Within the grand tower of Faust, the mare herself rests upon a cushion. She rests before a crackling fire, in her private study. Before her rests a strange book, it's cover deep crimson. It bears the marks of many years gone by. Scratches and tears across its form. The title of the book remains hidden, as the front cover is left against the ground. Faust idly turns the pages of the book, she pauses for a moment to blink, and then looks up with a smirk.
"Welcome back every pony," she offers with a curt nod, "or otherwise," she offered playfully. "Its that most magical time of year, the time when spirits rise and roam the land of the living once more," the ancient alicorn stated. She then turned the page of her book and lifted it up into the air. The book was covered in a crimson glow as the mare turned it away from herself. Upon the page was an image of Faust herself, alongside two fillies at what could only be a festival.
"This year we get to take a trip back in time," the ancient mare declared. She turned the page in the book once more, this time revealing a familiar pumpkin headed creature. "Back to a time you've seen, but to a story yet untold," she declared. She then smiled as she looked to the nearby fire as it crackled and popped. "It was long ago now, more than a thousand years," she admitted. She closed her eyes as ancient music filled her ears. Music and dancing and old magic that was all but unknown to this modern age.
But that was for a later time...
"Back when Celly and Lulu still lived at my tower," she continued. She turned the page once more, this time revealing a set of pumpkin headed ponies, a sign with the words 'welcome to Pottsfield' behind them. "In a place that perhaps, you've seen in your dreams," she stated with a smile. "An old friend asked me for a favor and I accepted. I decided to bring the girls as well, so we could visit a festival after the favor was done," she admitted. She then smiled as she turned the page to show ponies circling a large bonfire.
"The Fall Festival, the Autumn Harvest, Allhallows Night, Samhain Eve," she intoned. She then turned the page once more, this time it showed her pulling a cart filled with pumpkins. The young Clestia and Luna rode upon the cart, a pointed black hat on her head, and false fangs clearly visible in a grinning Luna's maw. Faust herself wore autumn leaves as a shawl and in the shape of a laurel crown on her head. "So listen well, ponies and others, for this is the tale of..." Faust began then breathed a breath into the flames of the fire, which suddenly rose...
The Sisters' First Fall Festival...
On the edge of the ruined Dream Valley is a vast range of mountains. Beyond those mountains is an equally vast forest. It's trees are tall and gnarled, and yet they are also healthy and alive. Unlike the rest of Dream Valley, this land remains verdant and green. In the summer anyways. In the autumn it turns a cacophony of brilliant colors. The painted trees leaves fall upon a beaten path as a large mare pulls her wagon along her way. It is a familiar mare, the lady Faust, of the Tower of Dream valley who trots this path.
She is dressed in a shawl of autumn leaves which bears an iron clasp in the shape of a raven's talon, with yet more autumn leaves in the shape of a laurel crown on her head. Her hooves are protected by brass shoes, which have scuffs and bits of dirt across them. She also bears a harness with an old wooden wagon attached moving behind her. She hauls cargo in the wagon, most notably a mess of pumpkins. Although seated on the wagon are two familiar fillies.
Celly sits in the wagon with a frown, a book held in her hooves and garbed in a feather lined black cloak and mask that covered half her face and resembled a skull with the hood of the cloak drawn up. Faust had insisted they dress up as it was supposed to be traditional for this time of year. Apparently it was so the spirits and ghosts of those who had passed and came out this night would leave them be. Admittedly, Celly was more than a little skeptical that their outfits would have any effect on spirits. Discord was a Spirit after all and she doubted simple disguises would fool him. Lulu didn't care either way and simply enjoyed dressing up in the guises.
Said filly of course rested beside of her older sister and practically vibrated from excitement. Celly glanced at her and could make out her bright grin even with the odd pumpkin shaped mask she was wearing. Her tattered old cloak was colored in a dark shade of orange and red. According to Faust they each had a costume to represent a 'spirit' of sorts. Lulu looking like the spirit of the harvest, and Celly in the guise of the 'reaper of souls'. The ancient alicorn had told Celly that it was somewhat appropriate as both were able to call on spirits, though had admitted they were also the only guises she had that would fit them.
"Are we almost there mother?" Lulu questioned excitedly. Faust chuckled lightly and glanced back at the younger of the sisters with a bright smile.
"No Lulu, we have to make a stop elsewhere before we reach the festival," the ancient mare replied. Lulu pouted while Celly merely rolled her eyes.
"I still don't see why we're going to this festival," the off-pink filly stated aloud. She turned a page in her book while Faust sighed.
"C'mon Celly, at least try to get into the spirit of things," the ancient mare pleaded. Celly rolled her eyes and returned to her book. Faust frowned and muttered to herself in response. Sometimes she had to wonder why Celly was always so difficult.
"Where are we stopping first mother?" Lulu questioned. Faust internally thanked her for the distraction and smiled.
"A little town called Trottsfield," she replied, "I have to deliver some pumpkins to the mayor," she explained. Celly idly looked up and raised a brow.
"Trottsfield," she mumbled, "is that short for a 'Trotters Field' by chance?" she questioned. Faust blinked and glanced back.
"Where did you learn about those?" she questioned. Celly idly held up her book.
"I'm studying about the Griffon Pony wars," she admitted, "they mention that at one point the Griffons started to attack earth pony settlements and leave no pony alive. Because of the sheer number of dead the defending army was forced to bury them in shallow mass unmarked graves. They eventually called places like that a 'Trotters Field' because of how they trotted over the dead," she explained. Lulu shivered in response while Faust hummed and looked up.
"Well this was one of the old Griffon Pony battlefields, so it could be an old trotters field," she admitted. Celly glanced to either side.
