//------------------------------// // Elenei // Story: Hope in the burning skies // by Kalimdor //------------------------------// Planet: Unknown Year: ∞ Megan couldn’t even comprehend what was going on. Pleasing violet light disappeared as fast as it appeared and she was hanging in the empty black space. A pitch black allowed her to see only own fingertips and she wasn’t sure it was her imagination alone. ‘I will surely kill this guy next time, if he will be still alive after visit of his new friends.’ Eventually black well, that she was thrown into, had its bottom. Tips of her toes touched cold surface. It was plain and cold, after little while of scratching witch nails she was sure it was made of glass. Megan still hung above and she could only barely touch it. Suddenly, far away on the horizon, she saw little white point. It was growing with every breath and illuminated nearby area. She couldn't do anything to move herself, just observe the incoming beacon. She witnessed a lot strange things today but this toppled everything else. It was a snowflake white horse with attributes she saw a couple of times already in old tv screen. Despite surroundings she trotted in air with fully expanded wings, beating vigorously. Mane and tail created lively blue wall. Equine landed couple of meters from levitating Megan. Woman was certain that the pony looking at her was Sapphire from the records, much bigger but still the same pony. Green big eyes were set on her and inspecting her thoroughly while walking around vulnerable body. After a bit of consternation Megan noticed that something about her was wrong. With the light coming from alicorn she realized that she is completely naked. Weirdly enough her chair was just like her, ignoring basic principles of physics and floated freely high above her head. She shrieked and curled up to fetal position still hanging in the space. “Oh, forgive us. We didn’t have any visitors lately.” Warm and pleasing words filled empty space, yet Megan still felt unsecure and instinctively closed her eyes. “Modesty, would you kindly dress our guest? You see, we don’t normally wear clothes.” “Yes, Princess.” another voice answered to white mare, gentle and soft. “She is not a princess! How many times I have to tell you? Not a princess, silly!” this voice belonged to, as she assumed, colt. “She is!” “No, she is not!” “She is powerful and kind! Beautiful and wise! She is a princess!” steppe of hoof echoed loudly. “I am handsome and wise too, but I am not a princess… I mean prince! Princess needs subjects and kingdom! She doesn’t have any of these things! Sooooo… not a princess, alright!” Curiosity got the better and Megan opened one of her eyes. Two ponies quarreled about Sapphire apparent heir. Princess was smiling widely purely enjoying this eager disagreement. She recognized pegasus and unicorn because of the picture which Kal gave her earlier. Equines were drastically different than Sapphire. When she was purely the same as on the tape and picture, they resembled shrouded in mystery ghosts. White coats and manes with transparent eyes completed the whole assumption. Sapphire tapped pegasi on the shoulder and pointed at the guest “Please.” “Oh, my deepest apologizes, Princess.” Now unicorn remained silent and he became more concerned about his friend rather than prove who is who. Modesty closed her eyes and Sapphire with her horn took something liquid like flowing from her closed eyelid. Megan accepted with relief return of gravity when she gently settled on the floor. Cocoon of blue light embraced her and with flash of light she was in the most gorgeous dress she could possibly order anywhere in the universe. “It is sewn from colier web and pure diamonds.” Modesty gently answered to unspoken question. She was observing her work with one eye and Megan realized that pony done more than she can imagine. “You are pretty.” Megan could now normally stand on the floor and get used to low gravity. Unicorn approached mare and gently rubbed her arm with hoof. After good words said with this kind of sincerity it was too much for Megan and tears went to her eyes. “I am very sorry for your eye, Modesty.” “It didn’t hurt or anything, it is my purpose and pleasure, Miss?” “Yes, who are you? Are you a clone?” Sudden change in Sapphire mood dispirited human and she backed a bit but pony didn’t even flinch “I know human just like you, she is my great friend.” Strong feelings she had just before a second evaporated with a snap of fingers “You need to answer my questions! Real Sapphire is in Dominion hands not in some crazy gee-whiz glassy land!” “This ‘crazy gee-whiz glassy land’ is Elenei where time and space ends!” winged mare jumped to Sapphire and stood just before her and faced Megan. “I believe we started from wrong hoof. My name is Modesty, nice to meet you.” “My name is Star Breeze, reconnaissance unit, ma’am!” unicorn saluted eagerly. Sapphire waited patiently for her to answer and ruffled gorgeous mane. She knew what to say. “Megan Scott, but friends call me Shield.” Alicorn straightened her long neck and slowly exhaled air. “Everything finally is in motion. Breeze go to old bearded fool and say that pony land need his help once more.” Unicorn nodded to princess and Megan then galloped in unknown to her direction disappearing in the shadows. “Modest use gems and refill completely your and Star magic. Use my portion if necessary.” Pegasus did the same thing as her friend for goodbye and took off in the air. “You were right, I am not Sapphire.” Megan eyes widened a bit and braced her for new information’s. “I am an idea magically wrapped to certain form. This is very advanced magic and we can only exist in this place, Elenei.” Alicorn looked directly at her eyes, green sea was taking her away. “When ponies perform magic that involve use of time and space, like for example teleporting, they need to go into transfer space.” “So you are saying that…” “Yes, you are now teleported somewhere and I with friends are here to let you survive whole process. Humans have so fragile hearts and practically no magic. After couple of minutes here alone you would turn insane.” Megan severed eyes connection and admired for second her reflection. “That is my purpose. Modest and Breeze are here for certain purpose. She fulfilled her but stayed here to accompany me.” “That’s nice, but you are a spell, nothing more. Remember that.” Megan had experience with unconstrained AI’s and this situation seemed exactly like giving the machine free will. Magic make it even trickier. “Yes. Sapphire performed spell for each of them. Last seven ponies willing to stop the madness you created. They just wanted to say last words to humans they valued the most in their lives before they parted forever. I respect that. You don’t seem to.” “Fate is predicted in our case. War is like it and we love war.” “Elenei was periodically a home for every single one of us who run from homeland. They hoped that we will return with help to defeat powerful enemy in our real home or live somewhere happily without mark of chaos.” She unfolded her wings and stretched leg muscles with round moves. “We ended up on your home world and I don’t know which fate was worse. Stay there or land here.” She launched herself in air and floated above Megan. “Now our paths are separating. Stay in good health. You going to need it Shield.” “You will need something?” “Only a couple of magic gems with little paper umbrellas.” She sent her big smile and rocket somewhere to the shiny horizon illuminating it even more with her inner light. Megan looked at her reflection last time. Floor under her feet started to simultaneously crackle in many places. She will never forget this smile. Next chapter 'Rainbow bridge' coming in Monday Tuesday GMT+1 Warsaw 9.10.2012