//------------------------------// // The Board is Grey // Story: Dusk's Dangerous Game // by Airstream //------------------------------// Twilight's study was off limits to everypony save a few trusted souls, several of which were standing around her as she pored over the map from Golden Raidence's study. The paper itself was nothing special, merely a mapping of ley lines around the castle and its surrounding areas. However, this map was very old, extremely so. Radient Zenith estimated it to predate the Celestial Wars, and as such it made reference to several cities that no longer existed, such as Roam and Equusopolis Maximus and Minimus. As well, a tiny note scribbled in the margins made note of a "Glass Kingdom" far to the north. None of these were what Twilight was borrowing the map for, though they were interesting tidbits in their own right. What she was currently doing was comparing the old map to a considerably newer one, stolen from the Archives in Canterlot three years ago as part of an information gathering campaign. The yellowed parchment confirmed what Twilight already knew, that the biggest confluences of ley lines in Equestria were gathered under its two capitals. Each manifested itself differently. The energy trapped in Canterlot's mountain grew potent magical crystals and gems, slowly over years and decades. The Regia's ley lines were channeled by Radient Zenith's magic into the surrounding woods, causing them to grow large and dense and wild. Several other lines met in a few different places, nothing particularly large. However, there were several discrepancies between the maps, which proved very interesting indeed. Namely, the present day map neglected to mention that the Canterlot cluster of lines appeared to be something quite different than an actual cluster. It happened to be the intersection of several dense ropes of Power, which crossed in creation of a powerful magical site. One of these ropes came from under the Everfee. A few smaller ropes came from natural flowing lines that were attracted by the tangle. But the biggest and thickest tangle of ley lines came straight from the north, past the farthest reaches of Equestria, and apparently even past the location of the Minotaur Khanate. And as it went north, it only grew in strength. Twilight didn't know what it was. Golden Radience didn't recognize it. Even Radient Zenith was mystified as to its source or purpose. And so, they had agreed to cast a divination. The three mares, one old beyond measure, one who would live far beyond her years, and one who had done more in her short life than three ponies could in ten lifetimes, stood at the points of an equidistant triangle, contained in a chalk circle of runes and lines designed to amplify the latent power under their hooves. Each had agreed that Twilight would be the one who would receive the vision, with Radient Zenith providing the raw power and Golden Radience shaping it. The doors were barred and locked, with Lunar Guards stationed at each entrance, the elite soldiers having received orders to not allow passage or open the doors unless Celestia herself was leading an attack on the castle. Each mare stood in her own chalk circle, careful not to smudge it, surrounded by six lit candles of pure white wax. An orb of glass stood in the center of the triangle, gleaming in the light of the candles.  At a nod from Twilight, Radient Zenith lit her horn, channeling a mix of Binding and Breaking magic into the runes. They began to glow and shimmer with silver light, as if the moon had broken into pieces and mixed with the chalk. Like argent fire, the magic slowly spread through the entirety of the divination circle, and as it closed in on itself, the light began to gently intensify. As it did so, Golden Radience let light spill from her papery horn, causing the candles to burn a deep green as the flames grew higher and hotter. Twilight did not channel any of her own power into the Binding, instead gently seizing hold of it with her will and allowing it to flow through her horn. As it began to build up, she mixed in a bit of her will, trusting the guidance of the unicorns around her. This sharing of magic was among the most intimate of unicorn experiences, the mixing of souls and magic only to be attempted by those who completely trusted each other. And so it was with these three, a scholar, a witch, and a Mage of the same blood and separated by time, brought together in order to see what was hidden. Twilight carefully released her magic, a beam of pale purple light flying from her horn and striking the orb. Twilight felt her consciousness flow from her body into the glass, and with a rush of magic, she began to search. Twilight's consciousness began to expand rapidly, first taking in the castle, then the woods, then the surrounding villages, then Canterlot, and then...no! She applied her will, refusing to let her consciousness fly apart, bringing herself together and focusing her search on the ley lines. A difficult task it was, too. Each life, from ponies to the smallest of insects, burned with life, bright and fleeting flames. Amazed, Twilight turned herself towards Canterlot. There, four flames burned. The brightest blazed steadily with brilliant golden light, illuminating everything around it. Twilight felt certain she was looking at Celestia. The second was a delicate pink flame that burned almost as brightly, lined at the very edges with a familiar shade of blue. The shade of her brother's mane, Twilight realized. That was Cadance. The third pulsed from deep within the mountain, a sullen ember of red and black that Twilight immediately knew was Luna. The fourth was...chaotic. The display she watched resembled nothing so much as a fireworks display caught in a soap bubble, brilliant sparks in impossible colors flashing against the pearlescent barrier containing it. As Twilight watched, it coiled in on itself, seeming to watch her closely. An icy fear gripped her heart as the flame darkened and a spark lept