When the home of Two brothers, Nightshade and Seabreeze, is destroyed by an unknown force. They must now make a trip to the lands of Equestria, which they have no knowledge of what awaits them there.
When the home of Two brothers, Nightshade and Seabreeze is destroyed, by an unknown force. They must now make a trip to the lands of Equestria, which they have no knowledge of what awaits them there.
This is only the prologue so the summary is very short, sorry about that.
-This story is being redone with a whole new story line-
“Got everything you need Seabreeze?” I walked up to my brother, who was behind a cart filled with various supplies and things we would need. We were heading to a thestral village, where some of our friends lived.
“I believe so, you?” Seabreeze looks over to me.
“Yep! So come on let’s go!”
“And not say goodbye to mother or father? Shame on you.” Said an older and feminine voice. I looked behind us to see two ponies, one mare and the other a stallion. The mare was a pegasus with a dark purple coat and light red almost pink flowing mane. Her fangs were a pure white and her wings were a jet black. The stallion was an alicorn with a black coat and black wings, he had a orange mane. His fangs were bigger than the mares and were slightly larger as well.
“Mom! Dad!” I jumped at them and gave both of them a big hug. “Sorry I forgot to say good bye, Good bye! Ok lets go!”
“Not so fast.” My brother walked past me and gave each of our parents of hug. “We won’t be gone long.”
“We know, but please be careful.”
“We will!” We waved to them as we made our way down the trail.
It didn’t take us long before we were at the tree line. Seabreeze stopped and stared back at the city. Almost as if he was missing our family already. Then his expression changed.
“Come on Seabreeze! Lets go!” I tried to push him but he didn’t move.
I turned to see what he was looking at. My happiness faded as I stare, unable to move. “Seabreeze, what is that?”
“I have no idea.” Above the city was a dark figure, just floating there. After a few moments the entire city was covered in what looked like a shield. The only difference was that shields are suppose to protect, this was doing the opposite. I could hear screams and explosions from the city. Then it went silent, a deathly silence that would strike fear into the heart of even the most fearless of ponies.
The barrier surrounding the city fell revealing a gruesome scene. Fire filled the streets and was burning homes. I could make out what looked like, and probably were, dead bodies. Hundreds of them, just laying there.
The dark figure then turned to us. I heard Seabreeze shout and then everything went black.
Hero
Chapter one - A lost hope By Strychnos
Edited by Shadowrose
“Nightshade, wake up.” called a familiar voice in the darkness.
“Where are we?”
I opened my eyes to what looks like a small hut. There is light coming in through a doorway at the far end of the hut, a small fire in the center used for cooking and heating lit up the room. I’m lying in a small wooden bed covered with furs. I finally focus in front of me, Seabreeze is standing there with a worried expression. There were tear stains on his dark blue coat, he had a bandage on one of his jet black wings. He’s wearing armor that covers most of his body, hiding his gemstone spark(thats what they call a cutie mark). “We are in a nearby Thestral camp.”
“Why are we in a Thes…” It suddenly all came back to me. My family, my friends, my home, all gone. I hugged my brother and weeped into his shoulder.
“Nightshade, it's going to be ok. We will make it through this.” His words were meant to be reassuring, but I know he has little faith in them. “We will find them, all of them. They’re alive out there somewhere.” said Seabreeze
“Is this a bad time?” My brother looked at the visitor to the hut
“Hi Crystal.” Seabreeze went over to Crystal and gave her a hug. “You remember Crystal Clear, right Nightshade?”
I nodded. Crystal has been Seabreeze’s friend for as long as I can remember. She is a thestral, given away by her large, red, dragon like wings and and light blue slitted eyes. Her pink and blue mane is cut short, along with her tail. and she has a light red coat to match her wings.
However she wasn’t the only thestral to walk to in. A very old mare, thestral with dark purple coat and wings. Her mane was white and thin, giving a ghostly look to it, covering her body was a grey and blue robe.
“My name is Fajra, the elder of this village. Crystal here has already told me of your situation, I give you my sympathy for the great loss. But that is not the only thing my friends.”
She took a vial from a bag and gave to me. “Drink this. It will help with the healing process.” I did what I was told and drank the contents of the vial. The liquid tasted horrible, I almost gagged at the taste.
“Thank you.” I croaked out.
“This was not the only reason you wanted to see us correct?” Seabreeze asked the elder thestral.
“No it was not.” She said while setting two stable bags in front of us. One was smaller than the other. “For your safety you must travel far from this land and into the next. You may question why you must leave, and it looks cowardly. But I have seen vision of what happens if you stay, villages burn, entire empires fall. Staying here will bring death to the entire land.”
This was hard to accept, that being in our native lands would bring death to all. “If we’re gone, then who will lead these lands?” I had asked the elder.
“A very good question young one, and one that I am without an answer of.” She replied. “However, while I can’t be certain of whom will take the position, I believe King Inferno will likely see himself as a better ruler than the rest. But I can not be certain, so don’t take my word for it.”
What she said did make sense, but is that the best thing?
“Crystal and Charcoal will be your guides to Equestria. We gave you enough supplies to last you a week or so in Equestria.” Equestria is a land west of here and not much was known about it. The West Griffon Empire are allies with Equestria but that is the extent of our knowledge.
That is the only fact, all else we know are urban legends and myths.
“It is believed that the lands of Equestria are solar based, meaning during the day you could die of light poisoning…” She gave each of us a necklace. The necklaces were made out of alternating gold and silver chain links, the gems on the end were solid black, glistening in the dim light.
“These will protect you from the harmful solar energy, they will also change your appearance to look like normal pegasi.”
Seabreeze put his on and the effects were instant. His coat lightened a few shades from their original dark blue color, his wings changed to the same light blue as his coat, and his fangs disappeared. However his red, gold streaked mane stayed the same. After his appearance changed, a dark colored sphere surrounded him for a second and then disappeared.
Seabreeze rolled his shoulder and shook his head a little as if he took a punch and shook it off. “Oh man, this feels weird. Guess i’ll have to get used to it.”
I put the necklace around my neck and the effects were instant.
