//------------------------------// // [Archive] Chapter III - Speedy Word // Story: Discord! Under His Rule // by Takarashi282 //------------------------------// ▒Celestia▒ Chapter III Speedy Word The memory of the beast dashed her memory as she stamped out of the pub, the cacophony of noise muting in her rage. She still couldn’t believe it. She didn’t want to believe it. She was homeless. Entrusted to the power of a princess, as stressful as it was, and it was taken from her. Not even her old teacher could help with the situation.         Every time she thought of her home, she saw the aberration that was the creature. A horse hoof, an eagle’s talon, a lion’s paw… All of it disgusted her. But behind all of that, deep in the back of her mind lay a cold fear, one that she wanted to burn away with all her hatred. The draconequus’ sheer power. The way he manipulated the villagers… she couldn’t allow that to happen again. The scouts… she thought. If they were to take me back… She couldn’t imagine the hell she’d be in, being molded into whatever form the abomination wanted, the searing pain but the ice cold sting of transformation she never wanted to experience. Regardless, she knew she had to return. She needed to reclaim her kingdom, one that had seemed to function so well under her control, but had been laid to waste. Although, as much as she wanted to dwell on her fiery rage, her mind still wandered now and again, taking in her surroundings. The stonework buildings at either side waxed closer and closer together forming a fortress around her, until alleys between them were nearly snuffed out. To her left, a grand building began, looking like a prison, though the sign ‘City Hall’ proved otherwise. The windows were bland and square, where most buildings didn’t have a glass pane like this one did. There was a triangular embrasure surrounding a steeple seemed to be half the length of the building. At sight, Celestia knew this was possibly the oldest building there. Society from the east continents did tend to build forts in territory they wanted to build in, and its build wasn’t unlike them. But the sight did make Celestia cringe. “This is the place,” she managed, nearly coughing out the words. She looked at Luna, and she was almost surprised to find her moping a little, staring at the ground. She nearly bit at her, but then took a deep breath. “Forget about the colt, Luna,” she said, calmly. “He’ll be fine. The ponies of Canterlot will do him good.” Luna didn’t lift her eyes from the ground when she nodded. “Yeah, I know.” She gestured to the door. “What are you waiting for, then?” Celestia waved a hoof in front of her to the door. “You,” she said. She knew that Luna just didn’t have the willpower to disobey her, but Celestia had to make sure. She had nearly lost her one time, and one time was quite enough for her. After Luna nodded and proceeded, Celestia followed. A grand lobby stretched out before them, balmy air surrounding them. Polished wood floors red as blood ran to either end of the large room. There, to the left, a great fireplace stood, the chimney base caked with soot in desperate need of cleaning behind a low burning fire. On either side, stairs ascended to a second floor three times Celestia’s height, with three closed doors standing in shadow. To the right, there was a stage with long steps ascending to a throne of twisted and intertwined oak. Sitting in it was a mare with a tan coat surrounded by two guards standing at either side, facing toward her. They spoke in low whispers until the Stewardess caught the princess’ eyes. “Who is this?” Her voice was low and smooth, almost as if she’d forgotten to raise her voice. The guards beside her, both mares as well, followed her gaze, and spread apart to her right and left. Celestia curtseyed. “I am Princess Celestia, with my sister, Princess Luna.” The Stewardess regarded both of them, her gaze turning sour. “Alicorns, I see…” she studied. “The second generation of the Magi, I assume?” Celestia nodded. “Indeed.” The Stewardess straightened up, pushing the cushion beneath her. “Then what business do goddesses have with mortals?” “We need supplies. Food, warm clothing, things of that sort.” The Stewardess’ eyes narrowed. “Oh? What is the reason, pray tell, you ask?” There was no humbling. There were no honorifics. Just a pony who believed she had as much or more power than them. Celestia ground her teeth. She knew this wasn’t going to turn out well. Regardless, she conjured as much patience she could muster. She needed to try. “Our home was taken from us. By a draconequus named Discord.” The Stewardess’ eyes widened for a split second, and then narrowed again, leaning forward in her seat. “Is that so? Why don’t you settle near? Why must you need our supplies?” “We are headed northward,” Celestia responded. “Toward the Frozen North. There is word passing round that there are still survivors of Sombra’s invasion and the disappearance of the Crystal Empire, all of them wandering soldiers. We need them to drive the beast out.” “I see,” the Stewardess said. “But I am still confused why you’re in need of our supplies. You are goddesses, correct?” “We do not have the luxury of our mothers,” Celestia explained, for what seemed like the thousandth time. “We are closer to mortal than they ever were.” The Stewardess stood. “Does it matter? We’re in a desperate situation here, one that you put us in, Princesses over the Everfree. We’ve barely enough supplies to keep the village running strong. You’ve seen the houses near the gates, their poor quality. Proof itself that trade routes haven’t been established yet between us and Vanhoover. We could make good use of the Everfree, to harvest wood and fruit there. Yet you seclude yourself from us in that endeavor, leaving this village in poverty!” Celestia scowled. “Do you not think that we’re in a desperate situation ourselves? You cannot bring this issue up now.” “Again, what have we for you to take? And even if we did have supplies, how could you deserve it?” Celestia opened her mouth to speak, yet couldn’t find the words to speak. As much as she hated it, the Stewardess was right. They did do all those things. “You Magi are all the same,” the Stewardess continued. “Going about, relying on your creations like that old coot Star Swirl. Or is that his true form? He must be as young and strong as you, maybe tenfold. And yet he still lives here, sucking on alcohol like a babe from a teat.” Celestia snapped. She charged at the Stewardess, only to be stopped by her sister. Celestia couldn’t stand ponies like her. If only she were to cross them less often. She stared the Stewardess down with a death-like glare when Luna spoke. “We are sorry for our ignorance to your situation,” she said. “We were tasked to contain the Everfree, not to keep it for ourselves. We couldn’t risk any one of your company being injured; ‘tis a wild place. Could you at least tell us where we can get supplies for our journey?” “I could, but that would be unwise. Guards!” On her word, a flood of bronze poured out from the rooms to their right, all taking formation around the two princesses. They carried lances and swords and daggers, all lifted in a faint rainbow of auras. There were eighteen at best, packed in tight, weapons pointed and at the ready. Celestia lit her horn, taking a low stance to the ground. Luna bumped her. “There are too many of them to take on,” she said. “They will attack us if we do anything to them.” The clouds of anger in Celestia’s mind dispersed, giving way to despair. Luna is right, she realized. This is no fight I can win. Reluctantly, she stood. “That beast you spoke of,” the Stewardess said, “I’ve heard him. I’ve seen what he could do. He has a mighty price on your head, though he wants you alive.” Celestia growled. “You’ve made a deal with the enemy?” “If I didn’t, he promised he’d raze this village to ruin!” the Stewardess bit. “I cannot allow that to happen. Do you know how many would be killed or be manipulated?” “You don’t know, yourself.” The sharp edges of the lances were close enough to her that her breath fogged up the steel tip. “It’s not a risk I’m willing to take in any case.” The Stewardess waved a hoof away from her. “Take them back to the Everfree. Discord will have his prize.” Slam! The sound came about face to Celestia. Squinting between the bronze-clad guards, she saw a white coat with a thick, blue mane. His silvery eyes were widened with terror, and his mouth hung open, gasping for air. Only when he recognized the situation did his jaw drop to the floor, astonishment glaring in his eyes. It was Angel Down. A surge of relief overtook Celestia, only to realize that he couldn’t possibly help with the situation. Only slow down fate. As per usual. “Who are you?” demanded the Stewardess, once again on her hooves, glaring at the newcomer. Angel sunk into the ground. “Uh… a message! Yes, a message for you sir—er, madam.” He was flinching just the way he did when he awoke to the sight of Celestia. His attempt at lying is failing him, she knew before the Stewardess raised a threatening eyebrow. “Who are you?” she demanded once again, flustered, with her head cocked. The door burst open once again behind him, a