//------------------------------//
// Chapter 12-Lazarus 
// Story: Emerald Fires 
// by FolkloreBrony 
//------------------------------//

////
Chapter 12-Lazarus
////
The rain fell violently against Novis as he hovered in the clouds. Everything in the vale was darkness, only illuminated by the cracks of lightning that struck around him. Most ponies would have feared to be in the midst of such a dangerous place, but no fear came into Novis’ mind. The storm was where he was in his natural state, and nowhere else did he feel calmer and at peace.

But calm was not what he was looking for in this storm. He had brought the dragon up here above the clouds to get it away from the people, not to mention that it gave him the edge he needed over the beast. However, it was easy to conceal one’s self in this storm, and the dragon had used that to its advantage the first chance it got. Now it was biding its time, waiting for the right moment to strike. Novis would have felt a sense of weariness if it were not for his experience, but this was not the first time he had been forced into conflict with one of these brutes. It certainly wasn’t the most dangerous of creatures he had faced.

He could hear it, the low, rumbling growl of the creature as the rain dampened his hair and clothes. This beast was an old and cunning one, a descendant of the purer dragon bloodlines, and therefore his armor would be strong. Novis knew this, and therefore, he needed something that would pierce its hide. So Novis reached out his hand, speaking a word heard by no one, and then a sword formed in his grasp.

“Eӧl,” he said to himself, looking down upon the blade.

The sword he held was of black iron, black as onyx, but reflecting like silver in the light. For Eӧl was a sword given to him by the woodsponies of the south, who forged it from a mystic stone, born from a star that had fallen from the heavens. The sword itself was curved in it’s design, ancient enchantments inscribed into the blade, and a purple jewel ordained the head of its handle. It was a sword that he had been forced to use many times and was saddened to use once more.

There was a sound, almost unnoticeable in the wind, silent and subtle, but not one that escaped his awareness. Novis turned, just as a monstrous form barreled towards him like an unstoppable force, threatening to slam into him with over a hundred tons of force.

But Novis was ready.

The beast flew at its enemy, intent on devouring the strange creature who had dared to challenge him but found itself suddenly being lifted further up into the air. Novis held onto its underbelly, rising higher, before slashing at its scales breaking through its armor, cutting into its flesh and drawing blood. The dragon screamed out in surprise and anger, slapping its wings down on its belly to try and crush the threat, but Novis dodged each one, slashing at its wings in defense each time they fell, only to be swatted away in one quick stroke.

Lightning flashed and thunder cracked as the two powerful opponents fought to overcome the other. The beast roared out in rage, blowing flames and wiping its tail at him, while Novis fired shot after shot of electricity at its body.

The selfishness and hate that consumed the beast’s mind sickened Novis. It was an insult to everything this creatures once were, and the more he thought of it, the more he was filled with anger. Novis yelled out in defiance as he concentrated on a spell that he had learned from Twilight, enveloping him in its turquoise light before he disappeared.

The dragon looked around in a kind of animalistic frenzy trying to find the vanished being, which made it completely unaware of the flash of light above it, nor did it hear the sound of his enemy falling, only releasing too late as a stinging pain shot through the back of its head. Novis drove the blade deep into its flesh, connecting with its nerves and spine as it cried out in painful rage. The beast writhed in pain, but because it was so large, it wasn’t fatally wounded. That was not Novis’ intent. With the sword secure in its nape, Novis reached for the sky, summoning all the energy in the storm to come down in one bolt of lightning into his hand, before slamming that energy into the helm of the sword.

The scream that the dragon made was painful to the ears as the electricity coursed through its body, dying down to a weak gagging sound that was drowned out by the rain. Its form limp, Novis grunted as he pulled out the sword, watching as the lifeless body fell passed the clouds down to the earth. He wiped the back of his hand across his bottom lip, reeling in disgust and annoyance as he withdrew it and saw the blood that stained him. His body ached from the blows he had been dealt, but nothing that would leave any permanent scars.

Novis looked up at the sky, thinking for a moment as a realization came to his mind as the rain fell softly on his face. This...this was what he was meant for. It almost made him laugh that he had so easily forgotten. In his despair, he had lost his way, but now, now he felt his purpose again. To protect life, and punish evil in all its forms, that was why he had been made.

But, as he hovered in the air motionless, a dark feeling entered his senses. Something was wrong.

Something terrible.
////
“Get those flames out, NOW!”

