Hidden Neath' The Pages

OH-NO! Both my journal and pencil fall onto stone blocks. Quickly they get placed in my saddlebag. Don't know if the passer by heard that, but maybe now's a good time for-YAH! Two pairs of claws narrowly miss slashing my wings apart. Now out in plain view the attacker is revealed to be an unusually large tiger. You would think if one consider's entering demi-god owned fortresses they would come prepared. That would be my thought as well, though none of this was planned. Not battling magic reinforced beasts, following my accidentally discovered sister into this accursed realm, as she was taken away in a massive creature's talons. Slash! Okay gotta focus less this all be for nothing. Should be able to dodge until he tires. He gets hold of my left wing and pulls! With everything I've got my elbow knocks him back. Our struggle forms cracks, which in turn collapse inwards. Sadly for my opponent's well being hippogriffs can fly. Upon hearing a resounding thump my wings lead on. Moss covered some places as it would. Skeletons lying next to weapons gave that hopeless feeling every ancient fantasy castle inspires. Paired alongside sorry lighting it all birthed astonishing stories.

At some point in time, music could be heard. Unlike average instruments this invoked literal feelings. Each string brought about memories of the day my little brother was born. Mom described our births as unlike any joy she's ever felt before. Bliss would've been an understatement. It's not until hitting a wall that my senses return. Certain stone pieces force me from losing consciousness. In the distance fake laughter burns through solid earth, ultimately stabbing my ears. One of those voices held place as my sister. Perhaps out of impatience all four legs carry me into crossfire. Between near misses with weapon edges and animal defenses my body made great sketching material. Once past danger an all too familiar thought came: my father would've already rescued sis.

Active duty must've given him countless survival tactics. As anyone who knew dad could guess, he doesn't stay long enough for discussion. Beginning to believe mom lies saying he 'arrives' at exactly the time my brother and I fall asleep. OOF! Physics again sends me hurtling toward solid rock. Fortunately second time around reveals a staircase behind me. More hollow laughter echoes much closer than before. All four legs give way. Oh come on yes such progress dictates something bad happens, but still it shouldn't mean chaotic law has leeway. As bad an idea resting here sounds, my body won't go any further. Dad...wonder if he's looking for us. He knew about me hanging around the Cobalt Spires, so wouldn't he or a friend be searching right now? Either way I'm needed-AGH! Why my head!? Why-why-why-why!? In front laid an open book. No matter how much my eyes squinted they couldn't see anyone above. First ounces of recovered strength are used to kick it closed. Hold on, isn't this my journal? Please don't say it was taken while the music hypnotized me. Instinct forces my body forwards at top speed. Over my left shoulder a unicorn had appeared. There wasn't any time for descriptions following various frost beams. Through darkness I bash down two giant doors. Lo and behold various halls awaited my choice. Ice cripples my wings. Instead of going forward, my body falls inside a conveniently placed hole.

Sandy colors flew by in blurs. Past narrow passageway gravity leads me towards fiery death. Both claws grab hold of a nearby well aged archway. Deep orange flames rose, singeing my tail tip. Archway's top was the only place beyond their reach. Couldn't risk jumping from one to another, seeing as how my wings are frozen. In one swift movement my perch began falling. There are sparks as my claws desperately cling to the masonry. Again the fire rose, adding black onto yellow-green fur. Sounds of squeaky glass catch my attention. My wings were free! With them I soar free until safe ground is reached. Far beyond featureless dark corridors sis is asleep inside a jar. Yes! Finally there's nothing between us! In fact all that's seen is.....this is too easy. Suddenly a huge hand sprouts from darkness and grasps me, squeezes, then hurls me into the siren's jar. Pain spreads throughout my back. Wave after wave of shadows crush my lungs. Last thing my eyes see is an ink covered dragonic hand around sis.

Wow her majesty is beautiful! Many had commented on Queen Novo's appearance, but now here she was before me. Peanut brown eyes meet her rich fuscia gaze. Inside an inferno lit that scorched my entire being. We've been dating for about ten months now. Guess it's better late than never. In a swift movement I present the envy of every dragon ever. Electricity flows through me following her answer. Various notes invoke cringe within me. Novo asks if anything's wrong. Does her voice sound less regal? Little by little my world scatters like powder. Scents of all kinds fill my mind. Open fields surround me, going far beyond normal sight. Without warning a voice asks, "What do you think? Made it myself." Nothing was seen behind where the voice originated. In front there appeared an all too familiar unicorn: Dark chrome plus light silver dots decorate her coat, same for her mane and tail. Same character that shot frost beams at me. Twin glass eyes reflect what looks like mom! Either my stamina hasn't recovered yet, or something's keeping me paralyzed. "You've gone through each obstacle successfully. Even illusion magic has lost it's edge.", she hands over a book and pencil, "I trust you will do well with this information." With that she vanished same way the fake world blew away.