"Then why are we here to deliver pumpkins?" the older filly questioned. "It looks like they have more than enough," she noted with a glance to the pumpkin fields to either side of the beaten path. Truth be told she'd much rather be in the tower right now. Unfortunately Lulu had insisted they go with Faust to this 'fall festival' thing. Celly had argued that she was old enough to be left on her own, but Faust had said that she couldn't stay in the library all day. Celly honestly wanted to argue that point, but hadn't been given the chance. Faust had grinned in response, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
Next thing she knew, the ancient mare had all but foal napped her for this trip.
"My friend Enoch asked me to collect some for the villagers," she stated mysteriously. Lulu giggled while Celly frowned to herself. The elder sister rolled her eyes and returned to her book. Lulu looked at the countryside as they crossed it with a bright smile. The autumn colors and fresh air were a nice change of pace from the tower. It was so rare that Faust took them outside that she sometimes forgot what outside looked like. So the filly choose to absorb the sights of the cool autumn day as if it would be her last.
"The trees are so pretty here!" she declared. Faust chuckled lightly as she glanced to the trees. The burnt colors of yellows, reds, oranges, and browns were quite pleasing to the eye. Lulu then looked to Faust curiously. "Does some pony paint the leaves like this every year?" she questioned. Faust giggled in response and grinned widely.
"No Lulu, the trees just change colors when it starts getting colder," she explained with a smile. Celly mumbled to herself about why the leaves changed colors, but Lulu ignored her. Celly frowned slightly when she realized that Lulu was ignoring her. She then huffed and looked to the forest herself. She paused however when she noticed something in the distance. A long tattered cloak all she could make out of the strange figure, alongside it's eerie glowing eyes. Yet she turned away from the sight when she saw that they were approaching a small town.
"Is that Trottsfield?" she questioned. Faust idly nodded as they walked into a quiet little town. Faust walked to the center of town and unhitched her wagon with her magic. As the ancient alicorn started to unload pumpkins into town square Celly shut her book and hopped off of the wagon alongside Lulu. The fillies looked around the near deserted town curiously. 'Is this place abandoned?' she wondered to herself. Celly felt more than a little trepidation as she noticed most of the doors were ajar, and that there was sometimes even food on the tables. She then noticed as Lulu approached a large barn and sighed.
"Lulu," she stated and broke into a quick gallop to catch up with her sister. She briefly paused when she heard music and frowned to herself. The younger filly had halted in front of the barn and looked inside curiously. Celly paused at her side with a frown, "What are you," she murmured as she then followed the younger fillies gaze inside of the barn. What she saw caused her eyes to widen. Odd creatures dressed in nice clothes that vaguely resembled ponies with pumpkin heads and other gourds for bodies. They danced around an enormous pumpkin with a wide grin stretched across its face.
"Neat huh?" Celly nearly jumped as she turned to a see Faust looking at her with a smirk. "C'mon girls, we still have places to be," the mare stated. Lulu looked into the barn and then to the mare.
"This isn't the festival?" she questioned. Faust merely smiled as she lifted the fillies with her magic.
"It's a festival, that's to be certain," she admitted. "However let's not disturb the peace or Enoch might have to punish you girls," she warned. She then moved to the side for a pumpkin headed pony to enter the barn. He paused to look at her and inclined his head in her direction.
"Pardon me, ma'am," he offered politely. Celly noticed that his voice was muffled, so she assumed he wore some form of costume for the festival. Faust swept her wing out and inwards in a grand bow.
"No need for that, good sir stallion," she replied. She then straightened and waved a wing inside the barn, "be sure to say hello to Enoch for me, and tell him I delivered his pumpkins as promised," she bade. The pumpkin costumed stallion nodded his head. Faust smiled at the pumpkin headed pony who trotted into the barn to join the rest of the merriment inside.
"Oh so those are just costumes," Celly breathed with a sigh of relief. Faust snickered.
"Well of course, pumpkins don't just get up and start to move on their own," she stated. She then paused and hummed. "Well not without an animation charm or spell of some kind," she admitted. "Which now that I think about it," she murmured as she carried the sisters back to their wagon. She thus fell into thoughts of animating the inanimate while Luna pouted as they returned to the town square. Once they had returned Faust idly returned the girls to the wagon as she reattached the harness.
"Why can't we stay for this festival?" Lulu questioned, "it looks fun!" she declared happily. Celly looked at Faust, her own curiosity brimming. She didn't really want to stay for this festival, something about it just seemed creepy to her, but it was a descent enough question. Why go to some other festival, when this one was so much closer? Faust was silent for a moment as she attached the harness and then turned to look at the fillies with a soft smile.
"You're too early to join," she replied softly. She then trudged forward while Celly arched a brow. Lulu merely crossed her forelegs with a huff.
"Why do older ponies always get to have all the fun?" she wondered to herself. Celly rolled her eyes and then glanced back at Trotsfield as they made their way out of town. She paused when she saw a colt with a red cone shaped hat and blue cloak that appeared about her age trot into town. Beside of him was a young colt around Lulu's age with a frog on his back, a pumpkin on his hind hoof, and a tea kettle on his head. Finally she noticed what looked like a bluebird sitting on the first colt's cone shaped hat.
'Who are they?' Celly wondered briefly, then turned with a shrug. It wasn't her problem if the colts were going to the Trottsfield festival after all. It also wasn't her problem if they disturbed the peace and this 'Enoch' had to punish them. So with that she returned to her book while Faust continued on her way. The gentle sounds of nature around her gave the young pony a pleasant backdrop to read in. Lulu fidgeted in her seat and looked all around. She paused as she noticed a shadowed figure in the woods. Though it was the pair of glowing eyes that she fixated on.
