1 - From Here to There: To Begin Again... (Edited...Again)
A spirit of Change yet Structure...
Thrown into a realm of debauchery and masks...
Shall bring forth new life...
And shake the world...
A soft strumming of the strings on a lute rang throughout the night's air. It's source could be traced to a small, modest camp among grassy plains. The dirty gold-haired woman who created the soft tunes sat on a log, a campfire crackling, snapping and popping just before her.
The woman was covered by a leather longcoat, dyed a deep, near-blackish brown. The longcoat bore a picture of a golden dragon, and three red symbols below. A brown leather shirt and white cotton blouse went under it, heavy scalemail underneath those. Over her legs were black leather trousers and boots. Atop her head was a black sedge hat, and a mask concealed her face save her golden eyes. A heavy white cloth scarf went around her neck, lined with various symbols. Leather gloves covered her dexterous hands as she strummed the strings of the lute.
The woman continued to play her lute's tunes in the dimness of the night, crescent moon and arrays of stars lighting what fire could not in the heavens above. The song continued unabated as the fire danced like an untouchable couple in a ballroom in some lord's court.
Two blades rested on the log, the metal of their pommels and guards glinting in the fire's light. Wolves howled in the distance, but no mind was paid.
Soon, the song ended, and the woman simply held her lute as she stared into the flames. The light from it was reflected by her eyes, which sparkled with some other, unknown flame. Silence reigned, and the night air was still, clear, crisp, and peaceful. But all too suddenly the peace was torn asunder.
The woman heard an unearthly groan, felt a shift in the winds, the earth, even the flames. The wolves howled once more as she looked around herself swiftly, eyes scanning and roaming over everything in sight. She made to reach for one of her blades. Then, the world, nay, reality itself warped right where the woman's camp lay, the air around her violently tearing open with otherworldly howls and screeches, then sizzles as it started to literally burn space and time themselves, turning into a roaring, howling blaze of blue, black, and red flames. In less than any mere second, the woman and the camp were gone from this earth with nary a chance to get away and only a cut off cry of alarm from the woman as she disappeared.
I woke to the familiar sounds of my campfire crackling softly, but my head hurt something foul. With a low groan I pushed myself up to my knees, blinking the collecting swarm of lights and dots from my vision. With another groan as my head throbbed, I put a hand to my head and rode out the pain and impaired vision.
After a careful shake of my head once both had subsided, I finally took in my surroundings. My eyes promptly widened. Whilst my camp was relatively untouched, the surroundings had changed. Gone was the the calm, soothing and clear night sky and grassy plains, and in their stead was a cavern, twice as beautiful, for gemstones, glittering crystals and beautifully glowing rocks lined nearly every inch of the cavern.
'What... Happened...?' I wondered, unable wrench my gaze away from all the spectacular gems and precious metals. I shook my head once more, managing to focus on the situation and not the astounding surroundings. 'The only other times I recall reality changing so drastically and suddenly was when I neared an Astral Fissure, but...' I focused on my senses as I closed my eyes. Nothing. '...I sense no malicious presences nearby like when I am close to one...' I opened my eyes. 'What in the blazes happened...?' I got to my feet with a grunt, then put a hand to my chin to think. Several moments ticked by, before I recalled something Zasalamel told me about Astral Fissures.
I perked my head up and snapped my fingers. 'That's right! He said they were tears in the fabric of reality, of space and time!' I paused as it began to sink in. I looked about myself. 'Does that mean a Fissure swallowed me and deposited me here?' I hummed at this. 'Well, I might as well try and find out just where I am.' This goal in mind, I walked towards my blades, smiling as I noted they were just the same as I had left them before the Fissure swallowed me and my camp.
After slinging them on my back and securing the straps, and then doing the same with my lute, I began to look for an exit, deciding to leave the small blaze of a campfire going for when I returned. After all, I'd need to come back at some point if I wished to show any merchants or smiths this trove of wonder. I quickly found that there were three routes out of the current chamber; one to my North, one to my South, and one to my East.
I settled on going North first, and started to make my way through the passage. I knew not how long I walked, but the veins of precious ores and gems continued ever onward, no matter how far along I went, even as the floor started to incline. The cavern air was cold and dank, the chill seeping into my clothes. I paid it little mind, however, as the chill was nothing compared to the teeth-chattering freeze of the tundras of Scandinavia.
As I walked, my mind wandered. This cave looked to be untouched by human hands, which meant that if I could find a merchant or smith to lead to it, I'd quite likely have quite a bit of funds to spend for my travels. However, it also meant I'd likely be quite far from any village or township, which meant I'd be walking for quite some time, I imagine.
