Brightly Lit 2: Pharos

by Penalt

Chapter 41: Crossroads

“—bye”, Foxfire finished saying, and then stopped, realizing there was no one around to say anything to.

Everything had changed around her. No longer was she lying on the asphalt of Brightly’s main street, surrounded by her friends and neighbors, but rather, she was lying alongside a pathway made of glowing motes in a dark place that was lit by what looked like stars, nebulae and comets that lent an otherworldly aspect to the environment.

“Am… am I dead?” Foxfire asked out loud, slowly and carefully getting to her feet. Feet. She had feet. And legs, and arms, and hands, and the long mane of hair that fell to her waist when she was fully human.

Taking great care, Jean Pedersen took a step along the path, and as she did the glowing motes underfoot flared with a bronze light, giving off a small chiming sound before fading back to a steady blue-white glow. The woman looked around in amazement, taking in her surroundings.

“Jean, either we’re dead, or we’re not in Kansas anymore,” she said, again to herself. The path she stood on started where she had been lying, and seemed to stretch off infinitely into the distance. Nothing could be seen to either side, just an endless expanse of space, and after a moment of pondering what to do, the woman started walking along the starlit path.

With every step, the path would give a slight chime, and the stars directly under her would briefly flick to the bronze colour that reminded her of her sword. Foxfire briefly wondered what had become of the mystic blade her husband had forged, and realized in that moment that her body had effortlessly flipped back to being that of her unicorn self. The pony who was probably the most powerful witch on the planet.

“Okay, that’s weird,” the pony noted, before continuing to trot along the path, her steps ringing out in a steady chorus. Foxfire didn’t know where she was going, or even why she was bothering to move forward, but it felt like the right thing to do.

A seemingly infinite amount of time passed, and gradually images began to appear on either side of the path. Images of the life of Jean Pedersen, and as the pony thought of the name, her body shifted again to the human form of the mother of three. With a shrug, Jean accepted the change, continuing to walk the path and recognizing the various moments of her life.

Her first marriage, the birth of her daughters, the discovery of how monstrous the father of them was. All of it was there in snapshots formed out of light and stardust, and the pony/human felt her eyes grow wet as she recalled those dark times. Then followed more images, some she would have liked to forget.

Of her standing over her husband’s corpse, a corpse that she had made. Of her standing before a judge, freely admitting her guilt, stating that she would have done the same thing a thousand times over, if it would have kept her children safe.

Then came happier scenes. Scenes of her finding a home in the tiny, isolated community of Brightly. Images of her walking in the woods, communing with her goddess and the forest around her. Of how those green expanses healed her heart, to the point where ten years later, she finally opened herself up to love again.

The first images of Arnold Kye began to appear, both in his human form and in his Friesian-like pony form of Iron Heart. He of the glossy black fur with a glistening, wavy mane. A man and stallion of infinite patience and strength, whose own heart had been healed by the wild northern land they both lived in.

It was at that moment that Jean finally noticed something up ahead on the path. Appearing out of the infinite distance the path appeared to fork to the left and right, and at that fork there were three human shapes, with an ornate door formed of steel and silver behind them.

As Foxfire drew closer, the shapes resolved into the forms of three women. The first was a vigorously beautiful young woman, just barely out of her teens. She wore a knee length white tunic with a bow resting on her back, and a quiver of arrows bounced against one strong thigh.

The second woman had a full, rich beauty that threatened to take Jean’s breath away. Her hair was long and dark, reaching down to the backs of her knees, and on her brow there was a golden crown of stars, topped by a crescent moon. Like the younger woman, she too wore a white tunic that went down to her knees, but unlike the hunter, her tunic was pulled tight over the lush curves of a fully mature woman.

The third of the three sat on a chair in front of the other two, her dark hair cut to shoulder length and framing an ageless face that held eyes that seemed to be looking everywhere at once. Unlike the other two women, she wore a dark robe that was simple yet elegant, and at her feet lay a pair of hounds that looked as if they could chase Foxfire down no matter how far or fast she ran.

