//------------------------------// // Chapter Eight: Crossing Paths // Story: But Not Forgotten // by SilverDawn97 //------------------------------// Part Two: A Life worth Dying For “If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a song is worth a thousand memories. Words can only convey so much meaning on their own… But when you give those words a melody, sung by a voice of the proper cadence… Then even the saddest of stories can be transformed into a beautiful aria. A single song can lift your heart with a tale of adventure and happy endings, tell a story filled with heartbreaking tragedies… Or sing a sad yet beautiful story of a long-lost love.” Chapter Eight: Crossing Paths As the TARDIS began to materialize outside the ancient city of Everfree, The Doctor couldn’t help but feel a bit perplexed. Derpy had said they had been here before, and yet… “Come on, Doctor!” shouted the light grey mare in question “We’ve got to hurry!” “Derpy, are you sure we’ve been here before?” The Doctor asked as he followed Derpy into the forest they had landed in. “Of course, silly!” she replied with a grin “Don’t you remember? I wanted to know what muffins tasted like a thousand years ago! And then we went to the castle, and there were those scary statues in the basement…” “Ah yes, the Weeping Angels…” the exasperated Time Lord said “How could I forget… But why are we here now?” “Humph! You never listen to me, do you, Doctor?” Derpy answered in huff. “Of course I listen to you, Derpy!” The Doctor said, quite surprised by the quirky Pegasus’s seemingly angry reaction “I was just a bit surprised by the way you came running back out of the blue, that’s all. I thought you were out delivering mail?” “But I was, Doctor! But that was when I saw him… A white Pegasus with a strange cutie mark… A cutie mark I had seen before! The last time we were here, I ran into a Pegasus who looked exactly like him at the castle… He must have known I was a mailmare, because he gave me a letter to deliver to Princess Luna. At first I was surprised, but he told me it was a love letter that I should leave outside her door…” “A love letter for the Princess?” The Doctor asked, curiosity beginning to fill his voice as they passed through the city gates. “I know, right?” Derpy replied. “So… I take it you delivered it?” The Doctor asked. “Of course I did! It made me feel so happy to know that somepony loved Princess Luna…” Derpy said, blushing a little “She always did seem a bit lonely… So of course I delivered the letter! I just don’t know why the Pegasus didn’t deliver it himself…” “And that’s what we’re here to find out, I take it?” The Doctor asked, finally beginning to understand. “Exactly!” Derpy said as they wound their way through the city streets, and made their way towards the castle. ------------- Tartanis awoke once more, but this time to the sound of singing birds… And a singing voice. Getting out of the bed he was laying in, he recognized the room as the one he had awoken in just the night before… But that was beside the point. Looking out the window, he saw a young tan Unicorn standing in a field of flowers painting a beautiful picture of the vibrant blossoms. As she painted however, she sang a beautiful tune that sounded somewhat familiar… “…I can feel each moment as time goes by… We’d never be too far away; You’d always be here, I heard you say…” Just as suddenly as it had begun, the Unicorn ceased her song. She looked over her painting one last time, and then with a satisfied nod, removed the painting from the easel with the glowing blue aura of her magic, then folded up the easel, and began to walk back towards the cottage. “She must be done.” Tartanis thought to himself “But that song… Where have I heard it before…” His thoughts were suddenly interrupted, when he heard a conversation spring up in the other room. “I just don’t know, Melody… Maybe we should call the picnic off… You saw the way he fainted last night. Are you sure he’ll be okay?” A soft, demure voice asked. Tartanis quickly recognized it as the voice of the yellow Pegasus he had met only the night before. “Don’t worry, Fluttershy. If he stays cooped up in that room forever, then there’s no way he’ll get any better!” said another voice “Besides… I get the feeling that a nice, sunny picnic will do him a lot of good.” Tartanis was taken entirely by surprise when the door he had listening at was suddenly opened, and collided solidly with his nose. “Ouch!” he yelped, quickly jumping back from the unexpected pain. “Oh! I’m so sorry… Are you all right?” He heard a soft, yet beautiful voice say. Looking up, he saw the tan Unicorn whose song had awoken him from his slumber. Catching a glimpse of her bright, emerald green eyes, he felt something… like an aura of calmness surrounding her, soothing his pain, and putting his startled mind at ease. “I’m sorry…” She said once more. “I had no idea you were already awake… I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Standing upright once more, Tartanis was quick to answer with a simple “It wasn’t your fault, really.” Her look of concern shifted into a happy smile, and the young mare politely introduced herself. “Okay. I’m Melody. I don’t think we’ve met before, mister…” “Tartanis.” he replied “And really, you don’t have to call me ‘Mister’.” “All right then, Tartanis.” Looking back