//------------------------------//
// Chapter 19 Crumbling Ruins and Bright Futures 
// Story: Wayward Hearts 
// by SilverTopHat 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 19
Crumbling Ruins and Bright Futures

“Farewell and may the stars be in your favor.” Zecora bid us farewell after placing the rest of the boar cooked in several ways into my pack. 
“May your hardships be few.” I said with a nod of my head and with that I scooped Glitterlamp into my arms and shot straight up above the treeline but below the cloud line. The sun cleared the horizon and bathed the land in warm light.
“How do you propose to fly while carrying me?” Glitterlamp asked irritated. “I can fly.” 
“I want to try something a little bigger this time.” I said grinning from ear to ear within my helmet. I closed my eyes and pictured a large disc large enough to place a car on the top.
“Whoa, what do mean by bigger?” Glitterlamp asked instantly worried about my health as the disc began to form underneath us. The disc was decorated just like my armor; white with gold trim while black filigree moving across it.
“Wait, wasn't my armor black with the filigree white?” I thought confused as I looked at my armor. 
“What? I've seen it change color on you. While you were sleeping it looked like a rainbow captured in your armor.” Glitterlamp said then shrugged. “I thought you were doing that on purpose.”
“I'm like a living mood ring.” I laughed at myself and the disc was complete. The disc wasn't just a smooth plate but a machine constructed circle with bands of metal holding it together with iron bolts. I put Glitterlamp down and she marveled at the alien design as I tried to get a bearing of where Neighbraska is.
'See those towers? Keep walking on the road east of town until you can see all of the castle' Sapphire's advice echoed in my head.
“Right, just reverse it.” I mumbled and found the road below that I had once took back to Neighbraska. “There it is. Ready?” I asked nudging Glitterlamp.
“Yeah, lets go!” Glitterlamp said excited. I willed the disc to start to move forward but not too fast. There is plenty of room to walk around comfortably and I had no idea what came over me to peek over the side but the distance between me and the solid ground made me reconsider this mode of travel. Falling to my death wasn't very appealing at all and I was very glad of the overly wide platform. The disc was very responsive to my very thought and soon I surfing the clouds performing stunts that only gravity defiant skateboarders would dare do. Despite Glitterlamp gripping me for dear life while encouraging me for even crazier stunts.

Being a creature with wings and having been grounded for a long time I guess the hunger for the skies got the best of her. Darn this empathic link! Since she wanted to feel the rush of wind so did I! I must have lost my mind for this next stunt but I jumped on one side of the disc tipping it off balance, grabbing the side and hurling it into the distance with gleeful abandon, I don't remember being above the cloud line but I've always wanted to go skydiving. The wind roaring in my ears was nothing like I've ever experienced before! The ground was so far away that even though I figured I was falling fast, everything moved in slow motion.
Soon the disc was firmly beneath my feet and I grabbed Glitterlamp to slow down our descent before we reached the point of no return; OK I don't know if there is one in skydiving but there's one in everything else! And being a red stain didn't sound like all that fun. Coasting along with the disc it was so weird to look down at the world as if it was a map. Indeed it was really weird to fly above where I walked not so long ago.
“I guess this view isn't new to you is it?” I asked Glitterlamp as she sat on the edge while I adamantly stood like some sort of overlord in the middle.
“It's nice to be up here again. Oh!” Glitterlamp gasped as she shifted into her Springdew disguise as a few pegsai stopped to stare at the odd flying disc.
“What do you think it is?” A thin winged pegasus asked another stouter looking pegasus.
“No clue.”
“Girls, we gotta deal with that freak storm down in Appaloosa.” A no non-sense mare barked at the younger two and then flew to keep up with me to chew me out. “Do you got a flying license? Flying magical constructs are to be registered at Cloudsdale.”
“No, I don't have a license.” I said which didn't please her at all.
“Land this thing now!” She barked at me. I barely turned my head her way and could see that she was straining to just keep up with me.
“I'm on a tight time-line and you're interfering with my date.” I snapped back and that stunned her long enough to disappear through the cloud line. Of course the clouds of this world were made of more firmer stuff and the disc blasted holes through the clouds from an unseen projector. The mare gave up the chase since I could go as fast as I want without repercussion, I really hoped so at least.
