Ch 16 - The Trials - Pain and Poison, Pure and Raw
Sunset stared listlessly out the bay window overlooking Roseluck’s garden. The Queen’s sun had begun rising past the mesa and over the treetops, banishing the night and heralding the start of a new day.
Normally, the sight eased her mind. Filled her with peace seeing that the Queen’s light was watching over her. A feeling that had only grown with her time on Mt. Liakeed, and in the queen’s presence.
But at that moment, she felt little comfort.
Instead, she felt exhausted, confused, frightened…
And sick.
Whatever had happened to her had left a lingering malaise. A creeping fatigue that had sunk into her bones and muscles that even Roseluck’s magic couldn’t relieve.
She hadn’t slept the rest of the night. Whenever she closed her eyes, the phantoms of Golden Tree’s destruction and her friends casting her out kept her from the restful oblivion of slumber. Instead, she’d stayed curled up in Roseluck’s arms, Philomena nesting in her lap, listening to the archduchess read some of her favorite legends from the Eastern Territory.
Yet, with the rising of the sun, Roseluck had to excuse herself, saying she had to attend to, “some things,” but would be back with breakfast as soon as she could be. Sunset had tried to protest, but Roseluck had firmly yet gently told her that she had to go. Instead, Amara had leapt from Roseluck’s shoulder and landed on one of the golden perches above the window.
Sunset relaxed a bit. If Amara was staying to make sure she was safe, Roseluck wasn’t going to be far.
And so, she found herself sitting on the bumped-out window seat, the memories coming back in full force.
Tormenting her.
Taunting her.
Reminding her that on the other side of Solaria, the people that she loved now hated her. That they wanted her dead and gone.
And that it was all her fault.
Philomena shifted, snuggling up to her right elbow before her brooding could spiral out of control. Glancing down, their eyes met, and Sunset pulled her into a tight hug.
I’m right here, Sunset, Philomena sent, touching Sunset’s nose with the flat of her beak and letting out a soft trill, letting her love and worry flow through their wide-open link. I’m not going anywhere.
I… I know, Sunset sent, a few tears rolling down her cheeks as she savored the feeling of Philomena, both in her arms and in her mind. A feeling that she thought she’d lost.
Like her family. Like Golden Tree.
I just... I-
Another wave of love came through their bond. Warm. Gentle. Comforting. And earnest.
It’s okay. We can stay like this as long as you need.
Sunset didn’t send anything in reply, simply pulling her bondmate closer. Her fear of losing contact with her again flooded through their bond. A wave of reassurance and love like sunlight trying to burn away a bank of storm clouds came in response. It couldn’t completely drive the pain away.
But for a moment it made it more bearable.
Then, the phantoms came surging back. Even as sleep-deprived as she was, she could have closed their bond. But she didn’t want to risk being cut off from Philomena again. So she left it wide open, giving Philomena a perfect view of her failures and what they had cost her.
Philomena’s concern and a strong feeling of rejection came in response. Rejection that was directed at the memories and self-loathing that was clouding Sunset’s mind. The force of the sending was staggering.
Sunset, none of that really happened. The poison made you see that. I promise. Everyone in Golden Tree is safe.
But I saw it. I was there.
I know you saw it. I could see it too. But I swear, it wasn’t really happening.
How do you know? Chaos was involved, so... maybe I was in two places at once, o-or it was showing me the future! How can you be sure none of it happened, or that it won’t?
A fleeting twinge of frustration entered their bond.
So you’re a night-weaver now? Philomena sent, dryly.
Sunset recoiled in raw horror and outrage.
What?! Mena… did you just…HOW DARE YOU?! How dare you suggest that…
I’m not the one implying you can teleport or see the future. What kind of magic lets you do that, exactly? We’ve sat through enough lessons with Queen Celestia to know that it isn’t flame.
Sunset’s incredulity was doused as she thought about what Philomena had just sent.
Okay, fine, you’re right. But you could have gone with something less insulting, like saying I started burning villages or poisoning wells.
It got you to stop and think, didn’t it?
Sighing, Sunset went back to hugging Philomena.
That’s not a no, Philomena sent with a smug lilt.
Don’t try to distract me, Sunset sent firmly. Even if you’re right…
Which I am.
…Even if you’re right and it wasn’t real, it was real to me. You said you could see everything? Then you know exactly what I saw. What I did. Mena, I killed Lyra. I burnt off her hands and incinerated her brain. I’ve known Lyra longer than my oath-sisters. Bronze threw me away, told me that everything that happened to Golden Tree was my fault, and that he regrets taking me as his apprentice. And my oath-sisters. I… they told me they didn’t want me anymore. And that I was responsible for the deaths of their families. It hurts. It hurts so much. I thought I was going to die, Mena. And…I... I think part of me wanted to.
A maelstrom of conflicting emotions swirled from Philomena. Sympathy. Worry. Anger. What she thought might have been... disappointment?
Most of all, she sensed hurt and sorrow.
Don’t ever say that ever again, Sunset, Philomena sent softly, her own memories flowing into Sunset’s mind’s eye. Watching her get hurt by the phantoms, both within and outside Sunset’s mind. The desire to aid her bondmate. And the torment of knowing she could do nothing.
Do you even understand what it was like for me to watch you suffer and know I couldn’t do a nighted thing about it? To feel everything you were feeling? I didn’t even care about what would happen to me if you died. All I could think about was how helpless I was, how much I wanted to protect you. And how agonizing it was that I couldn’t.
Sunset felt Philomena’s rebuke like a wave of freezing cold water thrown right in her face. The sheer pain in her sending was unbearable. It was almost enough to make her forget her own hurt.
Almost.
Then you know how much it hurt me to be cut off from you. I thought you were gone, Sunset sent as she shifted her hand to pet the side of Philomena’s beak. I thought I had been abandoned… again.
Philomena didn’t respond with a sending. Only an intense wave of sympathy and fear for Sunset. Sunset knew her own feelings were flowing to Philomena just as intensely. Those of sorrow at hurting her mixed with the pain of remembering their separation.
How do I make this better, Sunset? Philomena finally sent as she nuzzled Sunset’s cheek. What do I do to help you? I don’t understand. I just don’t.
Philomena let out a soft trill as her worry and frustration hit Sunset, making the young phoenix-born hold her bondmate tighter.
How do I make it better?
*****
A soft poke to her shoulder jolted Sunset awake. Letting out a startled shout, she began looking around frantically. Philomena was likewise yanked out of slumber, her confusion coming through their bond even as she took to the air, trying to figure out what had startled them.
As the daze of sleep faded, the world came into focus around her. She was still in Roseluck’s bedroom, sitting by her bay window. Amara was still above, resting on her perch, an amused look in her eyes. And as for what roused her…
“Roseluck?” Sunset asked as Philomena landed back in her lap.