In that moment, Jean Pedersen realized who the women were, or at least who they looked like. They were the three faces of her goddess. Artemis, Selene, and Hecate. The Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone, and as what remained of the woman drew close she bowed deeply in respect.

“Rise, Jean Pedersen,” Artemis commanded, with a smile. “Or would you prefer ‘Foxfire’?”

“Either… both?” Foxfire replied, unsure of herself. “I’m not sure.”

“Good answer,” stated Selene, putting a finger to her chin and frowning slightly in thought. “Though in that form you would be well suited to pulling my chariot.”

Foxfire looked down to see that her body had once again shifted back to her equine form.

“If that is your wish, Goddess,” Foxfire said, “It would be my honour.”

“And yet you come to us early,” Hecate commented, holding up a skein of golden thread and examining it closely. “Your thread was meant to continue for much longer.”

“I’m sorry,” Jean apologized, inclining her head to the guardian of the crossroads. “Something came up, and I did what I had to do.”

“Indeed,” Hecate responded, tilting her head in acknowledgement. “But it should be pointed out that you are only mostly dead at this point. A state that is far different from being all dead.”

Jean couldn’t help but snort a laugh at that. Her goddess, a fan of The Princess Bride?

“It’s a good movie, and in this moment we are a reflection of you,” Selene stated, her hands idly measuring what Foxfire recognized as a harness strap. “Or at least a reflection of what you believe you should find at this point in your existence.”

“Sisters, she comes,” Artemis said suddenly, taking out her bow but leaving her arrows in their quiver for the moment. “She comes with power and intent.”

“As is the right of both her and her sister,” Hecate responded, in a calm tone and putting aside the golden thread of Jean’s life for the moment.

There was a sound like rushing wind as Princess Luna appeared at the crossroads, horn alight and wings splayed outward. The Equestrian princess spent a breath taking in her surroundings and as her eyes fell on Jean, Luna’s face lit up with relief.

“Jean! Thank Harmony I have found thee at last,” Luna said, rushing up to embrace the woman with wings and forelegs both. “I thought thy spirit lost among the byways of this place.”

“It’s good to see you too,” Jean replied, and as she felt the soft fur of the lunar princess against her body, realized for the first time that she was completely nude. “Oh… Oh crap.”

“What is the matter?” Luna asked, before looking down to see Jean’s naked form, just before it changed again to the unicorn body of Foxfire. “Ah, so that is what thee looks like beneath thy clothes. Do not be embarrassed, for it is a comely shape.”

“Naked you came into the world, and naked have you left it,” Artemis quoted, with a mischievous smile.

“My apologies for not noticing you three earlier,” apologized Luna, breaking the hug and dipping her head respectfully to the three. “I was not aware that others besides my sister and I were capable of walking this realm. May I ask who thou art?”

“Princess Luna,” Foxfire began, “May I introduce the goddesses Artemis, Selene and Hecate. Collectively they are the three faces of the Moon. The three aspects of the goddess that I’ve tried to follow most of my life.”

“Truly?” Luna asked, with more than a little surprise and skepticism.

“Perhaps, O scion of Epona who carries our aspect,” Selene responded, her busy hands fitting a buckle to a much larger, alicorn sized harness strap. “Or perhaps we are simply manifestations of Foxfire’s subconscious. The attempt of a fading mind to understand what is happening to it. Either way, we believe that you came here with a purpose in mind.”

“Aye, that I did,” Luna said, shifting her attention back to Foxfire. “Foxfire please, come with me. I can help you, but you must come with me.”

Jean Pedersen stood there confused for several moments, as her body shifted back and forth in reflection of her inner turmoil, even at one point becoming a hybrid of both forms with the body of a woman and the hooves and tail of a pony. On the one hand, Princess Luna had only ever tried to help and advise her, but on the other hoof this was her Goddess. How could she not stay with them?

“Go with the Princess,” Hecate finally stated, breaking the deadlock. “She has your best interests at heart, and should you choose not to walk with her, we will still be here.”

“We will always be here,” added Selene, setting aside her bow.

“I, um… okay,” Foxfire replied, feeling Luna drape a comforting wing over her back. “If you say so.”

