//------------------------------//
// The Oracle 
// Story: Don't you remember? 
// by PinkieIsMahWaifu 
//------------------------------//

Celestia's chambers were as elaborate as the rest of the palace; they had the same velvet curtains, plush red carpeting, gem-studded decor and ornate furnishings. However, something about them seemed more personal. There were some paintings of what appeared to be friends and family members hung on the walls. There was a hairbrush on an armoire opposite the bed, with a few strands of pinky-green hair sticking out of it. The golden horseshoes that the princess normally wore were kicked across the floor. The bed was unmade, and curled up in it was a ball of- Celestia. She snored gently as you approached. The candlelight splashed across her angelic face as-
'GOT YOU!' Celestia shouted as she leaped out of bed. You screamed, dropping the candle on the floor and causing it to extinguish. You heard a faint, maniacal giggle through the darkness.
'I scared youuuu.' Celestia teased as your heart rate returned to normal.
'I see somepony is feeling better.'  

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'Uh, so where exactly are we going?' You asked as you followed Tia down one of the castle's many twisting hallways.
'It has been two days since my parents' demise and even though I am certain she will already know of it, we must tell her.' Celestia answered.
'Tell who?'
'My Grandmother. The oracle of Equestria.' 
'The what of Equestria?'
'Oracle. She is said to be the guardian of the land. She has prophetic visions and can foretell the fate of anypony she chooses to, but rarely does. Few people know about her nowadays, as in her time she would have thousands of ponies throwing themselves at her hooves begging to know their future.'
'Oh. So no chance of finding out who will win the Canterlot rodeo this year?' You asked playfully. You received a hoof to the chin for your suggestion. Rubbing your jaw, you flew after Celestia until you reached an old, cracked wooden door. It was a sudden contrast to the rest of the castle. Celestia pushed open the creaky door and  stepped inside. The room was dark and dusty, with cobwebs decorating every corner and crevice. Huge shelves towered above you, lined to the brim with crystal balls, all different sizes and various tints. You followed Tia down row by row of shelves until she turned to face you.
'Wait here.' She whispered. You nodded back to her.
She turned round the corner of the shelf. You heard her hoofsteps go ahead and then stop.
'Hello, Celestia.' You heard an old mare's voice echo.
'Hello Oracle. Tell me, has news reached you of the King and Queen yet?' Celestia asked gravely.
'We knew on the very night thou did return from Trottingham.' The Oracle's voice was cracked like the old wooden door you came to this room through.
'And you thought not to alert anypony of this?' Celestia's brow furrowed.
'Some things are meant to be, child.' The Oracle replied serenely. You peered around the corner to see her. On a dilapidated wooden throne sat an old grey-coated alicorn mare. Her mane, however, showed no age. It was golden and flowing like molten sunbeams. The Oracle's eyes were glazed over with a white sheen. It was clear she was blind. Her flank showed the picture of several crystal balls, reflecting her talent for divination. As you peered further around the corner, you knocked the shelf. A single crystal ball hit the floor with a clatter, but did not break. You watched in horror as the Oracle turned her head in your direction.
'It doth appear we hath a visitor.' 
Celestia shot you a look that said nothing other than 'I'm going to kill you if this goes badly.'
'Come forth, child of the forest. Everfree, if we are not mistaken.' 
'Indeed, you are not mistaken.' You said confidently as you approached the old grey mare. As you got closer, the mare stiffened.
'But you are not of Equine blood. What beastie art thou?' 
'Beastie?!' You whispered indignantly.
'Thou art of Chimera blood, is thou not?' The Oracle's voice surprised you. It was not the tone she used, but instead of speaking in Equestrian she spoke in ancient Draconian. You understood as your parents believed it was important to be taught about your heritage, and even though the tongue was dead and you spoke Equestrian you still were made to learn it.

'This language is dead. How did you come to know it?' You asked in your motherland's tongue. 
'We learned it when it was still alive, beastie. We are as old as time.' The old grey mare's brow furrowed. 'Normally we would hunt thou's kind, but as thou saved the Princesses we are willing to overlook this.' The alicorn stated. 'However, we beseech thou to leave this place.' You snorted.
'Oh yeah? And why might that be?'
'There is something we find unsettling about thou. Something waiting inside thou... Or something that should be waiting inside thou, but is instead lacking. Thou art unlike the rest of thine species for now, beastie. But we sense change in thine future.' The grey alicorn's horn lit up golden as a sparkling wisp of magic formed. It tightened into a ball and then dissipated, leaving in it's place a tarot card. The Oracle gripped the card with her telekinetic hold and floated it toward you. You took it and turned it over, revealing the image. A skeletal horse hooded in a dark cloak with sickle resting on it's shoulder. Underneath, one word was written in bold script.

