Memories Of The Flask

by WindigogoGadget

Out Of Darkness

Its name was Cantador. It's purpose was to sing.

So it did. It sang for a long time, wonderful little sopranos without meaning echoed throughout the forest as it, now she, walked. She trotted, and trotted, coming up with ideas on how she would look like, what she could do, all sung for the whole world to hear until she had stumbled across a town.

That was a very long time ago.

Her name was Cantador, but the locals knew her as Shadow Song, or Song for short. Oh, she could remember it clearly, the looks on their faces, the guards with their spears. She hadn't even made a proper physical form on her visit to the... The... What was the town's name again? Oh well, she'd remember it on her way to the church.
In those days she was a black mass that looked like a pony, and many others in the town had theories as to why she had once looked like that. Some thought she used to be a terrible singer, cursed to create melodies until the right one broke the spell she was under. Some thought it was just because it was dark that day. Others thought she might have been an angel posing among them as a pony.

Her voice was angelic, but she was still more akin to a demon if they took her true origins into account. But it was unfair to her maker to call them a demon. He was the one responsible for her existence after all.

Staring at a mirror, she revealed herself among the polished silver face to be a pony-shaped mass of darkness. But she knew what she presented herself to the locals as. She was an ebony black unicorn mare with a curved horn, with long legs that aided her in swift movement amongst the crowds. Her mane was of similar color, but she held a twin yellow streak that seemed to shine like daylight whenever she sang.

Oh, she could remember her first song, that ghostly harmony that had lulled the hostile guards into peace; made the one that had almost stabbed her weep openly and beg for forgiveness. In her short existence she never knew that something as simple as a melody with no meaning could cause such a thing, let alone when she hadn't intended it. Yes, her first days here had been harsh, not just on her, but it had all worked out in the end. Friendship and Harmony prevailed against misgivings and misunderstandings, and her time here had grown to be a pleasant one. It was no longer an event that was looked upon shamefully, except from maybe a guard or two that wouldn't let themselves live it down, but instead something that was looked fondly upon in remembrance.

That day was not the day a monster came to town.

That day, was not the day an innocent mare was gored.

That day, was the day a singer was born and came to town.

That day was not today. Today she had a good song to sing, to gather upon the haybox with the rest of the towns ponies and be merry. It was the snow season now, the beginning of a long and grueling winter. The weather ponies had tried to fend it back, delay the oncoming storm as long as possible, but like any weather it was to be inevitable. She hummed a low tune as she trotted through twisted streets, a few ponies tailing behind her slowly as heavy brass bells rang in the distance.

It was a happy life, and she was happy to bring joy to the others with her song. Shadow Song trotted around a corner, echoing off the cobbled stones that paved the road as a few more ponies followed her, a foal and his parents, a loner who hadn't quite found someone yet, and an elderly stallion. She wondered how many would show up to the sermon that she assumed would be preached today, usually there were more and more ponies each time. The ponies would wane, and wax again larger in number.

The Cathedral came into view, the place of worship had been restored recently ever since her arrival. She didn't think it to be dedicated to her, no, that would be plain silly. She was a pony just as much as anyone else here, no matter her dark heritage. No matter how many times the old mare, Sweets, would call her "Her Radiance" and no matter how many times she thought them call her Radiant Song instead of Shadow Song.

Stepping into the Cathedral, there were many ponies along the aisles of pews, a few having a gentle embellishment or two. There was blue carpet at the center of the two aisles, laid above fine stonemasonry. Glass let light filter in, sometimes the rays of light would be different colors if the sun shined in just the right way off the glass artwork along the sides of the walls, the glass panes lined in black iron. This was a place of warmth, for the mind and against the biting cold outside that all but Shadow Song noticed.

Many ponies waited, coming in all sorts of colors and combinations, races and size. They waited for Shadow Song to commence her trot to the center, an elevated platform just a step above the rest, with another platform two steps above with a stand where the speaker would be. The ponies turned their heads down slightly in respect while curious foals continued to watch the black mare prepare to sing.

