The Princess and the Muse
Chapter 1: That Initial Spark
I dodged a falling pillar as one of the unicorn guards’ blasts went awry and nearly collapsed the courtyard wall atop my head.
‘Okay,’ I admitted silently to myself as I ran, ‘perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea…’
But then I suppose that was my problem: Ideas are what I do, I always have ideas. My problem is that I’m not the best judge of what will turn out to be a good idea and what will be a catastrophically bad one. No, that’s for other people to handle. And so my way of working, and indeed living, is simply to jump from each seemingly good idea and onto the next until something sticks. And no, I’m not sure if living like that is a good idea either, but it seems to have served me well thus far and so I’m sticking to it.
I weaved sideways as a wave of magical energy skimmed by the side of my head, sizzling one of the white streaks in my mane and leaving an unruly brown blotch in its place.
I did my best to ignore the armoured hoof-falls of the guards getting louder as they remained in hot pursuit, the sound of metal on polished marble almost deafening in the humid silence that blanketed Canterlot at midnight.
I’d have gritted my teeth in frustration had it not carried the risk of marring the midnight blue gem gripped in my mouth. I forced my attention ahead once more.
‘This really is one long courtyard…” I thought with slight annoyance, the massive palace gates making it difficult to judge scale and distance correctly.
I was aware of a female voice shouting from somewhere high above and I caught sight of the shadow cast by one of the pursuing Pegasus guards breaking away as he banked off in the direction of the call.
‘Okay,’ I thought, ‘that’s one distracted, just another dozen or so to go…’
Who would’ve thought stealing one measly crown jewel would get them so riled up?
And no, grand larceny had not been what I considered a wise idea, but I had no choice in the matter. It was quite literally a life or death situation.
“Stop, in the name of Celestia!” cried the clear, commanding voice of a stallion from somewhere behind me, his call cutting through the noise of the rabble accompanying him.
I adjusted the gem in my mouth so I could speak, “Why?” I called back at the pursuing unicorn, “What’d I ever do to you?”
Shining Armor did a double take. His white coat seemed to glow in the full moonlight, as did his eyes though I guessed that was because he appeared to be more than a little angry with me, not that I blamed him, “You just stole a gem from the royal vault!” he barked, disbelief that he actually had to tell me clear in his voice.
“You’ve got no proof of that! This is oppression, I tell you!”
“You’re holding it in your mouth! I can see it from here!”
“That’s circumstantial evidence at best!”
The main gates drew closer. Already they were closing now that the alarm had been raised, but I knew I could make it. I might not be a Pegasus but that didn't mean I wasn't able to cover a decent amount of ground when the situation really called for it.
I heard Shining Armour skid to a halt behind me and caught sight of a pink glow in my peripheral vision.
A stream of light shot by my shoulder and struck the invisible barrier that protected the palace from outside magical attack. The pink light seemed to bleed presence into the shield, making it visible and dangerously solid-looking.
The barrier closed over the gateway and I lowered my head, angling my body.
‘Here goes nothing…’
I felt a surge of power from the band hidden amongst my mane accompanied by a stab of pain as the alien magic combined with my own and was channeled through me.
I punched through the barrier like it were a sheet of thin glass and broke free into the night an instant before the gates closed, cutting off my pursuers. Some of the Pegasus ponies not quick enough to react ended up slamming into the translucent barrier and slid limply back to the ground.
I looked back as I ran, finding it odd that the guards weren't making any attempt to reopen the gate or stop me.
A possible explanation for this behavior was provided when a black blur shot out from above the gate and into the night sky.
It suddenly occurred to me that whilst my plan to make off with the Midnight’s Heart under cover of darkness may have been sound, it still held one slight, tiny peril. On a related note, I also found it odd that the guards had been calling out for me to stop ‘in the name of Celestia’, when technically the gem didn't even belong to Celestia, it belonged to-
“HALT THIS INSTANT, TREACHEROUS KNAVE!”
I nearly tripped over my own hooves at the deafeningly loud command. Several of the windows in the surrounding buildings cracked as the soundwave passed over them.