However as soon as she saw it, the figure vanished into the shadows of the forest. Lulu hummed to herself then looked back to Faust. "Mother, are there any creatures in this forest with glowing eyes?" she questioned curiously. Celly glanced at her sister curiously for a moment, then looked to Faust expectantly. She'd almost forgotten about that thing she saw in the forest earlier and hadn't thought to ask the elder pony about it at the time. Faust herself hummed lightly and thought about the local wildlife for a moment.
"Some," she admitted, she then looked to the forest herself. She narrowed her eyes and turned to the smaller ponies with a grave expression. "Although none of them are safe for fillies to be around," she stated gravely. Celly blinked and then nodded her head in understanding. Lulu however pouted.
"But perhaps we could befriend it," she suggested. Faust shook her head and smiled softly.
"Sorry Lulu, some things out there just don't want to make nice," she warned. Lulu mumbled to herself while Faust turned back to the road. Her eyes narrowed as she glanced towards the forest once more. A shadow shifted and moved through the darkness in the forest and she frowned. 'So you're still here,' she thought to herself. She would have to keep an eye on the girls tonight. It was a night when he was at his strongest.
"Mother, where is it we're going now?" Lulu questioned. Faust glanced back and grinned.
"We're visiting a few nomads I know come to this area every year," she replied mysteriously. Lulu tilted her head while Celly looked up in intrigue.
"So are these nomads ponies?" she questioned. Faust rolled her eyes in response.
"Nah, they're deer," Faust responded. Celly placed her book to the side and sat up.
"Really? I've read that the Deer developed an impressive runic language. Is that true? Do you think they might let me learn some of it?" the off pink filly questioned. Faust chuckled lightly and smiled brightly in response.
"Celly I'm sure they won't mind. I know for a fact that at least Red-Tail will be happy to teach you," she replied. Celly tilted her head to one side and flicked her ear.
"Red-Tail?" she questioned. Faust nodded her head.
"Aye, he's the nomads elder and a master of runic crafting. I met him when he was a fawn and we became good friends. I especially loved learning about runes with him, the Deer's runes aren't the best but they are pretty versatile all things considered. Then again I shouldn't be so surprised since the deer are masters of them after all. I think Majesty was the only pony who could equal them in that," she explained. Celly made an oh with her mouth and smiled brightly. Lulu rolled her eyes.
"Only you would turn a festival into an excuse to learn another language Celly," the littlest pony commented. Celly merely huffed and glared at her little sister.
"I'm just trying to broaden my horizons Lulu," she replied tersely. She then sniffed and stared down her muzzle at the smaller pony, "you could certainly stand to learn something from this festival yourself," she remarked off-hoofedly. Lulu rolled her eyes and then grinned brightly.
"I do plan to learn something, I plan to learn the joys of a new festival and it's traditions!" she declared with her fore-hooves raised into the air. She then fell back with a yelp and Celly smirked. "I'm okay!" she declared which caused Faust to giggle.
"You're adorable is what you are," the ancient alicorn stated with a nod. Celly nodded in agreement while Lulu sat up with a huff. She turned her nose into the air while Faust looked away from her with a grin. She then focused on where she was going. 'Lets see, Red-Tail and the deer usually set up fairly early. If I want the girls to enjoy the whole festival I'll need to get to the hill before dark, they start at sunset after all,' she noted to herself. She thus picked up her pace while the girls held on as she continued on her way. They took the time to admire the countryside some more, as they likely wouldn't be getting out again for a long while.
While they loved Faust's tower, sometimes they did miss the outside world.
It was some time later that the trio came upon a lonely hill. Upon that hill was a set of tents and a large bonfire. Celly sat up straight as she noticed several Deer ahead, the tall willowy race being new to her. She also took note of their antlers, which reminded her of the antler that Discord had on his head. She shook such thoughts away when she noticed that the deer weren't wearing guises like them quite yet. She looked to Faust curiously when she realized that.
"Why aren't thy dressed up?" Celly questioned. Faust smiled in response.
"They don't dress up till sunset Celly, Samhain Eve starts at sunset and ends at sunrise," she explained. Celly mouthed the words 'Samhain Eve' for a moment and then grunted as they came to a sudden stop. Lulu grinned happily as they stopped and hopped from her seat while Faust unhooked herself from the wagon.
The filly quickly leaped from her seat and looked around curiously. Celly gave a sigh and hopped after her little sister. Faust herself glanced at them then shook her head. 'Ah, girls will be girls,' she thought to herself. She then paused, "I hope they don't cause any trouble," she murmured to herself. She then started to unload pumpkins which a few deer came to collect and thank her for bringing. As she did Celly chased after her little sister. The younger pony ran between and even under several deer and the elder had to pause and apologize to them. They waved it off, but she felt that her sister needed to stop all the same.
"Lulu!" she cried as the littler pony rushed towards the bonfire. She quickly followed and rounded the corner of the bonfire only to pause and yelp as she came face to face with a carved pumpkin. Celly blinked and then looked down to see the carved pumpkin was placed on a stump and a plethora of autumn colored leaves surrounded it. There was also the enormous scythe that was stuck into the stump which gave the filly a shiver. She slowly backed away from the eerie pumpkin and looked for her errant little sister. 'Where did that filly run off too?' she wondered with frown.
She rushed away from the stump and the pumpkin, just as the pumpkin's eyes started to glow...
Celly looked all around for her sister. Finally she spotted her talking with an old deer with a long grey beard dressed in a strange kind of robes with a pipe in his mouth. She frowned and hurried over to the younger filly. "Lulu!" she growled as she grabbed her sibling. The littler pony yelped and then struggled to get out of her grasp. As she did Celly looked to the elder deer with a nervous smile. "Sorry if she bothered you," she stated. However the old deer laughed and then grinned widely.
