Fears of Bygone Eras

by Lusaminia

Chapter 14

Medusa. That was what her soldiers had referred to the pony as, and apparently what the citizens referred to them as well. A sculpture how had moved to the city some years ago, her craft only limited to what she could touch. Yet, as she had been informed in her investigation, many of the ponies didn’t believe that all of her works were carved from stone. It was well known that she was blind, and many ponies thought that something was hidden behind her eyes. Why else would she need a blindfold? Considering what her soldiers had told her: those eyes were the very reason she had been named as such.

Despite the fact that she had been warned not to approach for her own safety (though certain citizens encouraged her), such a pony existing intrigued her. The biggest thing was the threat such a power could cause, petrifaction being a death sentence as far she knew. At the same time she couldn’t help but want to test it’s abilities, but that was assuming that she wasn’t being tricked. Even with the clear fear she had seen in her soldiers eyes, it was possible that it was the rumors that had scared them more than anything.

So, having decided to take a visit to said pony, Psyche found herself looking at what seemed rather run down house. Not run down to the point of unlivable, but it was clear that no care was taken in trying to fix it up at any point. She prepared herself to look away if she felt anything wrong with her body, and knocked on the door. Seconds passed, and she knocked again. A few more seconds and the door opened just enough for her to see the pony inside. A yellow earth pony, eyes grey. No words were exchanged between the two for several minutes, Aurora feeling disappointed as she felt nothing wrong with her, despite looking so clearly into the pony’s eyes.

“Are you still there?” Psyche finally asked. “Or… are you-”

“Yes, I’m very much still here,” Aurora said with a nod. Psyche opened the door up completely, allowing Aurora to get a good glance at her. “What, did you really expect me to just leave? That isn’t exactly hospitable, is it?”

“I don’t have my blindfold on, so I assumed that-” Psyche grabbed Aurora’s hoof unexpectedly, and started pulling her towards her. “You’re not stone. My power only works on myself and normal ponies, which means you aren’t from around here, are you.”

“What are you talking about, I was the second ruler of Equestria!” Aurora boasted.

Without any warning, Psyche pulled the pegasus inside and closed the door. Aurora opened her mouth to request an explanation for her actions, but all she got out was a “he” before Psyche’s hoof connected with the side of her mouth. That hoof was then joined by another, as the earth pony indulge herself in invading the queen’s personal space. Her hooves searched Aurora, who stood there in a mixture of confusion and shock at her host’s lack of hospitality.

“Um… what are you doing?” She asked.

“Getting a feel for your structure. You came because you wanted to commission a statue, right?” Psyche asked, her head tilted up to the ceiling. “If you can’t see, you gotta memorize the feeling of every curve, every muscle, every hair to make a perfect-”

“Actually, that’s not why I’m here,” Aurora said, pushing Psyche away. “I’m here because of the rumors. Though, guessing by the fact I’m still moving, they aren’t true, are they?”

Psyche looked off to the statue of Fluttershy in the corner of her living room, the same one she had brought to the festival a few days ago. She didn’t need sight to tell where it was, somehow always knowing where it was. “No, they are real. Very, very real.”

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Luminous was silent, still trying to take in or process everything that had been told to mere hours earlier. Her supposedly also being from this other Equestria, one that she had destroyed in an attempt to save. It was just her or Silvia as well. Arcane, Psyche, Thunder, almost everypony she had known for the better part of her life. It was the reason she saw visions, why she could get a cutie mark, and so much more that she probably didn’t even know. She had to trust her mother, who she had trust time and time before. Yet… none of it seemed exactly right.

Yes, her being a paradox, a pony not from this time or universe, could make sense. At the same time, how could she throw everything she had ever thought about herself out the window? It wasn’t that simple, her mom knew that. Silvia had given her some space to clear her head after seeing her daughter’s reaction to the entire thing. Luminous could see that her mom was stuck to her story, and the tears weren’t fake. Deep in her heart she knew what she had been told was the truth, but that didn’t make it any less believable.

