> My little Pony:Beyond Destiny > by OddityOblivious > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter one: The Custodian and The Apprentice > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wet thick strands of yarn sloshed the marble floors of the wide halls. The dimming light of the dust setting sun gleamed through the stained glasses of pony history. Beams reflected off the water and quality soap that was evenly applied with the rhythm and hooves of a dutiful pegasus. She sailed the floors on her personal sized cloud, using the mop as an oar across a sea of grime left behind careless ground dwelling mares and stallions. Salsa was possessed by pattern, and the sound that fueled her through the headphones. Every ten seconds she dunked the mop into the bucket, that floated just below her, on another smaller cloud pairing up her strokes with the chorus of the song, humming along with the notes. As she scuttled across the stone floors she caught an interesting sight from the corner of her eyes as she was about to pass the throne room. The great white mare, Princess Celestia, had retired her smiling optimistic persona, and wore a worried expression. Her eyes didn’t stop attaching themselves to the ground. Her hooves clicked across the floor never stopping their urge to walk a circular path. Her sister, Princess Luna, was next to her, watching her with a similar expression but one with the focus of Celestia’s angst. Next to Luna, the unicorn, Moonlight Dazzle, stood by the sister of night harboring the same feelings they had control over the room. “Sister do you think you may be worrying too much?” Luna asked. “Perhaps, but it isn’t like Twilight, she would’ve sent me a letter, it’s been too long, it isn’t like her.” Celestia replied. Her hooves committed to the circular motion. “Maybe she’s on vacation.” Luna cracked an awkward smile. Celestia didn’t take in the comment not even as a joke. “Sorry, it wasn’t funny.” Luna sighed. “Oh no, Luna, it was a nice try.” Celestia said, showing an appreciative smile to her younger sibling. The alicorn of the sun stopped as her eyes fixated on the doors to the throne room. A spying eye was peaking through the cracks. Salsa saw her horn glow, the doors swung upon and she tumbled through them, falling off her cloud. She saved herself from falling on the floor and quickly fluttered upward as if she nearly fell into a pit of vipers. Adjusting the speed of her wings as to stay within head distance of the two princesses, she took off her headphones and gave the princess an awkward curtsey. “Oh no worries, it’s just Salsa.” Luna said. “Should we have guards at the door.” Moonlight Dazzle asks, looking up at the solar princess for an answer. “I don’t want anyone eavesdropping or any words spoken here to be told to any other pony we can’t have them know until we are sure.” Celestia said looking at Salsa. “I got it princess.” Salsa said. She looked up the ceiling of the throne room. It was getting to be dull, perhaps maybe it was the light or maybe it needed shining. “Salsa can keep a secret, princess, I promise you.” Moonlight said as the custodian flew up with a sponge. “I keep all of Moonlight’s secrets if you want to hear them.” Salsa said up above the sun princess's head, already applying the sponge filled with water and soap, already creating some suds on the tall ceiling. Princess Celestia cracked a smile. “What a funny friend you have.” She giggled. It wasn’t quite funny, but Luna and Moonlight laughed along. It was a reprieve from the growing anxiety and a welcoming change of tone to finally hear something other then the clatter of hooves to the master and the apprentice. “Maybe I should check up on princess Twilight.” Moonlight suggested. “We could never ask you to take on such a task. Reinfort is far from Canterlot, we could send in the royal guard or check on Twilight's citizens.” Luna said. Thinking for a moment she beckoned Luna closer to her. “Luna, maybe it’s time you send Moonlight out of the library and into the world.” Celestia whispered. “She isn’t ready, she’s naive, she needs more training before she can take on any duties.” Luna replied in the same whispering tone. “Luna, I know how you feel, I had to make the same decision but in the end you have to ask yourself, ‘are you really trying to keep her from taking this quest because she needs you, or is it because you need her?’” Celestia said. Luna looked to her student who was curiously oblivious to her gaze. In all her time she spent as the princess of night she never thought she would be given such an opportunity to have a student such as Moonlight. ‘Is this how sister feels for her student?’ She thought. They can’t leave canterlot, their duties to the rulers of Equestria come first, who knows how long they’d be gone. Who can they trust on this mission? Luna was snapped out of her thoughts once she noticed her apprentice was approaching her. “I know you may have doubts about me, I’m not a perfect student but this feels like something I should do. We have to know what has happened to Princess Twilight.” Moonlight said, the determined look in her eye being enough for the Princess of the Night to make her decision. Luna wrapped her hooves around her beloved student. “No, I have faith in you Moonlight,” Luna said. “but I don’t think you should go alone.” She looks towards Salsa who was now scrubbing down the windows. “I would love to have Salsa be with me but wouldn't it be best if I was on my own?” Moonlight asked, feeling that this journey should be her own, not wanting to drag her friend along. “A task is much easier with those you trust around.” Luna said. Celestia nodded to the young unicorn. Given the purpose, Moonlight called her pegasus friend to follow her out of the throne room. “I’m not sure if I’ve done the right thing sister.” Luna said, ears folding down as she was already thinking on what could go wrong with Moonlight out on her own. “I trust that you’ve made a fine pupil, all we can do is believe in Moonlight’s judgement.” Celestia placed a reassuring hoof on her sister's shoulder, an encouraging smile on her muzzle, which was good enough for Luna to show a small one of her own. ~-~-~ Salsa kept up the pace with Moonlight as she makes haste out of the castle, saddle bags in tow for the long trip. “So Dazzy how are we going to get to Reinfort?” Salsa asked, trailing right behind the unicorn as she hope their mode of transportation was sanitary. “I have a hot air balloon just outside the castle.” It was only a few turns until they reached an outlook. Canterlot and the lands spanning over the horizon were in full sight to the west. Jumping into the basket she clenches the rope around the sand bags to make sure they are tied in. Igniting the flame the hot air balloon wafts over the overlook soon after. Salsa flies up past Moonlights balloon and brings down a piece of cloud. Taking the extra rope tying down the sandbags, she wraps in around her abdomen sits back and watches the air balloon tow her and the cloud, her hooves clung onto the cloud so it would stay by her side and not drift away. “So how long will this task take? I forgot to scrub down the ballroom.” She asked, already a little stressed as she began to list all the other possible rooms and areas she hasn’t cleaned yet, her grip on the cloud getting tighter. “I honestly have no idea.” Moonlight didn’t contemplate how long she would be away from her studies, though it was now a thought that Salsa had to remind her of. Falling behind was never on her mind until now, when she was finally out of her study. She gazed over the Everfree Forest, thinking whether she was actually equipped to take on this quest. She had never failed before, but it seems like more of a possibility as they drifted along. A flock of birds based through, and the wicker basket violently jolted. Air quickly escaped the balloon, and the sound of a puncture could be heard from Moonlights position. “Salsa what just happened!?” She was quick to ask, eyes widened as she stood near the edge of the basket to try and see for herself. Salsa flies up to scan the balloon but she was yanked back by the rope that she bound herself to, a small yelp coming out of her mouth at the unexpected weight she was feeling against the rope. The basket plummets into the vast sea of green, below them. Tree branches crack beneath the damaged aircraft. Moonlight stumbles out of the basket as Salsa crashed right into it, leaves dust, and debris from the basket flying everywhere. The pegasis mare was quick to burst out from the wreckage, dusting her hooves off from the grit she possibly touched. “Why!? Why the Everfree Forest!? Nothing can be cleansed here, it’s all dirt, don’t you understand!? We’ll all die here!” She was also quick to start freaking out and regret even coming along while knowing of the filthy outside world. Moonlight raised her hoof to gain Salsa’s attention. “Salsa calm down, dirt can’t hurt you, it's beneath you. Why don’t you fly up and look for a way out.” She suggested, thinking that if they were close to a town of some sort, they could find out where exactly in the Everfree they were. Salsa looked at the thick foliage, wet with muggy water and all she could see was a net of filth. She closed her eyes and flew up as fast as she could, wanting to get it over with before she regretted it. But with her eyes closed, she didn’t see an oncoming branch that one of her wings made contact with making her spiral down onto the ground, another gust of dirt coming with her impact. Her body shivers as the dirt surrounding her was crawling up her fur. She tried to fly up but the sudden pain from one of her wings stopped her from flapping, and made her fall back to the ground, it