//------------------------------// // Chapter 7-Coming Full Eclipse // Story: Dismay Turned Discord // by Reedling //------------------------------// “Dear, how far have we been carrying this Ursa with us?” Morpheus asked, almost whining. “Long enough to put the bear to sleep, it seems.” She softly chuckled. With more than enough daylight to spare, they had reached Pan’s part of the forest. Taking a quick rest, the two walked close in The Evergreen Forest. Even with it being so bright outside, the trees were so unnaturally tall here that it felt like nighttime. There it was, the castle that Celestia had found yesterday. “I don’t remember there being a castle, here...”Astrum mused, her eyes looked concerned to her somepony, had she forgotten something? “It looks like the workers forgot too, look!” He paused for a moment to outline where the end of the castle's turrets should go with his hoof. “Is this why Pan seemed so sad when I saw him last?”Astrum thought to herself. They decided to explore, just a bit of this landmark they had been unaware of. Astrum’s eyes grew wide, and she gave a loud gasp, to a tree that looked rather sickly. “Morpheus, I’ve never seen leaves red and yellow before!” “M-mhmm!?!” The night stallion squinted as he still held the bear, the ribbon turning a deep purple. “Oh, sorry dear.” She returned her magic to Morpheus'. “An Ursa!” A familiar voice shouted out. What came into view was a Pan that looked as if he was molting. “Good Aethereum, what happened to your wings?!”Astrum asked, once again forgetting the bear and rushing to Pan’s side. “It’s...it’s horrible. I wanted to go and fly to you, see if you could help me...but I can’t fly.” “THHH-aaAAaa..nnnn...waLk thERe!” Morpheus groaned, he couldn’t believe a bear weighed this much. “I. I don’t know my way out.” Pan admitted, he was ready to cry. “There, there. No reason to cry. Just tell us what should happen with the Ursa minor.”Astrum said calmly. Her voice put Pan in a focused state,he closed his eyes and tried to imagine what he would do if he was a Ursa minor. In a flash of green magic he shifted into one, though he was the color of his magic. He woke up the sleeping cub. It roared, and whined as if rejoined with family. Pan scooped the little ursa in his paws, rocking it back and forth. He used the magic to create a bottle of honey. The cub took it, sensing it was food. With the cub full of space honey he placed it down, and gave a combinations of groans and low roars, the cub then ran into the forest. Pan woke up resting in his castle, with Astrum by his side. “Welcome back. You had us scared for a moment, it didn't look like you wanted to turn back to normal.” “Normal?” “Are you alright Pan? A lot of things have been going on.” Her voice was motherly, and soft. “I don’t feel well, miss.” He glanced over to the white alicorn, with a concerned look. “Miss?..Pan you don’t remember me?” He sounded hoarse and fearful of this alicorn beside him. “No miss...This is the first time I’ve met you.” “Somehow...I don’t believe you, I can feel you are lying to me.” Astrum’s voice lost all warmth as she spoke, this wasn’t Pan. She got up from her once lax pose, and stared angrily at the imposter before her. “WHERE is he!” She belted in rage, her emotions where building up so strong that magic was flickering out of her horn. The imposter scrambled up and made a beeline to the entrance. “I don’t know who he is!? Why are you angry with -Aouf!” The doppelganger thudded right into Morpheus. The night pony looked below,without a flinch at the pony who was shifting. The colors swirled and ebbed from Pan’s light brown to a solid shade of black. “Is..is this what I think it is dear?” Morpheus said in disbelief, his expression filled with worry. “It’s one of Crystalline’s” “I thought they were all wiped out...” “It’s getting a little hectic, Morpheus. I can’t help but feel leaving our fillies to fend for themselves-” “-Was just what Pan wanted.” Morpheus admitted, his voice growled low. His own logic had been defeated. They didn’t need to say what was next on their mind. The two of them split up Morpheus went to look for his daughters while Astrum secured Crystalline’s child and followed soon after. As they flew, they realized something odd. There was not a sun or moon up, but but both. Their hearts began to beat even faster. What had their children done, and what was Pan planning? ===================================================================== “My eyes!” The chieftain hollered. Grue winced hearing the sizzle from the chieftain’s sockets. Grue noticed the instant darkness, and an odd glow in the sky “It must be from whatever is going on in the sky! Sir do you want me to guide you to the village?” Grue asked, though it was more of a statement. By the time the chieftain had agreed Grue had already slung his hoof around his