//------------------------------// // Chapter 16-Frozen Leaves // Story: Dismay Turned Discord // by Reedling //------------------------------// “No. I saw you executed, and your body turned to ash!” “And you would be right dear king...but you’ll find my seeming cowardice that day unfitting of my true nature.” “He used a decoy.” “Yet again your daughter sees the truth, I wonder if maybe she has been blessed with wisdom of her ancestor....” “Sirius, friend what is it you intend to do?” “Our friendship was forgotten the day you took my crown and armor. I am glad they served you well to your death and now that my past contract with Crystalline has been fulfilled I can begin a plan years in cultivating. Now be a good filly and hoof Morpheus to the rightful king.” “Did Pan make Morpheus for you?”Celestia asked. “That’s a question you’d have to ask when you’ve fully grasped his true nature.” “Then please, tell me if Chrysalis will be unharmed!” she pleaded. “It isn’t wise to befriend a soul whose heart can change like the breeze.” “Then I will become a wall! I’ll keep the air from changing her.” “Celestia.” Sirius B gave a low chuckle to the young mare. “Would you deny Chrysalis the ability to make mistakes and learn from them as well? All she knows is to sway where power lies. It is her mother’s ideology, a trait that no matter the warmth you bring can not melt nor shake from her, Cosmos nor Aethereum could strike these flaws from her. “Cosmos?” “Heh. One of the first Chrysos. I don’t expect you to know nor-” “Aethereum...is everything, and Cosmos is nothing.” Celestia whispered. “Midnight! I never would have expected you teaching your daughter the laws of old.” “I Didn’t.” ================================================================================ Pan felt his chest grow cold. “I am tired of your pettiness Sirius C. I thought you wanted your son safe, but maybe you would rather forget about that night.” “You leave my colt out of this you monster!” In the edges of Sirius’ eyes Pan noticed his sclera was reverting to normal. “Yes! Yes you’re worried about your son! Where was he last, who can I contact to help him!?” “He’s in danger? No that can’t be I left him in safe hooves, with his mother in the Savannah.” “The very same savannah the king traveled to and got the curse from? Great..” “If Crystalline is there. That must mean he’s a unicorn then.” ================================================================================ “Are you certain this is wise Luna?” Grue asked as he clutched his hoof around her extended one. “You said to follow the stream, that it would lead you home.” Luna stated. “Yes but we don’t have to be in the stream to follow it. I’ve slipped so many times your hoof is shaking from fatigue.” “Then maybe we just need a little rest? It’s not easy scouting the forest for every flower climbing upstream.” “Just stay away from the blue star shaped ones.” “What about....gold ones?” “Chrysanthemum? You found a Chrysanthemum! Where is it, describe please?” “Uhhh....it’s in a sunny spot, by some vines away from the water...a bunch of the petals are drooped down, but the top looks like a dandelion would.” “And is there some type of aster by it...near a cave.” “Is it bad, if I say yes?” “If there is any crystals or smoke, or..animals in sight then we should run, fast if possible.” “Start running then.” Luna whispered. She saw the gold chrysanthemum overcrowded by daisies and cosmos of pinks and purples and in the break of the surrounding flowers a trail of black crystals, like those in the castle’s cave lead to a small hole that could lead to a cave. But most of those details slipped easily from Luna’s mind as she concentrated on running as Grue gave directions. “The smoke should lead us to somewhere safe. It has to be a grass hut, not an old campsite.” ================================================================================ From the shadows hanging over the throne Celestia could make a devilishly wide grin of the former king. “Sometimes I wonder just how you defeated me so easily before Midnight. Now it seems you can’t even tell plans have been made behind you and Brightly. It’s as if you given up so meekly and given all this responsibility to you Poor. Little. Daughter. It’s sickening even. Com’n Midnight Star! You fight so hard to claim Equestria and know you can’t even tell the lies and schemes going on in your very court!” Sirius B. gave two stomps to the worn throne he sat on as an army of hooves galloped towards them. “Celest’!” Her father echoed ,as she felt her father’s power leaving her.Celestia turned to the chant being hummed. “Time now sees there was only one true king. And futures would revel over the many titles his legacy will bring. Be it Sirius or Unicorn king, Morpheus or Sombra. His power absolute, he’s mercy our law. It is now spoken, it is now true. It has been witnessed, through time will this hold due.” “Please, stop. That’s my father!” Celestia cried. She screamed and jumped into the crowd as a ball of fire crashed through the castle.The castle was still for a moment as Celestia whispered. “H-hello. Dad? Sirius?” Her eyes began to open slowly to the stinging smoke wisped slowly from a blue fire, and from this fire emerged a silhouette. An earth pony who felt different from the others Celestia had met. “You must be the Queen to be. I am, no. I was, no. You may call me a-guardian of sorts. I wouldn’t want to confuse you with petty details like names and such,but if you are willing to trust that I am here to get you out.” “You crashed through the castle.” “Very good! I’m glad to see I didn’t hurt you on the way down. I make a little slip of the rhyme and I end up plummeting like a meteor.” “What about my father?” “What