celestia.”
Upepo looks up, “Now you are here. And with the ring of magic, surely others shall awaken, maybe not immediately but soon. And with each blessing, the world will grow stronger once again.”
I blink. “I don’t know.” Gulping I look around more concerned with what I’ve started, “I don’t know how ponies ascend to become alicorns. I know I cannot make that happen.” I look slowly at all of the zebras.
“Or at least you haven’t tried, knowing you you’ll get upset and do it.” Guerina mutters softly with a giggle.
I give the griffin a light kick before while facing the zebra, “All of you, rise, please.” All I get are shifting ears and tails. I look at the first three to greet me. “Please, tell them to rise. I don’t like people bowing, I have no interest in being worshiped like this.” I say shaking my head, “I really do prefer to be treated as just another pony or horse.”
Maua nods and struggles to her hooves before turning and calling out. I don’t know the language, but the other zebras stand up, shifting on their hooves. Maua speaks a bit more to them and the other zebras start to filter away as she turns back to me. “Great Prince, with your pleasure, we will host you in our village. Your arrival is cause for a celebration. Please, join us.” Her voice is heavily accented. She gestures. “Come, follow us.”
“One moment, please.” I get a nod and the three zebras move a respectful distance away.
I turn back to my friends, walking closer to Dawn and Ghaliya. Greenbeard, Backburn and Guerina crowd closer as I lower my voice. “I know we don’t really have time for this, but if we leave, it could offend them. As well, if anycreature does come looking for us, and we can’t convince them to cover it up, we could have more problems.”
Ghaliya blinks in surprise nods. “Wow, you’re actually thinking for a change. Truth is, we are still tired from earlier, especially you. If we spend the evening with the zebra, it will give you a chance to recover, and make our trip back easier.” She glances at them. “And to have allies over here. That would be helpful.”
“No.” Greenbeard says sharply. “We really need to get back to the water, as soon as possible. To the safety of our ship.”
“As Dawn said, any elder dragon would have felt that too, the risk is high one of them might come looking as well.” Waving his arm Backburn motions to the jungle, “The ship would give us more of a chance to put distance between us and this location.”
Guerina shrugs her wings. “I’ve never had much dealings with the Zebras. They rarely get mail, or other deliveryies so I don’t get sent down here often. The few I’ve met have been upstanding individuals. Pay their debts, and don’t take advantage where unwarranted.” She looks at me. “But this is your decision, Ki. You are the resident alicorn here.”
“Oh, har har.” I snark. “I’m just a pony, you know…” My face pales as my horn is itching. “We need to hide. Now.” I glance at the zebras and call out softly. “My apologies.” I light my horn and grab them, bringing them closer as I move quickly into the trees. “We only have a few moments. I may not be able to hide a ship…” I whisper as I start weaving, and the world around where I am standing become hazy as the weave completes. “Mask your magic.” I say to Dawn and Greenbeard as I tie off the invisibility shield and my horn quiets as I mask my own abilities. To anyone outside the shield, we are just an anonymous part of the jungle. Our magic masked means we can’t be felt.
“What’s going on?” Ghaliya asks in the barest of whispers.
Dawn is the one who answers. “Great power, great magic.” Her eyes widen. “Celestia.”
Ghaliya pales. “No.”
Dawn nods, looking at me. “She will be well protected, but she will be on her guard. If she felt your magic from this far away.” She looks down. “I think you should meet with her.”
Ghaliya frantically shakes her head. “No! We cannot trust her!” Her whisper is fierce.
I frown, looking down, but fortunately am saved from making a decision by two ponies landing in the clearing. Neither are Celestia, but two pegasi, wearing light armor, wicked looking blades strapped to them. They trot around the clearing quickly before one looks up, letting out a piercing whistle, causing my ears to flatten against my head.
Then she appears, her wings spread regally as she slowly glides to a landing. She prances a few times as she flaps her wings to cool her body off before folding them at her sides.
A soft moan is uttered by Dawn, she seems to be fighting herself, as though she wants to go to the Princess. I place a wing protectively over the smaller pony, which gets her to look up at me plaintively.
