A tale of Equestrian prehistory and the source of the powers of the Sun and Moon. Prequel to Stories in stone Luna's Royal Guard.
In the time just after the exodus of ponykind from the frozen north to the new land known as Equestria. A young mare sets out to make her fortune and takes the first steps into a future she never dreamed of.
This is a prequel to my Stories in Stone fics. You don't have to read the others to understand this one, but i hope you check them out anyway.
It was once said 'that all little boys want to be heroes, and all little girls want to be Princesses.'
Speaking as a Princess myself, I say screw that.
The year is 38E, thirty eight years since the three tribes came together, moved from the frozen north and founded the land known as Equestria. After centuries of waring amongst themselves the three leaders of the tribes came to an agreement and now lived in peace. Every pony was content and we all lived happily ever after.
Except for the parts where we didn't, which was every part.
That's the problem with fairy tail endings, every one just drops a happily ever after on it and expects everything to be sunshine and rainbows from that point on. Quite sickening to be honest, it's only made more so by the fact that no one even bothers to think about what happens after. And the ones who do consider what's beyond the happily ever after are considered insane or at the very least some pony not to be around.
I call bullshit on that. No matter how idyllic the story ends, there's always going to be conflict from those who don't agree with the ending. Always something no one mentions because it ruins the mask of happiness these stories wear. There's always a dark epilogue hidden just below the surface, sometimes found in real history, or in some notes the tale spinner didn't feel like adding to the actual story. Always something, like an illegitimate child of rape, some pony cutting their own hooves bloody to try and fit them into a shoe too small for them, or some one dancing to death in molten hot boots.
Back on the topic of the three tribes. The pink dragon in the room that no one wants to mention here is that it isn't working. Years of strife hate and spesieum is not going to vanish from the minds of the ponies simply due to finding a new place to live and a some stupid tale about some frozen monster ponies trying to suck the heat out of our bodies. Cooperation like that takes work, lots of work with some one important to rally behind. Commander Hurricane, Chancellor Puddinghead, and Princess Platinum were the ones everyone rallied behind.
Were.
Commander Hurricane was not a young pegasus when the exodus happened. He did not live many more summers before he passed of old age and failing health. His successor the now Commander Pansy was a bad fit for the position,with no real leadership skills and almost no force of will to call her own, but at least she is trying.
Chancellor Puddinghead was never the most stable pony to begin with and when she finally went off the deep end no one was surprised. They already had a nice padded room waiting for her. Her successor was not an idiot, but he has no presence at all, I can't even remember his name, I think it was Cookie something. Doesn't matter he's only slightly more skilled at leadership that Pansy, which isn't saying much.
Grandma Platinum was one of the few of the unicorns who believed in the three tribes joining. She lost some pull when her adviser Clover left to become the next Starswirl the bearded.
A bit off topic here but those ponies freak me out a little. There's a whole tribe of unicorns and a few other ponies living up in a big mountain in the middle of Equestria in some monastery. All of them are devoted to the study of magic and the few I have met are the most boring ponies in the world, great teachers of magic, also usually the best cures for insomnia. They are lead by whoever holds the title of Starswirl the Bearded, no one knows who the first Starswirl was, or how many there have been, but the name has become a title. Anything created by the title holder is connected to the title not who the pony is. While I cannot disagree with the advances in magical theory and the plethora of spells they have come up with giving all credit to a name rather than a individuals effort confuses me.
But back to my grandmother. Even without Clover she did her best to ensure that the three tribes got along in the absence of the other two great leaders. Who knows, with the work she put into it she might have succeeded. Of course that was if my father hadn't killed her and framed my grandfather for it.
It's one of those secrets to everybody. Every pony knows he did it to take her throne because he was tired of waiting for her to step down, or die of old age. But no one will bring it up because they either respect or fear him.
My fathers rule has been turbulent to say the least, he barely tolerates the pegasi and absolutely loathes the earth ponies. But thankfully, he's not stupid, there are too many who would bury him right along side my grandmother and uncle if he tried to restart the wars. So he maintains the airs of cooperation, while undermining the other tribes authority every chance he gets.
He does have one or two redeeming qualities however, he is not content to live off his mothers legacy for one. He strives to make his own way and make his name known. A few years ago he even lead a small force that cleared out a nest of hydra's that was encroaching on earth pony farmlands. His force was victorious and he was reported to have killed three of the beasts himself.
Again I call bullshit, I doubt the oaf that sired me could figure out which end of the spear is the pointy end, let alone kill something. But it doesn't matter what I believe, it only matters what the rest of them believe. Get enough ponies to say the moon is made of green cheese and damned if the moon is not forever after, made of green cheese.
Besides, it was that act that gave me my first taste of power. Everyone suddenly treated me like the princess I was, regarding me as far more important than even I thought I deserved due to my fathers actions. Sure it was respect by proxy and I had two siblings older than me and three younger that also had a taste, but they didn't seem to react like I did. They were content to accept power simply by being related to some one who did great things.
I was not.
But it would be hard for me to do anything on my own,living in my fathers shadow. As the second eldest female of the family line It was expected of me to be married off at some point. probably to cement some relationship or trade agreement with some minor house somewhere. Sent to a little keep somewhere out of the way were I would grow old popping out foals to feed some stupid noble's stupid son's sense of entitlement. The dumb colt would be thrilled he was wed to the daughter of the unicorn leader and then try to live off my fathers fame as well.
I had my own plans. I was going to make my own way, earn my own respect, my own adoration. More than just some stupid unicorn nobles were going to know my name and know my deeds. I was going to make sure that I was remembered when I was finally gone, that Princess Platinum was not going to be the only one of my family that history remembered.
Someday every pony was going to know the name Aviana.
TDR Presents
A prequel to Stories in Stone; Luna's Royal Guard.
Stories in Stone The Mare, the Dragon, and the Draconequus. By TDR
The World I know.
The heavy clack of hooves drew the mares attention from the star filled night she was staring off into. She turned back watching the figure approach though the darkened room smiling a little as he moved up beside her.
“Such a surprise to see you still up this late brother.” the mare questions. “Something troubling you I assume?”
“It is not my fault you tend to go to bed before the night fully comes. Tis a wonder you see me at all. A great many things are bothering me however sister. If this news is correct he has truly gone to far this time.”
“If the beast is telling the truth at any rate.”
“He is. I have been to the settlement. It is exactly as he said, they are all dead. The few I know to be outside of the town have also been killed. He was quite thorough.”
The mare winces at that and exhales deeply letting her gaze linger on the sky before turning it down to the thick cloud cover below.
“So is he really the last then?”
“He is, but his powers remain, so at least that question has been answered, you cannot kill a god by destroying his race.”
“That is not a question I wanted to have an answer for brother. So what are we to do, Storm is already impossible to deal with and now he is going to be even more so now that he has accomplished one of his goals. It doesn't help his latest victim was several pages short of a tome even before this genocide. I shudder to think how he will be when he recovers.“
“We will do nothing.”
“Created from magic or not brother they were a living race of their own and he wiped them out simply because he did not like how they looked? We are to let this travesty go unpunished? I do not agree with this at all.”
“Calm yourself sister. I did not say nothing would be done, I said we will not be doing anything. We barely saved our people when we angered him last time. If not for the Windigo the races of ponies would have been the ones wiped out. We cannot afford to get directly involved and anger him further.”
“It doesn't matter what we do, the fool tried to punish an entire race because I spurned his crude attempts to get me into his bed.” the mare growls. “I do not know why any of us thought he was the proper bearer.”
The stallion flinched at that, though it was unnoticed by the mare.
“He was not always like this, and you know that better than i do. I have known him longer than you sister, but you were once his friend where i was a mere acquaintance. When he first was granted the power he was the most just out of all of us. The others even suggested he was to weild the power of the heavens. It is only within the last few thousand years he has become more and more corrupt. Clover states it is simply the proof of absolute power.”
“Your little bed mate makes a good point.”
“You know I hate when you call her that sister.” the stallion growls .
