//------------------------------// // Chapter 13: Quest Complete // Story: Made Of Magic // by EmeraldRing //------------------------------// “No, you stupid child. You just had to remember, didn't you! Now I am finished.” As the first page was turned the same light that had appeared in the forest leapt out of the pages in all its glory. The same creature from Mystic’s dream/vision suddenly burst out in front of the two travellers, who had journeyed far to reach the castle, and with all the same blazing light, as the two journeying children had seen in the forest, the creature took the shape of a golden shimmering alicorn. “Wow” Oak stared in amazement at what she had just witnessed, "the legend is real!" “Well done, you truly are the chosen ones” the golden alicorn said in his deep voice. “Chosen ones?” Shining questioned. "Yes, the shining star, the mystic moon and the leaf of a strong oak" With a flick of his horn the magical being, that stood before the siblings, cast away the dreaded book that only brought fear into ponies hearts and minds. “Can you explain why the animals were all so...so crazy?” Mystic said, struggling to find the right word. “Yes, they could sense that my brother, my opposite, had been released and were very frightened, but they will be fine now that he is gone. Remember, all three of you, that no matter where you are or what you are doing, that friendship and joy can banish all evils and all darkness that you may encounter. Was it not your care for all creatures that brought you here? Was it not love for the animals around you and back home that told you to keep on going no matter what? It was your hope and love that allowed me to come and free you from my brother earlier.” “That was you” Mystic said “I had no idea” She said sarcastically. Shining and Oak elbowed her to be quiet so that the pure magic alicorn could continue. “Now it is time for you two to return home, your foster parents must be worried.” “Wait you knew that we are ado-” Mystic started, but didn’t want to finish. “Yes, I know, but never lose hope. It is time for you to leave” and with yet another flick of his horn Mystic, Shining and Oak were transported, in a whirl, to the gate that led up to their home. When they arrived they were greeted by a loud voice that shouted to them, “Look, they’re finally home.” Shining and Mystic looked up to see the familiar face of their foster mother running towards them. She stopped short, however, when she saw Oak Leaf. Oak hung her head and backed away, but was held in place by Mystic's firm hoof. "Winter Breeze, this is Oak Leaf, her parents were killed and she was outcasted due to her looks. I said she could stay with us, that's okay, right?" Mystic explained, hoping that her foster mother would understand. "That's terrible, of course she can stay with us, she can sleep in the spare room," Shining and Mystic's foster father said, having overheard the conversation while walking over to the group. "Yay" Oak exclaimed, remembering how her mum would say she sounded like her grandmother when she 'yayed'. Then came the bombardment. Questions about the journey were being flung around like snow in winter. Where did you go?, how did you find Oak Leaf?, how did you fix the animals? and what did you see? where only a few examples of the questions that were thrown at them. Really, all three of them just wanted to sleep. Sleep for 1000 years if possible. So with all the stealth of a cat (or timberwolf in Oak's case) the three children snuck off into their rooms, Oak deciding to sleep on a mattress in Mystic's room. Leaving the two foster parents laughing at them standing outside. "I guess we've been fooled again." A few days later Oak Leaf was sitting in the kitchen, watching the sunset from the window when she heard the doorbell ring. She got up to answer it and when the door swung open, she couldn't believe her eyes. There, standing with the light of the setting sun behind him and the pale clouds slowly drifting over his head was the one timberwolf Oak Leaf never thought she'd see again. "Willow Root?"