I instantly felt a weird, tingly sensation on my skin. My coat began to lighten, just a little to a light gray. Then my jaw felt light, like the feeling after you have had teeth pulled. I went to touch my fangs with my hoof but felt nothing. My horn felt the same way and then it was gone. Just like my brother, my white and gold mane stayed the same. The same shield thing surrounded me but mine was a dark green, when it was done my whole body had the same unexplainable feeling.
“Feels weird right?” Seabreeze affirms to me.
“Yeah, but it's slowly fading away now.” I rub the back of my head with my hoof.
“You can not stay here for long, you must leave as soon as possible.” And with that we took our respective saddle bags and followed crystal out of the hut. “Good luck young ones” The elder said right before left the hut.
We got outside and I took in everything I saw. All thestral towns are built into the ground, with rings that go deeper into the ground, similar to like a round stadium. The layers sink about 6 feet each layer until about the 5th layer, where the town is centered around a bon fire. We were on the 3rd layer, most of the thestrals are near the fire, so no one bothered us as we make our way to the top.
When we reached the top, there were a few small farms but mostly it was thick dense forest. The only clear in the canopy would be directly over the thestral village. Once we climbed up over the last layer there was a cart with supplies on it and another thestral that the cart was connected to. “what took you so long Crystal?”
“This is Charcoal, he is your other guide and a friend of mine.”
“Nice to meet you…” Charcoal went to shake Seabreeze’s hoof
“Seabreeze.” He shakes Charcoals hoof. “And this is my brother, Nightshade.”
“Well it looks like you two have been through alot, mind sharing some stories of your adventures?”
“We will, once we are on our way.”
“Alrighty then.”
We climb onto the cart, as we can't fly with our wings in their current state. In the cart were a few tarps, some books, weapons, armour and 2 chests, one large and one small. The cart began to lift and we flew through the hole in the canopy. “Hang on back there!” Charcoal yelled back to me.
Edited by a person who wanted to edit this for some reason
Seabreez’es POV
We are flying over the lost forest at a steady pace. We had left the thestral village no more than 5 minutes ago.
“So now that we are on our way, mind sharing with us your adventures that led you to our small village and in such poor conditions?” Charcoal asked Seabreeze
“We were looking for a lost treasure. There’s ruins in this area that are rumored to be filled with gold and other riches.”
Listening to Seabreeze make up an entire story on the spot can be interesting, but i’ve heard him do it so many times already. So I tune him out and decided to watch the endless trees go by. After about 15 minutes I grew tired and slowly fell asleep.
I awoke to someone nudging my side. “Nightshade get up.”
“I don’t want to.” I argue and roll over.
“Ok then, you’ll be sorry.”
“Huh?” I look up to see Crystal holding a bucket of water. “Don’t.”
“To late.”
SPLASH
“I’m up!” If there was a ceiling above me I would have gone right through it.
“HAHAHAHA!” Crystal dies laughing looking at me completely drenched.
“So why’d you have to dump water on me?”
“Your brother told me to wake you up using any means necessary.”
I shiver as a slight breeze blows over my wet body. Its around 3 or 4 am so I’m not surprised it's cold.
“Here.” Crystal hands me a towel. Around me are old looking pillars and stone ground moss and vines cover them.
“So where are we anyways?” I ask.
“I have no idea, however this is better than just sleeping out in the middle of a field.” Crystal harnesses the cart to herself. “Come on Seabreeze and Charcoal have already set up camp.”
We arrive at the camp Seabreeze and Charcoal setup, there are 2 tents facing a fire pit made out of random stones.
“What happened to you?” Seabreeze had a look of confusion when he saw me.
“You told me to wake him using any means possible, so I did the responsible thing and dumped water on him.”
“Yeah, the responsible thing.” I said in very sarcastic tone.
“mmmmm I can taste the sarcasm in the air.” Joked Seabreeze
This got a laugh out of everyone, including myself. I took a seat near a campfire Charcoal had set up, and I tried to dry off. Seabreeze got some food from the cart and started to mix ingredients into a pot over the fire.
“So you two are Blacksmiths from the redback mountains?” Charcoal inquired
“Yes and we were looking for a book on a very rare and special type of smithing. However we ran into some trouble and stumbled into your village.” Seabreeze explains as he stirs the stew.
“A rare type of smithing you say? May I ask what type of rare smiting?” Seabreeze peaked charcoals interest.
“A very rare and hard kind of smithing to learn, one that my father had taught me. It combines the basic forces of the universe with metals to make magic metal and gemstones. So I went on an adventure to find more about this kind of smithing.”
“Interesting, I have heard stuff about that kind of smithing. I have a blade made by a magic smith, it helps me see in the mine shafts.” Seabreeze stopped stirring the stew and poured into 4 bowls. He handed one to each of us and then sat down next me. The soup was a basic chicken soup so nothing special but it taste great either way.
“Thank you.” Charcoal took a few sips from his bowl and then looked up to Seabreeze again. “So is there any chance you could show us some of your creations?” Charcoal’s eyes were full of hope.
“I don't have all of my creations, but I have a few I could show you.”
“Please do!” Seabreeze put his bowl of soup down and headed over to the cart. He then pulled out a sword still in its sheath.
“This is one of my nicest blades while not as powerful as others, is the best looking.” He pulled it out in front us to expose a curved blade almost like a snake. It was blue at the center and silver at the edges, the guard was just as curvy as the blade but was made of a blue steal. The hilt was a tightly woven perma ice thread laced with an ice and frost gem. I have seen this blade before, it is atleast my second favorite. “This is the frost blade, a simple name but a fitting one.”
“And I thought the blade I had was amazing, JUST look at this. Even if Equestria is safe and without need of weaponry, you blades are art instead of mer weapons!” I going to have to agree with Charcoal. Seabreeze’s blades and tools remind me of art rather than a simple tool or weapon.
“Ok now that you saw it..” Seabreeze began to return the blade to its sheath and put it in the cart.
“What? You're not going to demonstrate for us?”
“Do I have to?”
“Yes” I stifled a giggle when we all agreed in unison
Seabreeze brought the blade back out from its hiding place, using his fetlock he lifted up the sword. He then swung the blade to his left and doing sent out a blast of frost at a pillar. Ice and frost climbed up the pillar almost completely covering it in ice.