neck. A shadowy cackle loomed from behind. “Sir, we aren’t alone.” Grue whispered. “What?..I-I didn’t hear a thing?” The Chieftain said, his head moved side to side, not realizing he was still blind. Then a hoof lunged out of the bushes, hitting Grue square in the muzzle with enough force to knock him back. “Ehehehehehehehe....Lookie lookie I found. Gruesome!” Hofu snorted impishly, letting his upper jaw jet out as he did. “Son! Son what is the meaning of this!” The Chieftain yelled. “I’ll take care of him” A seductive, but cold voice commented. With a sound of a kiss the Chieftain’s words began to lose their audibility. He turned into a rambling senile elder. Grue tried to open his eyes but they felt glued shut. “Now, now! Grue, is it? You don’t think I would spoil the fun, of letting you see me. Not so soon!” He felt her get close to him, and kiss his cheek. His cheek became numb and around her kiss became stiff from coldness. Grue felt an overwhelming pain in his body, as if his ribs were inflating. “Grue, I want you to forget that quaint talk you had with your oaf of a chieftain. Forget it all, and that growing pain will not only disappear but you will feel better then you have your whole life! Forget about Fahdil’s friendliness. Most. Importantly. Remember, Remember every snicker and lie and name you’ve been called while you live with these....selfish animals!” Her voice put Grue into a light trance as she spoke, Grue felt all his trust with Fahdil wash away, and all this misguided hate for his village grow. It felt almost natural, as if it had been his life since birth, like his destiny called for him to follow the female voice’s every whim. Grue bit hard on his lower lip forcing himself to remember what he had so eagerly wish to learn of his parents. He wasn’t about to lose all he had learned for whoever this female was. Grue took a deep breath,and began chanting to himself. It was the same way Uchawi had taught him how to build up his life energy. Whenever Grue did so he could feel nothing but himself standing still in a soothing energy that felt as serene as the moon itself. His body limped over as he faded into his protective meditation. “That’s not very fair, calling my tribe selfish animals!” Hofu whined. “Quiet you weak-hearted brat! Or do you want me to end your father’s reign of power? Do you want to be over run with ponies again?” “No...” “Then take your half-brother to your doctor’s aid, and keep your trap shut! I need some time to reword your mule of a father’s mess!” ===================================================================== The three of them had finally made it out of the underground caverns, The girls were overjoyed that they had lifted the sun and moon all on their own! “What was the sun like?!” Luna squeaked. “Very warm, and bright! Good thing I didn’t tan.” Celestia and Luna giggled. “What about the moon?” Celestia added. “Just the opposite! It was cold and hard to see, good thing the sun close to it.” Luna smiled, the two fillies hugged. *[b]Ktshhhhhh* The two gasped, letting go as Damson threw a bottle to the ground, they looked closer. It was the bottle that had unlocked the door. He gave a strong stomp to the bottom of the bottle, the rune now broken. The two watched as the passage closed. “Why’d you do that?” Luna asked. “You want to get in trouble for going somewhere forbidden?” “You never told us that!” The two whined. “With good reason!” He said, covering his ears. “Damson...There was sand in the bottle!” Celestia pointed out,wiggling one of her hooves to the floor. “Sand?” The earth pony pushed some away to see a note tied up. “Find the truth. Seek out Her Majesty, Then you will understand what you hid years ago. -P.S. I hope you find this note. I want to believe in you, But my patience has never been a strong virtue. I am going to find him.- S. Dusk” The sound of hoofs galloping could be heard down the hall. “I think you two have done quite enough.” A stern voice called out, it was Morpheus. “Dad! You’re alright!” Celestia gasped, hopping as she spoke. His fillies hugged him,but as they held tight they could feel this was not the time. Morpheus exhaled a deep breath, as he stared at who he knew was Pan. “Go to your rooms, you two. I can tell you both are in big, big trouble.” The princesses galloped as fast as they could down the hall, Celestia was halfway to tears, were as Luna only hung her head in shame. “Now, to show my true emotions.” Morpheus sneered at Pan, gripping his fore hooves around his neck, Pan was in total shock Morpheus lunged his hoof to Pan’s eye. He winded his hoof for another strong punch to Pan’s face. “Why are you hurting me Midnight Star?!” Pan cried out, his face turning to deflect the hit. Morpheus stepped back. He let go of Pan. “Is this another of your silly games, Pan? You were told to never to put my family in danger!” His voice yelled. Somehow Morpheus felt he had said this once before to Pan. ==================================================================== Celestia and Luna were in their rooms before their mother had reached the castle. She turned her horn to the sky, lowering the sun to rest. When she secured Crystalline’s child half, she walked to Luna’s room. With a polite knock to her door. Luna mumbled “ ’tis open.” Astrum opened the door, closing it behind her with her magic. “Are we going back to medieval prose, now?” Astrum chuckled softly, to not seem rude. “I just started reading some of my old tomes, 'tis all.” Luna admitted, closing her book. “ ‘How to unlock your true magic?’ What in Equestria would make you want to study up on such straining magic?” Astrum asked worriedly. “You said you would...when I could lift the moon on my own. But you’ve been busy and-and I didn’t want to impose....” Luna started to stutter, unsure if she had done something wrong. “Luna, I’m proud that you lifted the moon, it’s just-I am not sure why you made the eclipse, your magic is very powerful. You need to be mindful to not only your subjects, but the world. When you did that, who knows who or what you could have hurt. The Earth depends on the sun and moon.” As she spoke Astrum curled a wing around her little filly. Astrum was genuinely proud of her daughter, but she didn’t feel she understood just how much responsibility rested in such an event. “Now I’m in big trouble like ‘Tia.” Luna mumbled, she sniffled holding back her tears. “Yes, you are. But I promise that even though you’re in trouble, I make sure you get a special, but small party.” Astrum smiled, getting ready to leave. “A party, for what?” Luna stared, mouth gaping. Astrum winked. “Oh, and stay in your room. Please.” She added, and closed the door behind her. She headed across the hall to Celestia’s room. ===================================================================== With this a force of memories flooded into his mind, finally his hours of idling staring into serf’s food would end. All the missing answers and inexplicable questions he had thought were stitching together like a pair of hoof-me-downs, his memory was returning. Morpheus stumbled backwards from the force of his repressed memories. “Why did you do it Pan?” “I had to keep you safe. You were the only friends I had. I didn’t mean to cause all this harm to you. I’m truly sorry.” Pan used his magic to change to his normal form. He was still the picture of poor health. His feathers were puffy, and untamed. All sorts of twigs and leaves, and sap was stuck in his hair. “You can’t solve your problems alone. Isn’t that why you looked to us in the first place.” “It is, but...my mother was right. I should have never have placed such a heavy burden on my friends.” “Then why make me remember? I don’t understand, I was happy with my family, we were doing well as royalty. Equestria is a strong nation.” Morpheus stared at Pan in confusion. “I’m not sure you are aware, but I can sense an animal’s feelings, no offence. I knew that you were going to relapse, if I let you stare too long and wonder, you would have gone mad. My doppelganger-” Pan would try to explain. “One of Crystalline’s kind.” Morpheus said coldly,cutting off Pan. “I’ve been watching over her. I’ve helped the little one grow up, and use her powers. But it wasn’t until recently that I felt that she was eating at my emotions...making me very bitter.” “That’s what they do Pan. They feed on emotions, the stronger it is the more they’ll want it.” “I-I wanted to help her. It doesn’t seem fair for her to be hated, because of bad design.” “You want to play her primal feelings, scramble her around like she’s a piece of clockwork? Did you not witness how well that worked for us!” Morpheus sneered. “I can’t change her like that. The one who did make her however, knows about us.” Pan told him, his voice was fading in and out. “I need you to know now, since I fear I am changing.” He added, coughing as he explained. “Crystalline....She’s alive?!” Morpheus’ voice quaked in fear. “I-I admit I could not kill her, all I could do was split her power.” Pan told him between wheezes. “You...kept her close, and banished yourself to keep Crystalline from reaching her other half?” The night stallion pieced together. “We always did think alike, If it doesn’t hurt you too bad. It was you who came up with the idea in the first place....This is just deja vu, However, now you are talking to someone closer to your age....before I was about the age of this rock.” Pan smiled at one of the pebbles in the sand. “Pan I need to know everything, Maybe together we can hold her back?” “No, dear friend! We tried that and she almost turned you against me. We have battled for many years against her, and her ways. The only way to keep her in the dark, was