behind her, Melody called to the yellow mare Tartanis had encountered earlier. “Fluttershy, could you help me make some breakfast for our guest? I think we might have a bruised nose to make up for.” “It’s fine, really.” Tartanis tried to assure her, but Melody would have none of it. “Even if I hadn’t booped your nose with the door,” she began with a smile “I still would have made you breakfast. After the way you stumbled out of the woods last night, you must have quite the story to tell. And everypony knows that there’s no better way to tell a story than over a plate of food.” ------------- As the three of them sat down to breakfast, Tartanis couldn’t help but ask a question that had been lingering in the back of his mind. “Melody, if you don’t mind me asking… When I woke up, I heard you singing a song outside. I was wondering… Where did you learn it?” “I don’t really know…” She said. “I know that I’ve heard it somewhere before, but once I started painting… It just came to me. It feels like a memory that’s just out of reach, like a name that I should remember, but can’t.” A faint blush crossing her face, she continued with “I hope my singing wasn’t too bad… I didn’t know it would wake you up…” “No, it’s perfectly fine.” Tartanis said, trying to comfort her. “…You sounded beautiful, in fact. It was the best singing I’ve ever heard.” Melody’s blush only deepened, and Fluttershy looked as though she might faint. “Tartanis… Do you know anything about this letter you had with you…?” Fluttershy asked quietly, trying desperately to change the subject. Looking at the letter held in her hoof, Tartanis couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised. “How could I forget…?” He thought to himself, the memories of his encounter with “Seraph” returning to the forefront his mind. “To be honest… I never even got to read it.” He said taking the letter. “I found it in the Everfree Forest, and then the next thing I knew… I was in a field of flowers, and I saw the two of you were galloping towards me.” Opening the letter, he began to read it out loud, each word sending chills down his spine. I shall find you only if your heart is open. Day fades to night as the Moon returns from a millennium of exile. Harmony banishes the Darkness, but cannot hold it at bay. Life is forgotten in Harmony’s return Night fades to day as the sun’s successor is crowned. Harmony conquers all, and peace settles over the land. Life lays stepping stones for its chosen champions. Day fades to night as three fallen stars herald the coming dusk. Harmony will be shattered forever. Life shall become the final hope. The Night reigns eternal. Harmony shall never return. Life will be marred by death. I shall return only if you still believe. For Fluttershy, one line in particular stuck out like a sore thumb. “Harmony will be shattered forever…” she repeated. “We… We have to show this Twilight.” Turning to Tartanis, she asked a very important question “Tartanis… You said you found this in the Everfree Forest. Where exactly did you find it?” Thinking back to that strange night, Tartanis could only hazily remember his trek into the forest. In his haste to flee, everything seemed to turn into a blur. But then he remembered the sign he had seen above the crumbling gate. “It was some sort of ancient ruin…” He said. “There was a stone engraving that read ‘Everfree Castle’ that I saw there.” At these words, he could tell that Fluttershy had been deeply concerned by his words. “If it came from those ruins… Then this letter must be over a thousand years old…” She said meekly, the implications shaking her to her core. “And if it’s that old… Then how would they know that Celestia would help Twilight become a Princess, or that Princess Luna would return after a thousand years…? This isn’t just a letter…” She said, almost too softly to hear. “…It’s a prophecy…” At this revelation, a haunting thought crossed both Melody’s and Tartanis’s minds. “Day fades to night as three fallen stars herald the coming dusk.” Was their arrival truly a coincidence? Or was it something more… Was their arrival a second chance… Or a harbinger of The End? ------------- As he made his way towards Luna’s room, Seraph couldn’t help but be filled with a sense of macabre anticipation. “This is the last day...” He thought “After this… She’ll finally find peace. And that is worth any price.” So deep in thought, the normally calm Seraph was surprised as he walked face-first into a young grey mare. Staggering back, he was shocked at first by her appearance. After all, how could she of all ponies be here of all places? Then, realization dawned on him. “So that explains it…” he thought “You truly do have a sense for irony, Faust.” Quickly regaining his composure, Seraph took the initiative to ask the grey Pegasus a question before she could respond. “You’re a mailmare, aren’t you?” He asked. This seemed to surprise the mare quite a bit, and before she could answer, he handed a letter sealed with a wax emblem of a crescent moon, and said “Please, I need you to leave this letter outside the room of Princess Luna.” Regaining her senses, the confused grey mare simply replied with “What? Why do you want me to leave a letter for the Princess?” “It’s a very important letter, Derpy… It’s a love letter, from me to her. Please… I need you to leave this for her