Chapter 6
Morning had come to the town of Ponyville as the sun left the horizon and out into the vast blue expanse of the sky. The rain had stopped and the clouds were being cleared for the day ahead. All the while Raguel sat in his cloud couch, eyes scanning the contents of a book, turning its pages every so often. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a young Scootaloo descend the staircase with scooter in hoof, glancing at him every so often till she rested at the bottom.
“Sleep well,” Raguel offered still scanning the contents of the book. She hesitated her response for a while.
“Thank you,” was all that was quietly spoken, and it was all the angel needed to hear. “Um, I just need to get to school… Could you,” she continued to mutter as Raguel had put his book down, showing more interest in his houseguest.
“Yes?” He ask not sure where she was going with this.
“Could you… help me get down?”
‘Get down? Oh right she can’t fly with that scooter of hers,’ he summarized, ‘Must be fun to use if she prefers it to flying.’ Getting off the couch he lead the way out to the edge of the cloud home, taking in the view of the town off in the distance. He could make out the specs of colour of the towns residence go about their daily routines, appearing and disappearing amongst the buildings. At town hall he could just make out the time from the clock tower. It read about eight thirty.
Noting he had to meet Twilight at the library at nine, he lowered himself letting his wings open slightly.
“Hop on,” was all he instructed. As he felt a little figure clamber up and rapped her hooves around his neck, he flexed his wings wider and jumped. The resistance in his wings increased as he parachuted to the edge of the lake, absorbing the shock of the landing with his knees. Scootaloo unwrapped her hooves quickly hoping onto her scooter as she raced to town, but not without saying her thanks with a smile before leaving.
It was a pleasant surprise to know as the angel chuckled to himself. She was at least attending school, which seemed to make her future brighter at least. There wasn’t much to time to dwell on much as he remembered his agenda for the day. He didn’t feel like going through the town while it looked so busy, so he opted to go along the outskirts instead.
Or he would have till a thought came into his head, smiling mischievously. No one said he had to walk, and no one said he had to go straight there, just that he had to be there at nine. He eagerly flapped his wings to loosen them up and shook his legs. Feeling limbered up he broke out into a jog.
It started out slow at first, taking in his time at a moderate pace, but gradually he picked up his speed. The jog turned into a run and eventually a sprint. Faster and faster he ran, slowly inching himself closer to the ground and his wings unfolding. They may no longer be able to sustain continued flight, but they held other uses to. For one, they helped keep him balanced as he rocketed across the ground kicking up a cloud of dust that followed closely behind him.
The air, the wind, the freedom he felt as he continued his exponentiation speed, the feeling in his feathers tingling with delight at the sheer velocity he was attaining for the first time since he had arrived here and to top it all off, he wasn’t even remotely hindered by any strain one would expect at such speeds.
He had been running in this direction for a few minutes before he turned around and headed back towards the library, feeling satisfied and confident for the meeting ahead. During his moment of ethiopia, he wasn’t able to notice a Pegasus watching him from one of the clouds as he made his run. It shook its head looking back over the town before flying off to a collection of clouds over at Sweet Apple Acres.
Raguel came to a stop just outside the library. He had passed a few houses getting here, he thanked the creator that no pony was around to see him. Flapping his wings a little so they rested comfortably on his back, he approached the door and knocked on it gently. He heard a muffled voice and the door was promptly opened to reveal a short purple drake.
Spike beamed as he saw the angel, “Hey Raguel.”
“Hey Spike,” He reciprocated, “Is Twilight up?”
“She going through her checklist,” The drake spoke motioning Raguel to come in. On the other side of the room, Twilight was looking over a saddlebag with a parchment and quill suspended in midair encased in a lavender glow, giving short quick strokes across the surface each time she looked at it.
“Research materials… check, practical data… check,” she mumbled to herself not even realizing she had a guest. Figuring he’d wait for her to finish, he sat next to the small table at the centre of the room.