only hurting a little than the last. “Salsa are you ok?” Moonlight was quick to come where the pegasus landed, soon spotting the wing with bent feathers that wasn’t folded close to her side. “Please get me off the ground!” Salsa begged, small tears in her eyes that Moonlight couldn’t tell was from pain, fear, or both. The unicorn scatters to find something that could keep her friend at ease. Ripping pieces of what was left of the balloon with magic, she tethers them around her friend’s hooves and has her stand up. It still felt awkward around her limbs though the gesture took her mind off the dirt. “Thanks you.” Salsa whispered, a small smile on her muzzle for a moment as she still had her eyes on her wrapped up hooves. She winced, her fear of grime kept her mind off the pain in her wing but now it couldn’t be ignored any longer. “We need to find a doctor.” Moonlight stated looking around the woods. Everywhere she looked she could only see past three trees, until the darkness over shrouded the area to obscurity. Where do they go? Where can they go? For once in her life she felt completely lost, uncertainty grew in the back of her mind. Was she really fit for this task? She only took a few steps out of Canterlot, and already she put her and her best friend in harm's way. Howling echoed through the trees. The clanking of wood eerily grew closer, the two mares were quick to huddle close to each other before they looked around rapidly, turning their heads. Where’re the sounds coming from? Where do they run? As Moonlight Dazzle turns her head toward a snapping twig she saw two green glowing eyes beam within the shadows. “Run!” She yells with all her might. The two ponies pound their hooves in a random direction. They ran, but they don’t reach far before they both got exhausted. “I kept telling you to spend more time out of the library.” Salsa says with some attitude. “Well should I have told you to stop flying in case we got into a situation where form some reason you couldn't fly!?” Moonlight retorted in the same manner. They stop at a moss covered rock to catch their breath. From the shadows, timber wolves begin to surround them, enclosing them in a circle. Moonlight steps in front of her friend, her horn glows as she readies herself to cast a spell. A crackling noise of sparks instantly flooded their ears as a magical spell exploded right in front of them, the two flinching at the bright light that came with it. The timber wolves ran off as a small blaze formed, and loud crackling fire roared through the air. Salsa looked at Moonlight with amusement and hugged her tightly. “You did it Moonlight!” She yipped, her cheek rubbing against Moonlight’s own. “But that wasn’t me.” Moonlight said, confused as she didn’t know where it came from. But it was quick to assume that it came from behind them… or more like above them. They look up the moss rock to see a dreary eyed unicorn climbing off the rock. She kept her eyes to the ground, and muzzle pointed downwards as she slowly walked into their gaze, and with a meek tone she spoke as if she was about to cry. “...H-hello.” > Chapter Two: Wayward Paths part one > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sizzling smoke wafted into the ceiling of leaves. The furious fire that had been summoned forth died quickly as it came. It was quiet now, after the sound of scattered wooden paws faded in the darkness they hailed from. For a moment there was peace, enough for Moonlight Dazzle to ask herself what just happened and looked towards the sadden unicorn. She didn’t make eye contact, her right eye was covered by mane with the other darting into any other direction but the only two souls in front of her. The unicorn was timid but it didn’t seem like she wanted to leave even though being in the presence of actual ponies was all but uncomfortable. “Oh...Thank you, sorry for the trouble.” Moonlight said realizing that they’ve been looking at her while recovering from shock. “Yes thank you! I couldn’t imagine being food for those unsanitary beasts!” Salsa stuck out her hoof for a greeting but the unicorn shifted to the side a bit, treating her hoof as something dangerously foreign, and it wasn’t due to the dirt covered cloth that surrounded her hooves. She took a slight glance at Salsa, her eye’s hesitant to be seen however her pupils showed a glimmer of want. The depressing mare had stood near them without saying much of a word, neither Moonlight nor Salsa were eager to take a chance that would likely chase off the only chance they had off getting out of the bog, so they stood patiently. “Yo-you’re welcome.” She finally said. “Oh thank goodness you can understand us.” Moonlight gave a sigh of relief. “I’m sorry…. I wanted to say your welcome but I thought it’d sound too rude, but I didn’t know how to say it any other way.” She said. “It’s alright really, I’m Moonlight