I hummed at these thoughts as I continued to walk, but I stopped when I heard something ahead. It sounded like...chirping? It also sounded like there was a lot of it. I idly wondered what kind of creatures lived here who would make such strange noises. With a shake of my head I pushed the thought away for later, stalking forward with one hand on the hilt of one of the blades on my back.
I soon made it to another spacious chamber where the chirping was loudest and stopped myself by the mouth of it's entrance, taking a knee and peeking out from the cover to see what was making the sounds. I felt heat rush to my cheeks immediately as my eyes widened at the sight before me.
What was before my eyes in the center of the chamber was a large group of men, women, and children. None of them had a single scrap of clothing to speak of, despite the ramshackle fur tent - if it could even be called that - sitting in the apparent camp.
I snapped my head back from the sight. 'What on God's green Earth are they doing?!' I asked myself, clutching my chest as my heart beat and thumped rapidly inside it.
"Hmmm... Interesting..." The weathered yet strong voice piqued my interest and caution, so with care, I chanced a look back at the camp and around it to make sure I had not been spotted, as well as to determine whom the voice so belonged. My jaw soon slackened when I spotted the speaker.
It was by all accounts a horse, or, by the looks of it, a pony. However, it had a beard - a long one at that - a long, spiraled and sharp horn the same color as it's grey fur, and clothing consisting of a deep blue wizard hat with little bells and stars as well as a cloak with the same design. What caused my jaw to slacken even further was that it's horn was glowing, whilst a quill and notebook glowed the same silver as it's horn.
I continued to stare from my hidden spot for a time, not believing my eyes. 'This...This is impossible...' Of all the things I had witnessed over my life, this blew all of it out of the water and would easily make one question if they were sane. I was certainly doing the same.
My inner storm of questions on whether or not what I was seeing was true was halted as the pony impossibly spoke once more as he placed the items that had been in the glow into a saddlebag under his cloak. "Well, I suppose that is that, then. It's a shame these creatures are so slow, but at least they have the potential to learn-" His eyes caught mine, and I froze.
I noticed he followed my example.
"...Cènà," was the last word out of my mouth.
The duo stared at one another for a few seconds, both surprised with eyes wide and bodies frozen and stiff. Eventually, the woman slowly raised a hand and waved. The stallion blinked a few times at this action, until his eyes widened further. He opened his mouth, but the woman waved frantically and made shushing motions, before motioning for him to follow her.
She did not give him a chance to respond as she turned and strode down the way she had come. Star Swirl stared after her for a time, before shaking his head and doing so at a brisk pace. He cast a silence spell on his hooves so as to not alert the tribe nearby, then galloped after the mysterious human female.
By the time he had reached her, she was sitting before a campfire in a room littered from wall, to ceiling, to floor in precious minerals. While he admitted it was beautiful, and likely had some minerals that would be of interest, his focus was on the human. He dispelled the spell on his hooves, then stalked up to her, taking in her features more fully. He took quick note of the instrument and weapons on her back, as well as the strange symbols on her coat and scarf. There was also a dragon on the back of her coat, but not one he recalled ever seeing before.
He slowly sat down a few feet from her, noting she had tanned skin and dirty, golden hair. However, the most striking thing to Star Swirl was her unique eyes. They were golden. Not even amber, but golden, like the barding of the Royal Guard. Then, to the mages further shock, she spoke.
"Can you understand me...?" she asked, turning her fierce golden eyes on him.
He stared at those eyes for a time, noting how different they were from a pony's, or even most human's. They weren't just full of intelligence, but they were sharp, refined. Furthermore... 'She can actually speak! The words beforeweren'tin my imagination!' came Star Swirl's realization. He blinked as he realized she was waiting for his answer.
"Oh! Excuse me, it's just... I've not seen any human like you before," he apologized.
The woman blinked, pulling back a bit. "You...haven't?"
Her voice was different, too, he observed. It was smooth, yes, but rough too, with an accent he'd never heard. The closest Star Swirl could equate it to was a mixture of Prench and Chineighse. He recomposed himself quicker than last time after realizing once more he had been quiet for too long. "No, I can't say I have. Do you by chance have a name? A master, perhaps?"
'She must be some new breed of human, one highly trained, at that,' he mused as he waited for her answer. While she paused at his question, he took the time to scan her form again. 'With the clothing and equipment she bears, I can't quite pinpoint where she's from, nor what she possibly could have been used for...' He looked to the lute and swords. 'The blades suggest she has spent time in fight pits, but that lute suggests she has sung and entertained before.' He glanced to her chest briefly. 'And by the size of her...breasts, I believe they call them, she could have been a breeder as well... Hmmm, an entertainer on multiple fronts, perhaps?'
Her exotic voice brought him out of his musings. "I've never had a master, no. I'm no knight or servant, and I don't plan on ever being one. As for my name..." She paused for a split second, then continued with, "...it's Severine Xiá."