He then did a 360 and pointed the blade back at the pillar, the ice on the pillar cracked the stone. The pillar crumbled and turned to dust from the ice, The blue stallion then swiftly pointed the blade up and a explosion of snow soon followed. Covering us in a thin layer of snow and ice.
“Is that all?” Charcoal while impressed thinks seabreeze can do more than make a little snow.
We all looked at him with the same expression of confusion, how can that not enough for you? He just turned stone into snow. Before I could say something Seabreeze did something unlike himself.
“You haven't seen anything.” Seabreeze had determination in his eyes as he walked over to the cart and retrieved a small box made out of gold and silver, with patterns made out of gems. Normally Seabreeze is modest and level headed but when he feels challenged or threatened that calm demeanor is gone. I saw this happen once before during a party, the determination to prove someone wrong.
We were invited to a nobles party on the Lunarsolar lake, we are frequently invited to such parties so nobles can one up each other in there game of power. By getting the royal family to attend your party was something nobles would brag about for months after the gathering.
The party had started out fine and stayed that way for the better part of the evening until...
FLASHBACK! Seabreeze’s POV
I swear if this mare does not leave me be I might have to resort to more drastic measures. I for a better part of this party she has been following me and pestering me with hollow compliments and endless ramblings about how rich she is and how much power her family holds. She herself does not hold any power, all the family power and wealth goes to the father and his firstborn, that would be his son, Medallion. She has to marry into wealth and power for example marrying royalty would qualify as marrying into wealth and power, a lot of it. Lets go see how my brother is doing, a perfect excuse to get away from them.
I turn around to the ponies dressed in their finest trying to win my heart for one reason or another. “This is where I take my leave for a while, I need to check on my brother to see how is faring during this gathering.” Most of them looked satisfied with that, except for one. The mare.
“I will accompany you there.” Damn it, I give her credit for effort its more than nobles normally give to anything besides getting more money and power, oh wait.
“There really is no need for that I will be just fine on my own.” She looked even more determined now
“But how can be at ease knowing the fine Price of our wonderful land is alone, some of the party goers here want to use you are leverage in their game.” Oh really i never would have thought such a thing. “That being said I simply must accompany you to meet your brother.” Great now I have no way of getting away from her.
“Very well.” I don't know if she decided to ignore how I said sound unbelievably unhappy I was about this or just didn't hear it. She walked up next to my side a bit too close for comfort. She was a Nightpony unicorn dark purple coat and flowing blue mane. Most stallions and even some mares would die to have a mare like her interested in them.
She is so close to my side I honestly have no idea how she is isn't touching me. As we walked she was sending a clear message to any other mares watching, “Hes mines”. After nearly an eternity I saw my brother with my friend Golddust, a Lightpony pegasus, he had dressed up for this party, wearing a full suit covering his golden coat, his watery mane looked recently cut . He lives in the modest part of the city but despite that he has been my friend since we were fouls, the only other I have known longer is Crystal.
I had invited him to the party so I would have someone to talk to. After a while he went with my brother to keep an eye on him while I went to deal with the nobles.
“Seabreeze!” Golddust came up to me gave me a hoof bump. This small gesture of friendship clearly disgusted the mare next to me.
“How dare you?!” She had jumped back and pointed a hoof at Golddust “Not only do you disgrace us by being commoner and pegasus at that. You disrespect the prince, you should be thrown out of this party, no be thrown in the dungeons for the crimes you have committed!” Every eye at the party that could hear these accusations turned us.
Golddust and I looked at eachother for a second in confusion. “Come on I will have the guards take of this heathen(Not sure if that's the right word).” She turned got between me and Golddust and started to pull me in another direction. “Guards remove this scum.”
I had about enough of this. Before the guards got to Golddust, who had a very worried expression, I broke free from her grasp and stepped in front of Golddust. “What crimes has he committed?” I looked straight at the mare.
“What ever do you mean there obvious, he's just a commoner and a pegasus so he clearly snuck into the party uninvited. And he disrespected you, he needs to be put in his place just like the rest of his kind.”
I was getting really angry at this mare, I can deal with the nobles most of the time but when they think that they are better than anyone else including different races of pony. It is not something I take lightly and I have been known to stick up to such things despite them being nobles. “I have you know that Golddust here is one of my best friends and he is my plus one. So he is invited and did not disrespect me. As for him being a pegasus, I am pegasus and what makes me better than anyone else?” Despite everything this mare still had the look of determination however it had weakened ever so slightly.
“You are different because you are a prince, you being a pegasus is just misfortune that you took after your mother instead of your father like your brother.” She was asking for a beat down however such thing would not “be approved”. “It honestly doesn't make sense why you would want to be friends with him.” Ok I have no idea how i'm keeping a level right now.
“Come on Golddust lets leave, we have no need to stay here.” Instead of continuing this battle of words or rather keep it from starting. We were going to leave, however she would not allow that.
“How dare you turn your back on me?! I will not stand for this disrespect!” She’s trying to start something in order to make me look bad or get something out of me. However she forgot the crucial part in the nobles game, always have something the other needs or else it all fails, like right now. All of the yelling had attracted quite the crowd of nobles.
That would change anything Golddust, Nightshade and I were already making our way out. We didn't get very far before a different voice came into play, must older feminine voice. “How dare you insult my daughter!” Oh great looks like poked the beehive. I turn around to see a older mare standing in front of the younger one, I recognize the older one. Of course the mare that had following me had to be a darkstone, one of the families against my mother and me. The older one, Mapleleaf darkstone duchess of edge way landing, she tried relentlessly to get my father's hand in marriage. She was devastated that he chosen my mother, a pegasus and commoner at that as well. She ended up marrying some other noble I believe, black beetle darkstone if I'm not mistaken.
Despite wanting to tell off both of these ponies, I decided that the better option was to leave, well try to leave again. “You have disgraced us all by showing your cowardness and not face me!” OK no one calls me a coward. I stop dead in my tracks and slowly turn around to face Mapleleaf.
“What did you say?”
