My Little Exalt

by Lithl

09 My Dear Mithra

My Little Exalt
MY DEAR MITHRA

by: Lithl

special thanks:

Rhanite

LordofRansei

---

My Dear Mithra,

How it tears at my heart to be so far away from you, my love. This world, our world, has gone mad it seems, and that madness has driven us apart – but not for long. I have accompanied Master Bax and 10 of his closest friends north. You should see the world up here, it is all white and vast – a far cry from the Capital. There, the air is filled with shouts; here, it is filled with silence. When the wind is just right, even at noon, I can feel the cold on my skin. It is a wonderful sensation, sharp and fresh and new. This will be an excellent place to wait out the war down south. As Master Bax says, "Let the Dawn caste deal with those thin-blooded troublemakers. We thinkers and artists should not have to dirty our hands." Instead, we will pass the time (short, I wager) in isolation with our thoughts, planning the fate of this world at its edge.

That is not to say we live in common residence. Master Bax has built a great stone mansion right into the mountain – a manse comparable to the estates outside of Sperimin. It offers every amenity from a great library to baths to store rooms filled with the finest food and drink – more than enough to stuff ourselves while the traitors are put down. Yet, the appearance of this place is less impressive than its function. It is, Master Bax says, a crowning achievement of the manse builder's art. Not because it offers up fountains of essence, but because it offers up none.

I can see you scratching your perfect head now, love, but you read right. This place, which bears my own mark below that of Master Bax, is one of power, yet it does not draw others like us. To another Chosen walking merely feet away, it looks like nothing more than a small cave, yet, inside, we can live in luxury for as long as we wish! It is a manse the likes of which has never been seen before, one that takes the essence it summons and channels it back onto itself, thus appearing invisible to the outside world. No turncoat brigade will find us here. We will be free of that conflict. A most cunning charade – and one your beloved was part of. How they will be thrilled to hear this at the next builder's conference! Master Bax says I may receive my marble robe early for this! And while that thought comforts my mind, it does little for my heart, which aches for you. Visit soon, my love. I await you eagerly.

Until then, may the Sun and Moon favor you,

Ozandus

---

The parchment in Twilight's hooves had seen better days. That wasn't surprising, since it was supposed to be nearly two thousand years old. Puzzling through the text was difficult for several reasons. She was still learning the 'Old Realm' language the letter was written in. Despite several techniques used to preserve the document, it had still deteriorated over the millennia. 'Residents', as The Lover called them, kept interrupting to offer their 'services'. Applejack and Pinkie had convinced everypony to refuse the food offered by The Lover, on the grounds that it was likely laced with drugs, aphrodisiacs, or both. And frankly, Ozandus had terrible handwriting.

Twilight had obtained blank parchment, a quill, and ink, and began translating what letters The Lover had supplied. Every now and again, she would reference Erymanthoi, Erymanthoi, What Do You See? or ask Pinkie for some help, but soon enough the first letter was completed. Twilight hoofed the translation off to the others to read while she began the next.

---

Mithra,

It has been too long since we last spoke, far too long. The conflict in the south echoes even here, and we hear stories of Solars who survived the ambush being executed. I do not want to believe the tales, but our friends no longer respond to correspondence. I do not fear the worst, but I think, perhaps, we might have underestimated the earth-blooded; they are weak but many. Crinis Proles says we should leave this hidden place and come to our brothers' aid, but all she does is talk, and most of us try to ignore her. We are thinkers. What good would we be in battle? Certainly, we are more valuable here. We will defend our temporary home and hope for the best. There is always hope. Always.

Worse news, my love, Master Bax has gone to the Sun's Court. We found him in the baths, the glint gone from his eyes. He was an ancient man, 15 times my own not insubstantial age, and he will be missed not only by we, his friends, but by the world. Who else will sculpt essence flows of such grace and power? Being his apprentice, I will be looked to, and I have learned his craft but not his genius. I fear I will fail. I have been practicing though, molding rock beneath the chateau. I fashioned a tomb for Master Bax. It is a low and ugly thing, but it will suffice until we can return him to the Captial and give him the funeral he deserves.

