Chapter 9: Recovery
If I had been told several months before my life completely turned to insanity that I would be eagerly anticipating the day I could resume my career as a ‘strong pony’ in a traveling magician’s show I would have thought you insane. Yet here I am still stuck in this bed barely strong enough to walk unaided. It has been a week since my return to the waking world and my progress has been unsatisfactory to say the least. The doctor tells me I am recovering at an impressive rate; evidently one does not shrug off a broken spine often. But to me it seems to be taking forever.
Tak and Trixie’s frequent visits help however. Even if the former insists on throwing open the curtains. ‘Can’t let all yer hardwork getting’ used t’the sunshine go t’waste now can we!’ I cannot fault his logic even if I do find the light unpleasant. Trixie has seen this as an excellent opportunity to focus on my magical studies. I am more pleased with my progress there than in my physical recovery. While deeper spell work is eluding me, my levitation is coming along well.
“Trixie believes she has been approaching this the wrong way. It might be difficulty for you to learn levitation the way a normal foal would.” I would protest her use of the word for a pony hatchling in describing me, but when it comes to magic it is an apt title. “Since nopony uses magic where you’re from, it must seem a nearly impossible concept to move something without touching it. So Trixie has come up with yet another brilliant plan!”
Normally I would find her use of her stage voice in ordinary conversation grating, but I am cheered to see her spirits lifting. Nearly every day she seems happier, brighter, and in a more pleasant mood. “What pray tell is this brilliant idea then?”
She smiles widely. “Trixie would like you to focus on your magic. Call it to your horn.”
This is a simple enough task and I do as she asks. The room soon bathed in the crimson aura of my magic. “Alright…now what?”
Her own horn shines with a gentle pink shimmer and she moves a glass of water to hover before her face. “Trixie wants you to take the glass.”
Brow raised I reach out to do just that but she slaps my hoof away. “With your magic.”
I scowl now. “You know I cannot Trixie.”
“Trixie wants you to close your eyes.” With another small glare I do so. “Now your family, they had arms and hands yes?”
“Yes. I have told you this before.”
“Good. Now keep your eyes closed and imagine YOU have such things. Sprouting from your shoulders or wherever they come from. Imagine their weight, how it feels to flex them and grip things with those…creepy fingers.”
With a grunt of exasperation I open my eyes. “Trixie this is stupid. Your requests are nonsensical.”
She scoffs. “Do you want to learn to use magic, or do you prefer to continue looking like an ignorant foal to everypony you run into?”
I snap my mouth shut and close my eyes, again focusing my magic through my horn. “That’s what Trixie thought. Now are you imagining the arms?”
Sighing softly I nod. “Yes…I think so.”
“Good! Now Trixie wants you to imagine reaching your arm out, opening your hands and taking the glass. Bring it right to your lips and have a drink.”
Snorting softly at the foolishness of this exercise I nonetheless comply. Picturing in my mind’s eye possessing a slender arm similar to Neela’s, I reach for where the glass was. And then…I feel it gripped in my hand. I almost drop it in shock but Trixie’s voice interrupts. “Good. Bring it to your mouth Umbra.”
I do as she instructs slowly. I feel the glass bump my lips and cautiously I open them to take a drink. Opening my eyes I find the glass gripped in a shimmering red aura emanating from my horn. With a soft gasp I drop the still half full glass. “I did it! How did you know that…absurd nonsense about arms would work?”
She smiles smugly. “It occurred to Trixie that growing up having never seen magic performed, the very idea would be too foreign for your mind to grasp. Even though you’ve seen Trixie perform her own mind boggling feats in your mind performing magic for yourself was impossibility. You are free to thank Trixie at your leisure.”
Her ego is swollen enough but I AM grateful. “Thank you Trixie. I am glad you are such a patient teacher. And I am glad we are friends.”
Trixie’s smile eases a bit to a more normal expression. “It’s nothing Umbra, I’m happy to help. So how are you feeling anyhow? Want to go for a little walk?”
