Slave of Eternity

by Secrets and Lies


8

(8)

The human slept rather peacefully that night. He had no strange dreams or horrific nightmares than what he remembered of last night, but he did clearly remember the encounter he had with the Ivory Guard. He was as clueless as ever from what the Guard had told him, but now knew what must be done to cleanse his mind of insanity, that is, he thought so. Zack was growing tired of his constant uncertainty in nearly all situations he had dealt with in Equestria so far and wondered if he was plagued to be constantly confused till the end of his days. It sure seemed like it to him, but that morning he felt quite chipper about his decaying state of mind and the knowledge of this, ‘coming storm’ the Ivory Guard told him. He had a renewed sense of what must be done and now had a goal to press towards.
He lay in his bed, not quite awake, but merely enjoying the rising morning. The sun’s hopeful rays crawled across his bedspread and the warmth of the Summer morning peaked through. The room was ever so still, almost as still as last night and he assumed that the Ivory Guard would once again enter his room when he wasn’t looking. Zack had already dressed himself and made his bed as he now lay atop of it. With his arm’s crossed behind his head, he rested his leg atop his knee and shook it. His high metabolism began burning off the waking energy that ebbed through his body as he shut his eyes and fell into a deep meditation. The feeling of the sun’s soft heat against his bare skin and clothing gave him a surreal pleasure. He enjoyed the stillness of the morning greatly as he slowed his heartbeat and relaxed, waking ever so calmly and steadily.
Just before his mind could shut down and go back to sleep, a knocking hammered against his bedroom door. Zack was in such a deep trance of tranquility however, the noise at first didn’t even break his concentration; but a mere moment after the knock, the intruder came barging through his door which forcefully shattered his attention. He opened his eyes, startled to see the Princess of the Night herself looking over him. She shown a wide smile, one he had yet to see from her. Out of all of the ponies he knew, he would have never guessed Luna was a morning pony. The expression of eagerness on her was even more surprising than her sudden appearance. He thought that she would have been sleeping knowing that she guarded the night, but here she was, wide awake and disintegrating Zack’s comfort with her uncommon behavior.
“May I help you,” Zack asked with a hint of agitation in his tone that he usually saved for Pinkie Pie.
“Good morn to thee,” She greeted heartily, trying her best to hold back her, ‘Royal Canterlot Voice’. “How did thou slumber?” She appeared to be getting closer to Zack, which he began to take notice of when his mental 'comfort-zone alarm' sounded off.
He scouted further away from her, still on his bed though and replied, “Fine... somepony woke up on the right side of the bed this morning...” He pointed a finger at her and remarked, “I thought you hated the morning? I’m pretty sure yesterday morning you said, ‘damn your sun’ to Celestia.” A slight bit of joy seeped away from her, but her mood was relatively unstirred. She took note of Zack’s discomfort and stepped away from him.
She then proceeded with a regaining pulse of happiness, “Indeed I did so. But today is not yesterday! Nor is it tomorrow!”
“Your skills of observation continue to impress me,” he said sarcastically–which Luna, thankfully, did not pick up on.
She had a sudden change of expression and noted, “Forgive me, thee language barrier is difficult to surpass, especially in this excitement. From this moment onward, I shall again speak like a proper mare of the times.”
“Okay...” Zack added with hesitation, “So why are you in my room exactly?”
Ah, yes, about that. Celestia is off doing... Celestia things, so we have the entire castle to ourselves.”
Her reply didn't answer his question as he provoked, “And...”
“And... I have come to the conclusion that you do not properly know how to use the Prevailer, and I feel the need to teach thee–, you. Yes, you.” Once she had vocalized her real reasons, Zack sat up from his bed and began putting on his shoes.
He stood up, now looking downward upon Luna and chimed, “Alright, Luna.” He grabbed his sword which rested in the corner of the room and went on, “Teach me how to use the Prevailer properly.” He stopped in mid-thought and asked, “You’ve never been a master of the sword though. How would you teach me? She closed her eyes and placed her hoof upon her chest.
With pride, she denoted, “I trained the first known master of the Prevailer.”
“Who was he... or she...?”
She moved her hoof onto Zack’s shoulder and said softly, “In due time.” She then grabbed Zack’s hand in her hoof, (another pony trait that he has yet to figure out) and led him out the door saying, “The morning is ripe with the fruits of newfound knowledge! Let us make haste to the gardens!”

