Bearer Chapter: Magic
The dark gray and black haired woman looked through the window of her large room. She was of average height and in great shape. She wore a dark tan tank top and green sweat pants. The woman could not see far as the Manehatten skyscrapers surrounded the building she was in. She sighed and walked over to her long couch. The morning was nice and bright, but she could not go out and enjoy it. She was stuck here at Ahuizotl Industries. The only thing harder here than pronouncing the name was dealing with the executives. The corporation mainly dealt with the discovering of ancient artifacts and remaking them for home decorations. However, ever since she came upon the Elements of Harmony in the Everfree Castle, they have focused all their energy on finding what the Elements are and what they do.
She sat down and took a sip from her coffee. The woman was tired of being in this place. She was basically captured by Ahuizotl when she found the Elements. But, she was also happy to stay because she herself wanted to know what the Elements were and how they worked. Stories of their Bearers and the power they wielded. It fascinated her. She actually was on the end of the Elements' power when she touched them. Ever since, she had been able to see their memories in her mind, though not clearly. That's why Ahuizotl kept her here. They had the "Animus" which let her relive Bearers' memories that she couldn't access on her own. She didn't know how it worked, but she didn't really care. History was worth this much.
She absentmindedly shuffled through the old documents that lay on her glass table. She had been reading these ancient texts for a while. She and one of her friends discovered them in an underground basement in South Canterlot. For being about 500 years old, they were in marvelous condition. Her attention shifted to the man that walked into her spacious room. The man was tall and had sleek black hair. His chin was thick and had a 5 O' clock shadow. He had a tired expression on his face.
"Good mornin' Doc." She said to him.
"That's Doctor Caballeron to you." He told her flatly.
"So uptight already?" The archaeologist questioned.
"Oh Miss Yearling, I'm always uptight without my coffee."
Miss Yearling wished that the Doc would call her "Daring Do" like all the others. She earned her nickname from all the crypts and old castles she had delved into. Doctor Caballeron didn't appreciate such things. He was a nice man, but one that was very straight forward. Yearling picked up the old documents.
"You still reading that?" Caballeron asked her.
"Of course. It's great information on the Elements."
"Bah, Octavia was just some Den Master, not a Bearer. What did she know?"
"Well, yeah, but her writings are very descriptive. It's a go...."
"Can we even trust her writings? They are very descriptive. No one can remember all that. I think she added some stuff to be interesting."
"That wouldn't make sense Doc."
"Of course not, but how can we trust its validity?"
Yearling and Caballeron paused to think. How could they trust the writings? Caballeron started to tap his foot impatiently when Yearling snapped her fingers.
"I got it Doc! In the last log I read, she said she was initiated into the Brotherhood by jumping off a tower, with the Bearer of Magic. If we go into Twilight's memories with the Animus, then we could see what really happened."
"Hmmm...Alright, but make it quick."
Yearling jumped off of her couch and jogged over to the Animus that was on the other side of her room. The Animus was a long white table with a large ring at the top for the head. It wasn't very comfortable, but it was easy to use and effective. Ahuizotl Industries placed plenty of cash into its creation. Yearling laid herself on the device while Caballeron operated a large monitor.
"We better not come empty handed..." He mumbled.
"We won't, Doc. Ready?"
"Wait.....This....Then that....Alright! Here we go."
4th Imperial Era
Canterlot, Equestria Empire
The Animus loaded the scene. Blue lines and shapes built every bug and every speck of dust. It did not take much time. Soon enough, the papers were all over the table, the scent of incense burning in the corner, and the candles that illuminated the Bearer's work. Twilight hunched over her table. She was not doing well tonight for the documents in front of her remained unread and unanswered.
"I really need an assistant." She said to herself.
"You have me."
"Yeah, but....I don't think you can help me with this."
"Guess that's fair."
The Bearer looked down at the pulsing shard embedded in her chest. She was chosen only a year ago, and she still had to get used to her new partner. Not to mention all the Brotherhood looking up to her as a leader. She was a simple scholar, not a fighter, or even an idealist. She sighed as she heard a knock on her door.
"Come in." She said automatically.