outside her chambers.” As the enigmatic young stallion turned and began to walk away towards the Royal Gardens, Derpy was flabbergasted. It wasn’t until after she left the letter for the Princess and returned to the Doctor that a seemingly obvious question crossed her mind. “How did he know my name?” She asked herself silently. ------------- As Seraph began his walk to the familiar gardens for one last look at the place that had forged so many memories, he was surprised that somepony else had beaten him to the small patch of lilies where he had first made his arrival. She was a young white Pegasus who looked to be only a bit younger than he was, with a snowy-white mane that held faint streaks of a light cyan color flowing through it. Recognizing her immediately, his only thoughts were “It can’t be.” Hearing his approach, the blind young mare didn’t bother to turn, instead asking him a question. “This is where you found him, isn’t it, Luna?” She was very surprised when she heard a very different voice than that of the Princess respond to her. “You’re Snowdrop… Aren’t you?” Seraph asked softly. “Oh… You must be Seraph.” She answered. “I don’t think we’ve met before… How did you know my name?” “I’ve heard a lot about you. Yours is a story that should truly be admired.” He noticed a slight blush enter her cheeks at his compliment. “Thank you… I’ve heard a lot about you too, Seraph. The Princess has told me all about you in her letters… How you appeared out of nowhere, how you always took the time every night to simply admire the Moon. It isn’t every day that a pony takes time to truly appreciate the night sky.” “…Did she tell you how she feels about me?” Seraph asked. “…Yes, she did. After the letter she sent me last night, I decided to come here and see her… And to meet you, as well.” “I wish it didn’t have to be this way…” Seraph said, his sentence trailing off “…I love her. I would give anything to keep her happy… To keep her safe. Last night… Every word I said hurt me deeply. Every time I had to tell her we couldn’t be together, it killed me on the inside.” “…What is it you’re trying to keep her safe from?’” Snowdrop asked. Turning to walk away, Seraph gave her an answer that Snowdrop would spend many days pondering… Especially after its meaning was revealed to her only a few short months later. “I’m trying to keep her safe from herself.” He answered. Snowdrop thought on this a moment before turning around to ask him one last question. “Seraph… Will we ever meet again? …You, Me, and Luna… Will we ever be able to just be friends, the three of us?” Stopping in his tracks, Seraph turned once more for one last look at the mare he had waited so long to meet. “…No. I’m sorry, Snowdrop. If I could just stay, if I could just keep all of you safe from what’s to come… I would sacrifice anything. But I’ve already had my chance… And I failed. Now, I have to deal with the consequences.” As Snowdrop thought about his words, she heard his voice echo in her mind as he walked away. “I just wish that we did not have to meet under the circumstances we did, but as it stands… My time is running short. I wish that we could become friends, but it simply wasn’t meant to be. They say that time heals all wounds, but that is a lie. For ponies like us… Time can cause nothing but heartache and pain. You of all ponies deserve a chance at freedom from the chains of Fate that bind you. So, I will leave you a gift, and leave the choice to you as to whether or not you wish to accept it. Tonight as Luna exits her chambers to raise the Moon, she will find a very special letter at her doorstep. That letter holds powerful magic, magic that affects everypony who comes in contact with it differently. For Luna, it will give her hope to help her endure the centuries to come. As for you… If you hold the letter, then the magic contained within will perform what many will simply call a miracle: It will restore your sight, as though it had been in your possession all this time. Consider this my apology for what is to come… There are some things that, no matter how hard we try, cannot be prevented. But… That’s why ponies like you and I are here. Through the messages our tales carry, we can change anything, right any wrong, and mend any injury. Your story carries more weight than you will ever know… Through your actions, you have already inspired others to do amazing and wonderful things. Farewell, Snowdrop. And thank you…” Walking out of the gardens, satisfied with his final message to Snowdrop, Seraph could tell that his journey was quickly coming to a close. He had almost made it back to the chambers the Princesses had provided him, before he encountered yet another familiar face… A young blue Unicorn, unaware that her meeting with him would spark the beginning of her tragic journey through the centuries to come. ------------- They might not have found him if it hadn’t been for the sound of his conversation with the now departing blue Unicorn. Turning the corner, he seemed just as surprised to see them as they were to see him. “Doctor… I wasn’t aware I warranted such attention.” Seraph said somewhat serenely to his newest visitors. “It appears you have me at a disadvantage, friend. I’m afraid that you know exactly who I am, even though I know that you and I have never met before.” The light brown Earth Pony