//------------------------------// // Fittings // Story: In the Land of the Desert Sun // by canonkiller //------------------------------// "So, the Daystaff?" Sandwing rolled her eyes, opening her wings as a small blue Sphinx darted underneath them, a white measuring tape trailing behind her. "A golden staff said to be forged in the flames of Ra's sun. One side of it contains a pure Moonstone, and the other a pure Sunstone, both said to be cut directly from the Dawnstone at the World Spire." "World Spire? Dawnstone?" "How much of that book did you say you read?" Sandwing teased, sitting back on her haunches and sticking out her chest as the other Sphinx pressed the tape into it. "The World Spire is the stone that Jaru curled into to create the eternal night. The Dawnstone runs in viens through the Spire; it's the source material for Sunstones and Moonstones. I've heard the stone itself glows from it's light when night falls." "How do you suppose we find it?" Twilight took a step back, letting the Sphinx continue measuring. "And why?" "Every other Pharaoh has found it so far," she replied casually, "and it shows that you've been blessed by Ra and Jaru so that you can rule righteously. We can't even fly this time, like the other Pharaohs got to. We have to bring Mord along, and unless you use some of your fancy magic on him, we're walking." "I don't think he'd let me do that," Twilight sighed. "How long should it take?" Sandwing shrugged. "Flying? Ten or so days. Walking through the desert only by night? Probably much longer." Twilight sighed, glancing back over her shoulder. "Spike? You're going to have to stay here. You can probably stay with Dustfur and Ashcoat while I'm away. It's going to be a long journey, and a boring one." "Sounds fine to me. Do you think they have gemstones?" "I'll leave some behind for you," Twilight promised. Spike crossed his arms, looking up skeptically. "You won't have any more cool adventures without me, will you?" "It should be uneventful," Sandwing assured him. "Thanks for the fitting, Seawing." "My pleasure, Pharaoh Sandwing." The blue Sphinx replied, bowing. Sandwing awkwardly rubbed the back of her head, grimacing as the other Sphinx backed out of the room. "I don't think I'll ever get used to this royalty thing. I managed to keep the whole Princess thing under wraps for so long, and now...?" Twilight nodded. "If Bloodfeather was your mother, how are you feeling about all of this?" The Sphinx's fur bristled as her whole body tensed. She stood, shaking, and then let out a large sigh and looked up at Twilight. "I must put aside my own feelings until the moon rises. Once my duties are transferred to Onyxclaw, I will be able to speak more freely." "Is there anything I can do to help?" Twilight continued. "I know how hard it must be-" "Princess Twilight Sparkle," Sandwing growled, her eyes narrowing, "the best thing you can do is remain silent until nightfall. I have told you I do not want to talk about this until that point, and I dearly hope you have the dignity to uphold my wishes. Do I make myself clear?" Without waiting for a response, she lashed her tail and turned away, storming out. Spike peered out cautiously from behind Twilight's back. "That seemed kind of harsh." "Don't, Spike. I shouldn't have pushed her. It's only natural for her to be upset." Twilight crouched down, letting her assistant climb up onto her shoulders. "It seems the Sphinx have different customs than we do when it comes to royalty." "Figures," Spike huffed. As Twilight trotted out of the room, she kept finding herself drifting back to Sandwing's tone, to the anger in her eyes. For some reason, the use of her title in such a way struck her down to her core. She still felt shamed, as if she was just a filly and the Sphinx had told her off. Shamed and humbled; suddenly aware that some things were not for her to pry into. She also noticed that she had never felt this way when one of her friends had reprimanded her, no matter how harsh it had been. She turned, and saw Sandwing sitting down in the narrow hallway, her forehead pressed against the wall and her wings raised slightly to hide her face. Her back shook and her claws tapped against the ground. Twilight took a step back, but Sandwing's ears had already lifted and turned towards her. The Sphinx lowered her wings, lifting her head from the wall but not looking away from it. "You just couldn't leave me alone, could