I frown. I do not wish to go for a walk. It is generally an embarrassing experience with the castle staff gawking at me. But I know I need to keep exercising my lax muscles to get my strength back. With a small grimace I laboriously pull myself from the bed and shuffle to the floor. Trixie is close at my side ready to offer support should I need it. “How is your relationship with Tak progressing?”
She shrugs affably as she opens the door for me. “We’re keeping it casual. We went to the art district last night for some musical festival they were having. It was fun. We’d love it if you’d come out with us Umbra. We don’t mind moving at a slower pace for you.”
Bad enough my humiliating condition is on display for every pony in the castle. I certainly do not plan on displaying myself to the city at large. “When I am well you may show me the city.”
Trixie rolls her eyes and her tail flicks in annoyance. “Fine if you want to stay cooped up in your room all day it’s none of my business.”
Our attention is drawn to some sort of commotion in the gardens. Trixie patiently waits for me to shamble to the ballroom and out into the spacious Canterlot Castle gardens. The moon has climbed high into the sky by now illuminating the gardens in soothing silvery light. More and more I find the night sky soothing, particularly when compared to the hellish daytime sun. There is a large collection of Luna’s night pony guard assembled in a circle watching some sort of spectacle. They make way for Trixie and I, allowing me to move toward the front.
Luna is there, garbed head to hoof in midnight blue armor lined in silver. A pair of curved blades hang in the air gripped by her magical aura. Facing her is the filly…girl…whatever she is, in her humanoid guise with the unicorn horn. She is similarly armored though in pink and gold rather than Luna’s blue and silver, Bleeding Heart’s blade is drawn and in her hand. The pair circle one another slowly. I look about confused as to why the guard are not more concerned…but rather than fret they seem to be taking bets. I lean to one I am familiar with, the guard assigned to my door.
“What is this? Why are you all spectating? Are they not going to harm one another?”
The mare, Shadow Slinger glances at me. “Oh! Umbra! Uh…no. Lady Luna trains Jubilant like this every weekend. It’s not all court manners and Equestrian history. Apparently m’lady was a member of the old knighthood Jubilant’s been so interested in lately. So they spar and Lady Luna trains her to use her sword properly.”
I return my attention to the combatants. I recall now the girl said Jubilant was her Equestrian name. Luna seems the calmer of the two obviously, but the girl carries herself far better than she did when facing me a few weeks ago. She makes the first move lunging forward with a quick thrust. Luna parries with one of her blades, the other slicing through the air at the girl’s armored abdomen. She catches it with her shield and thrusts it aside, spinning in closer to the large pony and swinging her blade up between Luna’s forelegs. The princess does not try to block this time, she simply leaps into the air beating her wings hard and landing behind the girl.
More ponies exchange bits as the two dance about one another. “What do they wager on?”
“How often Jubilant manages to strike Lady Luna. Last week was the first time she scored a hit on her. Right on the flank! THWACK! M’lady wasn’t using her proper blades then, just practice ones. She has an enchantment over the field so they can’t wound each other. Once she was struck though she fetched Night Singer and they have proper bouts. Though it’s still pretty one sided, Jubilant’s getting a lot better. Oh! Looks like it’s about to get good!”
Trixie is eagerly joining in on the wagering as I turn my attention back to the dueling pair. Luna has been striking the girl repeatedly with her blades. They clang harmlessly off her armor but from her body language it is clear each strike still causes some discomfort. One of the runes on her blade flares and I gasp sharply. Bleeding Heart materializes at Jubilant’s side and joins the fray. The pair fight in perfect synchronization and now it is Luna being pressed by their flashing swords. At first I wonder if the image of Bleeding Heart is just that, as they move with such fluid synchronization I suspect she is only a reflection. Then Jubilant ducks abruptly and Bleeding Heart launches off her back high into the air slamming her blade down on Luna’s helmed head.
A great cheer raises from the crowd and more bits exchange hooves. The crowd moves as Luna lands closer to the informal barrier. She canters about the edge eyeing the duo of Mercy bearers, shaking her head once or twice. Clearly the blow dazed her. Suddenly a rune on her own weapons glows, and the princess vanishes from sight.