replied. “My name is Seraph. Your companion and I have already met, and as for you… Let’s just say that I am familiar with your history.” Now it was Derpy’s turn to speak up. “You… Why did you give me that letter? And more importantly, why did I just see you, a thousand years from now?” Seraph visibly cringed at this. But before could answer, he felt a strange and foreign sensation wash over him. “No… Not now…” Seraph thought to himself. Suddenly, he turned away from the two, as if to face an apparition that only he could see. “So, it’s time… Before I leave, I need to tie up one last loose end… Colgate. I hate to ask this of you, but… You know what must be done… Thank you. And… Farewell.” Turning to face the Doctor once more, he spoke with a sense of renewed certainty in his voice. “Doctor, I truly am sorry, but… You can’t return to Derpy’s original time. Events are taking place that you cannot stop. If you take Derpy there… You will lose her forever.” “How do you know this?” The Doctor asked in a worried tone. Before he received his answer however, he noticed something… Seraph had begun to grow slightly translucent, and small, shimmering motes of light had begun to float upwards off of his body. “Doctor… I know you have lost many friends in the past… I know about how you have lost all those you have come to truly care for… I know how you leave a trail of broken hearts and minds in your wake. If you try to change what is to come… It shall only continue.” At this, the Doctor’s eye immediately widened, then immediately narrowed as a flash of rage flowed through him. “Who are you?!?” He shouted in sudden fury. “Who told you these things?” But by this time, Seraph had almost completely disappeared, becoming little more than a scattering cloud of faintly glimmering lights. “I know how much you loved Rose Tyler. And I know that she loved you back. Please, Doctor… I beg you… Don’t go back. I’m trying to save the one I love too…” As Seraph faded away, Derpy seemed perplexed by Seraph’s words… And shocked. This was the first time she had ever seen the Doctor show anger at anypony besides the Daleks. She began to run back to the TARDIS, determined to find the white Pegasus and get her answers, when she felt a hoof on her shoulder, holding her back. Looking behind her, she saw the Doctor… With tears in his eyes. “Derpy, please… We can’t go back.... I’m sorry, but…I can’t lose you. Not like I lost her.” “But Doctor-“ Derpy started to argue. “Please Derpy… I’ll explain everything back in the TARDIS, but… I have to listen to him. I was wrong to come to this world in the first place… You are the reason I’ve stayed. I can’t… I can’t lose you. So please… Trust me.” “He’s trying to save the one he loves. And if my actions cause him to fail… I could never forgive myself.” ------------- That night, the entire castle was roused to search for Seraph… But he would never be found. Sitting alongside her beloved friend Snowdrop, Luna could not stop the tears from flowing down her face. She had read his letter many times already… When Celestia had tried to contact their mother, all she received was a simple message. “He doesn’t want to be found… His letter was a gift, both to Luna, and to all of Equestria. It foretells a time of great change… And great sorrow. He left this knowledge for both of you, in the hopes that it might help you weather the storm to come.” Luna had read the prophecy aloud to Snowdrop, but that didn’t help to set the young mare’s mind at ease… If anything the presence of the letter seemed to only set her on edge. But Snowdrop still refused to leave her friend’s side… She would not abandon her in her time of need. But for Snowdrop… The thought of regaining her sight still floated around in her mind. She would finally be able to see the world around her… She would finally be able to see the stars. But as she thought, her mother’s words echoed in her memories… “It’s better to save your wishes, Snowdrop, for something you really need.” Her mother had said to her, that cold winter’s night, so many years ago… “Don’t I really need my eyes?” She had asked her mother. Back then, life had seemed so unfair… She was always treated poorly by her peers because of her blindness. But… Hadn’t she overcome that? “No, not you!” Her mother had said with a chuckle. “You’re too special for that!” Seraph had told her that her story had touched the hearts and minds countless ponies… It was true that her blindness could bring her pain sometimes… But if she had been born with sight, she ever could have found her talent. Her story would remain forever untold… And winter would remain a harsh and unforgiving season, possibly forever… She had taken what everypony else saw as her greatest weakness, and used it to change the world for the better for everypony… How could she sacrifice what made her special? “Thank you Seraph…” she thought to herself “…But I can’t accept your gift. I can’t sacrifice the greatest blessing I have ever been given…” With that thought fresh in her mind, she lay there alongside the Princess, comforting her all through the night. After all… If she had been born with sight, she might take the night sky for granted too… And with Colgate out searching for Seraph… Luna would be all alone. She was the last one Luna could turn to… And she would be there for her, for as long as she could…