I couldn’t help but sigh slightly, ‘And there it is…’
I cast an almost despairing glance back to catch sight of Princess Luna’s midnight blue form following in pursuit. The angry downbeat of her wings was so fierce that it was causing a massive tailwind. I also wasn’t reassured by the fact that her eyes were now little more than glowing pools of enraged white light.
‘And doomed, splendid…’
Her gaze narrowed and I watched as her swirling mane engulfed her body, reducing her to a stream of dark light that shot ahead of me. I barely managed to skid to a halt as the princess of night rematerialized directly in my path.
She reared back on her hind legs, glowering down at me as a crackle of thunder echoed out in the night behind her, “THOU HAST STOLEN OUR TREASURE!”
“No I didn’t!” I found myself yelping before brain and muzzle could communicate.
“THEN WHY DIDST THOU FLEE?”
I blinked, gobsmacked she was actually going so far as to question it, “I wasn’t fleeing,” I said hastily, “I was…I was exercising.”
She stabbed a hoof at the side of my mouth, “THEN WHAT HADST THOU THERE?!”
I dropped the gem into my hoof, “What, this? I…I found this. It’s just a stone from the gardens.”
Her brow furrowed, “I SENSE THOU ART TRYING TO DECEIVE US.”
“Well I wouldn’t go so far as to say trying…” I muttered under my voice.
I watched her horn glow in the darkness. The crescent-shaped gem in my hoof glowed brightly in resonance.
She stabbed her hoof at me again, “AH-HAH! AS WE SUSPECTED: FALSEHOOD!”
“You suspected?” I asked dryly.
“BUT why?” she asked, lowering her posture along with her voice suddenly.
I took a step back, “W-what?”
Her expression had changed. It had become confused, almost saddened, “Why wouldst thou steal from thy princess and lie to her?” She asked, “Have we…have I done something wrong?”
‘This I didn’t see coming…’ I also noted that her speech patterns had suddenly shifted.
I shifted my hoof uncomfortably, “It…It’s nothing you’ve done, your highness,” I said, “I just... didn’t have any other choice. The situation is kind of desperate.”
“Then why did you not seek the aid of thy princess before resorting to such means? I would never turn away one of my subjects in their time of need.”
I clenched my eyes shut.
She was actually getting to me; Nightmare Moon herself was actually guilt-tripping me…
“Look, Princess,” I said, opening my eyes to look at her, “I just want you to know that this is nothing personal, and if there were any other way…” I trailed off, shaking my head, “I’m sorry…”
“Be that as it may,” said Luna, her voice regaining some of its resonance, “We cannot let you leave with that stone. Its power is too great for it to be allowed to fall into the wrong hooves.”
Her posture changed once more. Obviously she was done talking.
It really was time to leave, quickly. I knew back there that if I’d faced down Shining Armor properly he would’ve mopped the floor with me. To say that my odds of success were slightly lower against my current roadblock would be a monumental understatement.
Luna’s horn pulsed with an ethereal glow before releasing a stream of binding light in my direction.
I held out the stone in my possession reflexively like a shield. I felt it heat up to an almost painful degree as the magical wave became distorted in the air. Luna gasped as her own technique was absorbed down into the gem.
As the Midnight’s Heart served in part as a store of Luna’s magical energy, I’d bet correctly that the gem could be used to at least partly block the princess’ abilities. However I also knew that it wouldn’t be long before she countered and turned that same magic against me. I had to get out of there.
I focused once more, straining as a lance of cold pain stabbed into my head. It seemed that the gem in the headband I was wearing had little juice left in it. With no other recourse, I dared to draw out a tiny slither of Luna’s stored magic to supplement the spell I was trying to trigger.
The upsurge in power almost knocked me flat but I managed to hold it together until I found myself surrounded by a blaze of white, blue and green light.
I let out a heaving gasp and tried to focus my eyes, “Sorry, Luna…” I choked, “I have to go now. I promise I’ll do my best to return this to you once I’m done with it. It might be a little drained by then, but I promise it will have been for a good cause…”
Luna’s posture relaxed. She obviously knew it was too late to stop the long range teleportation spell that was building and so she didn’t bother trying, “Then mark my words: know it will remain our royal duty to find you, young pony. You know not what it is that you grasp in your hooves there.”
I smiled as the swirl of magic built up around me, “Perhaps not, and from you I would expect nothing less…”
“I would know your name, thief.” demanded Luna as regally as ever.
