//------------------------------// // Upstream and Downstream // Story: Dawn of Midnight // by TheApostate //------------------------------// ‘En amont et en aval – je me souviens jamais de quoi est quoi.’ -Barbaric words from a barbaric people. ‘Why are we here, sister?’ asked Celestia. ‘Because I think you need a break,’ said Luna, happy to be with her sister after a week of absence. Luna rolled her eyes. ‘Alright, Tia.’ Tia… She stopped calling me Tia… No, shut up! ‘I will stride your way.’ ‘Equestria is not a small thing to govern.’ ‘I know. I know from their dreams. But you are doing a great job; you don’t have to push yourself. I hope you’re doing fine?’ She had answered as she had become accustomed to: that she was fine. Too much or too little, and it might cause Luna to worry. Her sister had enough on her plate already. Luna sat down and offered Celestia a place next to her. ‘I can help you-’ ‘I prefer not – for your sake. Already you have a whole other dimension; leave that one to me. Alright?’ Luna twirled of the head, trying to amuse her sister. It succeeded on easy Celestia’s tense features. ‘Well, yeah. Also, I guess I am not too discrete. You know what I mean.’ If there was one thing she admired in her sister above all else, was how plainly she would state things. She would not commit to great, elaborate schemes – of which Celestia said nothing off to Luna to not concern her – nor would she come to undertake any. She was wholly capable, but in her more direct and preferred manner. Celestia nodded. Something moved in the penumbra of the forest. Neither recognized the thing. Luna pounced. Celestia retreated. She shook her head, trying to get a hold of herself. Luna wreathed it with blue flames, making the air tremble in the howls of the wounded beast. She began running around it. Slowly and gradually weakening it. Celestia tried to hide, gathering in her mind all the words to cast a great spell. The giant, near reptilian thing terrified her. Yet, observing her sister’s relentless use of rapid bursts of magic quelled Celestia’s unease. The words came to her far more easily. She got up from hiding place, her horn aglow with impossible light, the spell nearly finished. Then sounds of esoteric deflagration ceased for a moment. Luna stood still, preparing to cast a spell of her own. Words and sentenced mingled. None made sense nor was she able to perceive logical any order out of them. She could not focus. The beast regained hold of it functions. With its slender, wipe-like tail, it hurtled Luna away from Celestia. Her fall only ending by crashing into a tree and Luna closing her eyes in pain. Then another cry was heard. Too great for it to be natural, too overwhelming in its intensity for it originating from the innards of any creature. The beast fled. Celestia harried it relentlessly until the forest made its silhouette invisible. The smell of burned wood rose invaded the air. With one gesture of the head, Celestia snuffed them all. In the corner of her vision, still busying herself to cull fires, she perceived another beast sprinting forward, like emerging from the expanse of the forest; large, seemingly equipped with long, pointy forward limbs; and an impressive dorsal crest that broke branches easily as the thing moved undaunted and undeterred. She followed it with a predatory gaze, ready to smite the thing into oblivion at moment notice. The bestial scream rumbled through the air, falling dead with no screech of battle afterward. Silence fell. The forest was peaceful once more. In the distance, a shuffling sound remained. Abating more and more as time passed. Celestia stayed steadfast for two more minutes. She turned toward her sister. ‘Luna!’ cried out Celestia. ‘Does it hurt bad?’ She crouched next to Luna. Her look stayed on the wound, tainting her sister’s wings with dripping blood. Luna turned her sister’s gaze away from the wound. It burned and itched her; she kept her curses within. ‘Fine. Fine.’ ‘You are lying!’ ‘Just help me get up. I can still fly.’ ‘Walking?’ ‘Will be fine in a few days.’ Celestia lifter her. Blood fell on a flower, a rose, draping it in Alicorn blood. Finishing with Luna, assured of her well-being, Celestia lowered her head to observe it closely. ‘Yep… That’s my blood,’ joked Luna in sigh. ‘That’s not funny…’ whispered Celestia, too enamored by the wound. ‘That’s how you speak with your people? No wonder you always have work.’ ‘No. It was a bad jest, Luna.’ ‘Sorry. Force of habit.’ ‘Then change that habit.’ It exited as an order. Luna frowned and nodded. ‘We should do something about your injuries.’ ‘It’ll be fine, I said.’ ‘What makes you so sure of it? I’ve-’ ‘I had worst! Trust me, Celestia, I’ll be fine. I-’ She looked up to her sister, appreciating the smile she was offering her. Luna smiled back, though awkwardly. ‘I can… heal myself. I know a spell.’ Celestia nodded, accepting her sister’s decision; ready to assist her at a moment notice. **** Luna wanted to be left alone. She did not want anyone to disturb her. Even Eufrimia was not permitted to enter. But she had to see her, even if it would greatly discomfort her. Eufrimia went downstairs. She stood still in the corridors. Her head slowly, gradually jerked to the opposite side. She continued forward, striding for minutes on end, passing the Hall of the Resplendent (statues of great Equestrian personalities in a silent procession through the glass-roofed corridor), she entered the abandoned dungeons. Though Cherry and the others had the unforgiving task to clean once every year. Why? Standing Princess’s orders since the first one of them had been chosen to clean her toilets. Cats and other small animals had declared those parts their home, and, Eufrimia remembered vividly, she and Cherry once stumbled upon a litter of baby foxes. Maybe it was her unconscious want to meet with her friend that took her – she wasn’t sure. But it was a place Luna never, as far as she could recall, put a hoof in. Getting bored of the empty dark, she ascended upstairs. It was in the kitchen they had first met. Night meals were, according to Cherry’s mother, a family tradition. Aurora would rarely go alone; typically, it was her mother waking her up or the reverse. She had Batpony blood from her father's side, so sleep came difficult for her. Knowing that, when she found the wonders of work exhaustion in granting her a quick sleep, she clang on to it. Her eating habits were just a part of the course. ‘You’re still awake? I thought you had work on the chimneys tomorrow?’ ‘Hey!’ welcomed Cherry, cleaning her eyes and putting aside her drink – most likely pomegranate jus. ‘How you do… uhh… doing- do… doing? He-he-he.’ She yawned loudly. ‘You were going to see her, right?’ ‘I am just hungry…’ ‘Don’t lie to my face, Eufi!’ Eufrimia snorted in amusement and sat down next to her. ‘He told you?’ ‘No. We know how you… think…’ She wearily smiled, and franticly cleaned her left ear. ‘Maybe… I shouldn’t.’ ‘No… Go. She will be happy.’ ‘I am not sure.’ ‘Sheee will be. Don’t worry.’ She rested her head on Eufrimia’s shoulder. ‘It’s not comfortable. Stiff today- night… tonight.’ ‘Next time. I promise.’ ‘Hm.’ She nodded. ‘Try to stay awake during the day. Been a while… You don’t do it much for… I don’t know… a while. How long since we know each other? Like ten years?’ ‘A little more,’ she laughed. ‘Yeah, who cares? You can- ould… can do that. I tried it.’ ‘Not your best nights, that’s for sure.’ ‘The guard do it… My grandma was a Thestral; she used to do it.’ ‘But I am not a normal one, am I?’ She taped Eufrimia on the chest. ‘Yesss… You speak next to her like she is… normal. I want to come with you but… She’s… too much for me.’ ‘She can tone it down.’ ‘It won’t work,’ dismissed Cherry. Eufrimia took a deep breath, extending it as long as she could. ‘So, want to sleep or wait for me to – perhaps – come back? Maybe, I don’t know, I will try staying awake for you.’ ‘HA! Sure you will.’ Aurora got up and took a bag with her. ‘I’ll be in my room. If you can, do it.’ She started walking. ‘Don’t follow me. Bye.’ Eufrimia laughed as Cherry wobbled away. ‘Bye.’ **** Hekatomb and Brilliant Hue – a member of Eufrimia’s tribe and one of Luna’s close guards – stood outside their ruler’s chamber. They had not seen her enter nor had they sensed her entering, but Commander Auren had ordered them to the task, and for all they cared, it was enough for them to know that she was here. Two groups of five were patrolling the corridors in a constant back and for, making music with their hooves and the small click of metal. Every now and then, the tone of their march would shift to a new cadence. Hekatomb, as their supervisor, did not stop them. ‘I wonder what a concert of only spears would sound like?’ asked Brilliant Hue. ‘Wood hitting wood, and metal just adding a nice ring to it. Not too good for the ears, though. Especially for you.’ ‘Imperfections are to be expected.’ ‘Yes, but not for hours on end.’ Hekatomb caught a pair of orange eyes flashing at corridor’s end. He smiled, teetering on a grin. ‘Speaking of imperfections,’ he slightly raised his voice. ‘Here is the worst offender.’ The guards stopped to great Eufrimia; she returned the welcome to each in a lost gaze and with quick words. ‘Silv? You are here of all people?’ laughed Eufrimia. Brilliant Hue franticly fondled her mane. ‘I can ask the same of you, Euphraty. How are you doing?’ She shook her head, smiling. ‘Good, uncle. I… I’ve forgotten about the plates.’ He shrugged. ‘Take your time.’ ‘Have you seen her?’ ‘No,’ answered Hekatomb. ‘But I have the feeling it won’t end well if you enter.’ ‘Like it will change anything with her.’ Hekatomb steeled his pose but did not answer. ‘Brilliant, as her uncle, would you recommend we let Argel’s daughter in?’ ‘He’s not with her. I guess we can let her in. Also, Argel is my uncle… I am not sure how we were actually related in the past, but I guess it works…’ ‘Don’t get me started on the concept of cousins removed, divided, multiplied, or whatnot,’ she rolled her eyes. ‘Can I enter, now?’ ‘I hear Argel’s voice peering out of yours, Eufi,’ said Hekatomb. ‘I will not be like him,’ she accused. ‘Hm,’ nodded Brilliant Hue, laughing to himself. ‘Before the whole curse thing, your father used to school me in that voice when I would wrongfully punch the bread dough. Or if he even so slightly hear you cry when I was holding you…’ ‘Hard to blame him,’ she lowered her tone. ‘He was always protective of… everything. But you are his most precious thing. He was lucky.’ Something stirred ill within her. She knew they were all somewhat jealous of her father, but she wasn’t sure how much it ran deep within them. ‘If I need to leave, just tell me. Cherry is waiting for me instead.’ Hekatomb gestured on the head to let her in. ‘I don’t expect anything from that encounter,’ he murmured. Brilliant lowered his gaze. ‘We can hope,’ she whispered back. She was reading by the light of her horn. A book from her library of old tomes, many Eufrimia could not read. The ancient language was too difficult to comprehend, or the simple act of opening them would hurt. The room was unimpressive. Not that much different than any of the others in the castle except for the smell of old paper. In fact, someone would have struggled to differentiate the chambers of one of Equestria’s perennial rulers and the mess of a scholar’s study. At the far edge of the room, almost hidden by heaps of unarranged books, was armor posed on a wooden skeleton. Battered, its edges rough and used, and its metal prevented from fully corroding by a spell cast centuries ago. It was adorned and strewed with Luna’s sigil of a crescent Moon and the symbol of the Sun decorating sliver plates, in parts both were interlocked into a unified symbol. A part from these, the armor had no other decoration. At the armor’s sight made Eufrimia’s skin crawl and fur rise – no matter how much she had laid her eyes upon it, the foreboding sensation would never dissipate. In her youth, the girl had asked Luna about the armor’s significance. She had only answered of it being her first, damaged but never repaired. Signs of ancient repairs still layered it, however. Magic, even an extremely potent one, never gives up a thing without leaving marks. ‘Is this a good read?’ quietly asked Eufrimia, closing the door in slow motion. Luna twitched of the lips in silent agreement. ‘I hope you feel better, now,’ Eufrimia smirked. She stroked the edge of Luna’s bed, weary to walk closer. Luna’s lips twitched again. ‘You want to eat something?’ ‘I have apples,’ her voice was rasped with unuse, and dour. ‘I didn’t eat much.’ Eufrimia took a gander to the basket near Luna’s chair. ‘Half a basket,’ she noted. ‘Not much indeed.’ Luna stayed silent, though a faint smile drew itself on her grim expression. ‘Have you heard of Maloghurst? Or have I told you of him?’ Luna asked in a soft, pondering voice. ‘The Perennial,’ she malignantly grinned, a grim amusement, Eufrimia innocently copied. ‘No…’ ‘He was a powerful cursed sorcerer. One proficient in the dark arts, especially in “bio-sculpting”.’ She paused, thinking of her next words. ‘He tried to corrupt Cornelia. She was a friend of mine.’ ‘You never told me of her,’ accused Eufrimia. Luna ignored her. ‘I am reading the book of his life. He had written it himself. It is the only copy.’ She paused again, taking a deep breath. ‘Maloghurst was an ancient constantly living at the edge of society. He never mingled, never caring for others except himself.’ Eufrimia frowned. Luna continued. ‘He was there before Equestria. He was there before us. He was there when the biggest and brightest settlement of the world was a mere village of one thousand souls, clambering to a river they had yet to control. But they eventually will. Some, like the Griffons, those lacking easiness in life, used ingenuity. Others used magic to control the water. And others still, used both. The Perennial was one of the first of those that learned the way of magic. He was a natural. He had managed to live during Discord’s reign of terror. He was good at it… That’s how Cornelia went mad. That’s why she’s no longer here.’ The Last Dragon Lord, thought Eufrimia. A character seldom mentioned. The name rang bells, Eufrimia was sure of this. Of places in the world they had ventured, Luna tended to rarely visit the Dragon Isles. If they did, Luna discouraged her to meet any of the Drakes. They hated “the small ones” visiting their precious home – or what was left of the glory in the aftermath of the Great Calamity and the Succession Crisis. Luna would always refuse to elaborate on that time, and no scholar wrote of draconic history. A Dragon Lord still ruled over them, but even that was unsure to Eufrimia. ‘Maloghurst…’ repeated the Batpony. ‘Not a regular name.’ ‘In those times, there was not the descriptive naming convention.’ Eufrimia nodded in appreciation. But catching herself before taking the discussion further, she elected to get directly to the initial subject of her visit. ‘How was that Eve?’ Luna kept her eyes on the book of Maloghurst. ‘Fiery,’ she finally said. ‘Those two days were this much eventful for you two? Celestia must have been happy to see you.’ ‘I doubt it. I very much doubt it.’ Eufrimia grinned. ‘Why?’ she hissed. ‘She… She just wanted to humiliate me and- and…’ her voice trembled, hesitation and doubt taking over as her stammering only increased. ‘Sh- She w-wants to-o impose herself. I only countered in defense. I had to. My honor, my pride, my reputation, and everything I- I buil- built was at stakes.’ The beatific visage of the mare crumbled instantly. ‘You are insufferable at times,’ Eufrimia made a low growl. ‘Both of you.’ ‘Excuse me?’ Luna uttered like an order, dropping the book on her chest. ‘You have-’ Eufrimia raised her voice louder. ‘I have all the right and will to speak! You, Luna, only carry sorrow to yourself!’ Using a tone Luna would exited her and pushed Eufrimia to continue. ‘Honor,’ she repeated the word. ‘For honor you’ve let yourself to fall to such length. For nothing but your ego. I am not surprised, see. I always knew you had that in you. You cannot guilt me-’ ‘I would never guilt you,’ countered Luna, surprised by the tone her friend had taken. ‘I-’ ‘I don’t care!’ Too brutal an answer, it closed all Luna’s envied words. ‘And you should not either! Every time, your… uhm…’ She stopped to scratch the back of her head while feeling too distinctly her argument fading. ‘Melancholy!’ she rejoiced at the word. ‘Every Tartarus damn time you have let your melancholy talk!’ ‘And what should I do about it, Eufi!?’ She felt even more defeated. ‘Stop caring about your past, damn it! And look forward! How do you think my father and the rest are living?!’ ‘I don’t c- know…’ ‘AH!’ roared Eufrimia in exasperation. ‘If you ask me, Celestia is purposefully putting you down!’ ‘No. She is my sister. I know that she would never even begin to…’ she trailed off as a realization came rushing in. One she hated had come back to haunt her. ‘You hesitate,’ Eufrimia forced herself to calm down. ‘Get up,’ she ordered. ‘Get up and face me.’ ‘I don’t want to fight you-’ ‘You know what I meant,’ she sounded more assertive. ‘Get up.’ Luna did so, bewildered by her answering the orders of someone else. It felt good, almost liberating. Eufrimia approached her. Then, to Luna’s surprise, going against the expectation she had laden in what could have been a final encounter – a final goodbye before her friend’s sets for her own path – Eufrimia embraced her. ‘I’m sorry, Luna,’ she unintentionally slipped. ‘I love you no matter what.’ ‘I love you to, Eufi. Don’t leave,’ she almost begged. Eufrimia leaned back and front, taking Luna with her. A slight spark reflecting upon a golden surface came and went from her eyesight. Yes you will. Unleash. **** ‘Princess…’ she awoke Celestia from her reverie. ‘What.’ It had not been a question. ‘The- The… I…’ She forgot. Embarrassed; she got out. The First Captain was standing close by. He did not chastise her; things like that tended to happen. It was knowledge passed down through successive generations of Guard Officers to expect such behavior from their mistress. None ever relished the training and the execution of their learning, but, for the nth time since he took office, he had to confront Celestia. To calm her and no more. Never had it been simple, and he did not lay any exception he would succeed on his first try. It would not be simpler as he had to contend with a passed down feeling between First Captains that encapsulated him even more. Knowledge shared only between themselves, keeping all – even Celestia – that they felt she lacked confidence in them. Jade Hooves did not need a tradition to tell him so. His, and the careers of all under him, had been a huge joke. They were promised great rewards and privileges. Privileges they had in the eyes of outsiders, but it was nothing close to one; nothing close to a reward. They were useless. He could not deny it. Though, as knowledge trickled down from the Jewel, he heard of the dedication and reverence those warriors – those renegades and paramilitary groups loyal to one – showed to the illusive Luna fascinated him. He always wanted to learn more about them, but never had the time. He sent operatives that never returned or returned with empty papers. He could announce a search – he had the authority to do so. He could force himself into the Jewel. But Jade knew it would for naught. He shook his head, spiraling the wonderings away into the never-ceasing thinking of his mind. Jade Hooves entered the room. The First Captain closed the door, and the First Captain began to speak. ‘Princess-’ ‘Get out.’ It was a roar. Not the pretend of one, but a roar true and great. He tried to maintain his solemn attitude. ‘Princess Celestia-’ ‘I said: get out!’ Without him noticing, she was in front of him. Somehow taller, mightier, imposing. Her purple eyes replaced by incandescent orange fire. He felt his soul crawl, as if burned to a shard crisp. He found it hard to breathe. The air turned rare; he almost suffocated. ‘For once,’ she roared once more, shaking him to the very soul, ‘heed my words and leave me alone. I don’t care what is happening outside these walls… I. Don’t. Care.’ It wasn’t her. It wasn’t Celestia. She would have never behaved like that. She felt too different – almost dangerous. Her words, usually so soft, serene, and pristine were filled him with rage. He was terrified of her. Not Celestia – of her. ‘Leave me. All of you, leave. Stay on the outskirts, but leave me alone. Please.’ For the first time in his life, nodding had demanded effort out of him. Maybe there could be a way to calm her. He had to try – for her sake. ‘Prince-’ She flew him up and rammed him into the door with enough force to shatter it. ‘My message was clear,’ she addressed all present Ponies in a powerful cry. She knitted the door back into one and closed it. The Guards helped their leader up. ‘We’ve heard it all, captain,’ said the mare that first exited the chamber, still somewhat shaking. ‘Then… let us heed her words,’ he hissed in pain. ‘Can you walk properly, sir?’ ‘Will do fine. The dumb, old whore was gentle in her,’ he smirked, ‘lunacy. A fitting word for her – don’t you agree?’ ‘Captain, you-’ ‘I don’t care,’ he said in her tone. ‘When she would finally calm herself, I will be resigning. Better an elusive bitch than a mad one. Until then, my oath will not be wavering. Better still: better none of them to begin with. Those centuries-old hags are rotten to the core. I’ve seen children behave with more maturity then those crones ever had.’ ‘C-calm dow- down, captain.’ ‘One day. One day, we shall be liberated from them.’ ‘S-sir! She can still hear you.’ ‘I’ve already wasted my life for her – for them. Also, haven’t you heard Celestia’s words? Let us heed them.’ He stood back on his own, making sure to not hit his fellow in his haste. ‘Let us heed the old bastard’s words.’