Our food stores, which we consumed with such gusto at first, are almost half gone now, and some of us have taken to eating conjured food one meal of the day. The taste is the same, but too much of it makes one weak. Aure Orchester used to go hunting and bring back fresh game, but now, the lands around our home are almost stripped bare – not by us, dear, we are not that fat – but by the demon laborers Master Bax used and then bound to this place. We expected they would wither and die, but instead, Aure says they are multiplying. I pray he is mistaken.

On a brighter note, our discussions and debates are truly things of beauty. With the Guardian watching the outside world and the servants catering to our needs, we are given time to exercise our minds. We talk about the world, the future and many new and wonderful theories about essence. These are truly gifted people – and brilliant. I feel that, when we do return, we will be toasted in the parlors and salons of the Capital as true thinkers. We may even shape policy after this war is over.

I await your response, my love.

Yours,

Ozandus

---

Rainbow Dash had fallen asleep, while Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack discussed the content of the first letter. Fluttershy tried to look interested, but her eyelids were beginning to droop.

"So what is this stuff about traitors and a war?" Rarity asked.

"Um... we Sidereals read the future. The prophecy basically said that you Solars were going to destroy the world. So, a bunch of Sidereals convinced the Dragon-Blooded to overthrow your rulership, and the Sidereals trapped your Essences in a big prison so you wouldn't reincarnate." Pinkie Pie grinned sheepishly. "Heh."

Applejack stuck out her tongue at Pinkie. "Well, y'all didn't do a great job of it. This Bax character got off scott-free with his friends!"

Twilight floated the second translation over to the group. "You might want to read the full story first, Applejack. Bax died in the bathtub. He died of old age, but still."

---

I die, my sweet. Time moves slowly here, but the seasons and years fade together. It seems ages since I smelled your perfume or held a lock of your hair to my cheek. So long, so long.

We hear nothing from the south, no news or rumors, all is quiet. We retreated to a silent place, and now, that silence is a curse. Crinis left to get word, but she never returned. We do not know if the demon hordes that attack our walls nightly took her or if she is living in peace in the Capital. One or two have tried to follow, but they too have vanished. How did we fall so far?

Our debates have turned to arguments and infighting. We have nothing to fuel us except our own hate now. Love, passion – these things are alien to us. We fight each other, with words and fists. It is a sad cycle – one that I have participated in, to my shame.

We do not starve, and we do not freeze, but we are cold and hungry. Our food is gone, and all attempts to grow more have failed. We have burnt every flammable thing for heat. Our skins have faded from gold to bronze to ash. The elements cannot kill us, but they pick and pick at our will. My will. Aure Orchester, driven mad by this place, put out his own spark. Others have considered doing the same. I have.

I wrestled this parchment away (yes me, your Willow – I have become cruel in isolation) so that I might write you, though I know not where you are. I only pray that you hear my cries and send some response.

We were wrong to come here. We thought to live like gods while the world warred, and yet, we find ourselves prisoners of our own devices and fears. We cannot leave, and we cannot stay. So, slowly, we fade away.

Yours,

Ozandus

---

Fluttershy had finally succumbed to the late hour, and Rarity gently laid her on the bed next to Rainbow. Twilight quietly read the last letter aloud to the other three Bearers who were still awake.

Pinkie was solemn, "This doesn't sound like a very happy place."

"Unfortunately, this is our only lead on anything to get everypony back home," Twilight said.

"So all we have to do is walk a couple thousand miles, fight through an army of demons, find an invisible manse, search a possibly haunted mansion for two corpses and an artifact, walk another couple thousand miles (adding said corpses and artifact to our already heavy load), and get an evil sex ghost to tell us how the artifact works?" Applejack asked. "What could possibly be easier than that?" Her voice absolutely oozed sarcasm.

