//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: A Daughter's Memories // Story: The Incredible Storyloom // by Gothic Dreams //------------------------------// ‘That’s… just too sad…’ murmured one of the foals. ‘Yes… It certainly is’ said Cheerilee. There was a great deal of affection in her voice, as she shared grief with many of the foals this moment. ‘Tragically, plenty of other families around that time had experienced such loss.’ ‘How come?’ Sweetie Belle asked, her voice was slightly choked by her sniffling. ‘Doctors back then just didn’t have the means to care for other Ponies who were as frail as Quillflower. For somepony like her, having a child is a very difficult thing to experience.’ Cheerilee had a way of being straightforward and matter-of-factly without sounding at all insensitive. This certainly made her suitable for teaching children. She looked around the room, understanding that the foals needed time before they could continue on with the story. A few minutes later, Apple Bloom spoke up, feeling timid about being the one to break the silence, ‘So what about Rosy Bliss? What was it like for her, growing up… without her mother?’ It was impossible for her to recall what Quillflower even looked like on her own. Even when she did see images of her mother, the old photographs that could be found around the house, Rosy Bliss was incapable of remembering what it was like to be held by her, or to hear her voice. Because of this, Quillflower appeared as nothing more than a mere shadow trapped in Rose’s past, something to be seen but never truly felt. The next sixteen years hadn’t been at all easy for Carbon Skies. Clean Sweep had been a great help in taking care of Bliss when she was still a baby but as she turned five to become a young filly, Rosy Bliss was more insistent on being closer to her father. Carbon Skies found himself at a crisis. He knew full well that he couldn’t directly take care of Blight Mill and his child both at once. However, solace was brought to him thanks to a dear friend of his, named Brunet Smoke. He, as well as a few other stallions, worked alongside Carbon Skies as a fellow supervisor for the Blight Mill. To the amazement of their peers, Brunet Smoke persuaded Carbon Skies to take a few years off without having to worry about the mill and leaving it to Brunet and the others to take care of it. During the time off he had, Carbon Skies found delight in taking his little daughter to see the sights of the city. It had been the first in about five years he had ever gone anywhere in Birminghoof that wasn’t from home to Blight Mill. On their first day out together, Carbon Skies had taken Rosy Bliss to the Equestrian Museum of Natural History and Science. Like any other foal, Bliss adored all the exhibits that covered the various animals of their world. Unlike many other foals, however, she seemed even more interested in the exhibits on world exploration. Catching on to his daughter’s enthusiasm, Carbon Skies had promised Bliss that he would help her learn more about what she saw in the museum, how the world works and so much more. It was from that point Carbon Skies decided that he would have Bliss educated within their own home. Sure enough, he sought a teacher to provide Bliss private classes during the weekday, a unicorn mare named Inkwell. Every weekday, Inkwell would visit the house from morning until late afternoon to hold classes for Rosy Bliss in the library. Together, they covered reading, writing, mathematics, geography, science and history as well as a few other subjects concerning knowledge of Equestria. Carbon Skies also attended class with his daughter, sometimes working alongside Inkwell in helping Bliss out with any subjects she found difficult. He knew he wasn’t as effective a teacher as Inkwell was but deep down, Carbon Skies knew he was mainly getting involved for his own benefit rather than Bliss. He had a chance for plenty of time away from Blight Mill and he wanted to use that time to be with the family he had left. Rosy Bliss, while not entirely comfortable with sitting through her classes, was patient and reasonable enough to accept that she spent her weekdays being taught by Inkwell – and to a lesser extent, her father as well. She would have to wait for the weekend to spend time with her father in the city. So, when class was over, Bliss would spend the remainder of the day in the library, where she very quickly took advantage of the vast collection of books. This became an especially common means to pass the time upon turning ten when she and her father came to an agreement that it was as good a time as any for him to return to working for the mill. Owing it to her home classes and personal reading sessions, Rosy Bliss became increasingly interested in literature. It was also shortly after her tenth birthday when she expressed her ambitions to become a novelist, as if following her mother’s footsteps. Carbon Skies was not in the least bit surprised to hear this and was even able to restore some happiness as he felt his heart well up with pride. However, the emotions he felt that moment also stung his heart a little, as he wasn’t entirely sure to what extent Bliss might become like