“Not if we say so,” Artemis chided, gently. “If you say so. You are empowered with choice. Even if the only choices are bad ones, still you will have the power of choice. Remember that.”

“Okay,” Foxfire answered with a nod, her voice in a much firmer and confident tone. “Let’s go.”

With a nod to the trio of women, the two mares took the left fork, with Foxfire walking along under Luna’s wing. The path kept on straight and after a short while the powers that Jean served faded into the starry mists.

“Where are we going?” Foxfire asked, idly noting that form had remained stable ever since the princess laid her wing over the mare’s back. “And where are we anyway?”

“This realm has many names,” Luna replied, and as she spoke more scenes from Foxfire’s life began to appear. “Some call it ‘The Space Between Spaces’, others ‘The Realm Eternal’. My sister and I prefer to call it ‘The Starlit Path’.”

“Heaven?” Foxfire asked, her eyes growing wide. “But Hecate said I wasn’t fully dead yet. I can’t be in heaven.”

“I… do not know what that was that we were speaking with, but they were right in that you are not wholly dead as yet,” the dark alicorn replied. “In truth, your body was destroyed, consumed by the magic you summoned to destroy the Umbral, and yet that self-same magic has kept your spirit alive.”

“And when that magic runs out… I’ll be fully dead,” Foxfire stated, gulping. “Do me a favor, tell my family I love them.”

“They already know,” Luna replied, turning to embrace the white pony with both wings. “And you will be able to tell them that yourself.”

“What? How?” Foxfire demanded.

“This, my dear Foxfire, is the place where alicorns ascend,” Luna explained, a smile as enigmatic as the Mona Lisa on her face. “Celestia brought her dear student Twilight here when she became worthy of ascension, and now… I’ve managed to bring you here.”

“Wait. ME?” gasped Foxfire.

“Foxfire… Jean, your efforts have been both righteous and true. You have shown courage, humility, honesty and a generous heart,” Luna answered, smiling widely now. “The swords, including yours, have lent me their power. Enough to ascend a truly worthy pony. You.”

“But I haven’t done anything worth becoming an alicorn for,” argued Foxfire. “All I did was try to save my own skin, and I even failed at that.”

“Thou destroyed an Umbral. A creature of the purest, darkest magic. A stain upon the aether that no pony has been able to bring an end to. Not even me,” countered Luna. “When a pony accomplishes a feat on the scale that you have, they become worthy of becoming an alicorn. Foxfire, Alicorn of Earth. It has a pleasant sound, does it not?”

“It does… '' Foxfire prevaricated, thinking deeply, before shaking her head. “But I can’t be trusted with power. Let alone that kind of power. If I became an alicorn I’d have to be kept on a leash of some sort all the time, because the Umbral got to me by appealing to my dark side, and who's to say I wouldn’t become Nytefyre again just by giving in to my own dark desires.”

“Foxfire, thou are not the only pony who has fallen to darkness only to be brought back into the light,” Luna said, her voice full of understanding and comfort. “Many of our ponies have learned valuable lessons in friendship from their experiences. You are no different.”

“I’m not one of your ponies,” Foxfire shot back, but there was no heat in the words. “I have a choice, and even if the choice sucks, I choose ‘No’.”

“But why?” a confused Luna asked.

“Because before this,” Foxfire began, pointing to her body and horn with a hoof. “I was just Jean Pederesen, the town witch and herbalist, living life on my own terms. And then I wound up with a wonderful blended family and that was all I could have ever asked for.”

Jean returned to her human form as she turned and walked out of Luna’s feathery embrace.

“I’m sorry Princess Luna,” Jean finished, with a sad smile on her face. “But my final answer is ‘No’. If I accepted this… power, I’d be second-guessing myself for the rest of my life, plus I'd have to watch my back every minute of every day, for people trying to either take advantage of me or trying to take me out before I became a monster again. I’m sorry, but the answer has to be ‘No’.”

“But if you refuse this, you will die!” Luna pleaded. “Thou should have already passed into what lies beyond, only magic has kept thy spirit intact this long. Please… stay with me.”