Ponies scattered about as they fought against the flames, earth-ponies holding the hoses as the unicorns used their magic to pump the water from the pond. The flames from the inferno were intense, engulfing the cottage and the nearby trees in a mad firestorm. Rainbow Dash had gathered as many ponies as she could, but even then there weren’t many to help. Ponyville was the main focus at this moment, something that Rainbow hated to agree with.

Applejack worked to direct the earth-ponies and unicorns on the ground, while Dash and four other pegasi worked to use the rain clouds that hovered over Ponyville to help put the fire out. They were strange. Rainbow Dash and the other pegasi felt it, almost as if the clouds were alive themselves. They were like no other weather clouds she had encountered, and there was no doubt in her mind that no other pony had ever seen a storm like this before that day.

But, the only thing that mattered was that the clouds were cooperative, almost willing to help. This was a relief, as storm clouds tended to be a little...ill-tempered. Rainbow had always wondered about the reasons behind this, having it finally answered years ago that the weather had a little bit of magic within itself, giving it somewhat of a personality if you could call it that. It was the one silver lining in all of this.

With the clouds positioned, the pegasi bucked at them to give the rain a jump-start, pouring down their contents onto the fiery cottage. The ponies on the ground pounded the flames more fierce than ever, beating back the inferno with unbreakable zeal. Slowly, the flames began to die, leaving behind the charcoaled remains of what was Fluttershy’s home.

“That’s good! Keep it goin’!” Applejack called.

The ponies redoubled their efforts as the fire died away, which signaled Rainbow Dash to immediately fly down to search the opened shell of her friend’s house. Applejack dropped her grip on the hose and ran over to Rainbow, who was working in a frenzy searching, hoping, that her darkest fear was not a reality.

“Rainbow, slow down.” Applejack said, leaning in behind the mare.

“No! We have to find her! She could be hurt. BAD.” Rainbow answered, scraping her way through the rubble.

Applejack blinked a few times, staring at her friend with a sense of concern before shrugging it off, “Alright, Rainbow. Just calm down.”

“Applejack!” a tiny voice called.

The farm pony turned her head to acknowledge the voice as Sweetie Belle came running over the creek bridge towards her. Rarity, Pinkie, and a stallion she did not recognize were close in tow, looking with worry and fret.

“Oh my Celestia, what...what happened?” Rarity spoke, the tone of her voice conveying the shock and astonishment she felt.

“I don’ rightly know. But from what I can guess, this is probably where that varmint entered Ponyville” Applejack said, stepping aside to make way for her sister as she and the rest of her friends ran over to reunite themselves with Sweetie Belle, “Do ya think you can help?”

“Of course! Oh, I do hope that the poor dear is good and well. Just look what that ruffian did to her home.” Rarity said, stepping forwards while Pinkie hopped into action.

“You can help out too, mister. If ya don’ mind, that is.” Applejack said directly to Spike, still not having made the connection.

“Ahh, Applejack, it’s-” Rarity began, only to be silenced as Applejack raising her hoof.

“You can introduce me to your new friend later, we’ve got work to do.”

Rarity opened her mouth to protest, but closed it as soon as she made eye contact with Spike, who just shook his head and gestured with his head to help him in the search. Rarity looked at Applejack again, smiling sheepishly and giving a weak laugh as she joined him to search over near the west side of the cottage. Applejack just shrugged it off as nothing as she went back over to Rainbow Dash, who was steadily looking worse by the moment as her search turned up nothing. This was growing the concern in Applejack’s mind. She didn’t want to give up hope but, she had the facts staring her in the face, and she couldn’t deny what might lie as the truth.

“Rainbow, listen…”

“What?” Rainbow said with barely any acknowledgment, instead focusing on her endless search.

“I know you wanna find her. Believe me, I do too. But, well...just look around.” Applejack gestured to all the ruin that surrounded them, “There’s not much of her place left. I hope, I pray that she’s okay, but we might have to assume that maybe-”

“Shut up,” Rainbow whispered, her voice only raising loud enough for the earth-pony to hear.

“Rainbow, I just-”

“I said SHUT UP! Fluttershy is FINE, AJ! So just stop talking!” Dash bellowed angrily, shaking slightly from her own inner fears. Applejack stared at her in surprise at such an outburst, ready to counter it with some yelling of her own.

“I FOUND SOMEPONY!”

Rainbow Dash and Applejack both snapped their attention towards the voice, which came from a stallion digging near the back of the house where the structure remained mostly intact. The two ran over as fast as they could, with Applejack surprisingly running faster than her friend. However, before either of them could make eye contact with the pony under the rubble, they were pushed aside as Doctor Stable and a few nurses came to see what they could do, keeping the two ponies away from knowing what had happened to their friend.