“So Spike, any plans for today,” Raguel asked trying to pass the time.
“Not much,” shrugged Spike, “Twilight wants me to watch the library while she’s out.” He had a bored look on his face, which shifted back into a smile.
“You wanna hang out?”
“Heh, sorry Spike, I’m going with Twilight today, she asked me if I could meet with the princess last night,” he could see the drake deflate, “But when I get back we could do something.”
This perked Spike up some as he pumped his fist in the air with an audio able ‘yes.’
“Spike, has Raguel turned up yet?” the unicorn asked not even turning around.
Comically the angel raised his hand, “Present.”
Turning around in surprise, Twilight looked at him, “Oh sorry, are you ready to go?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” he spoke dusting himself off as he got to his feet. The lavender mare gave a nod as she brought a rather full saddlebag to her back. Lowering her head, the aura of her magic’s surrounded her horn as a black hole appeared next to her with spiralling blue edges. With seconds passing till the black space blinked letting in a low draft. Her work done she glanced back at Raguel and Spike.
“Your in charge Spike, I won’t be long. Raguel, if you can wait here for a bit, I’ll call for you when I’ve spoken to the princess.”
She turned back to the portal and walked through it. The library grew quiet as Spike set off to complete his duties for the day. Not knowing how long he would have to wait, he went to the bookshelves to see what was on offer for later indulgence.
He had made his way from basic literacy studies to forms of magic when he heard the unicorn’s voice usher him to the portal.
“Wish me luck,” Raguel asked as he ventured forth to the unknown.
* * *
The sun was bright as it radiated its warmth over the city of Canterlot. Not a single cloud obscured its view and the towers of the palace shined like the finest gems one had ever seen. Below in the sculpture gardens stood two tall figures. The smaller of the two was dark blue with a lighter shade of blue in her mane. The taller was white and her mane comprised of multiple colours flowing of its own accord despite the breeze around them.
Before them a black hole appeared in midair with a spiral of green edges surround in it.
“Most impressive,” the smaller of the two spoke in awe. Just as these words were spoken the blackness blinked away as an image of a room took its place and a lavender mare stood on the other side. She looked off to one side of the room speaking to others that could not be seen but were obviously present.
“Your in charge Spike, I won’t be gone long. Raguel, if you can wait here for a bit, I’ll call for you when I’ve introduced you to the princess,”
Princess Celestia smiled as her faithful student emerged from the conjure portal, filled with nothing else but love and pride as she continued to grow. Twilight looked up to her with the biggest smile possible trotting up to her mentor.
“Princess Celestia,” Twilight gleamed giving the Alicorn a short bow. Before addressing her sister, “Princess Luna,” giving the Alicorn of the night another bow.
“Hello my faithful student, it is good to see you again,” Celestia spoke with serenity and her usual smile, marvelling at the portal behind the unicorn. Ponyville was not close and the fact that she had travelled to Canterlot in such a short time was very impressive for anypony besides herself and her sister. Luna shared the same enthusiasm as well when she spoke.
“Most spectacular Ms. Sparkle, we have not seen anything like this in our life time.”
Twilight blushed under the praise, it was so adorable to watch as she fiddled about. Gathering herself she addressed Celestia and Luna once her blush had subsided.
“Thank you, but I can’t take full credit for this, I had a some help from a new friend,” Twilight turned back to the portal, “You can come through now.”
Celestia tensed up trying to control her enthusiasm as the moment had arrived. She had sensed its arrival the day before and her suspicions were confirmed when her student had mentioned the beings name, a name she had not heard for over a thousand years.
But it was not meant to be. As the being emerged from the portal she became confused. This wasn’t whom she was expecting, he was much younger and shorter. In her state of mind, her instinctual reaction closed her heart on these feelings as she took on the vasard her subjects had come to know when meeting her during the day court.
