//------------------------------// // Chapter three: Setting up Shop // Story: The Phoenix and The Illusion // by Alasdair Edom //------------------------------// Chapter three We all arrived at the Ponyville library with the same silence following us since the short argument. We got plenty of stares through town, not that I care. Probably the only thing stopping someone from calling the Royal Guard is that Twilight and her friends are with us, otherwise, I would have to deal with some tedious politics, and possibly a fight. "Golden Oaks library. Ponyvilles only real source of historical, scientific, and magical knowledge." I announce to Chandra, who is cautiously standing next to me, "And is a tree, so watch yourself." Chandra doesn't reply, she only continues to stay stoic, and keeps her arms crossed. I inwardly sigh at her. Twilight opens the door for us, and we all walk in, Chandra nudging me out of the way. "Right then. I'm going to need every magic, and magic history book in this library, and I need you to make sure Spike doesn't freak out, and yes, you can write to Celestia if you wish." I think for a moment, then make a dismissive wave of my hand. "Nevermind, I know where all the books are anyway." I ignore any expressions, or looks passed my way and immediately begin to telekinetically stack all the books on magic in the library in the center of the room, and begin reading the first one. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ I shake my head dumbfoundedly. "What... Just what... Chandra seems to notice my musings, "He's always been like that, always will. And I still hate him, the memory-pruning bastard." I look to face her, who is now leaning on the wall with her forelegs crossed. "Why do you hate him so much?" I ask. She glares at me, but quickly starts looking into the distance again. "I may have helped him on occasion, but you can never tell whose side he's on. One minute, he's a member of a prestigious guild of Ravnica, the next he's doing tasks for the scum of the city. And he doesn't do assassinations, he wipes memories, searches them, twists them, and I swear he did something to me once, he must have just wiped my memory so I can't remember." She looks down to me, "I don't trust him, I don't like being around him, and he's always in some sort of trouble. And now, I'm stuck with him. Does that answer your question?" I avert my eyes to the floor to avoid her glare. "She's so aggressive, not much different from Gilda even. But the other one, Jace, seems calm and logical, so it can't be to do with the species. But they did say they were born in different places, so perhaps cultural influence is the reason?" "...Chandra?" I ask, lifting my head to meet her gaze, which glared back at me, "If you don't mind me asking... Why are you so... Angry all the time?" "She's a red mage, they tend to be very expressive emotionally, and are quite passionate towards activities they like." We both turn our gaze to Jace, who still had his head in a book, "Chandra also had some experiences in her past that made her the way she is." Chandra glared at him, "What do you know about that?!" she says through clenched teeth. "Nothing at all except that your childhood was a great influence in your personalities development." Jace explains simply as he flips a page of the book he was reading. Chandra seems to relax a little, but still glares at him. "Then keep it that way you escort." Jace rolls his eyes, "You know I don't care for petty insults Chandra." She just harrumphs and, goes back to leaning back on the wall with her forelegs crossed. They both seem uncooperative, but maybe if I can find some common ground between us, she might open up a little? "So... Do you have any friends?" She doesn't seem to react at first, but eventually starts to speak. "No. Don't need them. They either get in your way, or stab you in the back. If fine without friends, thank you." My mouth hung a little agape. She doesn't have any friends?! She wasn't just refusing the possibility of making friends, she was blatantly disregarding friendship as a whole! How could anypony be so bitter? "Not even work colleagues? Family?" Her face didn't change expression, nor her gazes direction, "I have no "Colleagues", and my entire family is dead." "...She's all alone... She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, "...They died thousands of years ago. I don't care anymore." So that explains- wait, thousands of years?! Exactly How long is their lifespan?! "Thousands of years?! Exactly how old are you?" I ask, just able to form my words after I regained control of my gaping mouth. She actually gives a genuine laugh, "I lost count of the years a long time ago. Let's just say... Around ten thousand years? Give or take." She opens her eyes, "And Jace here is about the same age as me, although I think I'm a little older than him." "Oh really?" Jace asks rhetorically. "Yeah, really." Chandra replies back in equally rhetorically. A new, yet unencountered race that has alpha individuals with the ability to travel inter-dimensionally, and live for possibly indefinite amounts of time. My head... "Does your species normally live this long?" I ask now the tension in the room has died down since before. Jace speaks up without lifting his head from a book he was reading, now different to the one he was reading before, "No, the average lifespan of a human lies between seventy, to ninety years depending on living conditions." Jace flips a page, "Planeswalkers can live for indefinite periods of time, can change their physical form, don't need to eat or sleep, and can't be killed by diseases, natural causes, or even most forms of dismemberment." To say I was amazed by this information would be an understatement. They were practically immortals, and they are older than even Celestia! The selection of "Planeswalkers" must be a natural magical phenomena, since such things could never be achieved through evolution. I need to write about this to Celestia, she will be fascinated about this I'm sure! I just wonder why the girls haven't asked anything yet, they seem awfully quiet... In fact they haven't said anything since we got here. I take a brief look around to see they were all still near the doorway, talking to one another, and occasionally glancing at Chandra and Jace. I walk over to them and sit down on the floor next to everypony else. "So?" Rarity asks. I raise an eyebrow in question, "So what?" Rarity momentarily facehoofs, "So, what are they like? Dangerous? Aggressive? Pony eaters?" She asks with dramatic abbreviation. I just roll my eyes, "No, they're nothing like that... Well, Chandra is a bit aggressive-" "I knew they were up to no good! We must get the Canterlot guard here immedia-" Applejack sticks a hoof in Rarity's mouth. "You ignore her sugarcube, what else?" "Despite that they are potentially dangerous, they mean no harm. I learned a bit about Chandra, and she has her reasons behind being so... Edgy." Applejack removes her hoof from Rarity's mouth, "Eugh! Did you really have to do that?" "Yup." Everyone says in unison. Rarity just harrumphs. "Well, Celestia is the oldest pony in Equestria. Maybe she had some dealin's with their lot before?" Applejack suggests. "Maybe, but she isn't the oldest pony in Equestria now." "What'ya mean by that Twi? Everypony knows Celestia is over two thousand something years old! Who could be older that that?" Dash asks with a raised eyebrow. I sigh, "They are." "What?!" Everypony exclaims confusedly. *Sigh* I guess I should explain. I explain what I had learned, clearing up a few misconceptions by Rainbow thinking they were immortal, and I had to clarify that they were near-immortal. Although, they are so near-immortal that I suppose there isn't much of a difference anyway. "But you still haven't told us why Chandra is so... Grouchy." Rainbow says. I sigh, "...Let's just say she's had a rocky past." Rainbow's face scrunches up a little in irritation, but soon gave in. "Ugh, fair enough." There was an awkward silence. "Well ah had best get back to tha' farm. Can't be layzin' off now." Applejack cuts in after a while. "Yes, and I have some orders to fill too, so I had best be off as well." Everypony nods and makes their way to leave. "Oh! Twilight! Don't forget to send that letter to the Princess, I'm sure she would be really interested in Chandra and Jace! They seem like nice ponies." Pinkie says before she leaves, surprisingly leaving out most of the jibbering that usually happens when she talks, not that anypony is complaining. I nod, "Yes, I'll get that done now. Bye Pinkie!" I close the door and take a glance over at the two humans. Jace was on his seventh book by the looks of things, and Chandra was just leaning on the wall in exactly the same position as before with her eyes closed. I make my way over to the small desk I use for writing, and levitate a quill and dip it in some ink while pulling out a piece of parchment. Dear Princess Celestia...