Dazzle and this my friend Salsa and we’re lost so is there a way you could show us to Ponyville?” Moonlight asked, with a tone of slight desperation and impatience. The gloomy unicorns face dripped with fresh tears. “I-I’m sorry pl-please don’t leave.” The unicorn bawled out. Moonlight was at a loss. How did this lead to tears? She wasn’t rude, though it was more apparent that this unicorn obviously needed them for something, but wording that question could lead to another break down. Salsa approached the weeping pony. “Hey, calm down, what’s your name?” She asked with a soft voice. “We-Weepy Willow.” She sniffled, using one of her hooves to rub one of her eyes. “Well Weepy, why are you crying?” Salsa asked, thinking of putting a reassuring hoof on the unicorn, but remembered how she reacted for a simple hoof shake. “I d-don’t want to be alone.” Willow whispered, ears folding down as her eyes drifted to the ground. Salsa gently patted her on the back. A wide goofy grin sprung from the pegasus face, as if she was donned with the revelation of the funniest joke that would ever be told to her. The infectious smile broke Weepy Willow out of her sobbing session and she couldn’t help but laugh at the silly face Sala put on. “If all you want is a friend all you had to do was a-” She saw her hoof, covered with the filthy cloth. She began to shudder and panic. She scrapped the cloth of her front limbs, and kicked the cloth tied around her back hooves. “Get the dirt off me!” She tried to fly but her sprained wing refused. Madly she hopped while Moonlight began fruitlessly searching for something clean to stand on. Weepy looked at the bucking pegasus injured winged. Directing her horn, a soothing energy flowed through it and wrapped around the pegasus wing. As soon as the pain left Salsa jetted up to the sky. Moonlight came out from the bushes with a large lily pad to find her flighty friend enjoying her stay off the ground. She spat the lily pad out and huffed out her sudden distress. The sight of her friend overjoyed to have control over her wings, kicked out her notions of failure. This hiccup was just a set back. “Thanks for helping my friend.” She turned her eyes to the only other unicorn who could’ve helped Dusty get her wing fixed. The pony’s bashful expression gleamed through her mane she hid behind. “You-you’re welcome. I’ll show you to Ponyville now!” She awkwardly delivered. Weepy Willow walked past the moss covered rock, and the other two followed. A scenic, pleasant route was open to them, the path finder being a lonely unicorn. The road out of the everfree forest was a mild walk. In the back of her mind, Moonlight could help but feel that their new companion was more off then how she is presented. A thick aura of eerie isolation surrounded them, they could feel eyes watching them in the thickets of the bush. Entities unknown not too eager to approach the unicorn but just brave enough to to catch a glimpse of her. “Weepy, is there a reason why it’s so quiet?” Moonlight asked. “Nothing in these woods seem to like me.” She responded, ears folded down when she gave an answer. “Why?” Salsa asked. “I don’t know.” She said with as much conviction as a young filly just learning how to lie. It wasn’t the time to press such a question however, Moonlight was just glad to be on her way out of the nightmarish forest. Whistling a merry tune, Salsa kept the unicorns in high spirits as Ponyville was in their sights, with the only obstacle left being the river. As soon as they passed the last tree in the forest, their manes were pummeled with rain. A flash storm fell upon them, thunder raged as the sky threw a lightning bolt at Salsa. She flinched, the lighting barely passing her muzzle as yellow flash burst upon a tree into flames. “Quickly! Get to the river before it floods!” Moonlight yells as they scatter towards the river. Beating their hooves to the ground the two unicorns run to the river. Salsa flies over Moonlight wraps her legs around her abdomen swiftly flies her over to the other side of the river. Swiftly, she flies back for Weepy Willow, who buckles her hooves together. Flight most certainly didn’t suit her. She felt stiff in Salsa hooves as she let her down onto the river’s edge. Another lightning bolt well position aimed for Salsa this time zapping her in the back, making her scream in pain as she kept on flying through the immense pain. “Salsa!” Moonlight yelled. The pegasus was mentally stunned, fluttering in the air struggling to gain control of her body. “I’m... fine!” She strained, shaking off the shock. They hustled into town. Roads were muddy, and every pony had already holed up inside a building. “Can someone let us in!?” Moonlight yelled. There were no takers to the calls of help. The rain either beaten too hard to hear or the citizen of Ponyville or they were to afraid. “Look! ”Salsa yelled. They