“Sorry to wake you up like that, Sunset,” Roseluck said with a warm smile, holding up the wooden tray she was carrying. On the tray was a steaming mug of what smelled like eincjira, along with a pungent bowl of some sort of light-green porridge filled with flecks of what looked like herbs, and a small pile of roasted mice. “I brought you and Philomena some breakfast. And some medicine.”
At the thought of food, Sunset’s stomach sent a sharp hunger-pang through her guts. But, her attention was fixated on something else that Roseluck had said. Something that filled her with dread.
“Medicine?” Sunset asked nervously.
Unpleasant memories of bitter herbal tinctures and foul smelling oils she’d been forced to take whenever she got sick came rushing back. Tender Heart was a skilled healer, but the things that she used were nearly as bad as what they were meant to cure. “What kind of medicine?”
“Something to finish getting the ul’muri out of your body,” Roseluck said, her tone somber.
Something about what Roseluck said made Sunset’s skin crawl. She’d never heard of whatever Roseluck had mentioned. And it was somehow still in her?
“Ulmuri? What’s Ulmuri?”
Roseluck looked away, a strange expression coming to her face as she let out a soft sigh, then set the tray on a low table set into the wall.
“You need to eat something first, then we’ll talk about it, okay?”
Roseluck’s tone and evasiveness put Sunset on edge.
“No! Roseluck, what’s Ulmuri? What was I given?” Sunset demanded with more force.
Sunset, don’t do this. Not now, Philomena sent, a feeling of concern and desire for her to calm down flowing into her bondmate.
Jaw set, Sunset ignored Philomena’s warning and continued glaring at Roseluck. To her frustration, the woman’s face remained unchanged. Sympathetic, but unchanged.
“Do you trust me?” Roseluck finally asked.
“What does that have to do with anything? I’m not moving until you tell me what Ulmuri is!”
“I will explain it, Sunset. But you need to eat before you take your medicine. Otherwise it won’t work.”
“Why?”
“Because, the ul’muri they gave you was Chaos-tainted. Unless we purge the taint, you could become Chaos-corrupted.” Roseluck said firmly. “We need to get it out of your body. To do that, we’re going to have to draw out the Chaos-taint and make you vomit it out.”
“I- What?!” Sunset balked in horror. “Chaos-corrupted? I’m Chaos-corrupted?”
“No. Not yet. But if we’re going to stop you from becoming Chaos-corrupted, you’re going to have to take your medicine and vomit the Chaos-taint out,” Roseluck repeated in that same calming, gentle tone she always used. “I promise you, Sunset, this is the only way. Now please, come over and eat.”
Sunset didn’t want to believe what Roseluck was saying, Yet the idea of being contaminated with Chaos was terrifying beyond what she experienced under the ulmuri. Being Chaos-corrupted was a death sentence. She could and would be killed on sight.
Yet Roseluck had never done anything to warrant her mistrust, so she doubted she would lie about something like that.
No, that wasn’t true.
She hadn’t lifted a finger to protect Golden Tree from Blueblood.
Sunset, Roseluck didn’t do that. Remember? That was this… ulmuri stuff.
She glared at Philomena, who glared back defiantly. After a few moments, she took a deep breath and ran through one of her meditation techniques to steady her mind.
It did little to quiet the phantoms.
You don’t need to remind me.
Clearly, I did.
…fine, Sunset sent sullenly.
“Okay…” Sunset’s voice was unsure as she pointed at the bowl. “What is that?”
“Sweet herbal nalanta. Made with fresh sumiril tubers and herbs from my garden. It should help settle your stomach and make it easier for the medicine to work.”
“And what is this medicine you keep talking about?” Sunset asked nervously. She didn’t like how evasive Roseluck was being about something that was supposedly going to make her sick. Especially after what happened right after she’d been sick last evening.
Had it really only been one night? It felt like so much longer.
“After you’ve eaten, I’ll explain everything.” Roseluck gathered three pillows, setting them near the table. Sitting on the largest, she patted the one beside her. “Now come come. Nalanta’s best eaten warm. You too, Philomena.”
Reluctantly, Sunset offered her arm to Philomena as she made her way to the table. Once the two were settled, Amara flew from her perch and landed by her little sister.
Looking down at the strange porridge… nalanta as Roseluck called it, Sunset’s stomach growled loudly. Yet she didn’t move to eat. Instead, she looked at Roseluck with a frown.
“Here,” Roseluck said, taking a spoon of the dish and eating it, chewing several times before swallowing it down. “See. It’s safe. Now please, eat.”
Tucking in, she realized just how hungry she was. While the taste wasn’t remarkable, a sort of mix between sweet and savory, she found it quite filling.
After finishing half the bowl, she turned to Roseluck, “You said you’d tell me what ulmuri is. So, what is it?”
Once again, that strange sigh escaped Roseluck’s lips as she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before answering.
“Ul’muri… is a sacred, ritual medicine used by the kirintal.”
Sunset nearly choked on the spoonful of nalanta she’d just stuck in her mouth. Coughing, she grabbed the mug of eincjira and swallowed a few gulps, clearing her airway. She could feel Philomena’s surprise and concern through their bond as she looked with alarm back and forth between Sunset, Roseluck and Amara.
“I’m sorry, but what did you just say? The kirintal were involved?” Sunset snarled, her temper rising at the thought of the people she’d been forced to placate and get yanked around on puppet strings for being responsible for her poisoning. Especially if they were allied with the Cult and Nightcrawler.
“No, Sunset,” Roseluck said with a shake of her head. “It’s more likely he stole it from them. Or stole the way to grow the ingredients.”
“What makes you so sure?” Sunset asked angrily.
“The only ones that know how to grow and make ul’muri are the kirintal spiritualists. And they are among the kirintal’s most devoted to Himavanta,” Roseluck said, before her expression darkened. “Knowing how Nightcrawler works, he probably tore the knowledge from the shades of kirintal he slew during or since the Skellweb Crisis.”
“That’s not exactly proof.”
“Sunset, the kirintal have been our allies for centuries, and have suffered just as much as we have from the cult’s predations. If that isn’t enough for you, then you’re just going to have to trust me.”
Sunset glared at Roseluck. Through her bond, she felt Philomena wordlessly urging her to stop, memories of times Roseluck had helped her when she needed it. As the memories kept coming, Sunset found her temper cooling as they drowned out the false, ulmuri created memories. She sent a feeling of gratitude to Philomena in response.
“I’m trying. But you’re not giving me an nighted answer. What. Is! Ulmuri!?” Sunset demanded, emphasizing her growing frustration by slamming her fist against the table, making both Philomena and Amara hop back.
“As I said, it’s a sacred medicine used by the kirintal. It comes from two compounds: ground ul’itha leaf and dried tath’muri mushrooms,” Roseluck explained, lacing her fingers together and resting her arms on the table. “Alone, they’re inert. Combined, they become an extremely powerful hallucinogen. One that creates visions of your greatest fears.”
Amara walked over to Roseluck, trilling softly as she rubbed her beak against her bondmate’s hand, bringing a smile to the archduchess’s face.