The door swung open and a young Assassin walked in. She had bright magenta eyes and electric blue hair. Her white robes suggested that she was still only an apprentice, but one that was about to become First Rank. She bowed in the Brotherhood fashion.
"Bearer, I have someone who is interested in joining the Brotherhood." She told Twilight.
"Good, good. Vinyl, where can I find the person?"
"She's right outside the Den."
"You brought her here?" Twilight said in a worried tone.
"Don't worry Bearer, she already knows about us and everything."
"Well....Then I'll see her."
Twilight turned to her work. She could leave it for one night. This was not her usual approach to anything, but a new recruit was important. She walked passed Vinyl and headed out of the Den.
The night was cool. Twilight looked around the street for anyone or anything. There was nothing in the empty street. Twilight placed her hands and her hips. Where was she? Did she leave? Did Vinyl trick me.....again? The Bearer turned around and opened the Den door again. As she was about to enter, a meek voice called to her.
"Ahem. Are you the Bearer?"
Twilight stopped and shut the door. She then turned to see a young girl with black hair and pink eyes. She barley looked sixteen. Her clothes were black. Unlike most Canterlot women, she wore black trousers and a pink bow-tie. These were the clothes of a musician. Twilight stared at her for some time before realizing how rude she was being.
"Yes.....I'm the Bearer. What's your name?"
The girl puffed her chest slightly. "Octavia Melody, m'lady." She then made a formal bow.
"Well, if you are going to be an Assassin, first things first, we aren't nobles, so no "m'lady" or "sire" here."
"I am sorry." She said in an earnest voice.
"You didn't need to apologize."
"Sorry."
"Oh....She'll be fun."
"Uh....I can see you are a musician. What do you play?" Twilight asked after an awkward silence.
Octavia brightened at this. "The cello m'la...I mean Bearer. The cello has always been my instrument."
"Well, maybe you could play it in the Den sometime." Twilight suggested.
"I would love to."
"Well then, let us take a walk through the city."
The Canterlot night was calm and tame. Mercenaries drank their cider and whisky in front of taverns. Courtesans sat on benches, waiting for a job to come to them. Parties were heard from inside various homes. Twilight and Octavia walked slowly through the streets. The deep shadows of the Canterlot towers covered them in darkness.
"Why do you want to join, Octavia?" Twilight asked.
"I want to do something more for this world. I am tired of being a simple musician. The world needs to be free and rest in Harmony."
"I see that Vinyl has told you about Harmony. Not many outside of the Brotherhood know of its existence. You do realize the risk you are going to take in such an organization?
"I am. Vinyl has told me that you fight for peace against the Templar. I cannot let the Order take control."
"Why not?"
"It......It would devastate my friend."
Twilight stopped. She turned her head to Octavia. "Your friend? You mean Vinyl?"
"Yes Bearer. She is my only friend. I have never been one to socialize. Vinyl is my friend and I hope to join her in a mutual cause."
"This is just for her?"
Octavia stared into the Bearer's eyes. "Yes. I do not want anything to happen to her. Well, at least not without me at her side."
"Interesting."
"Commendable. Octavia, do you know how we travel?"
"Parkour."
"Yes. Do you think you can make it to that tower?" Twilight pointed in the distance.
Octavia's jaw dropped. "Uhh...Yes?"
"Then let's go. No using the streets."
Twilight then ran up a wall and grabbed a beam. She then pulled herself up and hopped on the roof. She looked back to see Octavia do the same, though, with much more effort involved.
"Ha. Did Vinyl teach you that?" Twilight asked.
"Why yes. Vinyl gave me a few points."
The Bearer and Octavia started to make their way to the tower. Twilight jumped over gaps and hopped on small chimneys. She looked back to see the girl following behind her. The skill was admirable for someone as young as she. Though it seemed expected as her teacher was the best in the South Canterlot Den.
Twilight climbed up on to a taller building. The moon watched the two as they glided over the stone rooftops. Swinging on this, jumping on that, rolling and hopping. The few people on the streets watched them like they were ghosts. Most probably thought they were.