saw a red maned mare off into the distance coming into sight as they passed the library. The mare was beckoning them to come toward her as she held open the door wide open leading into a house for them to rush in. As the companions made it in, she quickly shut the door with her hind legs, tilting a wooden plank to fall onto hooked hinges beside the frames. Hot tea was set, on a round wood coffee table. Across the table, a hearth was lit. Heat filled the wet company, as they huddle against the fire. “I wonder what that lazy pegasus is doing.” The earth pony commented. She sat on a comfy pillow placed near her tea. Pouring a cup for herself she also had five more cups laid out, in preparation of guests. “It’s ginseng if you want some.” The earth pony said. She took a sip, the steam painted her small circular glasses. Moonlight took of her spectacles, they drenched in water. The kind earth pony tossed her a handkerchief, knowing as if she going to ask. “You're a lifesaver.” Moonlight said rubbing her glasses with the offered cloth. She walked over to the coffee table her spectacles towed by magic and sat across from the earth pony who had already cracked open a book. “Thank you for your kindness.” Moonlight said. “Kindness? It’s bad manners to leave visitors out in the rain.” She said. “Do you always expect visitors?” Moonlight asked as she stared at the other empty cups while her cup was being filled by the red maned mare. “Always expect anything that can happen, it started to rain heavily, it isn’t too odd to think that some will get caught outside, especially when every pony gets frightened by an ominous storm so easily.” She said. “It is strange that the storm clouds would move on their own. Could they’ve rolled over from the Everfree Forest?” Moonlight said. “I wouldn’t know, I leave that worry to the pegasi.” She said. Salsa floating next to Moonlight, the red maned mare poured her a cup of steaming tea. “My name is Red Clover, and you’re welcomed to stay for the night, there are spare blankets and pillows upstairs.” She said as she clenched her finished book. Trodding to a small night stand she placed it next to a skull of what was once an ancient dragon. It didn’t belong to one of a full grown stature but it still seemed intimidating for it’s size. “Well I’m Moonlight Dazzle and this is my friend Salsa, and our companion over there is Weepy Willow.” Moonlight yawned. “I think I’ll take off now.” She trotted up the stairs followed by Salsa, and not to far from them, Weepy joined not wanting to be left alone with Red Clover. “It’s strange that a random pony would let two ponies she never before sleep in their house.” Moonlight said. “Ponyville just has a lot more friendlier ponies then any town.” Salsa said. She dropped onto a large white pillow and immediately fell asleep. “Um, maybe she’s just nice.” Weepy said. Moonlight eye’d Weepy, who sulked to a corner. Trust hadn’t fall into Moonlight’s mind ever since they let Weepy Willow follow them. She did help them out of Everfree Forest, but she was also suspicious. A feeling of gloom had overshadow them ever since they were with the sulking unicorn. It was probably just the atmosphere she brought, and she did help her more than she could ever repay. “I’ll mull it over in the morning.” She said. All the energy from when she left the overlook had faded. Usually night was Moonlight’s domain, the small detour though had taken it’s toll. Her thoughts as she fell into her dreams were that of the many fairy tales she enjoyed reading, a time where Luna would read to her right before the darkness had sunken in. ~-~-~ Pink flooded Moonlight eye’s she shifted out of bed. She gazed around a room full of stuffed animals. Struggling out of bed she dropped down near the metal frames. She was much smaller now, her sight was closer to the ground, everything seem so far away. A glass door was open leading out to a view of the night sky, a transcendent dark tail sifted out into the balcony. Moonlights stubby legs carried her outside. Luna’s eyes looked out to the stars, her small apprentice trotted beside her and sat next to her. The dark mares eye’s connected with her apprentices large dewey eyes. “Your vision of the stars is so beautiful.” Luna said. “Princess Luna… I’m aware that I’m getting side tracked now but I promise I can do this I’ll be on the road to Reinfort tomorrow.” She said in a squeaky filly’s voice. “Calm down Moonlight, I understand, but don’t rush, perhaps the universe has pulled you towards Ponyville for a reason.” Luna said. “What should I do? Do you know where I should go.” Moonlight asked. “I don’t know Moonlight, Celestia and I have already exhausted all our resources, but I have a feeling that you will have much better luck than us.” Luna said. “But..why?” “You remind me of Twilight. You may not know it yet, but you may find help very unexpectedly. I