//------------------------------// // The Future // Story: Faith Unwavering // by rabbitfaster //------------------------------// Genesis stood from his haunches and walked to the rampart edge, looking out across the valley, stopping to stare at specific points. This had become routine in the past few months, it felt good for him to fall into one again after so long. Luna followed and placed a wing over Genesis in comfort "If it does not sit well with you my friend, you do not need to continue." He laughed looking back at the princess. "Its not that my Lady. I'm actually quite fond of these next memories.....allow me to start." It was a little rough when I first woke up..... It started with a spluttering noise and a dry, almost wheezing scream of a cough. I could barely move, there was no light and I had just enough sense to magickally drag air from what I believed to be outside of my perceived boundaries. Breaking a small hole through what I now realized was wood above me in my confusion. It was the moment following where a stream of dirt began flowing into my face that I started to panic. I didn't know what was going on and began to hyperventilate, my air quickly began to thin and in my dizzying confusion I unleashed a war spell towards the source of air and dirt. Luckily for me the groundskeeper had been making rounds, lucky for him he had not been standing anywhere near the small hill that my grave had occupied. The ground began to churn and fold in upon itself as rays of energy broke through. In moments the path my magick was creating was liquefying everything it touched until the blast left a large rift and shook the loose earth left above me. The groundskeeper was the first soul to see me. At the time I couldn't understand why he turned pale and fainted upon seeing me crawl from my prison...until I took stock of my surroundings and realized I had just crawled forth from the very earth, matted with dirt, and what likely looked like a progressive case of horn rot. After a quick spell to wake the groundskeeper I explained I was indeed not a zompony or any creature from the dark depths of tartarus. He was much more willing to speak since I had cleaned the dirt off and graciously told me the date and time....to which I had a less than favorable reaction sending the groundskeeper screaming into the night. You can imagine how I reacted when he told me that it was February 14th, in the year 2800 and 57 of our lady, Princess Celestia. A little over one thousand years since I had walked away from the tattered Elite Army. At first I was quite eager to discount his antics for simple lunacy, no offense meant. But as I made my way towards the nearby village and read the sign that stated Trottingham, things became increasingly more strange. The ponies around me were dressed drastically different, I supposed maybe this was because of the end of the war, more casual lifestyles prevailing in the absence of bloodshed. But there was honestly something more to it. Every pony that I struck up a conversation with seemed to think I was some kind of beggar or blackguard. It was not until I saw myself in a shop's window that I realized why. I looked the very image of death. My normally hay colored mane was nearly brown from all the years of mud and musty air, my normally peach toned eyes seemed to have almost turned white with fatigue and my coat was heavily matted with all manner of debris. Not to mention I wore no cloak on a cold spring evening and stood almost a head above most other ponies. Immediately I found cover in a back alley and cast a restoration spell in the off hand chance I had been in a malnourished state or injured. Before walking back out onto the street I opened the spatial rift I used to store all of my belongings when I went into exile. pulling out my armor, my rucksack, my midnight blue cloak, and one of several pouches full of bits, I began the slow process of getting the rust and dents out of my armor, and counting out the bits. It took a while due to my meticulous nature as a soldier but was well worth it to look like myself again. It was as I was walking out of the alleyway that I felt relief for the first time since waking up. The moon was hanging high in the sky and I could feel that invisible line to my chest gently pulling at my soul. I knew my queen was alive. My ecstasy was short lived as I heard several gasps in short vicinity to me. Looking around I realized I was catching quite a crowd. Murmurs ran through about why a guard was in Trottingham, if it meant the princess or her sister was there, why a Lunar Guard would be stationed in a city so far from Canterlot. The comments went on and on, not many I could understand shining through. If my chances of getting out of this city and back to my queen were going to be bolstered by these townsponies thinking I was a guard, I would act like one. -- "Quite resourceful of you Gene." commented Luna, "It's a wonder that after all those years you can still feel our connection through my astral body." Genesis simply nodded, looking out across to a very familiar town. "It was not shortly after that that I first met her." Luna raised her brow and regarded Genesis with a look of wonder "Finally you decide to tell me." a light chuckle followed "Indeed. Shortly after I had donned the demeanor of a Royal Guard and marched through the crowd, I was attacked...." The little ball of fluff that had hammered into my plated chest suddenly began to stir, as I looked down to discover what had slammed into me was a small filly. Big honest eyes stared up at me in wonder as her mouth fell open and the bow atop her head bobbed ever so slightly. In an instant the little filly's mouth was moving a mile a minute with apologies and prayers before another hoof shot out and closed the filly's stream off, pulling her in at the same time. A scene broke out very quickly in the next few moments. First, the filly's saddle bag dropped and spilled a few loafs of bread halfway out. The hoof that dragged the filly back was not a gentle one, and its owners opposite was moving back in a striking motion, the owner screaming something indecipherable. Almost right afterward