'Death.'

Celestia, not understanding the conversation going on in front of her, leaned in to look at the card you held in your paw. Before she saw what was depicted on it, it disintegrated into a shimmering gold power.
'Now leave this place, before your fate befalls you too soon.'


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You left that room as quickly as you could, Celestia following at your heels. You turned down the hallway as she caught up. 
'What did she say? What was on that card?' She asked.
'It doesn't matter.' You said dismissively.
'Of course it does! Tell me.' She said, fluttering her eyelids. 
'No.' You stopped moving and turned to face her. 'Please. Just drop this, okay?' Celestia looked thoughtful for a few moments.
'Fine...' She said miserably. You hated seeing her like that.
'Uh...' You mumbled, searching for a way to rid of the awkwardness between you. 'Oh, hey, did you hear? Marty's got a thing for the striped lass.' Celestia's face brightened.
'Oh my stars! Really? The General and Zecora?' She burst into a fit of giggles. You smiled at her.
'Yeah, they've gone for a midnight stroll as we speak.' You laughed. 
'A midnight- what?' She ran over to the window and peered out to see the moon winking back at her. 'It's dark! But... I never lowered the sun! How...' She turned back to you to see a stupid grin plastered on your face. You shook it off and inspected your claws nonchalantly.
'Oh, that? Yeah, you were having a nap and all so I just went and did it for you.... it was no trouble...' You found it hard to keep a straight face as Celestia's jaw hit the ground.
'What? Howdidyou- When? WHY?' Celestia babbled.
'I lowered the sun, using magic, when you were passed out, so Equestria didn't plunge into chaos?' You answered.
'Oh.' The Princess answered simply. 
'Now, do you wanna go have some fun with those two?' Tia shook a dazed look of her face and grinned at you.
'I thought you'd never ask.'


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'I say, Miss Zecora. You certainly do look radiant in the moonlight.' 
The striped zebra blushed as the General led her up the grassy slope of stargazer hill.
'Oh General, you are flattering me. I am nothing special, you can see.' Zecora replied.
'Nonsense, my dear. It makes me wonder how such a radiant beauty like you can live in that forest without being swept away by whatever creatures live there. And the way you speak in rhyme is positively charming.' Zecora blushed an even deeper shade of red. The General gave her his hoof and pulled her up the last part of the slope to the top of the hill. The zebra gasped in astonishment.
'I know. The stars are simply magnificent this time or year, are they n- HUH?' The General turned and caught sight of what the zebra was looking at. It was the stars, but she was most certainly not gasping at their beauty. The zebra fell down laughing at the sight. Just before the two had reached the summit of the hill, you and Celestia re-arranged them a bit. The stars, instead of forming their appropriate constellations, formed something.. rather different.



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Finally, Private Stormwing and Private Cloudhoof, the two guards that General Pants had dismissed from their post earlier, reached a cottage on the outskirts of Canterlot. 
'Goodnight, Cloudy.' Stormwing nuzzled his other half goodbye.
'Bye, Stormy.' Cloudhoof returned the gesture. Suddenly, something glinting in the sky caught the couple's notice. They both turned and saw a sight they would always remember. Forged in the stars was the image of their boss, the General, with the body of a chicken. 



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The general gaped in shock at the sight before him while Zecora rolled on the grass in fits of laughter. Over in the bushes, a faint rustling and stifled giggles could be heard. The giggles did not remain stifled for long as a cacophony of laughter erupted from the mysterious beings hiding in the leaves. Their identities were soon revealed as the General watched a mythical monster and the ruler of all Equestria roll out of the bushes, clutching their sides and tearing up with laughter. An angry snort was heard from the white unicorn as he pawed at the ground with his front hoof. 
'What's the matter Marty?' You asked, trying to suppress laughter. 'Don't.... don't ruffle your feathers!'
'I'M GONNA KILL YOU, DISCORD!' 

-------Author's Note---------