see the stars and they tell me that there are many destinies ready to connect with yours.” Luna said. “If you give them a chance.” Moonlight nodded. Luna patted her apprentice’s mane before leaping into the dreamscape sky. Her silhouetted glided towards the moon fading away. The room behind her had gone away and all that was left was the moon shining down on the small filly. ~-~-~ Light flooded the horizon, covering Ponyville in the pleasant morning shine it brought. The pegasi came from Cloudsdale clearing out the rest of the rogue storm clouds. The ponies of Ponyville re-opened their doors. They flooded back onto the cobblestone roads. Moonlight Dazzle lazily opened her eyes, grogginess weighed downed her eyes. She noticed that Salsa and Weepy Willow had already left the room and made her way downstairs. Noise of unsettled ponies came from the front door, Red Clover was standing in the doorway, behind her and Salsa was looking over her head toward a mob of disgruntled Ponyville towns folk. In the farthest corner away from the windows Weepy Willow hid, tears rolled down her eyes staining the oak floorboards. A grey earth pony colt came forward, past the onlookers, he wore a black brimmed hat with a long robe. He looked into the eyes of Red clover with malicious intent. “I know your harbinging the curse bringer! Give her up before she destroys all of what this town has been founded on!” He shouted. The crowd jeered in agreement. Red Clovers eye looked back, she knew they meant Weepy. “Sir I have no idea who you mean. I have to go plan my next adventure, so I’m going to have to ask impolitely to leave because I don’t care enough to actually ask politely.” She tried to slam the door but the mob leader wouldn’t allow it. “My dear little filly, Ponyville is peace and I will not let that peace be ruined by that trouble you're protecting.”  Red agitatedly smiled. He started to push pass her, rudely wedging himself between him and the door way. Backing away, only slightly, for a momentous push, Red Clover rammed her head against the rude grey pony shoving him out of her house and closing the door behind her. Moonlight and Salsa peaked out the windows. Red Clover pushed him far back into the crowd until he finally dug in his hooves stopping her forward momentum. “Look my fellow followers, she must be hiding something if she goes to lengths to pro-” Before he finished she pulled her head back and the colt nearly tripped. The red maned mare smacked her hard head against his using herself as a hammer putting the unwelcomed grey colt onto his flank. Rage burned into dirt cover face of the colt. He wearily stepped forward toward the unyielding audacious mare. “EVERYONE IT’S POSH PIE!” A pony in in the mob yelled. The Ponies turned  their heads towards a limo already there was quite a long line of people alongside of the roads eager to catch a glimpse of a shining star. The mob hoofed it, aligning itself to a bigger more rapid mob leaving their leader by himself. “Well, umm… good day lass.” He said before running off to the distance. Salsa and Moonlight came dashing out of the house. “Are you okay?” They asked, noticing the much redder marks on her forehead from the impact of the headbutt. “I’m fine, my head has survived tougher scuffles.” Weepy Willow slid out the door approaching the three. “I’m so-sorry for the trouble.” She said walking away. Salsa flew in front of her. She cradle her head expecting the pegasus to strike her. “Wait where are you going?!” Salsa asked. “It’s my fault they were at her door… I shouldn’t have come here I’m only bad luck.” Weepy sniffled. “That’s ridiculous they don’t even know. How could they just treat you like that?” Salsa asked. “Well, do you know me?” Weepy asked. Salsa patted Weepy’s head. “I’d like to.” She showed a warm smile before Moonlight approached the shy unicorn. “I would like to know more about you as well, and it seems like you need some friends.” Moonlight said trying awkwardly not to sound rude. “Th-thanks for the offer but I don’t deserve it, I only bring you misfortune. I mean it when I say I’m bad luck. Only bad things happen to people I’m near.” Weepy said. Red Clover laughed. Bad luck? It was nothing to her. She stepped forward in a bold trot. “Bad luck? That’s it? I’m the luckiest pony you’ll ever meet, you girls can stick with me, you all seem like you’ll need it, I’ve been looking for companions to go on adventures with.” She said adjusting her handkerchief. “Oh that’s good and all but...” Luna’s voice edged into her memory, and leaked out into her ears. “A connecting destiny.” Moonlight whispered to herself. Red Clover was puzzled by the thought filled expression the spectacled unicorn had, so suddenly in mid conversation. “Red Clover, Weepy Willow, I have a task given to me, a very important one, and that's to find the princess of friendship.” She began.