CHAPTER FORTY
CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT
The throne room stank of that sickening creature. His odour had permeated everything, and his insidious cruelty had infected everypony in the capital, let alone her ancestral home. Most of the castle had staff had either ‘disappeared’, as apparently any who displeased Lord Ochre had a tendency to do, or, if they had any sense in their heads, had run for all they were worth at the first opportunity. Celestia gritted her teeth, fighting down the rising fury - this was her home! It was where she and her sister had ruled Equestria together, but now…now it had become a sickening parody of everything she had stood for and believed in. Ochre was dead of course, it was something she had anticipated, but it was still a pity…she would have liked to have spoken to him before sending him to the afterlife. If nothing else, at least Dray had repaid that monstrous creature for what he had done to his family and had some closure now. Celestia closed her eyes as a wave of emotions flooded through her. There was a part of her that cried out in anguish at the thought of a pony, any pony, killing another, be it justifiable or not. These thoughts, these sentiments, were what the Legion and Nightmare Moon relied upon: the weakness and ‘niceties’ of their enemy, the anticipation that they would try to appease them and offer favourable terms when threatened with violence and unrelenting aggression. Celestia knew all too well how appeasement ended…in annihilation. Your people, your way of life, given away unresistingly to an enemy who intended to impose their way of life, their rules over you, turning your people into nothing more than slaves. She took a breath, trying to calm her heart. There was no chance she would allow that creature Nightmare Moon to make slaves of her people…NEVER!
The pink mare before her was covered in a soldiers cloak, her wide eyes brimming with tears. Celestia walked towards her, her voice calm,
“Lady Wicker, you have been through a terrible ordeal. I cannot even begin to imagine the horrors of what that awful creature did to you, and in a place where you should have been safe and protected too. I pray that one day you may be able to forgive me. I never anticipated that Ochre would be capable of such cruel and monstrous acts. Please, is there anything I can do for you?”
The pink mare shook her head, “No…” she looked up at the Princess, the fire of determination and strength glowing in her eyes, “Your Majesty, what is done is done. Ochre did those things - it was him, nopony else but him. My only regret is that I didn’t kill him myself.” She nodded to the gray pony standing at a respectful distance away from her, “However, General Dray ensured that the monster was put down so he would not hurt anypony else.”
Celestia nodded, “None of this should have happened, Lady Wicker - none of it. I assure you that I will put an end to all of this and make our home a place of light and love once again.” She shook her rainbow mane and smiled gently, “Please, it is late. I beg that you accept my hospitality and stay at least until tomorrow. I would very much like to speak with you more and hear from your lips of what has been happening to my people while I have been gone.”
Lady Wicker curtsied, “I am eager to return home and gather my family now that you have come back to us, Your Majesty. However, I of course will accept your most gracious offer.”
The Princess smiled, “The castle is at your disposal Lady Wicker, and I have summoned my physician in case you wish to speak to him.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty” the pink mare replied calmly, “I shall look forward to speaking to you again tomorrow.”
Celestia nodded her head as Lady Wicker walked out in the company of two of the castle maids. She closed her eyes and rubbed her face with a foreleg, listening to the door close,
“Dray?”
The General walked up to her and bowed, “Your Majesty?”
“This doesn’t happen again, General. This cruelty, this evil, it has to stop.”
Dray nodded, “I understand Your Majesty, though I fear that the fear and suffering brought upon us by the Legion may well get worse before it gets better.”
“Ochre was not Legion, General, he was one of us, an Equestrian.” Celestia sighed loudly, “Dear gods, can we have really sunk so low so quickly? Is there a monster like him waiting within us all just waiting for the opportunity to indulge in such sickening behaviour?”
“I think we all have a little darkness inside of us, Your Majesty.” Dray scrubbed his mane, “Perhaps such dire times truly bring out the worst in everypony. Maybe the same is true even of our enemies.”
Celestia stared past Dray, the image of the crazed young thestral warrior, Rend, bearing down on Rush burned through her mind; his determination to kill, that singleminded will to destroy had been beyond anything she had ever experienced before in her life. She shuddered. If that thing, that ‘thestral’ hadn’t interfered they’d be together now, here in her home…where they both should be. The Princess took a breath and let it out slowly, clearing her mind,
“General, we have to move quickly and consolidate our position. When Nightmare Moon discovers what we have done, she will throw her full might at us. You have implemented your plans?”
Dray stoody bobbed his head, “Yes, Your Majesty. As soon as we took the castle, the messengers were dispatched. Harrier and her pegasi will do their job well.”
Celestia glanced towards the doors, “As I will do mine, General. Now, would you kindly ask the Chancellor and the Mayor to accept our hospitality for the evening?” She held up a hoof, “Oh, and see to it that our seafaring friends are taken good care of too. They have performed admirably, and loyalty should be rewarded, wouldn’t you agree?”
