//------------------------------// // Chapter 19-Color’s Veil // Story: Dismay Turned Discord // by Reedling //------------------------------// Astrum stood her ground as the scent of pine musk became unbearable, the Timber wolves had cornered her in every direction. “You forget your place Timber mutts! It hasn't been you keeping the pony from leaving Equestria.” She crash her hoof menacing in front of one of the larger wolves. “Equestria has been safe because of the Solus family. Ponies never breached your forests because there was no reason to leave! Do you wish to see what wrath I would place on an obstacle that dared threaten my country!” Astrum’s teeth gritted to the wolves around her as the timber wolves looked to each other, then grimaced back to her unphased. “So be it.” The queen mumbled as she fired up her horn and began to shoot concentrated bolts of fire into the wolves mouths. ===================================================================== Star Swirl opened her eyes to see the whole library unlit, and the scent of smoke soon hinted to her nose. “Hello?” Star whimpered in the darkness, she tried get up but her legs wouldn’t budge. “I’m here. Tell me did Star Swirl make it?” Weaver asked, the sound of her voice coming closer. “Yes, Star Swirl is alive.” Star began tapping her hooves around until she felt the warmth of her apprentice’s body fading. “Thank you.” She whispered. A dim light and a low hum caught the eye of both the griffon and filly as the light got brighter the two could make out the shape of a stallion with green eyes. “My name is Pan. I am friends of the Solus. Do you know where the princess is?” “She disappeared after...” Weaver started. “After what?” Pan asked. “After my apprentice gave his life to save me. We were attacked by a pony still loyal to the Unicorn king, she believed she could become blessed like Astrum and her daughters. Though the assailant called it Chrysos.” Swirl explained. “Then I’m too late, which element did she collect? Honesty, Generosity?” “Loyalty.” Star Swirl cried. “What is Cosmos planning Pan?” Weaver asked. “Cosmos doesn’t plan, that would involve sentience...Cosmos is a mass if negative emotion doing what it believes it has to to survive. In this case it is collecting the keys to harmony, with no creature to increase harmony Cosmos would be free from danger.” “That sounds very sentient to me Pan.” Star said. “It is assuring dominance over feeding ground , much like the dragons did.” “Yes, well most of the dragons learned that if pony-kind joined together that they couldn’t be manipulated so easily.” Pan rebutted. “But pony kind isn’t together now, we might be under one flag but this is a feigned alliance. The Unicorn lack purpose, the earth-pony slave to produce enough food and the pegasi feel honourless. The Unicorn used to raise the sun and moon, but now the princesses control them. Wasn’t Cosmos supposed to be imprisoned in a chamber that only the sun and moon could open?” Weaver asked. “What about Celestia, shouldn’t we be looking for her?” Pan asked. ===================================================================== Celestia opened her eyes to a castle much taller than Canterlot’s made of pure crystal. “What is this place?” she wondered. “Star Swirl...Time Weaver!” she yelled, but all she heard was her voice echo against the trusses of crystal that kept the castle up high. “You are safe here Hemera.” said a voice that was two toned, young and comforting but also motherly and reserved. “My name is Celestia...not Hemera.” Celestia said hoping she wasn’t being confused with another. “Are you the princess of Equestria?” The voice asked hesitantly. “Well, yes.” “Then I apologize. In my culture we say the realm that one like yourself embodies, not their true name. That is supposed to stay secret, but I guess you take after your mother, Brightly-lit Days.” “I-I’ve never heard my mother called that before.” “You haven’t? Why it’s the name she was born with. Why, what name does she go by now?” “Should I tell you, isn’t it supposed to be a secret?” “You’re a quick learner Princess. Please, would you mind piecing me back together?” “You’re hurt!” Celestia gasped. She rolled her body and raised herself so fast her head became dizzy. “Not in the slightest, Princess Hemera. You see I’m not so traditional, or maybe the word is ordinary. I’m not any ordinary creature.” “Well...where are you?” “You are on top of me, or my remnants...” “I’m so sorry-I didn’t mean to sit on you!” Celestia looked down, but all she saw was a pile of ash. “Magical...ashes?” She wondered. Who was she to question the talking ash pile, especially one that knew so much about her family? She swept as much of the ash she could into the filly sized ash angel she had made. “Is that better?” The princess asked. “Much better, like feeling your limbs wake up. Now you may want to close your eyes, and maybe take a few steps back as well, it’s going to get