forward, punching through the bubble and soaring towards her. It hissed to a stop in front of her, and resolved itself into a horribly familiar form. "Well, Miss Twilight Sparkle! I'd say it was a pleasant surprise to meet you here, but I'd be lying. Though the company is appreciated. Did you come all this way to visit little old me?" the mad god of Chaos said, his voice full of ancient, mocking cruelty. "Discord. This...probably isn't good, is it?" Twilight asked. Discord chuckled, not altogether unkindly. "Now, Twilight Sparkle. I can't hurt you here any more than you could free me. All my power is locked up tight. I merely wished to speak with you in person, as it were. I see you figured out the riddle from the last time we talked. And just look at you! Leading a rebellion, sowing chaos and dissent...it warms my crusty old heart, it does." With that, Discord reached down his throat, pulling out a disturbing mass of tissue that writhed and heaved. Twilight was not at all surprised when it burst into flame. Discord examined it. "At least, I think that was my heart. Ah well, I don't limit myself in such ways." Twilight turned her gaze north. Discord followed, and his eyes glinted dangerously. "Divining the wild north,eh? Best be careful, Twilight Sparkle. There's beasties up there far worse than Changelings and hydras. How are my lovely children, by the way?" Twilight filed that away for later. "The Hives have been invaluable in collecting intelligence. We've got quite the lead in that regard. They work in promise for a better life after it is all over, a life among ponies. Most who follow me are amiable to the idea." "Hmm, yes. They were always a bit soft for my tastes. At least they've managed to find their niche. As weapons I found them rather useless. Now, what you'll find in the direction you're headed, those are my favorite. Mind if I tag along?" Twilight located the massive river of energy. "Can I stop you?" Discord laughed a proper laugh this time. "Not particularly, no." "Then by all means, come along." Twilight Sparkle said warily, and she felt the draconeqqus follow closely behind her as the projection of herself raced across the mountains near Canterlot, following the line as it meandered gently further north. A brief while later, Twilight recognized the now-abandoned camp where she had met the Allegrettas, the lake she had swum in, the crumbling bench she and Tara had kissed on... "Oh, Twilight Sparkle, you didn't! Celly must be furious. Very vindictive of you, falling for a mare like that." Discord teased from beside her. Twilight's voice was cool. "What I feel for Tarantella is very real. Never doubt that." she said as they left the camp behind. "Never said it wasn't, little Twily. Love can be a wonderfully vindictive thing, real or no." Twilight chose to ignore both this last remark and his use of Shining Armor's nickname for her. Pushing herself harder, Twilight watched the mountains get higher and higher, finally becoming plateaus and windswept tundras devoid of almost all life. Yet even here it struggled on, in massive creatures, giant caribou and wolves and bears. As Twilight stopped and watched, a group of Minotaur descended on a wounded wolf, one of their number falling with a hole in his throat before his hordemates tore the wolf to shreds with their bare hands. It was devoured raw and on the spot. Several of his brothers checked to make sure the fallen Minotaur was actually dead before bowing their heads in respect. A bellow rose from the group, as they grieved. Finishing their wild ululations, the Minotaur tore apart and consumed their fallen brother as well.  "Many ponies don't realize that life itself is inherently Chaotic, Twilight Sparkle." Discord said, his voice hushed with something approaching reverence. "Celestia is just as unnatural as I am. And when I see things like this, I find myself gladdened to realize that life shall continue even if I cannot take part in it." Twilight snorted. "You are just as destructive as her. I no more want you ruling me than her." She turned north once more, and together they flew into the snowy wastes near the top of the world. Even here, where winds howled wildly and snow and ice gripped the land in eternal submission, life clung to every inch it was given. Seals, great white bears, fish, even hardy lichen chewed on by rabbits with fur as white as the snow spread before Twilight in a wondrous carpet of life. Twilight realized that she was flying faster than ever, as the ley line pulled her close to her destination, flowing towards a spot in the horizon that pulsed with a steady beat. Suddenly, a black, icy feeling washed over her. "Discord? What was that?" A chuckle was all she could hear from the draconeqqus. "These are my perfect warriors, Twilight. You should have stayed away. I did warn you about the quality of life up here. Good luck." Twilight rushed forward, borne along by the magical current of the ley line, towards something massive in the distance. The light pulsed from the top of a massive summit, a mountain that defied all definition and limitation by virtue of its sheer bulk and height. Twilight's heart raced in her chest as she realized that whatever Celestia had been working on, it was up there. And circling the base of the mountain, churning up snow and ice and wind, were Discord's perfect warriors. Windigos, by the hundreds, by the thousands, in numbers uncountable they circled, creating a cyclone of hatred and fury that Twilight felt as clearly as frost riming her coat. A massive scream arose from their ranks at her approach, and they circled faster and faster, hoping to blow her off course and leave her to be trampled underneath icy hooves. Twilight felt herself slipping, as the cold seeped into her bones and heart, and she felt an overwhelming urge to forsake her quest and run, to simply run with this herd of majestic creatures, run forever for the sheer furious joy of it and not stop until the entire world was trampled under her wrath. Her head