Dray smiled, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Princess stretched her wings, fighting back a yawn,
“Good. Then I will leave you to do what you do best General. In the meantime, I have a matter to attend to.”
The General bowed as the magnificent white alicorn walked past him, two guards falling in behind her. He sighed inwardly; his heart heavy with the knowledge of what they had had to do to reach this point, but this…this was merely the first step, the first of many on the road to a free Equestria. Whether they would keep the capital under their control or not remained to be seen, but first, they had to rebuild their forces and Harrier and her pegasi were the key to that. Once the people knew that their Princess had returned, that Celestia was back, they would have their hearts renewed with her light. It was as it should be…they would win, and all the horror, all the suffering, would be consigned to the books of history. Now though, he had a job to do,
“Major Wild?”
The red coated mare saluted, “General Dray”
“See to it that the prisoners are taken good care of, and the castle defenses are given top priority. I shall see if Ochre’s troops are willing to accept a ‘change of management’ in the morning. For now though, I think I shall go and speak to our...”
“-General Dray!” A famililar voice shouted, interrupting him, “My goodness, I thought you’d bought it!”
The white coated figure of an excited looking Colonel Spoon appeared in the doorway, her armour showing signs that she had, one again, lead from the front.
Dray’s heart leaped, “Colonel? What is it?”
“Thought you might like to know,” Spoon said smiling broadly, “we’ve managed to bag one of those thestral thingies - an officer by the looks of her. Big beggar too, took four of my boys to bring her down. She’s in the castle dungeon now.”
Dray looked at Wild, “An officer?” he nodded to Spoon, “Well then, Colonel, Major, shall we go speak to our new guest?”
“Do you need me Dray?” Gold Spoon asked, “I could really do with seeing to my boys and girls; a few of them took a bit of beating out there.”
Nodding, Dray laid a hoof on the Colonel’s shoulder, “Of course, Golden. Thank your troops for me will you? I’ll address everypony in the morning. Meanhile, you can use the castle’s facilities for quarters but give priority for the wounded. The kitchens are open as well - Cookie’s in there, so make sure you get a hot meal.”
“Better than ships biscuits, eh, Dray?” She said with a grin.
“I think anythings better than that!” The General laughed. He turned to Major Wild, “Come on Heather, let’s not keep our guest waiting.”
The two officers walked along the corridors and passageways of the castle, heading down into the little used dungeons. Little used that was, until Ochre had discovered they were a convenient way of ridding himself of those who displeased him, until more ‘permanent’ methods could be employed. Fortunately the dungeons had already been emptied and the nobles housed within given lodgings in the castle until Celestia could address them tomorrow. Dray was tired, but the energy in the air was driving him on. He hadn’t felt this optimistic in a long time - not since the war began in fact. Now they had plans, the very same plans that had once seemed little more than fantastical ideas, were now underway…and surprising quickly too. The Princess, Dray and his officers had planned everything down to the last detail, at least, as much as they could. It was like a huge jigsaw puzzle with all the pieces thrown in air. All those pieces needed to be recovered and slotted into place so that each fragment could come together as one whole. Things could, and most likely would, go wrong, but now they had a trump card, or to be more specific, two hundred of them. Dray smirked to himself; less what they’d used tonight of course.
The two of them turned a corner, following the directions given by the ‘liberated’ guards, finally coming face to face with two royal guardsponies. These two may be wearing burnished armour, but by the Goddesses they looked like the sort you really didn’t want to tangle with. Major Wild raised an eyebrow at the General and addressed the guards,
“General Dray and Major Wild to see the prisoner.”
The two guards saluted, with one of them opening the door behind them,
“Follow me please.”
As dungeons went, it was remarkably clean, with white washed walls, lanterns and several cells on each side. Peeking inside, Wild was surprised to see clean bedding, flooring and even a small table and chair. All very civilised, she pondered to herself absently - no doubt their new guest would appreciate the attention to detail. She nearly laughed.
“You in there!” The guard banged on the cell bars, “You have visitors.”
The guard saluted and stood a respectful distance away, leaving the General with the key. Dray peered inside - it was dark, with a single lamp that had its shade down, all but hiding the occupant in the shadows. He looked at Wild who shrugged, taking a lantern off the wall and pushed the door open, motioning for Dray to enter,
“So much for ladies first eh?” The grey stallion muttered.
The red mare grinned, making Dray roll his eyes. He’d ignore the way she stuck her tongue out at him playfully. No doubt she didn’t think he’d seen the cheeky gesture.