She looked around her for something, anything, to distract her from the thoughts in her head. She was currently in Sunny’s house, though at that point in time nopony was currently home. The silence born from that would have led to boredom had her mind not been racing. Nothing could pull her thoughts away, even as her stomach reminded her of how hungry she was. Finally, she burst.

“I can’t take it!’ She shouted, getting to her hooves only to fall over right after. “There is more to it, there has to be! What else am I not being told?”

She didn’t receive an answer, but she knew that she didn’t need one. Deny it all she liked, everything she had just heard was the truth, and if it was, then she was a murderer. Everyone she knew, everyone she loved, dying for what she had for some reason thought was the greater good. That didn’t explain why she had no memory of it, or why she had become a foal when she arrived in this Equestria, or so many other things. The worst part of it was, she didn’t think she would get any answers. She didn’t even know if her mom even understood all the things that had happened to her.

The door opened, Luminous looking up to see Gabriel staring entering the building.

“I’m guessing your mom told you,” He said. His response was a sigh. Not a nod, a “yes”, or a question, just a sigh and a look of utter exhaustion. “I would blame your tired expression on nearly two and a half days of chasing a green phoenix, but I just got done getting schooled by your ex-coltfriend.”

“I’m, ugh,” Luminous rubbed her head, having finally realized just how much of a headache she was having. “How are you still alive after listening to his whiny self.”

“I know you two have a history, and not a really good one. Only dated for about a year before you two got sick of each other, correct?” He asked. He got a nod, one which Luminous instantly regrets as her head broke into a world of pain. “Personally, I don’t think you really have any right to say that considering how much it sounds like he has gone through.”

“And that would be because…” Luminous made circles with her hoof.

“He lost his fillyfriend last month,” Gabriel explained. Any quips that Luminous had prepared vanished as she heard the words. “It wasn’t just anyone too, but Spitfire, the retired captain of the Wonderbolts… and Thunder’s true self. Apparently, even though he was on duty when it happened, he could feel the very moment that she died.”

Though the story did little to change her stance on her ex, Luminous couldn’t find it in herself to say anything. Even if they had disdain for each other, trying to joke or insult him over it wasn’t right. She was better than that, better than him about making light at others misfortunes. Her thoughts instead turned to the one interaction they had during those entire two weeks in Canterlot, and her asking about his wings. She couldn’t help but think that might have struck a nerve for another reason, one unrelated to his inability to fly.

“And, here we are… oh,” The griffon and pegasus looked to the door as Sunny came in, looking in disbelief at them before turning to the pink alicorn behind her. “Empress Flurry Heart, please tell me that I don’t need to explain how hospitality works to you?”

“Sorry, Ms. Sunnyside, but Luminous and I haven’t been able to rest these past few days,” Gabriel replied, giving the mare a bow. “I am surprised to see you home so soon though. It’s only four in the afternoon after all. Shouldn’t you be watching your restaurant?”

“We’re a breakfast and lunch place. We close down before dinner hours start unless it’s the weekends,” Sunny explained. She quickly realized that she was getting off track, and moved out of the doorway to let everyone else in. “Anyways, make yourself at home, I guess. Brew will join us later after she finished closing up.”

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In the hours to follow, most of the tension that had been present in the groups were allowed to disappear. For the first time in days, they felt safe, not having to worry about the threat chasing them from Canterlot. Jokes could be shared, stories were told, and Sunny was happy to say that this was the livelist the house had ever been. Of course, some tension still existed, Thunder and Luminous specifically seemed to be aiming to rile the other up.

Flurry, however, found herself keeping her distance from the rest of the group. While there seemed to be some form of trust and friendship between everypony else present, she felt like an outsider. Even more so, the realization that she was dealing with ponies who could do things that nopony else could. It was intriguing, but the idea of these paradoxes and the anomalies they carried with them put her on edge. One wrong move, and her entire plan could go down in flames. One wrong move, and she wouldn’t have her vengeance.

Wishing for further separation, she made her way out to the patio, the conversation inside being muffled as she closed the door. The quiet was a welcome change, one which she made clear by a sigh. She rested her hooves on the fence, looking out onto the water, which seemed to shine in the moonlight. Her peace didn’t last long as the door opened behind her, Silvia walking up next to her. She sighed again, though this time it was in misfortune more than joy.

