1) Awoken... ✔

Civilization

The little water left dribbled off the barbed tip of the eroded icicle-like stalactites that hang from the ceiling, formed from the years of hardening minerals from chemical change. Similar causes appear as if they impale through the cavern floor, pointed upwards, proud and dangerous. The stalagmites rise up from the ground and join the stalactites, forming pointless columns that hold the smooth rock surface of the floor and pointy ceiling together.

The single droplet of dirty water had seemingly appeared from nowhere fell to, whomever should guess, the cool floor, however it appeared to have not. Within the closed dome, there is no light. The hidden, secluded and aging cave shrouded in darkness. There is no entrance or exit in the cave, isolated away from the world. In spite of the age of the cave, specifically a limestone cave, or the harsh environment within it, a single being inhabited the hollowed out ground.

The cave was a simple thing. Acid slowly dissolves out its limestone along the joints, bedding planes and fractures, and the cave became a cave. Yet there was always something in the middle, never moving or seeing. Never listening or speaking. Always there, but never appeared to be. A being. A powerful power house, snoozing in the lonely cave as it’s permanent bed. When it got there? It seemed none lived long enough to tell. So it comes from bygone days were the land was not pure, when the land was in need of the being’s aid, when the land was not ruled alone. If its name was called, it was there. Soon, it slept, for what reason is unknown. What is known, however, is that the wait is over, and its long, long slumber has halted all because of a single drop of water.

History starts here.

The being, after so long, had not only awoken, but flinched. Soon, it moved. It peeled its eyes open as best it possibly could, and grumbled. He had let open his mouth, and the muscles that had long since evolved to form the appropriate sounds. He squeezed his larynx as he had always done, but had not done so in so long, just the other moment, many years past. The feeling of peeling his field away. The blood on the snow. The smoking remains. Vivid. Fresh. Ancient.

“Ugh. Wh… What in Tartarus?” His echoed, old croaking voice was the only reply.

After some effort, the large being lifted his head up and off the ground, perhaps losing a few hairs. He could hardly cough out the dust in his lungs. He realized there was not much air. This was urgent. He decided he will make the air come to him. Removing his limbs for the equine-shaped hole he occupied, he attempted to lift his body and nearly topped over. It appeared that he was out of shape, and his legs protested from the lack of use. He looked away from any magic monitoring him with slight embarrassment.

Blinking his sleepy eyes, he stood, finally certain he will not fall. He… walked to any wall he first found to recline on. Or waddled, rather. Huffing in annoyance, he kept his thoughts to himself. He leaned on the rock and aimed his eyes at the tip of his muzzle. He couldn’t see it, but he can feel it. It was wet, and it dribbled down the shaggy mess he called a beard. He grumbled again.

He mumbled something, though he couldn't hear it well enough. There was not enough air to carry his whisper far. “How… did this happen?” It seemed he like he didn't know the answer. Perhaps he had forgotten? It is very likely that this happens to one that has been asleep for so long. What else had he forgotten? He nearly missed the the vibrations in the air as he sensed the ways the sounds of his voice bent and altered the path of millions of particles that lingered within all around him.

It was different somehow. A change. Clearly, he didn't know what was different. He thought, perhaps, a change in magic particles? No. Did a different molecule make up air..? No, it hadn’t. What was different? The change must be insignificant, a change such as this deals thousands of years. He wanted to sigh in frustration in these turn of events.

He stretched and bent his rusty legs and wings, soothing his muscles, and shook out any remaining numbness. He stood with the full extension of his fours hooves, without the support of the rocky wall. He felt most of his wingspan press against the jagged ceiling. The pointy surface prickling his wings helped him wake up. He loved stretching after a long nap, the feeling is one of it’s kind. He smiled, loving the privileges given to him, to be able to have his physical body. There’s so much he has done with one, he always wondered what he would have done without one. Feeling better than before, he walked, feeling the walls, floor, and parts of the ceiling. Feeling. He loved feeling all kinds of things. He remembers! His smile was tugged farther back. He placed his hooves on the rock wall. His ear flattened against it, as if he were listening in on something on the other side very eagerly. Or just eavesdropping, that too. He took his hoof back, past his head. Then…

Tink. Tink. Tink.

Like an swung, angled pickaxe on hard stone, the sound echoed, born from the sudden hit of stone and his hoof. The sharp tink pushed the particles in the air, and moved in circular waves within the cave, each vibration releasing various tones. An echo. He searched—

Tink. Tink. Tink.

—and searched. It only took a couple minutes, only being slightly distracted from surfacing memories, yet his actions were steady, and his conclusions accurate. Carefully and consistent. Like caring for a foal, and feeding it to the right hour, to the right minute. Ah, the memories of two fillies.

Tink. Tink. Tink.

Every time he moved and positioned.

Tink. Tink. Tink.

Consistently. Carefully. Nicely. He learned once, from a certain little girl of his, that patience goes a long way.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

And he was glad that she was right! The cave provided what he was looking for. Hollow! He rushed back wishing, preparing his legs for his stunt that wasn’t too stupid of him. More stretches. He prepped himself, leaning back and looking up. He couldn’t see, but he knows that directly above him hung a stalactite. He would know when it falls, when it breaks and shatters upon the cold floor, he won’t be there.

His chest locked up as he ran the short distance and slid around a complete one-eighty. His back legs lifted as he continued to slide on his forehooves.

He bucked as softly as he could.

The Peaks of Peril has stood tall for centuries, intimating any creature that neared it. That’s why no one noticed the ground rumbling in tremendous waves, that akin to an earthquake, but much, much more intense. The ground caved in, a roaring crescendo that escalated to an explosion. Debris painted the sky in a perfect picturesque for a moment, before the dirt, gravel, and stone plummeted toward the planet’s crust. The surface was like a war had broken lose; it told a story. And this story started very peculiarly. Coughing.

Then something like this. “Mayhap—" A cough. "...We… should not have aided Ourselves with momentum…”

And this. “Bah! The animals will live.”

He dusted whatever rubble and dust off his being as much as he could, then proceeded to survey his surroundings. Clearly, he can see his mess, but decides not to clean it. He is fully aware that it is in his ability to do so. He’s just lazy after his nap, and so the being reasoned that the animals will live to perhaps sooth his conscience in some degree.

He grumbled. “They will… Silence.” Bitting at the magic near for doubting him, he began trotting. There wasn’t much else to see, other than his mess and more rock. He continues on, past the barren ground. Walking farther, he notices a cliff. A beautiful horizon shining down upon archers of lush land. A scenery straight from fiction. But there is no such thing as fiction, he knows. He was only in worry. This was not normally what he sees. He was not here before his slumber. Just where...? He shakes his head. The nonsense comes later. He looks to his right, watching past the tree line that laid ahead of him.

He turned and entered the forest, past the bushes. This forest was not the one he was used to. This was not like the Everfree Forest, the forest that he always found himself lost in, looking for his children when they went on their kooky adventures. They were like cats; he was always afraid that their curiosity would get them killed.

But now he didn’t know where they were, or where he was.

How did this happen?

He passed by the trees and crossed a path…

A path?

A path! He exclaimed in joy, “Huzza! Civilization!” and leaped up in the air. He stomped his hooves onto the ground and galloped north, the direction the path trailed, with determination coursing within him. Nothing was going to get in his way. He will find his family. He does have a promise to keep, after all.

But first, he desired the taste of food.