The cell was cool, but not cold, but like any cell, it was spartan when it came to furnishings. At least the creature had food, water and light, none of which appeared to have been touched. The beds occupant was sat on the edge, her head bowed and eyes closed, as if it…she…were in quiet contemplation. Perhaps she was communing with her Goddess? Dray felt a shiver run down his spine. It was bad enough fighting these creatures in battle, but knowing that they somehow had the ability to share their dreams with their deity was deeply troubling. It was like him having Celestia walk into his dreams each night for a debriefing; It was…intrusive, and a real concern when it came to security.
“My name is General Dray of the Celestian armed forces, this is Major Wild. I trust you are being taken care of?” he asked.
The creature said nothing.
“Do you speak Equestrian?”
Still nothing.
Dray watched her, the way the light played across the sleek black fur, the bones of her structure disturbingly plain without the usual covering armour he was used to seeing on them. Her mane had a red tinge to it, as did her tail. It was hard to see, but there were subtle variations in the fur too, a sort of shimmer here and there of greens and blues. Her wings were flat to her sides, the large leathery things more akin to those of a dragon than anything he’d seen before, but then Dray had very rarely seen thestrals fly. Probably due to all the armour they wore he surmised. In fact, this was the first time he’d seen one without their armour on. They looked…alien…yet, there was something oddly familiar about them too, a sense of common heritage he couldn’t quite put his hoof on. The thestral’s teeth though were something definitely not pony-like - they were sharp, curving up over her top lip at the corners of her mouth with the occasional wisp of smoke drifting out as she breathed. Were these things some sort of dragon hybrid? There was definitely something there, some semblance to the huge beasts. It was…intriguing.
Dray glanced at Wild who nodded in silent agreement,
“May I ask your name?”
The creature’s eyes suddenly opened, a crack of fiery light spilling out, the blue-white flames making the two officers glance at each other. They’d seen thestrals before, fought them, killed them in battle, but there was something about those eyes that always struck them as one of the most disturbing features of these beasts. They were…frightening. The burnings orbs fixed on the Major,
“My name is Wave, Second Wing Leader. You may as well kill me now, Celestian, I will not tell you anything.”
The thestral’s words were almost like an extension of the beast itself, the way they seemed to bypass your ears and slam straight into your brain - Dray felt like he wanted to scratch his mind. The thestral narrowed its eyes then shook its mane, a very pony like gesture, Dray noticed. He sighed,
“Nopony is killing anypony, miss.”
The thestral snorted, “If you are going to torture me, Celestian, get on with it - you bore me.”
“We don’t torture people, Wing.” Wild said calmly, “I don’t believe your people do either, do you?”
The thestral looked up at the Major, “Don’t we?” she sneered, “How would you know?”
Wild smiled, “I know more about your people than you think. I believe we share a common ancestry and even a common leader. Your Goddess is the sister of Celestia after all.”
“Hah!” The thestral snorted, “Common ancestry? With you?” Wave let out a loud barking laugh, “You know nothing of our people or our past! Nor, it appears, of your own…’pony’.”
The intense fire in the thestrals eyes blazed.
Wild sniffed, “I know enough, Wave, and I can see just from looking at you that we are not so different.”
Wave shook her head, “Delusional as well as ignorant.”
“I don’t understand,” Dray said scratching his mane, “you look like us in some ways, but…” he shrugged, “our histories don’t mention you.”
The thestral warrior lifted her head proudly,
“Our storytellers sing us the old tales, the ballads and sagas of the birth of our people, the times before you…your kind, stole our home and we were imprisoned. We were locked away like rats in a cage, left to wither and die while your soft, weaker kind propagated, infesting the land of our birth with your pathetic species.”
“The Princess?” Dray asked.
“Of course not!” the thestral snapped, “You think the white witch has the power to defeat an entire people?”
“Then who, Wave?” Wild asked, “Who would do such a thing?”
“You really don’t know, do you?” the dark coated mare said shaking her head, “don’t Celestian’s have storytellers?”
“We do,” The Major replied, “but the stories don’t go back much further than the wars of the three tribes.”
“Three tribes?” Wave shook her mane, baring his teeth, “There were four tribes once, but we were the unwanted ones, the ones who didn’t ‘fit in’ with the Great Destroyer’s plans for your utopia.”
“Great Destroyer?”
“The one whose power eclipses that of your witch, Celestian.” Wave said, a small wisp of smoke curling up from her muzzle, “The one who will some day return and destroy all he has wrought, cleansing all and returning the world to the dust from whence it came.”
Dray shook his head, “Doesn’t sound like it was worth invading Equestria if this ‘Great Destroyer’ of yours is going to wipe us all out,” He raised an eyebrow, “perhaps you would have been better off staying where you came from.”