* * *
Coming through the portal, Raguel experienced a tingly sensation as he passed through the fresh hold and to the other side. ‘Must be the magical essence,’ he summarised, angels were rather acute to magic in a very odd way. When a spell was cast on them, they were able to depict it to something similar to smell, individuals having their own unique... scent. For Twilight it was like the taste one would expect trying to eat something after your mouth was washed out in soap. Tasting someone else’s magical essence was never a pleasant feeling for the angel, but little could be done now. He looked to twilight and the two beings behind her. Slowly he approached till he got to a respectful di0stance and knelt down on one knee placing a hand on chest. He wanted to show them his respect but never had been told how to act in front of the royalty of this land. He took note of Celestia as he had studied her briefly from Twilight’s memories.
“Greetings your highness,” he said trying to be as formal as possible.
“This is Raguel,” Twilight chirped looking back at the princesses, “He was the one who helped me complete the spell.”
“Interesting,” Celestia said plainly looking like she hadn’t heard a single word as she focused on the angel in front of her intently. Luna was looking at him in wonder, first she had been shown a new spell and now a new creature. She could see why her sister was so excited to meet him, he was just so different, so… unique. The way he walked, talked and looks was eye drawing. She was drawn to one aspect in particular of the angel, his eyes. Thoughs blue pools pulled her in to gaze on his very soul, calming every fibre of her being. The only time she had ever felt this way was when she was with her sister. She just had to know more about him.
“The pleasure is ours, please rise,” Luna asked, Raguel rising to his feet, his legs parted slightly and his arms behind his back as he stood at ease. “If thou would accompany us, we would like to learn more about thy over a banquet.”
“It would be an honour your highness,” Raguel said.
“Please, call us Luna, a friend of Twilight Sparkle is a friend of ours,” Luna asked.
“As you wish, Princess Luna,” The angel added. Although he was asked to speak to her by name, he still wished to maintain some formality, if only to not upset the monarch that knowingly held his fate in their hooves. Luna didn’t seem to mind as she and Celestia headed through the garden, followed closing by Twilight and Raguel.
The garden was breath taking for the angel, the flowers were in bloom and the air smelled fresh. He cast his wandering gaze to the plants, the trees and finally on the statues that decorated the garden. All where unique, with one looking like it was dancing, another with two ponies’, what looked like shaking hooves and another sitting down holding some kind of instrument. Twilight had noticed Raguel taking an interest in the sculptures and figured it may be a conversation starter.
“There’s a history behind them you know,” She looked in the direction he was gazing taking note he was observing at the sculpture of two ponies. “That one is to commemorate the union of the three tribes when they founded Equestria.”
Taking an interest in new knowledge, he looked to the next sculpture that was sitting and holding some kind of sceptre, “And that one?”
“That’s Princess Platinum, She was unicorn and one of the founding ponies of Equestria. She built her palace here and founded the city of Canterlot.”
They continued their talk as they passed each statue while they made their way to the palace, the princesses leading the way leaving the two to converse. They neared the palace when a tingling sensation crept up Raguel’s spine. He shivered a little when he laid his eyes on one particular sculpture. The figure seemed comprised of many things. Its body was long with different sets of wings, arms and legs. It had two different horns on its head and seemed to be crying out in terror. Twilight was still explaining the history of the previous statue when Raguel interrupted her.
“Twilight, what’s the story behind this one?”
Looking along the path she could see he was looking intently towards the Draconequus.
“That’s Discord. He was the sprit of disharmony. Long ago he ruled over Equestria in a reign of eternal chaos. Princess Celestia and Luna saw how unhappy the ponies were and pledge to free them. They found the elements of harmony and used them to seal him away.”
As they grew closer to the Discord, the shivering sensations grew. Whatever this creature was it was sitting the angels teeth on edge.
“How long ago has he been like this,” He inquired.
“Well the records don’t specify how long ago exactly, but based on a few references from a few history books, at least a thousand years.”
“A thousand years ago? But I thought you said Princess Celestia and Princess Luna sealed him away.”