bright!” said the pile of ash. And sure enough after Celestia ran out of the way the ash pile combusted in flames that began to stretch higher and higher. The voice gave out a long winded yawn as if the fire was stretching. Then the fire curled so fast into itself that it looked more like a ball of fire, but the fire didn’t let go of its speed. It flew past the princess hurtling itself straight towards the moon. Celestia tried to follow after it soaring into the sky with all her strength. But there was no hope of catching up to it now and Celestia turned her gaze down to the crystal castle below her. “That’s odd.” Celestia thought to herself. She flew a bit closer to examine the giant snowflake patterned walkway. She remembered her mother singing of a castle that stood tall and glistened like ice. It was the castle of the first alicorn one Astrum called Prismia. She was charged with reflecting the elements of harmony to all of her subjects, but the job soon became too much for her to handle alone and so she called upon seven ponies that held an element of harmony close to their virtues. Luminous Night, Arboreous Phaun, Shimmer Sky, Flora Dew, Spectrus Glint, Sol Tides and Ballad Hymn. Each was given land outside of the crystal archways and each was told that the virtue they held close would only help if ‘all were one’. But the ponies went on their way believing their elements were far superior to another’s. Until of course the spirits of chaos and hate swelled so great in power that the minds of every leader blamed the others, soon everypony began to bicker and seethe which only sealed harmony’s fate. The curse however did not affect everypony, there were some who still held harmony close at heart and they helped reforge harmony so that the elements could not stay linked to a pony that did not believe in each other. The song repeated in Celestia’s head as her lullaby became real. The princess whispered it to herself as she flew through the kingdom’s borders. Then the princess stopped her observation and landed to a nearby rooftop. There was a part of the song that made her remember some her father once read her, why was it now that pieces of the past began to creep into view? She repeated the verse once more. “Behold our castles of grand allure, still not yet of the stature of one lost long ago. A mother we held highest of all, the queen of the colors, of us all. Prismia, Mother of light. Her tears soak the earth and gave us all life. Prismia, Soared through the sky, The doubt of her children blacked her like the night.” Celestia gasped. “The diamond that turned jet.” “Are you alright Hemera?” Celestia turned to the growing warmth behind her, gasping even wider. “You’re a phoenix!” “That I am, Princess...you were trying to follow me, I noticed. I came back because I remembered The Crystal Empire has been vacant for quite some time and you most certainly should be home with family.” the firebird cooed. “Family.” Celestia sniffed. “Did I-I said something unpleasant. I am sorry.” “You didn’t know, but do you know why The Crystal Empire is like this?” “I know many things about this place that I would rather forget Princess, things that you will not hear me speak of-at least not yet. Let’s get you home first, just follow my light.” ===================================================================== “It is time my denizens! feast in the realm dreams!” Sirius called out. The shadows drifted out of the crystal ponies around him merging to his beam to the moon. “Thank you King Sombra! All hail the king!” The shadows cheered. ===================================================================== Luna tossed herself out of the makeshift cot as she awoke. It must have been another night terror, since she was young she had always heard the whispers of the dreamworld calling to her. Her first instinct was to run out of her room and whisper politely for her dad to ease her dreams. But that wouldn’t be the case, her father wasn’t going to fight her fears anymore. It was only her and the thought of being alone in that land scared her even more than the sight of her father’s change. Midnight Star said it was for her, maybe Serenity was the key to facing her fears. Luna looked to Grue and Maua, both of them sleep relatively quiet though, Grue was whispering something under his breathe. Luna walked over to him gingerly so that she could innocently peep on him. “Distant...Ocean. Darkness...a sea, drowning in fear.” “Grue?” Luna whispered. “Balance...freedom. Vision of destiny, too bright to hold.” Luna couldn’t dismiss what she heard. Serenity was calling to her through Grue. She placed her horn to his forehead, but nothing happened. Maybe she had to be under the effects of Frog’s Gut? “No.” Luna thought. She wiggled her tongue distastefully at the thought of putting that vile plant into her mouth a second time. “Serenity is in you, look...to the sky.” Grue whispered, then he gave a clear of the