to wipe our memories, and to keep any trace of your families in Equestria. But I fear...Your brother’s patience has caused me to undo all of this, it is better now for you to know who you were before I gave you...your royalty. So you know what I have done to keep you safe.” As he spoke, slowly his feathers started to fall, his coat hanging color. “Pan?...What are you changing into?” “Before I could split her power, she cursed me. Now I change, like the season do. I was never good at gauging what time the leaves fell, Since I live in a pine forest. That is why I left a tree that would mark the ending days of autumn. Before I change completely, I must admit I do not know how I will act in autumn. All I can say is do not trust me so easily. In winter I will be better off to face her..” ==================================================================== “Celestia? We need to have a serious talk honey.” Astrum called to the door. “I’m sorry about everything I did, just leave me alone.” Celestia begged, her voice was hoarse from hours of crying. “No, Celestia. I have some things you need to hear.” Her voice deep in authority. It was a tune every mother gave when she was getting ready for a talk, determined to help or teach a lesson but still calm enough not to yell. “So be it...” Celestia huffed, her voice sounded as if she had the hiccups. “Celestia why are you crying dear?” Astrum opened the door with haste, only to hear Celestia hide herself in a mass of pillows, books and blankets. “I-I-*hic* I’m not crying..everything is fine!*hic!*” If she wasn’t under all the pillows she would have been yelling. “Dear, I have something you need to know, to keep Luna and yourself safe. Now I’m not sure how to tell you all of this, but I do know that you have to take my word very seriously.” Astrum said, her voice wavering between a confident lesson and worry. Celestia heard her mother’s tone, her head popped out instantly. “Mother?” Celestia asked. Her snout was almost red from soreness. “Celestia. This castle we are living now-” *Slam!* Celestia jumped clear off the floor to the sound for five seconds,taking her books and pillows with her in a spurt of magic. “Mom!” Luna yelled “The sun...The whole sun.” Celestia thought. “Luna, please be quiet. It is night time!” Astrum insisted. “Oops.” Luna whispered. “I stole my mother’s job because I was greedy. I’m sorry Mother. I’m not a good princess, I wish-I wish I Ne-” Astrum placed her hoof to her filly’s muzzle. “Don’t you dare finish that thought, It’s alright that you know how to raise the sun, and I’m proud that you could do so all on your own. If you and Luna can take care of the moon at sun. It’ll give your father and I some more time to do other things, like teach you harder magic.” Astrum explained. “So, it’s alright!” Celestia looked up almost feeling silly for crying over nothing. “But, you’d still have to raise the sun in your room. You ran away, leaving us all very worried!” Her voice was becoming too loving to feel like a real scolding. “Am I going to lift the moon in my room too?” Luna asked. “Yes.” Astrum replied. “Now why did you leave your room Luna, when I asked you to stay in your room?” “Dad is yelling and fighting with someone downstairs!” “-You both get some rest, no running across the hall, or flying across to either other’s balconies. Astrum felt her heart ache, as she heard the yelling getting louder from down stairs. “Remember what I said you two, straight to bed!” Astrum galloped to the sounds. ==================================================================== Pan gave a whaling yell, new dark brown feathers were forming straight from the bone, forcing his old feathers to fall out. Morpheus wasn’t sure what to do, if he relied on his new memories he would grab his old friend and bring him to a healer or somepony to lessen his pain. However, here were these clouded memories that felt imprinted as his own. With these memories he wanted to watch him grovel in pain. “Pan! What’s going on dear! We have to help him.” Astrum looking to him with tears in her eyes, but Morpheus took a step back. “We don’t have to do anything, Brightly. Pan threw us into this mess. He put our families in danger I-” “Listen Morpheus Aeon or, Midnight Star, whomever you feel identifying as. He is our friend, He gave us our two beautiful fillies....You owe him!” Astrum ordered. “He’s nothing but trouble and lies!” Morpheus growled back defiantly. Pan’s hair flashed through gradients of green,yellow and orange, before settling on a rosy red. “Things were fine before he was ever created! We never needed an alicorn of nature!” Morpheus began shouting wildly. Astrum winced, her ears flopping. *Kctsh!