“And you know I enjoy getting your blood boiling, you tend to be more fun when you are angry Starry.” the mare smiles lifting a hoof to poke the stallion in the nose. “ Besides you two had a foal already I can hardly call her a fling any more.”
“Yes I am glad you stopped doing that.”
“So how long do you think she has left? She was young when she came here but it has been thirty eight years. Are you prepared to deal with this again?”
“I wish you would not ask such questions, when a stallion finally catches your eye you will dread even thinking thoughts such as those Crystal......” the stallion trails off as the mare winces. " Sorry I had forgotten."
“That does not answer my question brother. You have spoken of giving everything up before. Will you do it for her? She is showing signs of her age already. And your daughter is almost of age to be looking for her own stallion.”
The stallion snorts flattening his ears to his head.
“As much as I would love to stay with her and live out the last of our days as equals I cannot do that. With Storm acting like this and the state of flux this new land is in, I cannot leave. Besides there is not another who is suited to the position. Clover knows this, and she has accepted it.”
“Have you brother? I have seen you twice before after you mortal lover has passed, you are never yourself for years afterward. This is not the time for that sort of melancholy.”
“I do not wish to speak of this further.”
“Fine then, what shall we do with our guest , if you wish a subject change. You know as well as I do he will wish revenge.”
“He will , but if he tries it alone he will fail. His powers do not often work the way he intends them to and I doubt they would be very effect offensively. He cannot snap his claws and change a god into a pot of petunias. He will need help and we need to inform the others of what happened.” the stallion nods.
“The dragons will not likely care, nor will our brethren from the sea. I also doubt any of the warlords of the zebra will care to aid us, or even listen.”
“I have sent the missives regardsless, in the worst case that leaves us with our own, Clover is already heading to the capitols of pony kind to gather some sort of aid. She hopes the unicorns in particular will help. She despises their leader, but he has many tales of heroics surrounding him. She hopes he may provide us with an army.”
“A skilled collection of mages in great numbers would be something even Storm could not ignore.” Crystal states.
“Clover is in no condition to make a trek like that. I do not even wish her to return to the capitol. But she is not one for obeying orders from me.”
“A smart male knows when his mare is correct in something and should wisely shut his mouth. We can send a few of the other monks to do so if need be.”
“Our numbers are not great enough that we can simply send monks out at a whim. Let us see what sort of aid Clover returns with first. Perhaps some pegasi will help as messengers.”
“We can hope. What should we even do with him if he is defeated. Kill him? Add him to that garden of yours?”
“That is a possibility, though I am unsure our normal spells to change creatures to stone would work on him, We also do not know what will happen to the sun and moon if he is killed. We may be inviting even more disaster.” The stallion sighs though he looks up at the stars with a ruffle of his wings as if considering something. “There may be another way.”
“The artifacts?”
“Yes.”
“No one has used those since my ascension. And they did not even work properly then.”
“The ones who suffered were cured and the creature was sealed away, given what happened with the one we killed I would say that they worked perfectly. Perhaps that is what would be needed here, simply sealing him away. We would still need to find the Bearers.
“Ones to use them and we would have to retrieve them again. Which given their last known locations would be a pain.”
“No we would not have to do anything like that.“ the stallion states smirking slightly.
“Oh? And why is that?”
“They have already awakened once more. And like always they will chose their own bearers. My predecessor could recognize those who would wield the Elements of Harmony when he saw them. I expect I might be able to do the same. We simply need to point the ones who arrive in the right direction.”
“You expect Clover's trip to reveal them to us? This is why you allowed her to go despite your misgivings.”
“I do not think she will bring them here. I know she will. Not all of them, but enough to send to gather the others.”
“How..... oh right that little ability of yours.” Crystal chuckles. “Quite the talent you have there, the ability to always make the right choice?”
“It is not always the right choice. Often it is the wrong choice, but the end result will be the best that could happen.”
“Like with the Windigo and the others.”Crystal mutters the last.
“Yes. Still sister we must prepare. Clover should be reaching Starholme castle tomorrow.”
“It should be one of us going, hiding our existence is a mistake.”
“It is the way of things sister. If we revealed ourselves the races would go to war again over who could possess our power, or they would expect us to rule them. We have spoken of this quite often before.”
“It would end the strife that has developed again. They are all the same race, yet they still fight and this makes us all weaker. Better that we rule them and force them to cooperate than let this divide grow even larger and let them be picked off by other races or even each other again. That was a dark time before brother, one that I will not see repeated no matter what must be done to stop it.”
“You would enslave your own to prevent conflict? “
“If it was necessary to stop them from killing one another. I would repaint their hides myself to one color so they stopped their foolishness.”
“Do not speak of things like that. Particularly given your nature. We will not get involved directly.”
“You may not get involved directly, but I will not allow it to happen again. Better they are slaves, and thralls than all dead like the Draconequus are.”
“Crystal! That is enough.”
The mare sighs turning away from the balcony her horn lighting up to show her the path through the room illuminating her green mane and bright green eyes, her black coat having a illustrious sheen to it that seems to reflect the light of her horn, almost giving her a glow.
“You are correct in that brother. That is enough of this for now. We have other issues to attend to for the moment. Arguing over a situation that may or may not happen is pointless, particularly since neither of us is will to back down from our beliefs in the matter. Perhaps your successor will agree with me that hiding is pointless.”
The stallion said nothing as the mare ruffles her wings and stormed out. Conversations like this always ended in this manner with her. The race wars had been in full swing when Crystal became an alicorn, she viewed the continued several thousand years of outright conflict, segregation and down right hate among their little ponies as her own personal failure at trying to guide them. She was a skilled manipulator, but she could not handle when things did not go as she planned. He had not expected any one of the sisters to be the ones to ascend, Crystal least of all, but they had all perished in that conflict along with most of the advanced civilizations of Equss. The former god Mobius however had given his power to Crystal. He got along well enough with her most of the time, but he and Crystal argued far more than he an Mobius had.
The stallion stepped out further on to the balcony his light gray coat showing up well in the simple starlight though his white mane lay still over his back, even the mountains tops wind blowing over him did not ruffle his hair. His cutie mark was hidden under a cloak he wore that his love had made him, there was a matching hat that he never wore as he thought it was silly, granted he would never say that to Clover.
He sighs glancing back towards the monastery behind him. Fights like this made him wonder if Crystal was correct. And that he was too caught in the past to see the changes happening, hiding from the others had gotten harder over the years and indirectly assisting the pony races was near impossible at times. Perhaps she was correct, that they should rule. It was not as if he expected Crystal or himself to become a tyrant like what the zebra's and Storm had done, but he just did not feel it was the way things should be. Perhaps he should be looking for his replacement, despite the current situation with storm and the last Draconequus.
What was his name again? Ah Yes. That was it.
“Discord, his name is Discord.” mutters the alicorn. “Poor creature....”
It's little more than announcing to the world that you are a trophy. Something only good enough to be rescued by some hero or another, or married off to ensure the future of a kingdom. Something that's only purpose is to present it's flank to be mounted and hopefully produce a colt.
Little more than a high class whore when you think about it.
Not that there have not been exceptions. My grandmother was one. Princess Platinum, the mare that helped found a new empire when the old was dying. A mare who spat in the face of every one when she refused to wed and once her father died, took over declaring herself Queen.
Eventually she did marry, or I wouldn't be here, though again she spat in the face of the way things were and married one of her own guards. A unicorn from a common house she had an eye for. Something my father never forgave her for, for ruining his precious linage with common blood. To say my father hated my grand father was a understatement. When he finally made the move to kill my grandmother and usurp her rule, he made sure that everything pointed to his father being the culprit of the poisoning. Rather than let any one investigate his claims, he flew into a proper 'rage' and slew the 'murderer' before any questions could be raised.
Before her body had even cooled he declared himself king. He took several wives and true to form has sought to remake unicorns the rulers of all three pony races once more. I'm one of the two daughters of his first wife, the fat goat is on his third now, a vapid pink thing that probably doesn't have a brain cell left with amount of wine she consumes. I've four other siblings three sisters and a new born colt that seems to be the prize my father has been seeking since he mounted his first mare.
