Requiem For a Quill

by KingofSquirrelz

Princess Celestia's Personal Executioners

The cool wind chilled the air of the labyrinth, as the rain soaked the coats of four ponies held within its deepest parts.

The black clouds overhead held nothing to be desired as the rainfilled small onclave. The walls were blight and luminous as the vegetation of wild flora seem to resonate with the awakening of the long forgotten stallion. A pony took in the feeling, for rain was one of the rare delights you could not feel in stone.

The trio of fillies huddled together as they looked into the ice blue eyes of the light golden coat of the stallion on the plinth. Why do they look at me like thine have come from the pits of Tartarus?

Although there was something else of their minds, something kept them glued together, shivering like foals before beasts.

Quill nodded politely “What are thine names, speak now lets you hold thee in contempt.” he drawled in a regal voice that stemmed from years of verse and song.

The girls looked at each other until Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell lightly pushed Apple Bloom forward, “Ah’ I’m Apple Bloom… and this is Scoots and Sweetie Bell…” she slightly stammered, visibly shivering from the cold now. She nodded to the girls and they each stuck a pose.

“And we are.”

“THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!” The yells in unison.

Quill’s tail went firmly between his legs as his blue eyes shot wide like saucers. “Crusaders… the warriors of the sun, Princess Celestia’s personal executioners? So she hast finally wish to see thee dispatch from the mortal coil. Thine vile fiends! I shall not go willingly. Have at thee!”

Quill quickly bent down and bit down on a sharp shard of his former granite skin as he leapt back of his plinth. A grievous miscalculation on his part as he slid on the wet grass sending the granite shard flying into the air as he fell on his back spread eagle.

The shard imbedding itself in the ground mere inches from his… stallionhood.

Quill looked at the sky, the clouds that he missed so dearly that he had not even a chance to drift upon them again. “You three hast bested me in combat, quickly take thine finished blow and send me off. So lest I dream upon the wind of the world, thy wish to pear upon the stars beyond.”

The stallion closed his eyes giving no regret to his fate.

After several moments of silence Quill opened an eye. “Why doesn’t thou not make thy finished blow?”

The trio looked at the down stallion in confusion. “What in the world are ya’ talking about mister? We aint going ta kill ya’.” The stallion peered in the golden red eyes of his savior.

“You are sparing thy life? Oh, Luna be praised to the heavens beyond the clouds.” Quill elegantly stood up, carefully taking his footing as to not fall again. “I shall see to it personally the world over knows of your great mercy, Cutie Mark Crusaders. I shall weave a song that will tell of your deeds today. Thine shall be the talk of all the streets and pubs. Tis a great day indeed to be freed and then personally meet heroes.”

“Mister I think your mis—“ Sweetie Bell was cut off by a hoof firmly planted on her mouth,

“So your saying that you can tell other ponies of are deeds? Like we will all be all famous and stuff, like say Daring Do?” Scootaloo contemplated. A wry grin growing on her face.

“I hast not heard tale of this Daring Do, but you three stall be known throughout the land for your great mercy that was shown here today.” Quill smiled a grin shown sincerity, as she stomped his hoof into the wet grass.

Aaaaachooooo

All eyes fell upon Sweetie Bell as she wiped some mucus that caught on the bridge of her snout. “This has been great and all, but can we continue this conversation where we are not surrounded by torrent winds and freezing rain?” Sweetie Bell asked.

“Wha?” Apple Bloom looked confused.

“Right! Lest make haste and tarry not, I have been coop up in this cove for nearly half a millentia. So do tell me Cutie Mark Crusaders of your exploits so that it may help me compose a ballad to be sung throughout the land.”

“Well I don’ know about that. It went and took well over three hours gettin’ here and everythin’. Who knows how long it will take for us ta’ get back to tha’ castle.” Quill raised a questioning brow.

“Didst thou find thine cove not knowing the secrets of the labyrinth?”