Sunset’s head hurt as she tried to understand what Roseluck was telling her. The kirintal willingly took Ulmuri in order to face their fears? She couldn’t fathom anyone willingly going through what she did.
“And they do that to themselves willingly?” she asked incredulously. “Why would they try to kill themselves?”
“They don’t,” Roseluck said with a shake of her head. “The visions caused by ul’muri only last an hour or so. Otherwise, it’s harmless. What you were given was heavily altered by Nightcrawler and the Cult using Chaos-alchemy to make it into a lethal poison.”
“So, you know what they gave me, but you managed to neutralize it. So why do you still need to get it out?”
Roseluck looked away again, stroking Amara as the phoenix rubbed her head against her hand, trilling supportively.
“I didn’t neutralize it, Sunset. I extracted one component,” Roseluck said solemnly, giving Sunset an apologetic look and placing a hand over hers. “When Raven told us what they used on you, I tried removing both components. But I could only purge the ul’itha.”
Sunset considered what Roseluck had just said, turning it over and over in her mind until an ember ignited.
“Is there any reason why you couldn’t get rid of the other one?”
Roselucks’ face fell at Sunset’s question, as though it physically pained her to think about.
“Chaos. The tath’muri was the part that Nightcrawler corrupted, meaning that basic spells or rituals won’t work. Removing the ul’itha stopped the visions, but couldn’t get rid of the tath’muri. Or the Chaos-taint. We’re going to have to use something else to purge that from you. Something more potent,” Roseluck said as she set a small, plain looking ceramic bottle with a metal cork on the top of the table. “Which is why I had to make this. You’ll need to drink this, after which I’ll be able to use my magic to catalyze it and pull the Chaos-taint out of you.”
Looking at the bottle, something deep inside her was drawn to it, yet repulsed at the same time.
Mena, do you feel that?
No. But I can feel it from you.
…I don’t like this. “I assume that’s this medicine you keep telling me about,” Sunset said, glaring at the bottle. “So, what is it?”
Roseluck didn’t immediately reply. Instead, she looked mournfully at the bottle, as if the sight of it pained her.
“It’s a Chaos purgative Raven and I developed after the Skellweb Crisis. It’s… the main ingredients are enchanted phlume heartwood sap combined with true water,” Roseluck said, a touch of sadness creeping into her voice as she ran a hand down the bottle.
“WHAT!?” Sunset shouted in horror as she shot up from the table and backed away, startling both Philomena and Amara again and forcing Roseluck to grab the bottle to prevent it from falling over. “You want me to drink phlume?!”
“Sunset, please calm down,” Roseluck pleaded as she set the bottle back on the table and rose to her feet.
“No! Do you think I’m stupid?!” Sunset backed away from Roseluck, her breathing becoming shallow. “Phlume sap is pure poison! It’ll kill me!”
“Chaos-tainted phlume is poison. Uncorrupted phlume isn’t. I promise,” Roseluck said placatingly.
“So you’re saying it won’t kill me?”
Roseluck looked strangely guilty for a moment, causing Sunset’s hackles to rise.
“It might,” Roseluck finally admitted with a sad sigh.
“I knew it! I knew you and Raven had it out for me!” Sunset shouted, transforming her living flame into tendrils as she backed away even further. “You just want to get rid of me, don’t you? You want me dead after you made me try to impress those stupid deer! Or…or you’re secretly in league with Blueblood. Admit it. You think I’m a failure of a phoenix-born, so you’re just going to kill me and be done with it!”
The look of hurt on Roseluck’s face almost made Sunset feel guilty, as did the feeling of sadness coming from Philomena. But she wasn’t going to fall for Roseluck’s acting.
“Sunset,” Roseluck said calmly, “I don’t want to kill you. I don’t hate you, or think you’re a failure. I love you like a little sister.”
Sunset! Stop! Philomena’s sending came with a feeling of panic.
“Sure doesn’t sound like it.” Sunset glared, ignoring Philomena’s sendings. “Why should I believe you when you say you don’t want me dead?”
“Because… if any of that was true, I wouldn’t have removed the ul’itha. Raven wouldn’t have risked her life to find out what the Cult used. And General Sentry would have just cut your head off when we found out you might become Chaos-corrupted.”
Sunset recoiled at the ease with which Roseluck had just said what she said.
Sunset, listen to her, Philomena sent, her tone similarly placating. Along with the sending came feelings of calm and composure, as well as a pleading sensation for her to relax.
Who’s side are you on!?
I’m on your side. But stop and think about it. This is Roseluck. When has she ever tried to hurt you?
She…
In the real world. Not in your ulmuri induced hallucinations!
The ferocity of Philomena’s rebuke stopped Sunset dead in her tracks.
…never, Sunset reluctantly admitted. She’s never tried to hurt me.
Has she ever been anything but kind, supportive, or loving?
No.
And if she just wanted you dead, would she have saved you from the ulmuri, only to kill you by making you drink a poisoned “medicine?”
No…
And if she wanted you to drink poison, would she have told you that it might kill you?
No…
So, that means what?
Slowly, Sunset relaxed, but didn’t go any closer to Roseluck, instead staring fearfully at the bottle on the table.
“Why?” Sunset asked nervously. “Why is this the only way? Can’t you do something that won’t…”
Sunset’s voice trailed off, leaving the rest of her question unspoken.
“If there was any other way, I’d do it.” Roseluck’s tone was regretful, soft… and infuriating. Sunset wanted to trust her sincerity, but it was hard. “But Chaos-taint is resilient. And pernicious.”
Roseluck paused, her face with a look that told Sunset she was considering her next words very carefully.
“You’re a blacksmith. Have you ever worked with metal ingots that have a lot of impurities?”
“Yes?” Sunset replied cautiously.
“Is it easy to get the impurities out?”
“No,” Sunset said with a furrowed brow, thinking back to several long days with Bronze where they had to spend hours at the crucible, her maintaining the heat of the furnace and him spell-dancing to facilitate the purification process. “We have to melt the metal down and either scrape off the impurities as slag or use spell-dances if that doesn’t work.”
“That’s like what the purgative is going to do. You’re contaminated with Chaos, so we need to ‘purify’ you. It’s why we need to use phlume. It has a natural affinity for Chaos-energy,” Roseluck said, as she approached the younger phoenix-born, kneeling down and putting a hand on her shoulder. “That’s what makes it so useful as a catalyst in Chaos-alchemy. But that property also means it can be used to draw out and bind Chaos-energy, given the right spells.”
“What about Queen Celestia? Couldn’t she remove it?”
“She could. The problem is time. It’d take most of the day to get you back to Mt. Liakeed. The longer the tath’muri stays, the harder it will be to cleanse the Chaos-taint without it being a guaranteed death sentence. We need to do this now, Sunset. Before it sinks in too deep.”
Sunset gingerly brought up her hands and returned Roseluck’s hug. How much more was she going to suffer today? She’d already been clawed, bruised, beaten and stabbed. But if… no, Roseluck was telling the truth. She had to be. If she was lying, then…
“Will it hurt?”