"Be no trouble at all lass, the wee thing jus' wanted ter ask a few questions," the deer assured her. He had a noticeable coltish accent. Celly frowned for a moment, but before she could comment Faust appeared in a flash of magic.
"There you two are," she started then paused when she saw the deer, "Red-Tail?" she questioned. The old deer grinned toothily.
"Aye lass, though maybe 'Grey-Beard' would be more appropriate now," the old stag commented jocularly. Faust rolled her eyes and smiled at the deer all the same.
"Hard to believe you're that same little fawn who could hardly grow a beard," the ancient alicorn noted pleasantly. Red-Tail scoffed and stroked at the beard hanging from his chin with a frown.
"Aye, now I wish it'd stayed 'at way," he grumbled. Faust snickered behind a raised hoof and her old friend grinned at her. "So I take it 'ese are ye youngin's then?" he questioned. Faust sighed and rolled her eyes.
"I'm taking care of them if that's what you mean," she replied, "I figured they might like to see a real fall festival," she commented with a grin. Red-Tail barked out a laugh and then winced and rubbed at his back.
"Aye, 'ats good d'en. Too few ponies know of and celebrate Samhain eve as is, d'ough maybe I'm a wee bit too old fer this," he commented. Faust patted the old stag on his wither with a soft smile. "Anyways ye wan' me ter show the fillies 'round 'en?" he questioned. However Faust frowned as she looked at the fillies and then shook her head.
"Sorry, I think these two just got a quick look around, but I'd appreciate it if you'd keep an eye on 'em till the festival starts, maybe tell them stories or show them a little of what your runes can do," she suggested. Red-Tail arched a brow for a moment. The old stag had had fawns of his own once upon a time. He'd been a much younger deer a the time but that didn't mean he couldn't at least keep an eye on the two. He just hoped the older one could keep the younger one under control... 'Not likely,' he admitted to himself. Still he could at least do that much for his old friend so nodded his head. Faust smiled brightly.
"Thanks red, I'll go help out with preparations for the festival then," with that Faust vanished in a flash of red light. Red-Tail shook his head and looked to the two fillies. They had gotten back to their hooves and looked at him strangely. He grinned toothily and scratched at his head.
"Alright, so ye want ter hear a story?" he questioned. Celly frowned however Lulu grinned brightly.
"Yeah!" the littler filly declared loudly. Celly placed her hooves over her ears while Red nodded and stroked his beard.
"Hmmm... bit excitable inn't she?" the old stag quipped. Celly nodded with a sigh. "Well in any case, how 'bout I tell ye d'e story of d'e Tricksy Cat 'en?" he offered. Celly blinked and then raised a brow. Lulu however was somewhat oblivious to her sister's thoughts as she trotted over to sit by Red with a smile.
"Yes please good sir," she bade. The old stag chuckled and looked to Celly. He patted the grass next to him and the off-white filly trotted over to sit by his side. The old stag nodded once she was seated and stroked his beard with a thoughtful frown on his face. He considered where to begin and how the old story went. It'd been an age since he'd gotten to tell that tale after all. Most of the fawns of his tribe were more interested in hearing other stories after all. After a moment he clicked his tongue and reached up for the pipe in his mouth to breathe out a bit of smoke.
"Once upon a time, long ago now, d'ere was an old cat with purest white fur, unnatural good luck, and a crafty mind. His true name is lost now, but his deeds are not forgotten," the old stag began. "This tricksy cat liked nothing more 'en being d'e center of attention, and wit' his luck he usually was. If all eyes didn't lay upon him though, he got mean. He'd play nasty tricks on d'ose foolish enough to look away from 'im and always got away from punishment. But what he hated most of all, were d'ose days in d'e year no' dedicated to 'im," the stag explained. He took a moment to take a drag from his pipe and closed his eyes.
"One day came d'e great fall festival, when all were reverent of spirits who come to our world and when kin who've been lost return for one night ter feast. Twas a time when no one could nay pay attention to an arrogant cat. 'Why should d'ey celibrate a bunch of spirits,' d'e Tricksy Cat thought, 'the dead are buried, I'm still here and deserve the attention,' he decided," the old stag continued. He frowned and blew out another puff of smoke into the air, "D'en when d'e festival finally came, d'e cat planned to pull a great prank so all would see him once more," he continued.
"No one will want to go to this festival without the pumpkins,' he decided. For the pumpkins were a sign of the spirit of the festival. Without d'em he felt none would be d'ere. 'I'll just fix that,' he declared. So in d'e dark of d'e night d'e tricksy cat collected all d'e pumpkins for d'e festival and gathered d'em up. He placed 'em in a bonfire and set d'em ablaze. He laughed as d'e pumpkins burned and d'e townsfolk came to see what he'd done. D'ey tried ter catch him, but d'e tricksy cat's luck allowed him ter get away. He escaped of course but all now knew and hated his name," he explained. He then sighed and shook his head.
"How wonderful,' he decided despite their hate, 'now e'eryone knows me and my name!' he declared. But d'e cat didn'e understand d'e truth, for his luck couldn'e help him from what was yet to come. Ye see, he'd ruined a festival held in the honor of the dead and the spirits who roam. On the night when d'ey were at their strongest. Worst of all, he'd angered the king of all spirits, of whom d'at night was named, the great Samhain," he uttered gravely. Celly felt a shudder go down her spine and looked at Red curiously.
"Samhain?" she questioned. Red nodded and took another puff of his pipe.