Star Swirl ran a hoof through his beard, bells jingling slightly on his hat as he did so. "Hmmm, intriguing..." He hummed before speaking again. "I am Star Swirl. Pleasure to meet you, Miss Xia."
"It's Xiá, actually," she corrected. She looked to the campfire. "So...Might I ask what you are?"
Star Swirl blinked at this. 'She doesn't know what a Pony is? But that would mean...' His eyes widened for the third time that day. '...she's not from this world!' After coming to this conclusion, he managed to recompose himself once more and answer.
"My kind are called Ponies, specifically, I am a Unicorn. There are also Pegasi and Earth Ponies, and a rare few are known as Alicorns," he explained. Stroking his beard once more, he asked his next question. "I'm going to assume you're from another world?"
Her head snapped to face him. "How did you...?"
"I've dabbled in dimension hopping in my earlier days," he replied with a coy smile.
Severine stared at him for a few more seconds, before sighing deeply and shaking her head as she looked back to the fire. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. I have already met a world hopper..." She looked back to him after a moment or two of silently staring into the flames. "Well, since you have me figured out, maybe you could answer some of my questions?"
Star Swirl smiled, nodding. "Certainly, so long as you do not mind answering more of mine."
A few hours later saw the newly formed acquaintances walking out of the caverns and into the daylight, chatting amicably. Or, at least, they were.
"What do you mean humans are animals here?!" came the snarl of Severine, stopped by the mouth of the cave with Star Swirl at her side. Her hand was on one of the hilts of her blades as she scowled at him.
Star Swirl sighed deeply, hoof to his forehead. After a short moment, he removed it and looked up at her. "This is why I was neglecting to tell you."
"That's not what I asked," Severine growled, glaring down at him.
Star Swirl sighed again. "To put it simply, humans in this world do not have the same capacity we do to think, reason, and if studies are to be believed, even feel."
"Niúshǐ!" Severine snapped, grip on her sword's hilt tightening.
Star Swirl stared at her for a moment. "...I'm going to assume that means you called me a liar or something of the sort," he deduced before shaking it off. "Either way, I assure you, it's quite true. Surely you saw enough evidence on our way out here?"
Severine grit her teeth. 'I did... Every time I tried to talk to those people they just tilted their heads or clicked or chirped at me. And they were looking at my attire with childlike wonder, too...' Her grip loosened slightly. 'I assumed they were simply remnants of tribals, but...'
Star Swirl gave the woman a soft smile. "I know this is difficult for you, my friend, but I assure you, it is true."
Severine ground her teeth for a short moment, before taking a deep breath in through her nose and releasing it through her mouth, and soon after releasing her grip on her blade. She then bowed deeply to the unicorn. "...I apologize for my outburst. It was uncalled for."
Star Swirl waved it off swiftly. "It's fine, and I'd say it was understandable." He motioned with his hoof for her to raise her head. "Now come on, raise your head. I'm no noble or royal."
Despite herself, Severine managed a small smile as she did so. "Right."
Star Swirl looked to the cave behind them. "It's honestly still mind boggling to me those humans settled here, even if the dragon is gone..." He muttered.
"Just as it amazes me that dragons exist," Severine replied, before smirking. "Though something tells me you're diverting the conversation."
Star Swirl chuckled lightly. "Perceptive," he sighed again, then turned his view to the horizon, and the town that stretched out below the mountain. There was a silence that followed as she mirrored his gaze. A silence filled only by the howling of the winds, the birds and their calls, and the distant calls of the townsfolk below. Severine waited patiently for him to make his reply. Eventually, Star Swirl spoke, not turning his head. "I should warn you, my friend..." He began slowly, pausing for a another few moments. Severine remained patient, watching the town below as he did. "...humans in this world are not always just pets. They are..." He paused once more, then sighed deeply and continued. "...They are toys. Other times trophies. And sometimes... Just simple lab rats." He spat out each particular word as if they were unsavory to his tongue.
Severine merely clenched her fists with each label, the leather protesting slightly as she did so. More silence filled the air. Star Swirl's beard waved slightly in the wind along with his cloak, Severine's scarf following their example as the two kept their silence.
In time, the woman responded. "...Thank you for the warning," was all she said before she started to make her way back down into the cave's mouth.
Star Swirl called out to her as she did so. "Are you certain you wish to part ways here? I could put in a good word!" No response. He sighed deeply, resigning himself to watching her walk away into the gloom. He pulled the brim of his hat down over his eyes. "Star Swirl old boy, what have you gotten yourself into...?" He muttered to himself. Soon after he pushed the brim back up and looked to the castle nearby, it's crystalline surface sparkling in the mid-afternoon light. With a shake of his head, he muttered a final six words, "Might as well keep your promise..."