“Regrettably, quite a lot.”
“How badly?”
“Probably the worst you’ll feel in your life.”
Sunset tensed up as terror shot through her like lightning. Before she could spiral, Roseluck tightened her hug, rubbing her back as she whispered, “I promise I’ll make this up to you, Sunset.”
“And there’s really no other way?”
Sunset felt Roseluck flinch at the question.
“I’m afraid not,” Roseluck sighed, her voice shaking like it was almost on the verge of tears. “If there was, Amale wouldn’t have had to sacrifice herself.”
The sheer hurt and grief in Roseluck’s voice caught Sunset by surprise. In a way, it reminded her of the way Granny Smith, Big Mac and AJ sounded when Bright Mac and Buttercup died.
“Who’s Amale?”
Roseluck went quiet, the only sound she made the slow, steady rhythm of her breathing.
“She was one of my oldest phlume plants. When I told them that I needed heartwood sap to save your life, she volunteered to let me harvest her’s,” Roseluck said, her voice going quiet. “Unlike harvesting normal sap, taking heartwood sap is fatal, but she gave it willingly. She was with me for over three hundred years. I don’t want her sacrifice to be in vain.”
Roseluck’s words hung in the air like a stormcloud.
“So,” Sunset sighed dejectedly, “my choices are to do nothing and have General Sentry put a bullet in my brain, or take a medicine that might still kill me.”
Roseluck didn’t say a word. Only nod.
“Right... How does the medicine taste?”
A single, soft chuckle came from Roseluck’s throat. “Revolting.”
“Of course,” Sunset groaned.
“I’m sorry, Sunset.”
“Let’s… just get this over with,” Sunset said, letting go of Roseluck and pointing to the bottle. “So I just need to drink that?”
“Not quite,” Roseluck said as she rose to her feet. “Once you’ve finished your nalanta, we’ll head to my spellforge. I’ll explain everything else there.”
*****
Roseluck pushed a large pair of double doors open before ushering Sunset inside, both of their bondmates perching on their shoulders. The four of them had left Roseluck’s room not long ago and headed deeper into the manor escorted by a pair of prominence knights.
For Sunset, it felt like she was being led to an execution. In a way, she was.
No, she had to remind herself, it wasn’t an execution.
Roseluck was trying to save her life.
With a method that could kill her.
“Are you ready for this?” Roseluck asked, pulling Sunset out of her brooding.
“No.” Sunset inhaled, longing for the feeling of her hammer and tongs. If… when she got through this, she was going to spend as much time at her anvil as she could. “But that doesn’t matter.”
The prominence knights remained outside as they entered the spellforge. The room they entered was modestly sized for a spellforge, and bare of furnishing other than a few perches jutting from the walls. All around the room were familiar lines of runes carved into the wood of the walls. Even from a glance, Sunset could tell that they were very advanced, probably tier four and five at minimum. Not as complex as the ones she’d seen Raven use, but still far beyond her own ability.
In the center, there was a short, raised platform, with a ceramic, rune-covered bucket sitting at the edge. Around the platform were four concentric circles of high-tier runes.
And standing out amongst the sparse background were a pair of familiar figures.
“Lilly? Daisy?”
“Sunset, you’re okay,” Daisy cheered and rushed up to her, with Lily not far behind. Philomena barely launched herself into the air before they wrapped her in a tight hug.
I wish they wouldn’t do that, Philomena sent irritably as she flew to, then landed on one of the perches jutting from the wall.
Sorry, Mena. “What are you two doing here?” Sunset asked as she returned the hug.
“After Roseluck told us what happened, we wanted to know if we could do anything to help,” Lily said.
“What did she tell you?” Sunset asked as a spike of panic shot through her chest.
“Most of it,” Roseluck said as she approached the three. “Namely that the Cult had poisoned you, and left a parting gift in the form of Chaos-taint.”
“And that she’d need our help saving you,” Daisy declared.
“She didn’t tell us how though,” Lilysaid, looking up at Roseluck.
“It’s simple,” Roseluck said as she knelt down and put a hand on both Lily and Daisy’s shoulders. “Once the purification begins, you two will be her anchors.”
“Anchors?” Lily and Daisy asked in tandem.
“What’re anchors?” Sunset added.
“Remember what I told you back in my room? How just drinking the purgative wouldn’t be enough?” Roseluck asked Sunset.
“I do,” Sunset nodded. “You also said you’d explain once we got here.”
“I did, and I will,” Roseluck said solemnly. “Once you drink the purgative, I will activate it with my magic. Once I begin, and I must emphasize this, you must hold completely still. If you don’t, the process fails.”
“W-wait. You said it would hurt. And I have to hold completely still?”
“Yes. I’m afraid so.” Roseluck closed her eyes, squeezing the girls’ shoulders. “That’s why they’re here. They’ll be your anchors, something you can focus on. It won’t lessen the pain, but it should make it more bearable.”
None of them knew what to say.
“What... what happens if she fails?” Daisy asked.
Sunset’s chest tightened as Roseluck’s brow furrowed, as though she were weighing her words carefully.
“The spell backfires, and the feedback will....”
“Will what?”
“It will kill you.”
“What?” Daisy gasped.
Sunset didn’t say anything. Instead, she just stared at Roseluck, the weight of the archduchess’s declaration constricting her heart and mind like a great snake.
“… how?” Sunset finally asked, her voice trembling. “How will it kill me? I want to know.”
“Believe me, you don’t.”
“Yes I do!” Sunset balled her fists and glared up at Roseluck. Her voice broke, and she hated herself for it. She felt weak, powerless to even control her own emotions, let alone anything else. “Please. Tell me.”
Roseluck rose and took several deep breaths. When she opened her eyes, they were cold and clinical.
“If the purification fails, the feedback will liquefy your insides, killing you instantly”
“It’ll do what to her?” Daisy shouted in horror.
Lily’s lip trembled as she wrapped herself around Sunset. “Why did you make something like that?”
Roseluck shook her head and sighed.
“Girls, I don’t think you understand just what removing Chaos-taint requires. There’s a reason why corruption is a death sentence. Before, only the Queen could cleanse the taint, and even then there was a very high fatality rate.”
Her expression grew hard as she pulled the jar from her robes, holding it for them to see. Sunset instinctively shrank back.
“Even if I was willing to carve the heartwood out of every one of my precious phlume plants, that’s not the limiting factor. The true water is. Producing a single drop of it takes months of careful refining. Making this bottle of purgative took all of the true water I’ve got, which I’ve been making for over a century.” Roseluck looked at the bottle in her hand, and sighed. “Even getting this far took decades of development between myself and Raven, with the Queen’s aid. I’m sorry, but this really is the best we can do.”
Her expression grew hard. “I understand how much this must be to take in, but our time is running out. If we don’t do this soon, your fate will be out of my hands and into General Sentry’s. And I know neither of us want that.”