I inclined my head acceptingly, “Alpha Spark, and I’m not a thief. I’m just…disadvantaged by circumstance.”
“Circumstance that demands you steal magical artefacts?”
I sighed, “Pretty much. And no, I can’t tell you why. You are indeed wise, your highness, but I doubt you of all people would sympathise with my current plight.”
Her frown deepened, “I do not understand.”
I just smiled weakly and shook my head as the swirl of light began to engulf me, “I know. But just know that I truly am very sorry.”
And then I was gone…
-L-
Luna regarded the sizzling crackle of residual magical energy as it danced over the stone surface. She said nothing as the sound of hooves filled the street. Shining Armor quickly approached with his entourage.
“Princess Luna!” he called out somewhat breathlessly.
The alicorn looked off into the night in silence as if observing something unseen, “I’m so sorry, your majesty. I thought we-“
“-worry not, Shining Armor.” She cut in gently, not breaking her gaze, “It would seem our quarry was better provisioned than he first appeared. And it is we who should be apologising to you. It was a severe breach of royal etiquette for an honoured guest such as yourself to be forced into action.”
He bowed his head slightly, “No, it was my honour to serve you once more, Princess.”
Luna inclined her own head curtly in response, “Do you know how he gained access to the palace?”
The unicorn frowned, “I think he got in by blending in amongst the caterers at the ball tonight. He must have been assuming a false identity and then sneaked into the vault during the changing of the guard.”
“No doubt…” she responded, still seeming distracted.
“Well don’t worry, your highness. We’ll send word out to every village and town in Equestria. We’ll find him.”
“No need, Shining Armor,” replied the princess, her gaze narrowing as she beat her wings in preparation to take flight, ”I will take care of this situation myself…”
-α-
The bright flash, combined with the sudden wave of dizziness and nausea almost knocked me to my knees as I reappeared. Thankfully I had ended up exactly where I intended to be.
I staggered uneasily into the abandoned fort atop the hill that I called my home. I’d discovered it during my wanders far out in the middle of nowhere. I’d never learned its original purpose, but despite its originally run-down appearance, after a bit of upkeep and maintenance I’d managed to get the place looking quite homely.
I weaved into the main hall, my hooves echoing quietly as I crossed from the rug-covered floor and onto cold stone.
My breaths came heavy as I circled round to the large fireplace that occupied the side wall, the sound of my movement being muffled once more as I stepped onto the ornate rug that had been placed there.
I paused to briefly stoke the dying embers back to life, the dim flames giving the vaulted room some minor illumination and casting long, dancing shadows over its high walls.
A red velvet sofa sat before the fire and resting atop it, exactly where I’d left her hours earlier, was Mimica.
It didn’t surprise me that she hadn’t awoken or stirred from the spot I’d set her down in. I doubted if by now she even had the strength to stand without assistance.
Her form was that of an alicorn mare, smaller in stature than yours truly. Her lean body had a film of cold sweat covering it and the normally rich white of her fur seemed pasty and dull. Even the jet black of her mane seemed to have lost its usual lustre. Her cutie mark –a single new-born butterfly crouched and ready to spread its wings— seemed faded against her flank.
I crouched down by her, nudging her gently with my snout.
She stirred ever so slightly and her eyes fluttered open a crack. Sleepy, neon-green orbs looked out at me from within the gaps. Normally they were a deep stygian colour, but that was only when she had any strength about her. The eyes were always the first to go. She said they were ‘windows to the true self’ and so always took the most focus to maintain.
“Spark?” she murmured. I set the dark gem down in front of her hooves and nudged it closer for her attention.
“Brought you a present…”
Her eyes regained their focus and the green light vanished. She managed to sit herself up with what appeared to be great effort. She held the gem before her and looked up, sullen concern in her eyes, “You should not have done this…”
I shook my head, “Had to be done. You wouldn’t have lasted much longer if you didn’t eat something. And that should keep you going for as long as you need.”
“I told you,” she said, “It’s not the amount of power within the object but the…the emotion behind the one…” she trailed off almost bashfully and I noticed her trail her hoof across the carpet below her.