Wave’s eyes blazed, “You…! How dare you! Our people have live in eternal darkness because of you! Your damnable kind infest this world like parasites and act as if it was yours to do with as you please! We will have our home back, Celestian, we will return and have our rightful place back as it should have been.” She smiled grimly, “The Goddess will be here soon and snuff out your little band of rebels like a candle in the wind.”
“You seem very sure of yourself, Wave.” Wild said calmly, “Your army is spread out, and even as we speak, they are heading north looking for us. I think we may be here a while before Nightmare Moon gets around to ‘snuffing us out’.”
Wave snorted, “Trickery; that is all your witch is capable of now?” she shook her head, “The time of ponies is at an end, Celestian. You have lost, can’t you understand that? The Goddess is already bringing in the new order that will make a new home for our people and the sooner you learn to accept that, the better.”
Dray stared at her, “You think your people could live here? Amongst ponies?”
Wave gritted her teeth, her eyes blazing, “No…not amongst you…above you. You are inferior to us Celestian - you are weak, soft and pathetic. Why do you think each time we have fought, your people have run like cowards into the hills and forests to hide? You need leaders, you need strength, and we are that strength. You will see that…with time.” She lifted an eyebrow, “Now, do as you will with me, I tire of this.”
Dray nodded to Wild, “Major?”
The two officers rose and left the room, with Wild pausing in the doorway,
“Wave? Do you have foals?”
The thestral looked up at her, her eyes shimmering in the gloomy room.
Wild watched her a moment and nodded silently, “Live on, Second Wing Leader Wave, if not for yourself…for them.”
Dray closed his eyes, listening to the door clang shut and the key turn in the lock. The Major looked at him sadly, shaking her head,
“I need a drink.”
“I’ll join you shortly.” Dray replied, “First I have a few things to sort out and, if you don’t mind the company, I’ll be happy to share a mug or two with you later.”
“I suppose we’ll need to hold off on too much celebration,” Wild said, pausing at the junction in the corridor, “just in case.”
The General gave her a nod and headed off towards the accommodation wing. It was going to be a long night, but he’d make the time for her somehow. Heather was special, there were so few he could talk with as freely as he could do with her. She was a true friend.
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There were always duties that needed to be attended to: dignitaries that had to be spoken with, treaties to finalise, arrangements to make - a seemingly endless list of tasks that constantly demanded her attention, pulling her this way and that. She let it too, or at least, she used to. Like a pawn in a cosmic game of chess played by those who remained aloof and unseen, the ones who hid on the edges of sight and mind, Celestia felt as though she had been nothing more than a mindless playing piece, used for their thoughtless amusement. They thought they were so clever, but she knew they were there, the secret players of the great game - the game where the stakes were the lives of hundreds, thousands, perhaps even millions. She shook her mane and increased her pace; she wouldn’t be played any more, she would make her own future, and forge her own destiny. Let Fate play her damnable games - she would fight back…and fight she would! The Princess gritted her teeth. How well she remembered that day, the day her mother had taken her to see the wizened old hag in her cabin on the mountainside, the one who told her things that hadn’t really meant much to her at the time, and yet now…
Celestia reached the door. It had been locked by royal decree, her decree, and by the feel of the magic around it nopony had tried to access it since the time Willow, Rush’s mother, had made her fateful journey to another world…never to return. She closed her eyes and concentrated, feeling for the familiar tingle of magic, the webs of power that had been spun into a complex pattern that only needed the right touch…in the right…place…
With a slight pop of air pressure, the spell disappeared and the lock opened with a loud ‘clunk’. It was time…time to look into the past once more.
Lifting her head, Celestia pushed open the door to the dusty room beyond. Her entry triggered the ancient magical torches on the walls, their light sending a pale blue-white light across the already eerie room, but it was what was in centre of the room that held her attention. There, up a few simple stone steps, stood the large oval stone portal just as it always had, even since before she were born. It looked…dead somehow; cold and lifeless, as though it were nothing more than an eccentric decoration of ornately carved stone. In some ways of course, that’s exactly what it was…stone. But it was what had been done to that stone that made it what it was - the magical runes that had been carved into it, the incredible power and craft that had been weaved into its construction. It wasn’t dead, no, far from in fact - it was…sleeping.
The Princess took a breath, steadying her heart and mind, focussing on channelling her magic into the carved nodes that would bring the portal back to life. It was a simple spell really, an infinitesimally small application of magic to the right area and…
Nothing.
Celestia rubbed her eyes. It was late, in fact, it was virtually morning, and this probably wasn’t the best idea she’d had, but...Rush…The Princess gritted her teeth, fighting back the tiredness and let her desire, her need, guide her. She sent the spell into the nodes once more…
Nothing.
