CHAPTER FIFTY THREE
GRASS BEFORE BREAKFAST
Steam rose from the windows of the large wooden structure. It had been built in the style of the thestrals homeland: a long, low building made of logs in a seemingly random and haphazard manner. For some, it looked like little more than as if a giant creature had just dropped a mass of logs in one place and simply flown away. Like the race that created it, appearances could often be deceptive.
Bracken lay back in the hot water of the bath house, his eyes half closed in contentment. The world had moved on and he along with it, the loss he’d felt for Neira and Pickles a faint whisper of memory from what seemed like a different age, a different ‘him’. He smiled to himself and stretched lagurously in the water. Soon, the war would be over, peace would be restored, and it would be time to settle down with his beautiful mare.
A midnight coated muzzle appeared above him, a pair of large azure eyes twinkling in the lantern light,
“How is the water today, my Bracken?”
He sighed happily, “Perfect Your Majesty, like you.”
Nightmare Moon smiled, slipping off her robe and sinking into the water beside the black stallion. She let out a low groan, closing her eyes as the hot water soaked into her fur. This was a simple pleasure for her, but one she enjoyed immensely. To share it with her stallion added a little extra spice to the experience that made her spirits lift. She moved in next to him, folding her wings so she could nudge up that little bit closer. The Goddess had begun to wonder when this change had come over her, when her heart had started to…feel. It was something she had never believed could have happened when she first joined with the alicorn, that simple merging of her spirit with Luna’s body to become who she was today. Luna was little more than a child of course, a child who wanted the unobtainable, and deep down she knew it herself. Did she regret what she had done? Maybe…Nightmare Moon couldn’t read all of Luna’s thoughts, but she knew enough. Sooner or later, the two would truly become one, as water soaks into the earth, what she was, would simply become part of the greater whole. She was the Goddess, the one who controls the world of dreams and the night, sheer perfection incarnate. The best part of it though, was that Bracken knew it too, and he would make a fine father some day. The possibility made her shudder with anticipation.
“You’re shivering.” He said, raising an eyebrow.
“Me? No.” Nightmare Moon laughed, “No…I am…excited.”
“Excited?”
“I don’t need to explain everything to you, do I?” she said.
Bracken smiled knowingly, “Of course not.”
The Goddess sighed, shaking her head. Nopony else would dare to speak to her in such a manner, none that wished to keep their head attached of course, but with Bracken it had just…happened. She stared up at the steam, clearing her mind and let her thoughts drift away into nothingness. In some ways the steam reminded her of the ‘other’ world, the realm where nothing was solid, nothing could touch you, nor be touched. It was a place without sensation, where there was no fear, no joy, no pain, no love, nothing…simply…nothing. She didn’t want to go back there - she couldn’t, not now. The Goddess opened one eye; he was watching her again with those fathomless grey eyes, so full of love for her. For a moment, just a moment, she wondered if she could not just throw everything to the winds and simply run away with him, to live a happy life with this earth stallion. But of course, reality was far removed from such fantasies. Celestia would never let such a thing be - she wanted Nightmare Moon vanquished, she wanted Luna back as the foolish, powerless puppet she had always been. She sneered; that damned white witch! She’d never treated her sister as an equal, she’d always treated her as…
Bracken was leaving the pool.
“Would you like me to help you dry when you’re ready, Majesty?” he said looking back at her.
Nightmare Moon peered up at him, her eyes going wide. When…? She blinked. Of course, it was obvious when you thought about it, and yet still… Was she really affecting him that much? Her chest felt like somepony were squeezing it all of a sudden and she gasped back a cry.
“Majesty!”
Bracken plunged back into the pool, hooking his forelegs under her and pulling her out and onto the dry wooden floor where she lay gasping and sobbing. Bracken was distraught - what was happening? Was she alright? He had to get her some fresh air, the steam in here could be affecting her breathing. Carefully, he lifted her and carried her to the drying area and threw open the window shutters allowing the cooling evening breeze to waft in.
“I’ll fetch the doctor, Majesty.” he said urgently, “I won’t be long, I promise.”
“No…” A hoof reached out and caught him, “Bracken…no…” the mare looked up at him, her eyes pleading. She didn’t want him to leave - not now, not…not…she grabbed him and pulled him into an embrace,
“Hold me. Bracken, please, just…hold me.”
The black stallion looked worried, frightened almost. He wanted to run for help, but wanted to stay with her and hold her, but… He sighed, sinking down beside Nightmare Moon and wrapped a towel around her, pulling her into his chest,
“You’ll catch cold.” He said smiling at the dark mare, and leaned her head against his warm fur.
The Goddess squeezed her eyes shut against the flood of strange feelings, these ‘emotions’ that were surging through her body, pulling her this way and that, making her feel as though she were losing her mind…her ‘self’. Suddenly, she opened her eyes, looking down. What was this? What…? Water was coming from her eyes, droplets leaking out and… She let out a cry of grief, grabbing hold of the black stallion and holding him tightly, pulling herself into him. She couldn’t let him go, she’d never let him go, not as long as she drew breath and there was a moon in the sky.
He kissed her forehead and just…held her.