It isn’t necessary that he eats. Why would he if he didn’t need to? Yet, the craving of having a tasty mixture sweeten his taste buds made him reel. It was one of the leisures he enjoyed of his physical body. It was one of the little things that made him feel mortal again. So he galloped. Oh, how he loved to gallop. And the rush! He loved it for what it was! As he ran and ran, along the path that he hoped would lead him home, the wind blew and hit against his face. It weaved through his brown, curly mane, brushed underneath and intertwined with his wing feathers, and whipped his long tangled tail. Oh, how liberating it felt. The instructions his instincts commanded of him; he closed his eyes as he weaved and dodged and jumped, under high hanging branches, past boulders, over fallen trees. Always staying on the path that gave him hope. It was the proof that told him he had a chance, and was not going to lose it.

The thundering stomps of his strong hooves erupted a ringing that vibrated in his ears and urged him to gallop faster to the approaching end of the forest. He saw it as the first finish line, and hopefully it would be the last. Eagerly, he jumped through the last wall of bushes his path of hope passed, anticipating what would be on the other side. He thought, that it would most likely be more road and grassy fields, but with flowers he could eat, or better yet, berries! How wrong he was…

He blinked a multiple number of times like an utter buffoon and stared at something trivial to his standards; but… why in the middle of a forest? Then again, he did live in the middle of the most dangerous mountains on Equis with his family, in a very, very tall white tower. He blinked one last time, watching the small community thrive. Large treehouses scaled the thick jungle-like trees, all decorated within their own unique style. Stale food stalls lined the east of the small village, while on the west side sold household items and a large fountain stood proudly. Looking farther north, the path continues to a large looking hut that outsized the high hanging treehouses. To the northeast and northwest, smaller huts lied beside both sides of the path, and seemed to hold adroit…

His eyes stared at a community of…

He tilted his head curiously. “…Kirin? What art thee doing living here?” He wondered aloud, his voice uncertain.

2) ...And Ready to Eat! ✔

View Online

“Y-your Majesty!”

His hooves brushed against the saturated grass. He felt the water in the muddy ground as every individual grass blade leaned to its sides, but why? It didn’t seem to have rained from what he has seen. A small commotion shook the… air? He looked up in curiosity, and his eyes promptly widened at the torrent of water that came crashing down upon his body. Unfortunately, that stung his eyes badly, forcing a loud response from him.

A shaggy hoof shot up to his stinging rose colored eyeballs. “Yee-ouch! By the King’s beard!” His scream pierced the sky and spilled out his mouth before he could stop it. Well, in the good side of things, at least he got the shower his physical body so desperately needed, without him knowing it needed it. Funny how things go.

Sadly, his clumsy flank didn’t notice that he was in a deposit. He recklessly shook his fuzzy body in a desperation of ridding himself of the liquid. As well as trembling in a fit of rage. “Forgive Us, but please bite thine foul forked tongue.” He sniped angerly.

An unfamiliar voice called out, presumably to him. “Oh my goodness! Are you alright? You’re not hurt, are you?” The voice came not from afar, so he can hear and make out the words… however strange they were.

His continued to shake his body like a wet dog, flinging all the dreaded water off himself, and stepped out the puddle that pooled beneath him, trotting toward the general direction the foreign voice originated. His eyes still stung, but not as bad as before. He blinked at the sound of steps nearing him. “Hey, you ok there, big guy?” Another voice? And who was this ‘Big Guy’? What a terrible name. “Hey. Hello? Helllooo? You sleepin’?” He felt air molecules fly in front of his face left and right. Ah, a hoof was waving in front of his face. That’s what it is.

”Sharp! Don’t be rude!” The first voice, he guessed she is a female, yelled at the second, male, voice.

The male suddenly yelped in pain. ”Ow! Okay! I’m sorry. You don’t need to hit me, jeez…” He didn’t need to imagine the male soothing a sore spot. His experience with his wife is embarrassingly strong. More than he’d care to admit, if he was honest with himself. He shook his hanging head and lifted it, standing tall. He needed to stop slouching lazily, his wife kept telling him it was not good for his physical body’s neck or back. “It was a force of habit!”, he would always tell her beautiful, worrying face.

”Are you ok—,” She croaked all of a sudden, the next word leaving her mouth oddly strained, “—ssssiiirrr..?” He can easily hear her squirm. She squeaked in alarm.

“…Woah. What a chad…” Awe outlined the males voice, but why? What is a ‘chad’? So many questions raced through his thoughts and built up in his mind. He dismissed them, there were more immediate things to address. He blinked the blur out his eyes and looked around. He didn’t see the male or female. Confused, he ruffled his wings, spreading them out fully and slowly furled them to the sides of his large fluffy barrel.

“... Uhh…”

Following the quiet mumble, he looked down… and down. He realized, he towered the Kirin by four feet and a few inches. Again, he blinked. Oh no! They were speechless because they were intimidated! How could he? “Oh, by the Sun! We apologize if We frightened thou to any degree.” Quickly, he got to his knees as he spoke and laid down in front of them. Even then, he was still a few inches above them, but hopefully, he reasoned, that this would deduce any fright they may have of him now.

The male Kirin was in front of him, gasping at his figure entirely. Behind his amazed friend was the female Kirin. Obvious concern painted her face and was left there, plastered on her visage for all to see. She opened her mouth.

Her voice shuck in fear, “Y-your Majesty!” and she stuttered terribly. Was she scared of him? The male Kirin did not fair too well when the female uttered the word ‘majesty’ in such dismay. It did not make him any feel better, sadly. “No need to apologize!” She said, chuckling nervously. Starting to bow, she continues. “If anything we’re sorry for how rude and informal my friend and I acted in your presence. Isn’t that right, Stone?” When she addressed her friend with hidden venom in her voice, the one which he now knows now is called Stone, she smacked him in the cranium for not bowing.

The male Kirin paused in his bout of terror and squinted in realization. “Huh? Oh, uh. Yeah- er… Yes, your Majesty. We are, uhm, terribly sorry.” He bowed as he was forced to and spoke with shaky uncertainty.

Silence befell upon them, and he only felt… sad. He cleared his throat, gaining the attention to the awkward Kirin.

He analyzed them with his heavy raccoon eyes. He immediately noticed that the male Kirin didn’t have any impressive muscular features. He would have known subconsciously either way, as it was an Alicorn's normal instinct to size up to others. Discreetly, of course; it’s purpose was for safety… He was ranting again. Anyway, the Kirin’s dirty blond colored mane spilled and curled at the sides of his face. His long tail was the same. The male… Stone, stood just short of the female, albeit compared to Stone he was a giant, even if he lied down, so that may be biased. His fur was a dark virescent with a lighter shade that was his scales. The mistress— he didn’t know her name yet— was a bit taller than Stone. Just like Stone, her mane curled out the sides of her face. It was a yellow that was the least vibrant shade. Her fur was a navy blue, while her scales were a light blue, almost like a sapphire. Jutting out their foreheads was a large, red horn. He looked at their eyes individually, paused, and eventually he asked them, “What… art thy names?”

The female Kirin’s ears perked up. “Oh, how wrong of us! My name is River Side and this is my friend, Sharp Stone. We live here.”

Stone rolled his green eyes. “Well duh, of course we live h— Ow!” River hit Stone again at his unwanted information.

Innocently, River turned to him. “What’s your name, your Highness? If you don’t mind me, um, asking.”

He chuckled joyously at Stone’s expense. “Thee humor me, kirin! Thou remind Us of Ourselves.” He slowly raised himself. Standing tall, he raised his head toward the bright ball of gas in the sky and placed a shaggy hoof on his chest. He recited the short version of his introduction like the many countless times he has done before.

“We are Lord Craig McCracken, the rightful King of Equestria. T’is a pleasure to meeteth thine acquaintance, Sirrah Stone and Mistress Side.”

He glanced downwards with a smirk. To say that Craig’s new acquaintances were shell shocked would be an understatement. River’s right eye twitched ever so slightly.