“They did,” Twilight said as a matter of factly. Raguel grew confused.
“But the Princesses are… well the only thing that could live that long is a dragon.”
“Well that’s because they’re Alicorns, they’re immortal.”
The word hit the angel hard. Since the angels were charged to defend the realm from the grasp of the legion, there had always been conflict with any other immortal that dwelled with the mortals. It was always danderous, the sight of one with eternal life was always seen as some kind of god, to be worshiped and praised. This would lead to conflict with other nations, followed by so many deaths, but there was always a greater threat.
Raguel gazed carefully at the two Alicorns in front of him. With an immortal they would eventually become dangerous. Loss, sorrow, anger, greed or even resentment could lead the individual down a dark path and always end with the same conclusion, the Legion. They would become corrupted and allow the foal infestation into the realm, given false promises to quell the immortals desire.
They entered the palace, walking through its long corridors as they made their way. Guards and other forms of staff were busying themselves, but taking the time to bow to the princesses. Raguel didn’t fail to notice the looks he was receiving from them though. They weren’t as bad as Ponyville, but he still felt their watchful eyes cover as much of him as possible before he disappeared from view.
This was to be expected regardless even if he was with royalty. By tomorrow the knowledge of his presence was going to spread like wild fire, that a strange new being has appeared. Would it cause mass panic or not was no longer up to him anymore. It didn’t sit well regardless, having to ensure his kind weren’t ever seen, it was a radical change of circumstances. Not to mention that statue, he just couldn’t get it out of his mind. There were few things that had ever made Raguel experience any kind of reaction. Was there more to it than meets the eye? Would he be indulged so many answers to the questions he wished to ask?
The long walk was a benefit at least, it gave him time to think. The dinning hall must be situated deep within the palace, or at least far off from the garden. They passed many junctions and doors, some of which were barren of any other ponies to speak off. As they rounded a corner, they passed by a set of two large double doors with a guard standing at attention on either side. It was something else that caught his attention though altogether. On the other side he felt something. It made his feathers stiffen and a feeling of… warmth washed over his form.
The feelings were fleeting as they passed it and continued towards their destination, but Raguel looked back quizzically. First his senses go off at a peculiar statue, Immortals are ruling a land and now he picked up on something else. He had to know what it was that set him off and there was only one way to find out for sure.
Perhaps not the brightest idea he ever had, seeing as if it went wrong he may never be forgiven. Asking about them may not bode well, trying to read their minds without any of then knowing would be next to impossible, which left only one other thing to do.
He waited till they got some distance from the doors, mapping out a mental map as he instigated his well-oiled plan.
“Erm, forgive me your highness,” He spoke as Celestia turned round, “Could I possibly request to… take care some… angel business?”
Luna turned around as well looking him over with a questionable look on her face.
“Angel business? What type of business dost thou wish to commit?”
Raguel turned beat red as he tried to word his response better, “I need to use your facilities.”
Luna’s expression held firm, “Could this not wait until after the banquet?”
“Pardon me Princess Luna, but it can’t wait… I need to use the… restroom…”
If the angel face got any hotter it would have burst into flames, but at least Luna, and to a certain extent Celestia who seemed to be sharing his embarrassment, seemed to understand what he required.
“Oh, of course, just one moment,” Luna turned to a guard who was passing by, “You, please escort our guest to the nearest restroom and bring him to our personal dinning room.”
With a bow and a salute the guard took point back the way they came with the angel hot on his tail as they rounded the corner, Twilight and the princess went the rest of the way to the hall in silence. When they reached the dinning room, Celestia beckoned them inside before addressing them.
“I need to attend to a small matter, but I will return shortly,” and with that the sun princess ventured off, leaving a rather confused sister and student as they sat down.
“I wonder what the princess needed to do,” inquired the lavender unicorn.
“Hmm, we wonder as well.”