“So we're on a date, huh.” Glitterlamp said mildly and she felt fuzzy, pleasantly so.
“I think that's what were doing now, the first stop was business. The rest can be for fun.” I said as if spotted Neighbraska and could see a lone spire from Courage's Folly poking out of the tree top. “Before I forget; remind me to stop at that ruined castle to pick up that wood.”
“Oh, I won't have a problem with that.” Glitterlamp vowed with a mischievous grin. 
“Alright below us lies Courage's Folly, come away from the side please.” I asked as I announced our stop. The disc began to lower itself but the tree line was simply too thick to just land in. The sides of the disc opened to allow blades to extend that began to spin around rapidly shredding the growth underneath. The sound of ravished plant and tree grated on my ears but it lasted for only a minute. 

The Folly looked exactly how I left it; crumbly, spiky, smells like wet rotting plant life, dull crystals, insanity gems that I'm immune to, oh right!
“Stick close to me and don't wander, they got some fear inducing gem that will leave you powerless to defend yourself.” I warned as we passed under the archway. The room was still stained with the gore that I had wrecked upon this place. Blood didn't flake or crack under my feet but seemed to become the new color of the gem floor as a permanent reminder of what happened here. The Fear-Beast's breath and snapping jaws flashed before me as I walked around and safely guided Glitterlamp around the glowing blood red Fear-Gems. Memories hung heavy in the air as I revisited each step of that fight and I actually smiled at it all.
Willing my helmet to come off was trickier than I thought but as I fumbled with the last lock which required both a memory and action, I took a deep breath of the dank fort. Birds were singing distantly and I chuckled as I put my hand on the hole where I had been dragged into while I was unconscious. 
“Am I going to regret asking what's all over the floor?” Glitterlamp asked back in her real form and gazing at everything trying to drink it all in.
“Maybe,” I responded cryptically. She pulled in a deep breath and made up her mind while kicking the broken spear I had once used. “It's blood. A little bit of mine, little of theirs. These bottles were the healing potions that Trixie used to save my life.” I said kicking an empty bottle. “That stick was a spear that I made that I ended a few lives with, had a knife but I'm not sure where it went.” I continued searching the mess for the missing knife. 
“All of it?!” Glitterlamp squeaked bouncing off the floor and hovering. 
“Pretty much.” I answered wandering around trying to remember where that journal was, giving up on looking for the knife.
“I know we left that journal here in this room, ah! There on the pedestal!” I thought getting frustrated as the memory wasn't surfacing as fast I would have liked. On the pedestal that chained Fearbane rested the book laying still and solemn with dust covering it. Glitterlamp buzzed over and blew the dust off and picked it up like a valuable treasure.
“Another piece to the puzzle!” She said excitedly then frowned after flipping through a few pages. “It's written in the royal secret code, of course.” She sighed and stuffed it into my backpack. “I can read it. All changelings involved in the infiltration of Canterlot had to. I can crack it but let's explore the rest of this place. We still have like the whole day!” Birds flew in and out chirping their songs above our heads.
“Should be safe.” I said getting more familiar with the room. The only doors that still clung to their hinges were made of this odd dull crystal as the wooden ones had fallen to pieces or smashed apart. We found what I could only guess as an armory of sorts; tarnished armor hung on decaying racks, weapons of a basic nature like thick iron horse shoes, decorative cloaks styled in black and red. 
“Think there's anything dangerous left here?” Glitterlamp asked looking around each corner tentatively. 
“We should be safe, birds don't like hanging around predators.” I said shifting through small boxes and smiled broadly at what I found. The box was full of golden Bits, jewelry, signet stamps of what I assumed to be nobility. When I showed Glitterlamp she was as excited as I was. “This is what I was looking for back in that castle. I wonder what else is in here?” 