Jubilant stiffens immediately but Bleeding Heart moves into a defensive position. Somehow the specter can see the invisible princess. She fights to defend her summoner fiercely but alone she is overmatched. The girl is spirited. She lunges in swinging her blade over Bleeding Hearts head. Her strike is blocked by one of the invisible blades but Bleeding Heart takes advantage and abruptly bucks upwards. Her hooves connect with a resounding clang and a sharp whinny is given off by the princess as she shimmers into view. The girl shouts in triumph lunging for a more practiced strike but hits only air. Luna melts into a cloud of shimmering mist and swirls about the field, reforming behind Jubilant and Bleeding Heart. The pair spin but too late. Luna ducks low and sweeps Bleeding Heart from her hooves with a swing of one of her wings, while her blades catch the girl in the back of the knees sending her tumbling forward with a curse.
The fight is ended as the princess rests a blade against each of their necks. Bleeding Heart melts back into the sword and the girl retracts her armor, sheathing the weapon. She is covered in welts and bruises but smiling toothily. Luna likewise sheathes her blades and touches the gem at her throat, her armor melting back into the jeweled torc she always wears.
“Ponyfeathers! Th’kid couldn’t whack her one more time? I woulda made a killin’!” Trixie and I both turn to the familiar voice. Tak in his pegasus form is standing with a group of betters, handing over a small fortune in coin. Trixie happily scoops up a smile pile of her own winnings, depositing them into her hat.
She looks at me in concern for a moment. My breathing has steadily grown more labored and a faint sheen of sweat is covering my coat. “Are you alright? Should we go back to your room?”
With a scowl I shake my head. “I do not wish to go back inside just yet. Let us try and console Tak hm?”
Trixie trots ahead of me, already loudly proclaiming how much money she made from the fight. Tak looks disgruntled for a moment but breaks into his usual smile as he sees me approach. “Hey Umbra. Some fight huh? Y’know they do this EVERY Friday night? I found my newest vice I think.”
I settle on my haunches. “Yes the girl has become very skilled, and in so short a time.”
Tak shrugs. “Eh ain’t that surprisin’. Th’kid’s been trainin’ with Luna herself an word is she summons up Heart an practices all’a time with her too.”
Looking back I see Luna and Jubilant making their way back into the castle as the crowd begins to disperse. “Yes. Though I do not believe that is truly Bleeding Heart. Merely an…echo.”
My friends share a quick glance before looking back at me. “What makes you say that?”
“Hrm. When I was first wounded I had a…vision of Bleeding Heart. She was in this…I do not know for certain, a gateway of golden light I believe. She told me she was at rest in the Fields of Elysium.”
Trixie’s brow furrows. “Are you sure it wasn’t just a dream?”
"I do not believe so. Luna came to me soon after Bleeding Heart left and we shared words.”
“Wow. That’s some pretty heavy stuff. I mean I ain’t exactly a big believer but I know a few ponyfolk are inta that spiritual junk. Everypony wants t’know they got somethin’ good waitin’ for em when they die.”
The three of us are quiet for a time, each absorbed in their own thoughts. Trixie breaks the silence first. “Alright you’ve been up long enough Umbra. Let’s get you back to your room.”
I do not argue this time; merely begin the arduous journey back to my bed. Tak and Trixie walk on either side of me. “So! There’s some kinda big play goin’ on t’morrow Umbra. Me an Trixie were gonna check it out. Why don’tcha come with?”
With a gentle snort I shake my head. “I am not well enough to venture into the city.”
He shrugs. “We’ll getcha one’a them chairs with th’wheels on it then. Sides if we do that we get choice seatin’!” He smirks.
“Perhaps. I will think on it this evening. Is that acceptable?”
They both smile. “Yup! No pressure or nothin’. Butcha really should come out. I know ya ain’t a hunnerd percent but’cher good enough fer easy stuff.”
I see Luna and Jubilant go their separate ways ahead of us. “Trixie, your second name is Lulamoon is it not?”
She looks at me curiously. “It is.”
“Are you familiar with an ancient unicorn magician known as Starswirl?”