* * *
Well oiled, maybe not. That excuse seemed so much more appropriate in his head till he said it. At least it gave him what he needed, he was taken away from the trio of mares and now he could begin his reconasance. The rest room was down the last corridor they had passed. As the guard took up his position next to the door, Raguel used the flow to cast the stallion into a semi sleep like state. The guard’s body looked as if he was still alert, but his mind was off in what could only be imagined as a bliss full daydream.
Calculating general use of the room and an approximant amount of time to join the others at the dinning hall, he wagered he had roughly fifthteen minutes before they may noticed his prolonged absence. The plan was simple:
1) Excuse himself from present company… check
2) Locate room with the strange presence
3) Discover what said presence is
4) If time allows it, locate odd statue
5) Analyze statue in closer proxy
6) Return to restroom and waken guard
7) Join the others for the little talk
Raguel moved about the corridors, hiding in the shadows when guards walked by on patrol. It was easy enough seeing as their hoove steps gave them away long before he could be seen. Only 30 seconds in and already he had arrived at his first destination. The guards were still present, but were lazing about, bored out of their minds. ‘This should be easy enough.’
Checking around so no one else would spot him, he readied himself for his attack. Leaping out of the shadows he place a hand on each of the guards heads. As they fell into their daydreams, Raguel checked their memories to see if he had been spotted. Thankfully he couldn’t find himself in either of their memories. Opening the double doors slightly he peered inside, noting no one else was present and entered the room, closing the doors behind him.
The room was long and tall, stretching up high above him. Stain glassed windows decorated the walls, each unique with multiple pictures on display. Sun shafts entered from the left windows, painting the floors in an assortment of colours. Along the walls were multiple erected pillars with hanging flowers on each.
He could feel it again, growing stronger with each step he took further into the room. He knew this feeling, something he had not felt in a long time.
“Is… it you?” he muttered to the empty room as his legs and hands started to shake, his eyes tearing up as he walked onwards. He fell to his knees and loose tears fell across his cheeks. This must be some kind of dream, he thought it lost for all time, and now he was near it again. Just feeling this again cleared Raguels thoughts entirely, except for a single name, ‘Nova.’
“I thought you would come here.”
These words echoed in Raguel’s ears as his blood ran cold. Someone else was in this room, they had seen him, he was caught. He quickly rubbed his eyes before he slowly rose to his feet.
“Why are you here.”
His gut was doing flips, twisting and churning itself up and his mind going into a stark panic. How could he have been caught, he was so careful not to be seen.
“Answer me angel.”
Wait a minute, how did it know he would come here? He had only just passed this door no more than five minutes ago, he came to Canterlot within 20 minutes and he wasn’t even in this realm till yesterday. Raguel thought very intently as he turned to face the one who had caught him.
Standing with her back to the door stood the white regal Alicorn, Princess Celestia. She was expressionless, her stature large and her voice commanding. Wasn’t she supposed to be waiting for him to join them for something to eat, and how did she know where to find him?
The more he thought about it, the picture seemed to be becoming clearer. A sound similar to the cracking of egg shells resonated inside the angel’s mind, his face turning into a hardened scowl. He came to the solid conclusion, and it all revolved around the being that stood before him.
“I will not ask again angel,” Celestia spoke as she had done before.
“Silence immortal,” Raguel growled back. The sudden change of mood caught the Alicorn off guard.
“What did you do…”
The air thickened around the room to the point it was suffocating as Celestia tried to think of an answer.
“What did you do!” Raguel shouted, his eyes lighting up as bright as the sun itself. His wings had outstretched to their full glory, the cracking noises getting louder within his mind. He was becoming enraged, this much was certain to Celestia, but as she witnessed from angel’s stance, the time for talk had ended long ago.
“WhAT diD yOu Do To HeR!!!” He bellowed as he lunged towards the princess.
* * *
Luna and Twilight had been sitting around the table discussing the concepts revolving around the construction of portal the mare had used to travel to Canterlot that day. The inner workings had been mapped out on various diagrams with detailed explanations with regards to matter as well as temperal physics when bridging the gap between two separate locations.