*********************************
Nightmare Moon awoke with a start. Where was she? How? Blinking her eyes, she focussed on her surroundings; the lamps, the brazier burning low, the maid placing the pitcher of water onto the beside table, the black stallion with the blue mane nodding his thanks to her as she left. The Goddess smiled.
Noticing she was awake, Braceken trotted over to her,
“Are you awake Majesty?”
Nightmare Moon, the dark Goddess of the night, watched him with her large azure eyes and smiled,
“I am, however I don’t remember returning to our lodge.”
“I carried you back.” Bracken said simply, pouring her a goblet of wine, “You fell asleep.”
“You…you carried me?!” the Goddess gasped in shock.
Bracken lifted a hoof, “Don’t worry, nopony saw us.” He shrugged, “I covered you in towels so they couldn’t see.”
“You…you did WHAT?!”
The black stallion smiled, passing her the goblet, “You looked so peaceful, but I couldn’t leave you in there like that. I can take better care of you here.”
“Ha!” the Goddess snorted, “I don’t need looking after. I am no invalid, child.”
Bracken raised an eyebrow, “No, but is it wrong for me to care?”
“You are infuriating.” She huffed, looking away haughtily.
“I try” he laughed.
The Princess shook her head in resignation and floated over the goblet in her magic - it was…water. For a moment she felt a flash of anger, that this stallion would have the audacity to do such a thing without her consent, but… She sighed; he’d done it out of concern for her, hadn’t he? He was making her soft, and softness could be the death of her, and him. She gave herself a shake, downing the water and slammed it back down. Bracken was a weakness, a chink in her armour and one that cunning old witch knew about, at least to some degree. Nightmare Moon looked the stallion up and down, nodding to herself.
Bracken looked back at her with concern written all over his face, “Majesty?”
The Goddess gazed into the low burning brazier, watching its coals glow comfortingly as she spoke,
“Celestia knows you are with the Legion. No doubt her little trouble makers in their magical flying boat will have been flapping their mouths, and although I doubt she knows exactly in what ‘capacity’ you serve, she will target you.”
“Target me?” Bracken asked, his ears pricking up, “I am nothing to her.”
Nightmare Moon let out a breath, “Oh, Bracken, how wonderfully naïve you are my stallion. I fear that Celestia knows of your importance to me and will do all in her power to take you away from me.”
“That will never happen” Bracken snorted, “Let her try.”
“No!” The Princess of the night stomped a hoof, “I cannot risk that! I cannot…” She paused, collecting her thoughts, “You don’t know her the way I do, Bracken. She is incredibly jealous and would never entertain even the possibility of my having something she does not - even if that something is not…’tangible’.” She closed her eyes, “I must…hide you.”
“What? Where? How?” Bracken asked in surprised.
“Questions, questions, questions!” the Goddess snapped, “I do not need to explain my every thought and reason to you, just…” She scrubbed her mane; sometimes this aggravating stallion made her want to throttle the life out of him! Still, she would have to tell him sooner or later and the clumsy oaf hadn’t even notice himself yet.
“Look at you flank.” She said levelly.
Bracken furrowed his brow, but did as she said. What he saw made his heart skip a beat,
“What about…oh…oh my Goddess! My cutie mark!”
Nightmare Moon rose from her seat and walked over to him, “I told you that staying near me could…affect you.”
Bracken stared in horror at where his mark had been, the small sprig of foliage that had been his namesake since he was a foal - it was who he was, it was a pony’s soul! Now, it was…changed. A simple white lightning flash sat in its place, repeated, as he expected, on his other flank. He nearly choked,
“It’s gone! It’s…it’s changed! It’s…”
Nightmare Moon nodded slowly, “It is the mark of the Wither World. Even though you are a child of the moon, I did not think that it would affect you to this degree.”
“But…it’s a part of me!” Bracken gasped in horrror, pawing at the new mark, “It’s who I am!”
The Goddess watched him with her timeless eyes and smiled sadly, “’It’s who you are’” she echoed. Her voice rose, “’Who’ you are is on the inside, Bracken, and that is not something dictated by a picture on your backside.” She snorted, “Ponies put too much stock in such things.”
“Its more than just a picture!” Bracken tried to explain, his voice cracking with barely restrained panic, “It’s tied to our destiny, to our special talents.”
“And what is your special talent, Bracken? What is your destiny? Hmm?” Nightmare Moon locked eyes with the brown stallion, “A cutie mark can guide you, it can help direct you, but it does not control your heart,” she tapped him on the head, “or your mind.” The Goddess found a cask of wine and poured some out, “Your mark did what for you? You were a craftspony were you not? And you did that by yourself, but you also did more, so much more.” She pushed the goblet into his hooves, “Did your cutie mark prevent you from doing those things?”
Bracken shook his head, “No…no, but…what is it? I don’t even know what it’s supposed to be!”
The Goddess sighed, “It doesn’t ‘mean’ anything. I’ve only ever seen the mark once before, on a pony who travelled to the afterlife and returned. The mark was the same as this one - it shows that he was touched by the spirits.”
“And…are you…are you one of those spirits?” he asked.
She nodded, “Of a sort.”
Bracken hung his head, “I don’t understand this, its so much to take in!”