"Aye, d'e spirit of d'e harvest, d'e oaken king, d'e lord of all spirits, and bringer of summers end, d'e great Samhain," he intoned. He d'en blew another puff of smoke as he continued his story. "D'e great Samhain was enraged by d'e cat's actions and so he sought him out. He traveled from town to town till finally he cornered d'e tricksy cat. D'e cat's luck had saved him from punishment for years, but d'e spirit n'e let d'at happen d'is time. D'e tolling of bells proclaimed his coming and Samhain caught d'e cat by his whiskers and bound him in straw, d'e cat was taken back to be judged in the very place of the festival he'd ruined," the old stag continued.
"D'e Tricksy Cat tried to make excuses for his actions of course, tried to barter for his freedom, but none can bribe d'e great Samhain. Samhain declared 'at d'e cat would never again live only for himself, never again be d'e center of attention, and never again would he ignore d'e desires of others for his own. In 'at moment the soot from the fires rose and turned d'e cats once beautiful fur a deep pitch black, it lost its luster and became dull. But Samhain wasn't finished wit' him yet, he turned d'e cats great fortune on its head, so 'at only bad luck would follow him from d'at day forward," he stated.
"D'e cat tried to plead and beg for forgiveness but Samhain silenced him with a word. D'e great Samhain stretched out his arms and spoke in a deep voice, 'For ye crimes ye shall toil for d'e spirits whom ye insulted, ye shall gift them guises so d'ey might enjoy d'eir own festival this night each year, ye shall replace d'e pumpkins ye destroyed with new ones and ye shall do so until ye penance is earned,' Samhain declared. D'e cat begged and pleaded for mercy, tried to say 'at he wasn't at fault. But d'e great Samhain would ne hear it from d'e arrogant cat. He left d'e cat in an old land of shallow graves where he was forced to toil," he explained gravely.
"Each year on the night of Samhain Eve, the Tricksy cat would collect pumpkins and uncover the dead so 'at he might give their spirits guises so that they might finally find peace one night and pass from this world. He would throw a festival grander than any other so that he could earn his penance," he continued then closed his eyes. "To 'is day d'e Tricksy cat remains in 'at land of shallow graves, he continues to toil for d'e spirits, till finally d'e great Samhain says his penance is earned and he sets him free," the old deer finished. Lulu pouted and scuffed a hoof on the ground.
"Poor kitty," she mumbled. Celly rolled her eyes.
"It's just a story Lulu," she stated. Lulu shot a look at her older sister.
"Lots of things are stories, but that doesn't mean they aren't true!" she declared. Celly hummed in response.
"So you're saying that the arrogant cat who ruined a festival to celebrate spirits and the dead getting punished for it is a 'poor kitty'?" the older sibling questioned flatly. Lulu stomped her hoof in response.
"No! I think he's a poor kitty cause he's still being punished!" she declared firmly and looked to the ground, "That just seems so unfair," she murmured quietly. Celly merely shook her head in response.
"Lulu Spirits are nigh immortal, not to mention they tend to overreact, especially when someone messes with a festival in their honor. I'm honestly surprised this 'great samhain' only made him toil one day in the year even if it is for as long as it's been," she admitted. It seemed somewhat less cruel than what other spirits would do. Even turning the cat black wasn't all that bad... and it kind of explained why black cats were associated with bad luck.
"Still doesn't mean the kitty has to suffer for so long," Lulu muttered. Red chuckled lightly and leaned back.
"Well anyways, is d'ere anythin' else ye wanted ter learn?" he questioned. Celly sat up sharply.
"Could you show us some runes?" she asked excitedly. Old Red-Tail chuckled and grinned.
"Lass ye be asking the tribes runic expert, a'course I can teach ye 'bout d'em," he crowed good naturedly. Lulu frowned and looked up at him with watery eyes.
"Aw, I wanted more stories," she pleaded. The old stag chuckled nervously and scratched at his beard.
"Ach, lass ye be right dangerous ye know," he stated. He then shook his head and looked at both fillies. "How 'bout I show ye both a little somethin', a story for ye," he said with a look at Lulu, "after I show ye sister d'e basics of runes," he suggested. Lulu pouted for a moment and then nodded her head. "Good d'en," he stated with a nod and blew a puff of smoke from his nose. He then scratched at his beard and contemplated how he'd start the lesson...
Celestial Majesty found runes to be simply fascinating for a number of reasons. Not the least of which being that her mother figure, Faust, and hero, Princess Majesty, were both masters of runes. She'd read about a number of runes in the tower, but nearly no ponies had written down anything about how to use them. As it turned out this was because most Unicorns scoffed at the idea of a 'magical language' and preferred their own kinds of spells. Celly was a filly who loved to read, so combining reading and magic was like the most amazing thing in the world to her.
It was with some surprise that she learned that there was a lot to runes she'd never thought of. First and foremost all runes needed magic to work. Second, Runes didn't work well on flimsy materials like paper, they needed something sturdy to work well like stone or metal. Third, if you did want to use runes on something flimsy then you couldn't overpower them or they tended to explode or catch fire rather quickly. Fourth, runes had to be exact or they wouldn't work, which meant they were a bit finicky. Lastly, she learned that the runic language was vast and that all deer had mastered at least a few verses of them before they were considered adults.
Red-Tail for instance, had mastered runes pertaining to fire.
Celly was currently looking over a few of the runes that Red-Tail had made in the dirt. She only half noticed the setting sun as she looked at the runes curiously. One of them was a rune that set things on fire but only burned anything that touched what it was on. Another rune was one that protected from fire and made it a non-issue. The last of them was a rune that would cause whatever it was inscribed into to set on fire until it was completely burned or melted. Apparently the tribe used those last runes to set the bonfires for Samhain Eve, the first runes were used to cook, and the middle runes were put on their hooves so they could walk even on fire.