“I said you were a coward not to face me. What I don't understand how your father is proud that his kin was born a pegasus, such a disgrace on the royal bloodline. Your mother is a black stain in the royal…” She was cut short as my hoof connected to her right cheek. The crowd of ponies nearby and everyone else at the party gasped or looked at the scene that lay in front them in disbelief.
“Don’t you dare talk my mother like that!” I was outright pissded. I walked right up to were she sitting with a hoof on her cheek where I struck her. “If anyone is showing disrespect and disgrace it is you by insulting the queen, my mother!” I would continue if a rapier hadn't appear in front of me. I looked at the source to see Black beetle with anger and rage in his eyes.
“HOW DARE YOU! I shall not stand for this, I challenge you Prince Seabreeze to a duel to the death!” The crowd gasped yet again, jeez how many times is that going to happen tonight?
“Very well I accept your challenge, when will it be?” I have practiced swords for years and have almost become a master swordsmen.
“It will be right now! For all to witness your downfall!” Oh great, absolutely wonderful.
“Very Well right now it is.” I never leave home without my blade, so I summoned my personal sword. A thin blade as it closer to the tip curved back like a katana, made out of darkness infused mythril and fire essence edge to burn my enemies. The hilt made out of tightly packed dragon scale and a spherical gemstone on the end. Dark beetle had a simple hardened steel blade and mythril edge, for most that blade would cost a fortune. Ponies gave us room forming a circle around us. Normally I would try to avoid such conflict but after what she said about my mother I didn't care. I also will not stand for him looking down on us because of our race. He will be proven wrong when he loses to a pegasus!
And without a word the duel began but it would not last. Black Beetle attacked first with a quick overhead swing, I blocked his sword making a loud metal against metal sound. He was quick to take another swing, to my left this time. Again I block but instead go defensive I performed right slash for this cheek, he barely parried it as it left a shallow cut on his left cheek. He backed up and we began to circle.
“So the Prince knows how to duel but will it be good enough? I doubt it.” Beetle taunted
“Says the pony that couldn't block my slash.” I retorted
He launched himself at me with a left slash at my throat, I dodged it and launched a right slash of my own for his blade in order to disarm him. He blocked my attack but our blades were locked in a battle of strength now, Beetle is stronger than me but because of how I attacked him it made us even. Before long the place where our blades were locked together began to melt, my blade is cutting through his.
He grunted and then quickly backing away ending the battle of strength. I didnt see it coming and went sprawling forward, Beetle slashed at my left forehoof, I attempted to block but failed and he put a deep cut in my leg. “Ahhh!” while not fatal in any way shape or form it hurt and would leave a scare.
Before Beetle could attack me again another blade stopped him from slicing my neck. The blade that stopped him was a large broadsword made out a pure jet-black metal that shimmered in the moonlight. The blade part was made out of metal the changed from purple to midnight blue randomly giving an effect that the blade was made out of clud. “Enough.” A calm voice sounded from behind me. I know that voice, oh, dad. I slowly turned my head to see a calm expression not the stern angry face i thought I was going to see, however I have never seen my Dad ever really get angry.
Beetle was quivering at the pony he was looking at. “King Moondancer what a pleasent surprize.” His evil voice almost visible in the night air. “I was just about finish my duel.”
“And on what bases does this duel rest on?” My dad asked keeping his calm demeanor. My mom had rushed over to me with a towel and some bandages.
“Are you alright?” She asked me, I nodded she then wrapped my leg in the badges after cleaning off the blood with the towel.
“He insulted my daughter and my family!” Beetle looked absolutely pissed.
“Is that so or is it because he refuses to court your daughter?”
“Well...that has….um.”
“I rest my case, we shall take our leave and don’t expect to see us at anymore of your parties anytime soon.” With that he made his way to the exit, Nightshade, mom, Golddust and I followed after.
Once we were outside the gates, Goldust went up to me dad who looked like nothing had happened at all. “Your highness I would like to apologize for what happened If I hadn’t…” Dad cut him off.
“Golddust there is no need for formalities, and it was not your fault so there is no need to apologizing.” A carriage approached us. “Seabreeze and I will walk, take Golddust home.” I looked at my Mother and Goldust with a worried look, she gave me a reassuring look. They boarded the carriage and left. “Follow me.”
I did as I was told and went into step next to him.
Back to the present!
He brings said box over near the fire and opens it. Inside there is a purple cloth that looks to be very expensive, but what's inside the cloth is worth much, much more. He unfolds the cloth and pulls a clear crystal out. It did not, however, stay clear for very long. Merely seconds after he picked it up it turned into a smoky black color, it also started to change its physical shape to look like it was made of smoke. With a small toss into the air the crystal began to float right in front of him. The gem now had an almost cloud-like mist around it as it floated.
“I didn't know they could talk.” Charcoal looks like the thing is going to kill him by being near it.
“Its n-n-not dangerous is it?”
“Not at all, Why don't you say hello Nightgale?”
“Hello Charcoal, My name is Nightgale, the God Crystal of young master Seabreeze.”
“Um nice to meet you.”
I’m trying so hard not to laugh at the current scene unfolding in front of me. Charcoal looks like he’s a step away from peeing himself. Nightgale flew back over to Seabreeze. Seabreeze moved right in front of the fire and sat down, he picked up one of his hoofs and the fire moved with his hoof.
“Wow!” Charcoal’s expression changed from scared to death to interested. As Seabreeze moved his hoof the fire followed it, he made circles, squares, he even made a pony. Then he made a rainbow out of fire. Charcoal is sitting there like he's seen the gods themselves. Crystal and I have seen this before, but it still amazes us.
“You might want to stand back.”
I moved behind one of the pillars, Charcoal moved behind another pillar and Crystal went behind a broken piece of wall. Seabreeze propels himself right into the sky and then does something that most would call suicidal….he dives right into the fire. Charcoal gasps. Nothing happens, suddenly the fire turns to a jet black and Seabreeze shoots from the fire. His wings look like they are made of fire, a trail of rainbow fire flows behind him. He gets higher and higher, before he stops about 15 feet above us. He spreads his wings out, the fire following him collides with him and shoots out in all directions. The flames turn into dust and float about the same level as he is. Then the dust begins to glow, move towards Seabreeze and orbit around him. The dust gets very dense around him and thin on the edges of the dust cloud. The dust forms into a galaxy, and now that I look closely, right behind him is the galaxy he copied. I’m pretty sure Charcoal died from awe. Seabreeze slowly floated back down, sweat covered his face. The dust fell to the ground slowly still glowing, making a very majestic and surreal scene.