I'm half tempted to strangle him in his sleep and follow his example by claiming rule by bloodshed. But I digress.
I am a Princess and I hate it. Particularly since at sixteen my father decided that he wanted me wed and out of his house.
His first prospects were dissuaded by my attitude. One suitor that was almost tolerable was turned away for not being important enough by my father. The last one thought to take ad vantage of the 'delicate Princess' and have his way with her so my father would be forced to let him marry the 'impure flower' I had become.
I am told the colt might still live a normal and happy life as a gelding.
I might be an angry, bitter teenager at this point, but I am also the strongest spell caster the kingdom has seen since Clover the Clever vanished to the mountain when my grandmother died. All self taught as well, my father would never allow a mare to learn anything past what would be needed in a kitchen or bedroom. Having a daughter that wound up being closer to him in drive than the effeminate colt he calls a son unnerves him greatly.
Or perhaps that is simply me. He see his own ambitions reflected in my eyes and he is terrified of it.
Well I choose to believe the latter any way.
My Name is Avianna Platinum, and I hate being a Princess.
==============================================
“Alright. Explain this again to me. And do stop attempting to use large words, you continue to choke on them as they leave your throat.” I sigh looking across the table at the scrawny looking pegasus seated on the other side of the table.
My greeting chambers were not much, granted crammed up in a tower as they were it was amazing I even had a greeting chamber. Father granted his 'eldest daughter still living at home' the tower in a effort to get me out of his sight most of the time and put me in a place he could keep an eye on me.
He had some of his loyal Guards stationed at the bottom of the stairs. In his words to protect me, in my words to keep an eye on my comings and goings, as the stairs were the only entrance and exit from the tower. Granted it was not as if I couldn't levitate down the side of the tower, or spider climb down it, or buck even teleport. Granted the latter was a bit risky as my new step mother saw fit to rearrange the castle furniture nearly every other day. Getting shunted into an cabinet of fine dishes once was more than enough for me. That was probably why father allows her to do it.
At any rate the scrawny blue and gold pegasus stallion before me stammered out his explanation again.
“I …. I I put the poison in the cup as you ordered mistress. I did it just as you said.”
The large sky blue earth pony stallion behind him snorted pushing a strand of his black mane from out of in front of his green eyes, the stripes of red in his mane adding a slight air of menace to his already imposing form.
“You dumped the whole bag in a cup, you only thought was the right one. “ the larger stallion grumbles.
“I put it in the one I was told.....”
“You were told to put it in the kings mug, the gaudiest gold chalice that was there, not the simple steel one of the noble who brought the poison for you in the first place.”
“ But I...”
“Silence.” I snap looking at the larger stallion. The earth pony nods stepping back a pace though his gaze remained on the pegasus.
I had met Andrew a long time ago. He was supposedly related to Chancellor Puddinghead in some manner or another and when he in inevitably went insane, most of the family dropped the name and spread out as much as they could. Andrew, or Andre as he preferred, had joined the guards here while my grandmother still ruled and had been assigned as one of my guards. The earth pony was one of those rare individuals who's loyalty, once given could not be shaken. Something I had taken advantage of immediately and aside from my elder sister, he was the only other pony who I trusted with my plans.
The pegasus flinched his wings folding back hiding the potato bread loaf that was his cutiemark. I had to admit it always was of some interest to see a ponies cutiemark match up with what their purpose in life was. Potato was a baker of bread, quite good bread too. Andre's cutie mark was a black snake wrapped around a spear. Most would consider some one with a cutiemark of a snake to be a treacherous sort. Something I suggested Andre encourage. After all any one after me would likely try to use him first and I trust him to inform me so I might deal with it. My own cutie mark is a bit more nebulous a open book made out of white and purple crystal with a single feather quill across the corner. The open pages are blank and the cutiemark came to me while I still very young and had not even learned to read. There was no fan fare, I was doing nothing of importance, one moment I was without it and the next it was there.
Though perhaps that was the first time I expressed dislike of my situation or my father, but I do not recall. I started studying magic soon after for my revenge.
I reached a hoof up pushing a strand of my amber hair out of my face before looking out my open balcony to the night sky.
“You not only failed to poison the king, you managed to poison the pony who brought the poison and was going to take the blame for poisoning the king, thus setting us back years. They will be looking into the murder now and you were the one who last had access to the wine. Did any pony see you come up here?” I asked with a sigh.
“N.. no mistress. I waited til dark like usually before flying up.” The pegasus stammers.
I nod to Andre who trots over pulling a saddlebag from a wardrobe near the door dropping the bag over the pegasus's back with a yelp, strapping it carefully on the pony.
“There are a number of bits in the bags for your trouble, but you will have to fly away from here rather fast. Do you understand?” I explain to the pegasi's nodding.
The pony quickly trots over to the window looking out.
“I.. I am sorry mistress.” he stammers.
I look to Andre and toss my head a bit. The large earth pony grabs the pegasus covering his mouth with one hoof and quickly snapping the smaller ponies left wing. I wince at the crack of bone and the muffled cry and whimper.
“Potato you realize that I can accept failure. If you didn't manage to poison the king that would have been fine. I do not expect everything to go perfectly, chaos happens and we cannot control it. “ I sighed.” One thing I cannot stand however is incompetence. Something you have shown far more of than I had expected when I offered you this task. I will ensure your family is cared for and they will not be connected to your betrayal of the crown. That is all I can offer for your loyalty, useless as it was.”
The pegasi's eyes widen as my horn glows, the small pegasus vanished with a pop from Andre's grip. I let out another sigh as there was a sudden scream and a wet crunch against the wall some where further down on my tower. Teleporting can both remove and add momentum depending on how much power you put into it. Given that I needed to make sure that Potato did not survive the impact, but the incriminating documents in his bag that pointed all evidence to another noble I wished to be rid of did. It was the balance of the force that wore me out more than the amount of power required.
“I don't like it Avi.” Andre grumbles picking up a few stray feathers the pegasus had dropped tossing them in the fire place.
“Nor do I. Wasting a tool like that should be a crime, but we both know my father would have found him out in time and father would not try coin to loosen his tongue first. Do you think he would survive more than the sight of the dungeons?”
“No, but this still bothers me. I do not like this shadowy nonsense.”
“It is the way of things. How many assassins who have been after me have you killed?”
“Six this last month.”
“And how many did we trace back to my father?”
“Two. The rest were from the noble's son you set on fire.”
“Possibly my only accidental injury in dealing with those fools to date. I threw my drink in the crude louts face. I didn't expect that he would back unto the candelabra behind him while so doused.”
“No one believes that due to the earlier gelding.” Andre smirks recalling one of my earlier suitors.
“I forgive mistakes Andre. I make enough of my own it would be hypocritical of me if I didn't”
The brown unicorn mare looked up at the castle as she was escorted into it. She hated this place. The unicorn range, even the name of the place brought up old memories of the exodus and that the races of pony had not changed that much.
There were also the memories of of the last time she had been here, just after the last rulers death. Her friend Queen Platinum had been killed far before her time. She knew who had done it, and she could prove who had done it, but she also recalled how noble houses worked with the unicorns and despite a desire for revenge, it was better that she was feared by the current ruler. If he worried the great hero of Equestria would out him as a murderer he would be more likely to listen to what she had to say if for nothing more than self preservation.
She had been here for two days already moving unnoticed around the city in a tattered old brown cloak, picking up rumors and facts before finally strolling up to the castle and having the Guards announce her.
She was in her regalia now. A bright blue cloak with small bells along the hem and a wide hat of the same material. It had been her idea for any claiming to be Starswirl to wear this outfit. Sort of a uniform for the position, most of the ponies thought it silly, particularly when she suggested a fake beard as well.
Of course the king tried to deny her an audience at first. The poor fool probably thought she was there to finally oust him, or bring some bad news. The latter was true of course, but it was not as if he knew it just yet. She had ignored the messengers and strode into the castle as if she owned it. The massive gray walled structure was build similarly to the castle that they had left back in the Frozen North during the Exodus. Queen Platinum had loved the castle design and had it rebuilt, all sweeping arches and towers. Personally Clover thought it would have looked better in white and gold, instead of silvery gray and copper.
