“Malefic Malevolence: An Archaic Rendition of Trauma. Now let’s see here...we’ve got bruises, well all over. Some sprained and broken bones along the right elbow, right leg, pelvic region, left hip, two ribs – both sides, and a sprained wrist. Not too bad, not too bad. According to this, you’ve fainted from blood loss, so that’s a bit iffy, but fear not I’ll help you get back in tip-top shape!”
“First off we’re unconscious, which is the first problem. After that...well? Anyways, let’s get right to it! First, we gain some knowledge of our surroundings and present condition”.
Luna felt the chilly air rub against her damp skin. The rustling of leaves, the crack of falling pines to the unknown elements. She couldn’t see under her eyelids, but the sense of the surrounding area was very much in her grasp.
“Next comes our heart. It will palpitate very rapidly, to the point of bursting!”
She could feel the rapid racing of a heart beating. Her heartbeat. The pounding rhythmically echoed and stopped, echoed and stopped. Blood was pumping; life was racing to keep momentum. Am I alive? She felt her heart, but what of her brain or lungs? Did she need them to live, or were they expendable?
“Then is our...breathing. Like our heart, it’ll start of really really slow, but speed up incredibly quick!”
The sensation of air flowing through the passage to her lungs; in and out. Her lungs were definitely not out of commission.
“...Problem is we may experience cardiac arrest!”
Her breathing was comfortable a second ago. Now she could hardly even take in a single breath; her nostrils flared, lungs became fire, she could feel the swelling expansion – but without the actual air to accompany. I’m on fire! Somebody...!
The chirpy voice calmed her, as it lowered itself to a mere whisper. Who are you? She wanted to ask, but still her voice remained distant; like a whole different person were asking. Her eyes couldn’t see what wasn’t there. You’re not there then...I’m imagining all of this...
“Nope, sorry to tell you I am! Getting back to business, with all these organs and sensory points coming back, you will feel some minor, excruciating pain!”
Right on time, Luna could feel a new pain. Stronger than the pain she felt in her lungs. Every broken bone and bleeding orifice came in full force. She screamed, or at least would if she could speak.
“Finally, we come to the best part: waking up! It’s gonna happen real quick, so be ready! When I snap my fingers you’ll be wide awake. Three! Two! One!” Snap! The snap of the voice’s fingers shocked Luna awake. She drank in the air, as much as her swollen lungs would allow. She turned to her side, trying to find an easier way to take in the plentiful air. A revolting queasiness entered her throat, causing Luna to vomit nothing but water fluid. Alive...I’m alive!
No, not alive; just not dead. If she were alive, would she be in pain, in a storm, with no idea where to go or where exactly she was currently? Being alive would be a blessing. One she didn’t have on her. Drumbeats of rain pounded, leaving dark spots on the cold rock that would then vanish among the many other dark spots, which led to a grey rock becoming black instantly; black rocks waiting to live and die, much like her. The surrounding forest - above and ahead – swayed, tipping to a point of no return.
She was surrounded by high boulders, their mountainous cliffs facing three points around, with one direction as a passage to her cove. The only entrance went down fifty feet heading into splintered branches and a layered mesh of leaves. It would be her only way out of the pit. She pressed down onto her side, draining watered-down blood. On the ground, a puddle of red sap formed; while unconscious, she must have lost a lot of blood, around a good half-liter. Walking would be a challenge, what with her broken bones as well.
At that moment, she pressed on her chest, her ribcage stung. “A few broken ribs for sure,” she said. “It’s going to hurt, but I need to get up. And those timberwolves.” Luna looked to the edge, and sure enough they weren’t there. How long have I been out? A good hour, maybe? There’s plenty of time for them to discover a way to her. Since they weren’t here already, they must be close; enough so that they could be just beyond that jungle. There wasn’t the smell of burnt wood, meaning they could be a few miles out. Might.