“I’m pretty sure I died and went to heaven.” Charcoal said with amazement.
“You mean you didn’t die?” I retorted back.
“Cheeky bastard.” Charcoal looked to Seabreeze “That was awesome, can you do other stuff as well?” He was acting like young colt meeting their life hero for the first time.
“I would love to show off more of what I can however I am exhausted from today and performing that it takes a lot out of you. And I believe that it is time that we rest, the sun has almost risin.”
“I agree with Seabreeze it's time to get some sleep, the sun is almost up.” Crystal suggested as she went to her tent bringing Charcoal with her.
I went with my brother to our tent, inside are two sleeping bags and our saddle bags on their respective side. Seabreeze climbed into his sleeping bag and I went into mine. It was silent for a while before I spoke up.
“Are things going to be better in Equestria?”
“Don’t worry, everything will turn out just fine wait and see. ok?”
“Ok, if you say so.”
“Goodday Nightshade.”
Everything fades into darkness
There are dark trees everywhere, they’re so tall I can't see the tops. A green mist covers all of the area I can see. This place has a strange feel to it, like it’s not real, but it looks real.
“Where am I?” I got no response.
I began to walk into the mist, I don't know why I started to walk into the mist. There is no path, just a feeling to keep walking forward. I walked for what felt like hours, and nothing but trees and mist. I feel like walking for no reason other than to keep going and not turn back.
As I walked I got a feeling like someone or something was stalking, I started to walk faster, the feeling didn’t weaken if anything it got stronger. Sweat ran down my face as I took off in a sprint. As I was running I looked behind me to see what was chasing me.
A knife struck me in the heart as I did “AHH!” I fell to the ground and everything went black.
“So what happened out there?” A cup of coffee is pushed my way by Crystal. We both had gotten up before anyone else to make some breakfast and I guess now discuss the events of early yesterday. We were sitting in front of the fire we made, drinking coffee, the sun had yet to set so it would be at least an hour before Charcoal and Nightshade would get up, and that would still be early. I kept my eyes on the coffee in front of me as I thought to respond to that question. Before I said anything I took a nice large sip from the bitter drink meant to wake one up and give them energy. There is not enough coffee in the land to give me enough strength for this.
“I...I don’t know.” Those are the only words my mind could construct and those still struggled to leave my mouth. I was so scared as everything we knew fell apart, our home, our friends…..our family, all gone in an instant. I lower my head sadly, looking back at my coffee in hopes that it might some how tell me something, that it might give me some sort of comfort, but it never came. I take a deep breath and retell the story of the night that changed our lives, “After the figure had finished with the city, it came after us shooting fireballs. I didn’t think there was a chance for us to even survive, but after 10 minutes of it giving chase, it stopped. A while after is when you found us in the woods and brought us back to your village.” Seabreeze went silent to let Crystal process the story.
“Crystal, may I ask a question?” Seabreeze looked towards the red thestral for a response, she simply nodded without a word. “Why doesn't Charcoal know about this? Know about Nightshade and I?”
“Because he doesn't need to know and if what you're telling me is true, then we need the least amount of ponies knowing about you both. If this thing destroyed your home and killed everyone there, we can only assume that it will be actively looking for you and your brother.” The red thestral stopped to take sip from her coffee.
“I guess that makes sense. However word will get out that the twin cities fell and they’re going to look for a new heir. The only fitting pony would be King Inferno, and I know not everyone will be excited about him being the new leader.”
“Very true, I don’t doubt he would be a great leader, but he has never led anything more than Tole, and not everyone is overly fond of thestrals. I hope your making the right choice about this, like you said you can’t hide forever and Inferno can’t lead these lands for long.” I thought over Crystal’s words, she was right, by leaving the Sun and Moon lands to Inferno would be a band-aid on a gash, temporary fix.
“You’re right, eventually there will be civil war over who will lead and who controls what lands. It will be chaos. Do you think the peac e can hold for 10 years?”
“Maybe, if were lucky. Why ten years?”
“By then my brother and I will be old enough to lead, right now neither of us are fit to lead.”
“But ten years? You will become of age in 1-2 years. Don’t you think ten is a bit long?”
“Yes I do, but I want my brother to come of age, the people will follow him with more heart than me.”
“What do you mean?” Crystal looks at me with eyes demanding an explanation.
“Every king, queen, prince, princess, were all alicorns. I am not, my brother is. The people don’t look to me as a leader like they do my brother. My spark, my calling, isn’t even to lead.”
“I am going to be honest, that is a load of shit. Just because your brother is a alicorn doesn't make him a better leader than you. So what if the people believe in him more than you, you just got to show them you just as good as any alicorn.”
“Well either way, I still think it would be wise to wait till he comes of age.”
“If you say so, just don’t forget about us when you're in Equestria.” Lightning streaked the sky south of us and thunder filled the air with its boom. “I’ll start moving things into the ruins, you get the tents.”
“Okay.” I get up and look at Crystal. “And Crystal?”
“Hmm?” She hummed questioningly.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For believing in me.” I smile at her and walk towards the tents.
The world around me came into view, I yawned and stretched when I remember the dream. I immediately went to feel my chest to find no knife, no blood and no stab wound. I sighed in relief and sat up, Seabreeze wasn't there so he must have already woken up. I stood up and walked out of the tent, the air had cooled substantially from yesterday and the clouds darkened. The moon was on the horizon so it was still early, the tent was put away and the cart was no where to be seen.
“Good evening.” I was startled by the voice behind me. Seabreeze was sitting on a stone drinking a cup of coffee. He looked like he has been up for a few hours now. “How did you sleep?”
“Good.” I look around some more. “Where did Crystal and Charcoal go?” I asked him.