“…Wait, am I missing something? Didn’t Equestria already have a king?” Stone asked. “Or am I mistaking that with the Crystal Empire story thingy?” River just nodded her head while Craig tilted his own to the side like a puzzled hound. The Crystal Empire gained a king? He must meet this fellow king, if he is still alive of course. “Woah… Just, woah…” The green Kirin looked up at Craig. “Where’d you come from, your maj—?”

“Lord.” Craig simply said, cutting off Stone’s very reasonable question.

“What?”

He repeated, “Lord.” his voice flat.

“… I don’t—? Gah!” Stone was shoved aside by River.

“I have a quick question, ah, my Lord.” Craig smiled in satisfaction. “Where did you come from? And why are you here?”

”Hey! That was my question!”

Craig chucked. It felt like he was constantly being tickled in the presence of the Kirin. “Mistress Side, thou hath asketh Us two of thine questions.” River laughed nervously in choppy cuts. Her laughter flicked Craig’s ears, telling him of her uncomfortableness. A moment after he lowered his head and slacked his neck he answered. “We were awoken and… didst escape a cave we were isolated within farth'r south.” More like ‘absolutely annihilated’, but alright.

“You were stuck in a cave? That’s odd. There isn't many caves around here.” Said River, starting to pace. Stone blinked.

Craig turned to Stone and walked beside him. “While We would like to feed thy curiosity, We wilt feed Ourself, firstly.” He said, watching River gasp.

“Right, you must be hungry! Here, follow me, my Lord. Lucky you, we’re holding a small brunch today!” She picked up her trot, leading Craig and Stone toward the large hut many yards ahead of them.

Craig always enjoyed the crazy and loud, but this… He could nearly smell the harmony! The King’s eyes shifted their gaze from blue chatterbox to the Kirin next to him. He hummed thoughtfully.

“Sharp Stone.”

“Yeah..?” He trailed off. “Uh, I mean… Yes, my Lord?”

Craig stopped, looking at the tiny little village and admiring it’s natural beauty. Glancing for a moment at the sky and bright sun, it’s powerful grip tugged at his magic. It was familiar. It was his eldest child’s magic. He didn’t expect her to have any control over it. Though it called him for comfort and safety, she sadly does not know about his awakening yet. Arugh, he was rambling again. He would like to know about this fellow king. “Thou spoketh of the Crystal Empire… ruled by a king.” The fur in his neck stood to attention. It was almost a question.

”Oh! It was my favorite story as a kid!” …Story? “Our Elder tells us a story of an empire made of crystal that everykin is told when they're young. Think of it as a bedtime story of sorts. It is said that a thousand years ago, the Crystal Empire stood in the middle of the harsh northern winter lands, ruled by the Crystal Princess and protected by a shield that surrounded it. It’s source was a mythical relic called the Crystal Heart that held all the love of the citizens that lived within the empire and used it as it’s power.” Craig’s ears painfully ringed when they flattened without his say-so, but he kept on listening the words that easily slithered out the green Kirin’s mouth.

“One day however, a beast as black as his heart appeared from the dark coldness of the raging blizzard outside the empire and broke in. He was soon the self proclaimed King of the Empire when he had slain the Crystal Princess in battle for the throne. He enslaved everypony and forced them go to war with Equestria. The war ended as quickly as it started because of the difference in ratio of Royal Guards to Crystal Warriors. After the war was won by Equestria, the King was weakened. Princess Celestia took advantage of that and banished the Dark King into the deepest… ice? Yeah, something like that; I always forget the ending.”

Craig, the King of Equestria, could not believe what he was hearing.

“But it doesn’t end there!” Craig almost jumped in fright. Stone continued, engrossed into the story and not noticing Craig’s horrified expression etched onto his face. “The Dark King placed a curse onto the Crystal Empire. When he was banished, it too was banished. He and it was gone, never to be heard of again.” Sharp happily chirped. “I love that legend, and I'd love to on an adventure! Some day I’d love to find the Crystal Empire in those snowy lands!” Craig almost collapsed at how lightheaded he was as he silently gasped for breath.

“Always dreaming, aren't-cha, Sharp?” Said an eavesdropping Kirin selling string at a nearby stand.

“You better believe it, Silly String!”

Ahead of them both, River Side groaned in annoyance.

This was bad.

Very, very bad.

Much of what he knew was taught by his wife, bless her beautiful soul. If this moment was any time to repay her, like the many other countless times, Craig would take every opportunity to do so. Whenever he needed her the most, her angelic voice sang in his head.

“Dost not be afraid, dearest, 'twill cometh togeth'r as an oeuvre at when thee reach the end of thy terrible day. Thou art stronger than what thou see thyself as.”

His sight granted him a wonderful view of food. His raccoon eyes shined in excitement as he anticipated the delicious taste that would calm his desire for a large meal. He sat at the end of the long wooden table as it stood in the middle of the event. The Brunch.

After asking about this event, Craig learned that this was an important tradition for the community. It was held exactly every six months and denoted adoration for their Elders and Leader.

A cry rang out in joyful celebration. “Cheers!”

Every Kirin lifted their forelegs up into the air, their forelocks waving in the sudden motion. Caught in the fun, Craig’s chest fluttered in the thrill as he exclaimed a response. A roaring chorus was sang back with an equally roaring passion.

“Cheers!”

An Elder— guessed Craig— raised a shimmering mug above the loud crowd. “My wonderful Kirin!” The presumed Elder started. “It is with great pleasure that I, Elder Grey Beard, begin our traditional brunch!” The Elder’s fur aged through the years, and successfully matched his wise mind. Craig chuckled under the deafening ruckus. The Elder is wise in both mind and body, although the name wasn’t very creative it did sound well. His wife would agree with him, claiming that she can appreciate such a terrible joke.

Elder Grey Beard paused in remembrance. Lowering the mug on the table’s other end, opposite of Craig, Grey announced, “Before we begin, I would like to mention we have an interesting and phenomenal guest that you may have already noticed.” He turned to the cocoa-colored, blushing male Alicorn sitting across from him. Grey continued, “I present to you, for the first time, Craig McCracken! A male Alicorn!”

Shyly, Craig raised a shaggy hoof and waved halfheartedly. “Greetings!” Thankfully, his voice didn’t shake.

3) Questions, So Many Questions! ✔

View Online

Kin

”I will be honest.” The Elder started, the large and filled mug slid across the old, chipping wooden table. Wood on wood skid and screeched a subtle scraping noise. It stopped at Craig’s messy feathery hooves. “I did not believe a male Alicorn had ever existed. Not one creature has, I can guess.” He wondered aloud. Elder Grey Beard’s tangled white beard and mustache covered his mouth.

Craig greedily drank the cold fresh water in big gulps. He almost didn’t hear the old Kirin and his bewildered ramblings. This time, wood hit wood instead. A quiet tap as Craig’s mug touched the surface of the creaky wooden table he sat behind. A satisfied sigh escaped his lips before he looked into the Elder’s eyes. It pleaded for answers as questions zoomed past them in rapid succession. It reminded him of himself not much earlier.

He smiled softly, quietly at those dulling old orange eyes. Curiosity would forever be the temper tantrum of a child tugging weakly at his soft heart and mind. Something every creature experiences. It was natural.

”I agree with you, my Elder.” Said the Leader of the Kirin, Rain Shine, if Craig remembers correctly. She sipped on… something. His nose told Craig it smelled nice. A thing that made him want to drink something else other than water. Purely out of curiosity. He was still grateful though, for the meal and drinks. His wife would get mad at him if he wasn’t.

“Another Alicorn. A male no less! This is something I know is world-changing!” exclaimed Rain. He had to admit, she is pretty—

Nay! Halt, evil thoughts! Thine has't a quaint mate! Thine has't elegant kin! Nay!