        Upon entering the Royal Gardens, Zack asked Luna while they walked together, “Where did Celestia go exactly?”
She turned her head towards him and raised an eyebrow, “How should I know? I know not: Am I my sister’s keeper? All I know is that she flew off using the Panexus.” She diverted her attention back towards the open area of the garden and added, “This way, Zack.”
Zack then had a sudden clearance of memories enter his mind when Luna mentioned the Panexus. The Ivory Guard told him about using the Panexus to reach Firelight Woods in time, but it was broken off from the original portal. Only through meditation, and with the Prevailer, could he reconnect the portal and enter it. He wasn’t sure how he was going to do that exactly and was very tempted to ask Luna about the Ivory Guard and everything it said, but kept his thoughts to himself, for now.
As he stepped through the grass, he could feel the morning dew on the blades moisten his shoes. Dawn’s rays poured over the guard walls and into the garden, making everything bearing the morning droplets shimmer in spectacles of light. When the two made their way to the center of the garden opening, Luna opened one of her wings signaling Zack to stop, which he did so. Luna stepped a few more meters away from him and turned to face Zack. She rose her head up a bit, giving her a more instructive look and pushing away her giddiness momentarily.
“Now, we shall began your training,” she stated with regal authority.
“Let me first say,” Zack began, “that I have actually used the abilities of the sword before. During my travels, I faced a formidable foe known as Sheol, the Lord of the Rocs. During that battle, the sword itself caught fire and returned to my hands afterwards when I threw it at the bird. Though I’m not sure how it worked, I believe I can tap into that power again... Can’t I?”
Luna, showing stolid emotion, replied, “I highly doubt you will be able to pull off such a magical feat again at whim. I believe what you said is true, but know this: The Prevailer is no ordinary blade, like you have been told before. It is a living entity designed by the masters of the ancient world. It most likely sensed you were in far greater danger and forced the magic out of you and into itself. It has the ability to sap magic from the wielder in life threatening situations. It desires to protect its master.”
She continued, circling around him in a pace, “Every living thing has magic within them. Some, like unicorns, deer and such can use them momentarily by channeling it with their horns, antlers and what not. Magic works differently inside everything and everyone, some may use it one way while others use it another. Earth ponies and pegasi have magic of their own as well, though most techniques to use magic like unicorn wielders have been lost due to time, though that does not always stop them. Some magic may come in the form of great strength or speed, maybe intelligence or even telekinesis; though it is rare, it is still possible to learn or be born with such abilities.” She turned towards Zack and concluded, “Point is: magic is everywhere and it can take many forms. So it is up to you to find your ability and control it within yourself. The Prevailer can have magic forced through it by means of unicorn magic and can give the master unicorn-like power if one can tap into that. And that is what you must do today.”
“Alright,” Zack confirmed, “I think I’m ready then.”
Luna stepped forward and commanded, “Now firstly Zack, firmly grasp it.” He tightened his grip around the blade with both hands, holding the sword in front of him. Luna gave a displeasing look and spoke again with more ferocity, “Firmly grasp it.” Zack thought he was doing so, but did as she said and clutched it as hard as he could.
Luna, still irritated at his attempts shouted using her Royal Canterlot Voice, “Firmly grasp it!”
“Luna,” Zack yelled back, “I am!”
“Good,” she stated with pleasure. Zack had the feeling that Luna was merely teasing him, but remained diligent to her teachings.
“Now,” she spoke again, “focus. Clear your mind of uncertainties and concentrate. Force your natural energy from your mind, down your neck, into your chest, through your arms and into your hands. Sense the life force of the blade and let the bond between you two merge as one.”
Zack closed his eyes and focused, trying to feel for the energy inside himself flow downward into the blade. He wasn’t sure if he was feeling anything, but persisted to do so. His heart rate slowed as he took longer breaths, inhaling through the mouth and exhaling through the nostrils. He tried his hardest to sense the power of the Prevailer. Luna then conjured herself two objects to her sides. They were two simple stone pots and she hovered them gently into the grass by her sides.