The small unicorn page who brought her the latest attempt to stall was clearly in awe of her, the guards escorting her were also rather amazed by her presence. It had been close to fifteen years since she had been seen, and she doubted she looked any different from then. Most of that was illusion mind you, her green hair had a few streaks of gray , and she was showing some crows-feet around her eyes, but all the steps the temple possessed as well as other activities kept her in decent shape, particularly for a mother. Not that any one here knew that last tidbit, nor would they ever if she could help it. She didn't want to explain who the father was, or give the current King any ideas he might be able to hold something over her.
“Colt go back in there and tell him he will see me in ten minutes and to finish up what he is doing before that time.” Clover smiles softly at the colt shooing him off back into the main hall.
Perhaps fear, shock and awe would not be the best way to get what was needed, but sometimes that was all some ponies understood.
The page had not returned after five minutes and such Clover herself simply vanished. She felt sorry for the guards she had left standing there in confusion, but she needed to get into position. A short teleportation hop past the door and she was walking invisibly in the hall sticking to the carpet to muffle the sound of her hooves.
Seated in the throne at the end of the hall was a rather burly unicorn. The silver furred stallion had put on quite a bit of weight since the last time Clover saw him, and despite his attempts to hide that extra padding with fine clothing , it was rather apparent. His golden mane was pulled back behind his ears displaying the crown of Platinum perched on his head. Clover recognized it despite the addition of a number of jewels and precarious metals that made an already gaudy crown even worse.
A pair of unicorns stood on either side of the throne, a green mare with black hair, and a tan stallion with a pink mane .
She recognized them both as the King's advisers. Firefly, and June Bug. Neither of them were stupid, but both were little more than yes ponies to the king most of the time.
“Perhaps if we stall her long enough she will go away. It is rare that anything she comes with is good news.” June Bug the stallion mutters.
“That is not always true, there was the information she brought about the up coming drought. The irrigation plans devised for the fields saved many lives.” The mare Firefly states.
“One good bit of news along with countless prophesies of doom and demands of supplies and ponies to build something in that star forsaken temple of hers on the mountain. Half of them never return from that accursed place. I do not believe in the slightest that any of them really choose to stay on top of a frozen peak of their own volition.”
Clover sighs as the pair continue to talk nearly yelling at each other, hard to believe they were married..... then again ….. Still the time limit she gave was up and there was no point in letting this go on.
“Yes, you could try to send me away or continue to guess at what I am here for King Platinum. Or you could save time for both of us and simply let me tell you myself.” Clover states.
The advisers jump at the sound of her voice though the king simply growls.
“I do not have time for these games Clover, or Starswirl, or what ever name you are calling yourself now.” The King grumbles.
“Yes I heard you had an assassination last night, as well as finding out that the killer was rather bad at night flying. I suppose Captain Thundercloud is fully denying the allegations despite the evidence?” Clover smirks.
Again the advisers seemed rather upset that Clover knew about that, though the King only seemed annoyed.
“Among other things. Get to your point and be done with it Clover.”
“So be it. A great crisis is coming Sterling Platinum. I will need several score of your best mages to delay this event until such a time as a more stable solution can be found. You will also need to begin storing enough food for your people to last though what could be another dire winter as in legends. I have already spoken with the other leaders and they agree with the preparation, but a force of unicorns will be vital. The fate of Equss is at stake. “
“And what is this great threat?” The King mutters.
“It is best if you are not told the source. You are safer not knowing, we do not need you seeking out to try and best him yourself, that will not end well for any one.” she let the idea that she thought he might also try to ally with the threat remain silent.
“So your goal is a stop gap at best by your own admittance and likely little more than the rantings of a mad mare who has been on her mountain too long.”
“Sterling. You best watch you tongue.” Clover warns her eyes narrowing as the king rises trotting over to her.
“No not this time. Every few years you or one of your monks comes down the mountain, shouts a few things then goes back up after making every pony panic. And each time you have a threat for us to deal with, nothing comes of it. We never see a sign that there even was a threat. Most consider this proof that you and your monks have managed to defeat it. I always, and still do, see it as a rather impressive scam to keep your little commune of star gazers fed and rolling in our wealth. So no, the mud ponies and airheads might have fallen again for your scam, but we will not. You will leave and like every other day the sun will rise and the new day will find no new unspeakable horror that you claim to protect us from.”
Clover stares up at the king who was looming over her staring down at the mare. His over weight crown tipping precariously, threatening to tumble down his head and strike her.
“Yes the sun rises just like it does everyday, except when it won't any more. Unicorns no longer control the sun and the moon. You have no assurances that the sun will be there to greet you in the morning any more. Do not be so sure of your self Sterling, you run a small kingdom on a large continent on an even larger world, there is far more out of your control than in it. And even what is in your control is not, or need I remind you of your assassin problem?” Clover states simply returning the kings glare with such intensity that the stallion couldn't help but pull away first.
Sterling Platinum moved back and dropped into his throne with a thud and the creak of straining wood under him. He stares at the mare a moment his eyes flickering around the room looking at anything but her. After a shorter time of silence than Clover had expected, he finally spoke.
“I am not going to send scores of my best on a fools errand for you Clover.” the king states. “ Particularly since you will not even so much as tell me what the threat is. I assume you have your reasons, likely it is very dangerous, deadly and possibly none of them will even come back alive. That does seem to happen to at least half the ponies that are sent with you, the rest come back with few, if any memories of what happened. “
“That was their choice to stay or return after what was seen.” Clover states.
“I only have your word on that. I have never fully trusted your word. Particularly since you tend to attempt to resort to black mail to get your way far too often.”
“I am amazed at that accusation Sterling, could it be your spine has finally developed?”
The king snorts.
“I will send one pony with you to help deal with your threat. She will determine for me if your danger is real or not . I expect I will have to send a body guard or two with her as well, though I am sure she will have her own to tag along.”
“Sire you cannot mean her?” June Bug gapes.
“Of course I mean her. It is not as if she is doing anything else. I will happily get her out of my mane for a while. At the very least she is smart enough to know what I would need as proof and will not be that missed if she does not make it.”
“Sire I must protest , she is your daughter. If this is as dangerous as Lady Clover says..... “ Firefly adds.
“I have other foals, ones who do not try to start wars between houses because they don't like whatever colt shows interest in them. Perhaps some danger and travel will show her how good she actually has it here and she might accept the next suitor I send to her. Go inform her of the arraignments Firefly. Return this time tomorrow Clover and Avianna will be waiting to go with you to see if this danger is real.”
“Not even offering me a room for the night?” Clover smirks.
“I offer rooms to those I want to stay here Clover. Go petition a group of the commoners for your room and board. They likely will believe your tales, I am sure many even still think you some sort of hero of the exodus. Though keep in mind Clover, even heroes can die unexpectedly.”
“So can kings.” Clover states flatly. “You should consider yourself fortunate that I dislike playing the games of the nobles Sterling, or you would not have lived long enough to sire your first foal, let alone your sixth.”
Sterling growls as Clover simple ceases to be, the faint pop of a teleport echoing lightly in the room, nearly drown out by the grinding of the kings teeth.
“This has to be a trap.” Andre states for perhaps the fifth time in as many minutes. I largely ignore his ramblings. Though he is a loyal and trustworthy friend, at times he focuses on things that are quite obvious, or completely boring.
What bothered me was not the supposed mission I was being sent on, but that Clover the Clever had some how slipped past my network of spies, and had been in the city long enough to know about the assassination attempt and the body being found, as well as who was implicated by what Potato had in his bags. My own spy network had not gained that information on their own yet, and Clover knew about it.
My grandmothers best friend worried me greatly. Not only due to her skills in magic and her deft mind, but every time she showed up my father developed a sour mood which made him even less tolerable to be any where near.