Rain turned her attention back to Craig, entirely oblivious to his mental berating. “You claim you are the King of Equestria, yes?” She said, taking a sip of her drink. After gulping down water to hurriedly hide his embarrassment, Craig nodded and simply said “Verily.” His voice was calm and soft. It went well with his small warm smile.

Rain and the Elder glanced at each other.

A bungalow, about as old as the Elder, creaked as it held a canopy above the three influential figures. It’s wooden rafters wilted in age but held strongly in the awnings. Craig thought back to of when the Elder turned to him and said, ”It’s not much, but it is all I need.” And for what it was worth, that made him like the old sirrah just a little more.

”Well,” The Elder pulled a scroll from his beard and held it out in front of him. Craig snorted in amusement from the little display, ”with that in mind. I suppose it is best to contact the Regal Sisters, no?” Grey explained, ignoring Craig’s short chuckles upon seeing where the Elder stores his scrolls. The male Alicorn’s eyes abruptly widened at the Elder's words.

”Yes, my Eld—” Shine replied, only to be cut off.

Craig briefly and silently thanked whatever deity that was watching him for their entertainment that he didn't have water in his mouth. For just one moment, air blew out of his lungs and through his parted lips in surprised shock as Shine nearly finished speaking. He sucked air in just as quickly and bellowed. ”Thou has't connections to mine own kin?”

Craig cheered gleefully at this new revelation, if his overjoyed expression wasn’t enough to realize this fact. After nearly four hours, he can— at the very least— contact his daughters! He nearly slammed his hooves upon the old wooden table. Oh how joyous he felt!

Bewildered, Grey stuttered a response in a very troubled tone. ”Your… ki-kin?”

Rain spoke not soon after. ”You mean... the Princess—es?” She made sure to put extra emphasis on her stuttered ’the’.

Craig, oblivious to their current stupors, bounced in his wildly creaking chair as he got lost in his world of bliss. ”Precisely! But We merely assume! Yet these princesses thou speaketh of art c'rtainly mine own daught'rs! For they shareth the same names!”

For the next few minutes, the only thing penetrating the silence under the canopy was Craig’s whines and nickers of pure unbridled happiness.

Once he reunites with his daughters, he reasoned that they with be a happy family once again.

Princess Luna was not happy.

She hasn’t had a very good week either. She has had a tremendous amount of duties alike a bounty upon her head, and came with the cost of being very tired. Most know not to mess with a weary and cranky moon princess, so the castle staff and personnel were not an issue at the moment.

To be more specific with her disastrous predicament, her Sister left to meet with the Griffin King, leaving nearly all her duties for Luna to handle. Celestia said that there was a specific reason for her to do this and leave half her workload, but Luna could not for the life of her imagine a reasonable purpose as to why. It isn’t like she put it into much consideration since a part of her believed Celestia was just being lazy. Again. Yet it's likely that it doesn't matter anymore at this point.

Princess Luna did not look very presentable as she marched through the long auditoria, and in all honesty she couldn't care less. Two alert Royal Day Guards flanked her sides as she attained the attention of the single noble that pressed her to attend the Theatre all throughout her burdening week.

”Your Highness! How wonderful for you to finally join me this lovely morning!” Her ears caught a crisp but sultry voice as it called out to her. The Moon Maiden glanced at the face she wished to see last. Luna was rather ill-concealed with her irritation as she watched Skip Step perambulate leisurely toward her with his pristine suit and tie. His puffed up chest is evident enough to anypony that it is his prideful manner of boasting. Especially to his new company.

Luna’s ears jerked to the advancing Day Guards either side of her before she mumbled a response. ”Yes.” she hissed, exasperated. ”Wonderful indeed…” She can't bother to greet him with any simple pleasantry.

Skip Step raised a hoof in a dramatic demeanor, simply to appear in a guise of suffering sorrow. ”It was unfortunate that you couldn't attend the last four days, my Princess.” He adjusted the tarboosh, or fez as it's generally called. With it’s short tassel swinging from above it’s side, Skip’s eyes glistened at the opportunity to stand beside the lunar princess. It would save his suffering credibility from this unbearable month of May. ”Why, most of the nobility believed that I, Skip Step of the fourth Step House, was a jest!” Luna snorted in a mix of karma filled satisfaction and annoyance. Step either choose to ignore it or seemed to not have noticed as he vented to the wary blue Alicorn. ”They even dubbed to calling me a… a harlequin!” he continued, whining ceaselessly in a high pitched tone that was the equivalent of scraping a horn against a chalkboard in the lunar princess’s ears.

”What, pray tell,” started Luna, straight to the point, and prompting the loud noble to pause for her to speak, ”is the reasoning behind our meeting— and here of all places? Thou has… You have failed to inform Us— erm, me, during Night Court, or Day Court...” She added with a crude snort. Tiredly, the lone Princess walked slowly beside Skip Step as she gestured to the walls of the theater they were currently within.

Concern reached to his face in an instant, suddenly worried that he’d lose his chance. ”My Princess! I sincerely apologize for my rude actions. I didn’t mean to leave you in the dark.” In truth, Luna was completely comfortable being in the dark. She didn’t care about any of the problems any noble experienced, so long as they don’t come to cry to her or her Sister, but they’re not spared from even that. May she have mercy on this particular noble.

He placed a hoof on his chest, slowing down a bit now that he was walking on three hooves. Politely, he voiced his woes. “You see, the nobility has not been so kind to me as of late, and it has burdened me, so to speak.” His muzzle wasn’t looking to the heavens as per usual. His foreleg lowered slowly. “I am not… good at wording my emotions, my Princess.”

Luna’s glare sharpened accusingly. The nobility had always had a cruel way of things. Liars, stealers, and horrible ponies overall littered the ugly system they ran. It wasn’t as extreme as before, in her days. They were greedy, yes. They backstabbed, yes. They lied, yes. But they were the ponies that had been corrupted by evil magics and illnesses. They held sympathy, however rarely it showed. They knew the world of chaos and experienced it first hoof. They had learned one of the many greatest lessons. Friendship. And for a long while, after the wars and the chaos their Clan Leaders caused, they knew that the worst outcome was starvation, thirst, hyperthermia, and death.

But now that inventions have been made and the world is wealthier, they have given up on friendship during the generations of her absence.

The Moon Maiden turned away, glancing at the double doors ahead of them. “We assume the nobility is aggressive toward thyself in an uncanny manner? Or mayhap thou is in fault for possibly angering them? And in what way does this relate to thou begging for Our presence?” Her magical mane and tail flowed quicker in aggravation. The Princess' tail tickled the snout of one of the Day Guards, the very tip flicking from one way to the other. Needing to stay professional, the guard flanking the Princess’s left side endured the torture without scrunching his white muzzle.

The two Day Guards surveilling the double doors in front of them drew closer as the noble, Princess, and other duo of Day Guards approached. Skip Step copied the Princess’s previous actions and turned away as well, this time with uncertainty. ”I… don’t know if I did anything wrong in their eyes, Your Highness. I’m positive I haven’t. My worries come from my suspicions to their potentially hidden agenda. ” His eyes studied the double doors. Carved from old spruce wood and lined with gold stood the entrance into the rostrum.

”Nonsence.”

A glint of orange sparked and sputtered above Luna, catching her attention. Glancing up, she saw a flicker of weak flame ablaze and combust into a scroll from it’s ashes. The scroll glimmered in red ambient magic as it slowly hovered down in front of the Moon Maiden’s tired gaze.

Again, she sighed. ”What is it now?” Luna mumbled in shaky breaths. She felt weak, vulnerable, tired from all the work weighed down upon her being. She guessed that this is what her Sister must have felt for the last thousand years…

She stopped.