“When you are ready,” she softly spoke, “open your eyes, still concentrating on the power between you and the blade, and levitate the pots behind me.” Zack remained with his eyes shut, still searching for that inner power. As he was about to give up, he felt a flickering energy leave his mind and travel down the back of his neck. He knew he was doing something right and the mystifying feeling of it all gave him goosebumps. He pressed his inner excitement back and began to focus once again. It felt as if water was trickling down his neck from the top of his head–the magic felt so foreign to his body, but he kept on concentrating. The energy then curved around his neck and enveloped the top of his chest and shoulders. He tried ever so slightly to speed up the process as he began to feel the magic become gradually more intense. The alien feeling flowed over his arms and now wrapped around his hands and fingers. The source of magic from the top of his head pulsated, pushing more and more of it out and into the blade.
Now he felt an ever more increasing feeling, he could now feel inside the Prevailer as if the the sword was apart of his body. From the tip of the blade, a new source of energy flowed and slowly trickled through the core of the weapon. It moved over the hilt and then met with his hands. A sudden surge of combined energies broke through to him and he now felt his entire body consumed by magic itself. He opened his eyes and found that nothing had changed, but could still feel the energy cloaking his form. He looked over at Luna and she gave him an overly ecstatic sign of approval that became present to him across her face. He smiled back, but remembered to remain focused. It felt like now he had a firm grasp of the energy around him and had to focus less on stabilizing the force.
“That’s it,” she beamed. “I can feel the magic pulse off of you. You’re doing wonderful. Now, release one hand from the sword and hover the pots!”
Zack nodded his head once and directed his eye contact on the pots behind her. He carefully released his left hand from the sword. He still felt the power emanating from himself and continued to slowly raise his hand. With his fingers spread outreaching for one of the pots, he felt the urge to force more energy into his reaching hand. He did so with ease and the feeling his hand gave off felt like a hot rag had been draped over it. The odd feeling wasn’t painful the least, but quite comforting in a way he had never felt before. Zack was shocked at the appearance of his hand for it now gave a faint, red glow. A now visible, but ghostly aura grew brighter until it sparked with power. He began to sweat as he rose his hand a bit more towards the pot. The same aura that shrouded his hand now formed around the pot. With his mind, Zack told himself to move the pot up into the air. A strange new force pressed against his mind that he wasn’t expecting to happen. A force pushing back against him. He felt he could over come it, and when he did regain focus, the pot began to hover little by little. Now the pot was levitating a good few inches from the ground and Zack was finally performing magic of his own. Inch by inch it flew higher, now a foot in the air, a yard, and soon it was higher than him.
Luna gave him an assuring grin and congratulated, “Well done, Zachary.”
Zack smiled back and with burgeoning excitement, “Ha-Ha! Yes! Yes! I’m doing it!” He then gently lowered the pot back down and gave way to the energy. The feeling had crawled back up through his body and into his mind once more. He felt as if he had regained control of a long lost appendage and was getting the feel of it for the first time. He felt beyond thrilled by his accomplishment and wanted to do more, as well as continue to learn.
He turned towards Luna and replied with enthusiasm, “How did I do?”
“Not bad,” she replied. “If you ever found yourself in a magical duel against a unicorn foal, you might have a slim chance of survival. I could put you against somepony in the Magic Kindergarten across Canterlot if you would like?”
Zack laughed, “Well, that’s better than nothing, huh? So what do I learn next?”
“Next?” She grieved, taking Zack down from his spree of joy and into wavering doubt as to her tone of voice. “Zachary, that is all I can teach you. Now that you have blossomed your abilities and are now conscious of your magical energy, you must discover how to use magic effectively on your own.”
Zack stammered, “B-but why can’t you teach me magic like how unicorn fillies are taught?”
“They are all taught the same way you were just now. They first grasped the concept of bending magic to their will, and then they learn by spell scrolls on how to use different spells. Though you may be different, I suggest you to keep practicing and getting more comfortable with your new found abilities.” She turned to walk away from him. Zack began to follow her, but she spoke up while still walking away from him. “No, you must stay here and practice magic until you are use to it. I must get some much needed sleep.” Luna left Zack out in the Royal Gardens for him to practice his magic.