Sunset and Philomena shared in their distress. The instinctual, animal fear of pain and death held her back, but she had no choice. Die by the hand of General Sentry, or gamble on what felt like impossible odds.
But... did it matter if she died?
It wasn’t like she had anything to live for. Everyone in Golden Tree hated her - or they’d learn to eventually. The Heliopolans certainly did, and the kirintal were well on their way.
She didn’t have much better luck with her fellow phoenix-born either. She’d ruined her relationship with Raven. Steel and Spitfire would never like her.
Roseluck was different, and she had Lily and Daisy, too, but how long would they last? How long until she did or said something so unforgivable she drove everyone who had ever loved her away?
Maybe... maybe they’d be better off without her.
A wave of hurt and sadness came flooding into her mind from Philomena.
Sunset, Philomena sent, I don’t think that Nitor would be better off without you. And neither does anyone else that matters.
Mena, how can you say that? Everyone hates me.
Do Lily and Daisy hate you? Do you think they’d be sad if you died?
Sunset’s eyes flicked between the two earth-weavers.
I don’t know.
Yes you do. They don’t hate you, and they would be sad. And what about Roseluck? Do you think she would have done everything she’s doing to save your life if she didn’t care? That she didn’t love you and wanted you to live?
I... guess. But my oath-sisters…
They don’t even know what’s happened here, Sunset. I promise.
But, still…
Even if they didn’t, it was only a matter of time. Only a matter of time until everyone knew how much of a-
Are you just going to give up?
I…
Because that’s not the Sunset that I know. The Sunset I know is the girl who, in spite of everything, figured out a way to Heliopolis. She got there on her own. She survived the rite training, and she beat Sapphire Prism. Or am I mistaken?
Sunset swallowed. You’re... not.
Isn’t Sunset Shimmer the girl who proved herself worthy of being a phoenix-born? Or am I wrong on that, too?
She is.
And isn’t she the one who’s going to rule the Western Territory and become one of the greatest artificers Solaria has ever known?
Sunset wanted to rebuff Philomena’s sendings, but found herself faltering.
You’re right, Sunset sent, a fire beginning to burn in her heart. One that the ulmuri had tried to extinguish. Sunset Shimmer doesn’t give up like that. She’s survived everything that Raven, Queen Celestia, and the Heliopolans threw at her. That didn’t beat me. This won’t either.
That’s the Sunset I know and love, Philomena sent, her joy shining through like pure sunlight.
That’s right. And… I love you too, Mena. I… we aren’t going to be beaten like this. Not by Nightcrawler. Not by anyone. We’re going to find a way to win this, aren’t we?
Yes, Philomena sent happily. We will.
Then let’s show everyone why they should never count us out, Sunset sent as she stood up straighter and looked Roseluck in the eyes.
“You’re right,” Sunset said firmly and surely. “We don’t have time to waste.”
“Sunset? Are you crazy?” Lily gasped.
“You heard her,” Daisy added. “You could die.”
“If I don’t do this, I’m dead anyway. I’d rather take the chance than just give up.”
“But…” Daisy began to say, only to be cut off by Sunset lunging forward and hugging her and Lily.
“I’m counting on you girls, just like in Chromos,” she said as she hugged them tighter. “We’re chat-lecti after all.”
Both easterners inhaled softly, before returning Sunset’s hug.
“You’re crazy, you know that, right?” Lily said. “Completely insane.”
“You’re only just noticing?” Sunset laughed.
“Nope,” Daisy added, fighting back her tears. “Knew it the moment we met you. But, you can count on us.”
“I know I can,” Sunset said as she gave her friends one last squeeze, before letting go and walking up to Roseluck. “I’m ready.”
“Then, let’s begin,” Roseluck said with a nod as she put a hand on Sunset’s back and led her to the platform, pointing to a small runic circle at the center of the platform. “You’ll need to stand here.”
“Can’t I sit?” Sunset asked.
“I’m afraid not,” Roseluck said, before handing Sunset the bottle. “Now, be sure to drink the whole thing. Once it settles in your stomach, I can begin.”
“Okay,” Sunset said as she stared at the bottle, an army of petroquines fighting in her guts.
Taking a deep breath, she popped the cork off the bottle. Then, closing her eyes, she began to drink.
The moment the liquid hit her tongue, she had to fight every instinct she had to avoid spitting the noxious concoction out.
It was vile, like the smell of black river mud mixed with an outhouse that hadn’t been cleaned in too long, transformed into a flavor, but also bitingly bitter like over-brewed tea. The liquid itself stuck to her teeth and gums, slimy and sticky at the same time, pricking every inch of flesh like a million biting ants.
Focusing all her willpower, she fought down the noxious brew.
“T-that... that was...” The bottle fell from her hands, bouncing and rolling harmlessly across the floor. Her stomach rebelled angrily, and she clutched it miserably. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”
“Don’t!” Roseluck rushed over, using one hand to straighten her back and the other to rub it. “Just breathe through your nose. In. Then out. In. Then out.”
Sunset wordlessly followed Roseluck’s instructions, knowing that if she didn’t she’d waste the purgative.
“Good. Now widen your stance. Here, I’ll show you. Okay, now cross your arms, over your stomach, and grab your elbows. Like that, good, good. Hold that pose. It should help you maintain your balance.”
Once Sunset was in position, she turned to the others. “Daisy, Lily, this is where you come in. You need to stand where she can see you, but do not cross the outer ring. Am I understood?”
Both nodded in unison. “Yes, Your Grace.”
“Is there anything else we can do?” Lily asked.
“Encourage her not to give up.” She looked to Philomena. “You too, and keep your bond open. Sunset will need you now, more than ever.”
Philomena let out a short, sharp shriek as she sent feelings of reassurance to Sunset.
Roseluck placed the bucket before Sunset, moving between the outermost rings. “Are you ready?”
Sunset nodded, tightening her grip.
Then, taking a deep breath, Roseluck began to dance between the two outermost rune rings.
At first, Sunset didn’t feel anything.
Then Roseluck completed her first lap, and the archduchess’s flame ignited and spread through the runes.
And suddenly, Sunset’s world vanished.
Something new took its place. Something that wiped clean everything else, everything that had come before, and everything that existed mere seconds ago. A single, overwhelming sensation.
Pain.
Pure.
Raw.
Sharp.
Dull.
Throbbing.
Stabbing.
Piercing.
Freezing.
Burning.
Obliterating.
Pain.
Nothing before, not even in her ulmuri-induced visions, measured up to even a fraction of what was coursing through the entirety of her being. It crawled in her flesh. It gnawed at her bones. It flayed off her skin.
She wanted to scream.
She wanted it more than anything.
To fall, and crumple, and wail in agony.
But she knew the moment she moved was the moment she died.
She clenched her jaw, until it felt like her teeth were shifting in the bones. She clutched her elbows, so hard she was sure it would leave deep, ugly bruises. She searched desperately for any other sensation other than this. Even pain, so long as it was of her own making.
