//------------------------------// // A Trap Laid // Story: On Alicorns // by Nra Vadumee //------------------------------// And so radiant Lumos sailed over the air away from the border between the Light and the Dark, her conspiracy nearly complete. Across the land she flew, into the Firestallion’s domain, where she was met by Infernis himself. Beloved sister and Mare of Light, how fare you? What brings you to my lands, Lumos? I have come to seek the spawn of Academis and Professios, this Dragon that has sworn its allegiance to you. You are aware that it has attacked and injured one of ours? I am. I assured Amor and Iras that I had no command issued over the being to attack. They say he sought gifts to forge a kind of mare Dragon for himself. I have not seen any evidence of such a creation, and I believe Academis himself proclaimed it impossible for Dragon to forge his own creation. Only the Bloodbourne may create. Even so, I wish to see it. Where is Dragon? The Firestallion indicated with his great firey hoof a direction further into his lands. You shall find him some ways away in that direction. Give my most firey regards to your beloved stallion Thermos, Lord of Heat. With a nod of curtness and recognition, Lumos flew off and away, searching for Dragon. She searched and she searched, and could find no indication of the great beast. As she searched, however, she considered the possibility of a second Dragon. Would it be possible for even the Twelve to defeat such a force? Yes, of course it would be. Dragon had bested over Iras, but only because Amor had stopped their combat. Iras is immortal, as are the Twelve. Dragon was made of simple materials that could be eroded away, and he is naught but the sum of his parts. Yes, once Pentimus was defeated, and he surely would be, especially with two Dragons, her tools would stand without a chance against the full might of the Alicorns. Lumos continued sailing across the land engulfed in flame and fire, searching for this creation of her siblings. Where could it be, she wondered. A being of such power and, if what she had heard were true, size, couldn’t possibly take this long to locate. In frustration, she landed and stood on the flaming ground, looking around the area, trying to guess where Dragon could be. Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her. Fearful that this could be the ever-elusive Umbris preparing an attack, Lumos turned to face her enemy, only to find a gargantuan winged creature of crimson scales and glowing yellow eyes with black slits in the middle staring at her. Shocked at the size of the being before her, Lumos instinctively stepped back in surprise. This elicited a grin from the scaled beast. I understand you are searching for me, Mare of Light. I am Dragon. Vessel of Undying Things. So this is the Dragon she had been searching for? Dragon... it is good to finally meet with you. And the same to you, Mare of Light. To what purpose do you come in search of me? Am I to answer for my crime against Iras, which I understand he so loves to shout of for days on end? No, Dragon, you committed no crime which needs punishing. Instead, I have come to ask for you assistance in the punishment of a true criminal. Oh? Pentimus, the Stallion of Darkness. He has committed crimes against me and the rest of the Twelve, and must be destroyed. It is only with your assistance that this menace can be destroyed, for the good of the realm. I have heard of Pentimus, brother to my makers. I understand he is a blight upon the realm, preventing your glorious light from filling every corner of the world and replacing it with his damnable darkness. Yes! Yes, this is the truth! Great Dragon, you are surely the creation of Academis. How shall I assist you in bringing this enemy to justice? Come to the border between the Light and the Dark. You shall find me there. When you arrive, cross into the Dark, where I cannot follow. Pentimus will surely know that something has entered his realm and attack you. Strike him down, and bathe in glorious light and blessings for all eternity! It shall be my greatest honor to do so, oh glorious Mare of Light. With Pentimus gone and Light reigning supreme over the world, all will live in peace and harmony at last under your beautiful radiance. Lumos did nothing but smile and take off, believing herself above needing to thank him for the compliment. She was to be Queen of All Creation. She does not need to recognize the thoughts of lesser beings. Still, she almost felt bad for Dragon. He would make such a good servant. He obviously was devoted to the Light, and almost zealously so. Still, he was a threat. All it would take is a single betrayal, and he could threaten to weaken her reign, and, given time, end it. This, she could not allow to happen. He would die once the rest of the alicorns swore themselves to her. She knew he stood no chance against the full force of the remaining Ten alicorns. What she did not know was that another Dragon came out of a cave near Dragon. Dawnvir walked over to her love and sat next to him, watching the brilliant white alicorn fly off. It seems Aquos was not lying to us when she told us of Lumos’ plans. But... do you truly believe we can succeed in this plan of your own, my love? Pentimus and Lumos are the two most powerful alicorns. It will be difficult. But I, alone, have already bested Iras. Thanks to intervention from Amor... He was being crushed and burned beneath my Dragonsfire. He would’ve been destroyed, given a few moments more. I am fearful, Dragon. Nothing such as what we hope to do has ever happened in the history of the realm of existence. No. But neither has anything such as I. Nor anything such as you. Dawnvir thought for a moment and turned to look at her love. I have faith in you, my beloved. And I have faith in us. If you believe we can succeed, then I do, as well. I will follow you to the border, and I will fight with you. If we are destroyed- We will not be. -If we are destroyed... we will be destroyed together. And I will never leave you. Dragon made no words for this. Instead, he leaned in and kissed his beloved Dawnvir tenderly before pulling away and looking out to the horizon, where, far away, the border between Light and Dark lay. He drew his wings and flew forth, Dawnvir taking off behind him, and the two flew together towards the boundary line between the realm of Lumos and the lands of Pentimus. Together, they flew for where they were to make history, in success or in failure. Together, they were expected to destroy Pentimus. Together, they were going to kill two immortal alicorns in one swift move. Together, they were going to show that they were more than the sum of their parts. Together, they would emerge victorious. Or together they would die.