“I understand.” Nightmare Moon stroked his mane gently, nuzzling him. She could feel his fear, his confusion - it was in his breath, and his eyes. It worried her. “Bracken, don’t you see? This is a sign, a sign of a new beginning for you. Inside, you are still Bracken, but on the outside, you have been reborn. You have a chance now to make your own destiny, to stand by my side and help take Equestria to a new age of peace and prosperity, where all our peoples can be as one. Doesn’t that excite you? Don’t you want to be part of that?”
The black stallion stared at the ground, his legs quavering, but he looked up, looking her right in the eyes with that strength she knew had lain within him all along,
“Yes.”
She smiled, “Good. Now, I have a plan for you to keep you safe…”
The conviction in Bracken’s voice caught her by surprise,
“-I will not leave your side.”
A raised hoof however, brought him up short, “There is no need for you to do so my dear stallion.” Nightmare Moon grinned raising an eyebrow, “No need at all.”
*********************************
The salmon coated stallion shook his regulation length mane and stared down his muzzle at the white unicorn before him. Several more stallions in the uniform of the provost guard flanked him. All of them were armed with spears that gleamed in the sunlight.
“Private Chalk Dust,” The armoured stallion pronounced, “you are under arrest for desertion and shall be imprisoned until such time as a courts martial can be convened to determine your guilt and fate.”
“Buck off.”
The officer’s eye twitched,
“Guards!”
Even as the spears lowered, more than a dozen cutlasses hissed from their sheaths, including Chalk’s own crystalline sword. The officer’s lime green eyes went wide in shock,
“You…dare? YOU DARE!”
“I do dare, do you dare?” Chalk mocked.
Behind him, Gretel trotted down the gangplank surrounded by armed crewponies and sporting a heavy crossbow over her back. She stared at the officer and sneered,
“Hello, pretty boy, what do you want with one of my crew?”
There was a general peel of laughter from the ponies on the dockside.
The officer cleared his throat, “Private Chalk Dust is a serving member of Her Majesty’s armed forces. He was on assignment and although he has returned to the capital, he has not reported back and therefore has been classified as a deserter.”
The Captain smiled menacingly, “By who?”
“By his commanding officer” he replied calmly.
Chalk laughed, “Who would be you, of course.”
“Your commanding officer?” Gretel asked, “The one you told me about?”
Chalk nodded.
“The one who sent you and your friend on a suicide mission to the frozen north?”
He nodded again.
“Into enemy territory, underequipped and with no plan for pulling you out?” Gretel took off the crossbow from her back, standing it on end and leaning her forehooves on it, “This would be the officer who disobeyed General Dray’s instructions that you and Bracken were to remain in the Capital, correct?”
The officer remained silent.
“CORRECT?” the red mare glared at him, “Shallow Fry…”
The salmon coloured officer tried to compose himself, “I will not stand here and listen to any more of this nonsense madam. If you…”
“Well buck off then!” somepony shouted, eliciting another chorus of laughter.
“IF YOU…” Fry shouted, “do NOT come quietly, you will leave us no option but to use force.” He suddenly paled, slowly turning to look behind him. At least another fifty ponies from the Wind Wraith had appeared, all armed and looking like they knew damned well how to use the weapons they were carrying. A mint green mare in their midst suddenly shouted out,
“Hoy, Gretel, anything happening?”
The red mare shook her head, “Nah, just having a bit of a natter with the locals.”
“Don’t mind if we hang about for a bit do you?” Cyclone called, “Bit quiet at the minute; the boys could do with a break.”
“Be my guest!” Gretel called back. She fixed Fry with a hard look, “You were saying, Captain Fry?”
He looked distinctly green, drawing more comedic observations from the crew. Gretel watched him as a cat watched a mouse, her hooves twitching for a good fight. She went to open her mouth but Chalk was already taking the lead.
“You sent us off to die, didn’t you…Captain Fry.” Chalk’s voice was dangerously low despite the inflection of amusement, “You didn’t expect us to come back and now here I am.” He shook his head, “We completed out mission, we did your bloody errand for you and now I want to know what you’re going to do about rescuing my friend.”
Fry blinked, “What?”
Chalk stood tall, his golden mane catching the wind, “I asked you what you were going to do about rescuing my friend from the wendigo you spineless sack of filth.”
“H…how dare you!” Fry sputtered, “How dare you speak to me in that manner! I am your commanding officer and I will not be spoken to in this way!” he rallied some of his resolve and glowered at Chalk, “You’re the big stallion now are you? Easy to talk tough with your rag-tag band of cut-throats backing you up.”
Chalk took a deep breath and gave himself a shake,
“You can insult me, but you do not insult my friends you worthless dungpile.” He dropped into a fighting stance, “You and me, Fry, now, - nopony else.”
The officer looked unsure, glancing about nervously at the ponies around him. He licked his lips.
“Draw you sword, you damned coward!” Chalk roared.
Gretel and the crew of the Revenge stood back, as did the Wind Wraiths, and even the provost guard. The two ponies at the centre of the circle stared each other down: one a white unicorn, the other a salmon pink unicorn, both now the centre of a ring of expectant ponies. Captain Fry drew his sword, a superior look upon his face,
“Nopony interferes?”
Chalk nodded, waving to Gretel, “Nopony interferes.”