The second wave crashed into her.
She wanted to die.
She wanted General Sentry to burst in and shoot her. The oblivion of death was preferable to this.
From someplace far away, she heard Philomena’s agonized screech, as they shared in the pain. She could close their link. Spare her the torment.
But she couldn’t.
Philomena was one of the only things that kept her will from breaking.
If she gave in, they both died.
The third wave slammed into her, and she had to suck in a breath between her teeth to avoid doubling over.
Through blurred, darkening vision, she saw the vague shapes of her friends. Her chat-lecti.
They were there. Saying something. But what?
She tried to focus on her meditations. Clear her mind enough to hear them.
But she couldn’t.
Another wave. Her knees trembled. The muscles in her thighs shook.
She wasn’t sure how they didn’t buckle. All she knew was the pain, and that she was still, somehow, alive.
Her tears seemed paltry by comparison, yet they worsened her torture nonetheless. Blazing hot, stinging acidic. Rubbing the skin raw with salt.
She couldn’t fail.
She had to survive.
For her friends. Her family. Her chat-lecti.
For Roseluck, Raven, and the Queen.
For Golden Tree.
For her oath-sisters.
For Philomena.
Another wave hit.
She tasted blood. The stink of copper, and the taste of iron. Bit her cheek, cracked tooth, she didn’t know where it came from and it didn’t matter.
Another wave.
She couldn’t do this.
She was going to fail.
She was going to die.
It was too much.
And she was going to die.
She had to endure.
But it was too much, and she was going to die.
Another wave.
Philomena shrieked.
Something happened.
Something pulsed.
Had she died?
No. The pain. Still there. Still alive. Somehow. Don’t ask. Just be glad.
A pulse. Again.
Another wave.
A pulse again. Closer. Closer. Closer now.
It felt familiar. She thought she remembered it. Did she?
Again.
Another.
She remembered.
Nitor.
Nitor’s pulse. The world’s heart.
She didn’t reach. She called out.
It answered, drawing closer. Again, again, again, each pulse nearer than the last.
Slowly, it crept towards her, its movements shy and uncertain.
She wanted to grab it. Snatch it for herself and never, ever, ever let go.
Somehow, she didn’t.
Another wave.
Whimpers spilled down her throat.
Again. Nitor pulsed again.
And she felt it touch her.
Through her feet. Up her legs. Blooming into the veins, bringing relief and comfort.
She didn’t claim.
She didn’t control.
She let it flow into her.
“Sunset, you can do it!” “Don’t give up.” Sunset, hold it together!
Sunset could hear her friends’ voices and Philomena’s sending as the heart’s energy suffused her entire being, holding the agony of the purification in check. The pain slowly began to concentrate in her gut, spiking her nausea to a new level.
“Sunset, it’s done! You can move!” She heard Roseluck shout from somewhere far away, “You need to vomit the corruption out now!”
Sunset didn’t need any prompting.
She fell to her hands and knees and vomited into the bucket.
As bad as the purgative was going down, it was worse coming out.
One heave was followed by another as she continued to expel the noxious sludge in her stomach.
Then, it was over.
Sunset stayed in place, gasping for breath as the last of her heaving finally subsided.
Spitting out the last of the purgative from her mouth, Sunset slowly opened her eyes. The bucket below her was filled with a thick, light toxic blue sludge that smelled of rotten eggs and putrid meat. She blinked once, and swore it moved, trying to reach back towards her.
The sound of flapping wings and running feet reached her ears as she threw herself backwards and away from the noisome liquid.
“Everyone, stay back!” Roseluck shouted. “That’s active Chaos-taint!”
Sunset could feel Philomena’s panic as she stalled in mid-air at the same moment that the sound of two of the runners stopped. The next thing she knew, Roseluck placed a thick metal lid down on the bucket. Two tendrils of living flame lashed down, welding the bucket shut.
“Okay, it’s safe. For now,” Roseluck said with a sigh.
Then she took a couple steps forward, dropped down and pulled Sunset into a hug.
Philomena, Lily and Daisy took that as permission to join in, and they swarmed her, their voices and sendings mixing together into a cacophony of worried, comforting white noise.
We… we did it, Mena, Sunset sent, her thoughts and body weak and trembling after enduring the purgative.
We did, Philomena sent. Let’s not ever do that again.
Agreed, Sunset sent as she slowly melted into her friend’s embrace.
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I do wonder how much of Sunset's fear, doubt, and trauma were caused by the Chaos taint... though the answer definitely isn't "all of it." This ordeal left its mark on her, and she may never completely recover. But she can learn and grow from it, and knowing her, I wouldn't be surprised if she'll be the one to eventually end Nightcrawler for good.
I can only hope she'll accept that what she saw did not, in fact, happen, though I suspect a trip to the actual Golden Tree may be required for her to truly accept that... though that comes with its own risks. Seeing Lyra could elicit a reaction ranging from a tearful embrace to a terrified scream to an immediate attempt to incinerate the poor girl.
But they'll cross that bridge when they come to it. For now, Sunset needs to recover from the Gom Jabbar and hopefully get her head on straight about who is and isn't out to get her.
I wonder how spitfire and steel are going to treat sunset at the end of all of this. Have they ever gone through something like this themselves?
11764755
Wow, then how does the queen see the born??, or Raven at least, from what you say, her concept of time adjusts to her life expectancy, if the born are immortal, then if they spend enough time with the queen, What is her perception of them?
11757277
What kind of primarch version of Lord of the Rings in Equestria is this?
looking at queen Celestia*
All this and Sunset is still so young, she is really being put through the wringer. You capture the best and worst parts of Sunset's personality, her iron resolve and determination to pull through, mixed with a distrusting nature and suspicion for others' motivations, which could be useful in some instances but a hindrance in others. Sunset will likely come out of this stronger than before in the long term but is still clearly suffering some emotional trauma. While visiting Golden Tree might not be the best at the moment given her current mindset, though Philomena has already helped on that front, it might be useful for someone to bring her some assurance that everything is fine.
On a side note, I like the little hint we got there of what Luna's followers use for magic, teleporting and seeing the future being part of her domain that Celestia's followers can't.
All in all a great chapter and looking forward to the next one, hopefully Sunset can get some happier moments now after everything.
Bad enough to suffer but to have lasting poison as well like a failsafe. Nightcrawler is an evil SOB. I'm guessing Raven is still recovering from her own ordeal considered her lack of presence. That was harsh. I can't imagine how hard that must have been to endure and I have had some serious pain before. I've been bit by a dog, broken an arm, and once got stabbed in the eye with a vine splinter. (not recommended) I think after affairs have been settled someone is going to HAVE to let Sunset visit Golden Tree to put her mind at ease.
Jeez, that was brutal. But I’m glad she pulled through, and maybe even learned how to use the world’s energy more easily. Now we just need to start the mental recovery, and maybe let her go home for a day so she can see that everything is ok.