“See, this is why I should have come here right away, alone if I had to.” She says, looking at the two pegasi, “It looks like they have already fled the area.”
“But why would they leave?” One of the pegasi retorts, still obviously on her guard, as she scans the area, “You yourself said that that much magic would be taxing, even for you,” Looking up to the princess the pegasus continues, “if it was a group spell, they a large group would be slow to move. And if it was a single pony, they would be weakened and have to rest.”
That gets a laugh from the princess. “Oh, my dear Surprise, they had to know that what they did would be felt all across the world.” Looking up at the temple she nods, “And given there isn’t a smoking crater.” She points at the entrance to the temple. “I don’t know what they did. If it were destructive, they would be announcing themselves in Canterlot or some other capital. Let us go inside this place, and see what happened? Perhaps they overloaded themselves and we can be of some assistance.” She starts to walk, head high, “Come Thistle, Surprise.”
I watch tensely as the princess and the two pegasi walk into the temple. And as I shift a bit, getting ready to drop the invisibility field, Greenbeard puts a hoof on my withers. I glance at her, then I look where she is pointing. Straight up. Two pegasi are hovering there, partially obscured by the trees. They have a large chariot attached to them, and as we watch, two forms in dark cloaks leap from the chariot, magical field forming around them as they land on the ground. One looks at the other. “She went inside, didn’t she?”
The first one sighs. “Of course she did. If she weren’t immortal and withstood everything that’s been thrown at her, I’d caution her to hold back and let us investigate. But how often have we gotten Princess Celestia to listen to our advice?”
The second one pulls back the hood of her cloak, revealing a light green unicorn with a yellow mane, a gem is hung from her horn, centering between her eyes, the blue gem sparkles in the light. Her eyes are darting back and forth. “Did it really have to be in the middle of the jungle?” She looks at the entrance to the temple. “Shall we wait for her to emerge? Or follow her in?”
“We wait, and make sure this area is secure.” The first mare has also pulled back her cowl, showing a white face with a dark orange mane, almost looking like fire. She has a green gem hanging between her eyes. “Hold on.” The gem flashes a bit before her own horn lights. “There’s something…” Her eyes narrow.
Dawn has gone from straining to get to Celestia, to shrinking back against me, the blue mare is trembling, she looks up at me and I lower my head to hear her. “These are the mages you don’t want to mess with, Ki. If anypony has the magic to kill you, it would be them.” The fear in even her barest of whispers is palpable, getting a shiver down my spine.
“Who?”
“Adeptus Astartes.” She squeaks into my ear.
I blink a few times, but she continues. “They are enforcers, high knights of the court, acting as judge, jury, and sometimes even executioners of nobles who go against the crown, or Equestria. Their emblem is the Fleur-De-Lis.” She flattens herself against me as the white unicorn gets close, her eyes narrowed.
“If I didn’t know better…” She says softly, before her horn lights, and a thin beam scans around the area. As the beam hits the invisibility shield, it passes through unchanged. I hold my breath as the unicorn passes the scan a second time before turning away.
“Sprinkles, you know that only an alicorn can make a shield to withstand a scan spell. And we are in service to the only alicorn on the planet.” She looks back at the entrance. “What do you think of Celestia’s theory?”
That gets an easy smile from Sprinkles. “Some unicorn getting their hooves on the Alicorn amulet? That’s funny, but two major reasons why it can’t. First off, Celestia inactivated it, it’s can’t be used unless an alicorn touches it with their magic. Secondly, she disposed of it in the great white north. Nopony is going to ever find that again.” She whirls away and walks back to the other unicorn. “This is boring.” Sprinkles complains.