        Far off to the east, further than any pony would dare to travel, lay a wasteland of red earth and dust. Bare mounts and dead trees carved by the ever pressing winds scoured the hard terrain. No sounds except the howling wind carrying grains of sand filled the air. No birds above, no creatures below; the land was empty of all life. No settlements and no roads, this place was barren and deserted. Above a boiling red sun pierced through the ashy skies, giving the lands below an ancient, rust-colored tone. This unconquered land is where not many in the world have traveled to or even desired to go, knowing that they would only find nothingness and death. Though something was here long ago, something was lost. At the edge of the world is where the secret was, but what was the secret? One knew about this, and desired to find it.
Down from the heavens, tearing through the thick clouds and dust, shot a beam of silver light. As it touched the earth for a few seconds, it soon shot back up into the atmosphere and then everything was silent once more. From the light came forth a pony, Princess Celestia herself, but her looks would fool any other who saw her at this moment. She was cloaked in protection from this harsh and hot environment. From head to hoof she was shielded from the sand that blew against her. Her royal attire was away back in Canterlot Castle and she carried nothing along with her except the cloak around her.
She took a few steps off of a heavily damaged and cracked Panexus and removed her hood, revealing her face. She had her mane hair tied up in a bun while her mouth and snout were guarded by a veil of cloth. She squinted over the landscape, searching over it for what she had came for. She spotted it from afar and realized that she was much closer than she anticipated. The layer of dust in the wind cloaked the towering monolith as it rose up from the clouds of sand. As some dust cleared, the place she was searching for became clear in sight. A large complex, a massive building with multiple toppled towers and titled buildings lay silently in the forsaken land. Great carvings and broken elongated windows covered the strange structure, though she knew this was no ordinary building, it was a temple.
An ancient structure for worship and sacrifice, far beyond the written histories of all the combined species of the world–something that had been long forgotten. The building itself loomed over Canterlot Castle, making even the City of Canterlot appear like Ponyville in comparison. There were no other structures or cities around however, only the massive monument to forgotten history stood before her. She wasted no more time and continued toward the massive complex with regret.

        Zack spent nearly all morning and afternoon levitating pots in the garden. He was very much tired of doing so, but indeed had learned a lot since his first levitation. He could now focus much faster and use magic within a few seconds of concentration. He could move both the pots in the air, hover them around himself and could even move them without the aid of reaching out his hand. Over time he realized moving larger objects took much more mental power than moving pots, much like it took more strength to lift up larger objects with his arms. The only real magical ability he learned was to move simple objects. He realized conjuring spells were completely different than levitation spells and other spells were much more advance than he previously thought they were. He soon had an appreciation for a unicorn’s dedication to their studies. He planned on going to the library after dinner to read up on some spell books and to really begin his magical training.
Luna returned back outside around the late afternoon to find Zack lying on his side, Prevailer in hand and levitating the pots to and fro, almost as if juggling them in the air. She smirked and lay down beside him on the grass; he took notice of her and gently placed the pots back down on the ground.
“Slacking off, are we,” she questioned in a light tone.
“More like taking a break. I’m glad I know how to do this now. But boy, oh boy, it takes some serious know how and commitment to even learn the basics of magic.”
“And you are still so far from the basics. You’ve only scratched the surface... Come in and have dinner with me so that we may talk about progressing your training.” Zack eased himself up off of the ground as did Luna. The two were making their way up the steps of the garden patio when Zack stopped in mid-step. He had a burning desire to ask Luna something and did so.
He called out behind her by saying, “What do you know about the Ivory Guard?” She stopped and halted before entering the door. She turned her head and looked over into Zachary’s eyes. Luna’s somber appearance gave Zack the idea that she knew who they were.
“I...” she spoke slowly at first, “it’s been a long time since I’ve heard that name.” She immediately approached Zack in a haste manner saying, “Where did you hear about them? I know for a fact that there is no single book in our archives that talk about the Ivory Guard... Did Celestia tell you? Did she?”
“No! Not at all! I learned about them from... well... We need to talk... Here, sit with me.” Zack sat himself down on the stoop of the porch as Luna joined him. Her look of rising anger quickly faded to worry as she scooted closer next to Zack.
Zack began, “Last night, one came to me. It answered my problems, sort of. You see, I’m obviously not from this universe, nor dimension, and being so as of now I’m dealing with–”
“Void tearing,” she finished his sentence. Zack’s eyes widened with astonishment.
“You... you knew?”