Fry smirked, “I’ll look forward to gutting you, you insignificant worm.”
“And I look forward to showing you how we fought at River Valley…coward.”
Fry screeched in range and charged Chalk, his sword surrounded in the pale blue glow of his magic. The white unicorn stood and waited, shifting his weight, his sword tip held low and towards his flank, his head down. Emotionless green eyes watched the approach of the enraged Fry. Everypony held their breath, staring intently as the combatants closed their distance.
Chalk felt nothing, only a sense of calm focus and a confidence born of experience. He cleared his mind. Time meant nothing here, in this place, in this moment - only the blade and the target, bringing the two together at the exact…same…point.
The enraged salmon coated officer span around to face his enemy, lifting his sword and stared at the immaculately clean blade. How the hell had he missed? He’d done this a hundred, no…a thousand times in training. His sparring partners had always commented on how precise and skilful he was! He’d won awards, damn it! And…what the hell was that bloody creature doing now? Why was he flicking his sword like that? He…he’d even sheathed it! The sheer arrogance! The…the…
Chalk raised an eyebrow at the provost guards,
“Well? Got anything you want to say?”
Silence fell on the dockside with only the soft sound of ponies shuffling out of the way to allow the armoured guards to withdraw as they collected the body of the officer. Seconds later, there was a huge cheer from the crews of the Amethyst Fleet, with all of them shoving in to congratulate their unicorn crewmate. Chalk closed his eyes and smiled sadly to himself. He didn’t like Fry, but was that enough reason to kill him? No…but then it hadn’t been for him, it was for what he’d put Gretel through, and for his friend - may the Goddesses bless him.
A big red mare grabbed him and pulled him into a hug,
“Are you hurt?”
“Other than having the breath squeezed out of me, no!” Chalk gasped happily.
Gretel released him and kissed him full on the lips, raising another cheer from the crew,
“Come on hero, let’s get you back to the ship. I’ve a feeling we won’t have heard the last of our friend Fry and his goons.”
She was right of course, Chalk thought to himself, this had to be brought to a conclusion quickly or it could impact on all of them. Fry was an unpopular stallion for good reason, but he was still an officer in the Celestian army, and if he knew one thing about his time there, they wouldn’t just let the matter drop.
He stopped in his tracks.
“Love, I need to finish this.”
Gretel turned back to fix him with a maroon eyed stare,
“Eh? What are talking about?”
“Fry.” Chalk scrubbed his mane, “I’m going to see Dray. If I don’t, this could have consequences for all of us because I’m on the crew.”
The Captain’s eyes gazed deeply into his and she barked out a laugh, “You never cease to surprise me. You’re right though, where there’s one rat like Shallow Fry, there’s always more. Way I look at it, you probably did the army a favour, but I doubt they’ll see it like that.” She started walking back towards the castle.
Chalk blinked, “Where are you going?”
Gretel rolled her eyes, “You’re a member of my crew aren’t you? As your Captain, I have responsibility for you.”
Chalk jumped in front of her, holding up a hoof, “Oh, no! No, you don’t!”
The red mare shoved him out of the way, “The last time you walked off towards the castle, I didn’t see you again for months.” Gretel’s eyes flashed, “No husband of mine will face danger alone.”
“Um…we’re not married yet.” Chalk said quietly.
Gretel neighed loudly, “Pah! You think I need a bit of paper or metal and some fancy words to tell me, the Captain of the Amethyst Fleet who my husband is?” she snorted, lifting her head and tossing her mane, “To use one of your words, dear…bollocks!”
Chalk laughed, trotting after her.
It didn’t take long to reach the castle and the gate guard. The two were let through without any trouble, suggesting that word of his ‘encounter’ with Fry hadn’t gotten around yet. The grounds inside the walls were, as always, chock full of troops and the seemingly obligatory mouldy tents set up with vendors selling all manner of merchandise and suspicious foodstuffs. One of them was cooking something spicy by smell of it, something…Chalk sniffed, his mouth watering…
“Chalky?”
The white unicorn stared at the long skewers cooking over the hot coals, thick with juicy pieces of delicious, moist goodness, just sizzling away. The hippogriff behind the counter was serving others of his kind: a surprisingly large group of well armed griffins.
Gretel grabbed his shoulder, “Chalky! Are you deaf?”
“Huh?”
“What in Equestria are you looking at that for?” Gretel said in amazement, “Don’t you know what that is?” she shook her head, “Its meat!”
“I…oh!” Chalk gave himself a shake, “Yeah, it just…it smelt so good.” He looked up at her sheepishly, “Must have been the onions.”
Gretel gave him a sidelong glance and shook her head, “I think we need to have a nice long chat later.” She said levelly. Chalk groaned; she wasn’t going to like what he told her…
Inside the main building Dray was easy to locate; all one need to do was follow the seemingly endless line of clerks and messengers. Rather surprisingly for such a ‘hooves on’ sort of pony, Chalk noted, he was in his office reading his way through a frighteningly large stack of reports. The General looked deep in thought, but still managed to acknowledge their entrance with a wave of his hoof. Gretel and Chalk sat quietly while Dray muttered to himself, making notes with the pencil he held in his mouth until finally rolling the scroll back up and returning to his chair. The veteran soldier sighed loudly,
“Mind if I smoke?”
