//------------------------------// // Before It Even Began p1 // Story: Building To The Now // by AngriestDislestia //------------------------------// THE TERATA KINGDOM - NORTH “Hurry up, Tirek!” a high-pitched voice could be heard across a green field. “Come on, I want to visit Grandpapi Skoren already!” Not too far behind the skurrying winged creature, a much bulkier four-legged being plodded behind him, his arms folded. “I don’t see what the rush is,” he grunted with a notably annoyed tone. “Skoren is a boring old coot who just wants to tell us stories from “back in his day”!” These harsh words made the little gargoyle pout. “Grandpapi is amazing! His stories are about him being a soldier! Only a few are about what happened when he was a farmer, Ti -reki!” He stood tall and proud. “I wanna be soldier for Mummy one day! That’s why she calls me a little soldier!” He said in a matter-of-fact tone. Tirek laughed. “I guess...The one about him saving King Kai-Wreck in The Battle of Beasts against the Changelings was pretty impressive…” He chuckled and ruffled Scorpan’s mane. “You’d make a pretty good bodyguard…” He said pretending to consider Scorpan as a personal bodyguard for his royal-self! They both chuckled. “Boys!” They heard their father call them and sprinted as quickly as they could back to the castle. They dashed across the grass, until the moist soil below their feet turned into hard stone. In front of them, they saw their father standing at the frame of the large double door, which was open. The two siblings skidded to a halt, only inches away from bumping into their parent. “Yes, daddy?” Scorpan had to angle his head straight up to look at him. Tirek, while having done the same, didn’t look as interested. “Mhmm?” was all that Tirek said. “I need you both to do something for me,” their father continued, beginning to trot away from them, which prompted them to follow. Scorpan did so in an eagerly manner, while Tirek took his dear time. “What is it, daddy?” Scorpan piped up, putting great effort into keeping at his father’s side. “Is it important?” The large centaur shook his head. “I only needed to ask you both to greet our family,” he explained in his gruff voice. “Ugh… do we have to?” Tirek muttered. Vorak was quite used to such comments from his older son, so handled it respectively. “Yes, Tirek. If you find it too difficult I can get out my violin for you.” Vorak shot a playful smirk in his son’s direction, which Tirek smiled plainly back at. “You play a violin?” Tirek smirked knowing EXACTLY what he was doing. So did Vorak, who gave Tirek a quick grin. “What’s a violin?” the little gargoyle asked curiously. Both centaurs shook their heads in despair. “Never mind…” they spoke in unison. “Vorak! Could yo - Oh! Vorak! You’re all here, lovely!” Duchess Haydn remarked. She leaned down and kissed them both on the head. While Tirek put up with the affection, little Scorpan embraced it held his Mother closer. “Oh, you’re so lovely! My little soldier!” She said giving him one last smooch. “Tirek, my little grump-bucket!” She said playfully. Tirek sighed at his Mother’s impertinence. “Let’s get this over with…” Tirek said. “Well, I’m happy to see you too, young man!” The tall, toned, maned beast spoke with a northern accent and sounded quite unamused. He looked down at Tirek over his small reading specs. “You’ve grown. I grew a wee bit taller at yer age, too, lad.” He still wasn’t smiling. Tirek was unsure of what to say and do. “...Oh,” Tirek then chuckled nervously. His Grandfather Skoren then smiled knowingly. “I was also a touch unsociable!” He winked and elbowed Tirek playfully. “Though my elders made sure I was well occupied by their dull tales of youth.” His smiled widened at the young centaur who was now looking worried. He groaned. “Grandpapi!” Scorpan ran to his Grandfather and wrapped his limbs around the old gargoyle’s leg. “I’m so happy to see you again!” He exclaimed snuggling onto his leg tighter. “Scorpan! You loving little fool!” the older gargoyle mocked warmly with a chuckle. “What do think you’re doin’ on me leg, eh?” “Hugging?” Scorpan asked cautiously. “Well! You’d be the first soldier to do so! Now, before I tell you more stories I think you have a few more of yer folk to greet!” Skoren gestured to the rest of Queen Haydn’s siblings and their families. You had her older brother’s family of miners, her younger sister’s family of bakers, and her younger brother’s family of farmers! Not only that, but there were also Vorak’s side! His parents - The King and Queen! ( Tirek realised the Queen was getting quite a large tummy) - His Brother - The Prince! - and those three were especially keen on formal prolonged greetings. Tirek looked on in despair as his parents greeted Skoren while Scorpan looked on nervously. They sighed together and stepped forward, agonised. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ISORROPIA KINGDOM. - THE WEST The old alicorn stroked his tufted chin as he watched his three foals outside pitifully. He knew what was happening. No pony, nor beast, liked it. The West, South, even the East felt they had been done wrong by it all! They were all demanding that The Terata Kingdom be punished for not inviting them to the King and Queen’s Celebration of a new baby. Not only that, but none of the King or Queen’s sons or daughters were offered to the other Kingdoms as a peace treaty of a kind! That Terata Kingdom had promised it for centuries! Never once had they brought up anything to any of the other Kingdoms. Just the thought made King Nova agitated, but whenever he looked at his foals it would change and he would see the two young sons of Kai-Wreck and Phyllis. They were adults now but King Nova could remember them being tiny. As if the two beast children were at all similar to alicorn offspring! Ha! The innocence might still have hid there, though. Was it the right thing? What would happen to all the young of the kingdoms? Surely many would lose a Father or in changeling territory, even a mother...The thought could sicken anyone with sadness. Unfortunately, it was not up for contemplation. The Draconequi Kingdom and The Rodent Land had already signed war documents and without The Isorropia Kingdom by their side, The Terata Kingdom might’ve had a chance. If the draconequi and rodents lost, they would blame the land of the Alicorn. King Nova didn’t want that at all. So he didn’t really have an option. He sighed. What was coming would be the end of a species. Yet who knew which one… -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DRACONEQUI KINGDOM - THE SOUTH “I think we’re all aware of the situation. Dire times call for dire measures…” Queen Maska said glumly as if war was a sad business that needed to be done, and was nothing personal. The large female changeling looked around the table for a response and was met with a sad stare from a surprisingly petit Alicorn Queen. “Maybe, we could just inform them that we’re not best pleased with their decisions to neglect our authority,” the mare suggested. Maska pouted and broke eye contact with her, lost in her thoughts for a few moments. “Mmm… I suppose,” the changeling responded distantly, staring at her hooves. “But that’s BORING! And their promise of a Prince or Princess is far past overdue!” an elder Draconequi interrupted. “I say that you give them what’s necessary!” The alicorn whipped her head around to face him. “That is something I refuse to do,” she retorted, her eyes narrowing. “Nothing ‘necessary’ needs to be done.” She closed her mouth when she felt a hoof touch her. She turned her head back to meet Maska. “Armonia, just ignore him.” She rolled her eyes and snorted irritably. However, the elder draconequus did not stay silent. “I have agreed with you, Armonia, that our Kingdom’s eldest son, be married to your daughter Celestia! So that our Kingdoms intertwine! The Rodent Kingdom agreed to never cross into out borders EVER and NEVER have and THE TERATA KINGDOM HAS DONE NOTHING FOR US WITH ITS WEALTH OR POWER!” He slammed his mismatched hands on the table in front of him. “They have two sons the age of your Luna and neither have been met with the filly! It is an insult! I say that if we send them a letter, it’s about them choosing a son to meet with you and Nova’s youngest. Then, if they refuse, we will HAVE to use force.” His eyes were now blazing and Maska glanced at Armonia with a pitiful expression. She sighed. “I agree, our people are becoming restless! The members of The Terata Kingdom act as if they are free to mingle, play and live with our folk without sacrificing any means of security. We WILL send them a letter first, but if they meeting of a Terata son and Princess Luna is denied…” She looked sorrowfully upon the small Alicorn Queen. She sighed. “Well...You know what’ll happen…” Armonia’s eyes glistened. She kept her head down, not wanting either of them to see her current facial expression. “...It won’t come to that,” she said firmly, trying to keep her voice from breaking. “I refuse to let such a terrible mishap break out between us.” She then raised her head to glare at them both. “War is not the answer here. Peace is! What would war even achieve?” The changeling and draconequus were silent as the stared at her, then at each other. Maska cleared her throat, before facing Armonia again. “Don’t get me wrong, my dear, I personally don’t think war is the answer here either. It’s just… only if it comes down to no other option…” Armonia’s pupils shrank as she gave her a stare of disbelief and disappointment mixed into one. “Bu… wha…” She leaned towards her, her muzzle scrunched up. Maska had to move back a little, fearing the mare would break. “You can’t just give up and fall back on it like it’s an everyday choice we make! War isn’t a choice when things are at it’s worst. War is the worst!” The draconequus elder remained unfazed at her outburst. In fact, a simper had began to appear on his face. “A perfect match; two of the worst things. I honestly thought that’s what you were all about, Armonia. With all this balance nonsense and what not.” He chuckled, which only added to her enragement. “This is no time for jokes, Puzzle! This is serious - why is that so difficult to get through your thick skull?” The Alicorn Queen was close to the King, Queen, Dukes and Duchesses of the Terata Kingdom and knew very well why they had not made a marriage arrangement...If only these two would understand... “ARMONIA.” A loud, booming voice shook through the Changeling Queen’s Castle and took everyone aback. There stood a large female draconequus. She looked down upon the loud justiced Alicorn Queen. “We don’t need this. Your justice will get our people nowhere! If gargoyles keep feeling they can invite themselves into our lands, think of what they’ll do next! They’ll want to vote, and take liberties! Half of the rotten beasts may even be SPIES!” She paused and forced Armonia to look into her eyes. “Understand?” Puzzle’s wife, Trigger, was the most terrifying creature alive. What’s worse is that she was always right. “...I do.” Armonia said plainly. “Good. Write that letter. Post it. And if they don’t reply by the end of the month….” She turned away. “Make sure your soldiers are ready.”