//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Descend // Story: Scattered Memories // by Alphanova //------------------------------//                                                 Descend “Ugh...” Lux slowly awoke to the crackling of the wood in the fireplace and the bubbling of the cauldron.  He struggled against the overwhelming exhaustion in his body that desired him to shut his eyes once more.  Light flickered from the flames of the fire casting shadows on the various masks that decorated the ceiling and the walls.  The masks seemed to eerily stare down at him as is awakened by the fire and his presence.  Lux could feel a shadow loom over him he turned his head meeting the cyan eyes of a zebra. “Welcome...” “Lux, you’re awake!” The three fillies ran to the bedside.  The young man slowly sat up from the bed holding his side, his torso bare and covered in bandages.  The memories of the battle were still hazy in his mind.  Applebloom tilted her head in curiosity. “You don’t have any fur! How do you stay warm?” “Huh?!” Lux stared at his chest immediately covering him self with the bed sheet his face turning red as cherry. “W-Where is the rest of my uniform?” The zebra placed herself between the girls and the young man, carrying his jacket on her foreleg.  “Girls, turn around!  Does your curiosity know no bound?” “Why are you so embarrassed, Lux?” smiled Sweetie Belle.  The girls turned around giggling as they closed their eyes. “...” Lux took his jacket and put it on once more.  Numerous tears were spread out through the uniform.  “Where are we?  Who are you?” “I am Zecora,” smiled the zebra. Her deep cyan eyes were full of wisdom beyond her years.  The gold rings around her neck and right leg glimmered in the light of the flames. “This is my home, here you are safe from the unknown,” The zebra grabbed a wooden bowl from the table and filled the bowl with the liquid of the cauldron. “Drink this brew and feel once again new,” Lux stared at the bowl in his hands, a sharp odor of herbs and garlic emanated from the murky green liquid in the bowl. He looked up at Zecora who only stared back at him with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.  Knowing he had no choice the young man took a deep breath bringing the bowl to his lips and took a large drink of the liquid.  Lux’s face scrunched as the green liquid ran down his throat, a horrid taste lingered in his mouth.   “Yes the taste is full of dread,” chuckled Zecora.  “It is still better than being dead,” “What happened?” Lux touched the soft bandage that covered the side his head.  “Those things showed up and then...” “IT WAS SO AWESOME!”  Scootaloo jumped up and down excitedly. “The way you cut down those shadows was so cool!”  Scootaloo stood on her hind legs swinging her forelegs like a sword.  “Then you blasted that last one away with magic!” “Then you passed out!” added Sweetie Belle. “Thats when Zecora found us, she carried you here,” “How’d you do that, Lux?” asked Applebloom. “You didn’t tell us you knew how to use magic,” “I didn’t know I could either,” Lux’s mind echoed with the words that spoke to him before the attack.  The image of the sapphire crystal glowing played in his mind.  “Where did that crystal come from?” “You mean the one you had in your hand?” questioned Sweetie Belle.  “We put it in your coat pocket when Zecora found us,” “May I see it?” asked Lux. “I’ll get it for you,” Sweetie Belle went into the coat that lay on the floor.  Only her shape was visible in the black as she moved about in the coat.  She finally emerged from the coat holding a sapphire crystal in her mouth.  The crystal began glow as she approached the young man.  The sudden glow startled the young filly causing her to drop the crystal. “That glow...” Lux picked the crystal off the ground.  A faint blue glow pulsated in his hand.  The crystal was warm to the touch.  “Crystal Heart...” “It's so pretty!” Sweetie Belle stared at the crystal entranced by it's glow.  “Rarity would go crazy over something like this!  Can I touch it, Lux?” “Sure you can,” Lux extended the crystal towards her.  Just as Sweetie Belle placed her hoof on the crystal it began to pulsate faster.  The bright glow diminished to its faint state as she withdrew her hoof away from the crystal.   ‘Whoa...do that again!” exclaimed Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle extended her hoof and placed it on the crystal once more.  Again the crystal brightly glowed with the touch of the boy and the unicorn. “Can I try?” Applebloom walked towards the two and placed her hoof on the crystal.  The strength of the glow increased.  Scootaloo followed and placed her hoof on the crystal as well.  The crystal no longer glowed but shined brightly. “Is it reacting to all of us?” asked Applebloom. “Lux, Could it be your friend’s light gave you the power to stand and fight?” said Zecora.  “ There is much I do not know but perhaps your power has yet to grow,” “This power...” Lux stared at the crystal remembering the voice that echoed in his mind. “The heart is the key...” “What does this all mean?” Lux wondered. “Lux!”  Applebloom’s ears perked up. “What about your memories?” “I almost forgot!” Lux’s heart began to beat quickly in his chest. “Zecora, Do you know how retrieve memories?” “Memories?” “Lux can’t remember anything about who he is,” added Sweetie Belle. “I see... to help reconnect your memories I would do so gladly,” Zecora’s smile quickly faded. “But it is something I am unable to do sadly,” “Oh...” the young man and the three fillies stared down at the floor defeated.  