Well, I was way off base about the source of the poison, but I think I was right about a sungazer's ability to cope with hallucinations. Sunset doesn't seem able to comprehend that what she saw wasn't real despite Philomena's assurances and all the logical reasoning that can be put forth. Sungazers are unable to dream, so she's never experienced any sort of altered perception or consciousness, and she can't understand the distinction between hallucination and reality. In the real world dreams and hallucinations can be frightening and even disturbing, but the average person is able to tell themselves "it's okay, it's just a dream, it wasn't real" and take comfort from that understanding. Sunset isn't able to do that.
I suspect that some of Sunset's paranoia and panic was due to the lingering Chaos magic that was infecting her. Obviously her distress and trauma are real, but if she was in her right mind I don't think she would have seriously accused Roseluck of wanting to kill her.
As some others are saying, I think Sunset would greatly benefit from a visit in Golden Tree, but after what's just happened I doubt that Raven and the others would be willing to let her go anywhere. Hopefully they can at least bring her sisters to visit her if she can't go to them.
Also, it's interesting to learn that teleporting is a skill exclusive to Luna's people, which I expect will tie in when we meet Twilight.
This was such an amazing chapter! It’s so wonderful how you can think of a new world so different from the one we live in and still make everything so realistic! Every detail is perfect. I can’t wait to see what outstanding things you come up with for chapters to come. Anyways, This is Phoenix flame and I hope you have a great day! ❤️🔥
Sunset going to Golden Tree is going to be a touchy prospect. Aside from Raven and Steel being very wary of her leaving Chromos again until she's fully developed her powers and can defend herself, there's also the question of how she'd react. Though, given the "what I'm expereincing must be real" mentality of the sun-gazers, who's to say whether or not it'd be good for her.
11770229
The Chaos-taint wasn't doing anything positive for her mental state, I can tell you that much. It's going to leave scars, no doubt about it. Fortunately, she has Mena to help her through it.
It's going to take some time for her to sort out that what happened wasn't real. After all, sun-gazers aren't used to altered preception.
11770383
They have, though not from ul'muri. But, they have been subjected to some pretty awful illusion attacks. Steel in particular was hit with a particularly cruel one by Hydea when he was about to kill her: she forced him to experience Sweet Stuff's final moments of life and memories before she was consumed by the Smooze, including the pain and fear she felt as it dissolved her body and assimilated her into the gestalt. Were it not for Vestian helping him break the illusion, Hydea would have killed him.
11770385
Celestia is keenly aware that she's incapable of understanding mortals, which is why the phoenix-born are so crucial to her. They essentially act as "translators" for her to understand her subjects. They're immortal, so she can related to them, even if their mindsets are still kind of odd due to their previous mortality.
11770388
The Greek and Egyptian gods (the real, original versions, not the clean, politically correct, re-written versions that have been retconned into existence by "modern audiences") were a big inspiration for how the Gods of Nitor act.
11770491
And the worst part for her is that, as Roseluck explained, the ul'muri attacked her "core wound." For her, it's a feeling of abandonment and betrayal.
Gloaming is quite different from flame in what it's capable of. I give a brief synopsis of what each type (flame, gloaming and shadow) are capable of in this blog.
11770554
There's a good reason he's on the Solarian "kill and immolate on sight" list. As I said in his character profile, he's a complete psychopath, if such a mental definition could be applied to something like him.
11770608
Yea. Sunset's going to be dealing with that particular experience for some time. But, as you noticed, she did manage to call on Nitor's heart.
11770644
Pretty much. And, as strong as Sunset's mind is, she's still a child, and thus more susceptible to mental attack. At the same time, kids are far more resilient than most people expect.
The Chaos-taint isn't helping. Had it been left in her long enough, it would have driven her completely mad while twisting her into a Chaos-spawn.
Yea, gloaming magic works pretty differently to flame. Check out this blog if you want to learn exactly what each magic type is capable of.
11770861
Glad to continue to entertain.
Was this supposed to be "rice" or do they casually snack on mice for breakfast in this world? I kind of hope it's the latter. It seems like a fun little detail of their culture.
11774482
I think that's for the phoenix.
11774482
The mice are for Mena. While phoenixes are technically omnivores, their diet is primarily carnivorous (70% canrivorous, 25% fructivorous, 5% herbivorous).
11774539
"too headstrong for her own good,"
+
"and a short temper"
=
A lethal combination.
She better be thankful Raven cares about her.
11782447
Yes, I got that. I found it funny.
11792391
Yes, that's what makes it so scary. To this point, we're not sure what her state is in reality.
How does aging look like with the phoenix-born? Sure, they are Perpetuals, but Raven or Steel are physucally speaking much older than Sunset. How does their body change? Is it when their phoenix rejuvenates itself and they temporary become mortal again? And also, wouldn't the time they are mortal add up eventually, and as they physically age and age, the magic might keep them alive, but when they become mortal, in that time, a badly aged body could pass away from natural causes, so that would mean they are not actually perpetual, only very long-living.
Also, another question about what you said in an earlier comment, how both Steel and Highblood justify their behaviour claiming that "they do what they believe is the will of Celestia."
If this is an accepted norm and way of thinking, how come Solaria hasn't collapsed yet? If any sort of moral restraints can be (and are) removed, as seen with Highblood, simply by citing that claim, then even the most despicable acts gain justification. One could kill, torture, mutilate, enslave, etc. people and just tell themselves: "In the grander picture, this will benefit Celestia's Great Plan."
How can a society exist, if its basic moral principles are removed?
11793477
Let's take Sunset as an example. Once she hits full maturity (around age 20), she will stop aging. At that point, anytime Philomena goes into her regeneration, she will begin aging again. However, regeneration only lasts for a minute at most unless she wills herself to remain in her ashen state, and happens every 80-100 years. So, while she is aging, she is only accumulating one minute of physical aging per 80-100 years. Assuming Nitor has the same annual period as Earth (which it doesn't), that would mean it would take around 47,304,000 years of existence on average to age a single "year". Sungazers have a 80-100 year lifespan, so for a phoenix-born to die of old age, they'd have to exist for 3,311,280,000 years on average. For context, the Earth formed ca. 4,540,000,000 years ago. And that's assuming they wouldn't figure out a way to reverse their physical aging in some way given how long they'd have to develop the magic to do so.
11793485
Well, in Highblood's case, he very much was not acting within an acceptable social norm, given what happened to him and his conspirators. In his case, he was using a very twisted interpretation of "Celestia's will" as an excuse and justification for his own selfish ambition, and was punished for doing so by the law. Its for those same reasons that the Gold Sun Syndicate are considered criminals and heretics. Just like in our world, any ideal or ideology can be twisted to serve a selfish, evil or hateful end. That's the danger of free will and sentience. Anyone can justify their actions if they believe they're doing the right thing.