The mare began her song, her solo echoing along the stone walls as a heavenly organ played somewhere in the background, slowly and gently to the tune of her voice. Her soprano rang out as she occasionally swung half-mindedly from side to side. To see the many listeners of her music, it inspired her. It was one of the reasons she loved song so much. She closed her eyes, and continued.

Shadow Song's eyes opened slightly, she saw all of the ponies continuing to enjoy her music with their heads bowed down in silence, and she saw a resplendent glory shine through the crowd. Celestia. The friend of the original shadow. Sister of the night. She wondered why she was getting closer, and why she seemed to tremble slightly. Were they sad? Or could they not hear her song very well? With the ending of the first verse, Shadow Song stared directly into the eyes of Celestia, choosing to sing for them.

Silence came as the music slowly faded out, then a thunderous rapport rang out as a thin shimmering beam of light ended the shades life; shot straight through the left eye of the false mare. It was swift, painless, and hadn't interrupted the song. Celestia had tried, initially, to end it before it began as to not attract so much attention, but like the locals, she was drawn into the siren song.

She held no illusion that what she had done wasn't traumatic, especially since the ponies had likely been influenced by the monster born of darkness for who knows how long. As the citizens stared silently in shock for just a moment she readied herself to address them. "My-"

Pale Creed was his name, captain of the peacekeepers of the Order Of Harmony.

It was a disaster. Her Holiness was assaulted by Celestia, Celestia! How could the solar princess have done this? It was impossible. Chaos erupted and the peaceful air of the church was shattered as another stallion's voice cried out, the citizens toppled over pews and each other as they screamed at Celestia in horror and fear, fleeing the church. Guards dressed in ceremonial white garb with the relief of a rose on the flank, heeded the barking of their captain as they drew short swords hidden under the robes of the guards. Magic blades, Unicorn guards swung their blued blades in a white magical aura, even the earth ponies who had no magical conduit to draw from were capable of using them.

Loyal guards rushed to take on Celestia herself, who aimed her head high as she called upon her own power, concussive strikes rained down from above as two guards were felled, then three more by the flat of a captured sword. The enchanted blades resisted her magic, her violent ways, the white aura of the sword and her gold aura were violently at odds.

With the time purchased by his guards, Creed had rushed to the aid of the singer with his remaining escort of two fellow peacekeepers, but it was too late. He recoiled and his hooves trembled as blood leaked from the burning wound which continued growing, threatening to continue until nothing was left. He could do nothing. 'No...'

He held the body close, his futile search for an answer being the only thing he could try to do. Glancing up he saw that Celestia- It was towering over his peacekeeping escorts, whether they were slain by their own blades or magic he did not know and mattered not as the thing stared directly at him; her regal appearance stained by the black blood that had sprayed from Shadow Song unto her face. This being was a menacing demon wearing the regalia of Celestia.

And he was next.

"Creed!" Was the shout of his sister's voice. The demon turned its attention to her sister, a lime green unicorn who once wanted to ask for singing lessons from Shadow Song herself. She was excellent with a lyre. He saw that courage shrink as his sister stammered, and his hooves were full of the dead, unable to swing his blade while its back was turned. For a brief moment, he thought he saw pity on the demon's bloodied face or was it confusion?

A blast of darkness with light bending around it in a bright snow white halo shot from the distance, knocking over the remaining pews as it collided head on with the demon. His heart briefly filled with hope, but then it started to get back up.

"Heartstring! Go with your brother and get out of here! Now!" Grunted the dark purple unicorn with a snow white mane. Their horn had a distinctive curve, and was wrapped in bandages. His adopted brother had joined the fight.

The few guards nearby that had heard the commotion joined in the aid of evacuating his sister, the body he held in his hooves had crumbled away until only a shining topaz remained. "I will return with help! You stall her until then!" Pale Creed pointed his sword at the demon before fleeing with his sister and the singers remains, he would take his sister to safety, and bring the rest of the garrison to join in the fight. He had doubts he could do anything against something powerful enough to pose as Celestia, but he would try.

He had to.