//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The Stranger // by Kaptein //------------------------------// Half-shut blinds filtered the incoming sunlight into a warm and pleasant aura in the room. Several candles burned low, nearly spent. A golden glow flared up and lit a fresh, waiting candle. Scrolls and tomes lay abandoned everywhere, some depicting ancient diagrams and drawings, others holding even older text. A mint-green unicorn furrowed her brow as she gently set down one tome, closing it, before moving onto the next. A loud thudding against her door abruptly pulled her out of her entranced state. Her golden eyes went wide, searching around for the sudden intruder to her concentration. A visible sigh of relief was released as she saw a beige-cream earth pony with a dark blue and rose pink mane enter. “Oh, hey Bon-Bon. It’s just you.” The other mare snorted indignantly. “What do you mean it’s just me?” Her eyes narrowed as she saw the near-chaotic state of the room and the low burning candles. “Lyra...have you been up all night?” Lyra emitted a soft whinny of surprise as she glanced at the window. “Oh, shucks. I guess I did.” She smiled apologetically noticing Bon-Bon’s stern expression. “Uh - sorry? Won’t do it again?” Bon-Bon sighed irritably, before moving to Lyra’s side. “Dear, please...these late nights aren’t doing you any good.” She nuzzled the other mare. “I’m sorry, Bonnie...But - I know it’s out there. I know I can find it.” The earth-pony pulled away slightly, one eyebrow raised as she shot a warning look. “Is this about the Anthropology studies again?” “What? No! I told you already, that was just a phase!” Lyra exclaimed. She shuffled around the desk before her magic pulled out an older book from under a pile of scrolls. “This, here.” She pointed to a rather intricate diagram. It depicted a small spherical object, thousands upon thousands of tiny gears built into it. At the heart of the drawing was a tiny crystal, a forgotten language labelling the entire drawing. “What is it?” Bon-Bon asked. “I think it’s called a Lösen Sphere. It’s supposed to be very powerful, and only one was known to exist. I’m trying to find out more on it.” Their conversation was interrupted by another loud knocking on the door. Lyra’s study was a separate building from the two’s main house. The isolated nature allowed her to study in peace without disturbing Bon-Bon. “Urgent delivery for Lyra Heartstrings!” a young colt’s voice called out. Jumping to her hooves, Lyra wrenched the door open with her magic as she bore down on the mailpony with a manic grin. “Yes?” she said, looking at the young pegasus. Tired rings were under his eyes, two small saddlebags with a few letters stuffed into them strapped to his back. “Priority-class mail from the Crystal Empire, ma’am,” the mailpony said stoutly, pulling out a small letter from the bag. “If you’ll excuse me, ma’am, I have a few others to get to.” Lyra thanked the pegasus before turning and going back into her study. Her magic ripped open the sealed envelope and pulled the letter out, her eyes darting back and forth reading it. “What does it say, Lyra?” Bon-Bon asked, feeling an uneasy sense of dread build up. The maniac grin slowly returned to Lyra’s face. “Guess what?” she quipped cheerfully. “You-know-who is coming for a visit!” ~~~~ The stranger observed herself in a large, body-sized mirror. The two horns grew from just behind her temples and curled backwards behind her ears before coming forward again into a somewhat pointed tip. She opened her jaw, examining her teeth and jaw line, before firmly snapping it shut and turning to examine her build. She was very large. Lean muscles rippled underneath her hide and a fleeting thought told her she could probably take on quite a few of the guards posted at her door. The room was very spartan - nothing but the bare essentials needed for living. A single dresser was pressed against one wall and a bed built for one against the opposite. She suspected this room was not meant for guests, but rather staff. The emptiness and lack of emotion the room gave off made the stranger smile. The bare utility of the room drew out the errant thoughts in her mind, leaving peace and devotion behind. Devotion to what she wasn't sure yet. She knew her memories were there, fleeting around in the back of her mind. No matter how deeply she thought, even with the peace the spartan room gave her, they evaded her. She sat on the bed, the springs complaining loudly under her weight. It was most assuredly built for a pony of smaller build. The door clicked open, and the stranger straightened her spine without realising it. “Forgive my intrusion,” Princess Luna said as she strode into the room. Two guards followed her in, keeping a watchful eye on the stranger. “It is of no worry,” the mare replied, getting off her seat and offering a slight bow. “The doctors have said that, all things considered, you have made a remarkable recovery,” Luna said. “Although, I believe you were already of peak physical form when you appeared.” The stranger nodded. “Princess, I have one small issue. A request, maybe.” If Luna was thinking anything she made no show of it; her expression was stoic as she gave a measuring gaze to the mare. “Yes? What is it?” “I believe, in time, my memories will return. But, until then, I need…” She turned away, looking at the mirror looking herself over again. She turned back to Luna, raising her head tall and proudly. “I need a name, Princess.” Luna’s eyebrow raised slowly as she considered her request. “I am sad to admit that I am not qualified to assist you in such a matter. Normally, under pony society, names reflect upon a pony’s natural talent.” The stranger took a moment to measure Luna’s words. Her eyes looked around the room and at the other three ponies occupying it. Taking a deep breath, she spoke in a calm and measured tone. “I assume that one’s ‘Cutiemark’ somehow reflects on this talent?” A surprised alarm flashed behind Princess Luna’s eyes. “That is an astute observation,” she said, her voice equally as calm and measured. “May I enquire on how, despite your apparent lack of memories, you made this observation?” The strange mare tilted her head slightly, busy recalling all the memories from earlier. “A guard made comment that I lack such a Cutiemark.” She pointed towards Luna’s flank. “And, judging by your name, the fact that you raise the moon at night, and the symbols on your rump, my conclusion came fairly quickly.” Princess Luna continued to study the strange pony. Under normal circumstances, she would have the pony severely reprimanded for referring to the Royal Derrière so brazenly, but these were hardly normal circumstances. Her expression remained stoic and the stranger was aware the the Princess was silently judging her. “You are far more observant than I had initially judged you for.” “You still judged me to be dangerous, Princess.” Luna nodded. There was no use in trying to hide or lie to the stranger. “That is correct.” The mare shook her head. “I do not expect you to relent on your security. I am a very clear threat, even if I have no intentions to cause harm.” Luna hid her surprise and worry behind a calm mask. She revelled in the shallow victory in that she was at least partly correct - the mare was dangerous, but it was quickly overshadowed by the realisation that she wasn't dangerous for the reasons she initially believed. The Princess took a few, long minutes before finally speaking again. “You say you wish to have a name. Tell me: of all the thoughts and memories you still possess, are there any that are prevalent? Any that occupy your thoughts the most?” The mare tilted her head in the opposite direction as she remained silent for a good thirty seconds. “Devotion. To an idea or cause. I wish - I - ,” she began to hesitate as a frown appeared on her face. “I once wished, or wanted...no - I wish to be devoted to a cause. To an ideal. No…” Confusion was dawning on her face as she became deeply lost in thought. Luna waited patiently - Celestia was right in one thing at least: the poor mare was suffering. “I’m sorry, Princess...the memories are there. I remember...wanting to protect something. To guard. To be a shield. I - I wanted to protect...something. But it got left behind.” Her eyes looked up at the Lunar Princess, a tear tracking down her cheek. “Why am I crying?” The hint of a smile touch Princess Luna’s lips. “You wish to be a Devoted Shield to protect something you care about.” She took a step towards the sitting mare, reaching down with her horn and touching her lightly on the head. A light spark of magic arched on Luna’s horn. “I think you've found a name for yourself already.” The mare blinked a few times, eyes widening in surprise. “If you so wish, from henceforth you will be referred to as Devoted Shield.”