Gretel shook her head, “So long as there’s enough for all of us.”
The veteran soldier laughed, “Aye, there is.” He pulled open a draw in his desk and took out a box of cigars and glasses, nodding to Chalk to pour out a measure from the decanter on the desk.
“Good to see you back safely, Mister Dust.”
Chalk nodded, passing a glass of what turned out to be port, to the General. He nodded, taking a breath,
“I killed Shallow Fry.”
“Mmm.” Dray said, taking a sip of his drink, “I believe so.”
“Word travels fast.” Gretel sniffed, lighting her cigar, “Quite an information network you have here.”
Dray shrugged, “It works.” He leaned back in his chair, letting out a thin plume of smoke, “I appreciate you coming to tell me.”
There was a pause. Chalk looked at Gretel who just shrugged. “Is that all you have to say?” he asked.
“What do you want me to say?” Dray replied, “What’s done is done. Fry was something of a trouble maker - good at basic tasks to be sure, but disobedient and should have been removed from command a long time ago. I take full responsibility for that mistake.” Dray sighed, “He went against my orders and sent you off, unbeknownst to me at the time, to a place where you were very unlikely to return from. If I wasn’t so short of officers, even fools like him, I would have sent him back to the ranks as soon as I found out.”
“So, that’s that then?” Gretel asked.
“Mostly,” The old veteran said stretching his forelegs, “I cannot have any more officers killed though, Mister Dust. Even if they are imbeciles.” He fixed him with a look, “You leave them for me to deal with. Understand?”
Chalk nodded, “Yes, sir.”
“Now,” Dray continued, “I understand you completed your mission by virtue of the fact that you are sat here, and we have a certain mad grey unicorn ‘helping’ the Princess with ‘something’.” He waved a hoof for emphasis, “I expect you’ll be wanting something by way of recognition?”
Chalk shrugged, he hadn’t really thought about it.
Dray pulled out a sheath of papers and a quill, “I’m transferring you for the duration of your service to the command to Captain Gretel of the King Sombra’s Revenge.” He peered up at him from scroll, “You will obey her, as you would me, only this time I expect you to do as you are bloody well told and NOT come back here again!”
“No, sir.” Chalk muttered.
The General rolled his eyes and passed him the scroll, “Oh, and there’s something for you here too.” He reached under the desk and pulled out a heavy leather book. Chalk read the cover,
“Control of Elemental Majic. A beginners guide to thautaturgical theory and practice.” He scratched his mane, “Why’s it spelt like that?”
Dray took a pull on his cigar, leaned back in his chair and rolled his shoulders, “Buggered if I know, probably foreign or some bonkers unicorn’s idea of being clever. The nutty professor with the interesting fashion sense sent it up for you to collect when you stopped by - said it may be of help to you.”
Chalk slipped the book into his pannier, “Um…thanks.”
“Call in at the bursars office too,” The General said, picking up another scroll, “you’ve got quite a bit of back dated pay to collect and a bonus from Her Majesty for completing the mission successfully.”
Gretel and Chalk stood up to leave.
“Chalky?” Dray’s voice was calm, but carried a note of…regret? “I’m sorry about Bracken. I wish there was something I could do, but…”
“I know.” Chalk said quietly. He snapped off a salute, “Thanks for everything, Sir.”
Dray returned the salute, “Now unless you want to help me with this paperwork, then you can bugger off, I’m busy.”
Outside the office, Chalk smiled at Gretel, who gave him a kiss on the muzzle. Nothing more needed to be said. He was free, free to sail the skies and seas with his beloved mare, his friends and that most magnificent of ships - the Revenge. The two collected Chalk’s pay from the bursars office and, suitably weighed down with a large bag of bits, headed out into the capital.
“Where are you going off to?” Gretel asked in a singsong voice.
“Back to the Four Horse Shoes?” Chalk paused and let out a groan, “We’re not are we…”
“Nope!” Gretel suddenly grabbed his foreleg and pulled him towards her, “You need a new cloak! Oh, and some new boots…maybe a tunic…yes! A new tunic! Won’t that be nice?”
“Oh Goddesses help me!” Sobbed Chalk as the red mare yanked him away.
**************************
From the hell of the shopping district, tired, defeated and thirsty, Chalk all but kicked open the door to the Four Horse Shoes. Warmth engulfed him, as did a gaggle of giggling barmares who, under the direction of the landlord, quickly arranged for the ludicrous number of bags and boxes that festooned him to be removed.
“Bugger me, I didn’t think that would end.” Chalk gasped, “How can a mare shop for hours? I ask you, how?!”
The Landlord, Pine Needle, chuckled, “My late wife did that all the time.”
“How’s business, Pine?” Gretel smiled, ignoring the white unicorn beside her.
“Doing very well, Captain.” The stallion replied, wiping his hooves on his apron, “What can I get you?”
“A wheat beer, a salt lick and…Chalk?”
“Oh, the same, please.” The unicorn replied wearily taking a seat by the fire.
The Landlord nodded and trotted away.
“I can’t believe you actually bought this place!” Chalk whispered, “What possessed you to do it?”