”… A moment, if you may.” Luna said to the staring eyes. Unfurling the scroll, she realized it was from the Kirin Clans. While she liked the Kirin, they were a peaceful lot and they were understanding, Luna couldn't help but be annoyed by the interruption. She only hoped it wasn’t anything overly catastrophic so she can deal with the noble and actually sleep for more than a hour or two.

Her eyes glazed over the scroll’s secrets with a practiced gaze. Skip Step wisely stayed silent while watching the blue Alicorn beside him patiently. Calmly, he watched Princess Luna, the Princess of the Moon, read the scroll with weary eyes. They then slowly, but surely, started widening. Each word that the Princess digested left her sea-colored eyes dull in shock. Suddenly, they shimmered, but only for a moment, before they dimmed in a stern look. Skip was sure he would have missed that single instant had he looked away.

Luna blinked as she finished reading the scroll. She blinked again as a flurry of emotions piled upon each other. She noticed something however. Her heart ached, so much so that it hurt painfully. Her eyes twitched in some emotion she could not conceive. Taking a deep breath, she… she… Luna read it, again and again, despite the aches it brought to her softening heart. Her mind became a mess worse than what it was than before in her tired haze.

… Why would they write something like this?

Shaking her heavy head, she came to a hurried decision and acted on it. A moment after attempting to clean the fog in her mind, she sent the scroll elsewhere.

Hopefully, her Sister will have a better time at deciphering it. Luna didn’t want to deal with the… issue.

”Is everything alright, my Princess?” The Moon Maiden’s ears flopped in apprehension.

”… Everything is… well, Sir Step. Just a s-simple scroll… Let us continue, yes?”

”… If you’re sure.”

The entrance to the rostrum opened slowly.

Craig, muzzle deep in his eighth large meal within the hour, fluttered his large wings in joy. He was antsy and he couldn’t help it, it only made him hungrier as the minutes pass.

”Uh, are you going to eat all the food…? That we have?”

Craig picked up his head, craning it toward Sharp Stone, who sat three seats away.

”You gonna share?” Stone chucked, picking at his own plate of leftovers from the Brunch. He was still hungry, but not as brutal as Craig seemed to be.

Craig licked his lips slowly, looking at his new friend awkwardly shifting in his seat. ”No.”

Stone blinked. ”… Ah, okay. Well, I didn’t want anymore, anyway.”

The male Alicorn, more than a thousand years behind on his table manners, chuckled. ”We vaguely recall male Kirin becoming monstrous at which hour did present food. Many of mine kind did pray to Aidenn when We madeth Our treaties.” His chuckle became a roar of laughter at his own joke. It was safe to say it went over Stone’s head.

The confused Kirin tilted his head. ”What is Aidenn?”

Craig laughed harder, finding Stone’s words humorous. The wheezing cocoa-colored Alicorn stopped suddenly once he noticed Stone’s expression. Craig took a breath. ”We apologize, my cousin. Thou know not of Aidenn?”

”Never heard of it.” Shaking his head, the Kirin went back to picking at his food.

Concern slapped Craig in the face. ”Not at all?”

”Nope.” Stone munched on a strawberry. ”Doesn’t ring a bell.”

The male Alicorn hummed. ”Odd.” he eventually said, inhaling a small cake.

Dear Royal Sisters,
This letter is from the Kirin Shine Clan, and we bring you urgent news we believe you absolutely need to know.
I will begin to say that while there exist legends of Alicorns that is widely called the Old Gods, we only see it as myth, as most of your subjects do as well, I believe. This is not a problem, as we learn the lessons of life from these tales. Yet, a most peculiar thing has occurred in our little village that has changed my belief on the old tales said to be myth. A male Alicorn, to be precise.
I am told that he hobbled into our main deposit, and met two of our Kirin with great results. The Alicorn, who says he is named Craig McCracken, became friends with the two. Mostly the male between the two. He joined us for our Brunch festival today a short while after he had arrived and afterward, nearly ate half of our food! He is an omnivore just like us Kirin, so he fit right in. He doesn't have long canines and can hide them well. As I write this, he still eats and speaks to the few new friends he has made within the hour. His stomach seems like an endless void as he continues to consume many of the leftovers from the Brunch.
One of the two young Kirin that met Craig first, River Side, tells me that Craig claimed to be the King of Equestria. It was quite surprising as I was told, which I'm sure you are as well. As we all are, I suppose. Craig is significantly tall, much taller than Rain Shine. He has a light brown coat color and his Cutie Mark is a simple thing: an unfurled, empty scroll.
He is also very fluffy.
Along with his claims, as King of Equestria, he says that you two are his daughters. As I have seen, he is a confident and friendly pony, albeit constantly looks tired. He also speaks fluent Old Ponish and admires many of the simple devices that we have. For example, he was very bewildered by the typewriter and jumped for joy at the aged machines. He is an oddity.
We asked where he had come from, and he himself did not know where he was. He had many tales with context we do not know of and tried answering our questions as best as he could. From what we gathered, he woke up in a cave and, quote, "escaped." We still do not know what this means.
Again, Craig claims that he is the King of Equestria and that he is the father of two princesses, implying the only two princesses of Equestria. If he is right and honest with his words I have a feeling that you two would know something about Craig.
We will be waiting for a response if you have the answers to our questions.
Sincerely,
Elder Grey Beard, the Kirin Shine Clan…

The guest room was silent, hardly interrupted by the letter's prompt landing on the carpet. Narrowed eyes gazing uncertainty at the letter in frond of her. She never reached her desk, simply laid on the cushioned floor, her soft magenta eyes starting at the aggravating scroll, her lean but plump body spread across the soft carpet.

Was this true?

A haunting question in her mind with an answer she didn't know. It infuriated her, hating when she had no answers to any of her questions. As far as she knew, she only had a mother. Her head and heart was weighed down in stinging pain.

She didn’t know anything about… this.

She didn’t know. Celestia didn’t know what to do.

4) Screaming With New Friends ✔

View Online

Paralyzed

One Week Later

An excellently preserved red open book flew from panicking cloven hooves.

”You’re leaving?! You can’t just leave!”

Craig hummed to himself. ”Why do you balk with such abhor? We believe We can leave, We do not the issue.” The only male Alicorn in the small library named Wooden Hoods turned his head toward the Kirin beside him, who also happens to be the oblivious overachiever, Sharp Stone. ”We art taking Our cousin with Us.”

It had been a week. A week of endless tests and examinations Craig has had to endure. A week of being observed and spoken to like some object. He’s getting ill from the Kirin that often crowded him.

Stone blinked stupidly, and looked a Craig in surprise. ”You are?” He asked, remembering the word "cousin" is the same as "friend" for Craig.

River Side, in her currently panicked stupor, hurriedly stuttered a reply. ”You ca-can’t take him! Also, he’s my friend!” She emphasized, taken aback by the King’s words.

Stone shifted his attention back to River. ”I am?”

”The young lad is Our cousin and thine comrade did agree to journey with Us.” Craig rebutted firmly, and stubbornly, attempting to convince his loud and equally as stubborn company to let him leave with his new companion.

”I did?”

”Be silent, my friend.”

”Okay, my Lord.” Was the blank reply. He simply nodded without question to his new intimating friend.

River stomped a hoof purely from her bubbling anger. Staring at the, quite possibly, god in front of her, she began warily. ”With all do respect, my Lord, we cannot just let you go. I can’t do repeat testing with you absent! You’re the first male Alicorn in… ever! In all of recorded history most likely! That’s why we need you to do basic tests on, then you can go.”

Craig’s muzzle scrunched in confusion. What world is this Kirin dreaming of? There are plenty of male Alicorns! However, he opted to stay calm and vocally repeat his desires. He didn't get in fights often, for good reason.