“Move back! Make way!"

“Get me the defibrillator, quick!”

“It’s not working!” one of the nurses shouted, words which pierced the ears of Rainbow and Applejack like a cold blade.

“No,” Dash whispered.

“Well, what did you expect? She’s probably been lying here rotting for over an hour!” a nurse with a brash attitude said, earning a glare from the doctor.

“Scalpel! Now is NOT the time! Her friends are here, for Celestia’s sake!” Doctor Stable eyed the two mares behind him, along with the other three who were now walking over to what was going on. Desperately he started to push down on her chest, leaning in from time to time to lock lips with her, trying to breathe new life into the girl. The two mares shifted right behind him, afraid to look over his shoulder as he groaned, slowly rising and letting out a deep, pained sigh.

“I’m...I’m sorry. She’s too far gone.” he sighed, turning his head to the group as he stepped away from the lifeless form of Fluttershy.

Rarity stifled a cry as she put her hooves to her mouth, turning away into Spike’s comforting hold, while Pinkie Pie herself was silent, not yet able to process the death of her friend. And what was before them was not a pretty sight. Fluttershy laid motionless on the ground covered in dirt and ash, dirtying her coat with black and gray. A horrible looking burn scar ran down the back of her head, trailing down her left ear to the joint of her wing, black and deformed in some areas and red and blooded in others. And yet there was a calm on her face, a morbid peace despite the pain she must have gone through, the bruises and the long splinter of wood that punctured the right side of her abdomen, stained to its sharpened tip with her blood.

“No…no,” Rainbow mumbled in shock, falling down to her knees beside Fluttershy’s body.

“Rainbow, I’m sorry.” Applejack put her hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder, looking down on what was left of the kindest mare she knew. Rainbow just continued to shake her head, resisting the truth of what she saw as she repeated the same word over and over to herself.

“Come on, there’s nothing we can do.” Applejack reached for Dash’s hoof, but was batted away as the cyan mare suddenly lunged at Fluttershy, grabbing hold of her body and shaking it violently.

“Fluttershy, god damn it!” she screamed, shaking the body back and forth in such a rage that if the mare had been alive she would easily have broken her neck.

“Rainbow?!” Applejack shouted, laying on the ground as she had fallen backward when Rainbow bolted, staring at her in disbelief.

“Wake up, you BITCH! WAKE UP!” Rainbow screamed with an almost insane malice, tears beginning to swell in the corner of her eyes as she began to slap Fluttershy across the face. All in a vain attempt to get some response that would never come, striking again and again while lightning cracked across the empty sky.

“Rainbow, stop it! That’s ENOUGH!” Applejack barked angrily, grabbing Rainbow around her stomach and holding her arms back, slowly dragging her away, fighting against the pegasi’s struggles.

“NO! NO!!! WAKE UP!!! WAKE UP! Wake up!” Rainbow cried. Each time she spoke, the words in her mouth becoming weaker until the only sound she made was her attempt to catch her breath as the tears and the pain took all her strength away.

“I know Dash, I know. Shush...” Applejack hushed her, the tears beginning to well in her eyes as well.

Applejack held Rainbow close to her body, rocking her softly against her chest, trying to calm her down with soothing words. The rain was falling in an almost ethereal slowness, haunting as each drop fell to dampen their coats and the ground they sat upon.

“Why y'all cryin’? What’s goin’ on?” Applebloom asked curiously, standing right next to her friends looking around Applejack and Rainbow to see what all the fuss was about.

“Rarity, for Celestia’s sake, get those youngins outta here! They don’t need to see this.” Applejack said, looking back down to the distraught form of Rainbow in her arms. Rarity composed herself long enough to walk over and direct the fillies away, having to gain the help of Spike to keep them from seeing Fluttershy.

“Umm, Ap...Applejack?” Pinkie said timidly as she tapped the farm-pony on the shoulder. Applejack turn around to see a surprisingly composed and calm-natured Pinkie Pie staring back at her, though she could still see through her eyes the hurt the mare felt.

“Yes, Pinkie?”

“Twilight’s coming. I was wondering if, if you wanted me to tell her?” she asked, wearing a sad, expecting expression on her face, pointing in the direction of the bridge where Twilight was being accompanied by Flash.