My fathers adviser had brought me the news that I would need to prepare for a trip the next morning. Firefly didn't bother to tell me where or what for, though that was quickly found out. While Firefly was rather tight lipped, her husband June Bug was a gossip. When the cooks and maids found out, I was also made aware. It likely helped that most of the maids were sweet on Andre. The stallion could have his pick of any of the mares in the castle with his build, even some of the more speciest minded of the unicorns would have set that aside for a roll in the hay with the large pony. To tell the truth I had considered something like that myself once or twice, though Andre was the sort of pony that mated for life. I was not that sort of pony.
Still he was not above listening to the maids gossiping and flirting with them a bit. To me however, he was a friend and a bodyguard, nothing more. He knew this and did not seem bothered by it at all, perhaps he had no attraction to me, or he hid it well. I mean after all I am stunning if I do say so myself, and I do.
In any event I knew I was being sent with Clover to the temple on the mountain for a potentially dangerous mission that had the fate of Equss at stake.
To say I was excited was an understatement. I knew my father was just trying to get rid of me, hoping that I would either stay at the temple or be killed. It was fairly clear he did not believe a word of what Clover said.
I myself some what doubted it, but then again it was rare my grandmothers friend came down the mountain to say anything. There was a very good chance that she spoke the truth and that something big was happening.
Something that could make my name known across Equss, perhaps even more widely than my grandmother's. My thoughts ran away with me at this point of course, imagination can be a powerful thing. Particularly thoughts about usurping my father, removing his horn and forcing him to do farm work for the rest of his days.
I loved those thoughts.
It was in these thoughts that I dwelt when the flash of magic drew me out of them. Andre was still grumbling and going over a check list of what he planned to bring. I trusted he would have one for me as well so I had not thought to prepare much more than one or two items of personal importance. My grandmothers locket and my mothers personal spell book.
I lifted my head at the flash of power my green eyes shifting over the room as I regarded every corner and nook in my meeting room. Something was off.
Pushing a strand of my amber mane from my eyes I looked around again. Andre picked up on my worry and rested a hoof on the haft of his spear as he scanned around the room as well.
“What is it?” he muttered.
Before I could answer a voice from the far side of the room spoke up.
“Impressive. You felt me even while I was masking my presence. Not many can do that. Perhaps you will be of more use than I thought.” Clover slowly fades into view flipping though my mothers spell book. “Wise selection of spells here, more advanced than many of the scholars here learn.”
I glance to the table seeing that the book was indeed gone before glaring at the green maned mare who closed the book and tossed it though the air towards me. I reflexively caught it in my magic and set it back on the table while Clover stared at me.
“Oh do relax, I am certain you know who I am already and I already know you Avianna and Andrew. Or do you prefer Andre?”
My guardian nodded slowly, though his hoof had not left the spear on the table.
Is there a reason you are here Lady Clover?” I question. “I had not expected to meet you until tomorrow.”
“Yes, well, about that. Time is of the essence and all. How soon can you be ready to travel?” Clover questions.” I do not plan to give Sterling any time to reconsider. I wish to leave tonight. “
Andre glances to me and I nod.
“I have a few more things to grab before we head out. “ Andre states. “It should not take me more than an hour.”
“You are coming as well then? Alright go do what you need to, I have a few questions for Avianna here.” Clover smiles. “ Do not worry about too much, we can outfit you at the temple as well.”
Andre looks back at me before picking up his spear and collapsing the stock of it down before tucking the weapon into his harness and trotting out the door.
I glance back at Clover who moved over to pull a chair out and take a seat with a small groan at the table.
“I'm not cut out for this any more. Too much walking.” Clover grumbles.
“At your age I am amazed you are alive to be walking.” I state getting a glare from Clover.
“I'm not even fifty yet you realize. I've got a few score years left in me even without longevity spells.” Clover snorts. I was only 11 when I squired for your grandmother's journey. Pansy and Cookie are both older than me by far. “
“Why would my grandmother bring out some one that young?”
“Cause she was sixteen and no one else was willing to wander the wilderness with a stuck up Princess.“ Clover says slowly leaning on the table and looking at me. “Which makes me wonder about you. You are barely eighteen, far older than most nobles daughters to be unwed. You have a impressive command of spells and judging by the dead assassin, you have quite a bit invested in the nobles game as well. So it makes me question what sort of pony you are.”
I blink slowly, doing my best to give no outside sign of my involvement with Potato, though denying it would also mean something. The news was not widely spread yet so I was unsure of what details Clover may have that I shouldn't.
“Last I heard he wasn't dead, this is this about my setting that suitor on fire? That was accidental, well throwing the alcohol in his face was not, I didn't think the fool would catch himself on fire.” I chuckle lightly, trying not to make it sound forced.
“Teleportation takes a great deal of skill dear. Skill that I have rarely seen any pony in this city process. It requires power and a great deal of finesse. That spell book of yours has a number of scribbles in the margins of the page. Most of them alterations to the spell, something that one could formulate only if one could perform it. They were not in there when I gave the book to your mother, and they are not her hoof writing.” Clover simply stares at me. “ All magic also leaves a trace of the caster if you know what to look for.”
“What are you getting at?” I question, my eyes locked with hers.
“I am well aware of what happened to your Grandmother and your mother Avianna. I am sorry that I was unable to help either of them. But I do not like the idea that you are trying to play the game.”
“Would you prefer I say that I am seeking to kill my father?” I snap.
“Oddly yes.” Clover exhales. “I cannot think of a stallion who would deserve it more. Particularly considering he is sending you out in what he thinks is a suicide mission to acern the nature of this threat he doesn't believe exists.”
“Is it?”
“Is it what? A suicide mission? Perhaps, I'm simply to bring you to the temple and let an, hmmm, associate of mine explain everything. I am not sure what he might tell you. I was hoping for a score of unicorns that we might gain control if things get too dire, even as strong as your magic is I do not see you able to wrest control from the one who has it.”
“Are you always this cryptic?”
“At least until I know I can trust some one. I can trust you further than your father already, but I trust him about as far as he could throw this castle.”
“All at once or brick by brick?”
Clover smiles.
“I think you will do just fine Avianna, so long as you keep in mind, we do not play the game in Canterlot. So do not try to play it with us.”
Of all the things I had done in my short life, trekking through the snowy mountains at midnight in a snow storm while following a old pony in a cloak to some ambiguous location is possibly the worst.
I had dressed warmly and even cast a spell to help retain heat over myself and Andre, Clover declined, and I was still freezing. Trudging up the slope for what seemed like hours, and probably was, Clover finally came to a stop and peered through the snow storm into the night.
After standing there long enough for me to think ice was forming on my tail, I opened my mouth to speak, just as a flash of green light burst from her horn striking the snow in front of us. After another few moments standing there in which I was sure I had ice growing on my tail, the ground before us lit up in a blue trail climbing the mountain. I watched as the snow and ice before us started to melt, steam rising into the air over the glowing lines followed by a great wave of heat.
As the steam cleared a set of black crystalline stairs came into view from under the snow,leading up into the mountain. Andre whistled appreciatively as Clover smirked under her hood trotting up the stairs, her hooves splashing in the melt water. I followed along noting the ground was warm, almost hot under my hooves, even the water running over them was pleasantly warm. Looking up I could see the glowing stairs rise higher into the mountain.
“Come on. The spell won't last forever and you don't want to be standing here when the water refreezes.” Clover chuckles as she starts up the stairs.
The two of us glanced at her then each other following quickly up the heated stairs.
The climb had become much easier and the higher we climbed on the mountain, the warmer it became. Looking back through the snow I could barely make out the city far below, the giant fires of the watch towers little more than specks from this distance. I let out a sigh watching my breath mist up and be blown away in the breeze.
“The view makes you feel a bit insignificant doesn't it. All that you've known is little more than a speck from all the way up here. As if your life has little meaning in the end.” Andre mutters still looking back at the points of light.
“It simply makes me want to yell louder that 'I am here'.” I state with a small smirk walking past my friend following the brown mare up into the gray haze of mist and snow before us.
Some more time passed, in which I added stairs to the list of potential torture devices to add to my mental arsenal for when I was ruler. I could force some one to climb endlessly, likely they would admit to anything after only a few floors. I looked up to see clover talking to some one, a white shape, who was then gone before I could get a good look at them, vanished in the falling snow.