Now she laughs. “Of course. He’s only the most famous unicorn of all time. He developed many of the spells and magical theory we use today. Why?”
I nod toward the departing Jubilant, now in pony shape. “She is under the impression his second name is also Lulamoon.”
Now she AND Tak laugh. “Trixie? Related t’Starswirl th’Bearded. I think th’filly’s just a lil bit confused.”
“Yes I think I’d know if I was related to Starswirl.”
I shrug. “According to Jubilant he found Lulamoon embarrassing and tried to keep anypony from learning it. The book she is studying on her knightly order was penned by Starswirl and he is identified as Starswirl Lulamoon within.”
The more I speak the more stunned Trixie looks. She looks from me to the filly before breaking out in a gallop after her. Tak watches her go with a chuckle. “Betcha just wanted some alone time with ol’Tak eh? Miss the good old days?”
I chuckle. “While I enjoy your company, no. What I said was the truth. I do not know if it is factual or not but Jubilant is under the impression it is. I thought Trixie should know. Now if you will excuse me I believe Luna is alone and would like to speak with her.”
His wings ruffle with a touch of huff. “Fine fine. Nopony wants t’keep me company t’night. Just as well that Trixie’s wearin’ me out. I’ll see ya t’morrow then Umbra. Think about that show!”
I promise to do so and he is off to his rooms. I make my own way slowly in the direction the princess went. I am greeted by a long hallway and I sigh. I shamble my way along, politely waving off the many offers of assistance from the guard and castle staff. My heart sinks when I come to a winding staircase. With a heavy sigh of resignation I begin to ascend.
The climb is almost comically long. Not just due to my weakened condition. I must be climbing one of the towers of the castle. Several times I must stop and rest but eventually I make it to the top floor. A startled pair of guards gape at me a moment before they recover. “One moment please, Lady Luna said if you came she was to be informed.”
I can only nod as I sink wearily to the floor, sides heaving as I suck in air. One of the pair departs while the other gazes down at me in concern. “Do you need anything?”
I chuckle weakly. “Only to have my health back. Slowly but surely yes?”
He laughs with me. “Yeah you were pretty banged up. Lady Luna didn’t say what happened t’you just that you were to be treated as an honored guest.”
Obviously the story of our encounter with Jubilant and Cadet Echo is not wide spread throughout the castle. I am unsure of how to feel about my status as ‘honored guest’. Luna has been nothing but cordial to me since arriving, but I sense she is holding back what she truly wishes to say. The pain in her eyes when she looks to me is…difficult for me to brush off the more time I spend here. The first guard arrives soon.
“Lady Luna is recovering from her match with Jubilant in her baths; you’re welcome to join her.”
I nod my thanks and follow the guards as they swing open a large pair of ornate doors. The room within is nearly as spacious as my mother’s web chamber. The floor is a dark blue marble with similarly colored pillars supporting the ceiling. It is dominated by a massive pool of gently steaming water. Luna herself reclines within sighing softly and nursing a few welts of her own. She smiles as she sees me. “Umbra, I am glad to see you.”
With a slow nod I ease toward the pool cautiously dipping ah oof in. The water is hot and I slowly ease myself in. It brings a wonderful sensation of lethargy on my weary muscles. “Thank you for seeing me.”
She shakes her head. “I always have time for you Umbra.”
Already I feel more energetic than I did moments ago. “This bath is very impressive.”
“Oh. Yes the water is enchanted. It restores and rejuvenates. I did not need it until recently but Jubilant is improving daily. I find the combat very invigorating. It has been more than a few years since I was engaged in swordplay, even with a novice.”
“You are one of them yes? A Knight of Harmony?”
She looks surprised. “I am. Did Jubilant speak to you of the order?”
I nod. “Yes. As you know Bleeding Heart was a dear friend and learning of this order is akin to learning more of my friends past. Those swords you wield, they are of similar power to Mercy?”