This wasn’t the time for second guessing; either she get up now, or stay to die. “Dying isn’t an option!” Luna placed her arms under herself, and shoved; she-at first-buckled under the increased weight on her body, but kept up until she was back on her feet, wobbling. The walk to the forest felt farther than fifty feet, her slow pace accounting for that. She found pushing on the face of the cliff helped. It acted as a stable support. The only concern she had besides fainting right there, was where to head off to.
Turning around to situate herself in a leaning position, Luna took out the crinkled map. Zigzags painted the parchment, crossing both man-made and natural terrain. Her previous location was Hoofdale, which was about a few miles back. The legend stated an approximate three miles back. She followed the insane amount of poorly-drawn mountain and forest, to where she believed herself to be; inside the Everfree forest. Exactly where, she couldn’t be sure; since it wasn’t a map on just the forest itself, but the neighboring towns as well.
The closest town was titled “Oakwood,” about a mile out. Not too far, good. She put the map back, not taking the time to wrap it up again. “All set to go, come on.” Making it to the exit - or entrance - she made it. Without a second to waste parting the double-door of leaves, and walking through.
“Come on Luna, you’re not getting tired are you?” Celestia coyly called down to Luna, who was a good five feet below, struggling with a swaying vine.
“Yes!” She angrily reported. The vine had now coiled around her in a tangle. They had been traversing the boulders - going along the ramp until it ended for a short climb. From below, the mountain appeared as a single boulder - hundreds of feet high - but was actually a clump of four massive boulders. The road followed up until just behind the tallest, where a short climb up some ingrown vines would lead to a new flat path. Celestia tugged on the few starter vines, climbing the wall to show Luna it was safe. She even hung by her hands just to toy with her. Luna wasn’t too happy at her older sister acting so childish.
“Sister...I’m stuck.” Celestia looked to the struggling girl, laughing at her misfortune; but came to the rescue, lifting the poor girl onto her back. “Thanks,” she said, grateful that she didn’t need to deal with the pesky string monsters anymore.
“That’s what big sisters are for!” With a piggybacked Luna, Celestia took them up the rest of the way. Reaching the top, she lifted them with effort to the new flat stretch of ground. Exhausted, she rolled Luna off, breathing heavily at the workout she was getting.
The little Luna got up, pulling on her sister’s arm to do the same. “Are we almost there!?” ‘Important as always’ Celestia chuckled. “What? What’s so funny?”
Celestia up righted herself, still laughing and saying, “Just thinking about how stingy you are.”
“I’m not impatient!” Pouting, Luna’s cheeks turned to tomatoes.
“I guess you’re right...strawberry”
At that nickname, Luna punched Celestia hard in the leg – the highest she could hit. “I told you to stop naming me after fruit!”
“Okay, I deserved that,” Celestia swirled, rubbing her little sister’s well-groomed patch of blue hair. “Let’s get going, shall we?”
Celestia turned to leave, when Luna grabbed onto her, “Where are we going anyways?” Her lip trembled, and her big blue eyes balled up into an over exaggerating expression. Luna’s signature face to get anything she wanted.
Bright-eyed, Celestia smiled. She pointed high above them, to the boulder’s edge, “There,” she said. “Right around that bend, on a small hill is a cave. In that cave is what I’m here to show you. It’s a very special secret, that only I know of...and Starswirl.” Her smile faded, concern looming.
“Where is he sister?” I heard he went on an adventure!”
“I don’t know if he would call it such, but yes...an adventure.”
Picking up Luna, they went up the path, encroaching on the bend she spoke of. “It’s really bright. Do you think you can lower the sun?”
Celestia laughed again. “Sorry, can’t do that, unless you can raise the moon?” Luna spat out her tongue. She really doesn’t enjoy those jobs.
Curses drew under her breath, as Luna made her way through the last feet of jungle. Since she came to, the howls of those dreaded beasts – or any other – were distant at best; a good mile out from her. That didn’t mean she was completely out of danger. There were still her vast injuries to attend to; of which she had no means to heal. Her magic failing to stitch up a scratch, and no nearby towns to speak of; Luna was very much in trouble.