Gretel raised an eyebrow, “I’m looking at him.”
Chalk groaned and looked at his bag of bits, “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to re...”
“-Oh, belt up.” She cut in, “I didn’t do it because I wanted repaying, and you know it.” Gretel bopped him on the nose, “This place is a little gold mine too; with all the river traffic and soldiers, they’re raking it in.”
“A bit up-market for soldiers and sailors, don’t you think?” Chalk said stretching his legs.
Gretel laughed, “Not enough sawdust, blood and teeth on the floor, eh?”
Chalk chuckled, “No! I mean, its so…clean. Come on Gretel, you know what I mean.”
She smirked, “Upstairs we have officers and Lords and Ladies. It’s clean, well priced and has a damned good menu.” “For ponies.” She added raising an eyebrow.
Chalk groaned; he knew this would come up at some point, but he’d have to tell her the truth. He grimaced, expecting the inevitable tirade,
“In…the mountains…”
Gretel leaned on her forelegs, leaning across the table, “Mmhmm.”
“There wasn’t much in the way of vegetables. Not enough to live on anyway.”
“Right.”
“And, well…I was ill you know. So…that is…” Chalk shivered, “The tribe there eat meat.”
“Oh, Chalky.” Gretel shook her head slowly, “You know that’s bad for you, don’t you?”
“Of course I do!” he grumbled, “But what else could I do? There was barely enough for one, let alone three and Neira was…well, she was a very good cook.” He looked at her askance, “Does it…bother you?”
Gretel shook her head, “No, but I’ve heard the same stories we all did as foals,
you know. I just wondered why you were staring at the griffins kebab stall.”
“Stories?” Chalk laughed, “You think I’ll turn into a monster?”
“Let’s see those teeth.” Gretel said raising a hoof.
Shaking his head, Chalk complied, allowing Gretel a full view.
“Still a pony?”
“Still a pony” she laughed, “Anyway, joking aside, I want to discuss something with you.”
“Oh?”
Gretel nodded, “I want you to be our ships new Wind Mage.”
Chalk smiled, “An official position?”
“Oh, yes.” Gretel replied knowingly, “Comes with a decent salary, food and board, plus other…benefits.”
The white unicorn leaned across the table and gently stroked Gretel’s hoof, “You make a tempting offer, Captain. Where do I sign?”
“I’ll have Doc write up the contract in the morning.” Gretel nodded her thanks to the Landlord who appeared with the wheat beers and lick, “You know Chalky, that things are going to get a lot worse before they get better in Equestria. I’ve heard worrying things about the Legion coming this way, and both sides preparing for another engagement.”
Chalk shrugged, “I know. I think it was inevitable really; the Legion were never going to just let Celestia walk back into the castle, especially after Ochre had signed the surrender.” He took a sip of his beer, “I’m amazed it’s taken this long for them to re-organise. Anyway, what about us? Do we take sides?”
“I…”
Gretel’s voice died in her mouth as the door flew open, a large cloaked royal guard barging in. He looked flustered, glancing around the room until he spotted the two of them. Chalk’s heart sank as the soldier approached.
“Captain Gretel?” The soldier asked.
“Yes?”
“General Dray respectfully requests your presence at the castle.”
Gretel looked at Chalk, “Respectfully!” she laughed, “How could we refuse when he asked so nicely?”
“Bugger it. I’ve just got in and I haven’t even finished me bloody beer yet!” Chalk noticed the soldier waiting impatiently and leaned on his foreleg with a groan, “We’re going now aren’t we…”
The Captain smiled, “You want to live forever?”
The weather outside was cold, wet and miserable, turning it into the sort of day any sensible pony would definitely want to spend indoors where it was warm, instead of trotting down a wet street ‘trying out’ their new cloak. Chalk missed his old cloak; Gretel had sent the thing to the cleaners and it had neartly caused a riot when they found out it was made of ‘non inorganic material’ as Strata had put it. He’d finally managed to get it back, and took it to the griffin traders asking for their help, but they didn’t prove to be of any use either - bloody useless bunch of oversized budgies that they were. In desperation he’d taken it back to the ship to wash it himself, only to have it confiscated by an angry red mare who took exception to it being hung up to dry in the cabin. Bloody fussy mares! He’d had the windows open and buckets underneath to catch the drips, so what was the problem? He sniffed in indignation; it wasn’t like the cloak had smelled that bad…for the most part. Good Goddesses, the bloody thing was one hundred percent genuine yak! And now, here he was, hurrying through the gloomy streets while the weather made a valiant attempt at soaking every square inch of him with a combination of snow and rain, or ‘sleet’, as Gretel had called it. They certainly never had it round his part of Equestria; it was either sun, rain or snow, not this cold crap falling from the sky. He grumbled under his breath. Next time he saw Celestia he was going to have a word about this nonsense. Maybe.