As for Steel, his views and actions are not nearly as extreme, nor are they heretical. Consider: Steel is charged with keeping (in order of priority), Celestia, Heliopolis, then all of Solaria safe. This means that if it came down to a choice between letting, say, portions of the Western Territory fall to ensure that Heliopolis and Celestia survived in the end, he would willingly, and legally, make such a sacrifice. Remember, Solaria and all of her people exist for Celestia, not the other way around. Combine that with his own experiences as the leader of the national branch of Solaria's military, and what he sees as shortcoming's in Raven's policies that undermine his ability to do his duty, and you get to where he is today. Where the problem comes in is that the further one goes from the source, the longer the game of "telephone" you're playing. Steel understands all of the nuance of his beliefs. But people five and six degrees separated from him? They only get bits and pieces.
With the quite large number of heretical groups (Hmmm... a people serving a God-Ruler and facing Chaos and heretics... kinda reminds me of Warhammer 40K tbh, dunno if its intentional) present (Goldsun, Endless Decay, Highblood's Cabal, etc.), did any group ever formed that calls for reconcilation between the three peoples? We saw it with Raven that while she is publicly just as against Selenia as every sungazer, in private she is missing her Star-singer friend (sister? She did call her sister, but as we saw, that does not necessarily mean a bound of blood), so while there would be no sungazers who lived before the Splintering, those who did, and lost people who they loved to it, could give on their reconcilatory rhetoric to their descendants...
11794178
Regarding those who want to reconcile with Luna, they are pretty much non-existent. The difference is that while groups like the Gold Sun and Highblood's conspiracy are heretics, they still are "serving Celestia" in their own twisted way. Luna, on the other hand, is considered an enemy of Solaria as a whole. Even the Gold Sun hates her and the night-weavers. The only time they'd be willing to set aside their differences would be if a Chaos force somehow threatened all of Impraecordia or Nitor.
Raven's situation is odd. She doesn't bear the night-weavers any malice. But she HATES Luna, because Luna cost her everything she held dear, including her best friend among the star-singers.
As for the 40K resemblance, it's not intentional. If anything, I probably was channeling the Triad of Old World of Darkness a bit (Discord = Wyld, Harmony = Weaver, Grogar = Wyrm), though the cosmological dynamic is fundamentally very different.
A silly but genuine little question: What would one call a lunatic in Selenia?
11796895
Off the cuff, probably not permanent or canon answer: sunfried
Is there a map of Nitor in existence somewhere? I only have a rough idea to locate myself geographically.
11796965
I dont know if the meaning un english Is the same, but whats about "Celade"???
In spanish we use It to people who Is arrogant, unworrthy or unreliable
11794178
I tought the same thing xD
Ive read this story like 4 times and this Is like the war of unification, but less dark and mlp style.
Even i wonder if there Is a caos users, not contaminated as Sunset, users who can use It with all of its mighty
11797397
There is indeed.
https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/913301/basic-map-of-impreacordia
11797497
I'm not familiar with that term, but it would fit.
11797502
True Chaos-spawn are very rare. D'compose, the abomination that created the Cult of Endless Decay is a natural Chaos-being. Chaos-corrupted beings are still rare, but more common. These include things like the moorgaunts, dreads, or unique individuals like Hydea and Nightcrawler.
Again, I'm unfamiliar with 40K (which may change once Henry Cavil's 40K series comes out), but the thing with Chaos in Nitor is that it is a corrupting, cancerous force, much like the darkside in True Star Wars (i.e. not the stuff made by the postmodernist f**k-wads at Disney) or defiler magic in Dark Sun. By it's very nature, it causes destruction, death, suffering and the breaking down of natural forces. Someone could try to use Chaos for good, but as time went on, they would become more and more violent, callous and cruel, until they eventually became fully devoted to Chaos's goal of destroying all of Nitor.
I know Philomena is an MLP canon character, but for Twilight's soulmate Astral Wolf, will they be a canon character too?
11797798
Well, Lunar wolf. And yes, they will be (in a way). Selenian Twilight's going to mostly be based on Sci-Twi.
11797748
Everything you write is engaging, especially the talky parts. I haven't been bored once.
11797800
Moondancer perhaps? She was Twilight's friend, and the naming is fitting. Just a guess though.
11798143
Who's Sci-Twi's canine companion?
11798251
Spike is a wolf? Yeah, he makes sense now that I think about it...
11807197
Ito's stuff has literally made me feel ill. Dude is crazy.
Given the fact that Selenia is 100% meritocratic, which would of course greatly accelerate the progress of sciences, how advanced is the nation of Luna?
11814652
They're actually not as advanced as Solaria in a lot of areas because of the meritocratic nature of the system. There's one simple reason: a foundation of advancement is the sharing of results and methods. Selenian researchers will share results, but not methods, meaning that any advancements they make aren't available to the rest of the country until they pass on and their scholarship enters the public domain. It's like seeing a airplane, but not having the knowledge of how it was manufactured.
just finished the last chapter. So wanna ask how regularly will i can have more of this story here? :3
I'm working on the next couple chapters. I'm going to try to keep the updates at least monthly, but field season's starting up again at my job, so there's a good chance I'm going to be exhausted most days.
I did a good job. I only cried 3 times this chapter.
And now I'm caught up...
And now I feel like Sunset this chapter.
I'm gonna go commit unalive now.
11823428
understandable and glad you can continue it. :3
11823471
The next chapter's in the works, so I hope not to keep you waiting too long. Also, please don't do that last thing.
11823479
Thank you. I'm working towards a conclusion, and I plan to see it through.
11823713
I'll do my best if you do yours.
11823428
Thats Is interesting, so, whats more important for them, their work or their country??
Im asking that cus in the hipotetic case of war against Solaria, they will have more chances to win in a long war??, cus their tech.
11825626
That's honestly kinda tricky, because they're devoted to Selenia, but their cultural framing makes them reluctant to share their secrets, lest they be used to one up them in the hierarchy.
I think the most likely scenario would be that the military guild would develop contracts with the individuals that possess the knowledge they need, under the stipulation that it is not released into the public, and all credit for developments that arise from it go to the creator.
As far as a long-term war, the two nations would be roughly evenly matched. While Selenia may be able to innovate due to their highly competative nature, Solaria has an advantage of being very nationalistic, and the advantage flame-magic has in producing materials (alchemy is a key component of flame).
Where do you even get the creativity from to write in such a quality and quantity? I unironically want to learn it! :)
Territorrially speaking how large are Solaria and Selenia? Also, how large has the rift grown between the two nations since the Splintering? Do they use a different language, system of measurements, etc.?
11831021
I honestly don't know how to answer that. I've always been an imaginative, creative person, so a lot of it is just how I am. But, if there's something I try to remember, it's that the source of a good story is conflict and resolution. If there's no conflict, there's no story. If there's no resolution, the story's unsatisfying.
11831022
I did a blog on that here. They're moderately sized countries, probably around the size of places like France or Spain. Their languages are very close, so they can mostly understand each other, but there are a lot of words and phrases that are distinct. Think Latin American Spanish and Castilian Spanish.