She looks contemplative as her horn shimmers warmly, bringing a pair of glasses to the both of us. She rests mine on the edge of the pool beside me. I surprise her by taking it with my own magic. I handle it gingerly but manage to sip the sweet juice within. I do not believe I will ever tire of apple-anything. “It depends. Mercy is arguably the most powerful of the Arms of Harmony in what it can accomplish. The most heinous of wounds can be taken from an ally onto Mercy’s bearer, than Mercy can heal the wound to its owner. My own weapon, Night Singer is an assassin’s weapon. They are meant for quick decisive strikes.”
I frown. “An assassin? I have trouble picturing you in such a role.”
Luna laughs lightly. It is a gentle sound, and one I find pleasing to the ear. “Night Singer’s crafter was an assassin Umbra. This was nearly two and a half thousand years ago. Equestria was a very different land then. In fact there was not even an Equestria. It was called something different. Silent Step was her name. She gave up her old life when she founded the order alongside her friends, but the skills she learned she applied to protecting her fellow pony’s. She passed Night Singer on to her squire, and he passed it on to me. Generally one does not remain in the order for as long as I did, but my sister and I do not age.”
“Your sister. Celestia? I have heard a little of her. Does she not live here?”
She frowns. “She is…away. Recovering. Our kind are very long lived, but even we need rest. Typically only a week of time in stasis is needed and we are refreshed for nearly a century. However in my…absence Celestia refused to leave Equestria untended, even for a week. So she prolonged her rest. It will be nearly a year before she is fit to return.” Her gaze turns stern. “This is privileged information Umbra. Nopony save myself, my niece, her husband, and my sister’s student know of Celestia’s incapacitation. You must not speak of it.”
I am…taken aback by the trust she has shown in me. I simply nod. “I understand. I will tell no one.”
Her smile returns. “Thank you. Is that all you came to see me about? My sword?”
“Oh. No it is not. Tak and Trixie mentioned a performance tomorrow. A play he called it. I thought perhaps you could…ah…join us.”
Her smile falters a bit and for a moment I fear she is about to cry. But she composes herself. “I would be very pleased to accompany you and your friends Umbra. In fact I will arrange for the four of us to view the play from the royal box.”
A pause stretches between us now as I nod. “Well. I shall leave you to your relaxation. I hope I did not intrude too much.”
She stands swiftly; wings flared and sending small waves rippling though the pool. “Wait! I…” She calms herself and her wings close at her sides. “That is…you are not disturbing me. Please, stay.”
I find myself torn. She clearly wishes for me to remain and converse more, though I have no idea what I would say. I started this however; I sought her out without prodding from anyone else. Certainly my anger toward her has diminished considerably. How could it not? But am I betraying the mother who raised me by allowing myself to become closer to the one who birthed me?
The silence stretches between us and she frowns. “Tell me of your mother Umbra.”
I look to her now, and settle back in the pool. “As I told you before, she was our queen. Queen Spinneret. Physically she was enormous. She would fill about a third of this room on her own. Her lower half was a massive arachnid while her upper torso resembled Jubilant in her natural state, though mother’s skin was black as polished obsidian. Royal born spiderkin have eight eyes and no nose like the girl either.”
I smile a little. “Mother was very stern. Emotion is not known to the workers, and little known to the scout and warrior castes. She expected her children to emulate them so that we did not alienate ourselves from our subjects.”
Luna’s frown deepens. “You grew up without emotion?”
“Not precisely. When we were alone mother would smile for me and tell me how she loved me. She would bathe me in the stream beneath her web and save the choicest of mushrooms for me to snack on in our private moments together. Even in public however, her eyes betrayed her. After years of study I learned to read the emotions my family hid by staring into their eyes. She loved me dearly. I would do my best to make her smile each day and typically I succeeded.”
Now the princess regards me with a softer look. “I see. You loved her very much. And it sounds as if she loved you just as dearly.”
I am quiet now as I nod. “Yes. Yes she did. My eldest sister betrayed her to the changelings we warred with for land. She poisoned nearly all of my siblings and had been poisoning mother for some time. My surviving sister and now queen Neela and I, along with Tak slew the traitor. With the last of her life mother saved me from a grievous wound.” To my annoyance I feel my eyes burn as tears come unbidden.