“They’re moving everything to inside the ruins. A storm is on its way so we’ll wait it out inside the ruins.” Seabreeze grabbed the last few stry (see what i did there?) supplies and the tent I was sleeping in.
We made our way deeper into the ruins, as we walked they got more elaborate. Instead of a few columns here and there, there is now full arches or what’s left of them anyways. I could even make out what may have been housing or full structures.
15 or so minutes later the ground opened up into a staircase leading into some underground structure.
“Down there is where we will be waiting out the storm.” Seabreeze pointed a hoof down the staircase. As we walked in, Crystal and Charcoal were inside setting up camp.
“Good night Nightshade, how did you sleep?” Crystal asked as she grabbed a few torches and handed them to Charcoal, whom then proceed to light them.
“Good” I said in between a yawn.
Seabreeze closed the doors that lead into the room to block out the rain water, or at least some of it. A loud clap of thunder and pitter patter of heavy rain filled the air.
“Looks like we had great timing.” Chuckled Seabreeze.
Charcoal handed Seabreeze one of the 3 torches, one to Crystal and he kept the last one. While we Night ponies have night vision, we still require some light, otherwise we’re as good as blind.
“This room goes deeper into the ruins, We found another staircase leading deeper underground. You guys want to do some exploring while we wait for the storm let up?” Charcoal asked us but he already looked like he was ready to go there whether or not we went with him. His saddlebag packed with ruin exploring supplies (that would consist of stuff for making light, snacks, canteen, rope, and few other random things).
“I have no problem with it.” Seabreeze then looked to me for my say on the subject.
“I don’t see why not.” Charcoal looked satisfied as he made his way to the far end of the room we were in.
“It’s back here.” We followed him to another staircase. The stones that made the staircase were in terrible condition and it was a miracle that they were still in place. Moss filled the space in between the bricks and water trickled down the sides, the occasional stone missing or laying on the ground.
“Its a miracle that this place still stands.” Crystal observed out loud. We made our way down the staircase into the darkness, our only source of light being our torches.
“Why do you think the builders of this place built it here, in the middle of a jungle?” My curiosity was getting the best of me.
“Now that, my friend, is a great question. Maybe they built in honor of their gods.” Charcoal was in front of us looking at carvings on a wall, suddenly he turned around and looked at us. “Or maybe they predicted we would come to their ancient ruins and history is about to be made as we become their gods!”
“Calm down there, Daring Do.” Crystal retorted
“OK suit yourself, but when I become a god you will be bowing down to me!” Charcoal was now standing proud in front of us, trying to look powerful.
We continued in silence, the walls lit by the dim green flame of our torch. The torch was lit by Charcoal’s flame, which happened to green. Thestrals can conjure up fire from their dragon side, and control it to an extent. However it is more of a talent than a learned skill. Charcoal can light things on fire and hold a flame for a short time while Crystal can barely make sparks appear.
“This reminds me when I was exploring an old mine shaft in search of ore and gemstones.”
“You’re a miner?” I asked him a bit surprised he would be a miner.
“Yep, I am a prospector, meaning I spend more time looking for more ore and gemstones. I rarely do any of the mining myself.”
“So tell us about this old mine shaft you were exploring.” Seabreeze walked up next to me and looked to Charcoal, mild interest in his eyes.
“It wasn’t just me it was my buddy, Chemlight, and I, we were assigned to find more of a certain ore. An ore that was left behind in older mineshafts so we had to explore one that hadn’t been used in nearly a hundred years.”
Thestral villages were always built above ore deposits and became underground cities, their foundries and mine shafts going on for miles. Charcoal and Crystal’s village, Bluefire, is one of the oldest and has been there for almost 600 years. Most thestral villages might be in one place for 200 to 300 years before they move to a new ore deposit.
FLASH BACK!
“So where are we going?” asked a neon green thestral, he was smaller than Charcoal because of his age, being 5 or so years younger. He had light purple eyes, a red mane and neon yellow spark. Floating near him was a neon yellow flame that was lighting up the tunnel made from his thestral magic.
“We are going to one of older tunnels in search of Lunar iron and I can’t risk dissolving any of it.” Charcoal explained to Chemlight as they walk down a very old mineshaft.
“That would make sense, Lunar iron is not very common and if exposed to an un regulated light source would dissolve the ore. However not only would you risk losing the metal, you would risk collapsing the entire tunnel.”
“We risk collapsing the tunnels just by stepping in them. So more risk should go unnoticed by the already existing risk of the old tunnel.” Chemlight gave Charcoal a look that screamed are you crazy?! “Oh don’t look at me like that, we have a job to do, we’re already here anyways.”
The tunnel that lay in front of us was deep in the north of the tunnels, the north end hadn’t been mined for at least 80 years. This tunnel was one of the main ones that branched off to other tunnels so this one had stone supports, which was probably the only reason it still hadn’t collapsed yet.
“Are you sure this is safe?” asked Chemlight in a worried tone.
“Positive, just look at the stone supports, they haven't aged a day.”
Yep he’s crazy thought Chemlight
Charcoal then proceeded to walk down the tunnel in search of Lunar iron. “Hurry it up! I need you to see anything down here!”
Chemlight hurried up to Charcoal hoping to get this over with as soon as possible.
BACK TO THE FUTURE...err I meant to say THE PRESENT
“Wait, I understand how this might remind you of that, but still this is a ruin and that was a mineshaft.” I stated
“Well you see, the Lunar ore was nothing compared to what else we had found.”
“Then what did you find down there besides stone?” Seabreeze inquired
“We found behind one of the walls a tomb, but not just any tomb…” Charcoal paused. “A dragon’s tomb.”
“Wait you found a dragon’s tomb!?” When a dragon knows he or she is going to pass they take their riches and bury themselves deep into the ground sometimes a mile or two down. Rumors are that the gold and silver vanes used to be part of the dragon’s hoard and after they passed after sometime the cavern they dug would cave in and compaction would compact the metals.
“Yes we did, the tomb was hundreds of thousands of years old, I was surprised that it hadn’t caved in yet.” Charcoal started to tell his story once again…
Back to the past?
