//------------------------------// // 10: A New Ally // Story: My Little Pony: The Seal of Death // by Azrael the alicorn //------------------------------// Azrael and the Mane Six had just ended patching up the Rainbow’s wounds. The angel of death used his magic to stop the pain and mend most of the injury she suffered from the Soul Eater. He would have completely healed her up, but sadly, after preventing the closure of the seal, even he was left weakened. Tired and with the morale low, the group moved away from the blocked passage. Despite their best efforts, they couldn’t yet let go of the fact that their beloved princess had been devoured by the Soul Eater. They were so shocked by it that they didn’t notice how the nature around them started dying out. It couldn’t already be the lack of the sun, so this must have been another of Sombra’s doing. They noticed that they weren’t going towards the Crystal Empire for some minutes. “Hey, where are you leading us, Azrael? The Crystal Empire is that way,” pointed out Applejack. “I know” answered the angel of death, stopping in his tracks and glancing at the Mane Six. “The loss of Celestia has been horrible for each one of us, but we also lost a great help for the incoming fight. We have to look for assistance—and I know where to look: the Everfree Forest.” The explanation left the Elements of Harmony a little confused and nervous. The Everfree Forest was known to be a place filled with mystery and scary creatures, especially at night. “Why didn’t you mention this before?” asked Rainbow Dash. “Because I wanted to tell you this once arrived to the Crystal Empire. I would have gone there by myself, but then Sombra freed the Soul Eater and things went downhill. Also, now we are closer to the forest than the Crystal Empire,” Azrael explained. Then, noticing the worried expression of the ponies he added, “If you want to go to the Crystal Empire, it’s not a problem. I will give Twilight the necessary power to allow you to go.” The Mane 6 exchanged some glances, and then Twilight answered for all of them. “I think we will stick with you.” They probably fear more nasty surprises than my grim presence, thought Azrael, starting to walk once again in the direction of the Everfree Forest. “Forgive my curiosity, but who or what exactly is this phantasmal ally?” asked Rarity. “Floral Heart. She was … is an alicorn of the ancient times who had participated like everyone else in the sealing of Death.” His expression was grim. “One thing I didn’t tell you before is that the consequences of the spell weren’t only the loss of power and immortality. The eldest of the alicorns lost their lives and among the fallen was her father. After that and the war of the alicorns, she left the civilization, searching for peace. Last time I checked she was in the Everfree Forest, in the center of it. And is there that we will find her.” “What kind of welcome can we expect from her?” asked Fluttershy, worried. “She was one of the most kind alicorns I have ever met. In a way, she was … is, a lot like you, Fluttershy; a being who hates violence and loves nature,” answered Azrael, giving the shy pegasus a faint smile. With that said the group fell silent, thinking about what the angel of death said. Rainbow Dash was a bit annoyed. Another alicorn? Geez, sooner or later there will be more alicorns than ponies! thought the Element of Loyalty. --- Princess Luna’s arrival at the Crystal Empire was an unexpected but a happy surprise. Once she was in the throne room of the Crystal Palace, the last ruler of Equestria told the royal couple of the last happenings and soon the happiness changed into sorrow and fear. Shining Armor and Princess Cadance couldn’t believe that his parents and Princess Celestia were dead, and they were also shocked about what was going on and at the explanation of what was that humongous and dark-looking crystal palace that was possible to see far away. Once Princess Luna told them everything the pair exchanged a glance, each other giving the other one the force to withstand the grief that was haunting their hearts. “We will have to prepare messengers to all of Equestria if we want to gather enough forces to fight Sombra,” stated the rulers of the Crystal Empire. “And we will need the help of the Griffins too,” added Princess Luna. She then noticed the doubtful expression of the royal pair. “I know that asking for help in a war is much different compared to the other things we have made to help build a strong alliance with the Griffins Kingdom, but we have to try. Is what not Celestia would have wanted?” The explanation of the mistress of the night seemed to take away some of the doubts that Shining Armor and Cadance were feeling, but not all. “Sending the messengers to the Griffin Kingdom could take several days alone. No Pegasus is that fast except Rainbow Dash, but she is not here right now,” pointed out Shining Armor. “It won’t take long if I go there,” said Luna. Once again Shining and Cadance exchanged a glance of worries. “I’m faster than most of the pegasus and being a Princess should have weight into convincing the king to give us his support,” Luna added. “It’s not so much your speed that worries us,” Shining said. The prince seemed to have trouble finding the words, and at that moment his wife came in his help. “We are worried of how the griffins could take the fact that the sun has turned off as a—” Cadance started, but Princess Luna understood right away what the two were trying to say. “They could take it as a sign that I have transformed back to Nightmare Moon. Is that what you’re trying to say?” Luna clarified with a composed tone of voice. “They might attack you and/or refuse to help us,” added Shining Armor, trying to not offend her. “In that case I will be careful and I will explain that I have nothing to do with the sun being gone. I will also explain how much their helps means