She recalled that a village was located about a mile out, but in the thick jungle, there wasn’t much to see yet. For the most part, her wounds were kind by stinging passively. The only serious one that would stop her being the chunk the timberwolf bit out.
The final pair of large leaves parted, revealing what she hoped for: open road. A long stretch of light dirt – drenched in the storm – went out a fair distance, looping around the forest. Looking left, the road had already gone far, leaving her in the middle between the last town and...here. The map pointed the next town right. Luna lifted the bag up, and began to walk that way. She’d hoped before; hopefully hoping would work again.
I wonder how sister is doing she pondered. Luna had been walking for at least half an hour, with the town less in sight than ever. It started becoming a fear that she wouldn’t arrive before the sun fell. Her injuries wouldn’t give her that much time. So with the quiet travelling, she wondered on her sister’s condition. There was no word from Twilight yet, which wasn’t necessarily good. Twilight was left to keep an eye on her, and to also look into the spell. News about its origins would be much appreciated; but no news yet. How many days has it been? Luna figured it had been two days. But since she was out for a while, it could be ten. This storm could be on its first week for all she knew.
She snapped out of the thought, seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Coming up around the bend, she saw the outskirts of a village. The village. Oakwood. Enlightened at the prospect of finding a nice, warm bed and fresh meals, Luna quickened her pace. Aaaaroooo. In the thunder and shower of rain she didn’t think her ears heard right, but they did. The far off hauls of a pack were heard. The call wasn’t near enough to gallop to her; however, hearing them at all stated they weren’t off the beaten path. Luna had no time to estimate, so she sprinted to the town.
The clouds lighted up in a bright flash, followed by the percussion of drums. A strong shove and she was going against the wind. Rain punched her with a small mix of loose dirt that decided to join in. Her discomfort with already moving faster than her legs could manage, increased with the change in wind.
Unlike Hoofdale, the village of Oakwood didn’t have fences or a designated entrance; its only barring were houses and a few hundred feet away, the forest. Luna dashed between a pair of houses, rushing into the villages. Smoke rose from the charred ashes of burnt buildings. While running, she noticed the entire village had been razed; smoldering piles of black wood were all that was left. All, except one house which had a clear puff of rising smoke from a chimney. She stepped forward, collapsing on her knees. “Help!” She cried out, holding her side which was torn more. The effects of her run had come stranding her in a village of lost lives. Her tears became rain, as she cried out for help that didn’t come.
Luna fell forward, growing weak in her head again. “N-No...please.” Too late, her body crumpling. A shadowed figure came out of the house, running to her. The dark clouds end blurred vision had the figure’s identity. It reached around, and lifted her with one arm wrapped under her left arm and over her back. She felt the muddy ground slide away.
“M~ gonna be ok~,” the figure said. “You’re s~f~.”
Those were the last words she heard, before succumbing to the darkness entirely.
“Luna, you must promise never to use this. It does not do what you believe it to.”
The sound of her sister’s warning voice brought Luna to. A warm, salty taste stuck to her mouth; her eyes fluttered in wake of the bright bulb of a nearby lantern. Trying to move her arms, they stiffened at her sides. Only soft groans were produced in an effort to speak. Unable to talk, to move, or think. Perfect. What first came to mind wasn’t “Where am I?”, but how did I get here? Short flashes of being dragged by someone came to her. He - or she - was tall, well-built, and took enough care to calm her. They brought her in and set her down in this comfortable bed. Feeling a damp area on her forehead and tightly-wound gauze, they must have also treated her injuries. There was still an incredible stinging sensation where she was bitten; meaning advanced medical treatment wasn’t used. Minor first aid at best she thought.
Looking at the room she accompanied, it appeared as living quarters. There was the bed, a counter with random knick-knacks and a sink, and small room to sit or stand. Luna only saw what she could. To her left – at the far end near the counter was a door. It probably led to a bedroom. Whatever it led to wasn’t a concern; who lived here was.
