//------------------------------// // My Three Descendants // Story: Requiem For a Quill // by KingofSquirrelz //------------------------------// R e q u i e m for a Q u i l l An MLP:FIM fanfiction written by: KingofSquirrelz with editing and proofreading by: ChainReaction Chapter Three My Three Descendants My, my, my… this place has not changed a bit in over five hundred years. Seems princess Celestia doesn’t do much interior decorating. Alas, those curtains in the waiting room should do with an update. Quill thought to himself as he trotted through the castle walls. Where are the guards? I should have intersected with at least one pony by now. The florin marble floor set off the walls of the paintings of nobility. The stain glass windows that showed the heroic feats of those long past caught Quills eye, one in particular of the elements of harmony. Quite a sight indeed. Someday I would love to meet these heroes. Such a joyous day, I come back and I am already graced with the presence Crusaders. I wonder what else hast change. His gaze met the stain glass window with the six elements defeating discord. Oh what wouldn’t I give to see that? “Who are you!” came the shout of an irritated stallion. He was downed in a red velvet suit with white sash the bore the universal mark of magic, a six point purple star. His eyes where the ocean blue and an alabaster coat. He must be a unicorn of high ranking to wear the garbs of a commander. “Speak now!” Not a patient one it seems. “My name is Mighty Quill, I am just wondering around a bit. Oh, but if you could point me to Princess Celestia bedchamber I would be much obliged.” Quill said with a sincere smile. Shining Armor’s eye twitched, “I will disregard that obvious statement, since you know it would mean you in shackles. How did you get into the castle?” A wry smile grew of Quill's face. “Shackles? My voice is that of the opinion of the masses. I doth spent half a millennia in a cell of stone. Your mere bindings can’t compare to the sentence I just finished serving. As for you quarry about my stay with the Princess, I simply wish some information from her, she did invite me to the castle to begin with. Although that was well over five hundred years ago, but I doubt this pony would believe my story. The sound of light hoof steps again the marble floor, “Shining come back to bed, I’m so wonly.” Came the soft cooed voice of a pink alicorn. As she peered into the room with her deep velvet eyes, her mane seductively curled back, he steps nearly silence by the purple and pink striped socks she was wearing. Quill and Candace shared a long stair as she whole coat started to turn a bight shade of red. She took a hoof in step and almost galloped full speed in the opposite direction. “Well now I do see why there were no guards patrolling the corridors. Marry making within the castle walls, oh how it does being back memories. Tell me young squire, does Celestia still hold the Gala, I say I would love a good waltz around the courtyard again.” Three large pulsing veins grew on Shining Armor’s forehead as he his mood stiffened from his rendezvous being ruined. Quill left the ground as he was encompassed in a dark purple aura. “Trespassing is a heavy punishment, I’m sure a few days in a stone cell will do you nicely” Armor said as he walked up to the floating bard. Quill laughed, “The royal treatment? I can walk have you know, my hoofs are made for walking and that just what they'll do.” Ahhh, what great fun this is, I haven’t had good word play in centuries. - - - The cold dank air of the dungeon was enough to send a chill through his bones. The cell was carved out of the wall leaving much to be desired for the ever day comforts of normalcy. I didn’t think he would actually put me in the dungeon, really had I known of his little meeting I would have avoided the area. Does no pony put socks on door handles anymore? Quill slumped over on the cloth futon on the floor, tracing circles in the dirt next to it. This place is filthy. The wooden door at the far end of the hall creaked open, as a familiar face of an irritated guard captain trotted through the door. Clear distain on his face. “It seems princess Celestia would like to have a few words with you Quill.” He said in low growl. Quill put a hoof to his forehead, ”How can I ever survive in the outside world anymore, all that I ever known, lost in time. All I know now is the cold confines of these laden stone walls. What shall I ever do?” Shining just dead panned, “It’s been fifteen minutes…” “AH, quite well let’s be off then, its time for the fated reunion. Let’s hope it doesn’t end up like the last one.” Quill chuckled to himself half joking, half serious. Shining remanded silent, he had no clue what connection this stallion had to the princess, and he wanted to know. The duo made their way past the guards that blocked the entrance, each pony saluting Shining as they walked by. The cold stone became marble as they ascended the stairs of the dungeon. The temperature difference was a nice change. Shining lead the stallion across the castle, into the tower