//------------------------------// // - IV - // Story: Solem Perditum // by PropMaster //------------------------------// - IV - The thrum of arcane energy set the hairs on the back of Celestia’s neck on end, and she turned in a slow circle, eyes narrowed as they scanned the immediate area. The magic aura around her horn burned away the nearest shadows, leaving her standing in a circle of golden-white light as she maintained her defenses and prepared to react with several potent offensive spells. For one moment, Celestia’s thoughts flickered to her ever-present, ever-vigilant guards. She’d come to barely notice their presence, their training stressing that they were to be proudly unobtrusive in her day-to-day life. Now, however, the lack of her golden-armored, silent shadows was noted, and she realized that she missed them dearly. It had been a long time since she’d felt threatened, but not so long that she’d forgotten how to react. The presence of her Royal Guards always at her side may have seemed to indicate that she had grown soft after hundreds of years of peace, but there was a darker truth to their presence. Celestia didn’t need her guards. She was an immortal being who had fought elder gods and monsters to bring peace to her country and the little ponies she held so dear. There were few things in existence that could truly harm her, but that was hard to fathom for a mortal. Several hundred years ago, before the establishment of the Royal Guard and even before Nightmare Moon’s rebellion, a group of mortal ponies had organized a coup attempt against her, as they were unhappy with the direction she was taking Equestria. In those days, the tribes had not always seen eye to eye, and there were many that disliked the idea of harmony or equality among ponies. Such was the case with this group. They had stormed her court during a hearing, armed with spells to bind and destroy her, spears to catch and wound her. She had reacted in kind. She did not know or understand restraint back then, for times had been dangerous, and her power was such that she could destroy with a thought, defeat any ward in a moment, and counter even the strongest spells in the blink of an eye. By the end of the day, sixty-three ponies had been slain by her and her sister, as the two Princesses defended their loyal subjects. That had been a terrible day, one that Celestia could never forget. Within a month, Celestia had drafted a plan for a defensive force, her Royal Guard, to assist her in times of need or to defend her from attacks: not for her own sake, but for the sake of those so misguided as to strike against her. They were the last line of defense between the public and their own leaders. Since the establishment of the Royal Guard, the number of ponies Princess Celestia had killed had decreased to nil... excepting during the Lunar Rebellion. The guards themselves were able to take prisoners, and use similar force against any attacker, rather than destroying them utterly. Celestia had since learned restraint, gained greater control over her power, but the Royal Guard’s presence was a great comfort to her. She’d never have to worry about overreacting and potentially hurting anypony. Celestia reminded herself to thank her guardsponies—individually and by name—the next time she saw them, and then focused herself on her present situation. Celestia’s wings flared outward in surprise as the swelling arcane energy around her discharged—but rather than it being directed at her, it focused itself into the surrounding buildings. Lights flickered to life, the walls of the structures toned to deep blues and royal indigos, and illusory banners unfurled around her. Celestia took a cautious step forward, peering at the banners with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. The sigil was all too familiar to her. Nightmare Moon’s silhouetted visage and draconic eyes peered at her, on a field of dark blue, superimposed over a crescent moon. Celestia exhaled slowly, dismissing many of her warding spells, but holding her incandescent shield spell in place for the moment. Her horn’s cosmically bright glow dimmed to less blinding levels, allowing the newly summoned magical lights of the nearby buildings to illuminate the area. Celestia noted that only the closest block of structures had come to life, the other buildings staying cloaked in black and lifeless. Tilting her head to the side, Celestia approached the nearest building and peered inside a crude window. The interior was well lit, but revealed an empty space, simply a bare floor and nothing else, excepting the glowing magic light nestled in an alcove in the roof. She trotted past this building and checked another of the small, square buildings. This one was similarly empty. Celestia was honestly disappointed. There was nothing truly exciting about a city if the buildings were devoid of decor or anything to help her understand the reason behind construction on so grand a scale. Celestia moved onward, towards a slightly larger building, noting with interest the lack of windows. She walked around the closest side of the large building, and found a tall and thin open doorway, marked with a deeply imprinted sigil of a crescent moon. Celestia paused at the entrance of the building, checking it thoroughly for traps. Finding none, she slowly stepped inside the building, noting that the doorway of this building was the proper size for her to fit through without ducking her head: a rarity in most architecture, with few exceptions. Celestia wasn’t amused by this, but rather put more on edge, for this only meant one thing to her. This was a building designed with alicorns in mind.