The house – which was more of a cottage – had an androgynous feel to it. Simple decorations adorned the living room: hanging pictures of fields, a typewriter, some left out dinner ware, a small notebook. Her bed was simple too, with plain-colored sheets. Yet there was also a feminine side to it. A flower pot, with wilted stems of dead plants lay on the foot of the bed. Something so beautiful turned to nothing but a dead waste of space. The who became whom.
Creeak. The cottage moaned as strong winds brushed up against it. Steady taps banged on the window; screeching wind howled at the structure. Inside, she felt safe. Even inside a stranger’s home, it was safe. Luna was situated near the edge of the bed’s open side. In her sleep, she must have moved. With nothing to do but look at flour pots and dirty dishes, she looked to the floor for help. If anything could be more plain, the floor would be a top competitor. Average wooden planks, dark, flat as a pancake; shaven quite well for a cottage. Then something interesting caught her. Laying directly under the bed still in view, were scraps of paper. Notebook paper by the looks of it, ripped out of the one on the counter. Strange she thought. Now what would you be doing there? The residents hadn’t shown themselves yet, giving her opportunity to scavenge.
She reached as far as her stiff arm would take her, bending her back off the bed. Pain surged up her spine, to her head. It overwhelmed her for the moment, so she went back to laying still. After the pain subsided for the most part, Luna went right back to reaching for the paper. Her fingers dragged the scraps out. With careful movement she pinched two fingers at a time; within a minute retrieving the three pieces. Whoever wrote on them was sloppy; it was nothing but overlapping scribbles. Few words were legible, such as “her” and “sorry”. Before she could really start making out the letter, a crash came from behind the door.
From the sounds, something fumbled around, and ransacked the room. More dropped objects were heard before the handle clicked. As the knob turned, Luna shut her eyes to appear still asleep. Time to meet her savior.
A man opened the door, rushing to the counter without a passing glancing to her. Luna peered with one eye, seeing the disturbed man search through the pile on the counter. He was mid-aged, wild dark hair, askew glasses, a white-collared shirt with stripes running down the length. His clothes were a mix of soaked and muddy. His back was to her, so whatever he looked like was unseen. She was right about his height – maybe a few inches taller. His arched back and frantic shoveling said disturbed, or possibly frustrated. Maybe that’s why he crashed something.
Luna’s back had been in an awkward position since she reached down. Needing to move, she flexed her shoulder muscles, sliding up. The pain in her side returned, causing her to groan. It was loud enough; the man stopped his raving search, turning to the source of the noise. Giving herself away, Luna refrained from feigning sleep; instead getting a look at the man. Blue eyes, long and narrow nose – with a bandage, thin cheeks flushed red, dirt rubbed over. Dirty, but presentable.
“Well, well, well. Look who’s awake”. He shuffled over to her bedside, pulling up a chair and taking a seat. “How you doing ma’am?”
Words didn’t come to her. She gasped for air; so he handed a glass of freshly poured water. Gulping it down quickly, Luna coughed to no end. The watchful man patted her back, till she calmed enough. “I’ll take that as a yes for now,” he said chuckling. Taking the empty glass away, he returned to staring at her.
“What’re you doing?” She barely said, still trying to breathe deep.
“Making sure none of your wounds have opened up.” He brought her arms up, turned her hand, and asked her if she could feel every so often.
Luna may have still been dizzy, but she needed questions answered. Gaining his attention, “How long have I been here?”
He was quick to answer “Two days so far. You were pretty much done with when I found you. Thank Celestia the storm had only just begun, or I wouldn’t have heard you.”
“I am glad you did. Thank you...?”
“Inkling. And the pleasures all mine.” He was humble. Not something seen often outside of the castle. “If I’m not mistaken,” Inkling said, pulling a thread through her eyebrow. “You would be Princess Luna, no?”
She didn’t say anything, but nodded in response. He pulled the thin wire through her skin one last time, snipping off the remaining length. Rubbing among some blood, he continued stitching up remaining cuts. Inkling was delicate; taking careful aim with each poke, pull, and tap. Luna was embarrassed at the gesture. Even though she’s the Princess of the Night, she’s also a random stranger. One who needed help...but still. Being trusted in the first place is embarrassing.