“What...?” I stammer.
“Pegasi... three of them. They've been following us for a little while now.” Andre whispers. “Rather skilled too to be in this storm unnoticed.”
“You noticed them.” I suggest.
“I saw the glimmer in their eyes from the glow of the stairs. They're wrapped in white and silent. If I hadn't noticed the glint I would have missed them too.”
“Right, well they spoke with Clover so I expect they are friendly.”
“We must be getting close.” Andre nods.
“Finally.” I practically shout, my voice echoing back suddenly from in front of us. Looking up I spot a pair of massive white stone doors set into the side of a cliff face. They seemed large enough to allow a dragon to enter them with wings outstretched and still not touch the sides. Clover stopped looking up at the doors, a smile on her features as they slowly begin to open, a billowing blast of heat radiating from the massive doors. As soon as they were open wide enough to allow a pony entrance, Clover started forward again. The tall doors stretched up to a cavernous ceiling. High above us three white forms darted between the doors and vanished into the dimly lit air space inside.
Clover paused to shake free the snow on her cloak, before pulling back her hood. A pair of earth ponies trotted up taking her cloak and her saddle bags as the door closed behind us.
“Go ahead, they'll take your gear and bring it to your rooms. He will want to meet you before you get settled in for the night. I expect you are tired from the climb, but please bear with me a bit longer.” Clover explains.
I reluctantly relinquish my saddlebags and cloak as does Andre, though he retains his collapsed spear and harness. Clover leads us onward though the massive hall way. The structure seemed carved out of the mountain itself, there were very few details of note, the entire place seeming to prefer function over form. Nothing wrong with that though it made for a dull main hall.
A number of ponies, a few Diamond Dogs, and what I assumed was some sort of Ram, moved along the halls around us, most of them bowing to clover or giving her a nod of greeting before heading through one of the multiple doors leading out of the massive hall to chambers beyond. None of them looked like guards, though only a few looked like servants or monks, it seemed more like a massive city street than any sort of castle.
Clover finally moved to the left and towards a set of double doors.
A pair of ponies stood outside them seemingly discussing something. The first was unicorn who was a strangely tinted purple with a blond mane and tail. He wore a pair of glasses and his cutie mark was an open eye with a crescent moon in the iris.
The second was a long haired zebra with what I could only describe as perfect flowing hair with a dignified touch of gray at the temples and a square jaw filled with perfect white teeth like a military cemetery. He was dressed in a white coat with a number of pockets that were filled with quills, bits of paper and tubes.
“Good to see you are back Ms Clover.”the zebra states, in a voice like caramel with oaky tones.
“Do not approach the dog park.” the unicorn states suddenly with a small shiver.
“What ?” Clover asks.
“He woke up this morning and turned his entire room into a dog park. Any one who enters gets turned into a corgi or something.” the zebra sighs. “ Cecil spent three hours as a basset hound. He's still in shock.”
“Dogs are not allowed in the dog park, ponies are not allowed in the dog park,the dog park will not harm you.....” Cecil continues as the zebra pushes him away.
“Come on Cecil lets get you some ice cream.”
“There's less flavors... but they're better.....” Cecil mutters.
Andre and I look at Clover who simply shrugs. “We have another visitor who is having a rough time of it … don't worry about him... Your rooms will be in another wing.”
==============================================
The three of us continue down the hall all the way to the end and a simple, if large, wooden door. Clover pushes it open trotting in before glancing back at us.
“Wait here a moment.” Clover orders, trotting off across the room to another door, lighting a simple iron candle chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
I move further into the room as it's illuminated. Clover closes the door behind her as she leaves while I look around. The place was a study of some sort, a few scattered tables, three of the walls lined with book shelves filled with books, the third lined with two padded benches and a large glass window that opened up onto a balcony covered in snow. I moved over to the shelves looking at the titles along the spines, rather surprised to see that only a few of them seemed to be written in pony. I recognized zebra, and griffon text, though I was unsure of the larger books as they were in some sort of runic I did not under stand.
I was so engrossed in my examination of the books that I didn't hear the door open nor any one walk in until Andre muttered my name.
I turned away from the bookcases looking to Andre who was staring at the door Clover had trotted through. Looking to the door myself I saw a pony that stood perhaps two heads taller than Andre. His coat was a soft gray coloration, his short mane and tail a pure white. He had a long beard that fell down his chest and seemed perfectly maintained and styled. His cutie mark was a dark gray spiral, dotted with four silver stars of various sizes.
The most prominent features of the stallion however were the long spiraled unicorn horn emerging from his head just under his hairline and a pair of massive gray wings folded over his back.
I couldn't help but stare, and out of the corner of my eye I could see Andre was in a similar position of awe and confusion at the stallions appearance.
“Avianna Platinum, and Andrew Pie I presume?” the stallion smiles. “It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Starswirl the Bearded.
Stories in Stone The Mare, the Dragon, and the Draconequus. By TDR
The Bend of Time
The faint shuffle at the door told him some one was coming. He couldn't help tense up, his hoof sliding to the side for his blade before he forced himself to relax. He was not in danger here and more importantly his son was not in danger. Well at least they were in less danger than where they had come from. He glanced into the small basket holding the newborn, flinching at the thick bandages and scars running across his back where his wing used to be.
His mother would be disappointed that he allowed the injury to happen.
The door opened with out so much as a knock, only one being here would do such a thing.
[“I thought you were returning to your empire?”] he snorted.
[“It is safer if I do not for the time being. Besides I will know if anything happens there.”] The mare stated with a small smirk, filled with fangs. [“I've come to speak with you about something.”]
The look unnerved him. Here before him was a true monster. One that had more power than any one creature had a right to posses. And yet....
[“I want no part of what your ponies have gotten themselves into. I simply wish to raise my son until he can care for himself, and then find an honorable way to die.”]
[“You'd die for her, but you won't live for your son. Pathetic, I hope I never fall for a stallion who thinks as you do.”]
[“If you came here to belittle me witch, you have done so, now depart.”]
[“I came here because we need your help.”]
[“You have a funny way of asking for that witch.”]
[“Do not even try to play that card with me fool. I am the only reason you are even here now and why your son is still alive!”] The mare snarled. [“ If not for me your own race would have destroyed your son by your own law and they would have done the same to you for trying to stop them.”]
[“My wife is dead and my son is a cripple because of you witch!”]
[“Your wife would still be alive and your son would still have his wing if you trusted me. If you had followed the plan I gave you nothing would have happened, but you had to ignore the safe way of things simply due to your damn pride. I lost six good ponies because of your idiocy and if you and your son were ANY one else I would have pulled the rest out and left you to die.”] The mare snapped spitting out the last lines of zebra like the language had a foul taste before switching to pony as she leaned forward seeming to tower over him and be far too close to him at the same time. “YOU. OWE. ME!”
The zebra winced at the shout, sparing a glance to his son who had not woken from the noise.
“Your son is getting the best care that Canterlot can give, which is a far sight better than any where else on Equss short of the Empire. No one knows who you are but me, to them you are just another refugee I rescued from a war torn land. I am keeping you here because there are only a few Zebras in Canterlot and none of them were raised in the Zebra land or know about the laws you set down. That is likely for the best as none of them would like the idea that you sanctioned the death of foals. Better you start speaking Equestrian as well, I know you know it, Starlight barely spoke any Zebra when you wed her.”
The Zebra said nothing simply staring at the crib and the red stripes still showing on his sons exposed back around the bandages covering his left side.
“I did it..... because it was the proper thing to do at the time.... had you helped us I would not have had to.......” the zebra muttered in perfect Equestrian.
“I helped all I could Warlord Gray Hoof. I risked repercussions from a number of nations just finding a way to supply you with the star metal ore for you to fight your masters. If anyone knew I did even that much, it would start all sorts of wars all over again. I would say you owe me for that as well, but at this point that matters not. You freed the zebra lands from slavery, that was the goal all along for both of us. “
“Do not call me that.”
“Hmm? Call you what?”
