//------------------------------// // Dawning // Story: Cycle: With Wings as Eagles // by SSky //------------------------------// Philomena swooped over Havoth-Zair. By now, it was the dead of night and all the houses beneath were dark and silent. A few were sitting around the town square, talking, cursing the Equestrians. And well they should. The phoenix swooped down and alighted in the center, casting a light from her plumes. The griffons turned their eyes toward the bird as she began to shine and take form of a pony. All those gathered in the dim light of the center of town knelt toward Philomena. “Don't.” she ordered, and they all hesitated before lifting their gaze. This was true adoration, that which not even Hestia would receive from the ponies in her dominion. Philomena felt a little happy; it felt good to be worshiped as a hero. She came close to a old tiercel and asked for the residence of Aiah. The griffon gave a very happy indication that he lived only a few blocks down, delivering very specific directions. As the phoenix thanked him, she overheard someone in the square mutter: “Praise to the Roc, the firebird, the traitor.” Philomena gave a small turn and finished, “May her soul rise from ashes to lead us from ours.” She gave a warm smile that was responded in kind—though with a little surprise in the expression—by the griffon who had said the blessing. She approached Aiah's house and gave a few short taps. A clamor arose and shouts rang out. Soon, Aiah has nearly torn off the door and was waiting with anticipation. When he saw Philomena, his smile lowered slightly, but not completely. He gave a bow, but it was short. “What occasion,” he asked, “is it that a roc might visit me?” Philomena decided to toy with the griffon. She strode in without a word and whirled about once inside the cramped space. 'Dear Solla, this is why Shahar was so awestruck by her room. It's three times the size of this house' “Is this the treatment a roc should receive from you griffons?” Aiah's smile fell. “I should give you no more. I respect you and your kind, but you cannot expect more than I can spare.” Philomena gave a screech that pierced the ears of the griffon. From a loft upstairs, a second figure bounded down, quickly alighting in line with her husband. “Oh, dear, I'm sorry if my dear idiot husband has offended you at all. Miss roc, may I ask that you stay for a little meal?” Aiah shot Shisea an evil look as his wife quickly scrambled in the confinement to prepare a meal. Philomena, not being able to stand the cramped quarters any longer, took to her phoenix form again and starting flying about the room, laughing. The two griffons stopped in their tracks as she alighted above the pantry. “I'm kidding, good griffons. Don't worry so much.” Shisea looked quite relieved. “I am Philomena.” Shisea still went about cooking in case her guest still was expecting food. Aiah leaned his lion half against the wall, “My name is Aiah, and my wife is Shisea. We have two adopted equines-” a nudge from his wife. “Daughters, I mean. And they're on the way back from Everfree.” Philomena landed and tapped her talons on a pantry, “Well... no they aren't.” Both the griffons's eyes widened. “You see, I was sent here by your daughter, Shahar. She has been chosen to be the princess.” Aiah collapsed. Shisea gave a quiet caw of joy before inquiring, “But what about Livana?” “Ah yes... well- she's part of the royal guard.” At this Shisea collapsed and Aiah stirred. “Ya'ir, equines must be crazy.” “You have a knack for stating the obvious.” deadpanned Philomena. Aiah clenched his talons and got up. “Roc, these are my daughters and I know them well. The idiot Hestia has seemed to confuse their personalities. The younger is the smarter. The elder is the stronger-willed.” Shisea moaned and rose to her paws and talons. “Livana is a bit too impulsive, and Shahar refuses to learn. There has to be a mistake.” Philomena stared down from her perch for a bit. ‘Griffons seem to faint and rise easily.’ “Hestia has a reason. Griffons, I am no fan of the ponies, but Hestia is one of the wisest beings I have ever conversed with. Her instinct should be sufficient.” Silence. “I do not know why, but her instinct has never lead her wrong.” “First time for everything, and perhaps the last time.” Aiah quipped. Philomena spread her wings out in a bit of indignation. “She is the only queen that has been good to griffons, low-class ponies, avians, and other conquests since Solaris.” “She has been the only queen that has not had their records burned since Solaris.” corrected Aiah. Philomena was quite through with talking to Aiah. She honestly couldn't stand him much longer. “I am immortal. I know who was good or bad. They all deserved their fate.” She went to the door and used her talons to open it. “It was enlightening, griffon. I hope to see you again when Shahar is queen. Then we shall see if any ruler is fit in your eyes.” As she flew away, she heard Aiah cry, “Send regards to my daughter, roc. Make her a queen I won't want to see dead!” Philomena loved a good