Unbidden, her anger bloomed, quickly beginning to replace her frustration. Celestia tried recasting the spell again and again, but each time, the portal remained completely, and stubbornly, unresponsive. The spell was correct wasn’t it? She’d studied it and practiced it endlessly, so it had to be. In fact, it was actually a very simple spell, and yet for some inexplicable reason it wasn’t haven’t any effect whatsoever. She sat back on her haunches, her head beginning to spin with the concentration and exertion of her magic on top of her existing physical fatigue. This was ridiculous! Why in the name of all the gods wasn’t this working? Celestia shook her mane and took a breath, reaching deep down inside herself, tapping her reserves, pulling up everything she had. She concentrated, weaving and tuning her magic until it was ready. She watched it, felt it, but even as she sent the spell into the node she already knew…
Nothing.
The building frustration, anger and the strain of the last few months was beginning to bubble. Celestia laughed out loud - it was so obvious wasn’t it! That old hag had done this to her, she’d told her, she’d warned her, but what was a foal to know of the machinations of an old Goddess? That monstrous, evil THING! Celestia’s magic suddenly blew through the room in a torrent, a white hot raging storm of fury as her heart cried out in a heedless scream that shook the room to its very foundation. The Princess roared, her wings wide and as she floated up off the ground, an image of the sun’s light in all its glory, and merciless power.
She called to him, crying out in her helplessness and grief. Why wasn’t this cursed thing working? WHY?!
She was tired, that was it, yes…too much strain, far, far too much. Celestia took a deep breath, releasing her grip on her magic and sank back to the floor, her legs nearly buckling from the effort. Hanging her head in defeat, the Princess hung her head bit back a sob as her tears rolling down her face and dropped onto the dusty floor. But then a thought came to her: Books! That was it! The ancient library of the castle - there had to be something in there, something that would open the portal once more! Celestia’s foreleg suddenly buckled under her, sending her crashing to the floor in a heap of legs and wings. For a moment she just stayed there too tired to move, trying to catch her breath and recover her strength. She’d done far too much tonight, she knew that already, and if she didn’t get some sleep soon she’d be no use to anypony. Tomorrow, she would begin her search in the library, but she must have a strategy, a plan…
Yawning suddenly, Celestia walked slowly back to the door. There was just so much to do, it was simply too much for one, but that had always been one her greatest faults hadn’t it? That inability to trust others to share some of the responsibility and relieve her of some of the pressures of office, had ultimately lead to…Ochre. Thank the Gods for Dray. If only there were more like him, but…they were out there weren’t they? Why had she always look to the nobility for leaders? Dray wasn’t nobly born, nor was his family. For that matter, he was a farmer’s son wasn’t he? She shook her head in wonder - she had a lot to consider for the future.
Mercifully, she soon found herself in the corridor leading to her bedchambers. Two royal guards stood outside, snapping to attention as she wearily approached. One of them she noticed had part of his tail singed away, probably from thestral or dragon fire, the other had a nastly looking nick on her ear that had been stitched and slathered with healing ointment. She smiled gently,
“Thank you…” was all she could manage.
The stallion seemed to falter, unsure how to respond, but the mare bowed low,
“It is a pleasure to serve you, Princess, and Equestria.”
Celestia nodded, smiling, “Our home needs all us to protect her. With ponies like you, we shall have peace soon enough.” She walked through the doors and closed them behind her with a glow from her magic, noting how the guardsmare stuck her tongue out at the stallion with a smirk.
The Princess smiled.
A familiar orange coated unicorn maid with deep green eyes stood respectfully by the fireplace and curtsied,
“Good evening, Your Majesty.”
“Lilly?” Celestia looked at the young maid in surprise, “You’re still here? I thought you would have….left.”
Lilly smiled, “I did, but one of the girls from the castle sent word that Your Majesty had returned and I hot hoofed it back here. I knew your room would need a little sprucing up.”
The Princess looked around her. The bedchamber was pristine: the beds sheets pressed, the curtains cleaned, the roaring fire adding just the right amount of warmth…she barked a laugh,
“I think you have more magic than I, Lilly!” She beamed at her happily, the distress of earlier dissipating in the warm smile of the orange maid, “It’s good to be home.”
Soon, with her armour properly stacked, panniers hung up, mane and coat brushed, the Princess dismissed Lilly and climbed onto the bed. By the Gods she was tired. Her fatigue was threatening to overwhelm her, but there was one more thing she needed to do before she could sleep. The golden glow of magic quickly filled the room, focussing on the flap of one of her panniers, floating out a small innocuous looking pouch. Celestia brought it to her, tipping out its contents into her hooves. She closed her eyes and traced the lines on its surface: the carving, the smell of the wood…the smell of Rush’s home…
With the lightest touch of her magic, the box’s lid popped open, revealing a slim key within. Lifting it out, the Princess took out a long gold necklace from her bedside cupboard and threaded it through the key before slipping it around her neck. Now…now the box was simply that…just a box. She took a breath, sighing it out,
“Good night, Rush. Gods keep you safe.”