Dray was in the large meeting hall with the Princess, a group of officers and numerous other ponies, some Chalk had seen before, others he hadn’t. With a sigh of relief he noted that the meeting had apparently already been concluded as several of the groups began to leave and others were busy talking amongst themselves. While he waited, Chalk stared up at the huge ceiling emblazoned with an immense mural of what was probably a depiction of Celestia raising the sun and Luna the moon in an eternal cycle. Secretly he wondered if anypony bothered looking up there anymore, or even seriously believed in all that religious mumbo jumbo. He’d never seen either of them do it, but he’d heard of the ceremonies they would hold from time to time. Mum had never really wanted to go, but he knew other families who did and it was all ‘Ooh!’ and ‘Aah!’ when they got back. Hmph! They even had toys and treats, but he never got anything and nopony wanted to take him - the ‘ghost pony’. When he grew up, not even Bracken’s parents would go. Of course, that may have had something to do with his mum being a follower of Luna, but it seemed harmless enough. Most ponies followed one or the other of the Princesses to some degree, some both. Best not to hedge your bets, he supposed.
“Ah, Captain, Mister Dust, thank you for coming.”
Dray walked up, scrubbing his mane and looking like he was in desperate need of a good nights sleep, or even a week for that matter. Dealing with all those reports can’t be good for a pony, Chalk thought, and the dark circles under Dray’s eyes were certainly testament to that.
“Have we missed the party?” Gretel chirped, nodding towards the others.
Dray laughed, “No! I just didn’t think you’d want to sit around and listen to a load of boring diplomacy. Goddesses know, it nearly had me nodding off a few times. I’m obviously not made for these sorts of things, but the Princess, now she’s in a league of her own. Ponies listen to her, and not just ponies either.” He motioned towards a group of griffins, “We’ll have a lot more air cover than we had last time.”
Chalk had a horrible sinking feeling, “Last time?”
Dray smiled grimly, “Its no secret lad, the Legion is on the move. If we are to have a chance of defeating them, we need friends, both at home and abroad.”
Gretel glanced at Chalk before addressing the General, “And are we one of these ‘friends’?”
Dray nodded, “I hope so.”
He motioned to them to follow him into a side room and closed the door behind them. Sinking gratefully into one of the plush chairs, the General waved to the other two to do the same. It was a fairly simple room, clearly not intended for anypony to stay in there for any length of time, but it would suffice. Dray leaned his forelegs on the table and looked at Gretel directly,
“I’ll be to the point, Captain. I need you, I need your ships, and we need your skills. The Amethyst Fleet could tip the scales in our favour during the coming battle. The Princess has authorised me to pay you in bits or offer you land, trading rights, or whatever it will take to have your help in the coming weeks.”
“Weeks?” Chalk asked, “You expect an attack here?”
Dray, ignored him, “Captain?”
Gretel shook her mane, “You want me to choose sides.” She leaned back in her chair and stared up at the ceiling. Damn it all…she knew this was coming. It had all been too good to be true, hadn’t it? Ferrying troops and equipment had been very lucrative, and the Celestian army were good payers, she’d give them that. They also hadn’t locked them up like the Legion had, but then, she hadn’t tried to stiff them had she? If she were a gambling pony, she’d put her money on the Legion, but as to who she’d prefer to win, the answer was clear. Moreover, the Legion would be unlikely to believe that they were simply freetraders with no allegiance after all this time, and she certainly didn’t want to put it to the test. She expected Dray knew that well enough,
“You’ve been a good client, Dray.” Gretel said leaning back in her chair, “What you’re asking of us now is, I expect, going to be a lot more shall we say, ‘direct’?”
The General nodded, “I can’t give you details right now, but I suspect you already have an idea what we have in mind.”
Gretel smiled, “Aye.” She rubbed her face with a foreleg, catching Chalk’s worried expression, “The Legion have friends too, Dray: big, powerful, and probably very angry friends.” She cocked her head slightly, “We have two sky galleons.”
“I know.” The grey stallion replied, “But we have a lot more friends this time, and some of them are just as big, just as powerful and if not as angry as the Legion’s, then greed can make for a very powerful motivator.”
The red mare grinned, “Indeed.” She tapped her chin in thought. She should be discussing this with Cyclone and the rest of the crew, but in reality, she knew damned well what they would decide already. She’d never lead them astray, she’d never lied to them nor cheated them - they trusted her with their lives. She looked to Chalk,
“Thoughts?”
Chalk nodded and turned to Dray, “After my last trip out on behalf of the army, I think you’ll appreciate that we’d like to see exactly what you have planned for us before we can give you any definitive answer.”
The General looked from Chalk to Gretel in confusion.
“Chalky is my husband, General,” she replied, “you may speak to him as you would to me.”
Dray’s eyes went wide, “You’re married?!” He coughed loudly and leaned down to pull out a decanter of brandy from the desk drawer, “Good Goddesses! When did you do that? I didn’t…”
“It doesn’t matter,” Gretel said taking a glass from the surprised stallion, “what does matter is where we go from here.” She took a mouthful of the Brandy, “The price will be dependant upon the level of risk, General. I’m sure you understand that the safety of both my ships and their crews comes first.”
“Naturally” Dray replied, “But be assured Captain, that the protection of your ships is my priority as well - that, and playing our cards close to our chest until we’re ready to show the Legion our hoof. I’m sure you understand.” He raised an eyebrow, “Can we count on you?”
Gretel gave Chalk a look. He nodded.
“I think so, General.” Gretel said giving the scarred grey stallion a sly smile, “But I want a contract writing up and an assurance of payment first.”