“I know a mare back in Canterlot that would have given her horn for this box! I mean, look at all this!” Glitterlamp pulled a broach from the box of shiny things. It was a tarnished silver but the many faced sapphire seemed to have held the face of an elegant lady within. I let Glitterlamp dig through the box to figure out exactly how wealthy this catch made us as I rifled through various drawers. We moved through the fort systematically finding treasures ranging from the gold to, what Glitterlamp told me anyway, lost tapestries, silverware and cups. The fort's appearance didn't change all that much moving from room to room, dull crystal with the occasional Fear-Gem in the wall. With each gold Bit recovered and with every ancient piece of treasure I felt the same way when I found a secret cache of loot in my video games; a wide soul eating smile with profound joy.

Sitting atop the loot pile I ate some of the boar Zecora gave me. I attempted to count the entire catch while Glitterlamp read the encoded book next to me. There was no worth in ancient weaponry of this age but I kept a few as decorative pieces for the house. We would certainly have needed a cart or another mode of transport if I didn't have my power. 
“Hey, can I ask you a question?” I asked holding a small tapestry showing a bearded unicorn posed heroically with a staff with golden thread proclaiming 'Starswirl the Bearded' at the bottom.
“Yeah, Dreamer?” Glitterlamp asked not taking her eyes off the page.
“There's something off with Starswirl. I think I know what it is but I wanted to bounce it off you. Do unicorns use staffs?” I showed her the picture and she just sorta frowned at it.
“That's how he is always shown. I don't recall unicorns using staffs at least.” Glitterlamp only paused for a moment to think about it.
“Wizards in my world use staffs, kinda like how a unicorn uses their horn. And they are always known for having long white beards.” I said letting the ideas flow. “When did he die?”
“He didn't die Dreamer,” Glitterlamp looked up annoyed. “He disappeared after his last spell did something to him a thousand years ago.” We both looked at each other with disdain of the 'thousand years ago' line.
“What was the spell rumored to do?” I pushed trying to figure it out.
“Change his fate, I guess he didn't like his cutie mark or lost a bet, I dunno.” Glitterlamp then looked at me. “You think Starswirl was human?”
“Well, yes. I do. I've been sifting through all these tapestries and only found Starswirl to have the only beard. He wields a staff which is the iconic symbol of human wizards.” I counted my fingers to emphasize the point. “And why would a human willingly change their fate, I could see why you would want too, but Starswirl didn't have anything to fear.” 
“THAT'S IT!” I jumped as Glitterlamp shrieked, springing to her feet and begun to buzz in the air. “Draiden the Awoken didn't like the fact he had power or was human! Humans disappeared and he wanted to escape his fate by turning himself into a pony called Starswirl! But he STILL disappeared or worse; banished, from what you told me that's why Luna turned into Nightmare Moon! Oh my gosh it's all fitting together except, except. Why did your kind disappear? I still don't have that one figured out.”
“I'm sure it was something horrible to banish an entire species.” I thought as I stretched over the pile of gold and treasure lazily chewing on boar strips. “Pretty rewarding morning all in all.” I said with a smile on my face.
“Yeah, best morning ever.” Glitterlamp agreed fitting a fancy crown on her head. Seeing her trying on the treasure reminded me of the Alicorn Amulet in my pocket and tried it on. Without the malevolent presence inside the necklace it dangled to the center of my chest uselessly, it wasn't even all that comfortable to begin with.
“Here try this on.” I said taking it off and handing it to her. “Doesn't really fit me anyway.”
“You sure it's safe? It might be attuned for you only.” Glitterlamp stated skeptically.
“Would it make a difference if I gave you permission?” I asked looking at the necklace.
“Well, OK. But if I start screaming, get it off.” The changeling's eyes may be blank but the slightest movement of brows and eye-lids spoke volumes of excitement, hesitation and worry. The Amulet was levitated out of my hands and secured around her neck while I sat tense ready to act. Several moments passed as we both waited for something, anything to happen. The gem glowed a mellow amber and did nothing else. “I guess it did matter. Neat!” Glitterlamp smiled happily caressing the Amulet. “My first gift from you.” Even though she whispered it I still caught it and it set my face aflame.