that held Princess Celestia’s personal study. The short trek left Quill oddly winded from the long climb up the stair case. I really need to consider a training regimen if I survive this. Three solid knocks on the white gilded doors could have been heard throughout the castle. Quill’s heart nearly stopped as the door creaked opened, even shining was surprised to see Celestia sitting I front of a tea set for two. He study was surrounded by wall to wall with books; the mahogany furniture in the room was a nice touch that offset the luminous white walls of the area. The smell of morning glories filled the room along with the ever familiar honeyed earl grey tea. Quill’s favorite. “Thank you Shining armor, you may go.” Celestia said her voice dripping with regality. Shining was about to protest but her glare she shot back at him was enough for him to realize this was not his place. The knight closed his eyes and bowed. “By your leave, princess.” Quill could just barley catch the scowl on his face as he shut the door of the study leaving the story teller and the alicorn alone. A sheepish grin grew on Quill’s face. “It hast been quite some time my dear Celestia, how long has it been since you last paid me a visit, forty, no fifty years. I did enjoy are visits so.” The Pegasus finished by taking a seat right across from the goddess. “Do tell how have you been?” The alicorn princess sipped down her honeyed tea, “It has had its ups and downs’, and leading a nation does have its moments Mighty Quill…” Celestia finished as she set down her cup and levitated the china tea pot and pour her guest a cup. “Thank you, I was quite parched, I haven’t had a spot to drink in well of five hundred years, I am glad you remember my favorite tea.” Quill finished as he took in the whiffs of the delicate smell of the honeyed tea. “It has been far too long.” The two sat in silence for a while as each said nothing, avoiding the obvious elephant in the room. “So what do you plan to do now that your free, I can’t very well put you back? I have long since lost the power to control the elements. What to do with you is the question.” Her eyes became half lidded and she looked at the stallion across from her. “Maybe we could… start were we left off so many years ago?” The trajectory of the tea was perfect as it I flew across the table right into the princesses forehead. “What thou ask to rekindle the fire, well let me put it in words that you may under and it reads thusly.” Quill took a breath. “You may place you wonder lips upon my posterior and kiss it repeatedly. What we had died years ago, there is NOTHING there but contempt. The monument of emotion that I gave for you withered away in the span of the years that I was stuck being a sculpture in your lawn. I lost everything, all because you wanted to LIE to your little ponies. I love my instrument, my, my family, and most importantly my word. Ponies called me a LIAR, a horrid vile contemptible creature that uses the magic blessed by words for thine own purposes. All because thou didn’t wish to lose face over something so minor.” Quill took another breathe. “You wear my first and ONLY. Now thanks to you I am doomed to wonder in a world that knows nothing, and a nation built on the lies of a ruler. Thine heart may still beat with my chest, but you killed me that day all those years ago.” Princess Celestia wiped off the tea from her coat, as she attempted to keep ever bit of regality that she could muster. “I’m sorry Quill, it has just been as hard of me as it was on you, if I knew… I never would have done what I did.” “Oh and what reason would you have to regret? I am the one who had been a lawn ornament for the past five hundred years, only to watch the grass die and grow before me on my stoo—“ “Solaria, Jasmine, and Verdel. Those are the names of your foals that I bore, we had triplets.” Quill spit out the tea again this time he hit a phoenix that had landed across the room, only to squawk in protest and as she flew out the window. “You were PREGNANT? We only did it once, and you said I was unskilled in the sensual arts.” Celestia sighed as she poured herself another cup. “Yes, well contrary to popular belief, it only takes once. Thanks to your actions though, I had to raise them in secret, until I introduced them to the nation as our my nieces and nephew. I am just lucky that all three were Pegasi. Quill swallowed a large pool of saliva that had begun to pool, “So what hast become of your… I’m sorry, our children.” Celestia sighed, “They did not retain my immortality, they have long since passed away. Of our family only three remain. Solaria and Jasmine married stallions from the outskirts, Verdel stayed and remained and became the general of the army. I kept tabs on all three, they had their ups and downs but they all lead full lives. I personally made sure of that, since then our blood has been mixed over and over. The stallion held back his tears. “I see, well I guess the Quill blood runs strong. Tell me what of these three that remain, tell me about them. I would like to meet them.” The Alicorn princess