Twilight busied herself with explanation after explanation, hardly having touched any of the food while Luna nodded in all the right places, sipping on her morning tea. Her mind was elsewhere and not because Twilight was bombarding her with walls upon walls of extensive and detailed knowledge.
Since seeing Raguel, he had all but consumed her thoughts. She had only met him for a short while but she could feel something when she looked into his eyes. Thoughs deep blue eyes, looking on with a smile on his face and the breeze gently blowing through his mane. Was it odd to feel so serene in something you had just met, she thought, slipping from the bonds of reality and delving deeper into her imagination.
She had found herself in a dense forest. Most of the light was blocked out by the pertruding branches and leaves from the trees that surrounded her as she made her way about them. It was oddly quite, but still calm no less. She continued her walk, taking various turns like she knew where she was going. Amongst the foliage a small secluded area appeared, a little brighter than the rest of the woods, and then she saw him.
He stood out utmost the trees in a forest, light shafts encasing his form as he gazed upon a wilted tree. Where the forest was full of life and green, the tree was dark and stricken of leaves. He seemed sad as he looked upon the life that had passed, stroking the bark with his fingers. The angel caught sight of her and smiled. She walked up beside him looking over the tree with interest till she felt something touch her hoof. Raguel had taken it with his hands and ever so gently, raised it off the ground.
She watched him as his smile deepened and her heart quickened, as he slowly grew closer. His eyes, it was always his eyes, beckoning her on, telling her there was nothing to fear, that nothing would ever happen to the peacefulness of the moment. Their faces drew near and luna’s eyes became half lidded by the deepen stare of the angel.
“Luna,” he spoke very softly.
“Yes?” she replied almost breathlessly.
“Are you listening?”
“Wha?”
The midnight blue mare came back to reality, Twilight occupying the same distance as Raguel had with an annoyed expression plastered on her face. Realizing she had zoned out, the lunar princess was quick to apologize.
“Oh, our apologies Ms. Sparkle, we was thinking of your new friend.”
Though it was the truth, Luna didn’t want to delve too deeply into her… extraordinarily vivid daydream. It seemed to be enough for the Unicorn as she let out a huff of air.
“I wonder what’s taking him so long…”
* * *
Celestia took to air narrowly avoiding the incoming angel. Channelling her magics, she fired off a spell in his direction. Darting to the left Raguel leapt into the air to bring the princess down to his level, but was griped in the Alicorns telekinesis. She swung him up high before flinging him downwards to the unforgiving ground. At the last moment, she grabbed him again and threw him along the floor, sliding across the surface.
Recovering quickly the angel zig zagged his way towards her once more, avoiding any spell she threw at him. Just as he got within range she blinked out of existence, appearing behind him. she blasted him with a shockwave spell knocking him up against the wall.
This wasn’t working, he needed to be more tactful. Getting back up he dove behind the pillars near the walls along the room. He ran from one to another, Celestia blasting away with her spells. Suddenly he was nowhere to be seen as he disappeared behind one of the pillars. Frantically she looked up and about but he was nowhere to be seen. Believing he must have travelled across the room to the other pillars she turned around, Raguel emerging behind her as he used his whole body to shove her against a wall.
Raising a fist to strike a blow, Celestia quickly took hold of his leg with another telekinesis attack and flicking him in the air, delivering a swift buck sending him rocketing to the other side of the room. In the nick of time the angel was able to take the brute of the attack with his arms, somersaulting backwards to one of the pillars on the otherside. Thinking on his toes if grabbed the hanging flowers and threw them in her face. Blinded by the blossoms, she wasn’t able to keep track till it was too late. Raguel had leapt high into the air and had come crashing down on top of her pinning her to the floor.