"We may be able to cut the travel time with The Spark," Twilight began.

"And don't forget we've got to pick up Zecora!" Pinkie added.

"Shh!" Rarity, Twilight, and Applejack shushed Pinkie to keep her from waking the pegasi.

"It's late, everypony," said Rarity, "why don't we get some beauty sleep and worry about tomorrow's problems tomorrow."

Wait, Twilight thought as she drifted off to sleep, I thought Pinkie said she already found Zecora...

Comments

[Lithl]

And here's a mini-chapter, just to get Ozandus' letters and a few reaction shots in. Nothing too heavy, but a little background on where the ponies are headed.

There will be a short break from the Mane Six after this, to go catch up with other characters, like Gilda/Trixie dealing with Gilda's trials, Zecora dealing with her trials, Octavia infiltrating The Dowager's camp, and Derpy trying to keep Celestia in the loop without actually keeping her in the loop.

Also: HAPPY NIGHTMARE NIGHT EVERYPONY! //dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/Luna_lolface.png

[Lithl]

1537681
Nah, [sex] tag can be used with Teen rating. I don't think I've quite gone far enough for Mature, but I've added the tag just to be on the safe side. (She is called "The Lover" for a reason)

Also, I think you can see stuff you've favoritied regardless of the mature setting.

[PPS]

You sure you put the tag on? I'm not seeing it.

[Lithl]

1537698
The sex/gore tags don't show up on the page, just the search/filters, as far as I know.

[Lithl]

1537711
Aww, there's only one instant death trap in the Invisible Fortress!

[ProfCharles]

Man, I really want to play a game of exalted now. Shame I haven't found a gaming group near me yet.

[Alanith]

Derpy trying to keep Celestia in the loop without actually keeping her in the loop.

*snorts* Goooooooooodd Luck with THAT, BananaSid. It would not surprise me to learn that Celestia has known about you and your two buddies this entire time, particularly since Pinkie was never terribly subtle about using her Charms.

Or if she turned out to have a Charm similar to Judge's Ear Technique if converted to an Exalted format. After all, her themes seem to be Sun, Rulership, and Teacher.

Pony!Luna's are Moon, Social Awkwardness, and Ye Olde Princess.

[Lithl]

1538009
If you can't find anyone local, there are a few online games hosted by White Wolf and run by volunteers. There are also a number of other online games you can find if you search.

Personally, I don't like roleplaying in a chat; I've tried several times, including Exalted, but I just can't get into it. One of the guys in my playgroup plays Exalted online regularly, though.

[ProfCharles]

1539899

I am weary of playing online, for a coulple of reasons. First, I am British, so time zones are always an issue, as is the amount of time I can dedicate to it everyday/week, and secondly I am in it for social interaction and hanging with friends mostly- playing online kills alot of that for me.

[Lithl]

1540280
I can totally understand. I'm the same boat (except the 'being British' part).

[Samdamandias]

1537690
Updates will show up in the number of unread favorites, but won't show up in favorites or the dashboard.

When do they run into Infernals or Alchemicals?

[Lithl]

1551691
Applejack did not use a daiklave. That was a regular mundane sword. In fact, she's still just using a mundane sword. She'll get an artifact sword soon enough.

[Lithl]

1552865
Infernals will show up in the near-ish future. It'll be a while yet, but they will show up. I doubt I'll have any Alchemicals show up at all at this point, though I might make a sequel once this is all over where the Seal is broken.

What sounds better: introducing Autochthonian citizens to Apple family cuisine, or introducing Applejack to... nutrient paste and ratburgers?

.
.
.

Of course, if ponies do visit Autochthonia, I think I'd be forced to kill off Sweetie Bell and reincarnate her as Sweetie Bot...

[Samdamandias]

1553226

Infernals will show up in the near-ish future

EEEEEEEEEEE! Looking forward to it.

[Lithl]

1553303
Oh, you have no idea.