throat and re-adjusted in his bed. “But how can Serenity be in me?” Luna wondered. She walked outside and smiled to the beauty that night’s light place on the foliage around her. Her ears perked to the sound of singing and as she moved in to investigate she saw a colt only a few inches taller than Grue. As Luna came into view the colt looked over to her, and with a double take ran over to her. The moon’s light helped distinguish shadow from fur since the colt was almost invisible. He opened his mouth and tried to speak, but no sound left his lips, his eyes became teary eyed as he look to the princess. “Are you alright? Why don’t you come inside. It is getting rather cold.” Luna smiled, motioning her hoof to Maua’s hut. The colt gave a joyous bounce and followed Luna to the hut but as he stepped onto the ramp, he yelped in pain. Luna turned back to see what had happened, the colt was gone. “That’s odd...where did he run too.” “Luna? Is something outside.” Grue asked after he let out a long yawn and a good stretch. “I guess not. I thought I saw a colt outside.” “That’s silly Luna, we’re hours from any tribe.” “Maybe I’m just seeing people in the dream world...” Luna guessed. She lied back down on her makeshift cot once more. “I’m feeling a lot better Luna, why don't you rest on the real bed. It doesn’t feel right having a princess sleep on hay and dogwood bedding.” “I’ll be okay Grue, I might change my mind tomorrow though.” In truth Luna craved the plush pony made bed, but she needed Grue to fall asleep again, she needed to hear more about Serenity. Sure enough Grue began to whisper once more and Luna was ready to listen intently. “Familiar friend...lost long ago, saved from fears that trouble her so. I saw her, Serenity, but lost my sound. And even when offered rest, hexes keep me from my soul. Serenity. Help me become whole.” Luna gasped to the sound of hoof steps outside. She got up quickly to see the black colt once again looking to her with vibrant blue and green eyes. “Serenity!” Grue called out. Luna’s eyes opened wide to the colt. “Why are you talking through Grue?” “He is me, and I am you. You knew me once, but the nightmares came and you forgot my name. Can you hear it now, my name is Nyota.” “Nyota?” Luna repeated. “I don’t remember anyone called that.” “Because your nightmares keep you from hearing my true name, my pony name.” ===================================================================== “She couldn’t have gone far.” Star mused. Weaver pushed Clover’s stiffening body off of the filly. “Well...” Weaver muttered. “Griffon, is there something you are hiding?” Pan’s eyes were cold almost jaded until he looked to Weaver with ferocity. Star looked to her as well. “What happened...” “The assailant lunged for you and Clover took the stab to the back, you two swirled and hit the ground. The sword began to glow red and got hot, as she dropped the blade and began to scream.” Time Weaver motioned her claw to her chest. “She began to boil and expand and her screams began fade out into only weeping, she claimed that she felt her child dying, and turned to Celestia. She threw the blade at her which is went I whispered; From the ashes that bloom a new dawn. Send this princesses destiny far from this sight of thrawn.” “You...I’m sorry. You have the ability to magical rhyme people away, and you didn’t rhyme the sword-wielding crazy somewhere “far from sight?!” ” Pan commanded. “Do you want this world to burn in ruin, do you wish us dead!?” “I can not merely rhyme on a whim, sir. My power will not work on everypony or creature. They must be in eyesight, they must trust me and I have to be touching them for my magic to work.” “Who rhymes dawn with thrawn?” Star asked. “Someone who has little time to redo her invocation.” Weaver answered. “More importantly what did your “invocation” do.” Pan asked. “Well...“from the ashes bloom a new dawn” hopefully brought her to the old town of Oatburn. and it’s quite a ways from Canterlot.” “It’s days to another village, nevermind Canterlot.”Pan groaned. “I was tasked with keeping the princess out of harm.” Weaver stated. “Then why didn’t you go with her?” Star Swirl asked. “Well...It’s never happened before.” “You mean to tell me you are a novice of teleportation, or that you simply lack all the details?” “A bit of both...but Aethere entrusted me. I will follow my destiny!” “You can’t be serious, I’m dealing with an old god worshipper.” Star whined. “I couldn’t be lucky enough to get an alien time traveller?” “Why is an alien any better?!” Time Weaver cawed. “Maybe he knows what he’s doing!” Star spat. “Why is the alien a he?” Pan wondered. “ No matter, this isn’t the time you two! Your mission is to keep Celestia safe, and you don’t know if she is, so send us to Oatburn!” “Right!” Time Weaver nodded, gripping her claws tightly to Star Swirl and Pan. “A town of mystery, hidden by pine. Send us all to Oatburn on