The other unicorn chuckles. “I know, it’s been a while since we’ve had to deal with a world ending catastrophe.” She rolls her eyes towards the entrance. “I don’t miss them, we’ve even had to have Celestia pull energy from the sun to help. But it does tend to get boring simply policing the nobility and training for the next world ending event.” She puffs up her cheeks. “What I wouldn’t give to…”
“Sprinkles, Berry.” Celestia’s voice floats from the temple, getting both ponies to stand at attention. She steps out slowly, walking over to the two unicorns. They salute the alicorn, and I get a good look at her face. Should I really be this scared of somepony who looks at her subjects with such fondness? I resist the urge to move. And it seems that the presence of those two unicorns has damped Dawn’s desires to reach her former teacher. Celestia gestures back at the temple. “Something wondrous happened here, my faithful protectors. I read the resonance of the magic used. And given that the eddy currents of that much power created what could best be described as an underground oasis, there was a seriously huge amount of magic channeled here.” She looks back at the entrance again. “I don’t think the alicorn amulet was here. More likely, this was accomplished by a ring of ponies, dozens, maybe hundreds, all linking their magic together to some purpose. But evidently they accomplished their purpose and departed. This was not to attack somepony, it was to either heal, or create. But making something for nefarious means would not likely have this sort of side effect. Though I was able to be of some assistance. The oasis created underground has a water source, but no drain. Over a few hundred years the cavern would slowly fill. I found an exit route to allow some water to pool to allow as a source for the life created there. But not so much it drowns.” She looks at the two mages. “There was a staff in there, parts of it were destroyed, but I don’t see anything dangerous in the remains. This place was built for some purpose. But whatever traps or puzzles protecting the staff have been inactivated. Without knowing the nature of the traps, I can’t begin to guess what the purpose was.” She sighs softly. “When we return to Canterlot, I shall have Inkwell assemble a scouting party to return and learn more about this place and also to scour the area to see if any similar places are hidden.”
“This is griffon land, Princess.”
She nods. “And I shall have a chat with the ambassador, anything of monetary value that is non-pony will of course be turned over. But if this is pony origin, it shall stay with ponies.” She looks back. “Surprise, Thistle Whistle, let us depart.” She flares her wings and the two Pegasi shoot off towards the floating chariot while the two unicorns share a look before blinking out in a teleport. I watch as the chariot hovers for a long moment before streaking off, heading north. I keep standing still, tensely thinking they are going to come back. After about five minutes, Ghaliya nickers softly, causing me to flinch.
“Ki, I think they are gone.”
I look at Dawn for a long moment before dropping my magical mask. Trying to keep my presence in magic as light as possible, I reach out and touch the invisibility shield. The threads resist my touch at first before they unravel. The haziness of the light around us dissipates and I find myself nickering as well in nervousness. “I think it best to head to the ship.”
That gets a snort from Kuvunja. “Please, great Prince, no! It would be improper to decline after accepting an invitation! I already told the others, they are preparing for your arrival!”
I find myself sighing, Greenbeard is looking at me plaintively, I know what her and Backburn’s choice would be. I set my jaw. “You are right, of course. I must mind my manners.” To my surprise, Ghaliya smiles broadly at me in response. My heart warms in response to her approval. I glance around. “Well, lead us to your home!” I say jovially.
They frolic around happily for a few moments before gesturing for us to follow. Somehow Ghaliya and Guerina both take their time and it ends up with me in the lead of our little group, behind the three enthusiastic zebras. In moments even the sky is not visible, the only light filtered through much of the tree canopy. No wonder the ponies didn’t see the other zebras departing when they got there. Despite being young and exuberant, the zebras are moving through the lush jungle foliage silently, sharply compared to how we had been making progress, by magically or with blades, cutting down bits and pieces of the plant life that was in our way. Of course, I doubt my compatriots noticed that I was healing what we cut as we’ve moved through the bush. The zebras seem to have extensive knowledge of the jungle, moving easily among the vines and leaves without leaving much more than the occasional hoofprint in the ground. We continue moving for what seems like hours as the light from the sun slowly wanes.
Kuvunja pauses before a tree. “Welcome, to our home!” She says grandly, before moving a large leaf, getting me to stop in wonder. A gigantic tree has crowded out all the other foliage, yet its canopy is actually reaching farther than I could ever believe. And the trunk seems to have homes either tunneled into its massive bulk, or built onto the side. Reaching almost up to the canopy is walkways and homes and shops, along with many more clustered along the ground around the base of the tree. “Mahali Salama.”