The answer was still far away. “Do not think that defeat is for sure,” said Zecora. “I can assure even in the darkest night there is still light.  You seek to fill the pages of your memory that are blank just as the girls seek the cutie mark on their flank.  It is up to you to reconnect the key and in turn find out who you may be,” “Don’t worry we’ll find out together!” Applebloom smiled at the young man. “Won’t we, Lux?” “You girls want to help me?” “Of course silly!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle.  “Aren’t we friends?” “Yeah and friends help each other out no matter what!” Scootaloo pounded her hooves together. “Thanks, girls,” Lux smiled at the three fillies. A warm feeling rushed over his heart.  “I must thank you as well Zecora, for saving me,” “Do not thank me for the deed, I am happy to help friends in need,” smiled Zecora. “Now it is time to go be at home instead of out here alone,” “But what about you, Zecora?” asked Lux. “I will be fine,” assured Zecora.  “It is not yet my time,” “Is it safe to go out there?” asked Sweetie Belle. “What about those monsters?” “Do not be afraid Sweetie Belle, the lights I have set along the path shall illuminate the way but from the lights do not stray,” replied Zecora as she opened the door to the outside. Zecora came closer to Lux whispering to him as the girls left the hut first. “Beware the darkness’ veil, for following it will only lead to the end of your tale,” “What darkness?” Lux pondered the reason for her advice.  Lux nodded his head at the Zebra and rejoined the group.  “Goodbye Zecora, thanks for everything!” The group departed from the hut and followed the glow of Zecora’s magenta lanterns that hung from the trees. Despite the safety of the illuminated path Lux could help but feel he was being watched. “We’re here!” Applebloom happily cheered as the light from the house at Sweet Apple Acres came into view like a lighthouse in the dark.  The group happily raced to the farm relieved to leave the darkness of the forest.  From the light of the house the familiar form of a mare ran towards them, her green eyes filling with tears. “Applejack!” Applebloom happily embraced her older sister.  Applejack held her little sister tightly in her forelegs. “Do y’all know how late it is?!” Applejack pointed her hoof towards the moon in the night sky. “I’ve been looking been looking around everywhere worried sick! Where did y’all go this time?!” “R-Relax, Applejack,” Applebloom gave a nervous smile. “We went to go see Zecora, We thought maybe Zecora could help Lux get his memories back. I guess we lost track of time,” “Y’all just happen to forget seeing’ the sun go down?” Applejack’s eyes darted towards the young man with a displeased gaze.  Displeasement soon turned to confusion as she noticed the bandage on the side of his head and the several tears to his coat.  Her eyes moved towards the three fillies, noticing their dirt covered faces and leaves that were strewn in their matted manes. “What happened?” said Applejack with a stern expression. “We got attacked by inky monsters and Lux fought them off with magic! You shou-” Scootaloo covered her mouth and swallowed hard.  Her ears flattened as Applejack gave a furious gaze in her direction. “INSIDE NOW!!” ordered an enraged Applejack. Her patience for the group had reached its end.   The girls shook at the sound of Applejack’s voice.  Obediently, the girls began to walk towards the house.  “Lets go, Lux,” “No, Lux stays.  I need to have a talk with him alone and y’all are already in enough trouble as it is.  Especially you, Applebloom,” Applejack stared at her sister with a cross look on her face.  “I ain’t gonna repeat myself again, inside now,” Applebloom lowered her head in shame.  The girls walked into the house looking back at their friend with sadness in their eyes.  Applejack watched and waited as the three vanished into the house before placing her focus on the young man.  “Who are you really?” questioned the earth pony.  “You just show up out of nowhere, you say don’t remember anything and now you know how to use magic?” “I wish I knew the answer as well, Applejack,” replied Lux.  “Applebloom and the girls wanted to help and that’s why we went into the Everfree Forest and then we got attacked by a group of strange monsters.  Thats when I discovered I could use magic. The blame falls on me not them and I will leave if thats what you see fit,” “No...” Applejack shook her head and sighed. “That’s not what I want,” “What?” “You can stay,” Applejack smile softly smiled at Lux. “I don’t think I could go on if I lost my little sister. You saved her and her friends, thank you...” “I’m sorry for endangering them,” Lux stared at the ground. “I should have said no when they offered to help,” “It's alright, sugarcube,” Applejack extended her hoof towards him. “Just promise me no more trips into Everfree Forest,” “Promise,” smiled Lux as he bumped his fist against her hoof. “Go get some rest, we’ve all had a long day,” Applejack trotted back into the house, “Goodnight, sugarcube!” “Goodnight!” Lux slowly made his way back into the barn; the door creaked loudly as it shut behind him.  He traversed the dark barn to his hammock guided by the rays of moonlight that shone through the cracked ceiling.  He breathed a sigh of relief as he lied down happy that his tired and beat up body was finally able to rest.  Everything now seemed to be a dream in the distance.  He quickly drifted off into the darkness of sleep, voices whispering to him once more. “Lux...” “Silence her...”