father? Oh. I guess I was a bit late in timing,have you met Sirius A, how about B..and F? I’m just kidding there is not Sirius F. Well not while you’re alive, That’s another princess’ problem. I’m sorry I haven’t seen another pony in, what year is it? No matter in an unfathomable amount of seconds, and minutes maybe even years.” “Uhhh...” “Well I would have never of guess I would leave Princess Celestia without a wit of words to speak, though you seem shorter than I remember last time. Goodness what am I doing in this castle?” “You said you were my guardian, and you were going to save me.” “Well aren’t you lucky to have another pair of eyes to watch over you,yes I’m sure that will leave your sister riving in jealousy! Mind if I ask one more question before I send you out of here?” “Sen-” “Ex-cellent! What form have I been given?” “You look like an earth pony.” “But looking isn’t the same as being, and I certainly don’t feel very earthy. I feel, misplaced.” The guardian placed her hoof to Celestia’s shoulder and began singing. “Now let us both leave this evil forest. Let Celestia’s heart be at rest at her home. Let me follow said princess, in the guise of the florist and still remember my mission for Sombra’s tome.” ================================================================================= “What’s in that cave...why-why are we running.” Luna panted. “It’s...where Chrysos lives.” “You know where your goddess lives?!” “She...she’s not my goddess. She’s tortured me long enough to see that I do not belong with the zebras. They fear my power,they’re scared of what they do not know. But you know Luna...You know magic is not scary.” “Magic is...is very scary. If the wielder means harm than someone will be hurt. I can try to help,I can relieve the pressure. I don't think you can help guide us anywhere...when all I see is sand.” “How far did we run? I don’t want to hurt you Luna are you sure taking my magic is safe.” “I know how to use magic Grue,and we need some shelter. I can see the sun beginning to set.” “Moon. Luna, sister of Solstia. Daughter of Aster. You-You’re the Luna!” “I don’t know about that,but I am named Luna.” “You’re the Queen of the night.” “...I’m just the princess of the Moon Grue.” “The moon can not shine without the night’s darkness, Princess.” A voice whispered to Luna. “I have brought you to this land to find such darkness. It not only lies in Grue’s heart but also in the havoc Crystalline has left his tribe under. It makes sense for him to be scared, but I wonder if you alone have the power to save his village with just the moon.” As Luna listened to Midnight Star she couldn’t help but feel outmatched to whomever Crystalline was. A gentle tap made Luna snap out of her worries. Grue had brushed by her and was heading to a hut extended off the muddy ground, under the thick tree’s canopy. “ Whose home is this?” Luna asked. “If Crystalline is true to her word, it used to be Maua’s.” “There’s blood here.” Luna whispered. “Don’t worry, it’s mine.” Grue blushed embarrassed. “My father healed you here...that’s when he got sick.” Luna thought to herself. She started to scan the home, then she glanced outside. “We should be safe in here for the night, I doubt Crystalline will be coming back here.” “Just. Just how did she take Maua?” “She turned her into smoke. Why?” “Because there’s a Zebra heading for the hut.” ================================================================================ “Now little pretty princess tell me where Aster is! ‘else I’ll have to sing up some stories you’d wish you could forget!” She grinned fiercely to Celestia. The guardian rubbed her forehooves nervously as one of her eyes twitched. “I-I don’t know anypony by the name of Aster” Celestia said gulping softly she scooted hed her body quickly in one of the corners of her room. “How hasty of me dear Celestia! But you see. Time. Is. Critical for me,or it was when I was where I was. Heh heh- I just simply have no time for games I can sense Aster’s magic everywhere! From the castle bricks, to the food you eat, and most of all she radiates on you Princess. So are you hiding her, or have you-” The guardian's pupils disappeared as her eyes became a sea of white, the sound of a condensed *Zap* cracked from behind her. “Queen Celestia?” A voice asked as an sea emerald eyed Griffon came into view as the guardian fell to the floor. The griffon bowed her head in respect kneeling her right legs. “I’m not Queen. Who are you,and who is that-.”Celestia gasped as the earth pony’s frame glistened for a moment, then disappeared in a flash of purple light. “She, and I are the same. My name has been lost to me,but through the ages there have been people who call me a Time Weaver. I don’t per say weave time itself,but I have been conscripted to nudge certain events from happening.” “And is one of your nudged events my death?” “Earth-pony me wasn’t going to kill you. I am rather tense on how unstable I became.I wonder how old she was.” “She was asking for Aster, who is Aster?” “Aster... I’m not sure I can tell-” The Time Weaver closed her eyes and smiled. “Aster is magic. When I knew her she was trying to restore harmony and with the help of Crystalline she had almost succeeded.” “How is that possible, I mean I’m always hopeful that everyone has a good side to them,but Crystalline killed my father and...took my sister.” “This dimension of young Equestria...it feels.” The Time Weaver stepped out to the balcony. “Princess I must warn you away from leaving your room.” “Why, What’s going on?” “Something your father’s death predicted. The rise of an ancient evil, older than this castle’s construction. I know of only one unicorn who has the capabilities to help you Princess. Star Swirl.”