“No, Zachary. I knew you were different, but not from another dimension. I know that beings from another dimension experience void tearing eventually. I know this because I once met another being from another dimension... it was in so much pain...” She broke eye contact and looked out into the gardens, lost in her thoughts.
“Darkcraft,” she began, “old spells for the utmost masters of wielding magic teach of these things, but I didn’t know that when I had met the being. They no longer teach darkcraft this day and age, it was even beginning to be banned in my last days in Equestria.” She turned back towards Zack and said with a lighter approach, “I cannot help you, but I can ease your pain with them... or at least I can try. Dream Piercing, an old dark art spell. Do not be fooled by the name, dark arts are merely spells that are... different than your regular spell casting. But through Dream Piercing I can try and mend your mind, only for a time being.”
“But, what exactly is Dream Piercing?”
“It is where one enters the mind of another. In the old days, sages use to cure ponies and other kinds by entering through their minds and removing evil entities, deep trances or relieving mental problems with ease. The only difficultly is that each person’s mind is different in every way, no two minds are the same. Therefore, it usually takes many days for the Dream Piercer to resolve another’s issues.”
Zack looked, thinking about the whole concept of dream piercing and returned eye contact with the Princess. “It wouldn’t help though... it would only hold back the inevitable...” Luna was saddened by this repressed thought and sighed. Zack was disappointed to see that he had depressed the poor pony, but then remembered what else the Ivory Guard told him.
He added, “But... the Ivory Guard told something else... It can be cured, if and only if I–”
“It’s suicide, Zachary.” He fell silent from her statement. “It can save you, but getting the Catalyst Stone is suicide... Did this Ivory Guard even tell you what lurks in the Equadeus Arx? What creature guards the artifact?” She leaned closer and whispered, “Excubris is his name... The Lord of the Ancient World, The Watchman of the West, he has many names. He is only a whisper in the wind now, but he is ever so alive, always guarding the Catalyst Stone till the ends of the world. Many have tried to take the stone from him, even armies have been crushed under his footstep. Even in my day there was panic among the world for the stone and its glory. But the world gave up finally and tried to destroy all evidence of his existence so their following generations would not die or risk such petty glory from such a creature.”
Zack then asked, “What about Moonsinger?” Luna was astonished by Zack’s knowledge of the secret world.
“I’m amazed at what all you know, Zachary... but she commanded the beast to guard the stone. Only it would listen to her.”
“How did she do it though?”
“We’re not sure.”
“Didn’t she ever come back from her mission?”
“Never.” The two were silent for a long while, listening to the chirping birds in the garden and the high howling mountain winds far off. Luna was deeply saddened by the conversation's turn towards Moonsinger.
Zack, again, persisted, “I have the Prevailer though, the spirit killer! Surely I could defeat this thing in one slice! That or it would recognize that I am a master of an artifact and give me the stone... It’s worth a shot.”
Luna fought with his response, but gave way, “Yes... perhaps you could... I suppose the Ivory Guard warned you all about the Firelight Woods, for I do not remember it so well.”
“Yes it did.”
“How will you get there though? The forest is at the farthest ends of the map? It would take you a year to even travel there by the fastest means.” Zack looked away from her and toward the Panexus in the garden. Luna followed his eyesight and immediately knew his answer.
Zack stated, “The Panexus. The Guard told me that through mediation, and with the help of the Prevailer, I would be able to reconnect with one of the many portals the artifact is connected to. I know for a fact that it takes unicorn magic to power the device, but I alone must connect the two Panexuses–err, Panex'i’.”
“True,” she affirmed. She placed a hoof on his shoulder and leaned closer towards him. Zack didn’t mind her sudden, gentle affection and rather felt it to be fitting for the moment.
She asked, “When do you plan on leaving.”
He turned to her and replied, “As soon as I can... tomorrow if I can make it happen.”
Luna quivered, “T-tomorrow?” Zack nodded in affirmation. Her sudden yelp of alarm even surprised her. She contained herself quickly and hid her feelings under a layer of dedication to Zack’s decision. She sat up from the steps of the porch and told Zack, “Before you go, you must prepare. Follow me at once.”