She closed her eyes and placed a gentle kiss on the precious box before floating it over to the shelf of her book case. There it would sit, and wait, waiting for the day when he returned to be at his mare’s side. A tear rolled down Celestia’s cheek, soaking into her fur as she suddenly grabbed one of her pillows and squeezed it for all she was worth,
“Oh, Rush!”
She would see him again…she would! The Princess leaned back and spoke quietly to the room, to the world,
“I will have what I seek. I will have back what is mine.” She smiled. Oh yes, she would have it all back, and nopony would stop her this time…nopony…
****************************
“Now that’s what I’m talking about!” Chalk laughed, waving his sword in his magic, “Did you see me there, Brack? I was like like…hah!” He jumped to one side, waving his sword, “And then…gotcha!” He lunged at an imaginary foe, “Bloody hell, I’ll need to remember that one. Wait till I tell…”
“Tell who?” A voice behind him made him jump.
Bracken’s eyes went wide as he stepped back from the advancing mare.
“Been off having fun have we?” Gretel snorted, “You bloody stupid idiot! You could have got yourself killed!” She shook her head, “What is it with you Chalky? You got a blasted death wish?”
“The General said we were still in the army’s service until the castle was retaken, and we’ve done it!” Chalk announced with a smirk on his face. Unimpressed, Gretel gritted her teeth angrily,
“He also said you were to stay on the ship! That was one of the conditions for my helping them! Good Goddess, Chalky, will you for once listen to somepony other than your damned testosterone?”
“My what?”
Bracken leaned in, whispering in his ear. Chalk’s eyes went wide,
“I do NOT!”
“You bloody well do!” Gretel rose to her full height, “Now put that bloody sword away and come with me.”
“Why? What’s going on?” Chalk said in confusion, “I thought we’d…”
“Oh, shut up Chalky!” Gretel snapped, “I’m really angry with you right now, and you’re going to make it up to me.”
“Uh…how?” he asked.
The Captain grinned at him menacingly, “You’re going to buy my drinks for me.”
“I’m…what? Wha…but…I haven’t got any money!” Chalk sputtered.
“Your pay” Gretel said raising an eyebrow, “You probably forgot, but everypony on the crew gets paid and you’re on the crew now whether you like it or not.”
Chalk’s ears pricked up, “Cool! So…how much do I get?”
“About enough to pay for my drinks tonight” Gretel said meaningfully, “There’s a drinking hole round here where they sell the best spirits from around the world and I intend to make a good night of it.” She suddenly stopped and poked him in the chest with her hoof, “Do I make myself clear, Mister Dust?”
Chalk blinked in surprise, “Um…yes!”
“Good boy.”
Bracken watched the couple wander off into the capital with a shake of his head. He just didn’t know what to think any more, the world had gone mad and he was merely a leaf carried along on the surface of a raging river of insanity. Perhaps it was him? Maybe he was the one who’d gone crazy and the rest of the world with all its horrors was actually just the norm. He tossed his mane and snorted. If that was indeed the case, then you could keep it. Maybe someday, something would make a modicum of sense to him, but he doubted it. For now though, he decided to go off and find a drinking hole for himself, one where he could go and get absolutely hammered, and cheaply. He checked his money pouch…yup! It was as he thought. Maybe he could find some way of claiming his back pay from the army now they were back. It was worth a shot, but…ah, sod it! It could wait until morning.
Bracken trotted through the streets, past the throngs of milling soldiers and the celebrating locals, until he turned a corner into what looked like the entrance of a bookshop of some kind. He clucked his tongue and turned to leave. There had to be somewhere round here a pony could find a drink, and he sure as hell didn’t want to spend another night on that bloody ship either!
“Excuse me, sir?”
A female voice called out to him, so soft he nearly missed it. Bracken peered back over his shoulder and saw the faint outline of a dark purple mare with a short silver and blue mane, peeking from the doorway,
“Is it…is it all over? I heard fighting.”
Bracken smiled, “Yes, miss, it is. You may want to stay indoors for a while though just in case.”
She looked up at him, her unusual orange eyes catching the light and making the stallion step back in surprise,
“Sir, are you a soldier?” the mare asked, “Forgive me, I’m a little frightened. You couldn’t stay with me for a while until my mother comes home, could you?”
Bracken raised an eyebrow, “Your mother?”
“She works in the castle kitchens.”