“Luna,” Jean replied, stepping close again to cup Luna’s cheek with a single, slim hand. Realizing now that Luna had stayed as close as she had to things in Brightly because in Jean she had seen a kindred spirit. Someone who had been through the same trials she had. Someone she could call “sister” in all but flesh.

“I’m sorry. This sucks. Much as I want to live, it’s safer for the world if I don’t,” Jean finished. “And if I become the ‘Alicorn of Earth’ I wouldn’t be living my life anymore, I’d be living someone else's.”

“And what of thy unborn child?” Luna reasoned. “If thou will not live for thyself, live for them.”

“He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune; for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief,” Jean quoted, with a sad smile. “What kind of life could the child of an alicorn have on Earth? Always a pawn in the game of politics. Sought after, fought over… No, it’s better this way.”

“But… but,” stuttered Luna, and the lunar princess, being on the verge of tears, brought pinpricks to Jean’s own eyes as her throat tightened.

“I… I will relay thy message to thy loved ones,” Luna finally said, steadying herself to her duty. “Thou may count on me to deliver thy words.”

“Thank you,” Jean replied, taking a moment to revel in the feel of Luna’s fur in her fingers. “I wish we had another option but—”

“The door swings three ways,” interjected Hecate from behind the pair.

A very startled Jean and Luna jumped almost a full foot into the air in surprise before coming down to land and facing the three goddesses that they had left behind at the crossroads. Artemis, Selene, and Hecate stood in a chariot whose body was shaped like a crescent moon with a paired white stallion and mare in the traces.

“How did you sneak up on us?” was the first thing out of Foxfire’s mouth.

“The moon is silent as it crosses the heavens, but that is not what is important at the moment,” Selene answered. “What is important is that if Princess Luna is willing to lend us her strength, we can offer you a third choice.”

“The door swings three ways,” Hecate said again, with a wise smile.

“The right way, the wrong way, and the human way,” Artemis added, laughing.

“Who are you, to have the power to such a path?” Luna asked, extending her arcane senses and being nearly blinded by what she saw. “What are you?”

“We are the myths and legends that humanity believes in,” responded the three women, as one. And as the two ponies watched in awe, the three women began to blend into a single body of light. “And for the people of Our world; where there is belief, there is faith, and where there is faith there is power.”

“We are Yahweh,” intoned a deep voice that seemed to ring out from all around. “And We are Allah. Just as We are also Ameratsu and Ra, Yeshua and Thor, Aphrodite and Ishtar, Coyote, Bochica, and a thousand thousands of others.”

“So too are We the myths and legends of the modern age,” continued the voice, shifting to a more feminine timbre as images of men and women in fantastical garb appeared and disappeared. “Kirk and Spock, Ivanova and Sheridan, The Doctor, Ripley, Kimball Kennison, and all the others that have been and are yet to be.”

“I… I do not understand,” Luna admitted, looking around wildly in realization that she was in the presence of a power far beyond her own. “I know many of these names from Foxfire, but I do not understand.”

“This is the true power of humanity,” answered the Voice. “Not the weapons, nor the magic or the words, but the power of imagination. The ability to imagine wonderful things, and to imagine terrible things, and the stubbornness to make both into reality. This is the source of Our power. It is what We were and may yet be again, thanks to you and your sister’s joining Equestria’s magic to that of our world.”

“What have we done?” Luna whispered, half in horror, half in reverence.

“Created change and choices where there was none before, and We thank you for that,” answered the Voice. “There is a third choice for you, Jean ‘Foxfire’ Pedersen, other than ascension or oblivion. The only question is, do you want it?”

“What will happen to me?” Jean asked, noting idly that her body was now in the half pony-half human form she had been in briefly.

“Even with Princess Luna’s aid in this, a sacrifice must be made,” explained the Voice. “You will lose part of what you are, but in return you will have control of your life and your destiny again.”

“You have so much power,” Luna said, still looking around a little wildly. “Why do you need me?”

“This realm belongs to you and your sister,” stated the Voice, as if the fact was obvious. “We are only able to be here because Jean Pedersen is of Earth, and We may only act here with your aid and permission.”

“So you are not gods then,” reasoned Luna. “Not all-powerful.”