a very large stallion and a quickly moving mare had burst upon the scene only moments before when the shouting had begun. Both moving towards the other stallion holding the filly. Without thinking I acted on reflex. The stallions hoof swung down aimed at the back of the scared fillies head. In one fluid motion I blocked his arm at the elbow, spun on my other foreleg, and bucked him in the chest upward with one rear leg, bringing my other rear leg down behind his shoulder and smashing him to the ground in a heap. Utter silence rained everywhere around us as the stallion groaned. Looking down to the filly I addressed her "Young one, art thou wounded? Didst this stallion harm thee?" The stallion began to rise very slowly onto wobbly knees as Genesis stepped over the filly. Being larger than a regular pony, the small filly's bow brushed against his throat as he placed his forelegs on either side of her body and stood. She had been crying too hard to answer him. "I know not what transgressions have willed thee to attack a child miscreant. But if ye attempt to harm this filly again without reason I will stop thee." He tensed his back legs as the filly pushed against them, instinct telling her it was the safest place. The stallion looked dumbstruck "She is a thief! and you are protecting her! You are suppose to be a guardspony of Canterlot, Where is your hono-" The stallion was lifted into the air, Genesis' hoof at his throat. Genesis narrowed his eyes and stared at the stallion "I shall set thee to thine hooves. Whence I have done this, Ye will explain to me why it is thee calls this innocent a thief." By now the little filly was clutching onto Genesis' other foreleg and shaking, tears streaming down her face. "Ah'm not a thief mister guardpony! Ah'm not!" The stallion recovered when he was put down and began "This little whelp came to my stand to buy bread, placed the bits down and then when I handed her the bread, the bits were gone and she was running away from my stand! She is a thief and I will have my money or recompense!" He raised a hoof and peered down at the filly, "Enough. Little one, Didst thou steal from this stallion?" The little filly looked up at Genesis and began sobbing "N-no! ah s-set the bits down a-ahn they fell through ah crack in the stall, ah swear Mister guardpony ah s-s-swear! Ah was only runnin' away from tha stall ta catch up with mah family! Ah didnt want ta get lost!" The filly broke down into complete sobs as Genesis looked back up to the stallion. Addressing the crowd that had gathered Genesis spoke up "If thee be relative to this youngling, step forward and let thyself be known." The two he had seen arrive earlier stepped forward, the smaller one spoke up "We're her brother an' sister sir." "Come with me." picking up the stallion, Genesis spoke softly "I do give thee my apologies, I will not stand for abuse of a youngling in any happenstance. Lead me to thy stall, vendor." As the five made their way to the stall three streets down, the crowd dispersed aside from a few following along at a safe distance, still curious as to how the situation was going to play out. Arriving back at the stall in question the vendor spoke up "This is my humble stall sir, bread and mixtures for different breads, I am only a simple baker making a living." Genesis wordlessly lifted the stall with one hoof, sifting around with his other while lying on his side. After a moment there was a familiar clattering sound and the filly smiled wide. Another second and the dragging of coins was plain to all around as Genesis pulled forth the bits in question. Taking a closer look up at the stall there was a hole in the warped wood of the stand far wide enough for the bits to have fallen through. Quietly he handed the bits to the vendor and placed a hoof on his shoulder, "I may not know thee or the times ye have suffered through, your struggles never go unnoticed by those in your life. Live better by bettering those around you with your every action, wouldst thine kin find it valiant to have seen ye strike a youngling? Think on my words, and find faith in the world around ye." The vendor wordlessly took the bits and nodded, giving a half smile before turning to the filly and her family "I...I apologize for my behavior...this guard is right, I should have been more trusting before jumping to conclusions." The mare spoke for the group "Yew had every right ta react, 'twas just ah simple misunderstandin'. No harm thanks ta our protector here." Genesis simply nodded, looking down at the filly who ran forward and leapt up to hang around his neck. Nuzzling into him despite the plated armor. "Thank ye kindly Mister Guardspony." she dropped from his neck and walked back over to her family as he turned to walk down a street leading east. He only made it a few hundred feet when he was stopped by the two ponies and the little filly shouting for him to wait. Stopping and allowing them to catch up quickly he gave them a semi quizzical look as if to say "Yes?" "There's no way we're lettin' yew get by after somethin' like that without some kinda thank you." the mare spoke up first. "I kindly thank ye, but I helped the little one, all the thanks I need has been given." Not in an unkind manner Genesis began walking again, "Well shucks, cin we at least give yew something, how about a nice juicy apple or two? Genesis stopped mid-step and spun around faster than they could blink "Did you say you had an apple?" "Well I'll be darned, he cin talk normal." "Big Mac! Dont insult 'im! He jus helped out Applebloom an he deserves our respect." "Its quite alright miss....?" "Her name is Applejack! Ahm Applebloom, and that there is Big Macintosh! they're my big brother and sister!" The filly exclaimed with pride "Well Big Macintosh, I can indeed speak like a normal pony. However in a situation as the one I found myself in I thought it more pertinent to speak the way I though a guard would speak. As for the apple. I don't mean to sound greedy but If you are offering me one I will gladly take it, I haven't had an apple in so long I can hardly remember what they taste like." The mares let their jaws drop, the stallion gave