“I see.” Bracken felt his hoof twitch towards his sword. His hackles were going up, but he couldn’t put his hoof on why. The mare sounded genuine enough, and there was definitely some fear in her voice. Anyway, what could this earth pony mare do against an armed soldier? He stopped and checked behind him before shrugging,
“Certainly Miss…?”
“Nutmeg” she said quietly, “Please, come inside. I have the kettle on the stove and tea if you’re cold.”
He was cold. In fact, he was bloody freezing. Bracken nodded and followed his host into the dark front of the shop.
Inside, the smell of books was overpowering. The pungent aroma of paper and wood with the slight background hint of glue was actually quite heady, and oddly comforting somehow. It was quiet here, a simple place of contemplation and thought. Towers of books, racks of scrolls, pots of quills and numerous other items of the bookbinder and authors arts sat around awaiting customers…probably when it was daylight outside of course. It had been so dark, he hadn’t even seen the shops name outside. Bracken dismissed his worries with a shrug; a hot cup of tea was far more important than anything else right now. Pity it wasn’t a wheat beer though, or rum…rum was good.
“This way, please.” Nutmeg said over her shoulder.
The mare lifted a lantern from the wall, taking the handle in her mouth and trotted off through a back door and into what looked like a small living room. By the looks of the place, this was where the owners of the shop lived. Another door lead off to a workroom and a set of stairs disappeared up to what was probably the bedroom. With the fire crackling away in the hearth, it actually felt quite cosy.
“Miss Nutmeg…” Bracken began.
“-Please, just ‘Nutmeg’, sir.” She smiled slightly, “Would you like a hot drink? I have tea, but I have some of fathers spirits too if you’d like?”
“Spirits?” Bracken ears pricked up and he licked his lips, “Um…you don’t have any rum by any chance do you?”
Nutmeg bobbed her head happily, her orange eyes reflecting the glow from the fire,
“Of course!” she replied pleasantly, “Would you like a shot in your tea?”
“Can’t say I’ve ever tried that before, but why not?” Bracken said rubbing his forelegs together, “You don’t mind if I sit by the fire to warm up do you?”
“Please…” Nutmeg held out a hoof in invitation before turning back to the stove with its steaming kettle, “Father used to love a cup of tea with rum,” she said as she worked, “he was a good stallion, and a fine artisan.”
“Was?”
Nutmeg paused as she stirred the tea, “He died in the war.”
“Oh…” Bracken felt like kicking himself, “I’m sorry Nutmeg, that was insensitive of me to ask.”
“No…” she said quietly, “I shouldn’t have mentioned him. You were only being polite, forgive me.” The purple mare placed the pot of tea, cups and the bottle of rum on the table between them, “I have some hot cakes here too. I’ll have to leave a couple for mother, but we can have one each if you like sir.”
“Bracken.”
She smiled, “Bracken. That’s a nice name.”
The black stallion returned the smile, his heart warming to the kindly mare, “Nutmeg’s a nice name too. Makes me think of good things, like warm spicy cakes on a cold winters evening.”
With a light chuckle, the young mare passed him a plate with a cake on it, “This one does have nutmeg in it,” she blinked her large orange eyes, “and cinnamon, plus some sultanas. I hope you don’t mind sweet things.”
“No…” Bracken could feel his pulse racing as he watched the mare pouring the rum into his tea, “I like sweet things.”
Oh Goddesses, what was he thinking! Alone in a room with an attractive young mare who he didn’t know and now his body was beginning to react as if he was in bloody season! He took a deep breath and tried to calm his racing heart. She’d asked for his help and he would give it, that was all.
“You don’t seem like the other soldiers” Nutmeg observed taking a dainty nibble on her own biscuit.
“Don’t I?” Bracken looked down at his body, “Oh, no armour?”
She nodded, “I thought you might have been with the Legion.”
“The Legion?” Bracken looked up, “Why?”
“Your coat…” she replied shyly, “black as midnight, shining in the moonlight.” Nutmeg looked up at him, “The moon outlined your coat, and you shone like silver in the dark of night.”
“That’s…very poetic.” He said gently.
“Do you think so?” Nutmeg smiled, “I’m writing a new book at the moment. I call it ‘Reflections in a mountain lake’. It’s a story about a pony who finds herself lost in the forest, and stumbles across a large perfectly still lake.” She leaned back in her chair and sipped her tea, “It’s about reflections, both physical and metaphorical, taking the reader on a journey of discovery, not only of the books character, but of themselves.”
“It sounds pretty deep.” Bracken said, taking up his teacup.
“Hmm…perhaps,” Nutmeg replied, “but I want to make ponies think, and that’s what’s important. We shouldn’t just accept the ‘what is’, Bracken, we should look beyond today to what ‘may be’ - the infinite possibilities of a new and exciting future.”