“No. Stay here with Rainbow. I should tell her.” Applejack said, wiping away the tears from her eyes. Applejack walked away with her head held low. She couldn’t believe that this was happening. Fluttershy, her friend, was gone. Nothing in her power could change that. She could only imagine understanding the thoughts that were going through Rainbow Dash’s mind at this time. The anger, the grief, the feeling of helplessness. Feelings that were beginning to plague Applejack’s mind as well. If only they had been able to help. If only they had been given the chance. The mare looked up to face the coming Twilight, herself beginning to move at a quicker pace than before. Pinkie had pointed out Twilight directly to her, but only now did it finally click in her mind.

“Twilight!” she exclaimed, running ahead and embraced the alicorn in a strong hug, happy to see that she had made it out okay.

“Applejack?” Twilight called, though her response remained unnoticed by the farm pony.

“Oh Twilight, thank Celestia you're safe!” she said, sniffing as she wiped away a few tears from her eyes. She released Twilight from her grasp and look at her face, gasped the moment she saw her face, her eyes completely concealed behind the bandages she wore over her head, “Are you alright?” she asked, clearly concerned.

“I'm...fine, Applejack. I should ask the same of you. Are crying? What's wrong?” Twilight asked, before another question raised itself up in her mind, “Wait, where's Fluttershy?”

“She's gone, Twilight. She's gone!” Applejack cried, trembling in her voice. This was somehow harder to say than it was to accept.

“What do you mean she's gone?” the guard accompanying her asked before Twilight quieted him and raised a hoof to her friend.

“Applejack, what's happened?” she asked.

“Oh Twilight...” she began, which caused Twilight's ears to droop.

“Fluttershy's...dead.”

Twilight stared at Applejack for the longest time, her expression as emotionless as stone. She then moved the mare out of her way, relying on Flash Sentry to take her to her fallen companion. Applejack watched as Twilight stood in front of the corpse with solemn interest, asking Flash to be her eyes, which Applejack listened to every word.

“How does she look?” she asked, turning her head up to look at Flash who she could not hope to see.

“Dirty. Bloody too. She...has a splintered board sticking out of her.” he answered with a hint of discomfort.

“Did she suffer?” Twilight asked again, only this time in a tone that could have been mistaken for coldness.

“Twilight, I really don’t think that-”

“Did she SUFFER?!” she shouted, startling both Flash, Applejack, and anypony who was close enough to the princess.

“N-No. No, I don’t think so. She looks peaceful, like she died in her sleep.”

Twilight turned away, clearly have trouble containing her emotions as she tried to prevent herself from screaming. Applejack could tell she wasn’t taking this very well, more than likely it was tearing her apart from the inside. But at the same time, she was trying to keep herself composed, if not for the sake of the ponies around.

“It’s coming back!”

“RUN!!!”

Applejack, Flash, and Twilight were alarmed to the frightened screams and cries by those around, instinctively looking upwards for the incoming monster. Out from beneath the cloud cover near the opposite side of town a large, blackened form came crashing through the darkened vale. Twilight wanted to fight back, her muscles tightening as her head swayed in different directions, only to fall on Flash Sentry’s side as the pain in her leg rippled through her being.

“Everypony! Move, move!” Applejack ordered, beginning to herd the ponies towards the nearby trees, not making any time to stop and waste any time.

Twilight, who turned her head to face Flash, readied a spell in preparation for the last stand. “Get ready,” she said, bracing herself for what was to come.

Applejack hurried the ponies along, doing her best to keep them from panicking when she looked up again at the massive form plummeting closer to the ground, and that’s when she noticed the speed at which it was falling and the lack of movement it had.

“Wait!” Applejack called, pointing her hoof up to the sky, “It’s not slowing down. It...It’s falling!”

Her words were enough to force everypony’s attention to the skies above, and whether they looked with curiosity, stupidity, or vain hope, no one could know. But one thing was certain, and it was that the beast was not flying, or moving for that matter. Only falling to the earth from over a mile high above the town outskirts.

It started slowly, a pony or two stomping on the ground as the lifeless form of the dragon impacted down in the forest, shaking the ground mildly from the force of the crash. Then it began to strengthen in sound as more ponies joined in, raising their voices up in triumph and hope, a sound that could be heard from a mile away. 

“What...what’s happened? Why hasn’t it attacked?” Twilight asked, confused by the uproar around her.

“It’s dead. The dragon is dead!” Applejack let out a yell, raising her voice up with everypony else's. The sound of ponies celebrating could be heard coming up from the town, shouting and cheering in sweet relief.