time.” ===================================================================== Behind the phoenix's trail of fire Celestia was content by the subtle heat the bird emitted, she wasn’t like the phoenixes she had seen or read about in her books. Her fire was much brighter than any textbook firebird with purples and blues and even some white from her beak and neck. The phoenix had arched her body so that her flames would not touch the princess but instead dissipate on the princess’ drag. She gave a strong *CHK-AWW* that even a Griffon would second guess as kin and plunged with all her momentum to the Earth below. Celestia gasped unsure if she should follow or if the phoenix was hurt, hesitantly Celestia pushed her inept wings. The winds began to whistle and push the princess off course, but she repeated her father’s lessons. She tightened her legs, made her wings level and aimed her body to the phoenix. “I-I’m almost there” Celestia thought, perking her lips to a smile. The phoenix gave another, albeit softer caw and pushed her body even faster to the ground below. “Wait!” Celestia sighed. Her wings were already being pushed beyond any flight training she had previously received. Then Celestia felt her body become motionless to the sheer beauty she saw before her. A circle of rippled greens and pinks and blues ebbed outwards from the phoenix and inside look almost like a mirror. As Celestia got closer she could tell that the “mirror” was closing, lucky she made it to the mirror, but without enough time to slow down she found herself falling into the mirror to a world unlike her own. “Welcome your realm Hemera!” The phoenix cooed. “Thank...you-” Celestia had finally gotten her wings to slow down, crushing into a few candy colored clouds before reaching a full stop. “What is this place.” Celestia thought. “I already told you Princess. This is your realm, Hemera.” “But I don’t get it, why do I have a realm?” “You are the next of kin, chosen by Prismia. Your parents are descendants to three of the original bearers of the elements.” “Elements...I’m sorry I don’t understand.” “And with good reason princess. Your destiny has been altered, skewed in time by a force known as Discord.” “This doesn’t make any sense!” Celestia barked, throwing her body in frustration to the clouds. “I am trying to help you princess, your world and every other connected to it is at risk!” “There’s no one else to help me, I have to do this alone?” “Of course not, Hemera! You have family to protect and friends to aid you. I just ask that you stay mindful of your friend’s motives. Discord is a source of strive and dismay.” “Can you explain this place further...I just realized I don’t know your name or do you have a realm too?” The phoenix gave a chirp that mimicked a giggle. “I hold no realm, but you may call me Aurora. Now your realm it is much different from your sister’s, were she must seek balance you must find true light. Many claim to be pure of heart and many others seek it out, but you will find that true light does not shine on the tallest of hills. It is not a alignment that is swayed easily, only in a heart of doubt can light begin to fade.” “But why is light just a symbol for something more? I’ve seen the sun’s light and its radiance is something not even the darkest of places could hide from.” “But the sun is not your own personal spotlight, you can not point it to the shade and cast all the shadow away. To do so would sunder the earth and kill inno-” “What if the shadows wanted to hurt my subjects or even my friends, Aurora I would try anything to keep them safe!” “What if these shadows were part of the very ponies you wished to protect? Do you not know your sister’s duties, she wields her power under no oath to darken the sky. Add to the fact she raises an orb that pales in comparison to the sun, and-and has to reflect the light from the sun to even be seen!” “I’m done with this place, and you Aurora. I would like to go to my true home, in Equestria.” “Your love for your sister will be your own down fall, Princess.” “I think I know my sister more than you.” “Serenity. The Zebra foretell of her uprising, her betrayal and her imprisonment. They are not simple minded brutes that eat flowers all day. They worship you two like gods, because they have been told of the sacrifices you both will make. You two will make Equestria safe for more years then the Crystal queen held.” “And just who told the Zebra about my fate and my destiny that I can’t seem to own because it has been shifted?” “The Crystal queen herself.” ===================================================================== Astrum flung her back leg into the amber glow, the timber wolf whimpered as it shattered to the ground. “Are we done now?!” Astrum heaved letting out a bull snort, complete with smoke trail. The timber wolves began to cackle like hyenas as the smoldering twigs pile up on each other to create a mother wolf. “It doesn’t matter how tall you make yourselves, I will