“Hey Chemlight come over here, I think I found some.” Charcoal called out for the young adult.
Chemlight used his fire to light up the area Charcoal was pointing to but not much so it didn’t destroy the sensitive ore. The ore in question had a very soft glow to it, like the glow of the crescent moon. It had a black and silver smoke-like cloud swirling inside of it.
“So this is Lunar ore?” Chemlight asked Charcoal.
“Never seen the ore?” Chemlight nodded “Not many get to see lunar steel let alone the ore itself.” Charcoal grabbed a pick from one of his bags.
“Isn’t there any special way to mine this stuff?”
“Nope, we mine just like any other ore. Well except for the fact that too much light destroys it, it's very rare, and is naturally infused with magic. See it’s not that special.” Charcoal then struck the ore with his pick making a loud CLANG. A moderate sized piece of ore fell to the ground with a dull thud.
Instead of striking the ore again he set the pick on the ground. “Is something wrong?”
“I’m not sure, I swear i heard an echo.”
“It might have been the sound echoing off the tunnel walls.”
“No it didn’t sound like that at all, it almost sounds like there's open space behind this wall.” Charcoal went up to the wall and slowly knocked on it a few times.
While the sound made from the knocking would have sounded the same to any other pony, Charcoal, spending most of his adult life in the mines, could tell that sound was ever so slightly off.
“Maybe another tunnel is close?”
“No there isn't another tunnel for at least 500 feet (152 meters) and that tunnel leads away from us. There shouldn’t be anything on the other side of this wall.” Charcoal went to one of the bags he brought, the one that didn't have the pickaxes and other prospecting supplies.
“What is in this bag?” Chemlight asked
Charcoal responded “This will be for if the ore is “difficult”” and that was all he said.
Charcoal pulled out a red stick with string attached to one end. “You brought dynamite!?”
“Of course, sometimes I have to blow a hole in a wall to find more ore but in this case, we’re going to blow away a wall. Now help me set up the dynamite.”
10 quarter sticks were set up in total, they were put into holes drilled into the wall. The fuse led down the tunnel where stones had been pushed together as a makeshift barricade. Charcoal and Chemlight were behind this “barricade”.
“So are you sure this is safe, I mean what's stopped the entire tunnel from collapsing on us?”
“Uh...just don’t think about that and light the fuse!”
Chemlight was shivering from fear, “Um...uh ok…” Chemlight struggled to keep his flame going as he tried to light the fuse. After about 5 minutes or so the fuse burst to life and burned quickly, Chemlight dived into cover and covered his ears.
BOOM!!
After a few minutes the ground shook and the air filled with the explosion from the dynamite. Chemlight waited for the tunnel to cave in but it didn’t happen in fact the tunnel looked like it would take much, much more for it cave in.
“See I told you there was nothing to worry about.” Charcoal’s voice was unchanged and he looked like the nothing had happened.
They walked past the bend to find the tunnel filled with dust. Both Charcoal and Chemlight put on masks and goggles to protect themselves from the harmful dust. Both thestrals had to mind their wings as to not disturb the dust as it settled, but after 10 minutes they could see 10 feet in front of them now (3 meters). A hole was blasted in the wall but instead of stone there was stone brick.
“Woah, what is that?” Chemlight looked in disbelief at what he was looking at.
“I have no idea, but there is only one way to find out.” Both of the thestrals headed into the mysterious new tunnel. The walls were huge and extended hundreds of feet (for all metric people just go with its very tall). However what they thought were stone bricks were charred stone.
“What could have done this?” Chemlight was looking closely at one of charred stones.
“I have an idea, but we need to further explore this cavern.”
They continued down the cavern, however they didn’t need to travel very long before they spotted a few gold coins ahead. But when they got to the coins something bigger, and once living, caught there attention. Before them were the bones of a long dead dragon, a red horned dragon based on the size and the horn on its skull. Beneath the skeleton was its loot, millions of gold and silver coins, gemstones, rare ores, more gold, and even more gold.
Chemlight’s eyes widened with excitement at the spectacle of the finding. “We’re going to be rich!” Chemlight then dove right into the treasure and, well, the best way to describe him is, he went “crazy”.
“We're not taking anything.” Charcoal stated in a very flat tone.
“What do you mean we’re not taking anything?” Chemlight had jumped out of the pile and was now staring at Charcoal in disbelief.
“I mean we’re not taking a single thing, this is a tomb of a dragon, and while we may be only half dragon, we must respect our distant brothers and sisters.”
Chemlight looked disappointed but after contemplating Charcoals words, he agreed with him. “I guess you’re right, but what is going to stop others from stealing the treasure?”
“There are more quarter sticks in the bag, if we placed them in the right place, the entire cavern should cave in.
Present
“So we caused the tomb to cave in, grabbed the rest of Lunar ore and boarded up the tunnel so one would rediscover the cavern just in case part of it survived.”
“So you found possible treasure that would set you and Chemlight for life, and you left out of respect for a fallen dragon that, in a heartbeat, would have killed you both if it were alive.” I inquired in disbelief.
“Yep” Charcoal agreed with pride in his voice.
As we walked the stone that the tunnel was made out of changed to a white marble. It also is a much better condition than the rest of the ruin. Markings littered the walls, sometimes they looked like pictures, but mostly they were random symbols that were unreadable. The weirdest thing was that the ruins now didn’t look a day old.
That cannot be.
“That’s interesting, this part doesn't look more than 50 years old. But that can't be, these ruins are at least over 10,000 years old.” Seabreeze noticed it too.
“You're right, these stones almost look brand new.” Charcoal said as he brought his face right up to one of the bricks as if to somehow know more about it. “Seabreeze do you still have your Nightgale thing with you, maybe it can tell us more?”
Seabreeze nodded and Nightgale appeared next to his head.
“These rocks are magically enchanted to not age, however the spell is not perfect and the bricks slowly have shown some wear.” It said in its deep, magical toned voice.
“How did it know to check the rocks for enchantments? Did we ask it to?” Charcoal looked at Nightgale with a very confused face.
“It can read my mind, so it already knew what we needed.”