I stop and look on in wonder, the tree is healthy and growing beautifully, even with the holes through its structure. It shines with magic and energy, making my horn feel almost an itch, but it’s actually very pleasant. I step forward. “It’s beautiful.”
Kichaka comes up close to me. “Pardon my forwardness great prince. But you seemed fearful of Princess Celestia. The times that she’s visited us, she has always been kind and helpful to the Zebra. She had also talked to the King of the Griffons when they took this land as theirs, letting them know that the Zebra here are to be left alone.” He shudders a bit. “The griffs don’t hunt us, they trade with us, for the potions and goods that we make here. They have been good neighbors. Mahali Salama has been here longer than anyzebra can remember.”
Dawn moves up next to me. “This is amazing.” She murmurs. “I’ve never heard of this before.” We start walking again. Moving down towards the depression that the tree rests in. Dawn lights her horn, eliciting a huge smile on her face. “The zebras here are expecting an alicorn.” With a smooth pull, my robes are floating before me as she carefully folds them and stores them in her saddle bags. When she closes the clasp she looks at me. “Thank you, Ki.”
I huff. “You are welcome, I did what I had to do.”
She moves up and bumps into me. “Keep that up, I’m likely to say yes to Ghaliya.”
That gets me to stumble over fairly level ground. I take a few moments to coordinate my hooves before I look at her. “I want you to make the best decision for you. Not what I want, not what Ghaliya wants. But what Dawn wants.”
That gets a bright giggle from the unicorn. “But what if I want to know what you want?”
I frown, glancing at our route as we approach the village before looking at Dawn again. “Honestly?”
“Well, I wouldn’t want you to lie to me.”
I sigh. “I want you to be happy, Dawn. If that’s with Ghaliya and me, then yes. If not, then no.”
“Would you give me foals? You know I want at least three or four, maybe more.”
Again I stumble in my walking, I look back at the traitorous ground before huffing and looking at Dawn. “I don’t know, Dawn. I want Ghaliya, and I’d happily give her a whole herd if that’s what she wishes.”
She tilts her head slightly. “Well, a whole herd of ponies from you sounds pretty good to my ears.” I can hear the laughter in her voice.
I fight my wings as my face heats. She trots a bit faster, her tail swaying a bit more than usual, the view having me swallow and try to look away. “Think pure thoughts.” I mutter to myself. Ghaliya nudges my shoulder, getting me to look at her. The look on my face gets a low laugh from her.
“She is just teasing you, Ki.” She looks at the pony trotting before both of us. “But there is some truth in the teasing. You are important to her. I look forward to her decision, and I’m pretty sure that she will agree.”
I keep my voice pitched low. “What will I do then?”
That gets a bright giggle from the horse mare. “You shall be a superb stallion for our little herd. You shall help me with my business, you shall continue to learn your magic, all aspects of it.” She looks at me. “Not just the life you are able to create, but all the aspects of the unicorn magic you possess, the flight and magic of the sky that is your aspect as a pegasus, and the low magic of the Earth, of the earth ponies.” She smiles warmly at me. “Though you already have a good grasp on that.”
I frown. “Earth pony magic?”
She nods. “Oh, most certainly. Earth ponies can make the earth sprout life like nohorse and no griff has ever been able to. There is a reason why the earth ponies are the most numerous among the ponies of Equestria.” She nods her head indicating ahead of us. “Okay, Ki. You are up.”
I look ahead, we have passed through the outskirts of the village as we’ve been conversing. The zebras have lined along the path silently, though all eyes are on me, getting a shudder down my spine. I don’t know what to think about all these eyes on me. Ghaliya nudges me gently, offering her support. Ahead of us in a larger zebra, a male, I think. He’s nervously adjusting an elaborate headdress as we approach. And as we get close, he bows deeply. I bow just as deeply, getting an audible gasp from the assembled zebras. I note Ghaliya’s approving smile as I move up to greet the zebra as he remains bowed. “Please…don’t.”
“You are royalty, great prince. It would be improper.”
“No, what is improper is to give me more accolade than I deserve. I may have these wings, and this horn, but you are the leader here.”