The applause soon died away as the rays of the sun began to slip through the overlying vale, which, to some, revealed a shadow upon them. A few ponies turned, staring in awe at the being hanging in midair behind them. Gasps rose up among the ponies, forcing the attention of the others to look behind themselves as well, until the commotion reacted Applejack’s ears, turning to see the creature with surprise and a sense of fear. 

Novis had come.
////
Fear. He could sense it in every single one of them. The natural fear of the unknown. The uncertainty of his presence, the inability to discern him as friend or foe. Many of the ponies who stood before him were paralyzed in their places, unable to process what he was. Others were more solid, staring at him with skepticism and weariness.

Novis could feel the tension among them as his feet touched the earth, he himself towering over the tallest of them by at least three feet. Many of the ponies backed away from him, giving him his space as he looked around, and continued to do so as he stepped forwards. Of course, the sword in his hand dripping lightly with the blood of the beast didn’t help with making him any less intimidating. But that was not what was on his mind, but rather the whispers that coursed through the crowd like a conduit.

“What IS that thing?” one stallion said, looking on with uneasiness and suspicion.

“Get away from it!” another mare hissed, pulling her foal back as he walked passed.

And yet, not every emotion he encountered was a negative one. Some, who had seen him fighting against the monster that had threatened their lives, were more thankful than their frightened companions, clamoring and chattering amongst themselves over his victory.

“He killed it. He killed the dragon!”

“He saved us...”

It was...strange, yet somehow familiar. Refreshing really, looking ahead to lay his eye upon Twilight and her friends. However, he KNEW that something was wrong. He could feel it in the air, the cold presence of death. Novis stuck his sword into the ground and walked forwards, stopping the moment his eyes fell upon the lifeless form of the yellow pegasus.

“Oh...” he sighed in sadness, witnessing the pain of this poor soul’s friends, and the heartache felt most from Rainbow Dash.

“Excuse me, but who are you?”

Novis turned to look down upon Applejack’s face, looking up with an expression that spoke of uneasiness and sorrow, yet wanting to know the identity of this strange new creature before her. 

“You already know who I am, Applejack.” 

“Novis?” Applejack stood in wonder, backing up a step while she continued to stare. Spike and Rarity heard this as well, shocked by the form of which he had taken. As did Pinkie, who held Rainbow Dash close trying to sooth the mare who was oblivious to the rest of the world, weeping quietly to herself.

“Twilight?” Novis kneeled down in front of the mare, frowning at the sight of her blindness, “Speak your mind.”

“I failed.” Twilight whispered, the words catching in her throat, straining her as she forced herself to complete her sentence, “I wasn’t strong enough to be there for her. I...”

“No, you did everything you could. I would expect nothing more of you than what you have already contributed, Twilight,” he said gently, surprising Twilight in the change of tone he had from just a few hours before, and putting her off even further when he placed his arms around and hugged her, holding her in his warm comfort.

Novis finally let go, his hands placed on her shoulders as he looked upon her with tired, sympathizing eyes. Yet, he began to become aware of a cheering swiping upon the crowd, praising and celebrating the death of the dragon.

“It’s dead! He killed the dragon!”

“Thank Celestia!”

These words and more entered Novis’ ears, permeating his mind with this...ungodly bloodlust, until it came to the point that he could take no more.

“Why do you praise death?” Novis questioned with disappointment, standing up to face the crowd, quieting the ponies around him with his loud, condemning words, “It is a horrible thing. Yes, the beast paid for his crimes with his life, as he deserved, but don't praise it. Even if it was a life of little worth. A life not worth as much as...as hers.”

Novis looked down upon Fluttershy, troubled by the scar that she bore. Burning, charred flesh contrasted against a soft yellow coat. It was a sickening sight that he held all too familiar in his mind.

“Why...why do the innocent suffer? Isn’t it the act of god?” he questioned, one that nopony knew to answer, because it was not a question for them, but one for himself alone which he answered with a shake of his head, “And yet, we forget the devil in each of us.” he whispered, words uttered for no one to hear.

“It is not her time,” he said soothingly, breaking the reverie of his own thoughts. Novis gave a solemn smile as he knelt down by her body, beginning to pick her up in his arms.

“What are you doing? Leave her ALONE!” Rainbow Dash cried, fighting out of Pinkie’s grasp and pounding her hooves into his arms, crying weakly as she did so. Novis grabbed her arms, easily working her down, but gently still, looking into her face and feeling her hurt, placing his hand on her cheek as she continued to cry in front of him.