“That’s really cool. Well anyways we should keep going, who knows what’s hidden in these ruins.” Charcoal looked back to Nightgale. “Is there anyway of you being able to tell us what's down here?”
“No, the magic in the rocks is blocking my sensors.”
“Hmm interesting, who ever built this clearly didn’t want anyone to learn about the secrets that may or may not be here.” Charcoal picks up his pace, his curiosity getting the better of him.
About 20 minutes go by, and we see nothing but walls and random carvings. The walls still have the anti-age spell and look almost brand new.
Suddenly it stops, a dead end. There is just a wall with many carvings on it, with a few large ones taking up most of the space on it.
“I wonder what they mean?” Charcoal said as he brought the torch up the wall.
“These look familiar.” Seabreeze ponders out loud walking up to the wall. “liah ardyh.” He spoke very slowly and precisely.
Dust begins to fall from the walls and ceiling, the wall in front of us shakes. Then it goes silent, a clicking of two gears is faintly heard. Seabreeze and Charcoal back away from the wall as it moves again, but instead of falling, it splits into 4 segments, each moving away from each other into their corners.
A mist flows out from the secret door. As the doors open, we see that the hallway opens up into a bigger room. However it is much too dark to see anything that may lay within.
Charcoal is first up, he grabs his torch and walks towards the new room. “What are you waiting for?”
Seabreeze follows him into the room. Crystal and I looked at each other, questioning if this really is a good idea. She shrugged and followed them. That answers that I thought and I was soon behind Crystal.
“Please tell this isn't more endless hallways.” Charcoal complained as we moved in to the large dark room. As if the ruins heard him, they began to move again. Dust fell from the ceiling and off walls. Skylights in the high ceiling opened up, filling the room with the white glow of the full moon. The room extended about 100 yards back, where an altar was on a platform slightly above everything around it. Along the walls were small waterfalls that shimmered in the moonlight, giving a mythic feel to all of this. Above every waterfall was some sort of artwork depicting a scene of some sort.
“Whoa look at this! Look at this stuff!” Charcoal pointed at nearly everything. “I told you this would be fun!”
I took to the air and flew over to the art on the walls. The first one had a grand city, the picture was lacking detail, but it you could tell that is was some sort of city. The picture to the left was the same city but something was different, there is orange and red and the buildings are smaller. The city is under attack.
A tear ran down my face as it reminded me of our city, our home. I missed them...I mean I really missed them. A few more tears rolled down my face. I stared at the picture for a few more moments before I went to look at another picture but instead of looking to my left I turned around.
Maybe the pictures on the other side would be happier.
Yes and no, The first had the same city so maybe it's the same on this side? The next picture was not the same, in fact it was much different. In the center of the picture was a pony, very young, maybe still a colt. The colt was a alicorn with a black coat and white mane. He was lying down in the center of an altar, he looked peaceful, he had a crown made of gold and gems that sunk to ears much to large for his size.
Before I could make any more sense of the picture, the room shook and a large crack formed in the picture.
“What's going on!?” Charcoal yelled to us from the alter. He dropped the torch, and it rolled into the water, putting it out. He wobbled as the ground shook, but as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. “What the hell was that?!”
A few more of the pictures had cracks in them, some of the waterfalls had collapsed in on themselves, and now blocked water from coming through. She glided to Charcoal and helped him up on his hooves. “Are you two alright?” She called out to Seabreeze and I.
“Yeah, we're alright.” Seabreeze came up behind me and put his hoof on my shoulder.
After a few minutes of cleaning ourselves from the dust and rubble that fell. We met in front of the altar at the end of the large room. The altar itself was made of a black stone, obsidian possibly. The surface was smooth and there was a small knife on the edge. Above the altar was a large painting of what looked like a golden book with golden beams of light depicted coming from the book.
“So what is this?” I looked quizzically towards Charcoal.
“I honestly have no idea.” Charcoal looked up from studying the markings strewn across the alter. “ These markings make no sense and it is a language I have never seen before.”
“What language do you know besides your own?” Crystal jeered.
“Um… well none, but I think I would be able to recognize ancient griffon, or wyvern.”
“And who wouldn't be able identify those?”
“You know, I don’t need your sass right now. But back to Nightshade’s question, I have no idea what this is or what this was used for.”
The ground began to shake once again, dust and debri fall from the ceiling. “Not this again!” Charcoal fell to the floor and covered his head with his hoofs. Pieces of the roof began to fall to the ground.
“Lookout!” Seabreeze pointed to a large section of the ceiling as it fell towards us. We jumped out of the way but Charcoal didn’t see it coming. Charcoal tried to jump out of the way but it was too late and his hoof was caught under the heavy stone.
“Bucking hell!” Charcoal yelled, his hoof that was trapped under the stone was crushed, sharp parts of the stone cut deeply into his flesh. Crystal didn't even take time to look at the surroundings before going to the rock that held Charcoals hoof captive and trying to pry it off of him.
“I can’t move it myself!” She looks to us with pleading eyes, we don’t hesitate before rushing to her side and all three of us prying the stone off his hoof. “Ok! On the count of 3, lift the stone, ready 1, 2, 3, LIFT!” The rock began to move and lifted just enough for charcoal move his hoof out from under the stone (it was more of a boulder if you ask me)
“Alright come on we need to get out of here!” Seabreeze looked around for a escape, but was unable to see one.
“Where can we go? The way we came in is closed off!” Crystal had panic in her eyes. More parts of the ceiling fell away revealing the soft moon light from up above.
“Look! We can fly out through there!” None of us had a second thought as Seabreeze pointed out an escape route. We took to the air and bolted for the world above us. “Just a little further!” We were all concerned with escaping that none of us noticed the lack of one earth brown thestral stallion.
“We...made...it.” Crystal stated in between gasps of the crisp night air. “Hey Charcoal let me see your…” She turned around to see that Charcoal wasn’t behind me. “Where's Charcoal?!” She pushed past me to look into what was left of the ruins. The sight that lay before her broke her, Crystal broke down to tears at what she saw. Seabreeze and I went to see what she is looking at and immediately felt her pain. Threw the dust and the stones, a single dragon looking wing sticking out from a rock, blood trailing like rivers from under the stone.