"Why would you need to walk on fire?" Lulu questioned. Celly glanced at her sister with a frown.
"We nay need too lass, its also used ter walk on hot coals or in deserts, our hooves don't get heated up after all," the stag replied.
"Seems silly," Lulu decided. Red-Tail idly nodded his head.
"Aye it is a bit, d'ough our cousins d'e caribou actually have a rune on d'eir hooves 'at lets 'im walk on air currents ter fly," he admitted. Lulu looked at him with sparkling eyes at the admittance. Red-Tail idly clicked his tongue then shook his head. "Sorry lassy, but we don' have d'at rune in our tribe," he admitted. Lulu huffed and crossed her forelimbs. Celly rolled her eyes as she looked at the runes for a moment longer.
"So you mastered all the fire based runes?" she questioned. Red-Tail scoffed.
"Nay lass, I'm sure d'at d'ere is at least a few I haven't had d'e chance ter master yet," he admitted. "But I have mastered making d'e runes ye be looking at, and d'e be useful to d'e tribe. I also mastered a few others when I was young, but I jus' seem ter be particularly talented with fire runes," he explained. Celly nodded her head in understanding as she looked over the runes and how they were made. She only hoped she could memorize them so she could practice with them later. She was then brought out of her thoughts as Faust appeared in a flash of crimson magic.
"Hey girls," the ancient alicorn declared, "I come bearing soul lanterns for you," she offered with a grin. Celly blinked while Lulu rushed to give Faust a hug. The older filly looked at the 'lanterns' in question and shivered. They seemed to be turnips, or at least were, and had been fashioned into eerie faces with grinning mouths and eyes from which the blue flames within were plainly visible. Lulu accepted one without question. Faust then tossed the other at Celly who caught it with a yelp, and stared into it's carved out eyes warily.
"Soul lanterns?" she questioned with a glance at the ancient alicorn. Faust nodded her head and beamed.
"Another tradition, the lanterns are said to protect you from evil spirits," she explained. Celly arched a brow and looked at her turnip more than a bit skeptical of that. "And it has a few runes so the flame won't ever go out," she added then frowned, "at least until the turnip rots anyways," she amended. Celly blinked and tried to look inside the turnip, more curious about how they got the flame to turn blue than anything. Meanwhile Red-Tail rolled his eyes and fixed a look on his old friend.
"Ye could put a rune to preserve d'e turnip on it d'en lass," he noted aloud. Faust nodded her head then grinned at her old friend.
"Yeah but it wouldn't be as much fun," she admitted. Red-Tail scoffed and got onto his hooves with a grunt of exertion. He stood for a moment and then looked to Lulu and Celly.
"Well ye too, I bes' be goin' on me way, it looks like d'e feast be startin' soon," he stated. He then hobbled off and out of sight. Faust watched him leave and sighed tiredly.
"He's so old now," she mumbled quietly. Lulu looked up at her curiously.
"Is something wrong mother?" the little filly questioned. Faust blinked and then shook her head.
"Nah Lulu, just talking to myself," she replied. She then waved for Celly to get up and picked up Lulu and placed her on her back. "C'mon silly little Celly, we don't want to miss the feast," she declared. Celly frowned but followed after her regardless. She idly looped the rope from the turnip around her neck and carried it that way. Lulu merely carried hers in her hooves and decided to barrage Faust with questions about the festival. Celly ignored her younger sister and instead glanced around to see that many of the deer had taken to wearing guises like their own, some more and some less elaborate. 'Well it is sunset,' she admitted to herself.
She idly noticed the deer were all congregating at a large tent and glanced to Faust who smiled. "It's the great feast, it's held in honor of the spirits with open places for the souls of lost kin to come and join in," she explained. Celly raised a brow and scoffed.
"How would you know if someone was a spirit," she challenged. Faust smiled patiently.
"They'd be sitting in the open seats of course," she replied.
"But what if some pony just miscounted," Celly challenged further. Faust sighed and shook her head.
"They won't because they always count the number of seats needed and add several extras for any who might show up," she explained. The older sibling merely hummed and looked forward with a frown. She noticed some pumpkins had been hollowed out and had what appeared to be treats placed inside them and frowned.
"Then what are those for?" she questioned. Faust idly wondered if Celly was just trying to get on her nerves by this point.
"For the spirits of course, they are to appease any who happen to be out," she explained. Celly merely hummed and looked to the large bonfire that had been lit. Before she could ask Faust placed a hoof on her mouth and fixed her with a look. "I'm not going to explain everything to you Celly, just please try to enjoy yourself," Faust pleaded. The older filly huffed and looked away while Lulu giggled.
"Celly just doesn't know how to have fun," she stated with a nod. Her sister shot a look at her.
"I do so know how to have fun," she retorted, "I just don't see why there are all these strange traditions," she grumbled. Lulu rolled her eyes and snickered in response.
"Not everything has to be explained Celly," Lulu challenged. Her sister scoffed as they walked into the large tent. Celly immediately took note of the cheer and laughter around them. It seemed all were in good cheer despite what she thought would be more of a 'somber' feast given it was in celebration of the dead.
"Why is everyone so happy?" she questioned. Faust chuckled lightly in response.
"Because we celebrate the dead Celly, not mourn, tonight they come back to be with family and friends," she explained as they sat down at a table that had been placed to the side. It was a smaller table, though still more than enough for them to have 'spare' places for anyone who dropped in. Still Celly glanced to where all the deer were with a slight frown.
"Why do we have our own table?" she questioned. Faust tried not to laugh and merely smiled down at the older filly.
"Because we're not part of their family of course, we have to have our own seats for any spirits or souls who come to eat with us instead," she replied. Celly muttered to herself while she sat down beside of Faust with Lulu taking up position on the other side and placed her 'soul lantern' down on the table. She idly noticed the spread of food and collected some for herself, as did Lulu. Although then the littlest filly looked up to Faust with a wide eager smile.