challenge. Shahar looked out over Everfree from her room's balcony. She watched as the sun bathed the palace grounds in a deep orange. The gardens outside the palace walls sprang to life, creating the feeling of an orange forest filled with fruits and flowers of unknown kinds. “It's too early,” muttered Philomena, slowly flapping her way out to where the princess was. “Why the blazes would anyone wake at this hour?” “The beautiful sunrise, the cool air, the serenity-- all of this is reason enough, don't you think?” Philomena shivered and looked out, only to return her gaze to Shahar. “I feel weak and helpless at sunrise. I don't like it.” Shahar shrugged. “It gives you a sense of your place. For me, it shows what my responsibility will eventually be. To make sure beautiful sunrises come to every pony.” She yawned, “It is early even for me, though. But I wouldn’t miss this overlook even for a few more hours of sleep.” “Such are the ramblings of a daykeeper,” Philomena muttered. “The sun is my motivation to do anything, and at sunrise and sunset it is at its weakest. The moon's reflected light is gone, and the sun is low in the sky.” “That's an issue with attitude,” Shahar pointed out. “You must wait through times when you feel weak, and you will then exchange your strength from something greater. It's an old proverb, not that anyone pays any attention to it.” Philomena took in what she had just been told. 'The nightkeeper must be a genius if she is the wiser one.' She gave a low caw and started hopping around the balcony railing. “We birds are a whole lot more straightforward: We are always seeking power and safety, and if we don't have control of a situation, then it isn't worth pursuing.” Shahar shook her head. “No wonder your species has good standing with the griffons. You think alike: always needing control.” “Thank you.” “That wasn't exactly a compliment.” A low singsong note. “Thank you even more.” “Yet,” Shahar noted, “I know many birds are kept as pets. How does that let you have control?” “We can fly away, but it would be stupid. Ponies give us food and shelter. I could jump ship on Hestia any moment, but I eat from her table and I have the chance to influence you. Abandoning this would be beyond moronic.” “Taking advantage of people isn’t right.” “Morals of that sort are for equines.” Shahar stepped back, seeing her father in the place of the phoenix for a half-second. The world truly was full of people like him. A shout resounded from the gardens below. Shahar rushed to the edge to look out, but saw nothing. The princess frowned, and opened the balcony doors to return to her room. As she opened it, a powerful smell hit her nose. She looked at the table in the day section of her room and saw that it was loaded with pastries, fruits, vegetables, and everything that was a rare delicacy to her before. The phoenix flew into the room and alighted at one end of the table. Shahar placed herself on the other cushion, flabbergasted. “How did--” “I assume one of the servants saw you out on the balcony and decided to bring you your meal now. It was probably Selene.” Shahar looked about all the food. “Wasn’t she the lady who served us last night?” “Mhm” Philomena confirmed. She slid out a piece of watermelon and started munching on the seeds. Shahar bowed and thanked Aquila. She took a look upon the delicacies and began selecting what looked the best. She wanted to try it all, but if dinner was to tell her anything: it was that the food was rich. Philomena took the liberty of eating the seeds from Shahar’s plate. “But you ate the same food I did at dinner last night,” the princess pointed out. “Eh. I feel like seeds today.” Philomena responded. She flitted back to her perch and began preening out feathers. Shahar, in the meantime, had become quickly full of the food. She stretched and wandered back to her bed, collapsing. “Oh no you don’t,” the phoenix ordered. She swooped down and clasped Shahar’s mane, tossing her to her hooves with surprising strength. Shahar yelped as she was thrown to standing. Philomena alighted on the floor in front of the princess, transforming into a mare. “We have lessons to learn.” A chill went up Shahar’s spine. The display made her think of something. What was it? It was like one of the lessons she slept through in school. Eh, not important. “What do you mean?” Philomena paced around the princess. “We have a busy week. I have to go through a crash course in everything with you. History to magic to politics to physical training. Trust me, this will be one week you will not be resting easy in. Hestia croaks in six days. In seven will be your crowning.” The matter-of-fact way Philomena explained this brought that nagging part in Shahar’s brain back. “And I will have your undivided attention, or else.” Shahar was about to retort the same what she did with her father when he used that ploy, but one glance into Philomena’s eyes reminded her that she had one disadvantage on the phoenix: She wasn’t her daughter. The heiress nodded slowly, hoping to escape from this situation. Livana was