They came upon a high beam. Twilight swung on it and went through an open window and into a building. The inside was filled with people trying to sleep. Twilight didn't care about them and sprinted through the room. She heard Octavia mutter apologizes to the disgruntled residents. She jumped through the window on the other side and they both continued on their trek.
The Bearer tiptoed quickly on a rope the stretched across a wide street. When she crossed, she looked back at Octavia. The girl was about half-way across when she slipped and lost her balance. As Octavia fell towards the cobblestone, Twilight reacted by catching her with magic and dragging her across.
"That was close." Twilight said.
"Thank you Bearer."
"No problem. Let's go."
They continued across the capital. The tower steadily approached as they ran. Octavia still remained close behind Twilight, but her fatigue was becoming evident. Twilight began to slow down a tad to let her catch up. The two leaped over a street and then jumped down onto a shorter building, rolling upon their landing. The Bearer noticed that Octavia's clothes were becoming torn up as they went along as they were not well sewn Assassin robes. Though, the girl did not seem to mind or even remotely care.
"Those are probably the only clothes she possesses. Maybe it's worth it for Vinyl."
"Maybe."
They finally reached the base of the tower. The massive spire touched the stars. Without hesitation, Twilight found a grip in the stone column and began her climb. When she was about 10 meters above the ground, she looked back. Octavia stood there without moving, her face was mixed between determination and fear. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then she ran and began her climb. The Bearer smiled at this and continued up the tower. She propelled herself up as the grips became fewer and far between. She dared not look down now. The wind increased as they went higher. There was nothing that equaled them in height except the other massive towers.
Twilight jumped to the side to another grip. She was about halfway up. She was now starting to regret choosing this tower. The girl could have fallen and already be dead. She looked down. To her surprise, Octavia was still climbing. The girl strained with every new reach and pull. However, she was still making progress.
"She has heart."
"Yes she does."
This urged Twilight to go faster. She jumped up and again and again. The Bearer reached a window in the wall. She paused and looked through. There was nothing except the flight of stairs that wound up the tower on the inside. She chuckled at herself using the hard way up the tower. They both were making progress. The balcony was in sight.
After some time, Twilight pulled herself over the railing of the balcony. She leaned on the wall with a relieved sigh. She could not see Octavia below, but that was due to the balcony jutting outward, creating a ledge. So, the Bearer waited patiently for the girl to reach her.
"You know, I won't do this to other recruits." Twilight said.
"Well, Octavia is your first recruit. You have to experiment."
"Yeah. I'm lucky she is determined enough."
"I see a bright future with her."
"I do too. You think she'll be a Den Master someday?"
"Think? I know so."
"Who shall train her?"
"We will."
The girl reached her hand on the railing. Twilight took notice and grabbed her arm, pulling her the rest of the way up. Octavia panted in fatigue. Twilight inspected the girl. Her clothes were torn and uneven. Octavia's bow-tie had fallen off and was gone. Bruises and cuts were scattered on her thin and graceful body. Octavia looked up at the Bearer expectantly.
"How did I do, Bearer?" She asked between pants.
"You took the longest of anyone." Twilight responded in a joking manner.
Octavia's face became solemn and her eyes fell. It seemed that she took the joke seriously. Twilight opened her mouth to tell her, but decided not to. Instead, she placed a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"That was very brave of you, Octavia. How about we rest?"
"Thank you, Bearer." The girl sat down on the stone floor.
Twilight sat down as well. It was just the three of them. Octavia looked at her dirty hands. The Bearer gazed at the sky. Constellations filled the perpetual darkness that roamed over the world. She then looked back at the girl.
"Do you know the stars?" Twilight asked.
Octavia glanced at her. "Stars? No. I do not know much besides music. I can't even read or write."
"You can't read?" The Bearer repeated sadly.
"No. Musicians only need to read notes and know how to move their fingers. Nothing else."
"Do you want to learn?"
"Desperately. Always wished to read and write since I was little."
"I can teach you."
Her eyes brightened at this. "Really?"
"I'm...or was a scholar. Reading and writing all my life. I'll have you reading classics from Starswirl the Bearded and Clover the Clever."