"Do you think we'll have any visitors mother?" she questioned. The ancient alicorn shrugged her wings in response. Truth be told she hadn't been to a Samhain Eve feast in quite some time. She couldn't quite remember if anyone had ever... She paused as a unicorn pony in a hooded cloak sat down with them, she bore a pumpkin shaped mask and rags wrapped over and concealing her limbs. Her tail wasn't visible, but appeared to be white with purple streaks. The mare nodded to her for a moment and then started to collect some food for herself. Faust blinked for a moment then looked to Lulu with a sad smile.
"I... I think so, yes," she replied softly. She paused as a few more ponies wandered into the tent to sit with them, even more deer wandering in to join with their kin. Red-Beard even hugged one tightly from what Celly could see before both sat down next to one another. Celly turned her attention from the deer and focused on the ponies, one being very tall and willowy though was mostly hidden under her guise.
"So, how about we feast then!" she offered cheerfully. Celly merely stared at the ponies who had appeared with surprise then made to ask Faust who they were. But paused when she noticed someone outside the tent. A pony, or so she thought, with glowing green eyes. When it saw she noticed it vanished in a swirl of black feathers and Celly felt a cold shiver run down her spine.
"Right," she murmured quietly as she turned to regard the 'spirits' she supposed. "Lets feast," she whispered a grim feeling of unease laying over her mind. The feast commenced in earnest soon after. The deer continued their feast and had a few games as well, although Faust assured Celly and Lulu that they were too young to get involved in them. She idly took to speaking with the other ponies who had sat with them, while Celly noticed Lulu would glance outside every now and then. Soon enough the filly thought she saw something and hopped from her seat and wandered outside.
Celly, who had been watching Faust talk rather animatedly with one of the ponies across from her, turned to her sister and saw she was gone. "Lulu," she questioned. She looked around and so slipped out of her seat and made her way over to pick up Lulu's lantern.
"Going somewhere Celly?" Faust questioned. Celly yelped and turned back to the ancient mare then shook her head.
"Just going to find Lulu," she replied. Faust arched a brow then frowned.
"Do you need some help?" she questioned. Celly shook her head.
"No, I can handle it," the older filly replied. Faust frowned and looked at her in concern, then blew a breath into her mane.
"If your sure, but Just don't go too far from the settlement Celly, and keep your lantern with you," Faust urged. Celly rolled her eyes in response. She still wasn't sure that the would even do anything other than be a lantern. It was kind of silly to think it'd do something like ward away evil in her mind. Still if it would put Faust at ease she could bare with it. She nodded her head and quickly rushed outside as well. She looked about for the filly and paused as she heard something echo on the wind.
'What?' she wondered before she rushed into the darkness to find her sister. She shivered as a chill passed over her, she wandered around the camp before she noticed something move in the distance. Behind her a certain pumpkin mounted stump began to shudder and shake... 'The forest?' she wondered warily. 'Why would Lulu go there?' she inwardly questioned. With a gulp of air the elder filly galloped towards the forest. She slipped down the hill and landed in a heap at the bottom, only to quickly get up and brush herself off. She looked to her lantern to see it still glowed brightly, then looked up to Lulu's as well.
'It's so silly carrying both of these,' she thought. Only to pause when she saw... something... pass by her. It moved too quick to be seen, but whatever it had been caused a shudder to run the length of her spine. 'M-Maybe not,' she decided and pulled the lantern close. She shook her head and rushed into the forest, the lantern lighting her way. She passed many trees, some of which almost looked to have eerie faces in them. She paused suddenly as a voice in the darkness began to sing an eerie song on the wind. It caused her no joy nor sorrow, only fear as the song went on.
She couldn't place why or where the song was coming from, only that it truly worried her for her sister's safety. She looked around the forest warily then yelped as she bumped into something. She turned to see Lulu sleeping on the ground and breathed a sigh of relief. "There you are you silly filly," she muttered to herself. Then paused as she heard a dark chuckle. She gulped and looked up to see a pair of fiery green eyes glaring down at her. "Wh-who, what are you?" Celly questioned as she stood protectively over her little sister. She raised her lantern to see a white scythe shaped horn and a pair of black wings suddenly opened wide behind the creature.
"I HAVE MANY NAMES CHILD," the creature intoned as it took a step forward. It's voice was odd, Celly could hear no true inflection or tone or even gender, it just was. "THE GRIM GALLOPER, THE PALE PONY, THE REAPER OF SOULS, THE BEAST IN THE DARK," the thing continued as it took another step forward. "YOUR MOTHER KNEW ME ONCE AS MORTIS THE BLACK," he continued, "ALL PONIES KNOW ME NOW, AS THE MASTER OF DEATH," he finished as he stood over the two fillies.
"Wh-what do you want?" Celly demanded shakily. The pale pony merely leaned forward, Celly barely suppressed a terrified shriek as a ponies skull suddenly looked out at her from within the darkness of his hood.
"YOU WANDER THE FOREST ALONE, YOU WHO ARE PRECIOUS TO THE OLD MARE," it stated darkly. The tone was hard to hear but yet it also nearly boomed with barely suppressed venom.
"We would be h-happy to leave sir," Celly assured. However the pale pony chuckled in response.
"LEAVE? HOW VERY NAIVE YOU ARE," he said and suddenly leaned forward, "WHO SAID YOU COULD JUST LEAVE?" he challenged. "FAUST HURT ME ONCE, SO PERHAPS I SHOULD HURT HER AS WELL," he suggested. However Celly quickly tossed Lulu's lantern onto the grim galloper to set his cloak ablaze. He cried out while Celly quickly picked her sister up and galloped away as fast as her hooves would carry her. She moved between and around tree's, Lulu on her back before she came to a stop with a yelp as the grim galloper landed before her his half rotted wings outstretched.