sighed, “The first is name Author James Blueblood, the nation knows him as Prince Blueblood. He is currently studying magic and swordsmanship at the Academy that borders to the north; he seems to also be studying dragons. His magic skills are lacking but his skill with a blade is second to none other than Shining Armor.” Quill put a hoof to his forehead, “So my loins bore fruit, and the end result is a solder. I hope he is skill in the arts?” Princess Celestia shook her head, “He was not like you in that right, he can’t pick up an instrument and play. Some say him on the battle field could be said as a great performance for the eyes. Although the other two are do have a flare for the arts.” Quill’s ears perked up, “Oh do tell?” She nodded, “Next in line in a cello player name Octavia Philharmonica, she plays for the Canterlot orchestra, but due to a incident last year during the Gala she lost her job. She is currently living in Ponyville with her marefriend, Vinyl Scratch.” Quill gave a sigh of relief, “A cello player, oh how i can remember the days that I too played my violin, twas a long time indeed. I am glad to see my blood still runs strong, I bet you the last on tells only the truth, and has strong moral ethics.” Celestia opened her mouth and shut it and sighed, “Before I tell you the last one I would like to know what your plans are for the future.” Quill set down his tea cup, “I have had many years to contemplate what I would do if I ever got a chance to breathe the air of the world again. I guess I will explore, so many new places have been built since I been away, I guess I want to go to each town and listen to the stories of the heroes of the world. I already have a great lead on a pegasus named Daring Do, who apparently is mating with a Diamond Dog of all things.” Princess Celestia gave a bright smile that sent a shiver down his spine, “Since you will be traveling I want you to do me a favor… I know I shouldn’t ask but it is gravely important that you do this for me.” A large frown worked its way to his face, “What is so important that you need to request me to do it for you, shouldn’t I be the very last pony on your list of things to ask favors from?” Princess Celestia looked area, “I know but right now you’re the only pony that can do it… I want you to rebuild the Requiem Violin.” Quill nearly buckled over laughing, “Oh this is great, does thou want me to give you the moon too? That is a just a old foals tale that Unicorns tell their children at night to make them behave. Don’t tell me you actually believe that thing exists.” Princess Celestia sigh as her horn started to glow as a large stone plate shifted in place below the silk rug, it was a long black case that extended the length of the table, the stallion peeks a curious eye as the magic latches opened, as a black mist started to drift out of the case. Quill’s heart stopped as he gave into the box and saw hundreds of black strings, it only took him a millisecond to recognize what it was, “Strings of Fate.” Quill said in nearly a whisper. “There must be a thousand strings, how in the pony world did you even manage to get one? There is enough here to… no…” “Make the Requiem Bow, yes Quill it is not an old pony tale, it is very real. Since my sister’s defeat, every piece of the violin has come to Equestria, all it takes is the hoofs of an stallion who remembers the old ways to make it.” Quill slammed the case shut, “What reason do you have that you need that dangerous thing for, you know what would happen if you played it? The crystal kingdom fell because of the cursed instrument, and you want me to make it! You must think I am a fool to think that I would help you with such a endeavor.” The alicorn put a tender hoof on his shoulder, “Quill listen, this kingdom is not what it used to me all those many years ago. It has become a dangerous place. We are nearly warring with the gryphon nation to the east, they have been gathering forces. They are even rumors that they are trying to side with the changelings for an all-out attack, Millions will die, and all this could be prevented Quill, if you made that violin.” Princess Celestia looked deep into Quill’s eyes, “Think about it Quill, you would be a hero like the ones you sing about. No long will you have to stand in the shadows of greatness, but become the pillar that casts the shadows. Enough glory to rebuild your name, Mighty Quill.” The stallion licked his lips, “Well I do see that you need me, just know this. I am do this for my family, I haven’t been there for them, I guess now I can protect them from war.” Princess Celestia put a hoof on Quill’s shoulder. “Excellent, now let’s be off. We should get your traveling companion.” Quill raise a brow, “Who would be dumb enough to join me on this fools errand.” Celestia smile, “She doesn’t know anything yet, also she is the last on you lineage that I mentioned. She was caught stealing fruit from a stall in the northern district, so right now she should be in a normal cell for a few days, Good thing too, she is hard to find. She is a traveling performer name Trixie.”