Octavia giggled in excitement and hugged the Bearer tightly. Twilight hesitated before returning the hug. The girl then let go and sat next to the Bearer, smiling all the while. Twilight chuckled and pointed to the sky.
"Since it is a lovely night and we have the best view. I'll show you the five most well-known constellations."
Octavia gazed upward. "Alright."
"You see that one? Those seven stars make up the Alicorn. The Alicorn was the original symbol of Equestria when it was forming. Legend says that Clover the Clever used it to guide Princess Platinum southeastward from the Frozen Lands. Those five stars make up the Draconequus, a wild creature of myth that created Chaos. Those six stars are the Three Sirens. They were creatures that haunted the Equestrian shores. That's the Pegasus. The mighty symbol of Cloudsdale. Commander Hurricane's warriors had pegasi on their shields. That last one way over there is the Six Lights of Harmony. The stars form a perfect pentagon with one in the middle. This was named after Starswirl the Bearded's insignia of Harmony."
The girl did not respond, but instead, simply gazed off into space. Twilight rubbed her chin as she stared at Octavia. She grunted and got up. After stretching some she looked at the girl.
"We better head back. You have a new bed at the Den."
Octavia stood up and reached for the door that opened to the stairs. Twilight caught her hand. The girl looked up at the Bearer who shook her head.
"Assassins do not take stairs."
"Then how are we getting down?"
"I'll show you."
Twilight closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She reopened them to see the dark city fade into a deep blue. Octavia had a bright yellow aura around her. Twilight stood on top of the railing, looking below. Her eyes caught a deep haystack at the very bottom. The hay told her tales of safety as it glowed in gold hundreds of meters below. The Bearer turned to the girl.
"Now, you must watch me closely. Know where my feet are and everything. When you are ready, follow."
"Bearer?"
Twilight jumped off the rail with her arms stretched out wide. The air rushed past her as she fell. The bottom steadily approached her. She flipped herself over to land on her back. Soon enough, she landed in the hay. Some of the dried straw fell into her mouth, causing her gag as she scrambled out of the stack. She calmly brushed herself off. She noticed a man watching her. He stared at her while holding a large jug. He looked at the jug and then tossed it aside with a grumble. He walked away while still looking the Bearer. Twilight shrugged and looked up at the tower. Her vision was back to normal and she couldn't see Octavia up there.
"Oh, she can't cop out now!"
"Wait. She'll come."
Suddenly, a big form fell from the balcony. Twilight watched with a hand ready to catch her if need be. However, it was unnecessary as the girl landed in the haystack. Twilight walked over to the hay. Angry grunts were emitting from within.
"That bloody girl! What I do for her damn soul!"
"Octavia?" Twilight asked in a singsong voice.
The girl fell out of the hay. Her hair was filled with straw and entirely messed up. She then crawled on the cobblestone until finally rolling over on her back dramatically.
"Vinyl never told me about this...."
Twilight tried to hold in her laughter. Octavia noticed this and scowled.
"Oh! You think it's funny?"
"Well....Yeah."
"Hmph."
"Get up. Your training shall start tomorrow."
As Octavia rose, the memory began to fade away. Their faces started to blur and the city collapse into nothing. All that was left was a blue room. The Bearer stood still as if paralyzed. Finally Twilight faded completely. The Animus was taking its user back to the present.
Yearling opened her eyes. She grunted as her eyes adjusted to the light after being closed for so long. Caballeron stood over her with a clipboard. He was writing something down. He looked past his board at her.
"You alright?" He lifted a brow.
"Yeah. Heh. Are Octavia's writings accurate now?"
"Hmph. Well.....One time doesn...."
"I knew you'd agree!"
Yearling got up and stretched. Her back ached as usual after a trip into the Animus. Ahuizotl Industries needed to improve how comfortable the device was. The sun was shining through her window. The time had greatly changed. She walked over to her table. Yearling instinctively took a sip from her coffee but spat it out as it was cold and tasteless from being out for too long. Caballeron chuckled at this before leaving. Yearling scowled and then picked up Octavia's writings that were in sealed plastic to preserve them.
"Well, I guess it's back to you Den Master."
~