”Hath We not given enough? We wish to leave.” Craig made sure to speak calmly, because if his wife found out she would give him the look. Beside that however, he was not going to move in favor of others.

River grunted, knowing full well that the conversation would land where she doesn't want it to. They were both on a mission, one wanted information and the other wanted freedom. Which she really should have expected when she and other Kirin tested him the first time. She observed Craig every part of the day and night— hush, she’s not a stalker— and in her conclusions, she noted that Craig was, in only a few ways, an extrovert. He only talked when he needed too, though. She theorized that since he was a king, he knows how to react and what to say in whatever conversation he didn’t start himself… erm, which weren’t many.

Clearly, neither of them were going to budge. Thus, she needed to come up with a solution that solved both their problems. It isn’t something she couldn’t do, and she really wanted more answers to her hundreds of questions… Hmm, perhaps…

It would be a hassle, sure, but in the name of science, you have to be willing to give up anything! The only down side is Sharp, does the idiot really have to go with the Lord?

Sharp Stone abruptly sneezed.

Disgusted, Craig’s wings bristled. “Cov'r thy that from which we speak, fool!” He yells, bringing up his shaggy furred hoof.

”I-I’m sorry, my Lord!” Stone asked forgiveness, clasping both of his hooves together. ”Please don’t hurt me!” He bowed in anxiety and hoped the Lord’s hoof didn’t land on him.

”Know thine lodging, mortal!” Raged the king. Wood cracked underneath the angry Alicorn, along with poor Stone.

River placed a cleft hoof on her chin while Stone howled in his suffering. Well, then again, the Lord — or Craig— won’t leave without the fool and he can’t really tolerate being spoken to like an experiment, she never means too, but it's just how she treats her studies. She sighed. She really didn't have any other choice.

”Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow-”

”Alright. Here’s what will happen.” She started as she trotted across the room. ”I will let you go, as you know that you are my ’charge’, relatively speaking.”

Craig blinked. ”Art thou confessing that We may depart ’long with Our cousin?” He lifted his hoof off of Stone.

River’s cloven hooves clopped on the old wooden planks before she stopped. ”Yes, but on one condition.” She explained. Reaching down, she picked up her book from the rigid floor.

Craig cheered and clopped his hooves, or more like stomped, against the ground in excitement. Amongst his excitement however, he stepped on the unfortunate Kirin, Sharp Stone once more.

”Ack—!”

”Huzza! Freedom! Now, what is thy request, dear River?” The cocoa-colored Alicorn looked on in anticipation.

River, stopped and standing against the bookshelves, looks at the Alicorn standing before her. Brown, unkempt fur reigned the stallions physique, strong muscles exceedingly well hidden under the long and aged, scrambled fur. The most astonishing fact of his body, is that his fur is in fact nearly five inches longer than a pony should possibly ever have, and due to that fact, his cutie mark is a bit indistinguishable on his body. Cutie marks have a distinct texture of fur that is different compared to the rest of the body and is easy to find— if you feel around for it, for example— and is a deeply researched topic in pony culture. The fact that natural, ambient magic could change the biology of a particular area of a pony’s body is absolutely and amazingly fascinating.

Yet, during the tests, after a few Kirin that studied pony biology passed by his flank, and though they could see a bit of the cutie mark they felt no evidence of one. Everykin was in disbelief while the Alicorn was laughing loudly to himself.

River grumbled. She will not let something so uncanny slip passed her. ”Hm. I’ll be willing to let you go, with the acceptance of letting me come along with you.”

Needless to say...

Craig reared his head back. ”Pardon?”

… the King wasn’t all too joyful of the news.

Oh, no no no! This won’t do! A fuse lit in his mind. No, he will not be accompanied by a mare that treats him like some object! He felt his canines grow insignificantly as a spark of burning magic spurred in his chest. He paused, particularly in fear. Paralyzed and dismayed, his mind hurt. Was he really getting angry over nothing? Over the curiosity of a child? No, of course not. He couldn’t, could he? Why is he angry? He shouldn’t even be annoyed! Tis’ just a child wanting to understand what it doesn’t.

Craig’s fur shot up when her voice growled. ”Children are not "its," dearest. Watch yourself.” She spoke, and all in that strange alteration of Ponish.

Oh dear. We apologize… We believed thy consciousness was elsewhere…

”Do not worry, my dear. I am not angry at you. I found you just yesterday, actually. You... panicked, I guess I should say, which made me aware of you.” Her words ringed in his mind. He was quite used to the feeling of having an occupant telepathically in his mind. It was the feeling of a dull ache at the back of his head, except inside his cranium. It was the subtle feeling you get after someone pokes harshly at your head. It annoyed him to no end.

The weak pressure in his mind rolled it’s nonexistent eyes in response.

In Craig’s mind, silence reigned for only half a moment. ”Now be careful, sweetheart; I came since your magic jumped suddenly. You know what happens.” His mate warned him.

We understand.

It wasn’t five seconds since he threw back his head, then, subsequently sighed in apprehension. At least his beloved wife was aware of him being awake and watching over him. The knowledge brought him much comfort.

”Please know that I won’t be watching all the time, dearest.” She said abruptly. Well, now he felt like crying. ”So don’t call me simply for your entertainment. I will be busy with… duties. Love you!”

His beloved wife quickly fled from his now cautious mind with a hearty giggle. Craig’s fur stood. Whatever she is planning, he thought, ‘tis’ uncanny.

“Tch. She’ll be looking over Us... Periodically.” Craig muttered under his precious short breaths, quite like the oldness of an aged stallion, but was loud enough to be heard.

Stone, recovering from the brutal stomps inflicted upon his person, gently lifted his hurting head. His long, tangled mane brushed over his squinting forest eyes. ”W-wait. You mean she’s coming with us?”

Craig blinked and shifted his heavy eyes towards River, a look of hope was waiting in anticipation and rested as her expression. Craig sighed and turned away from the Kirin in slight irrigation. ”Yes,” he answered. ”She will come along... as company.”

River Side and Sharp Stone shared expressions: a large, excited smile faced a painfully strained, but joyous grin.

Luna blinked heavily and mumbled a response. ”…Truly?” She couldn't comprehend it. When did it start?

”Yes. I don’t understand either. She’s just been acting… crazily excited, I suppose are the appropriate words.” Celestia winced as a loud squawk erupted beside her, from within a golden cage standing proudly inside her bedchambers.

The Moon Maiden watched the cage with wide eyes as it’s shacking was caused by the phoenix residing within it’s bars. Another squawk was screamed from Philomena’s red-ish, orange beak. ”Hath thou spoken to her yet? When did this first occur?”

Celestia wilted, turned, and silently trotted toward her large plush bed. It was there waiting for her. ”The day before I left.” she replied quietly, her magenta eyes shimmering in confused concern. After a pause, she continued as she took off her regalia. ”At noon in the guest room, I was doing a bit of paperwork, you know how it is, declining a few of the nobles ’requests’? Well,” she said as she rambled and her horn sparked alive in bright golden magic. Grabbing her crown with a quiet thought, Celestia lifted it and held it in front of her face as it floated there in her magic field.

”Just as I was about of finish with them and retire for the next sunrise, she startled me by crashing into the window!”

Luna nearly jumped as her mane frazzled somewhat. ”What!” She snappily craned her neck to face the jumpy phoenix, a large smile still on Philomena’s face. ”You fool! Thou hast harmed thyself?!” Philomena crowed in response and Luna looked back at her sister, ”What is she saying?” she asked.