He glances up at me in shock, seeing my smile, he falters. I nod. “I’m just a pony. I make no claim on this land, or any land. I rule no horse or pony.” I look around. “Or zebra.”
“But it is your right.” He stumbles to a stop at my raised hoof.
“I am not Celestia. I have no desire to rule. I am a mage, and was here to find an object of value at the forbidden temple.” I stop, glancing back at Dawn. “It turns out the object I was here for was not what I thought it was. But I was able to make do without it. One of my friends was horribly injured.”
He blinks. “So, what even we were able to feel?”
“Was him doing the impossible.” Ghaliya says regally. She moves up next to me. “My betrothed is modest, not willing to unnecessarily brag about his wondrous accomplishments.” She smiles at me before looking back at the zebra. “He was doing what he always is want to do. Protecting and healing those in need. Our party was greatly taxed by the magic involved. While we have rested some, a night among the zebra for him and our compatriots would be ideal. With your permission.”
He blinks at her words. His eyes dart to me, then to Ghaliya, then at the other zebras arrayed around us all. He clears his throat. “Of course you are welcome to warm yourself by our fires, to shelter under our roof. If you choose not to claim your birthright…” He gulps. “That is your choice. But as the old legends foretold, the ones who were here before will return.”
Not the first time that I’ve heard this, I shake my head. “I don’t know about any others. I was able to briefly speak to the alicorn in the forbidden temple. But she made no mention of alicorns returning.” I turn and raise my voice. “I am Ki, I came here on a mission.” I smile fondly at Dawn. “And that mission was accomplished successfully. I thankfully accept the warmth of your fires, and the shelter of your roof. What I am is unimportant, only why I am here. We shall celebrate!”
To my surprise, the nearly silent zebras take up a cheer, loudly calling and stomping their hooves. I turn to the large zebra stallion and offer a hoof. “Thank you. I am Ki, nothing more.”
He looks at my hoof for a long moment before reaching out his own. “I am Mkuu.” Our hooves touch and I smile at him.
“A pleasure.”
“The pleasure is mine, Prince.” He is obviously resisting the urge to bow to me even though he called me Prince, which warms my heart. Living in the City, where I’m simply another citizen and more anonymous due to the fact I’m wearing my robes most of the time, I’m just a pony, a mage and that is respected. But I don’t have the horses bowing to me right and left.
*****
Thunder echoed through the dark woods of the Everfree Forest. In a flash, the forms appear, the large dragon crouching to stay under the tree cover. Slowly looking side to side, the dragon kept his wings tight to his side. The mists on the ground covering his claws and legs, slowly he turned his head.
“Master, all is clear, the magic of these woods should mask your intent.” The dragon says softly.
“There was a castle here, long ago, built for the babies.” Shaking his head, the dark form looked around then up towards the castle on the mountain. “The prince has distracted the princesses, drawn her away.
“So you shall take her kingdom master?” The dragon asked quizzically, “Make it your own?”
“Oh no, I am not ready for that yet, for now, we will leave her a gift,” letting his magic spread, reality warped in front of him, a dark rift beginning to open, “She needs to learn fear first, and so do her subjects.”
A wave of dark creatures surged out of the rift, flooding the forest. Twisted creatures of shadow and pestilence, of evil. They tumbled through the rift, surging like waves as they spread across the forest floor.
“The umbrood? Are you sure master?” The dragon tentatively took a step back, “They are…”
“They are cursed, and they corrupt those they come in contact with, they are living nightmares.” Laughing softly, “They will teach the ponies there a lesson.”
“They were not successful for Bela at the City of Gardens.” He tilts his head, looking at his master.
“On the contrary, my young one. They did exactly as intended. They didn’t have to take the city and destroy those within to accomplish my goals. They brought the prince out, they taxed the defenders of the city. And most importantly, they instilled fear into the Padishah and his guards.”
“Yes master.” The dragon bowed his head.
Looking to the army, “Go, spread your darkness, once again you are free on this land.”
Hissing, the swarm charged towards the mountain, towards Canterlot.