protect Equestria.” Astrum yelled. The Timber mother’s roar echoed so loud loose needles whipped in the current, it took a step forward. Astrum flew out of the way only to see a swarm of what looked like large discolored bees and a voice that she was glad to hear. “Aim for the ears and mouth!” Damson cried. “Damson? What’s going on.” “Not now my queen, I have a Pine Mother to quell.” “No Lumia! You’re spending too much time on her bark, work as a team.” The swarm hovered around the Timber mother, as she snapped her jaw on half the swarm quickly the timber mother’s jaw opened and she coughed the swarm out. “They’re sprites, newborns and I’m glad you decided to pick on one of the largest pine wolf packs of the forest.” “Believe me, it wasn’t my first choice.” “A pegasus in a crowded forest-” “I’m not the same mare, the forest doesn’t scare me Damson.” “Pity. I was hoping to save you from the root monsters, like old times.” “Ha-ha, Damson.” Astrum sighed, revealing a small smile. She watched as the timber mother slowly disappeared into the eager sprite’s bellies. “Rather hungry, aren’t they.” “A sprite’s life is very short. She has to eat as much as she can before...”-He walked to the swarm as each one gave Damson a kiss. He chuckled softly. “Before what?” “before they cocoon.” Damson replied. “The villager’s harvest is tomorrow. You all know how important it is to them, be sure to be on your best behavior.” The sprites fluttered into the nearby trees, and let off a dim glow. “Villagers?” Astrum asked. “Yes, this village hosts an annual Festival Harvest.” “Don’t you mean Harvest Festival?” “In any other town, yes. Oatburn dedicates a whole day to harvesting all of their crops.” “That the sprites eat?” “Yes, in return they protect the town from wolves and use their magic to keep the land fertile.” “That’s why you can always buy sunflowers here no matter the season, the ground never loses anything!” “But. That is a village secret, even to the villagers.” Damson whispered. ===================================================================== “My nightmares...but I’ve had them since I could dream.” “Is that what you remember? Then I am too late to help, not even Grue is safe from your nightmares.” “No, please! Who are you...why is Grue is danger.” “Because Luna, because your memories of your childhood aren’t what you believe. I was once a part of your dreams, and we put those nightmares you feared away in the moon.” Luna gasped as tears formed in her eyes. “S...” her lips stuttering as she tried to speak his name. “My name is Seren. I am Sirius’ son.” “Are you a part of Serenity too?” “I’m not a part of it, but I did help you find it and you named me after it. Grue is the name of my other half. We are different beings, different people. But like Serenity there can only be one or the other. “No. I won’t choose between you two, you both are my friends!” Luna felt the ground shake around her, Maua and Grue both woke up. Seren turned his gaze to the moon. “I don’t care if you choose Grue Luna, as long as you can control the feelings your nightmares will force on you. You must stay strong, you must stay bright!” Seren pleaded with her. “I promise, I won’t let you go.” Luna cried, she held out her hoof one more time. Seren joined his own and slowly he was able to enter the hut. He felt the warding spell still repelling his body as he tried to enter, then he flung backwards. But it wasn’t the spell, it was a rather large dragon that held Seren by his tail like a mouse in its claw. “Seren!” Luna yelled. Maua and Grue ran over to her. “What is going on Serenity?” Maua’s eyes grew wide. “Mercy be...is that Cosmos I see!?” “I always imagined Cosmos smaller...and friendlier.” Grue retorted. “Cosmos is neither friend nor foe. His will is order.” “Well Cosmos has my friend!” Luna spat. Maua forced her a hoof in front of Luna. “To anger Cosmos is to give into your emotions, you would become unbalanced.” “Then I’ll be unbalanced, that is my friend! I am not going to lose him again. I’m coming Seren!” Luna pushed Maua to the floor and leapt out of the hut. She felt her mind rush with anger and sorrow, her hair become cold once more. “Let go of him!” She ordered. “Under one condition...You let me become part of you. Your mane is the breath of winter, not of the stars up high. With our powers unified can you truly become queen of the night.” The dragon whispered. “I have no wish to be queen, that is my mother’s title.” “And what of her passing, who will rule then?” Cosmos contested. “We will share the throne, like we share the sky!” “Then your crown is unfit and your friend is now mine.” The dragon grimaced as he became thick smoke. ===================================================================== The shadows fell back into their hosts. “Serenity is unkind to her subjects, She still sees with only light.” “Then I think it’s time that we help her choose. Tomorrow ready the zebra.” “Yes King Sombra!”