“Rainbow…”

Dash looked up at him with a broken spirit, wanting nothing but for her friend to be left alone. Yet, as she stared into those eyes, ancient and full of wisdom, compassionate and warm, she felt a strange calm, as if everything in life had halted in a dream-like world, and that everything would be alright.

Novis released her from his grasp and lifted Fluttershy off of the ground, turning to look at all the ponies who watched his every movement in wonder. Novis now lifted up slowly off the ground in a field of magic, rising above their heads while a soft glow emulated from his body. Novis hung twenty feet from the ground, looking down at the ponies looking on to see what he would do next, before placing his attention back on the body he held in his hands, the calm shroud of eternal peace upon her face.

Novis tried to reach out to the one who could fix this, the one who could set things right. Yet, there was nothing. Novis tried again, but to avail. Novis became desperate, calling out his name, hoping, praying to only hear his voice. But there was nothing. Only the sound of every lost soul he had been powerless to save.

Failure. A memory whispered in his mind.

“Please…Just this one last time.” Novis said, a tear rolling down his eye as he held Fluttershy close.

Novis

Novis raised his head, surprised and entranced by the whispered answer given him.

Why do you doubt, as if I would abandon you?

“I-I couldn’t see beyond my failures. I am a disgrace to you.”

You are my son, as are all. And there is nothing that you have done that would make me ashamed of you

Novis looked upwards to the sky, which had cast away it’s blanket of clouds to reveal the sun shining in his eyes, bathing him in its golden warmth.

I am proud of you, my friend

He could only smile as he felt the familiar power pool within him, using him for its purpose. His eyes shot open, revealing nothing but glowing light as his body pulsated with a golden aura that folded reality, surrounding the two in an orb of many colors. Novis let go of her body spreading his arms outwards as her body was left suspended in the sphere, while all eyes watched on in awe and wonder. Novis breathed in the air and released it into Fluttershy’s mouth and into her being. The orb of light and color suddenly exploded with golden threads, blowing past everypony, who had to look away at the brilliance of its dissolving form.

Novis returned his hands to Fluttershy, holding her close as he came away from his trance. He looked down at the mare, staring as she suddenly breathed in and sighed, resting without a care and the tiniest of smiles on her face. Soon she began to stir, which prompted her to wince a little as she lifted a hoof to the back of her head where her scar ran down.

“Oww. W-what’s going…” she began to ask, but fell silent when she opened her eye to be met face to face with the angelic form holding her, “W-What? Eep.” she twitched, shielding her face with her hooves in fright.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said with a voice as soothing as water, brushing his hand through her mane.

“Novis?” she asked, looking up in question as if trying to see if she could recognize the man she had seen only days before. Novis smiled with a loving warmth, feeling a sense of happiness that he had thought he would never feel again. It was-

There was a fleeting sense of pain through his being for a moment, one that set him off center. Then it came again, this time more sharp and potent than the last.

“Novis, are you alright?” Fluttershy asked, looking at him with a concerned frown on her face.

“I-I…” he tried to speak, but found himself clenching his chest as he Fluttershy slipped out of his hold. Novis let out a painful groan, before his eyes rolled back and he fell to the earth, unconscious and silent as he fell.

“Oh my goodness, Novis!”
////
Echoes in the darkness of his mind. Sounds and colors dancing in a lucid trace before him as he slipped back and for between the conscious and unconscious. Senses were heightened, and as such, he felt like he was hanging above mountains, suspended animation, a world of dreams and imagination. A sky filled with stars and galaxies unnumbered, nebulae, and planets, all surrounding him, full of wonder.

Yet, all dreams eventually come to an end, and Novis began to awaken from his own. He steered, beginning to become aware of where he was at. It was a small room painted with an olive green on the walls with pearl white bases. But there were more colors than that in the room, provided by an array of flowers and fruits placed in baskets on the table and around the bed he lay upon. Novis shifted on the bed, groaning as he felt a dale pain in his left arm, hissing when it became a sharp stab. He placed his hand on his head, only to find that it was no longer a hand but hoof, white and mildly dirty. He concluded that he must have changed back to his normal form while unconscious, returning to the same size that was slightly larger than the average pony.

“It’s nice to see you up.”

Novis turned his head to the right. Twilight lay only a few feet away from him in another bed, bandages covering her eyes, as well as her left wing and arm, which were bandaged and put into a cast. Novis looked at the mare half awake, starting to regain his focus.

“How’re you feeling?” she asked, instinctively turning her head to him, even though she didn’t have any hope of seeing him.

“As your rainbow friend would put it, I feel like crap.” he moaned, laying his head back to get himself more comfortable.