you?" "No, no, that's not it at all-" "It's admirable," Sandwing continued absently, "that you're so loyal. Isn't that supposed to be your friends' job? Rainbow Dart?" "Dash," Twilight corrected, "but Sandwing, you're allowed to talk about how you're feeling." "You may be, but I cannot. A Pharaoh's duty is to their people, not to themselves. Once my rule ends with the sun's light, I will talk with you." She shook her head, running a paw through her mane. "I need to focus on preparing my body for our quest. Unlike you, I will not be able to eat until we find the Spire. I am to meet with a Seer in a few minutes, who will aid in sending prayers to Ra and Jaru and make up herbal pouches to keep my strength up." "Do you have to go alone?" Sandwing turned to her then, eyes glistening. "No. I do not." ---- Twilight stifled a cough as a wave of smoke billowed into her face. She closed her eyes against the sudden heat, and when she opened them, a pure white Sphinx female's face was hovering in front of hers, nearly touching her muzzle. Twilight screamed, backing up, and the floating face laughed. "Cease the illusions!" Sandwing roared. The smoke shimmered as the face withdrew, and it seemed to clear slightly. Sandwing tapped Twilight's shoulder with her wing, edging her forward. As they walked through it, a small light appeared, a green and ghostly light. A white shape paced around it, faint and wispy in the smoke and light. "Sssandwing, what bringsss you here? And sssuch a pretty guessst." Twilight yelped as something brushed down her back. Sandwing turned back to her, green eyes glittering as she glanced around. "Ssso you are the Pharaoh now? Sssuch a losssss, sssuch a losssss." "Stop this! I need to have safe travel to the Spire!" Something hissed in the fog, and a wave of sweet-smelling smoke billowed through the rest of it, clearing a path through the smog. A small fire burned green, surrounded by pillows of various sizes and colors. Directly opposite the fire, a pure white Sphinx sat, tail curled over her feet. She stared at them with her head turned, her eye a pale pink mirror in the wavering light. She opened her wings, their tips vanishing into the smoke, revealing various charms and beads strung through their feathers. She tilted her head slightly, ears lifting up from her head like those of a massive bat. "Welcome to our den, Sssandwing. You have come to commune with the great ssspiritsss?" Sandwing nodded, her mouth set in a firm line. The Sphinx tilted her head the other way, revealing a solid golden ball set into her eye socket. She blinked, and light reflected off of a carving the shape of the sun. "You come with a guessst." "This is Princess Twilight Sparkle." "Welcome, Princesssss of the Ssstarsss. We have heard of you." Twilight looked to Sandwing, unsure. "You are ssstartled? Do not fret. We will aid you in crosssssing the sssandsss." She opened her mouth, and her tongue flicked out, punching a hole in the smoke. "Come, ssstep forward ssso the ssspiritsss can sssee you." Sandwing hesitated. "Stay back, Twilight," she muttered before walking forwards. The white Sphinx jerked her head back, tongue darting out as her ears swiveled. Some of the charms on her wings jangled as they knocked into each other, and Sandwing winced. "You mean you are going to crosssss the desssert without ssskydancing?" "I-I have not had time! I have only become Pharaoh late today!" "A Sssphinx of your age ssshould have done ssso long ago, essspecially a Princesssss!" The seer let out a wordless hiss, revealing a toothless maw. "The Ssspiritsss will not let you crosssss the dessert until you do!" "You're saying I cannot eat until I skydance and cross the desert? This is madness!" "Thisss isss the way of the Ssspiritsss! You musst not go!" The white Sphinx was nearly screaming, her one eye rimmed in white, her golden eye whirling madly. Her fur stood on end, and the smoke swirled angrily around her. "I'll skydance with you!" Both Sphinx froze, the white seer taking deep heaving breaths as Sandwing turned back to face Twilight. "I... sssuppossse tradition can be broken. Sssameer, it will be recorded." Her head bobbed. "If Sssandwing is approving." The Sphinx stared at Twilight a moment longer, a faint smile tracing across her muzzle. "Yes. Yes, I approve." The seer smiled. "Princesssss, you can wait outssside now. Sssandwing just hasss to try a few herbsss. The Ssspiritsss have already told me their approval."