“You can’t leave a princess alone for a few minutes?” Flurry asked.

“I’m doing you a favor,” Silvia replied, her eyes screaming for the alicorn to shut up. “How many of those ponies in there actually do you think really trust you? I’ll take one, and you know exactly who I’m talking about. Being alone only makes you seem suspicious.”

“Not like hanging out with them would be any better,” Flurry shrugged and rolled her eyes. “Everything I do is suspicious. Besides, I’m only tagging along because I want to anyway. It seems that you all have stakes in this I’m not really aware of.”

“Stop trying to play innocent, I know you want the canon,” Silvia said. Flurry’s body went tense at the wolf’s words. “Let me guess, revenge? Going to destroy it when this is all over and our backs are turned?”

“If you know this, then why haven’t you tried to get rid of me?” Flurry asked. Whatever politeness there was in her voice left the moment she started talking. “Yes, you’re right, I want it to kill that sorry excuse for an aunt. An aunt that I’m certain is the reason my mom and dad have disappeared. If you know that, and the danger there is from having me around, then we haven’t you just gotten rid of me yet.”

“Because I know something you don’t, something that makes you just as valuable as Twilight’s canon,” Silvia told the alicorn, turning just enough where both of her eyes rested on the alicorn. “Our enemy isn’t just a force of dragons from a long forgotten part of history, it’s a queen. A queen who had her nation ripped from her because of you’re kind, a queen blinded by her fear of your kind. Yet for everything she might have learned of our era, she doesn’t know about you,” She pointed a paw at the alicorn. “The Crystal Empire and Equestria were unaware of each other at her time, or perhaps the empire didn’t even exist yet. Either way, she is only aware of the fact that alicorn’s rule Equestria.”

“So you would protect your enemy in order to save, what, that enemy’s enemy?” Flurry questioned. “I still don’t see how you need me around, or what is so important about me-”

“Your canon is what makes you important, not you,” Silvia spat back, getting tired of the questions. “That canon is not just a source of immortality, but the power source of a barrier that keeps your universe from being overwhelmed by outside universes. If it’s too overwhelmed - if the barrier breaks - then that universe is fated for Armageddon, and there is no way to stop it,” Silvia placed a paw on the alicorn’s chest. Flurry, unsure of what to make of the information being thrown at her, could only put her hooves on Silvia’s hoof. “Listen, what I’m about to say might sound wrong, and by no means are you to tell Luminous this, but it’s the truth. I don’t care if Twilight lives or dies.”

“But this barrier you're talking about, if it’s real, would be weaker than,” Flurry said, believing she was getting the idea Silvia was throwing her way.

“As long as we have one canon, one source to power it, one alicorn, that doesn’t matter,” Silvia explained. “The only thing I care about is keeping my daughter alive, you got that? I don’t care who has to die as long as she gets to live, and that means that at least one alicorn needs to exist,” Silvia sighed. “I’m a horrible wolf for thinking this, but I don’t care if it’s you or Twilight. As long as one of you are alive by the end of this, I’m okay. Just don’t tell Luminous about the barrier, or I’ll find some way to permanently scar your body till there isn’t a shed of pink to see!”

The look that Flurry saw in the wolf wasn’t one of desperation, nor was it one of fear. The fact that the wolf had been calm during that entire conversation, only showing anger as she threatened the alicorn, made Flurry uncomfortable. She was serious about all of it. Whether they were the words of a sane creature or not, Flurry had seen the bloodlust deep behind Silvia’s eyes. The eyes of a hunter, a predator, but it was all wrapped around this motherly feeling towards one pony, one that had killed her in a past life: Luminous.

“You’re sure they don’t know about me?” Flurry asked.

Silvia nodded “Yes.”

“Then... I guess I’m safest with you all,” Flurry replied. “But know that I still mean to kill Twilight when this is all done, granted you get that far.”

“Thanks for being reasonable, for once,” Silvia replied, getting an eye roll from the empress in response. “Tell me, I’m not too familiar with this area of Equestria. Are we closer to the Badlands or the Crystal Empire?”