Luna hesitates before she moves closer, settling in the pool beside me and gently resting one of her wings across my back. “I am very sorry I never had the chance to meet her. She sounds like a wonderful woman.”
I do not push her away, or try to duck from beneath the wing. “She was. She cared for us all so very much, even if she could not show it all the time. I…I miss her very much.” The tears flow harder now, obscuring my vision. I try to resist but soon I am wracked with powerful heaving sobs.
Luna stiffens at my side before she lies in the pool beside me, using her wing to pull me close against her side. “It is alright Umbra. I…know what it is to lose a mother. I miss mine dearly as well.”
The princess is so very warm. Her silken coat against my own feels incredibly comfortable. I wipe my nose with the back of my hoof, resting it back in the warm water. My crying has eased somewhat. “…tell me about her?”
“Like yours she was a queen. Very stern so I suppose we have that in common too hm? She loved Celestia and I dearly at one time. But…her time as queen did something to her. Warped her perceptions. Where we came from originally we were a far cry from royalty. Quite the opposite in fact. My mother was a chambermaid and Celestia and I worked caring for our lord’s animals. It was not until we came to the land the pony’s had named Equestria did we come to power. We played a small role for a time, content to use our great power to help the ponies. Celestia and I joined the Order of Harmony, we were honored to have been invited and accepted eagerly.”
She sighs a little, her wing tightening around me. It is not uncomfortable…just an unusual sensation for me. “While my sister and I were championing the cause for the common pony, our mother fell in with the nobility. Things were different before we came, the three pony tribes did not live in harmony with one another as they did then. The unicorns ruled all before the Order forced their King to accept the earth and pegasus tribes as equals. Mother…liked that idea. Celestia and I were on a mission of peace with Starswirl, the only remaining knight of the original six founders. By the time we returned, she had destroyed the Citadel of Harmony and scattered the knights. She offered Celestia and I the chance to join her, to rule alongside her. With Starswirls aid we used a spell to…depose her. By our own hooves we slew our own mother but…it had to be done. She would have enslaved everypony in the land and likely spread her influence beyond Equestria’s borders.”
I look up to see Luna’s eyes are wet with unshed tears of her own. She huffs lightly and brushes her free wing across her eyes. “I apologize…it has been some time since I spoke of her. I asked to hear of yours and here I am whining like a foal about my own lost mother.”
I am unsure of what possessed me to do so, but I learn my muzzle forward and gently brush it against her neck affectionately. She looks surprised, but returns the gesture. “So we both lost our mother to tragic circumstances?”
She nods. “Yes I…suppose we did.” She stands slowly and lifts me gently with her magic. “It is late and I think you should be in bed yes?”
I had not realized how weary I was until she said that. With a small chuckle I nod. “I suppose so. Thank you Luna. For asking about her.”
Her smile is warm and genuine. “Perhaps we can speak again of our family’s tomorrow. I would love to tell you about Celestia. I have a few good stories that should be very embarrassing for her when you two meet.”
I find the prospect of meeting Luna’s sister…my aunt I suppose…rather pleasant. “I would be happy to when she returns.” She walks with me to my room. “When I am well enough to travel…will we be allowed to depart?”
She looks confused. “Why would you not be?”
“Trixie and Tak are paying for their crimes; I assumed I would be doing so as well.”
“Ah…of course. Between you and I their community service was more for their own benefit. If they have something to keep them busy they would not spend every waking moment fretting over you. And the coin they are earning will make your travels easier I believe? As for your own crimes…Jubilant and Echo have both forgiven you. They are the wronged party and if they feel you have nothing to pay for…who am I to argue?”
I step into my room and climb into bed. “Thank you Luna. Truly…I am very grateful for your kindness toward myself and my friends.”
She simply nods. “Good night Umbra. I will…see you tomorrow evening.”
Luna turns to leave and I sit up. “I am…not angry with you any longer. For what you did to me. I know you did not intend for events to unfold as they did.”
She glances back at me from the corner of her eye. “Thank you Umbra. Sweet dreams.”
And then she is gone, and I am alone. I lay back in the bed and am soon sleeping soundly. My dreams that night were indeed sweet.