“Do not call me Warlord, I gave that up when I fled my home. And do not call me Gray hoof I lost that name as well. I never deserved to keep it since all I have brought to the world since I earned it in the pits has been calamity and suffering.”
“Then what should we call you?”
The zebra looked up at the Princess of Ponies, The Changeling Queen Crystal. He lowered his head again looking back at his sleeping son before turning his gaze back up to look at her again.
“Call me Ruin. It is as fitting a title as any. Now what is it you want me to do?”
“I need you to do what you do best. Kill a god.” Crystal stated flatly.
============================================
I could count the number of times I had been rendered speechless in my life on one hoof. Seems I needed to add a second hoof to the count because standing before me and casually trying to start a conversation was a supposedly long dead pony. Not only was it a long dead pony, it was a creature that shouldn't exist. Pegicorn's were nearly unheard of, but they just looked to be a cross between a stunted unicorn and a stunted pegasus, rarely could they do much magic or fly and often they were pitied if not outright killed for for their deformity which would clearly hamper them from ever having a normal life, a kindness really. This stallion was far far beyond that. He towered over Andrew, seemed built like he threw villages around for a hobby, and the power I felt from him I couldn't even begin to imagine what the limit was.
I had not felt this envious since my father had given my grandmothers spell book to my eldest brother, stars rest his soul. Not my doing, I had yet to successfully kill a family member, one of my fathers rivals had gotten to him before i could. Still if there was a way to gain power like this I had to have it or at least have it on my side. My father wouldn't even be able to even touch me, nay more than that, he would be forced to do what I said. The very thought of getting the old goat to do my bidding amused me more than simply the ideas of killing him.
“Are you alright Miss. You seem to have spaced out.” Starswirl asked.
“What are you.” Andrew voiced, thus taking the brunt of the ignorance for me. I had wanted to ask the question myself , but his askance made me seem less concerned about it than i was.
“Hmm? Oh the wings and such.... I’m what is known as an alicorn. One of the Gods of the pony race. Each race has it's ruling deities, I'm sure you've heard of them if you know anything about the world beyond Equestria.” Starswirl explained. “ I'm what you get if you take a little bit of Earth Pony, Unicorn, and Pegasus and mix them all together. Sort of the pinnacle of the race so to speak.”
“You're a god?” Andrew asked moving slowly around the stallion.
“I am ageless, powerful, I never get sick, and I’m nearly impossible to kill thankfully. To be honest it's also insanely boring, and rather tragic if you find yourself caring for any mortals, I simply can't recommend it.” Starswirl stated with a small chuckle. “ I really should write a pamphlet for this or something, I'm always asked this sort of thing. I can title it 'Twenty questions you want to ask a god but didn't know one existed to ask.'
Alright then, what do you want ?” I asked, desperate to regain some semblance of control after my shock at the revelation.
“Ahh see there in lies the issue. What I want is a peaceful end to our situation, but that doesn't seem likely. Had I known that things were going to go this way I never would have cast those spells, let alone given them to Storm Front.”
I frown, his words meaning nothing to me at all, I knew no Storm Front nor did I know about any sort of situation. It irked me to be ignorant of something that might be important enough to try and gain aid from my father. Still as one of my teachers once said, 'you cannot learn something if you do not ask.'
“Sorry ...Starswirl.... but you are going to have to explain a few things and some what less convoluted than that. Who or what is Storm Front, what spells, and why exactly are we here?” I ask with a bit of a sharper tone.
“Hmm oh yes sorry. I am used to speaking with those who are more aware of the world rather than their own small views.” He states plainly ignoring my grinding teeth. There was a flash of magic and a map appeared in the air before us. He lifted a hoof pointing at a spot in it that was marked with what looked like mountain. “ This is where we are now at the summit of Mt Maneterhorn in Canterlot. The lands ponies have control over encompasses this small area here between the sea and the breadth of the unicorn range. “
He gestures and a small portion of the map lights up in blue, a fairly narrow swath running from the mountain to the west until it reached the sea along the sides of a river.
“Those are all the pony lands with a few small settlements beyond those borders. To the south are the wilds, untamed forest that are predominately controlled by the Elk, Buffalo, and a few other races. Beyond them to the far south.......”
The map lights up in green showing a large section of forest and scrub lands listed as the wilds. Then another very large section of the map that nearly takes up the whole bottom of the map lights up in red.
“...... are the Zebra lands. Currently there's some issue there but even with the split factions the whole land is still theirs, I’m not going to try and figure out the exact borders they change too much. To the South East.......”
A small section of the map that crosses over into a few territories lights up.
“….The Diamond Dogs and to the North West.....”
A section of the map even larger than the red section lights up in orange.
“….. is the Dragon Empire and to the North East.......”
The map lights up in purple a section not quite as large as the Dragons selection but larger than the Zebras and any others on the map.
“...... are the Griffons. And of course anything water belongs to the Seaponies, but I digress. There is where the problem is, not the Seaponies. This is what a god needs to watch over, we cannot soly be focused on our own race, we need to keep relations with others to remain independent. While Ponies are not a new race, we have been through some very hard times and there are far less of us then there used to be, keeping the other races placated or distracted is the key to our survival. The Zebras have their own issues and the Dragons mind their own as do the Seaponies. We have a deal with the Elk and the Buffalo are fine so long as we stay out of their lands. The Diamond dogs generally keep to themselves but are not beyond raiding us or trading dependent on which pack is encountered. The Griffons however.....” Starswirl muttered. “ Well that's where things sort of come to a boiling point.”
“The griffons have been pushing south and west into other territories.” I state getting a look from Starswirl. “My father has received a number of reports of cities and towns vanishing as well as a few trade caravans. Because so few of them have been Unicorn settlements or endorsed caravan's he's not cared in the slightest. It's something that my grandmother would have looked into, but likely my father never even read the reports a word past what the primary race for each settlement was.”
Starswirl snorted as Andrew nods lightly.
“You are correct about the expansion, though hopefully not about your father. In any event the Griffons are for all purposes in a cold war of sorts with the Dragons. The power that Storm Front has doesn't bother the dragons in their caves one way or another. Gems need neither sunlight nor the moon to exist and Equss has it's own volcanoes and such to keep them warm at least the ones that don't prefer the cold. However the Griffons are pushing south into our territories as well, enslaving or killing any in their way. They have expanded their borders far enough that we have lost over a quarter of our own territories. The only place that is keeping them at bay is the Crystal Empire.” He Gestures and a silver glowing spot appears on the map. The size of it was tiny, but it was nestled in a spot in the mountain range that the Griffons needed to go a long way around to get past if they wanted.
“The what?” I despised sounding stupid again, but I could not recall anything about a Crystal Empire.
“Hmm oh I suppose it has been hidden for nearly ten thousand years now. The Crystal empire is the only pony settlement left in the north and in truth it's not really a pony settlement Certainly there are ponies, but it is mostly inhabited by the Crystal Ponies and Changelings though most of the latter are in a place Called White Tail Woods.”
I was starting to get annoyed. While I didn't profess to know everything about the world this .. .'alicorn' sounded like he was making up things now to seem smarter than he was. The Crystal Empire I could buy and the Crystal ponies lived in the empire sure, but what the deuce where Changelings? Honestly I was getting tired of asking questions . Still my annoyance seemed to be noted by him and the smile he gave me was both calming and condescending.
“I may have gotten ahead of myself. I do apologize for the information dump.” Starswirl stated. “My ….. sister I suppose should be able to explain better. You will need to accompany her to the Crystal Empire in order to see the situation first hoof in order to report back to your father.....”
“That's only because he won't let me grab your father by the neck and drag him up to the Empire shake his fat flank around and tell him to look at what is coming.” States an angry feminine voice from the other side of the room.
I turn my eyes widening at the sight of the mare striding out of the darkness. She was tall, taller than Starswirl with a glossy black coloration to her fur. Sections of it seemed bald and shiny until I realized that she had various spots of armored chitin covering her form. Her long green mane and tail whipped in an unseen wind . The ends of her hair shifted and rolled around certain spots, leaving them clear of her flowing mane as if there were holes in it. Her limbs were the same though her legs had a number of holes in them that I could see clearly through. A pair of green gossamer wings lay flat against her back and a gnarled horn rose from her temple. Her green eyes were slitted like a cats and she had a clearly visible pair of fangs protruding from her mouth.