He clasped one hand around her horn and another around her throat. He could feel the magic building around the horn in the palm of his hand but he quickly work on her body with his flow. He flooded her system with his own energy, locating the restrictors of her own flow and forcibly closing them. The energy building in her horn faded almost instantly and her eyes started to dim. She flayed her limbs wilding as more presence was put around her neck. She gasped in vain to fill her lungs as his flow began slowing her vitals, as he witnessed her life slipping in his hands. A stray limb knocked his hand away briefly, letting her take a deep breath.
“Sur--,” she tried to speak but Raguel had grabbed her throat with both hands, blocking any futile pleas for help and depriving her of any more oxygen. Her eyes had faded to a greyish colour, as her flailing grew weaker. Everything was slowing down, it would be only moments now till it was over. With as much strength she could muster, Celestia hit both Raguel’s hands, loosening them enough to speak one word.
“Suryan.”
‘What…’ Raguel’s grip weakened as he took in the name, shock rocketing threw his body. Using this moment to her advantage, Celestia bucked him off before ploughing him against the adjuring wall with her magic. Strength returning to her, she pinned him against the wall with her magic, gasping for air. The angel seemed to have come to and was now thrashing about in place trying to get free.
“How do you know that name!” he shouted in anger as he continued his struggle. Celestia was panting heavily as she steadied herself on her shaky hooves.
“Tell me! How do you know that name!” Raguel repeated showing no sign of letting up.
“I *huff* know more *huff*…” Shaking her head she tried again, “I know more than just his name *pant* he was my friend.”
Slowly she walked to the pinned angel, still fighting to free himself from her hold till she towered over him.
“Suryan was a dear friend to me, *huff*, it was he who helped me in my time of need and it was he, *huff*, that showed me the way. Know this Raguel that I am like you… I am an angel.”
Raguel eyed her for a few seconds before his eyes turned into pinpricks and with renewed gusto trying in vain to break free from her magical hold.
“LIAR!!”
“I suppose there is only one way to know for sure,” Celsetia said calmly as she made her way to the middle of the room. The angel slowed his struggle as he watched, the Alicorn folding her legs beneath herself as she rested on the floor. “I offer my consent to Raguel, Archangel of Justice.”
She bowed her head and her horn ceased its glow. The unseen force of her magic no longer held him in place as he raised his hand, testing to see if he’d be pull back before getting to his feet, Celestia remained as she was. He proceeded towards her, his flow still in full motion, Celestia remaining on the floor haven’t not moved so much as an inch.
He contemplated that this may be a trap of some kind, and he wasn’t about to spring it. A voice was telling him to blast her flow regulators and leave her to fade away on the spot, but there was another voice that held as much presence as the other. It wanted to know how she knew his name, why she was holding ‘her’ here. Eventually he decided to explore.
He reached out a hand and placed it gently on her forehead. He felt no resistance as channelled his conscience down his arm straight into her mind. It was vast and expansive, organised like a library in its own right. It was all here for him to see, her knowledge, experiences… memories.
“To learn what you seek, we must travel far into my past,” Celestia’s voice echoed into Raguels thoughts. Recent memoires appeared before him, moving slowly at first, but started flicking through with greater speed like a roll of film. Twilight, she was in many of these memories. One moment she was a fully-grown mare and the next she was just a filly, and just like that she was gone. Years, decades, centuries whirled past as the angel delved deeper into her conscience. The land shifted and changed as old became new and new disappeared like it had never existed. Faces she had known whipped past as the clock rewound to times past as memories engulfed the angels vision. Some were more prominent than others and for sometime, the moon seemed to occupy most of her mind, staring, always gazing up at it for the longest time.
“It all started one thousand one hundred and forty three years ago…”
* * *
"You wished to speak with me?"
"Yes, I have a job for you."
"Anything my lord."
"Our time draws closer and yet the elements still pose a possible threat, they must be dealt with... Gather a handful of the loyal."
"Yes my lord... May I ask what for?"
"You will be helping some old friends from times past in a far off place."
"... Then what is our destination."
...
...
"Tartarus."