combing her hair when the bugle sounded. She took a peek out her tent and saw a pegasus bathed in sunrise light high above the camp sounding the morning call. In a few moments, pegasi stormed the bugler’s position and attacked him. They soon had the object of their ire wrapped up in his own instrument and began hauling him off to some other part of camp. She heard the tune and lyrics of a song being sung: “I’ll cut out all his revelry and stomp upon it heavily and spend the rest of my life in bed.” She hoped that she would never have that job. Luz was the first in her tent to head out. Already in his decorative armor, he gave a tired nod to the nightkeeper. Julius soon followed, then Jane, then a unicorn stallion named Marcus, then an earth pony stallion named Celos. Their small group of five soon fell in a line, and Livana quickly fell beside the others. ”Soldiers, ” Luz shouted. The three under his command saluted half-heartedly. Livana followed suit, and figured it would be wise to always do so. Luz swiftly moved and placed blindfold over each of their eyes, save Livana. He then placed one over his own face using a bit of prowess, then shouted: “Move out!” The four began galloping ahead into the Everfree gardens. Livana was about to follow when Julius placed a wing on her. “Just walk with me. It’s the first day.” The nightkeeper smiled, glad to not having to keep up with the rest. They began trotting swiftly where the others had charged before. “So, kid, I suppose yesterday was enough time for you to at least recover from the shock?” “Well, not really. I mean, it is sudden.” Livana admitted, matching Julius’ brisk pace. “Can’t be helped. Sorry you had to join under these circumstances.” Julius gave quick turns and curves in the garden. “You made an impression with the others.” Livana remembered her comrades. Jane was nice, and even gave Livana one of her blankets last night when she was shivering. Celos was quiet. His telescope cutie mark probably spoke for him more than his words. Marcus, on the other hand, was very brash and loud. He was yelling at the cooks for serving “junk” (which Livana found to be quite tasty) and was giving Livana a hard time. “Well, most seem nice.” Julius quickly nudged Livana away from some blue plants before resuming conversation. “That’s good.” He looked around him and stopped suddenly. Livana skidded to a halt and began looking for what he was staring at. Julius raised his hoof in the direction he wanted the recruit to see. There, on a balcony, stood Shahar and the bird from the throne room. “The princess and Philomena.” Livana took note of where her sister was, if she could perhaps get to her at some point or another. “The bird” Julius continued, “is Hestia’s left wing, so to speak. Both a phoenix and pony, but that’s a secret amongst us commanders, and now you I guess.” Livana quickly asked: “Oh! It’s a roc!” Julius barked, “NO,” and Livana jumped back, frightened. Julius’ rage settled after a bit. “Never mention that name within this country if you wish to keep your life.” Livana saw the wisdom in this. In griffon legends, during the Griffon-Pony war, there was a traitor on their side. It was a creature with the dual nature of a pony and a phoenix, and she was called “The Roc.” Amongst ponies, she was known as “Hellfire,” as that was what was what the ponies she confronted would see. She would rise above the approaching armies and blind them all, before swooping down and obliterating more than one entire detachment of griffons could. Her origins were unknown, and her motive was uncertain as well, but she fought for the griffons, and that was all that mattered. The Roc was what helped the griffons last as long as they did against the invading ponies, but she was captured and killed. Her body was found and buried by the griffons under what would now be the square of Havoth-Zair. But more of her kind existed, and the griffons honored them and called them “rocs.” Mentioning her name would, of course, be insulting, and in the presence of the equestrian guard no less. Julius had, by then, shaken it off, looking a bit sorry for the outburst. Livana could only stammer out, “Yes, sir.” The commander motioned to keep walking. “Well, now that we have THAT out of you, let’s discuss something completely different.” As he spoke: a long, slithering being flew across the sky magically. Livana took it all in and recognized it to be the draconequus. Julius took note. “Ah yes, Metis. He’s Hestia’s right-wing man. Slippery character, with a bit of a temper. He tries, bless him, to hide it but it doesn’t work always. Very powerful, what being a spawn of chaos and all.” “Draconequui,” Livana mused, “Weren’t they Discord’s soldiers?” “Correct, fashioned in his image, they were his army; and he was their king. After Discord was defeated, Metis rose as their king and led them in one last desperate charge, but we took them captive.” “Typical.” Livana muttered under her breath. “The other draconequui were ready to fall fighting even in their chains, and ended up dying trying to break free. Metis, on the other hand, was offered a servant’s position to the unicorns and he gladly accepted. He was seen as trustworthy and loyal, so he became the main advisor to the monarchs. He was the one who suggested creating Everfree, and uniting the tribes even more. I guess not everybody can be judged by their species.” ‘Toldja so, dad.’ Livana decided to hasten the pace, but Julius effortlessly matched her. Not breaking a sweat, not flinching. He whirled around and started walking backwards, keeping up with Livana and still turning left and right, in a seemingly aimless pattern. It wasn’t long before the other passed them coming the opposite way. “Is there anywhere we are going?” “Everfree’s southern gate and back. The garden is a maze, and I’m showing the fastest way through, bar flying or magic, or trampling stuff..” Julius answered. Livana struggled to go even faster while pacing herself. “Okay, I guess this is a good a time as any to tell you your schedule. Wake up when we did today, do this, have at least one training regime, then hit the sack whenever. Sounds cushy, right?” A trick question. “No, I’m certain there will be plenty of challenges to get in my way, and I’ll overcome them all each day.” The stallion gave a wide smile. “That’s the spirit, recruit.” “First.” Philomena called out, flitting up to the room’s door and guesturing with her wing, “are these.” Behind here were nine scrolls at the tips of a somewhat familiar nine-pointed star. “And what might.” Shahar flipped open her wing and mimicked Philomena’s gesture, “these be?” Philomena once again flinched. Something was bothering her. “Ahem, these are the tenets of Equestria as taught to everypony as foals.” She coughed. “The Griffon Territories are exempt from this, so I have to start here.” ‘Good thing, I wouldn’t have remembered them.’ “There is: The creation of Equestria, the magic theorem, the gods and goddesses, the prophecy of salvation, the prophecy of the celestial sisters, the prophecy of chaos, the prophecy of time’s end, the Element’s of Harmony--” Philomena took a deep breath in. “and the heaven-sent mana.” “The heaven-sent what?” “It’s a cupcake recipe. If I remember right, some queen proclaimed for it to replace a fulfilled prophecy because they were really good cupcakes.” “And this is a foundation of Equestria?” “They are really good cupcakes. I can’t argue with her.” “A TENET OF EQUESTRIA?” “You really HAVE to try them sometime.” Well, there was one thing she would change. Wait, was she really thinking that? It had been one day and she was ALREADY thinking about what she would change? ‘I hope this doesn’t keep up, else I’ll be re-organizing everything by the time I’m... not a princess.’ She couldn’t think of herself as a queen, not yet. Philomena nudged a cushion to in front of the door and motioned for Shahar to sit. The princess plopped down and prepared for a boring school session. The phoenix took down the top scroll and smoothed it with her hooves. “Ahem. A history to Equestria, Geno, and the Equine race.” ‘Snoozefest ahead.’ “A condensed version of the condensed version.” Philomena blew a few strands of mane out of her hair to get a good look of Shahar’s somewhat hopeful face. “Condensed.” “Once upon a time there were three mares. One named Terra, one named Nocturna, and one named Harmonia. Terra helped stuff grow and taught earth ponies about giving the earth life. Nocturna ruled the moon and covered the sun to give coolness to the ponies, as well as teaching Pegasi how to blot out the light for shade. And Harmonia taught magics and made the Elements of Harmony.” The phoenix paused to make sure Shahar was awake. Once the princess made some indication that she was alive, Philomena continued. “The Elements of Harmony were being used on some threat which I don’t bother mentioning when it reacted to a little bit of chaos in Harmonia and got rid of it from her, creating a mix-match of almost every being: Discord. Discord to proceed to wreck the ponies-” a cough. “Harmonia and Terra were conquered, but Nocturna was able to use the Elements on Discord. Doing so, she split as, and the result was Solla, who controlled the sun.” Philomena kicked Shahar to wake her up. “And then Solla and a bird god of life made the most important person in all the world, Philomena, from the suns rays.” An incredulous eyebrow was raised. “Just you? And this all sounds like a bunch of mythological nonsense to me. “Okay, they made a whole bunch of phoenix/ponies from the sun. I was just one. And yeah, it is. Some things just are when you live in a world like this. Anyways, Nocturna and Solla ruled in the land of Geno and the ponies there. “Then, one day, Discord came back and wrecked Nocturna and Solla’s--” Another cough. Philomena muttered under her breath, “I need better phrases.” Shahar decided to speak up. “I’m not following.” “You don’t have to. I just have to read this and I can go back to tossing you around. Where was I? Ah, yes: Discord reigned for who-knows-how-long and the world was in despair. He made draconequui as little hims, creating chaos everywhere