“Are you a doctor, Inkling?”
He’d moved on to her arms. “Gosh no!” He said astonished. “Why, if I were a doctor you’d be on your feet by now.” Chuckling softly at the notion,” No, I’m a journalist. I run...er ran our local paper.” He continued on with her wounds, finding and taking care of ones Luna didn’t notice. Some were minor – cuts and scrapes, while she did bring a few dangerous. “Now then, let’s take a look see.” He motioned for Luna to raise her top up a bit. She did so, going up until he stopped her on the third ribcage. Wiping sweat from his brow, he rubbed his hands back on his hair. “This is gonna be a pickle.”
Since the fall, Luna hadn’t had a good look at the bite. With her blouse up, she saw the damage thus far. Jagged holes like daggers plunged into her skin. “Damn. I just swabbed these not an hour ago,” he grumbled. Taking out soaked cloth, he lightly touched the wounds; dabbing at the crusted and seeping blood. “You seemed to have gotten bitten by something good. Mind telling me what?”
“Timberwolf,” she responded, holding her breath for each dab. “It chased me for the better part of a day. Outsmarted it, until it got the best of me.”
“Pesky blights, timberwolves. Roam in packs, ferocious alone. Glad I haven’t had the chance to meet ‘em yet.”
“This one had a pack. Probably still out looking for me.”
“Well the rain should take care of your scent. They can’t track in bad weather.”
Silence fell while he prodded at her wound, stitching up the puncture wounds. “So, Princess Luna what were you doing out there? I imagine being chased by hungry beasts isn’t a daily chore.”
She signed and looked to the ceiling. Plain and boring like the rest of the room. “Something...happened. I came to fix it.”
“Oh, you mean the fires?” Confuse, she gave him a questionable look. “A few days back, fires erupted. People fled into the forest and elsewhere. I was the only one that stayed to put them out.” He kept up a smile, but looked sadly at the cloth dripping with blood. “Been here since, figuring on what to do next.”
“And your wife?” Luna asked.
“My wife? Oh...” he said. On his finger was a metallic ring with a single shiny gem. “She hasn’t been around for a long while.” Inkling twisted the ring while putting the rag away. “So you say you came to fix something. Guessin’ it isn’t the town?”
“I’m sorry, but no. I –“
He waved his hands. “No, that’s alright. We each have our reasons. To explain to me what would be a waste of energy. I just hope that you understand why you’re doing what it is you came for.” Their silence returned, leaving bath to ponder their decisions. A few hours passed, but the rain still continued only letter up a bit when the clouds parted. Luna began to regain her strength, sitting up and walking a short distance. With Inkling’s help, she was soon able to move about without difficulty.
“You’ve really improved Princess. I’m really amazed!” Inkling said, patting Luna on the shoulder.
“Yes, well, we’ve learned to recover fast at times.” She remained humble even though it took mere hours for her to recover.
Inkling became positive, his smile flailing. “So I’m guessin’ this means you’re gonna be moving on, huh?”
“ ‘fraid so,” she replied. Thinking on it, her leaving was a little somber. He helped her so much, and she had nothing but thanks to offer. “Listen Inkling,” she said extending her hand. “It was a pleasure being in your company. We are forever in debt to your generosity.” It appeared as if his shaking hand wouldn’t reach, but after some thought gladly gripped her own.
“Think nothing of it, Princess. I hope...I hope you find what it is you’re after.”
Luna left on a blunt note, much like acquaintances would. If a chord was struck, she snapped it, breaching the harmonic beauty of the piece. She walked into the pouring rain of the threatening storm. Her back to the warm home, she gave it one last look. A shadow from its only resident passed by the curtain. I hope to see you once more. The storm beating on her, Luna ran across the town – pass the burnt homes – to the open clearing. Staying on the road would be foolish with the pack still on her, so she crossed into the dense forest. I can feel them she thought. I can feel them.