Bracken felt his head whirling. He was a little lost for words, what with the warmth, the tea, the rum…his head was getting a little fuzzy.
“Come with me, Bracken…” Nutmeg rose from her chair, reaching out to him with her forehooves, “Come…”
In a happy, if slightly confused daze, the black stallion rose from his chair, his legs a little unsteady, but solid enough to let him follow the young purple mare into a back room and down a short flight of stairs. It was colder down here, but not too uncomfortable. Where were they going? He shook his head, trying to clear it…what was…?
She stopped, “Here.”
Nutmeg guided him to a large cushion that sat on the floor before a small altar. It was a fairly small room, bedecked with deep purple and black tapestries, with a dark blue rug covering the floor, adorned with tastefully embroidered stars and moons. In front of the two ponies, the altar sat nestled between two bundles of incense, a silver crescent moon inlaid into its midnight blue marble surface. Bracken watched in silence as Nutmeg walked slowly up to the altar, and curtsied. Producing a taper, she began lighting the incense before settling back down on the cushion beside him.
“In all things, there is balance.” Nutmeg said in a voice that seemed to flow around the room, “As day passes to night, the night becomes the day.” She leaned forward and tapped a small silver bell, the sound seeming to cut through the atmosphere in the room on some level that Bracken could sense, but not see.
“We are as one beneath the embrace of the heavens, the light of the universe, held in the love of our lady of the stars and moon.” Nutmeg’s voice was warm and gentle, carrying the same note of kindness that Bracken remembered his mother having as she prayed,
“Come to us mother; protect us, shelter us from harm, guide us in our lives until the day we pass beyond to be with you forever in your eternal loving moonlight.”
Bracken felt his body become heavy and then suddenly lighter, as if he had abruptly jumped up and become light headed. It was not an unpleasant sensation, but was one that certainly came as a surprise. He gave his head a shake and tried to regain his wits. This wasn’t right, he shouldn’t be here, he had to…
“Hello, Bracken…”
That voice!
“Miss me, my black stallion?”
Bracken’s heart leaped, his mind reeling with emotions and thoughts that crashed and splintered until they coalesced into the image of…
“Nutmeg?” Bracken stared at the purple mare, but the eyes that looked back at him, the smile that sat on that young face - it wasn’t hers…it was…
“Divine Majesty” Bracken bowed.
The Goddess chuckled. Her voice sounded different, coming from another pony, but the intonation, the inflections in the words - it was her.
“I had not expected to find you so soon, young Bracken.” Nightmare Moon said quietly, “This young child of the night found you much quicker than I had hoped. It seems that fate truly does mean for you to come back to me.” She moved closer, her breath spicy with the scent of the cinnamon and nutmeg cake, “Do you miss me, my stallion?”
Bracken felt a tear roll down his cheek, his heart beating loudly in his ears, “I do.” he said breathlessly, “Majesty, I do.” He closed his eyes, feeling the hoof of his Goddess stroke down his chest. It was her, and yet it wasn’t her, but…but he wanted to be with her…he…
“Oh, Bracken…” Nightmare Moon cooed, “Such an eager stallion, aren’t you? Do I really move your heart so?”
“Yes, Majesty.”
“Yes…” she purred, “Tell me, Bracken, what do you know?”
Bracken sat back and poured out his heart. He told her about the ship, about the army, about everything. He was hers completely, body and soul, and she commanded him. She was the Goddess and Bracken loved her, so, so much…
Time passed, the Goddess asking questions and Bracken answering. Her physical body was far away still, so far that it would take time for her to find him, but find him she would.
“You have done well, my Bracken.” The Goddess said, smiling at him, “You are still loyal to me, even after what that cruel witch did to you. Did she hurt you?”
He bowed his head, “Yes.”
Nightmare Moon shook her head, “I didn’t want you to be hurt, my brave stallion. But no matter, the white witch could not pull me from your heart. That is a domain which only you can control.” She smiled at him, “Bracken…I have one final question for you.”
He looked up eagerly, “Yes, Majesty?”
“Who do you love?”
“I…” Bracken paused, his eyes staring into the brightly shining orbs of the purple mare, her orange eyes reflecting his own grey ones. He wasn’t sure what to say, but…he knew the answer, inside…yes, he knew. He nodded to himself,
“I love you, Your Majesty.”
Nightmare Moon smiled, “I know, Bracken.” She moved forward and lifted his head in her hooves, “I shall be with you soon enough, but for now, I shall give you a little…reward.”
Bracken closed his eyes, his heart racing as he felt the forelegs of his Goddess slip around his neck, pulling him into a warm embrace. Her lips were warm, soft and gentle against his.
“Majesty…” he breathed.
The Goddess chuckled, letting out a soft moan,
“Mine…”