The three just looked at each other and nodded back in agreement. “I see, tis a amazing feat then that you three found me. This labyrinth was built as far as I know, to hide thee away from the world beyond. As for what else lays hidden within the flora walls is far from my realm of contemplation. Though for jest, to get where one wishes to go. All thy need to do is ask.”

Apple Blooms mouth went ajar, as Scootaloo shut it with her hoof. “What are you talking about mister?”

“You three may call me Quill, a bard, a writer, a minstrel, or a troubadour. Many titles that bare the same mark, thou I am first and foremost a storyteller. As for this maze of ivy and flower. This garden is where words hold most power.” Quill said as he shakily stepped forward. Past the three fillies and into the maze, they just shrugged as they followed him in.

Several feet into the labyrinth Quill stopped and coughed clearing this throat as he put a hoof against the ivy wall. “I wish to go home to the castle, please part the walls and show me the way home.” There was several long seconds of silence where only the rain and wind could be heard.

However like he commanded the leafs and ivy walls parted, as the way opened up for the wayward group. Quill and the cutie mark crusader now trekked forward as the labyrinth walls now made way for them.

“How did you know about that?” Sweetie Bell asked, her body now stopped shivering now the fast trot back to the castle.

Quill just gave her a passing glance. “Princess Celestia hast come to visit thee many a times over the past five hundred years. Sometimes to curse me, sometimes to apologize. In every case she spoke those words to the vines and the path was always made way for her, so it should do the same for us.”

“What did you do for the Princess to seal you away? You didn’t murder any pony did you?”

Quill shuddered, “No, I hast never taken a life before. Nor hast I ever tried. Nay, my crimes were nothing more than speaking my grievances with Princess Celestia. As a result, my instrument, family, and entire world was taken from me.”

“There is no pony way Princess Celestia would never do that to any pony for speakin’ their mind. She just can’t have done that.” Apple Bloom protested. “Princess Luna maybe, but never Celestia.”

Quill stopped dead in his tracks. “Princess Luna hast returned from the moon, so the night mare hast returned again…”

The girls just chuckled to themselves. “You’re a funny guy Quill, let’s give you a little update on what happened in the past few years.”

The trio finally made their way to the entrance after a hour of walking through the ivy maze.

“So Princess Luna’s curse has been lifted? What of the night court? What hast become of Discord? Tell thee more about these Bearers of the Elements, they sound like fascinating heroes. Two of you are brethren of them, one must wonder if heroism is genetic?”

The trio was about to answer Quills maelstrom of questions but was stopped by the lisped call of a certain filly.

“I found them mthis Cheerilee!” Twist yelled as she hopped in place.

“We are in so much trouble.” Scootaloo said, Quill however made way under the stone walls and shook off the rain that drenched his coat. So much hast happen is such a short time, Princess Luna doth returned, such a joyus day indeed.

The girls followed in and shook as much of the water as they could from their coats. The calm serenity of the warmth of the castle bleed its way into their bodies as if the walls themselves welcomed them home.

The sound of a charging mare on the marble path was audible threw out the garden. “Girls I am so glad you’re safe, you can imagine what I have been through looking for you!” Miss Cheerilee said as she panted for air. Her coat was just as wet if not more than the girls from her search.

“Were sorry Miss. Cheerilee, we got lost in tha' maze. We were just trying to get are explorer cutie marks, honest.” Apple Bloom said.

Scootaloo was next to speak. “We also found the treasure! It wasn’t much of a treasure but we found this guy. He talks funny, but he is a cool pony.” Scootaloo point a weary hoof at the stallion who was now eyeing Miss Cheerilee up like a foal looking at candy.

She shot a glance at Quill who continued to stare,” Umm. Hello? Did she just say you were the treasure in the labyrinth?”

Quill smiled as he stepped towards the school mare as he took her hoof in his, “Enchanted to meet you, surely a beauty such as thee must have a name thast I may call you Miss. Cheerilee?” Quill put every emphasis he could on the world miss.

Miss Cheerilee blushed a little but still held her teacher composure. “It’s just Miss Cheerilee Mr.?”