turned, and she began to fall in with the rest of the herd. Suddenly, a warm weight seemed to settle on her shoulders, and Twilight found herself insulated from the cold. A small voice whispered in her ear. Cara Mia... Twilight shook her head. She wanted to run, she wanted to fly in the cold so badly... It spoke again. Cara Mia, please... That voice, it was familiar. Twilight, come back to me. Please, come back... Twilight...she was Twilight. She was Twilight, and she had a journey to complete, and she had to return home afterwards. She had duties, and ponies to lead, and...a mare. She had a mare that she loved. Tarantella. "Tarantella?" Cara Mia, don't go... Twilight used that voice and that warmth to break free from the herd of ghostly ponies, those tortured and lost souls consumed by hatred so strong that when their mortal shells had passed into the cold embrace of the earth, their spirits had lived on, fueled by their rage and fury. A wild shriek came from the herd, which continued to circle. They did not pursue her. Speeding up the side of the mountain, she felt her vision begin to fade. Blackness ate at the edges of her vision as she climbed higher and higher, until finally she stood at the top. There before her stood a circle of stones, some standing alone, others forming crude arches. A spring welled up from the center, and Twilight felt her vision returning the longer she gazed upon it. Quietly, reverently, she stepped forward. There, inside the icy water, she spotted something familiar. A stone, carved in the shape of the starburst on the Element of Magic, and shot through with lines of gold and pink. Twilight turned her head to the stones, noting the carvings on them. The rune work was unmistakeable. Celestia had carved these herself, painstakingly and one at a time. Runes of focus and constriction, and others whose purpose Twilight could only guess at. These were Magic of the highest order, something only an Alicorn with the right knowledge could handle, she was sure. Twilight realized that something was...off. Something had changed while she was up here. The fountain still flowed, the sky still pulsed with light, the stones still stood...the Windigos. They had gone silent. Twilight began to dissipate her spell, returning to her body. She started to fade away, and watched as her teacher stepped out of thin air, looking directly at her. Her expression was one of absolute fury and steadfast resolve, an anger so massive as to be totally alien fueling the magic from her horn, and Twilight realized she was very much in trouble. A fiery cord of magic wrapped around her throat, and Twilight began to choke once more, skin blistering under the assault. Celestia said not a word, her face a mask of divine wrath as her student struggled to escape. Twilight, realizing her time grew short, fell back on her last option. She channeled magic through her horn, feeling her perspective shake as the delicate balance of the divination was thrown off. Her vision flickered once, twice, as the cord became a noose and then a vice as Celestia fought to keep her there. Finally, with one last pulse of magic, Twilight Sparkle returned to her body. "Give her air, damn your eyes! All of you, back!" "Twilight? Twilight, listen to me, can you hear me?" "She's not breathing..." "Right. Clear the area!" Pain. A spark, pain. "Twilight, are you alright?" Voices. Words, sentences, questions. Twilight. Twilight? Me. "I've got a pulse again. Breathing too." Pulse? Me? Hurt. I'm hurt. I hurt, I hurt, I hurt... "Sweet Luna, help us in our hour of need, protect her from the grips of..." "Tarantella, that's no help right now. Back up, child." Tara? Voice, warmth, Windigos. Cold. I'm so cold... "Get that potion over here! Yes, that's right, coat the needle..." Celestia, stones, magic. Not magic, Magic. Why? Need to get up, need to find out, need to talk... "Stick her." Needleprick, medicine. I'm sick? No, I'm hurt. Got to get up. "Twilight, did you say something?" Got to get up... "She's back. Get the medics in here, we'll corral the damage." Tara... "Twilight, I'm here. I'm right here." Windigos. Thank you. Windigos, and you...you saved me.  "Right, she's in magical shock. About time you showed up. Treat her for frostbite and that burn along her neck. We'll be keeping the delicate parts working." Found the circle in the north...Celestia's fountain. A giant mountain. Mad god Discord, frozen land, led me true and played his hand... "This'll be easier on her if she's under an opiate spell, ma'am." "Then do it. I authorize it as the Steward of the Everfree." Sleep? Sleep. Sleep... And you're sure she saw it? She was already there. She saw it all, Aether take her! How much? She was there for no more than a minute, and she was examining the runes when I arrived. She had already seen the stone, and that's enough to go on. She doesn't know what she saw, though! Just a stone, and a fountain, and way too many Windigos. Nopony else can even decipher those runes. They can't comprehend the full meaning of it. I'm an Alicorn, and I barely understand some of it! Luna could. I need security around that section doubled, and I'll be renewing the wards and chains tonight. As you command, Highness. Twilight almost died. The Windigos almost had her. And had she picked up that stone, she would have died. But she didn't. And we can still make this right, Aunt Celestia. I believe you can do it. Thank you, Cadance. Hopefully we shall be able to bring an end to this conflict before long.  I hope so.  Have you found out anything else about Shining Armor? Yes. It's started, I think. At least for him. I can probably hold off for a while more, but after that I run the risk of seriously hurting him. And I'm not willing to do that. I'd never ask you to, you know that. Just...be cautious. The first time is always dicey. I will. Is there anything else, Princess? No. Thank you, Cadance. Say hello to Shining Armor for me. I'll do that. Good night, Aunt Celestia. I love you. And I you, Cadance. Good night.