Luna and Celestia traipsed over the rocks, heading upwards to where a flatbed was. The little princess figured around the bend would be their destination, but no, one last climb was needed. Gravity heaved as they traversed the steep wall. Small pebbles unhinged and fell an undesirable distance, knocking off other rocks that came into contact. Luna gulped, pretending not to see the ground she kept her sights on Celestia – ahead of her, and almost to the top.
Not more than a few steps later and Celestia disappeared over the top. Luna quickly scrambled up the remaining steps, her speed slipping loose a stable footing, hanging her. She cried out in terror at her predicament; unable to regain a foothold and her hands hurting, she found herself soon to fall aside like the pebble. “Sister!” She called out, but Celestia wasn’t showing. Her left hand began to slip – each delicate finger sliding off to the firm law of gravity. Luna cried out more as her hand let slip, leaving only her right keeping her alive. “Please help! Sis –“ Her last grip on the smooth rock left, sending her downwards.
Her weight kicked in, pulling her faster to the sound bottom. She lurched in mid-fall, her wrist surging, and her body becoming heavier. Looking up, a flowing pink lock of hair accompanied a shooting arm. Celestia – with all her might – pulled Luna up, throwing her over to land on the flat surface.
The two sisters shared heavy intakes of relieving air; Celestia grinned to Luna, which she responded in kind. Getting up, Celestia patted the dirt off them, and took her sister’s hand. She led the way to a black face on the back boulder. “Here we are”; she stated in a show of amazement.
Luna however did not see what her sister saw. All she witnessed was her sister waving her arm at a black wall. Curiously, she peered closer, in case she missed an important detail hiding in plain sight. Still nothing came to her that was out of the ordinary. “What am I supposed to be looking at, sister?” She asked, mystified at what wasn’t there.
Celestia – with eyes closed – smiled at the innocence of her little sister. She then took Luna’s shoulders and faced her directly at the wall of black. “Look closer, Luna.”
Doing as she was told, Luna stared deeper at the pitch black wall. It wasn’t all black; the dark only went up ten feet. Why is only a small portion that way? She looked at all the miniscule portions of the black spot, trying to discover why. The answer came to her in the form of a small reflection of light near the bottom. She ran to the reflection more curious at the small detail. Placing her fingers on it, they dipped into the light. Water. Luna raised them out, and reached into the wall. Sure enough, she passed the barrier that should have blocked her. “It’s a cave,” she said in realization.
“Correct,” said Celestia joining her. “And inside this cave is what I came to show you.”
Together they dove into the abyss. The cave went deeper from first impressions, going deep into the mountain. Farther down, the constant voices of unseen life sounded; water dripping from stalactites, the brush of their feet on salty rock, ominous noises from just eh acoustics of the cavernous climb. Luna and Celestia trudged deeper, with the latter leading the way, changing her direction every so often. The path wasn’t straightforward; with them taking different paths along the multiple options available. If they found three different holes to go down, Celestia would often go up close and rub her palm against the wall, feeling for a sign only she could see.
The farther down they went, the more light from the surface vanished. Still, there seemed to a new light source all the way at the apparent bottom. Twinkling colors danced at the entrance to a chamber. Seeing as how that was unique in the bleakness everywhere else that must be where Celestia was taking them. Her hunch was correct, as they lowered themselves to the chamber. Inside, the dim lights which faintly shown were now blinding. Luna covered her eyes; following her sister to the light’s core.
At the center of the chamber, lying on a pedestal, were six stoves that could fit in the palm of Luna’s hand. The light show was done to their shading: each had a different tone of purple, white, yellow, orange, blue and pink. Celestia picked up the stone with a purple hue, tossing it to Luna. “This is what I wanted to show you,” she said. She grabbed the orange one rubbing a tight fist on it. “These stones are called the Harmony Stones, and they are very special”.