        The two began their way across one of the many bridges to a very familiar area of the castle. Zack was sure that this was the same place where the Elements of Harmony were kept when they entered through the large doors of the palace. As they crossed the marble floors and up the stairs where the large stone carvings of the many stone alicorns were, they found themselves where the horn slot was to open the secret room, where the Elements and other magical artifacts were. Luna placed her horn into the slot and gave off a burst of magic, illuminating the carvings in the wall with a teal colored light. As the bolts in the stone door could be heard shifting, he presumed they would enter the same chamber as he once entered before.
When the stone gateway did open, an entirely new room appeared before Zack, one that looked much different than Celestia’s secret room. He walked in and looked above at the wonderments of the chamber. The large room was in the shape of a hexagon and the ceiling seem to stretch on forever. Above them were many dim lights, but none powerful enough to light the entire room which the floating, magic orbs around the corners of the chamber did. Upon further inspection, Zack realized the lights above him came together to form a galaxy of stars and swirls. It spun ever so quietly and slowly above the two as Luna made her way further into her chamber. Zachary was much more impressed with Luna’s secret chamber than Celestia’s when staring up at the magical map of the galaxy above him.
Ah," Luna breathed with ease. "It’s like nothing has changed at all in the last millennia.”
Zack questioned, with his eyes still skyward, “I thought this was the room to the Elements of Harmony and the rest of the magical artifacts?”
“It’s an Enigma Chamber. It’s one room that can be many rooms to whomever has access to it. Only I can allow access to my chamber, whereas Celestia can only access her chamber.”
“How many rooms are there.”
“Only one per unicorn, yet they have to know how to open it first. One can only open it if they know The Royal Canterlot spell. So in all honesty, it’s a family secret.”
As Zack entered further into the room, he noticed that the center of the chamber was nothing but a bare, marble floor. Only one podium stood in the back of room facing the exiting doors of the Enigma Chamber. Luna walked back to the pedestal and used her magic on the stone block. The block lit up much like her horn and the many engravings he didn’t see on the floor and podium at first glowed vibrantly in a cyan light. The engravings circled around the chamber floor and from them arose stone chests.
“Like Celestia,” Luna spoke, “I’ve found my share of magical artifacts as well.” Another spark surged from her horn and all the chests around them opened wide and from them emerged the artifacts. Only three were present, but still, one was enough to make any pony rich beyond their wishes. She stepped over to one that looked much like a hinge for a door. She levitated it over to Zachary and he held it in his hands. On one side of the hinge there was an odd looking, flat purple stone and on the other was an area where Zack could grasp it. The entire artifact itself was coated in platinum-like metal and shimmered greatly in the starlight.
“This,” Luna announced, “Is the Marauder’s Key. Simply place it on any flat surface and it immediately becomes a door. Inside the door is a room in which one can rest or recover. It’s not much, but will get you out of harm’s way quickly. I found this during a griffon raid nearly a millennia ago.”
She turned to the next artifact and said, “This here is the Ebony Chain. It is a chain and lock that can never be broken. Legends tell that this was forged from a great volcano in the Farlands. Used to bind a beast from destroying the world long ago.” Lastly, she hovered over the final item and said, “Finally, my personal favorite, The Cartographer’s Pen.” This, to Zack, was very alluring. An onyx coated fountain pen with a golden nib.
She continued, “You simply use the nip of the pen, draw a drop of your own blood as ink and drop that onto a piece of parchment. Then whatever building you preformed all of this in, the blood will draw out a map of the entire facility–the only room it can’t discover is, ironically enough, an Enigma Chamber. All of these, Zack, are yours to borrow for your journey. I know you have no access to Celestia’s Enigma Room where you could use her artifacts, but hopefully mine will suit you just fine.” Zack took hold of the pen and placed it in his pocket with a smile.
“Thank you...” he said with the utmost pleasure. He rubbed the back of his head and said once more in a nonchalant attitude, “Thank you... for helping me, Luna.” He grabbed her hooves in his hands and said it again, not knowing when to stop thanking her. She couldn’t help but blush at his compliments.
“Oh, it’s quite fine,” she said while pulling on her mane hair.
He then gave her a quick hug and said, “Come on, dinner’s getting cold!” He rushed up the stairs and out of her Enigma Chamber with all of the artifacts acquired. Luna opened her wings and took flight up the stairs and landed next to Zack. The two exited the room and it soon closed behind them, locking the chamber once again.