Dray reached into his pannier and pulled out a scroll, hoofing it to her,
“I think you’ll find everything in order.”
Gretel shook her head in wonder, “Always plan ahead, eh?”
Dray laughed, “Always.”
*********************************
There were parts of the ancient castle that hadn’t been visited in more years than anypony could recall - no mortal pony. Down here, in the darkness, amongst the foundations below even the dungeons and the deepest cellars, lay a room where only two beings could tread in safety. The feel of unimaginable age and emptiness, the sense of utter loneliness, pervaded the very stones themselves. Damp filled the air despite the magical wards, making the floor and walls slick and wet in places, ready to catch the unwary. A broken leg down here would not be a fate worth considering, nor the thought of climbing back up the winding narrow stairs that lead down here. She’d taken a lantern of course, there were parts of this maze that magic simply disappeared, sucked into a void of nothingness. Some areas were the opposite, where alicorn magic was needed to pass certain doors and barriers. It was a place that none save those of the royal line could pass.
The white alicorn, her rainbow mane flowing in the astral winds of her homeland, opened the final door.
Celestia’s hooves echoed as she walked, numerous magical lamps bursting into flame along the wall of the circular room in answer to her presence. In the centre stood a pillar, a simple, grey stone pillar. It was nothing special, neither ornate nor carved, simply…a grey, stone, pillar. The Princess walked up to it and hung her head. By the Gods…she’d never wanted this…never…
“My daughter…”
“Mother” Celestia said shaking her head sorrowfully, “Come to change my mind?”
“No.” The golden mare walked up to her daughter and gave her a nuzzle, “This is your world, Celestia, yours and Luna’s. You must do what you must do.”
“To restore balance…” The white alicorn said calmy.
“Balance in all things,” the Goddess sighed, “your father…” she sat down next to Celestia and brushed her hoof through her blue-grey mane absently, sendling ripples through the galaxies and constellations, “He loves you, both of you.”
The Princess spoke quietly, “I know.”
“Is there no other way, Tia?” Her mother asked.
Tia…the only other one who called her that, other than family was…She closed her eyes, pushing away the thoughts, “I’ve tried, mother, but she’s like father - so stubborn and bull headed.” She let out a long breath, “If this were but a foal’s game, a sisterly spat…but ponies are dying, mama, and I…I feel it…I feel every life as it slips from this world…” she looked up into her mother’s eternal blue eyes, “…and it hurts…it hurts so much!”
The Goddess took her daughter into a embrace, stroking her mane comfortingly, “Shhh, my beloved Tia, I know, believe me, I know. Those who pass to the eternal herd are at peace now, reunited with their loved ones and happy beneath the sun and the moon. You have done all you can, I know this…as I also know your father and your sister.” She kissed Celestia on the forhead, “Do what you have to do, to bring back the light, Tia. Restore hope to the people - all the people of Equestria. You have the power to do this, but it is your heart, your resolve, that you must temper.”
Celestia nuzzled her mother, “I know, mama. I will do what I must.”
“You found the wizard?” The Goddess asked.
Celestia nodded, “I have, but it is proving a greater task than I had thought.”
“If it is fated…” her mother began.
The Princess slammed her hoof down angrily, her voice rumbling ominously in the cold room, “I don’t give a damn about fate! That evil witch has caused more than enough suffering in this world, but what I despise about her the most is that she feels nothing, nothing at all!”
“Tia? We have spoken of this before, have we not?” The Goddess fixed her daughter with a stern gaze, “Fate is not like you or I, she is a creature that sits outside the normal sphere of existence and weaves the threads of all lives, both great and small. She sees everything but can feel, as you said yourself, nothing. Should we not feel pity for such a tragic being?”
Celestia huffed, “I wish I could.”
Her mother smiled sadly, “Perhaps one day, you will visit her again with new eyes.”
The Princess said nothing. She hated that creature, and as much as it may have left a shadow on her soul, she could never forgive her for what she’d told her when she was a foal. This…this loss…it was her fault, all her fault. She took a breath and stepped forward, closing her eyes and speaking the words, the words that would unlock that which would help bring an end to this tragedy. She spoke,
“From one to another, another to one. A mark of one's destiny singled out alone, fulfilled”
From atop the pillar, a miniature facsimile of the sun appeared, its tiny rays warming the cold air in the room.
“From day to night, from darkness to light. From the other to here, the lost now found.”
A small moon now appeared, opposite the sun, the two rotating around each other in perfect symmetry. Celestia watched them: the sun, the moon…the epitomy of the two sisters. She closed her eyes and spoke the final words,
“Harmony…in all things.”
Quietly, but steadily, the pillar began to rise up, the sun and moon rotating around it, following its path up, up into the ceiling far above. She let out the breath she’d been holding.
It was done.
“Tia, never forget we love you.” The Goddess smiled gently, her blue eyes twinkling in the eerie light, “No matter what, we will always love you.”
Celestia turned from the empty room, her head low and her spirits bleak. It shouldn’t be like this, and yet it was; but she couldn’t falter now, no matter how much it hurt inside.
“And I love you mother.” She said quietly.
The Princess’s hoofsteps, along with the light of her magic, disappeared down the empty corridor, returning the darkness to its eternal home.