a chew of the hay stalk in his mouth. -- "Well, that was very clever of you Gene, I would expect no less. Also very kind-hearted, you never do cease to amaze me." "It was the most delicious thing I had ever tasted....at the time. I don't think you ever knew but apples are my favorite...never were any apple tree's on the battle field, if their had been I might never have survived." A moment of silence passed as they both allowed for brief thoughtful remembrance. "So...what happened after that?" "I recognized something in Applejack, was already fond of Applebloom, and wanted to see how much I could get Big Mac to talk before he bucked me or something." "so...what really happened?" Genesis laughed loudly and scratched his head with a hoof absently "They mentioned never having seen a royal guard so far from Canterlot and how it was so close to the town they lived in. I realized the direction of their town was the same direction the tug was coming from, so they bribed me into sticking with them quite easily with the apples. Either way my goal was being achieved. I was getting ever closer, and probably in a safer manner, and I was getting apples and good company on the side." he sighed lightly, a smile playing across his lips. "It took us a few days to make it to Ponyville and when we did they insisted I stay at the farm for dinner to help make up for the trouble caused back in Trottingham...it was all very strange how everything was working in my favor...I was really not used to that kind of thing." "These were much more simple times Genesis. No one has experienced the bloodshed of battle since The Great War of Equestria.....You, Discord, Myself, and my sister are the only ones with any memory of what it was like to live in a time of war. Another reason that I am so glad to have you back in my company. Your experience, loyalty and faith are invaluable to me." Taking another apple from his cloak, Genesis bit into it, again taking his time to savor every ministration as he chewed before continuing. "Well it wasn't long after being at Sweet Apple Acres that I began to grow roots I didn't know I had. But not even that could stop me from seeking you out on the night of the New Moon. By the by I was wondering when the topic of little miss Sparkle was going to be brought up?" Luna gave him a look of feigned innocence "Why I have no idea what you are talking about. What ever do you mean?" "My Lady....I know she is my kin. Or did you forget that I can sense Astor....even when its only in her descendant....I just didn't know she bore my child and the line went on....I suppose her families line is the longest in Equestrian history." Luna studied Genesis for a moment, his gaze had turned from the small hamlet in the distance to a particularly clear patch of sky housing the northern star. His eye twitched and she could easily see the tell tale signs of recent events catching up to his figure. She took a small breathe and continued. "The line is indeed the longest. And no...I did not forget, I simply wished for you to figure it out on your own. Now humor me with the rest of the story." "My Lady you were there for the rest. I found you in the gardens regarding the statue of what was once a dear friend of mine." "Discord." "Perhaps it was only because he was not fully grown yet that he never caused problems in my time. I'll never know, though I earnestly hope to see him again someday...under friendly circumstances. But as it were I found you in the gardens with him and you filled me in on all the details of the past one thousand years. And with me as your confidant in the new plans, how could I have refused to take up my position beside you once again?" Luna waited a beat "You know I will eventually want to hear about the times between Trottingham and our reunion, perhaps a story for another night. Which leads us to where we are now." "Indeed." *crunch* Luna regarded Genesis munching his apple with a smile. It was wiped from her face as she turned to watch the sun slowly fading behind the mountains and hills, determination flashed across her muzzle. "Things are going to become very interesting, very quickly. It sounds so ironic coming from me but dark times are ahead Genesis. The time for you to draw your blades again is coming fast, as this land will be changed forever by the moves we make, its time we started setting up the pieces and established the board. Our old foe is returning to us, and this time, it will not end as easily as it had before. Ill leave the excuses you give your loved ones or your reasoning up to you. Although Im sure you will be happy to know, General Genesis Storm, that our game will begin soon." "For glory, and for my only Queen....I have one request my Lady. I've never asked for anything in return for my services...but now I must make a request...neigh...a demand." Luna turned to face Genesis after raising the moon and setting it on its path, "Hmm, brash General, but not unwarranted, name your price." "When this is over. I want to sever my connection with you....I want to be mortal...I want to live and die beside the one I choose." "Consider it done upon the day of our victory." *Crunch* "Thank you. I've lived long enough. One lifetime more with the mare I love is all I want. One chance to actually live." Turning to look at the orchards in the distance, illuminated by the moon Genesis could see the farmhouse and barely make out what looked like the flicker of a light. Even though he knew the distance was too great to see, and the light likely a figment he imagined someone must still be up. "Go Gene. Be back by weeks end." With a fizzle and a spark of blue he was gone. Looking out across the rampart like she had done a hundred times that earlier afternoon, Princess Luna gave a smile and enhanced the moons light before taking flight to a tower nearby. Might as well set the mood for them. she thought to herself and chuckled as she landed in her room. Several hundred feet below in the gardens, a steady pulse of magick flowed from a familiar statue. No ominous laughter, no throaty chuckle, no cracks in the stone.....only the pulsating magick of someone still alive and trapped in stone.