“Badlands,” Flurry said, looking back inside to Sunnyside and Morning Brew, who were talking with everyone else. “One last question. What happens if the canon is destroyed, but the alicorn isn’t killed.”

Silvia opened her mouth to answer, but found nothing. “I… don’t know. Never found out.”

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“So, everyone knows the plan?” Silvia asked the others, save Sunnyside and Morning Brew. They had already headed off to bed early in order to be ready to open tomorrow. Gabriel and Flurry Heart got the spare room, due to their shared status of loyalty, while the rest had to take the floor and living room.

“Head out in the morning, head to the Badlands, and convince the Changelings to take us in,” Arcane recited, shrugging. “Not much of a plan if you ask me.”

“To be honest, I don’t have one,” Silvia said, shaking her head. “That said, we need the canon in the hooves, claws, or whoever else we know we can trust. I haven’t seen or heard anything from the dragons since the invasion, so I’m not betting on them, and no offense Gabriel but I don’t exactly trust your people.”

Gabriel flicked his wrist and shrugged. “Eh, can’t exactly blame you for that.”

“Heading to the Crystal Empire would bring us closer to Canterlot before we made significant distant away from it, and with all of that consider, Changelings are our best bet. As for the canon, Gabriel stays in charge of it,” Silvia explained, she turned to Luminous, her expression dropping into a frown. “Lumy, you have nothing to do with what’s going on. You were dragged into all of this just to get you out of the city and to safety. If you want to head home or-”

“I’m staying mom,” Luminous smiled. It wasn’t a strong smile, as she wasn't sure of her own decision, but saying those words had sealed things. “I know your strong but… I don’t think I could take it if you died so far away from me. If you fight, then I fight, no more leaving me.”

Silvia couldn’t help but smile, knowing that Luminous was holding back the fear and confusion of everything that had happened around her. Everyone got up, heading to bed much the same as Sunny and Brew had not long before. Arcane took a spot out on the patio, while Thunder took the couch he was already sitting on. Gabriel and Flurry took to the guest room, the former stopping in front of their host’ door, having thought she heard something, but dismissed it. That had left Silvia and Luminous, both of them thinking the same exact thing.

“Not tired?” Silvia asked, getting a chuckle in response.

“Nope, not at all,” Luminous replied with a shake of her head.

“Come on, let’s head out then,” Her mother said, helping her daughter to her hooves. “I think it’s about time I taught you how to use that “anomaly” of yours, as Arcane called it.”

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Brew bit her lip as she heard everything that had happened in the living room. She had been told by, the wolf, Silvia that their business out here was serious, but she hadn’t imagined what she had heard. The entire paradox ordeal, how they were from another time, another Equestria, would have sounded crazy if she hadn’t seen what Discord could do. It was already crazy enough that a wisewolf, a creature she hadn’t seen in forever, was somehow in her living room, but hearing what happened in Canterlot, all the death, it was horrifying. Yet nothing about that was any crazier than hearing that unicorn, Arcane, mention the alicorn canon.

She was unsure of what to do, stuck the choices of staying out of it, or telling them the truth. She had no idea how normal citizens, or even non-alicorns, knew about the canon at all, and she doubt somepony so stuck up like Flurry would tell them. Her gaze turned to her sister, sleeping peacefully in bed. For twenty-five years Morning Brew had ignored what happened to her sister the day they moved here, playing along to stay sane. However, if these ponies, that griffon, and that wolf somehow knew about the canon, she had to take her chance. She turned back towards the kitchen and sighed.

“The gig is up Luna,” She said to herself, briefly turning back to Sunny before opening the door completely. “Just remember, this is for sis.”

Author's Note:

What? Sunnyside and Morning Brew are the princesses?

Yep.

We're truly in the home stretch here, and I just wanna quickly tell you when these last three chapters are coming out. Chapter 15 will be out on Wednesday, as usual. Next sunday, however will be both chapters 16 and 17, the last two chapters of this fic. I hope you are all prepared.

That said, please give me your feedback, and I'll see you all on wednesday.