“Special. Special how?” Luna asked, her eyes wide with wonder at the mysterious storm rolling in her hands. Its purple hue shifted as she turned it; the light melting into the dark. If there was a chance the color could dust onto her, she wouldn’t mind.
“They heal. They fix. They allow right to emerge where chaos is free”. Her philosophic tone eased Luna. Normally Celestia was the sister who spoke kindly with authority; but now she spoke as an elder warning their pupil. These stones meant a lot.
Luna clenched the stone with purple once more before placing it back on the pedestal. “So they help people? Like the ones in town?”
Celestia frowned, her hopes lowering. “Not...exactly”. She was blunt
“But I thought –“
“I did say they helped, yes. Just not in the way most would believe”. Celestia rolled the stone in her hand much like Luna. Curious to its properties. “The name is a misnomer”.
“A mis-mis-number?” Luna couldn’t quite get the odd word out.
“Misnomer. It means the name isn’t the truth. They’re called Harmony stones, but very much not out to cause initial good.”
“I still don’t understand,” Luna said, scratching her head in confusion. Her sister softly chuckled, and put the orange stone down. She crouched down, placing comforting hands on her.
“It’s okay if you don’t understand. I just hope in time, you’ll learn”. Her motherly smile warmed Luna. “Now then, I think it’s time for dinner. Don’t you think so?”
With a rapid nod, Celestia picked Luna up and carried them home. Before they were ever off the mountain, the little princess was already fast asleep. Snoring loudly in her big sister’s loving arms.
Luna ran from the unseen stalkers behind. She had been running nonstop since leaving the town. Through the small spacing allowing her to speed, she saw an opening. The scent of fresh spring water hovered in the pines around. Brushing past a blockade of trees, she saw the outlines of ruins; perched on the edge of a sleeping hill. She dove out of the final layer of recently fed vines, jumping out into the clearing.
Beyond membrane and flesh, were the very organs of the forest. High walls rose overhead, hundreds of feet high. Thick sprouts of new life crept out of the cracks in their deafness. Above the walls was the cloudless sky, free of forewarning clouds and bullets of falling water. Ground level, Luna took in the majesty of the area. She stood on a lift of earth, stopping short of a rock field in impenetrable mist. To her left – down – was the spring she sniffed out before. A long waterfall poured the clear water into a small bowl. On her right, a rising staircase of sharp rocks like teeth stuck out, leading to the hill where the ruins stood. The ruins were made out of ancient blocks of pure white stone. They formed a ring – with a ceiling. Through sheer luck or careful structure, they stood after such a long time. Her want - the stones - were inside waiting.
With no time to lose, Luan stumbled down into the rock field. Her only other option was the hill, but it was covered in a minefield of sharp thorns. Landing with grace, she stepped into the thick cloud of mist. Her vision became obscured by the white mist, impairing her. She cautiously reached out, touching the rocks and boulders to get through. Out of the field there was life shouting, but inside was much quieter. Dead silence placed a cold shoulder on her arm and chills went up her spine, as she kept a blind eye for movement. Luna made her way around one of the larger obstructions before stopping. A shadowy trail flew past her. Another fly-by came from behind. Every time if flew close, she spun to it, hoping to see it. “Show yourself!” she shouted. There was fear in her voice. She tried to shove it off, but the genuine emotion stayed.
From the blurred distance – closely in – came a cachet. Whatever was hind was laughing at her. “My, my, my. If it isn’t dear Princess Luna,” it said. A great flap of its wings, and the hiding voice showed itself. Luna gasped. In the mist her eyes were useless, but there was no mistaking the hideous malformation in front of her. Every piece of its body was that of another creature’s dragon-like tail, hand of a griffon and paw of a lion, the antler and horn, bat wings, discolored on every part. The beast...no, the monster before her that had been frozen away, that the elements twice had to remove from existences.
Luna seethed its name, her fear and anger spitting disdain at its arrival. “Discord,” she said through clenched teeth. The abominable excuse for all that is chaos stood before her; his cocky smile reveling at her.
“It’s so good to see you again,” he said.