to us and the whole world,” answered Luna calmly. The Royal Pair exchanged another glance of resignation. “It seems that we can’t change your mind about the matter,” commented Cadance. “Fine then, when do you want to go into the Griffin Kingdom?” “I need some time to rest. Not too much, just some hours. Then I will be prepared,” answered Luna. “Well, then I will go prepare the messengers,” concluded Shining Armor, leaving the throne room. He then added, “I will try to not let the panic take over this empire.” “I know you will,” said Princess Cadance giving to his husband a loving smile. Once he left the ruler of the Crystal Empire gestured to the two bodyguards to leave them alone. Once they left, the Cadance’s humor turned down of an inch. “I still can’t believe that Sombra is still alive. When the Crystal Heart destroyed him I thought that this kingdom could finally get the peace it needed,” commented Cadance. “And now, not only is he back, but has in his hooves a relic so powerful that it has allowed him to resist to the most powerful weapon of Equestria!” Her voice screeched of sadness. “And Celestia is dead, and even Spike, the savior of the Crystal Empire. Do we really have any hope to beat him?” “We must not surrender to the defeatism, Cadance. We have to believe that the Elements of Harmony and Azrael can find a way to beat Sombra!” Luna assured. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t doubt of the skills of Twilight and her friends,” said Cadance. “And Azrael,” added Luna. “Ah yes, the angel of death. I must say, I never actually thought that he was real. Tell me, is he as Star Swirl wrote in his book ‘Mysterious Creature?’” asked the ruler of the Crystal Empire, curious. She remembered very well that in the book the powerful unicorn encountered the angel of death in one of his tests on the magic to contact the afterlife. Azrael allowed the unicorn to ask to some of his questions as long he would not try again his tests. Star Swirl promised, but sadly the so called answers added only more questions to his questions. Because of that the great unicorn decided to mention that meeting. “Oh yes. An alicorn surrounded by mysteries. Solitary, kind—” Luna suddenly stopped when she noticed the sly grin that Cadance was giving her. “What is it? Why are you staring me like that?” “Oh nothing. I just can’t help but notice how much you sound passionate when talking about Azrael,” commented Cadance. Luna loved her niece Cadance with all her heart; she was part of the family after all. But when it came down with her own view of love she had always thought it to be quite childish, not to say annoying, claiming that love at first sight is the best kind of love. Luna highly doubted it. Love at first sight is good for children fairy tales, not for real life. The simple idea of two people falling in love just because they bumped into each other was stupid beyond belief. And now it was not the right time for that nonsense. “Who you think I am, Cadance!? Some foal who falls in love for first handsome pony I meet?” she asked, an edge to her voice. That reaction was enough to vanish that smile from Cadance’s face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you,” Cadance sputtered, ashamed of what she had just insinuated. But Luna had already calmed herself. “No, I’m the one who should be sorry for such outburst,” she said. “You are probably tired. Go to sleep. I will go to help Shining.” The two alicorns exited the throne room and separated ways. Once Luna was far away from the love-powers of Cadance she let her defense down. Was Cadance right? Did she really feel something for Azrael that was something more than just pathetic and childish infatuation? And did Azrael felt that way too? Luna repelled those questions away. This was not time to wonder about those silly emotions. She went to the guest room and laid on the soft bed, letting her doubts and weakness fade. --- The group had just entered in the Everfree Forest and now was proceeding towards the center of it. The Mane Six never had that much experience in that scary forest. Those few times they went there they had always faced terrible dangerous creatures. So they kept watching their surroundings, ready for anything. Azrael didn’t seem worried, though, and proceeded at a composed pace. Suddenly the group heard the sounds of something moving in the deep of the woods, fast and unpredictable. The noise was coming from all the direction, more and more clear. The group stuck together, ready to face the threat.Twilight’s friends surrounded the purple alicorn to make sure she was protected. Twilight appreciated her friend’s care, but it still troubled her, having to be protected. The creatures leapt from the bushes. The light given by the moon and the stars made the creatures reveal themselves: Timberwolves. The creatures snarled at the group, ready to attack them. But Azrael didn’t show an hint of fear got closer to them. “We need to speak to your sovereign,” proclaimed the angel of death calmly. The Timberwolves stopped snarling and exchanged some confused glances. They started barking among each other. Then they turned their attention to the group and signaled to follow them. Surprised by such change of behavior, the Mane Six followed Azrael the and the wood creatures, but kept a keen eye on them. After a while they had finally reached the center of the forest. They couldn’t believe how peaceful the place was. It was surrounded by trees which made it impossible for a pegasus to see it from the sky. There was a lake of average dimensions and at the center of it was a small island which had a big tree in tree in it. The Timberwolves signaled to proceed and Azrael did so. As he was walking on the water some small rocks appeared, avoiding a fall in the water. The Mane Six followed right behind him. Once they were on the little earth, the tree morphed, turning into