they went. Then two ponies named Celestia and Luna found the elements and wrecked-- I mean-- turned Discord into a statue. They united the tribes under a temporary peace and conquered the draconequui. Then, Celestia and Luna ruled the ponies under day and night until unicorns realised that THEY could control the sun and moon. Then they were framed wrongly as impostors and killed. Big winter, they moved to Equestria, sappy friendship stuff, a few good kings, and then records started getting burned.” “zzzzzzzzzz.” Philomena rolled her eyes. “And that’s how I killed three-hundred dragons with a frying pan. Maybe one day I should tell you how Equestria was made.” Although, Philomena admitted, it was kinda boring, but fitting it all on one scroll meant information instead of exciting detail. And all the books with exciting detail were burned so she had to rely on memory for anything worthwhile. Philomena shoved the sleeping princess awake. “By Solla, your father said I would have trouble.” Shahar stirred, “Uhh... draconlestuna.” “Great, here’s the gist: sun and moon wreck chaos guy and create harmonious society, thrice.” Shahar felt a little annoyed at being woken up, but she was a bit more distracted by a name Philomena had said right before she dozed off: Celestia. Why was that name familiar? It was like she knew that name all her life, and knew who it belonged to, but couldn’t figure out how she knew them. “She was the elder of the two sisters, right?” Philomena nodded, “Yes, she was. The opposite of Solla and Nocturna... where did you hear that?” “I don’t know... I just-- know.” Philomena frowned deeply. “Very well, then. It probably came from a traveling storyteller or something.” She transformed back into a bird and flapped about “I’m done teaching you.” “O- okay.” She was still pondering the name Celestia. “You know, all those goddess names have an -a at the end.” “And?” Philomena asked. “An odd coincidence. Perhaps it’s some female naming thing they had.” “Oh, so you noticed too.” “I notice a lot of odd things. Now tell me, is this going anywhere?” “No.” Shahar finally conceded. She looked over to the table in her room and noticed a chessboard. “Hey, do you want to play a game of chess?” Philomena cawed, “I’m ready to beat you, yes.” She swooped ahead and was at the table before Shahar could get there. The bird chose the black side, an odd move off the bat. Shahar sat down and checked the pieces, nothing was too odd. Shahar made the first opening move. “So, you alluded that Hestia was your favorite monarch. Why’s that?” Philomena countered swiftly, as if playing a opening she knew by heart. “She is the kindest, wisest, and most charismatic ruler I have met in the past thousand years.” “Yet, you seem uneasy about some things she does. I’ve noticed.” “She... is a bit hasty, and a bit too diplomatic. She is prepared to meet someone at half-ground even on issues that shouldn’t be met at that point. She is white and gray, never seeing anything as bad. there are some things that you just shouldn’t do that with.” Shahar noticed that the opening gameplay was quickly withering down. Only a few pawns had been exchanged. “How old is she?” “Over one-hundred years old.” Shahar nearly dropped her queen from the telekinetic grip. “What? No way!” “Magic keeps her looking young. Of course, her vanity is her downfall.“ Shahar surveyed the board, which was in an utter state of confusion. Her pegasi knights were blocked in with her queen, her unicorn priests were just coming across uncapturable piece after another, and her earth pony chargers were in each other’s way. “Well, what if I became like Hestia? Would you approve of that?” “No.” Philomena firmly stated, “Hestia is good, but we can’t have two impulsive queens after another. I hope you can learn to focus and focus, and that’s what I’m going to try to train you to be.” “Maybe I’m just focusing on other things, Philomena.” The two players looked over to see that Hestia had silently entered. Shahar felt a little embarrassed, but Hestia didn’t mind. She took a third cushion and sat down to watch the game. Philomena chuckled. “Never played chess with her, Shahar. I swear she cheats somehow.” Hestia giggled. “You are just sore that you have never won.” Shahar focused back onto the game. She made a quick move and suddenly Philomena snuck out and took out a pegasus. The princess fumbled and ended up losing a earth pony to the black queen. She noticed an opportunity, though. She placed her queen in front of her king and subsequently forced a queen trade due to the black king blocking the way. Then a pawn threatened by the black queen was able to easily advance to promotion, making another queen. It was all over, and in a few moves Shahar was the victor. Hestia nodded her head in approval. Philomena just huffed. “Yeah, luck.” “There is no luck in chess.” Hestia corrected. She turned her attention back to the princess. “Do you want to try to beat me?” Shahar felt that no amount of playing with griffons in Havoth-Zair would prepare her, but somehow stammered, “S- Sure.” She