"DID YOU REALLY THINK IT WOULD BE THAT EASY TO ESCAPE FROM ME?" he questioned. Celly merely backed away and looked all around, then paused as she heard something on the wind. 'Bells?' she wondered to herself. The deep rumbling tone distracted her enough for the grim galloper to knock her back and against a tree. Lulu fell with a groan but remained asleep. Celly looked up as the pale pony loomed over her and gripped her sister tightly. As she did a sudden thought came to mind, the tolling bells grew louder and she looked up at the pale pony as sternly as possible.
"Y-You do r-realize it's Samhain eve, right?" she questioned. The grim galloper scoffed.
"WHAT NONSENSE IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE?" he questioned flatly. Celly merely looked up as something started to move through the now completely silent forest around them.
"N-not nonsense, on this night the spirits are free to roam once more," she stated. The pale pony scoffed and glared down at her.
"UTTER TRITE, IT'S AMAZING THE FOOLISHNESS THAT FAUST TEACHES THE YOUNG NOW," the pale pony stated with a shake of his head, "DEATH IS THE END, THERE IS NOTHING GREATER," he assured her.
"M-maybe," Celly allowed. She then glanced up and gulped with wide eyes. "B-but I think h-he m-might have something to say about th-that," she muttered quickly. The pale pony tilted his head then looked up, only for the flat end of a scythe to slam into the side of his skull and send him flying to the side. The grim galloper bounced once and skidded into the side of a tree. He slowly got up while a massive figure dressed in a cloak of autmum leaves, with a head of a pumpkin, and carrying a massive scythe looked down at Celly and Lulu. It was silent as it bowed at the waist to the two, then turned and marched over to the pale pony and plucked him up.
The grim galloper growled and ghastly green energy gathered around his scythe like horn. He lifted his head and then shot a beam to the ground below. Several bony limbs reached up to grasp at Samhain's cloak and pull him down. The pale pony fell as well and rolled away from the spirit to brush his own cloak off. "I KNOW NOT WHAT FOOLISHNESS PUTS YOU ARE IN MY WAY, BUT I SHALL NOT LET YOU STAY THERE! NONE SHALL IN THE WAY OF DEATH'S MASTER!" He declared furiously. However Samhain merely looked up and then swung his scythe, the pale pony flapped his wings and shot into the air.
The bony limbs that had grasped at Samhain were severed and the spirit king rose up to his full height. He then chuckled darkly as he reached up to pluck his pumpkin head from his shoulders. The cloaked entity then reared his arm back and flung the grinning flaming pumpkin at the grim galloper. The pale pony blinked and then gasped as the grinning pumpkin exploded into a wicked blaze of fire that knocked him from the air. Samhain chuckled darkly once more while his quarry looked up. The pale pony watched as a new pumpkin grew on the shoulders of Samhain and he marched forward to grab him by his neck.
"None shall challenge Samhain upon his night," the spirit king rumbled ominously. Flames practically poured forth from his carved head as he glared at the pale pony. "None shall harm those who adhere to my traditions," he continued to rumble as he slammed the pale pony through a tree. "You are not welcome here, defiler," he growled and swung his scythe, a menagerie of glowing balls of fire formed and shot at the pale pony, and set his cloak aflame. "Begone!" Samhain ordered fiercely. The pale pony rolled for a moment and then quickly shot into the air and quickly shot out of sight.
As the pale pony vanished Samhain turned to Celly and Lulu. He approached the two and lifted them up in one of his large arms and held them gently. The king of the spirits then marched away, towards the small festival and placed them into Faust's wagon. While she was still conscious, Celly breathed deep and labored breaths then inclined her head in his direction. "Th-Thank you," she breathed. Samhain merely smiled down at them. As he did Celly let out a final exhausted breath before her eyes rolled up and she fell to sleep as well... as she did Samhain's voice echoed in her ears.
"Lanterns light glow strong and bright, upon this most hallowed of nights," she heard him, "protect these young ponies from the creatures of the night, till morning comes with the suns first light..." he finished. Then all Celly knew was darkness as she fell into fitful sleep and dreams.
Faust suddenly closed the book and smiled once more. "Come morning, Celly and Lulu were home again, I told them she found them sleeping in the wagon and assumed they had been too tired to stay up for all of Samhain eve. Celly of course told me what happened," she admitted with a sigh. "But I wasn't able to thank lord Samhain for what he did for me for a long time," she added, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she lifted the book up to reveal it's title at last. The prominent words 'The Tome of the Unknown' left in bold view for but a moment. The ancient mare then slips the book away and slips it into an open spot in a nearby bookshelf.
"The end," she states. She then closes her eyes and hums a few bars of the ancient festival song. She finishes soon after and looks to a clock to see the time. "But it seems that I've held all you busy ponies up," she noted to herself. She slowly stood up and then gave a curt bow, her left wing swept inward. "So adieu my little ponies," she stated then stood straight. "Or whatever you might be," she stated with a mysterious little smile. "But never forget," she began as she trotted out of the room.
"There is a time when we go out to play, though I sorely wish it would come everyday. A night of wonder and magic galore, a night that I've come to adore. Its on this night when spirits will roam, that I shall wander from home to home. Only now on the eve of fear and fright, in the darkness of," she briefly paused as the fireplace suddenly went out. She turned back towards the room, her eyes suddenly glowing a deep crimson red... "Nightmare Night..." she whispered as she vanishes into the dark...
TBC...