“We are not, though forms of Us have been called that,” said the Voice, adding with what sounded suspiciously like a chuckle, “Nor are we Chaos, to ignore rules and propriety both. Thus we ask, not demand, not force, but ask, if you will aid us should Foxfire place her future in Our keeping.”

“Foxfire is my friend,” Luna declared. “And whether she be Jean Pedersen, or Foxfire, or both, my aid is hers for the asking.”

“And this is why together, Earth and Equestria may in time become the crown jewels of all the Universe itself,” declared the Voice. “Your quiet strength and magic of friendship, paired with humanity’s stubborn will and inventiveness. A true match made in the heavens.”

A wave of light washed out from the Voice, briefly enveloping the Equestrian princess. When it receded, Luna was as she had been, only now covered in a complex spell matrix that took the form of an elegant black harness, resplendent with silver accents, hand-tooled scrollwork, dangling lunar medallions, and fitting as well as one of Rarity’s finest creations.

“Jean Pedersen, also called Foxfire, it is time to choose,” said the Voice, resolving back into the forms of Artemis, Selene and Hecate. “The oblivion of a simple death, ascension to the power and glory of an alicorn, or a change to something both less and more than you are now. Both we and your friend will abide by your choice, but it must be made now.”

“Give me door number three, Monty,” quipped Foxfire, stepping up to lay her head against Luna’s shoulder. “Thanks Luna, for everything.”

“You are most welcome,” replied Luna, chuckling as she added. “Twilight is going to be so upset that she missed this.”

“By your choice, Foxfire,” intoned the three who were One, the One who was many. “Let us begin.”

And as the mists began to rise, a laughing voice declared.

Gone, gone, the form of Jean

Something new, to be seen

Author's Note:

I am a big fan of Jung's theory of the Collective Unconscious. That certain base concepts and archtypes are inherent to all humanity. So too do I like the theory that belief in a thing makes the thing into an item of power, and while perhaps not having supernatural abilities is capable of empowering others through that belief into feats and actions that they would not otherwise be capable of.

So what if you took those collective archtypes, dreamed of and known to 8 billion people, and added to that the power of actual magic? Something like this is what I'd hope to happen...

Not much left to come. Small Spoiler (zip ahead to 3:24 if you want to avoid a lot of fluff)!

Comments

[Gargon94]

I can't wait to see what happens to Jean/Firefox next chapter.

[Velvet-Fresh]

For I am the Equestrian Witch Excaban!

[A.P.O.N.I.]

That was a very interesting and moving chapter. (I'm not certain that Jean made the right choice, BTW.)
Then you started Gone, gone, the form of Jean, and I immediately thought Etrigan?

[A.P.O.N.I.]

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I mean, suppose she did become an alicorn. Who, on earth, would know what that was, or what baggage it was supposed to carry?

[Astorius]

That feeling when you discover a new pokemon evolution

[Morphy]

Not gonna lie, I strongly believe she should have taken the alicorn option but it's her choice and she did make a number of valid points against it. I think she would also add immortality is not a thing for the human mind, we're just not built to handle it without losing something that makes us human. Seeing everyone you care for die in time, your own children and theirs and so on.

I just really hope this third option isn't going to be a regretful choice.
My bet is on knocking her back to a "mortal" level after maxing out Spell Casting and exploding. Would be fitting if she had some added druid-ish abilities since magic is now a real thing. (If she isn't a more confident version of Fluttershy I'll... think of something later)

[Teraunce]

Something new, to be seen

My guess: a merged blended form.

[redandready45]

Oh boy, this was an epic scene. Princess Luna and humanity's Gods are coming together all at once.

Jean's understanding of the responsibilities and sacrifices that come with power is sad and speaks to her incredible foresight.

All in all, a good chapter.

“Indeed,” Hecate responded, tilting her head in acknowledgement. “But it should be pointed out that you are only mostly dead at this point. A state that is far different from being all dead.”

Jean couldn’t help but snort a laugh at that. Her goddess, a fan of The Princess Bride?

[Penalt]

11681355
Oversight on my part. You're actually the first person to mention it in 3 years.

[Penalt]

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You choose... wisely.