her own mother. Neither was he aware that Bliss had discovered the manuscript he had locked in his desk drawer a couple of weeks beforehand. It was during one of her leisurely reading sessions after class finished when Bliss found herself compelled to search her father’s desk. She couldn’t figure it out at all what it was that drove her to such curiosity. All of a sudden, she found herself unable to go on reading the book that she was more than halfway through finishing. Idleness struck her and she looked around the library, from one wall to another, before she finally focused her gaze onto the desk. Searching through it seemed to be the only thing that could sate her idleness. The top of the desk was covered with sheets littered with numbers, information on records for machinery and the mill’s inventory. The first few drawers that she opened contained more or less the same, as Bliss had expected; assorted pages on old records and factory inventory, alongside sketches and schematics for machinery that were even older. This hardly fascinated Rosy Bliss but what did catch her interest was how one of the lower desk drawers seemed to be locked. She continued to search the desk until she eventually discovered, under the panel of one of the drawers, concealed a small key which fit for the locked drawer. When Bliss successfully unlocked the drawer and opened it, her curiosity peaked when she found that it contained a large bound pile of papers that seemed so strange to her and yet, at the same time, familiar. Bliss carefully lifted the papers out of the drawer as if she were handling an ancient relic. It was then she read the cover page: The Incredible Adventures of Little Rose by Quillflower ‘That’s my mother’s name!’, Rosy Bliss thought to herself as she quickly cupped a hoof over her mouth, as if she might have spoken aloud. She slowly looked back to the door to see if anyone was approaching the library before she gently slid the manuscript back into the drawer and locked it away. The drawer’s key was also put back in its original place and Bliss even made sure that she placed the papers over the hidden compartment in the right order. It wasn’t until the next day, once more after class, when Bliss took out the manuscript again and began to read it. Somehow, as she carried on reading, she could feel something coming back to her. Memories that seemed impossible for her to remember… The room was very dark but she could recognise it to be her parents’ bedroom. The only effective light source present came from a candle on one of the bedside tables. From it, Bliss could see her mother lying in bed and her father sitting closely beside her, both appeared through shapes of black and yellow that steadily shifted as the candlelight flickered. Carbon Skies was leaning in even closer to Quillflower as she was trying to speak. ‘A story… could… could you… read… a story? For me?’ That was what she said. However, Bliss found it impossible to hear, her mother’s voice was so faint. Bliss was close to the door, being cradled in one forehoof by somepony. When she looked up, she recognised it to be the housemaid, Clean Sweep. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but instead all that came out was an incoherent but slight and gentle murmuring. Carbon Skies approached the door and walked out of the room. Every other Pony remained by the door and saw Carbon Skies return a few moments later, with a large pile of papers. Bliss paid no notice to the somewhat confused expressions on the other Ponies’ faces. All she cared about in that brief moment was her own awestruck curiosity. She couldn’t have the slightest idea what it was her father had brought in but it made her eyes shimmer like precious stones from the sight of it. The contrast of darkness and candlelight gave the manuscript what looked to Bliss like a faint golden glow. She was so entranced she didn’t even notice both her parents in tears. Suddenly, she found herself being brought closer to the bed. As she passed her father holding the manuscript, Bliss held out her small hooves hoping that she could touch it. Briefly, she felt disappointment when she was unable to reach it but this quickly gave way to contentment when she saw that Clean Sweep had passed her back to her mother. Quillflower tried to sit herself as upright as she could against the bedhead and wrapped her forehooves around the little foal so that Bliss’ head leaned against her mother’s chest. From there, the candlelight revealed the title on the very first page of the manuscript: The Incredible Adventures of Little Rose. Rosy Bliss lay there content in her mother’s embrace, soothed by Carbon Skies’ voice and Quillflower’s heartbeat. Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum… ‘The very first thing Little Rose knew for certain when she woke up was that she was alone…’ Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum… ‘…As she climbed up the mountain to reach the highest formation, it became clear to her that she was stranded on an island. She was without her family and trapped in a place she didn’t recognise. The moment strangely felt disheartening, yet at the same time thrilling…’ Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum… ‘…Little Rose journeyed deeper into the cave, that was deep within the island’s forest. She was surrounded only by a cold black void, yet Little Rose felt compelled to continue. Suddenly, she saw a strange light. Little Rose ran towards it until she entered a large chamber. It was covered with magnificent pale blue crystals that all shimmered. That light must have been coming in from somewhere. Little Rose only had to look just ahead of her to see what the source was…’ Ba-dum, ba-dum……… ba-dum ba-dum……… ‘…There stood a magnificent stag, it’s entire body glowed with the crystalline light. ”Do not lose hope, dear child!” it called out. “I know of your pain. I know that you are far away from home but I can help you.” Slowly, the stag approached Little Rose, who backed away a little, uncertain at first. But then she chose to stand still and the stag lightly pressed its nose against her forehead and blinding white light gleamed so brightly it swallowed the cave chamber whole…’ Ba-dum, ba-dum……… ba-dum, ba-dum……… ‘…Little Rose stood still at the beach for only a few minutes, yet it felt like days. The stag’s words echoed in her mind, “With my light, you shall be able to read the whole world like a map just before you. Many blessings, dear child and may you always find your way.” For the first time since she awoke on this island, her once lost and burdened thoughts now found purpose. The sun was setting and it would be dark soon. Tomorrow however, she would prepare to make her way back home…’ Ba-dum… ba-dum……… ba-dum… ba-dum……… ‘…Even with the shining stag’s gift leading the way for her, the two weeks at sea had not been easy for Little Rose. She was running dangerously low on what little supplies she managed to store on her raft, even though she had been going through them sparingly. There was no other option but to embark for the nearest land and restock before she could continue her journey. Little Rose found the white sandy beach that lined the very edge of a magnificent emerald jungle. The jungle’s name rung in her head: Quetzal. Despite never hearing of the name before, the stag’s gift made it feet strangely familiar. Surely, curiosity would seize her. Little Rose slowly approached the trees and disappeared into the forest vegetation. It would be many days before she would be ready to resume her journey…’ Ba-dum… ba-dum……… ba-dum… ba-dum……… ‘…The journey home seemed like it would never end. Everywhere Little Rose stopped to gather new supplies, she would be compelled to find whatever there was to see. Every island, every country was a path to a new frontier, from the glowing majesty of Quetzal’s jungles to the harsh beauty of the Yara-Ma Desert. She also encountered civilisations, exotic like the Ponies of Saddle Arabia and inhabitants of the Griffon Kingdom, or curious and wild like the Diamond Dogs that inhabited caverns throughout the world. This time however, she knew this would be her last stop. Home…’ Ba-dum………… ba-dum………… ba-dum………… ‘…Darkness was forming in the sky. The clouds roared like an enraged lion. The sea’s waves grew more turbulent and harsh flashes of light could be seen in the distance. A storm was coming. “No. Not now, please!” Little Rose cried out loud, as if to plead to the very world itself, knowing that she was too close to let it end here. All this was only made worse. Little Rose swore she could hear a distinct growl coming through the water. However, it wasn’t the rumble of the ever-increasing waves. It sounded like ocean itself was hungry. When she looked over the edge of her raft, the flashes of lightning revealed an enormous silhouette. Four large fins ran along the sides of a body wide as a battleship and longer than any whale. When the creature’s head rose through the surface, Little Rose’s heart sank. She recognised the large gaping jaws – above them were small red eyes that seemed to glow like lighthouses in the storm darkened sky – from an image in the old book she found in the library back in Saddle Arabia. She would have given anything now for that book to be the only instance she ever saw it. She remembered the single word written underneath the image. The name of the monster now before her: Leviathan. Little Rose's heart sank with fear…’ Ba-dum…………………… ba-dum…………………… ‘…Wearily, Little Rose restored her strength to stand up. She was struggling as if she had risen from a deep slumber, not unlike the first time she awoke on the island. Sunlight flooded her sight, the blinding sensation felt welcoming. It meant that the worst had come to pass. As Little Rose looked onward, tears streamed down her face not from the sunlight’s sting but from relief as she saw what lay before her. There stood the familiar port town she looked to in what seemed years ago. Finally, she made it home…’ ……………………………………………………… The story still went on but the little foal had fallen asleep, as still as her mother’s heart. Rosy Bliss had been in her chair for hours. All the story’s words had flooded into her mind, yet she hadn’t even turned beyond the first page. Finally, she placed the manuscript onto the desk and sat back in the chair, her head sunk. Lightly, she pressed to her chest as the tears streamed down her face.