“Well, at least you still have your personality,” she smirked, letting out a little chuckle.

Novis let out a snort, “What happened? How long was I out?” he asked, looking to the mare.

“A few hours. You passed out while hovering at a good height above the ground. Honestly, you're lucky your arm was the only thing you broke. Heck, you're in better shape than I am.” she pointed her free hoof at her injuries.

Novis considered this, and it certainly made sense. After all, he wasn’t as strong as he used to be. He looked at Twilight and frowned. He had seen her in this condition only a little while before, but only now did it truly register in his mind, “Will you be alright? Your eyes...”

“They’ll be fine. Though, I’ll probably have to use glasses if I want to read a book for who knows how long,” she answered softly as if it were nothing but a slight inconvenience.

Novis figured just to accept that answer and leave it at that, turning his attention instead upon all the baskets of fruits, cakes, and flowers. Little gifts and cards from children were stacked on the dresser, and one or two bottles of wine and sandwiches were placed here and there.

“What’s all this?” he asked, surprised and perplexed by all these items.

Twilight gave a confused look before she realized just what exactly he was talking about, “Oh, you know. A lot of the ponies in town thought that they were obligated to send you those things for saving their livelihoods. Apparently saving everypony generates gratitude.” she said with a smirk, wondering what his face looked like at the moment.

“Ha ha.” he gave a fake laugh, rolling his eyes as he looked at the number of gifts she had around her bed as well, “It seems you made out with a few things yourself.”

“Yes...I heard them when they brought this stuff in. Though, I don’t feel like I deserve it.”

Novis tilted his head at this comment, looking at her while he listened to her thoughts, “Something troubling you?”

“I wasn’t strong enough to handle the dragon on my own. If you hadn’t shown up, I don’t what to think about what would have happened.” Twilight lowered her head down to herself, beginning to feel as if all that she had contributed in the fight had amounted to nothing, “And...I didn’t respect you enough to allow you to keep your thoughts to yourself, like you wanted.”

Novis frowned, looking at her with pity. Though what she said was true in a sense, he was not entirely free of blame, and she needed to know that, “No.”

Twilight looked up and turned to him, facing him with a confused glance from beneath the bandages, “Twilight, I was wrong. I allowed my past to consume my mind, when I should have moved on.” Novis swallowed, feeling somewhat dry, “In my failures, I had forgotten that my purpose is as true today as it was all those years ago. Today taught me that. It taught me that this world is full of life, and that’s something worth to protect, to fight for.”

Twilight just sat and listened as a smile slowly began to form on her face.

“And considering your strength, I could...teach you some spells that could prove useful,” he said a little playfully, earning a slight giggle from the mare.

Twilight gasped a laugh, before looking down at herself, thinking of all the possibilities of such an offer, but more importantly, his forgiveness and friendship, “Thank you.”

Novis smiled at this, though he felt as if there was perhaps something more, “Is there something else on your mind?”

Twilight was silent for a moment, contemplating on just how she should come to word herself, “How?”

“I’m sorry?”

“How did you bring her back?” she asked, becoming more expectant for an answer.

“Ahh,” he nodded in understanding. He had figured that this question was coming, quite frankly he was surprised that it hadn’t been the first thing she said to her, “I suppose that it’s a question worth mentioning.”

“Worth mentioning? It’s FANTASTIC!” Twilight said elated, “I’ve never even HEARD of any kind of magic that brings somepony back from the dead. It’s-”

“Wait, stop. You seem to be under the impression that I have the power to do these things, but I can assure you that I don’t,” he said casually, confusing the mare.

“I-I don’t understand. I saw you do it! How could you have done it if you don’t have the power to do it?” she reaffirmed, holding to her assumption that he was the one responsible.

“Because I didn’t do it.”

“You’re not making any sense.”

Novis frowned, collecting his thoughts to better present himself for her to understand. It wasn’t an easy matter. After all, the closest thing she had to a deity was nothing more than another part of creation.

“Do you believe in God?” he asked, earning a confused glance from Twilight that told Novis all he needed to know, “Of course you don’t, how could you believe in something forgotten?” he looked down, hearing the warmth that was the voice in his mind, “But I do. And it is through His power that I brought your friend back.”

"I find that hard to believe," Twilight said flatly.

Novis shrugged, "Believe it or not, it hardly matters. All that matters is that her soul is unharmed."

“Soul? You mean our spirit?” she corrected.