* Morpheus fell to the the floor. “I think I’ve heard enough of obnoxious Midnight Star.” Pan gave a chuckle that ended in a groan. “Is there anything thing that I can do to help?” “Bright-” “I can never go back to being my former self, Pan. Please call me Astrum.” “Astrum, I need you to stop the eclipse. One last thing, before it all. I’d like to return to the castle.”Pan’s voice was charming, almost inviting. “Why now?-Not that I’m unhappy, in fact I’m thrilled.” Astrum said. “I just have this most annoying tick on my neck, like a premonition that I need to stay close to you all.” “I’m just not sure I trust you living with us, even if I did. How will we explain this to Equestria?” “Equestria, will always be none the wiser as it is better the keep it that way. We only need a small amount of ponies in-the-know. Since I can’t gauge how powerful Crystalline has become in our absence.” Pan explained. “Now can I see your fillies?” Pan added with an almost too gleeful smile. “Let me make this clear to you, Pan. These are my fillies, my family. What you did was reckless-an eclipse!” Astrum began to yell, throwing her voice heavily on the alicorn almost double her age. Pan only watched, slowly he began to crack a smile from his once serious face. “It’s good to see you stick up for what you value. I remember it was hard for your younger self to do the same.” Astrum raised her hoof getting ready to backhoof him, but a purple energy gripped at her hoof. “Control yourself, dear. Don’t want to be too impolite to our uninvited guest.” Morpheus told her, he had gotten a small cut on his forehead from the bottle. “I think we should all get some rest...all this new drama is a strain on our nerves. Pan, follow me to your guest room.” he said “Yes, old friend.” Pan spoke hastily almost glad he had woken up, he would be sure not to test Astrum’s maternal nature again. He had a lot of patching up to do with his old friends. The two ascended the stairway, in Morpheus’ eyes he remembered walking up the same steps to face a greater evil, a force that dared to destroy everything he loved. “Do you know where Crystalline is?” Morpheus asked. “She’s not in Equestria. Must be feeding off of some poor creature’s greed or hate. I have to imagine she’s not as powerful as she used to be, at least I have to hope, for my sake.” Pan said, his head sulking to the floor in defeat. “I believe what you did was right, friend. You meant only the best for us. Thank you.” Morpheus told him, offering some gratitude to his friend. They paused by a door that was covered in recently disturbed webs. “Aethereum...you aren’t keeping her in there are you?” Pan roared, his breath mimicking an angry bull. “She’s not one of us Pan. She’s dangerous, and for all you know just what Crystal-” Pan stopped Morpheus quickly. “You must never say that name in her presence.” He insisted, with a parental tone. Morpheus motioned his eyebrows. “You’ve grown too attached to her.” He scolded. “I love her like my own, friend...If I am not there for her, who will be?” The nature alicorn began to argue, but he heard the muffled noises from inside. Pan motioned his ear to the door, in his eyes was a torrent of anger building inside him. Like one of the days of his youth, he felt his body warm without the sun in sight. “YOU HOLD, NO RIGHT!” Pan yelled, his horn stabbing into the door. The wooden door liquefied from his magic, as the water traced down his body he saw his only friend while he stayed in the forest. A grey filly wrapped in magical binds and chains to keep her from moving or shape-shifting. “What a twisted use of your magic, You are no better than her!” Pan reasoned. He galloped to her. His green magic coated the bindings, and they disappeared in smoke. “Pan! Stop!” Morpheus yelled, but there was no changing Pan when he became this enraged form. “Daddy!” The young Crystalline whined. A white tear scrolled to her cheek, as it fell it turned into solid quartz and gave a *clinc* to the stone floor. “I’m here, honey. There’s just been a mix up that’s all, my friends mistook you for a very mean pony.” Pan spoke his once overflowing rage turning into pure warmth. Morpheus could almost feel the emotion radiating out of his old friend, it put a smile to his face without him even noticing. “He’s the one who knocked me out, dad.” she told him. “Oh, is he now? I guess he figured out our little game.” Pan chuckled goofishly. “It was the female one who knew, like she sensed I wasn’t you, daddy!” she giggled. Morpheus turned away in disgust, all he could remember was how Crystalline giggled. Even when she threatened to kill his mare-to-be, before she birthed his beautiful fillies. He couldn’t help it, everything about this other half reminded him of the one who almost tore his world apart. It wasn’t that she needed to, that was the part that sicked Morpheus the most. She did it out of pure sport. As he looked back to this lighter shade of Crystalline, he realized she not only feed off emotions, she could amplify them.