Despite the gloom and decaying state of Courage's Folly it didn't even seem to touch us as we ran through the halls playing a game she made up. The goal was essentially 'keep away' but I had to keep away from Glitterlamp as I smashed all the Fear-Gems I could find, if she caught me I had to kiss her. The gems were buried behind clear crystal but my Void-Gauntlet didn't seem to care as it destroyed them with ease, cracking entire walls of crystal. Glitterlamp was an ever-patient hunter content with playing with my head, giggling in the halls and made good use of her illusion magics. The Amulet made her illusions so vivid that I almost got caught a few times before she disappeared down a hallway. Instead of the usual 'I have to run since I can feel her breathing down my neck' but more of a 'she's around every corner, she is every statue, in every shadow, right above me' as much as it thrilled me it reminded me that she is a predator, of a sort.
Glitterlamp lunged out at me from behind a vase and I shifted through the floor and re-surfaced some distance behind her. Of course I think the sound of her breathing in my ear is another part of her mental game.
“Hey! No phasing!” Glitterlamp cried out happily that I made the catch difficult. Another gem bit the dust as my fingers lengthened into foot long finger-daggers and raked the wall then changing back at a mere thought.
“But at least I'm not flying!” I called over my shoulder. For hours we played this intensive game of hide and seek with each waking moment I felt that she was right there waiting to pounce. I paced as quietly as I could down the halls in search of the gems but could only find all the ones that I had already destroyed. The air was still and every footstep echoed horribly almost begging Glitterlamp 'he's right here! Here!' traitorous feet! My nerves were alight with tension but not a threatening one. A giggle sounded behind me but when I turned around she wasn't there.
“And you told me you didn't like Halloween! You're doing a good job at thrilling me!” I called to the open room and only more giggles answered me. “Anyway, I think I found all the gems. Game over right?” I asked breathing heavily. A tapping came from the top of my helmet and Glitterlamp whispered in my ear.
“I was able to cling to your back the entire time.” She purred pleasingly. “This Amulet really is as strong as the stories say.” She said taking to the air and smiled widely with triumph at me. “Oh, I'll choose when you have to pay me back, K?”
“Sounds like I have little choice in the matter.” I said laughing at the whole thing. “At least we can wander around without being locked by those traps.” Glitterlamp smiled her triumphant smile at me and nodded. 

Glitterlamp had me collect the cherry wood from the castle and add it to the pile to save a trip. I had the disc drop, basically, a box on a chain to collect it. Glitterlamp used her new found magic to levitate me around like a rag doll and just loved using her new powers, making me kinda regret the gift but not for very long. There's no way I could actually be mad at her.
“Is there anyway I could get my hands on some anti-magic trinkets?” I asked trying to resist Glitterlamp's levitating spell.
“No, but there are magic-resistant talismans.” Glitterlamp said setting me down. “I thought I saw some in our loot pile.”
“You'll have to show me them.” I stated as I parked the disc at Courage's Folly.
“Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you.” Glitterlamp apologized. “I just thought it was cute.”
“It was.” I said patting her head. “I would hate to be toyed like that by anyone else.”
“They are supposed to help young unicorns with lots of magic to control their magic outbursts.” Glitterlamp remarked. “I doubt they were ever meant to be used as armor.”
“Perhaps.” I agreed as we entered the room we stashed the loot. The evening air made me sad since this day was closer to its end and I couldn't have wished for a better friend to spend it with. Glitterlamp dug through the pile and pulled up small slips of fabric with different numbers on them.
“Here they are. How much of a resistance did you want?” Glitterlamp asked holding the strips on one hoof.
“As many as it takes.” I answered taking them all and putting them in my pockets. “Okay, try to levitate me now.” I could see the aura gather around me but a barrier kept stopping it dead in its tracks. I began to smile at the immediate protection it gave until the Alicorn Amulet shined once and I was nearly smashed into the ceiling.
“Sorry!” Glitterlamp apologized and I fell slowly back down to the ground.
“Not enough I guess.” I said taking one out and looking at it. “It's fine, Glitter. I wanted to see if it worked as well as I hoped it would. Just need to find or make more.” I finished irritated stuffing the charms back into my pocket. I didn't feel so great but I was sure I wasn't sick. Not being able to fall prey to illusions was one of my few assurances that I had and now it was gone. Not that I feared that Glitterlamp would abuse me or anything but Celestia is looking for me and I need armor. 
“Hey! I know what we could do next!” Glitterlamp bounced in front of me getting my attention. “We could play truth or dare!” She suggested feeling my deteriorating mood.