The Sun Monarch stared at the Moon Monarch, stunned. ”Lu! Have you questioned how she managed to travel to the Griffin Empire in just three days? Or how she found me in the exact room I stayed in? Either she teleported or never rested on her journey, and I doubt she is capable of doing either; I have no clue how she did it.” Celestia rested her crown with the rest of her regalia. The absence of that weight that’s always on her head made her feel like she wasn’t as important than she really is. She sometimes believed it was a nice feeling to have, just to not feel as bad as she did.

”Whenever I attempt to communicate with her, she’s always blubbering incoherently about something. But the thing that really concerns me is that the only thing that I can understand is something that she keeps repeating.”

Luna snorted in irritation and lightly stomped a hoof on the soft carpet that adorned the floor and circled her Sister’s bed. ”Well?” she prodded, visibly impatient. ”What is she saying, dear Sister? Thou hast yet to tell Us.”

Celestia took a breath. ”’He’s coming.’”

”…” Luna blinked. ”… Pardon?”

”That’s what she’s been saying. The words ’he is coming’ is what she is constantly repeating.” Celestia turned her head toward Philomena as the phoenix continued to thrash within her expensive cage, too happy to be upset. ”She knows something and she’s too exited to wait for it. I don’t know who she’d be so excited to see.” She glanced at Luna; her sister had a thoughtful look on her face as she too stared at the phoenix. ”What do you think, sweet Sister?”

”Hmm… We do not know what to think.”

Their voices diminished, but their thoughts were nowhere near to stopping. The only thing that prevented the chambers to become completely silent was the constant thrashing of the third noisy occupant as her wings flapped about without any real pattern.

Celestia grunted abruptly, which caught the attention of her sister. ”Luna.” she quietly called.

Luna stared, and said nothing. ”Hm?” She knew that if she spoke, she wouldn’t let her sister think of what to say. It was little moments like these with her that a simple hum will do.

Instead of answering, Celestia let go of herself and let her body fall upon her large, soft bed. A creak could barely be heard as the sheets surrounded her. Her wings stretched across the bed from both sides of her white, aching barrel. Celestia felt it rise up and down. She couldn’t remember the last she was fully relaxed, even if she were by herself. Her mane silently laid upon her bed as Luna watched, slowly forgetting the question that hung in the air.

Celestia didn’t want to say it but… ”Do you…” she trailed off, listening to her words being muffled by the soft, delicate sheets. She slowly blinked, and only once. No words came to her. Celestia felt so helpless, lost. She only hoped that Luna, her beautiful sister, would understand.

...She snorted. Of course her sister would understand.

Luna, after a long pause, trotted to the bed and climbed on it. Careful not to step on her sister’s large wings, the Moon Maiden snuggled into the pristine white fur.

”Sister?”

The older sibling turned her body to lie on her back, one wing wrapped around her sister’s barrel. ”… Do you remember that letter from the Kirin? The one last one from the Shine Clan, specifically.” Her last word was muffled by her sister’s mane as she nuzzled Luna’s head that rested just under hers.

Luna immediately moved her head away from Celestia’s soft fur and muzzle to glare at nothing in particular. ”Of course. T'was sent a week ago. We, hath not forgotten.” Her sea eyes sharply looking into her sisters lavender ones. Terrifyingly, it held an infinitesimal spark of suspicion. ”Why?”

The Sun Alicorn listened to her pet phoenix’s insistent squabbling. Her free ear flicked from the irritating noise, as the other was sandwiched between her and the sheets as she stared back at her sister’s eyes. ”What do you think?” asked Celestia politely.

The blue Alicorn wanted to look away, but simply placed her muzzle back into her sister’s soft fur. ”We do not believe it true…”

”But…?”

Luna mentally grunted. She sometimes hated how easily Celesta could read her. She… hoped. She hoped their… father existed. Contrary to her thoughts however, she replied with, ”We know that we have no father.”

Celestia hummed, and wrapped her long forelegs around her sister. ”We as in you? Or as in us?”

Luna’s heart skipped a beat. Is she saying…? ”W-what do you…” Her jaw tightened as she forced her mouth shut. Luna felt her sister’s fur against hers as Celestia shifted on the sheets. She felt her older sister lightly kiss her forehead, right under the base of her horn.

”I think, we do. I believe we do have… a father.”

Neither could believe the words that were said. So, they hoped. They hoped beyond hope that they did, in fact, find a missing father. Their father.

A "Ha!" resounded the room. "Never though I'd ever say that." The Sun Princess gleefully chortled.

Silence finally reigned within the bedchambers. Philomena having tired herself mere seconds before, yet still had that joyous, face-splitting smile plastered on her visage as she looked out an open window. Philomena watched the cloudless sky shift with the world as she hopped on her claws, all the while having that delirious excitement and longing thrive in her chest. The curtains near the golden cage shifted left and right by the draft from the glass doors opened ajar to a large marble balcony.

Celestia smiled happily as her legs intertwined with her younger sister’s, and her giant white wings surrounded the smaller Alicorn. She nuzzled Luna lovingly once again, it far being the last one given.

And, at last, the loving older sibling spoke to her confused younger sister with a bit of wonder in her voice after the long, comforting silence. “Let us send a letter back to them… I want to see our father. I wonder what he’s like, and I sure you do too. Besides that, though,” she chuckled. “we still have quite a bit of duties left to do.”

Luna miserably groaned into her sister’s fur.

”Alright! Woo! Yeah! Let’s go! Woo!”

Craig’s sharp ears flicked in slight discomfort and irritation as Stone voiced his enthusiasm. His large brown, cumbering body leaned forward in slouchy exasperation; he was not in the best of moods at a new revelation.

It was the morning after, and the sun once again hung in the sky, it shining pridefully in the heavens, past the various clouds that ruled the clear blue overhead. Many things shined as well, opposite from the sky. Plants and insects thrived on the ground as rich soil provides nutrition to the life that lived under the claimed skies.

One thing that didn’t shine however, was the father of that same sun that bothered him to no end. King Craig, or — as he prefers to call himself— the great ruler of his queen’s glamorous flank, found himself loathing the extra luggage he would be taking with him on his journey. By that, he means an extra pony. Well, not pony— a Kirin. A female Kirin, to be specific. He doesn't really get along with any female of any species, honestly, and he knows that, that fact alone will chomp happily on his brown flank sooner rather than later. Unless, however, they were a close friend or relative— or a young filly, since he is good with children. Kind of. A little bit.

Craig was startled harshly out of his questionable musings when he nearly toppled over by Stone landing on his back from… somewhere. ”Wow! How exciting! We’ll be heading to Canterlot you said, right my Lord?” The Lord grunted in annoyance.

”Er… verily, child. We are heading to meet my kin.” Craig would have rolled his eyes if only had known that expression existed. Instead, they narrowed as the obnoxious child of a Kirin wiggled on his back and disturbed his messy— very not preened— wings. "We would have gone sooner, by myself, had my kin replied." He added crossly.

”Stone! You get off him right now, you hear me?!” shrieked his, ahem, extra luggage from plenty afar.

Since River Side was so far away, this lead to Stone not catching at she had thrown: a hidden threat. Not like he would have understood if he did hear. The Kirin laying atop a slightly aggregated king paused as the scream reached his ears. Those ears then swirled toward the loud voice’s direction, the Kirin turning his head away from the King— much to Craig's immense relief. ”What! What did you say?!” Stone screamed back in response, having not been able to process what his old friend had told him.

Such an irritating beast, the King mentally grumbled. Then, the old stallion had a brilliant idea. Swiftly, the old king positioned his large wings underneath the unsuspecting Stone leaning above him in less than a second, and sprung them upwards with a strength that rivaled one of those ’scorpion lions.’ Or… What were they called? Martichora? No, that was his wife’s old, dead friend, back in the day… Ah, yes! Manticore is the name!

”W-woa— wwaaAAAAAAAaaaaaaaa!”