I continued speaking, “I will have to return it at some point though. I think I’ve gotten Princess Luna somewhat upset with me.”
She dropped back to all fours and took an uneasy step forwards, “You encountered one of the princesses? But what if she-“
I silenced her with a shake of my head, “It’ll be fine. We might have to go into hiding for a little bit, but I’ve come out of worse scrapes than this with my tail intact,” okay, that was a blatant lie, but I was trying to be reassuring and so nodded at her, “Now go on…”
She nodded timidly and pressed the tip of her horn to the gem as it rested on the padded surface. Her true nature was partially revealed as the bright green of her magic illuminated the room fully, the gem responded as silvery-white light bled into her aura before being dyed the same green tint.
I watched as her body seemed to shimmer. Her appearance adjusted itself slightly as her glamour solidified once more.
A second later and it was over. Mimica exhaled a long, relieved breath.
“Better?” I asked.
She nodded, “Much…” she averted her eyes away, “I felt it: Your own magic was mixed in there a little too. You went through a lot to get it for me…”
I shrugged, “Nah, piece of cake,” I said, lying outrageously once more, “besides, you’re my bud, aren’t you? It wasn’t like I could just leave you to shrivel up.”
“Perhaps you should have,” she said quietly, “Sometimes I think it would’ve been best it you’d just left me where you found me…”
I scowled at her, “Now don’t start that again. You may be a bug, but it’s only when you get like this that you actually start to bug me.”
“I’m not a bug,” she pouted, her brow furrowing.
“Oh, no…” I said, waving my hooves in mock fear, “I forgot. You’re a big, scary changeling, aren’t you?” I ruffled her mane under my hoof, causing her to scowl slightly.
She muttered something under her breath about being a princess too, but I was done poking fun for the moment and so let the comment pass.
“You still shouldn’t have done it…” she said quietly as I went to deposit the dark gem in the chest with the others whose stored power had apparently been since depleted. Even though they still crackled with energy, Mimica insisted that their ‘usable power’ was all gone, whatever that meant.
I tossed down the headband with the depleted gem attached to it on the sofa, “that thing worked a treat.”
Mimica regarded it, “It’s normally used by my people for infiltration. It was-“
“-Dangerous for me to use,” I cut in with a roll of my eyes, “yes, I know. I have the headache to prove it. It seemed like a good idea at the time…”
Mimica sighed, “Things always seem like a good idea to you at the time, mister muse.”
“Give me some credit; I at least tried to think this one through. And I only had to improvise like three, four…at best maybe seventeen times.”
Silence fell and I exhaled a tired breath. I’d voiced my next recommendation a dozen times before, but I thought I’d give it one more go regardless, “Are you sure it wouldn’t be best for me to take you back to your own people? I mean maybe someone there can help. Perhaps someone in your family; your mother or-“
“-No!” she interjected harshly, obviously a little harsher than intended as she quickly looked away again, “You remember how I said that you probably wouldn’t get along well with my people if you were forced to take me back to them?”
I inclined my head, “I do.”
She smiled grimly, “Well let’s just say that you really wouldn’t get along well with my mother.”
I sighed and dropped down on the sofa and let her curl up against me, “Looks like we both have parental issues…”
She smiled and closed her eyes, nuzzling up in my mane as she got comfortable, her wings folding up against her sides “Looks like…”
And so I drifted off with Mimica safely by my side, both of us completely unaware of the presence of another in the room.
-L-
The swirl of blue/violet magical energy drifted about the room, passing slowly over the sleeping pair.
It then drifted over to the chest in the corner only to rear back sharply as the enchantments protecting the container forced the mass away.
The cloud of energy swirled back around and materialised into the spectral form of Princess Luna. She looked down upon the slumbering ponies.
The ghostly princess reached a hoof down, able to exert just enough physical force in her current form to part the layers of unruly mane atop the pony's head, revealing the horn concealed beneath.
“As I suspected…” she intoned, her voice not reaching the sleeping pair, “You may sleep easy for now, Alpha Spark, but tomorrow you shall learn that night is no longer your sanctuary of rest, but the hunting ground of the princess of the moonlight. Until then…”
And with that, the princess vanished, leaving the pony to enjoy what may very well be his last decent night’s sleep for quite some time…
To be continued…
-XA-