Once again stone masonry plagued my vision. That was all it took for my last thread to snap. Before any harm could be inflicted sis restricts me. Takes some time, but eventually I calm down. All this might as well have been for nothing. If what she's telling me is true, then sis getting captured wasn't purely accidental. Accursed pony set it all up for testing different creature's abilities. Why is another subject altogether. Well important thing is we're both safe, and homeward bound. Given some time we find a back door exit with no traps. Not surprisingly majestic red-orange-yellow hues replaced single blue when we get outside. It's common knowledge about how Princess Celestia alongside her sister, Princess Luna made way for day then night. Wonder if non-unicorns can wield magic? Below water flashes past us, bearing our unsteady reflections. Hippogriffs have always found themselves oceanbound, especially after surfacing. Glare shown from my pendant. Across sis was already diving into lively blue H₂O. Perhaps instinctively energy automatically flows throughout my body, rearranging every cell to fit aquatic needs. Right then it hits like five separate claws tearing into my wing. Saddlebags aren't waterproof! Splash! Whatever that pony wrote down is officially soaked.

"Is that Mt. Eris?", my sister asked. Off some ways in front Mt. Eris's silhouette appears.

"Yeah, dad never showed you?", perhaps saying 'you've never seen it before?' would've been less accusing. The invisible horse bird known as my father wouldn't keep this secret for so long on purpose...right? As we swim forward my thoughts wandered back to what I heard earlier. "Hey sis-"

"My name's Aqua Lullaby. Sorry, please continue."

"Aqua Lullaby, did you ever laugh while still captive?", one of those fake laughs came from Aqua. Though being siren might grant her unique talents, it's not okay to assume.

"No I didn't...though I do recall she said something about phasing you out with mockery. Then she shapeshifted into a shiny unicorn and teleported...I think. Does teleportation work by being incinerated?", Aqua shrugs upon saying that. Couldn't answer her question since magic was a somewhat new concept for me. Never did quite understand it like my friend Silverstream. Mist suddenly obscures every field of vision. Far above two familiar voices call out my name. Ruby fins huddle close to me, equally wary of this. Both bro and dad perch on a nearby rock. Evidently dad looked battle worn, while bro was in slightly better shape. Without warning dad hugs me, a smile replacing his previously stern look. Aqua joins in followed by my brother.

"Thank Goddess your alright! Some visiting pegasi have informed us that some humongous creature was lurking around Cobalt Spires, and well let's just say I started worrying." Hold up since when did my father care? Better yet how long ago did we meet? In dad's eyes a story revealed itself of two creatures longing for normalcy. How dad fought against grandma, almost dying if it had not been for mom. How mom lost her immortality perk, and settled down with an old dive bomber. History unraveled before me like so many dramatic scenes. Past my parents bro and I's births replayed clear as day. Going to school my friends asked what it was like being born at home. My response being, 'Ask my brother.' Though noise is muted, mom's lips read, 'They're beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous, but who do you think will inherit my powers? Heh, doesn't matter. They're both going to be loved the same.' Age finally catches up with mom, 'Well honey daddy's very busy especially since the Storm King's invasion. They're understaffed with patrols.'

Time passes normally once again. Beside me Aqua's mouth lay agape, still perched in the same place my brother held half-a-smile, and in front dad hesitated when looking at me. "Now you know. Tell me how did peering into another's mind feel? Being inheritor of Ghiana's title can be quite disorienting at first." Ghiana...as in the Goddess of Literature!? According to myth she gave reading skills to her followers who in turn shared them with every other creature. Dad says he'd explain everything upon getting home. At long last my saddlebag breaks open, spilling it's contents about. By whatever force mom, whom can presumably be declared that chrome pony aka Ghiana, used for writing it allowed my journal to survive wet conditions. While everyone's back is turned I sneak a look inside. At once my breath ceases, the words literally inflicting paralysis on me. Last thing my eyes see is bro catching me before sinking.

TEN YEARS LATER...

Here we go again. Every night on this particular date we fly out towards a specific hill. My little daughter still didn't have enough strength, so for now she held tightly onto mom. It's not even slightly surprising when my wife pulls us into a dance. She starts singing lyrics her best friend sung so long ago, "All right now, since you're here let's see what we can do!..." Yellow feathers danced alongside blue eyes that sparkled beside moonlight. Countless times I've heard different creatures say their mates were the most beautiful, and it's safely admitted we're now among those numbers. Regardless of age in my eyes she will always have my desired opinion. We had been together for quite awhile before-"Hey mom, it's me again!" Take your average daughter, she would cry over her mother's grave. Not this bird, few things made her sad. Beyond a number of clustered trees Aqua was staring at dad's headstone. They barely knew each other after finally reuniting.

"Why did mom have to go and do it? What went through her mind as she killed them?" As I seat myself beside her the question also rose within me. How is it that an individual who says they love their children, attempts to take their lives later on? And in the process takes away two beloved characters in our lives. Back towards Queen Novo's grave Skystar was nowhere in sight.

Without warning she appears before me and Aqua. "They got a nice burial don't ya think? At the last second mom said she wanted the hero buried next to her. Hey are you okay?" Tears cloaked my vision. At the time there was only one thing I wanted to say.

"Thank you.", and with that we fly home. Aqua passes on ahead, while my newly founded family stays behind. Now that fortress from so long ago appeared peaceful. Especially since my powers came into play.

"Who would've thought this island rightfully belonged to you.", Skystar stated.

Author's Note:

Something new before Electric Fire updates.
By the way what do you guys n gals think?

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