quickly re-organized the pieces and gave Hestia control of white. The queen then turned around. “e4.” Shahar was confused, but then realized that she had seen this before. The queen was playing by memory. The princess moved the piece forward as dictated then made her move, announcing it. Play continued. “So, highness.” Shahar began, but was interrupted. “Dear, please call me Hestia. You are not my subject. Pegasus a3” “Sorry, Hestia. Do you have a close family?” Hestia gave a deep sigh, “I have a great niece, but she and I are at odds almost always. My sister is dead, sadly. Now, Queen f6.” Shahar was able to take Hestia’s queen with utter ease. It was like she WANTED that piece off the board. “Well, who do you talk to most of the time?” “Philomena, or any of the guards. They are somewhat like my family. Now, Unicorn c5” Shahar mulled her moves and words over. “I don’t know what I would do without mother or father.” She fiddled with a piece. “I kinda miss him even now. I was always arguing, debating, or generally being mad at my dad, but I respect and love him.” Even with the queen’s face hidden from Shahar’s view, she could tell there was a bit of sadness on it. “I could have said the same about my father. The things he did were despicable, and his ideas were beyond insane, but he was my father and deep-down I cared for him. a5.” The queen shuffled in her seat. “The night he was killed, I had just had an argument with him.” “It is done.” King Kama proclaimed, joyfully reading a missive from his commander. He rose to his hooves and began to exit the throne room. It was time to set Hestia straight. Kama strode into the stairwell and quickly bounded up several floors to his daughters’ room. As he got off on the floor he wanted, he immediately came face-to-face with Hestia. “Father.” “Girl.” Kama mimicked. He showed his letter to Hestia. The princess batted it away, quite furious and a little teary. “I heard about it, monster. Your commander sent a copy to me as well. How? How could you?” “Freya was an insurrectionist. She was setting the cervids and zebras against us. I did what had to be done.” “She was HELPING them, father! She gave them food, supplies: everything you hadn’t sent in weeks!” “As punishment for their slowing of the book copying project.” Kama snarled. “Well, I hope you are happy!” Hestia screamed, barely holding back her tears. “You had someone executed. This is the cruelest thing you have ever done, and if you think this stopped a uprising you’re WRONG! The reserve library is BURNT. Just as the proclamation to kill her was given they BURNT the library” Kama was taken aback. Burnt? All of it? All that work? All of his deeds!? Kama screamed in rage and bucked a decorative table into a wall, splintering it into pieces. “Out of my sight, girl! I don’t want to hear of this any more!” Hestia obeyed, galloping into her room, bawling. She slammed the door and collapsed in her bed. A shadow flickered from her balcony, but she didn’t pay attention. For many minutes she lay there, weeping. She didn’t want to follow in her father’s footsteps. She didn’t want to obey him... that monster. Monster? That was her father she was calling a monster. What would Mother say to that? Or Ginger, her half sister? What would they say to her calling her father a monster? “I don’t care.” and she went to sleep. She awoke that night from a nightmare. She saw her, executing her father, and hearing his screams of her being a monster. It disturbed her. She was wrong, her father was wise, if cautious and cruel. And more importantly, he was king and her father. though she hated it, she had no business calling him a monster. Hestia quietly crept down from her chambers, and began making her way towards her father’s chamber. She had to apologize. Her mind was made up. As she tiptoed her way to the door, she heard no snoring. Kama was awake, and Hestia could apologize. She opened the door and began. “Father, I- I’m sorry for yelling at you, for calling you a monster. I was angry, and I don’t agree wit you, but... I still love you. I hate what you did, but I don’t hate you.” She saw her father in bed, silent. Too silent. “Father?” Hestia called making her way to his side. That’s when she saw the blood. The liquid dripping from the bed. She wanted to scream and run away, but the second she turned, she saw a hooded pony. She got a glimpse of its eyes: reckless, cold, murderous. But they were... almost sorry. Like they had some compassion. Hestia would have called out but it ran and dove out the balcony. When she got there, the assassin was gone. Tears filled Hestia’s eyes and she stomped her hoof, turning to her father’s body. She choked, walking mournfully toward it. The dead king held in his hoof the last letter his wife had written before she died, and the blankets, where not bloodstained, were tearstained. She knew he cried for her each night, and he was crying for her in death. Poetic, almost. Queen Hestia rested her head on her fathers’ and wept. Below her, the records of his deeds were burned, casting him into the realm of memory.