something resembling an alicorn. “It’s nice to see you again, Princess Floral Heart,” said Azrael, bowing in respect. “It’s nice to see you to Azrael, but please, don’t bow. It’s from a long time I no longer bear that title,” answered the tree alicorn with a caring voice, younger that they expected. Then she turned to the Mane Six. “The Elements of Harmony. I remember having felt your presence here several times, visiting a good friend of mine” she added, surprising the ponies. “Wait … you mean Zecora? Why didn’t she tell us about you?” asked Applejack confused. “Because I had asked her to do so. Can you imagine what would happen if the world would find out that another alicorn existed? Ponies would not like this and it would cause way too much confusion and attention. And that is the last thing I want, because it will ruin the peace of the forest,” explained Floral Heart. “Sadly, I can’t feel her presence anymore. I’m afraid that something horrible must have happened to her, just like I can feel that out from this forest there is something wrong. Is that part of the reason of your arrival here?” “In short, yes” said Azrael, then to avoid wasting time, he used his powers over the souls to give to the tree alicorn all the information that she needed to know. “And because of it we need your help, Floral Heart. You are the only alicorn of the ancient time who is not only alive but has managed to regain the ancient power. So I have to ask you: will you help us?” Floral Heart remained silent for few but long seconds, and then, with a regretful tone, she answered. “You are asking me too much, Azrael. I can’t help you.” Azrael looked disappointed but had enough self-control to remain calm. The same couldn’t be said for the Elements of Harmony. “What do you mean you won’t help us!?” shouted Twilight Sparkle. “We didn’t walk all this way to get a no for an answer!” stated Rainbow Dash, fuming with anger. “Without your help we will be more whipped than whipped cream!” added Pinkie Pie. “Yeah … wait, what?” asked Applejack, confused by the words of the pink earth pony. Azrael gestured the Mane Six to calm down. “Why not?” he asked with a more severe tone. “You know why. It’s the same reason why I self-exiled myself from the alicorn people. I can’t bear violence. When I saw how the once united kingdom of the alicorns turned against each other, families getting destroyed, friends against friends; I couldn’t watch it, not after having lost my mother to the Soul Eater and my father in the spell made to seal Death. I have endured too much.” She turned away, facing the lake, frowning in contemplation. “I left the civilization and moved in search of peace, wandering in the most unknown regions. And then, amongst a sun-blazed desert I found this little plant which couldn’t last long in that place. I helped that plant to survive and grow, giving till the last ounce of power to aid its existence. Time passed and thanks to my magic the small plant had growth, turning the rocky desert into a green land filled with life which evolved, thanks to my energies.” All around the group the wildlife, from the most known to the most unusual, started to appear. “And once I had given everything, the Everfree Forest turned me into her guardian, to protect her and guide her. And always in this place I’ve found peace, at last.” She watched the group before her with sympathetic eyes. “I recognize what’s troubling you, but as you will have understood by now I hate war. It only causes suffering to anyone who partakes in it, destroying everything. And facing Sombra armed with the Seal of Death means going certain defeat.” Her speech got brutally interrupted by Fluttershy, who stomped on the ground with anger. “And only for this you want to give up?!” thundered the not-so-shy pegasus, scaring the living heck out of her friends. “Fluttershy! Please calm down!” begged Twilight Sparkle, trying to quiet her friend. But the wrathful pegasus didn’t have any intention to be soothed. “We have to fight to protect those whom we hold dear! Sure, war—most of the time, if not always—is worthless and causes more trouble than else; but this war is nothing like that. If we do nothing to stop Sombra, he will conquer everything! There is no way to talk this out of him. He has killed thousands of innocent people, all of whom were our friends; and he’s going to kill even more until there will be no one to stand in his way! And not even the magical aura of this place will keep it from being destroyed by his quest of conquest!” her tone turned less angry and more calm. “But we can avoid this to happen. With your help.” The Mane Six and Azrael never had seen Fluttershy being so sure of herself, so strong and brave. Floral Heart stared at the pony before her like she was her equal. Then she used her powers to see beyond her forest and felt her heart shatter at seeing how the nature all around the Everfree Forest was dying. “I have been such a fool,” whispered the tree alicorn. All of a sudden the very roots of the forest started shaking and … rising? Azrael, Fluttershy, Twilight and Rainbow Dash used their flight to see what was actually going on while Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie climbed on the tree. They saw the entire Everfree Forest lifting itself from the ground, breaking rocks and shattering stone, amassing into the shape of some kind of turtle golem. “This … is so …” Rainbow Dash murmured. “Awesome?” suggested Pinkie Pie. “No. EPIC!” shouted the cyan pegasus. The group returned to Floral Heart. “So, does this mean that you will actually help us?” asked Azrael. “Yes. Fluttershy is right. This is a war worth fighting for. Now rest, I will take you to the Crystal Empire,” answered the Floral Heart. “We are going to war … probably a war that will be our doom … the last stand of the forest!” With that said the forest started moving towards the Crystal Empire.