troop of guards behind it. “Your highness, we’ve sighted… another accomplice… of Princess…” The front one’s voice faltered as he stared Angel down, his eyes narrowed. “You really are an idiot…” he remarked. “We don’t need the Princess’ companion,” she said, confusion still coloring her words. “Lock him in the dungeon for all I care.” Her eyes turned to Celestia, and she took a deep breath. “Just escort the Princesses to the Everfree Forest. Bind their horns.” A guard to her right produced from his armour two steel rings, each with a stout, thin, and slightly curved blade at the base. The base and blade of the rings were both stained with a smooth red. Celestia backed away as much as she could, the lances poking at her side as the guard continued. Suddenly, from the corner of her eye an explosion of blue plumed. The guard with the rings stopped, sprinting toward it only to be blasted back into the circle and through a lance. He squirmed, then fell limp. Celestia looked to the source, and her jaw plummeted. Angel Down’s horn glew with a deep blue aura, blue orbs of flame whirring around him. The units around the Princesses poured toward Angel Down, their weapons at the ready. With a flick of Angel’s neck, the orb flew to the center of the formation. It burst, sending the guards into the walls. Angel leaped back and turned to face the guards outside the doorway. Another orb flew, but narrowly missed a guard’s head. Without hesitation, the troop fell back and fled. In her stupor and awe, Celestia found herself flying. She slammed into the opposite wall, knocking all the air out of her when she fell. The Stewardess trotted down the steps. A red aura appeared around her horn when a dark aura sprung from her side. The Stewardess flew, rolling on the tile and eventually skidding to a stop. Black mist traced from Luna’s horn, the whites of her eyes turned green. A dark aura swept over her horn again. “Leave her!” Celestia exclaimed, standing up. In a split second, the dark aura around Luna’s horn disappeared, her gaze fixated to the floor. Celestia was at a stupor of thought once again. “Luna…” She shook her head. “This village needs its ruler. Even if it’s one with broken ribs.” Luna glanced up at her sister for one moment, then pulled away as if it was poison. She nodded slowly. Celestia looked toward the doorway. Angel Down sulked, panting, sweat dripping from his brow. “And you…” Celestia was too much in shock to be angry. “What are you doing here?” Angel Down attempted straightening up, his hoof hovering from the floor, but all in vain. “I was… chased by the g… guard. I ended up here… finding a place to hide.” Celestia nodded. “Luna,” she called. “We must go. We have a long journey ahead of us.” Seeing Luna’s display still baffled her. Regardless, it still hurt her to see her so down. She was relatively relieved when Luna gave a nod, and continued to the door. “I’m not being left behind,” Angel Down said, fixed in front of the doorway. Celestia scowled, glaring at him. “You will be. Our journey won’t include the likes of you in it.” Angel Down sighed. “I gave Master Star Swirl my word. I promised that I would be there when things went bad.” “And you did admirably.” The forced words flew from her lips. “We are not in need of any more of your assistance.” “Sister,” Luna intervened, her voice solemn. “The boy speaks the truth. Did you not notice the reverence he gave us on our way down here? He wouldn’t lie about such things, even about a master over us. He will come with us.” “Luna—” “You saw the magic he can perform!” Luna interrupted. “That is a statement of his power. This will help us on our journey, in ways that you can’t imagine.” Celestia remained silent. It was unlike Star Swirl to not concern himself over any of her and her sister’s acts. The power that Luna claimed she felt, she thought. Could Star Swirl have felt that too? “I will not leave this village until he is part of our company,” Luna said. “Then we shall leave,” Celestia decided. She dreaded the idea of Angel Down accompanying them, but she couldn’t afford to leave her sister behind. “If it’s Star Swirl’s word, so be it.” Celestia looked Angel straight in the eye. “However, I will not be held responsible for his acts. Understood?” Angel Down gave a swift nod. “Understood. Thank you, Princess.” Celestia ignored him as she walked past. The sun had set and the moon raised while they were preoccupied, twinkling stars piercing through the dark lavender sheets of the late twilight. “Then we shall commence our journey to the Frozen North,” she finally said. “We have ourselves an army to ally.”