“Let's not.” I said digging through boxes for more magic resistance talismans.
“What's bothering you?” Glitterlamp said sitting next to me. There really was no point on hiding things.
“Luna told me that Celestia is looking for me for some reason.” I said running my hand through my hair and found that it now reached past my shoulders and almost to mid-back. The armor had done such a nice job keeping it hidden that I didn't even notice it. Grabbing the length of pulling it out and taking Fearbane to cut it.
“What are you doing?!” Glitterlamp freaked out suddenly and bit my wrist before I could cut my hair.
“OW! Cutting my hair what does it look like!” I snapped as pain flared in my wrist. “Wait, how are you touching me through my armor!” It was true, her hooves and teeth passed through the armor as if it didn't exist. I felt a pressure from the changeling's mind and my armor fell off like sand. Glitterlamp broke the skin and Fearbane dropped from my hand and clattered away from me.
“Cut your hair?” Glitterlamp said as if it was crazy when she spat my wrist out. “Why would you want to? I think you look better with it, as long as you brush it.” She added emphasis on the brushing by taking a comb out and wagging it in the air.
“How did you do that? Just dismiss my armor like that?” I said staring at Glitterlamp and rubbing my wrist. Her eyes lit up and was about to say something but her eyes fell to my wrist and she began to apologize.
“Sorry I didn't mean to bite you that hard, I thought you were going to cut your neck!” She spoke rapidly and I couldn't understand her babble and I looked at my aching wrist. Glitterlamp's fangs punched two holes into my wrist causing a red river to flow forth.
“It's not that deep,” it was that deep, “ not as bad as that blood stain at the front door.” I joked tapping on the bite mark on my left arm. Glitterlamp lowered her horn and under the green glow the holes sealed up. Glitterlamp looked more shocked than I did.
“I just did that! But I don't know any healing magic! Not really!” She gushed and I put my finger to her lips in efforts to silence her.
“I don't know how, but how did you pass through my armor?” I asked again.
“I dunno, you just feel open to me. Look I'm sorry that I bit you, are we still friends?” The tone was hurt and terrified of what she just done.
“Of course we're still friends! Silly,” I said immediately and laughed at her using my sleeve to wipe away the blood on her fangs. “Why can't I cut my hair?” I asked now paying attention to her.
“Because I like stallions with long hair. I know, it's weird but I do.” Glitterlamp explained herself but fully expecting me to yell at her or something. “And I thought you were going to cut yourself. Listen forget about Celestia, she's so far away. Just forget about her.” Glitterlamp said quietly.

The forest was silent save for Glitterlamp's breathing and the soft whisper of the breeze through the trees. The stars filled the skies and boggled my mind since I have never seen stars as bright or as many in my whole life. Glitterlamp brushed my long hair getting the tangles out and we sat there being quiet. The talismans sat in a box with the rest of the treasure ready to lift and leave.
“I've been growing your hair out.” Glitterlamp suddenly confessed. “I've never seen anypony with such an earthy color. Each time you were asleep I'd use my magic to make it grow faster.”
“It's fine, I'll keep the hair. I'll need to tie it up so it won't get in my face.” I responded evenly. The roof of a crumbling tower may not have been the number one choices in the world for a romantic date but there was something about the moon casting it's light through the broken ruins that made the air come alive with magic. After she was done combing my hair she held me in her hooves and rocked me back and forth.
“Hey, Dreamer?” Glitterlamp asked me tipping me back so we were both starring up to the moon. 
“Hm?”
“Would you still kiss me? I mean, not on the cheek or head but on the lips?” The world became disturbingly quiet when she asked this and my mind grinded to a halt.
“Our physiology is vastly different. Being able to kiss may be impossible or flat out un-enjoyable.” A logical voice drummed out mechanically. “I mean I don't know how to kiss, I never kissed anyone before really.”
“Won't find out if we don't even try.” Glitterlamp whispered seductively. My voice failed me, I couldn't move as the moonlight shined off of Glitterlamp's metallic green hair and her eyes glowing with a soft inner energy. She leaned over me so when I looked at the sky, I looked at her. Well, long story short? It took a while but we eventually figured out how to make it enjoyable.