“Quill, Mighty Quill.” Quill bent down and kissed the tip of her hoof, one the earned a fit of giggles from a lispy filly, and some shocked glares from a trio of cutie crusaders. Miss Cheerilee politely smiled as she calmly accepted the kind gesture. “May I say you have the most fertile birthing hips I hast ever gazed upon.”

Miss. Cheerilee just blinked.

“Well Mr. Quill, it has been very kind of you, and thanks for the ummm compliment. However we must be going we have a train to catch in a few hours.” Miss Cheerilee politely pulled her hoof back as she slowly backed away from the stallion.

Quill felt a slight pull on the back of his tail as he craned his head back to spot the crème color filly with red curly hair, “Donth worry tooth mthuch about ith Mr. Qthill. Miss. Cheerilee likth some pony elsthe.

“Ah, thank you young mare for you kind information, thou hopes that someday that thee finds a stallion fitting your kindness.” Quill spoke earning a small giggle and she kicked a small stone into the rain.

“Lets get out of this place already.” Came the whiny voice of a Diamond crowned filly. “This place is cold and wet, and if I see that stupid statue of the mare holding the flag I think I’m going to throw up.”

“Yah.” Said Silver Spoon as she followed Diamond Tiara in toe.

Quill gaze fell upon the whiny young filly, and most specifically the Diamond crown on her head. “By Luna’s great moon, another Princess hast been born? Tiss a great day indeed! I hast missed a great deal in 500 years.” Quill trotted over to the young princess and gave her a low bow.

Diamond just raise a eyebrow. “Who is this weirdo and why ids he bowing?”

“I’m sorry my princess thine name is Mighty Quill, a minstrel of sorts. Tiss a pleasure to see that Equestria is graced with another ruler. Might I add a pretty one at that?”

The reaction was instant as a smirk worked itself on her face.

Apple Bloom was as Quill’s side in a heartbeat. “Quill, your mistaken. Diamond is not a pr—“ Apple Bloom was cut off by a hoof that cross six feet in the matter of the tenth of a second.

“Yes, I am a princess. I am glad to see some pony here has taste. You may bow before me.” Diamond said as she raised a dismissive hoof the offer still held firm on Apple Bloom’s jaw.

“It hast been many a year since I last seen a princess, may thou ask young mare how old ist though, so that I can comprise a ballad worthy of your splendor?”

The sound of gaging could have been heard through the rain, but was promptly ignored by the huge doses of flattery that Diamond was absorbing. “I’m twelve, the oldest in my class. I even already had my cutesignaria.”

Quill looked up with a raised brow. “Twelve? A twelve year old princess with no husband? You must put those birthing hips to good use at once, lest your womb shrivel up and die.”

“Yes I… wait what?”

Apple Bloom pushed Diamond Tiara hoof away from her face, “She is not ah princess Quill. She just wears a tiara to look snooty.” Quill looked back at the filly now starring daggers at the farm filly.

“Tis this true young one, did thy bare false truth?” Quill face showed no emotion save for a few glances of pity.

Diamond turned her gave to the Quill, the cold glare he was giving her pierced deep within her. “I am a princess, my daddy owns more shops than any other pony in Ponyville. I am just one step away from royalty.”

“Tis a said day indeed that one would act in such a manner for a face that one dost not know. Liars are the bane of the world young miss, so much could be prevented if one just tells only truth.” Quill said in a tone that almost chilled the air around them.

Several moments past wile Quills words slowly sunk in.

Miss Cheerilee cleared her throat to get the attention of her class. “Now class, it is time to say goodbye. I am sure Mr. Quill has lots of important things he must attend to. Also, we all have a train to catch. As for you three I, the next parent teach conference will be quite interesting.”

The goodbyes were bittersweet. The small group of students left the garden with the school mare in a rush, leaving Quill alone.

Fret not young sorceresses, you three young heroes must have a great destiny before thee. Quill thought as he watched their silhouette disappear off into the distance.

Quill turned and faced the stone walls of the castle. “I guess now tis a great time as any for me and Princess Celestia have a little reunion.” He finished with his own words leaving a bittersweet taste in his mouth.