She glared down at me as if she was seeing something foul or depressing, I gritted my teeth running through a number of attack spells in my head for the moment this thing made a move. Her expression suddenly softened into one of puzzlement as she stared at me curiously as if I had suddenly grown another head.
I heard Andrew move the faint whisk of his weapon as he readied it though a cough from Starswirl brought the tension down a little.
“Avianna Platinum, Andrew Pie, this is Crystal Queen of the changelings and Ruler of the Crystal Empire. I suppose you can call her my sister after all this time.” Starswirl stated.
“Charmed. Clearly you are not what my brother was expecting. That's fine. We leave in the morning. Ready yourself for travel, if you are not at the gate by the time the sun rises I will leave you here. I have no patience for useless tag alongs.”
The same power I felt from Starswirl I felt from this one, but there was also something more. An odd connection that disturbed me greatly. I wanted to feel disgusted that I felt some odd... kinship with this bug creature, but I was more curious as to why the emotion was there. Crystal too looked as if something was odd in regards to me, though she turned and left sparing a glance to Starswirl and frowning. “ This will not do.” She said flatly causing Starswirl to flinch as she stepped out.
“Excuse me I need to have a word with her about how to treat guests later. Now did you have any other questions?” Starswirl sighed.
The figure froze in place one clawed hand stuffing a bag full of things.
The dark room was mostly quiet save for the pairs breathing and the faint clank of items in the bag resting on the counter. Why Canterlot's kitchens were dark at this time of day was any ones guess.
The figure stuffing the bag straightened up, his dark silhouette barely visible in the unnatural darkness of the room, looking back over his shoulder the figure regarded the one who spoke. A vague, if very muscular pony shape, though the light from the hall behind him showed the lines of white fur over black on his back. A zebra? Odd.
“And who wants tah know?”
“Some one who has the added task of making sure you do nothing stupid.” the Zebra snorts. “ As if my task was not punishment enough without adding foal sitting to it.”
“Sounds like you got a bum deal in jobs, no one can stop me from doing something stupid.”
“Clearly. I know what you want to do and I question whether you can do it alone. I would say no.” The Zebra comments.
“You know nothing John Snow.....”
“I know enough to know that, that is not my name and you would be killed without accomplishing anything. From what I have been told you are powerful, but you are not a warrior. Storm Front is powerful as well and he IS a warrior. He would end your life easily.”
“He needs to die for what he did...” the figure snapped and glared at the Zebra.” You're not stopping me.”
“No, no I am not.”
“Ehh?”
“One of the rulers of this place has given me a task. A favor called in that honor dictates I must accept. Your goal is my mission and I will admit I could use your.... talents in my mission. You will not succeed alone, and I may not be able to succeed either without you, together we increase our chances.”
Did swiss cheese legs put you up to this?”
“Crystal? Yes.”
“I don't need help.”
“You do and so do I. You wish him dead, the smartest thing would be to find others who wish the same. It is not easy to take down a god. I know from experience. I doubt it is easy to kill one even if you are one.”
“........................” The figure grumbled. “Fine....... only because I want the odds of my revenge happening to be as high as possible. So long as the end result is Storm Front's death.”
“You do not want to be the one to kill him?”
“I would love too, but so long as he pays for what he did I’m not too caring on the how.”
“Understandable and surprisingly mindful of your limitations. Now then. I am known as Ruin..... what is your name?” the Zebra Ruin asked looking at the creature in the dark.
“There's no one left alive who can pronounce my name properly.” The beast sighed.
“Then what am I to call you on this little endeavor?” Ruin demanded.
The figure snapped his fingers the kitchen lighting up again showing a pair of kitchen ponies and a Diamond Dog chef tied up in the corner with large rubber fish gagging them and blind folds covering their eyes. Some one had also evidently hit them with a number of pies for some reason.
The figure in question was an odd one It had the head of a pony with mismatched yellow eyes, a pair of fangs from a snake, a deer antler on one side, and a goat horn on the other. There was a bit of stubble on his chin which looked like he was trying to grow a beard but didn't recall how to. He had long rabbit like ears, a serpentine body with a maticore's arm and paw, and a griffon's arm with it's claw. A pegasi wing and a bat wing sprouted from his back and it's legs looked like a minotaurs and a cockatrice leg. The draconic tail that sprouted from it's rump ended in a set of fins like those from a sea pony.
Despite the comical nature of the oddity before him, the expression on the creatures face was of one who had experienced great sorrow and had long since set with anger.
“Call me what the ponies call me.” The last Draconequus stated. “ Call me Discord.”
=======================================
Starswirl sat at his desk informing the rooms other occupant of the rest of the conversation that had happened.
“So how did she take the information?”
“As well as to be expected given the situation. In all honesty she's taken it surprisingly well given that she learned most of everything she knew was a lie.” Starswirl sighs.
“ Knowing her father I expect she knew he was tweaking the unicorn's schooling to make himself look better. They did that in my time too. Where is she now?”
“On the battlements comically yelling down the mountain at her father about how wrong he is in his wrongness.”
“Seriously?”
“Fraid so, though there is a lot more swearing involved however.” Starswirl looked over at the black carapaced mare.” I know what you are planning sister. And I do not like it.”
“Pity the choice is no longer yours. You hoped for an army and you got one gifted mage and an escort. I am making do with what I can get. You said yourself that if you failed to raise an army we could go with my plan.”
“I never wanted to raise an army. I don't want to fight him.”
“I do not plan to fight him either. I plan to simply kill him.”
“No.....” snapped Starswirl turning only to find Crystal's face right before his snarling and making him back peddle a bit nearly dumping him from his chair.
“Yes! I know you don't like killing or even fighting for the greater good, but that's too bad. This will not end without blood and given my connection with him I will most certainly make sure that it WILL end.” Crystal snapped.” Your constant stubbornness and desire for nothing to change is stagnating everything. You only agree to change anything when there are no other options! Well here's a news flash for you, there ARE no other options. He won't talk, he won't negotiate and we both know the fate of the ponies in the towns he took, if they are not slaves in the mines to be worked to death, then they are food on the table of some noble sometimes both. My Changelings have seen it with their own eyes and yet you sit here in your little tower deliberately ignorant. Do you know how many villages have been abandoned and how many have fled to the Empire? Of course you bucking don't you try to ignore it and hope it will go away. “
The Changeling Queen's expression softens a little. “ What happened to you? You used to embrace change, you loved the idea of new plans and ways of doing things. You created races, you made new spells. You actually lived and now you're nothing like you were.”
“Ponies change.....”
“And clearly not always for the better. I don't blame you for letting him have control of the spells. He was the Bearer of Honesty. One would think Storm Front might be trusted..... But for letting things get this bad. Yes … for that I do blame you. You may be like my older brother Starswirl, but clearly your time is over. Stand aside and stay with your mare and let some one still willing to change things do so.”
“I cannot allow you to simply kill him....”
“You cannot stop me. Despite your power you couldn't bring yourself to kill me, and that would be the only way you can stop me from fixing this. My Changlings and our ponies are dying while you sit around nibbling your hooves in stress. I've defaulted to your judgment before, but I’ve seen and learned more of the world in the last few centuries than you have by sitting in your little temple. I will stop this my way.”
“He will kill, you you know.”
“Then I will die trying to stop him rather than hiding on a cold rock and waiting for the end to come to me.” Crystal growled. “I suggest you pick a successor already, because when this is all over you need to retire. You are no help to our ponies like this, you are simple another disaster waiting to happen.”
Crystal turned storming towards the door.
“Where are you going?”
“I'm doing what I said I was going to do. I'm taking our guests to the Empire.”
“Our guests... Why if you don't believe in my plan then why take them?”
“Because I know something you do not know about her which makes me question you even further. Had you sensed it you would have pointed it out to me, but you did not. “ She looked at the door frowning.” If I am correct you might get your way after all, but I cannot rely on that alone.”