“No. We have no spirit. We are a LIVING soul, and when we die, that is when our story ends. No more pain, no more happiness. No more thought.” he said solemnly as if overcome by a feeling of sadness, remembering back to a memory of someone he had no hope of seeing again. She watched him closely, trying to read him.

“There is no afterlife.” he said, looking directly at her, “No Heaven, or hell, but that which will be and what is now not. Today Fluttershy may have been spared, but one day she and the rest of your friends will die, Twilight, that is how things are. I'm only allowed to do this thing once. that's the rule. But don't be sad. For though there is no existence past this life, that does not mean there is no room for hope. For it is not the will of our father that we go down to sleep forever. That’s faith, Twilight. That’s what this element TRULY represents.” he looked down to his chest, where the element of magic rested glowing.

Twilight raised an eyebrow, a little put off, "How do you know if any of that is true?”

"Because that is what I choose to believe."

There was a quiet in the room as the two were wrapped within their own thoughts, Twilight contemplating this strange point of view, while Novis thought back to a happier time in his life, remembering his brothers, remembering his wife. The moments passed by like sands in the desert, silent and slow, full of unknowns.

“Where is your daughter?” Novis suddenly asked, speaking up to break the silence, grabbing Twilight who was more than eager to sever the quiet as well.

“I sent her home. Spike’ll look after her while I’m here, and Rarity volunteered to help him out. The two seemed to be happy to spend time with each other.” she said, pondering their behavior for a moment, but shrugging it off as nothing.

Novis smiled, “She’s a very special little girl. You should be proud, Twilight.”

“Thank you.”

“And Fluttershy?” he asked.

Twilight sighed, “She’s been sent to the observation wing to go through some tests. The doctors were concerned about her brain functions being deprived of oxygen for so long, but she’ll be fine, thanks to-”

Tap Tap Tap

“What on earth is that?” Twilight said, her head turning left and right trying to pinpoint the sound. The tapping continued, resuming the same three tap beat each time. Novis listened, trying to isolate the sound as he narrowed it down to the wall to the outside of the building.

“Something at the window I suppose. If you don’t mind, could you open it, please? My magic is a bit on the fritz at the moment.” he asked politely after getting a pain in his horn.

Twilight nodded, reaching out for the desired goal. She began to struggle a little, not able to find the latch. But, after a few tries and enough concentration, she lifted the knob and pushed the window slide up. Nothing happened in the next passing moments, and soon Twilight shrugged and was about to close it again, when a large black bird swooped in and let out a loud call, startling the mare back into her bed.

“Ugh!” she cried as the bird landed on the railing on the side of Novis’ bed, giving another call at the stallion. It was a large, common raven with an odd white spot on its breast, turning its head to the side to look at him while tilting it as well.

Cr-r-ruck!

Novis stared at the magnificent bird with keen interest, studying every detail on its body, from it’s shaggy black throat to the wedged-shaped feathers of its tail. He then looked at its feet, where a small note was tied to the right leg with a thread of red ribbon.

“Well, hello my friend. What do you have there?” he said soothingly, reaching out his hoof to the raven which looked down at it and hobbled onto it, the feathers on the back of its head standing up a little as it tipped its head and croaked at him. Novis smiled a little as he unloosened the ribbon, taking the note away to read what was written within.

To Novis, whom in this strange new world will need a little friend to guide him

-FS

Novis lowered the note and gave a faint smile, stroking the bird with his hoof as Twilight listened to the sounds echoing through the room. Life had changed since the moment he first arrived, but only now was she starting to realize it. The dragon had been something that she could never have conceived of happening before today, and the future now seemed more terrifying than it had ever been before. So uncertain, nothing was promised, but wasn’t that the point?  To face each day with a little faith that it will have a happy ending? That’s what it meant to live life without fear. Because what was the point of life if every day of it is spent afraid of every shadow.

Twilight felt that way. 

Novis on the other hoof was quiet and lost to his own thoughts, for he had now found peace. Life had gone on without him, and it had flourished beyond anything he could have hoped, with new allies and new guardians to protect the world. He had no doubt that Twilight and her daughter had a special purpose to offer Equestria, and he would help them to discover that, even in the most subtle ways. His past had taken many things from him, but the future had given him so much more, a strange new world for him to explore. It had continued against the odds, and it would continue to do so until the end. In hindsight, all things no matter how bad they can get will always shine again at the dawn of the new day, and everything will turn all right, if one only believe, even if good things were uncertain. But if one thing was for certain, it was that he was now on a journey, one that would take him beyond imagination.

And the journey had only just begun.
////

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End of Act I