The Great King of Equestria laughed uproariously at the expense of the tiny, little Kirin boy as he was launched into the air. Craig enjoyed the spectacle of such terror. Oh, and screaming. Many much screaming.

”Craig! That isn’t very nice, dearest.” The King nearly winced. ”I am in a rush currently, dear. Here. This should lead you to our daughters. Don’t be so mean now. Love you.” The male Alicorn blinked in confusion. What did she—?

Abruptly out of nowhere, Craig sensed a large amount of concentrated Universal Magic— magic that manipulates the world— tugging him very far northwest. He could nearly see the strong magic pulling at his magical pool; he felt the very center of his pool latching onto the universal magic, like a tough rope. That thick rope latched onto, what he now knew as, Midnight Guardian, a…

… A royal guard? Why would it lead to a royal guard? Why is he royal? Wasn’t it just called being a guard? Craig shook his head and grumbled loudly. Too many questions!

”aaaahhhhahhaha! Wooo!"

The King sighed tiredly. He knew now he only just riled up the falling Kirin.

”Oof!”

Can’t the Kirin fall on the ground instead of him?

”Wow, now that, was fun!” laughed Stone. ”You’re so soft, too!”

The Alicorn didn’t feel any pain. Just major discomfort, and was very annoyed. Again.

A satchel and sack fell on the grass beside the two males. ”Stop playing around, you two. Stone,” River called, which successfully caught the attention of the pony- erm, Kirin in question. ”the Lord wants to head to Canterlot as soon as possible. Come with me to see the cartographer, we’ll need him for a map to Canterlot.”

Stone squinted his eyes for a moment. ”Oh. Okay.” He began to move off of Craig and paused as the King opened his mouth. ”Wait.” Said Stone abruptly, unknowingly interrupting Craig. ”Why do I have to go with you?”

River rolled her eyes at her oblivious friend. ”Don’t start, Sharp. Come on.” She urged.

Craig’s occupant sighed. ”Alright.” Stone didn’t have the chance to get off his furry ride however, as a large brown wing stopped him from doing so.

”That will not be necessary, children. We already recognize where to turn.” Craig politely informed them.

”Wait, really?” Asked Stone incredulously. ”Aw, thanks man.” There he went, calling him this ’man’ once again.

River stared at the large Alicorn. ”Wait, why didn’t you say this before? We could have left earlier!” she glared. Mostly because she spent a bit on the map she specifically asked the cartographer for.

The Great Ruler of His Queen’s Glamorous Flank huffed, once again annoyed. ”Do not ask thine questions, child. Fetch thy map if't thy pref'r, however we do not require it.”

”Well, I will, then.” And with a puff, she stomped away.

Stone unexpectedly laughed after a few moments. ”That’s how they usually walk away from me.”

Craig craned his head around and looked at Stone incredulously, who perched on his back, laughing at his own joke. ”Son, that is sad.”

Stone laughed even more loudly as his head fell back.

”Uh, are you sure about this, my Lord?”

”This is perfectly safe, child. We appreciate thy concern.”

”And fun!” Helpfully added Stone.

River turned away from the irritating males, as much as she could, actually, since she was laying right on the Alicorn of the two. ”That concern wasn’t for you.” She angrily grumbled to herself as she glanced at the two large— not preened— wings at her sides.

The other from the irritating duo, Shape Stone, stood excitedly under the large brown Alicorn. ”This is so going to be so thrilling!” He giggled as Craig wrapped his forehooves around his scale-y, furry barrel.

”Art thy ready, children?”

Stone answered immediately. ”Yes!”

River, unfortunately, answered too late. ”No!”

Once he heard Stone yell, Craig shot into the air. He heard two screams right after. One of exhilaration, and one of terror. Craig laughed as the wind whipped his face. Flapping his mighty wings, he felt the terrified River Side practically try to chokehold him when she realized they were in the air. He decided to scream with his new friends.

He knew then, that it was going to be a very good day.

5) Is That A Bird? Is That An Airship? No, It’s… An Alicorn?

View Online

Darkness, Sorrow

The wind brushed against his wings as the King soared higher and higher, following the rope that tugged him so far away. Up in the skies, he can laugh, sing, scream, yell, cry, disappear into the endless cobalt blue horizon or sleep on white fluffy clouds; Clouds are always better than beds, that is fact.

His chest expanded as he took in a large breath, huffing the few new alien scents and feeling the ’fabric’ of this new magic he first felt back in the cave, when it was a cave. Craig closed his eyes as thoughts he had pushed to the side the last week resurface. The cocoa-colored Alicorn chucked as he recalled the surprised faces of the Elder and the clan leader, Rain Shine, when they caught word that he was leaving their little community. As well as the faces of the young young Kirin he made friends with. The younglings of the bunch were certainly the highlight of his stay, right under the food he ate. They were so, so tiny! They reminded him of how small his fillies are… or rather, were. He guessed he was asleep for about two decades, as usual. That is plenty of time for his little fillies to… grow, without him.

Craig never slept during his stay. He didn’t really need to and felt plenty rested after his nap. Strangely, he felt completely rested, unlike his previous naps. He figured he really let himself go and fell into a deep sleep. Especially since he has been forgetting things and its been hard to remember a few details from before he slept. Which is strange. Ah, he keeps on rambling.

Anyway, in the mornings, on his traditional hour of grumpiness, the younglings would often climb and jump on his body whenever he laid on the ground as… er, this ’fun’, as they called it. It was rather exhilarating if he was truthful, and he would love to engage in those social activities once more with them. They were so charming, those tiny foals.

The Alicorn gave another mighty flap of his wings. He admired the fleeting ground below him as his mortal passengers loudly argued with one another, one squabbling above him and the one laughing below him encircled in his long forelegs.

He frowned as he remembered the tests. Oh, the tests. It was so… unnerving! He would say that they were terrifying, even, but he has too much pride to admit it. Craig, the King of Equestria, had the right to. They put their cloven hooves all over his fur, and he just had to sit there to rile them up. That got a laugh out of him.

The faces of the Kirin that first saw him. The first day there, the day of the Brunch, had been relatively astounding. He meet so many new faces and ate so much delicious food. ’Twas truly amazing. He will visit again, soon. Mostly for the food.

”Heheheehaaaahaha! Yeah!”

”How can your laugh be so annoying?!”

Craig was pulled out of his memories of old thoughts by some rather annoying laughter, only for it and another audible voice to blur into static as a sudden waterfall of unfamiliar memories gushed into his unready psyche.

It was dark. So, so dark. So lonely. Dark and lonely for so long. Craig didn’t know for how long. It felt like an eternity of darkness and loneliness and longing and sorrow crushed into a single, infinitesimal millisecond. It was so dark. It was so lonely. It… hurt? What was this? Where is he—?

Craig’s world rung. It was so loud. It was so unbearably loud.

Screaming.

Somehow, in the crushing weight that gorged on his vulnerability, dragged him through the disarray, ripped his head apart, he heard a terrifying scream. A howl from the very mouth of agony that pushed, jabbed and brought havoc to ravish his flattened ears. Now, the ringing was pale in comparison to the scream that emerged from the violent, nauseating static. It was a hellish cadence. ’Twas a horror, an abomination, from the deepest trenches of Tartarus. Craig, frightened and uncertain of what was happening, kept his eyes glued shut. He never realized when he did close them. He attempted to cover his face with his wings.

Only, he couldn’t. Alarmed, his eyes that he wanted closed slammed open in hopes to search for his seemingly missing wings. That was his first mistake.

There was only darkness. It was everywhere. There was only it, and if felt like it was pulling his eyeballs from his sockets. They enlarged when he discovered he couldn’t close them. He had no clues to know if a single moment, minute, or hour had passed when he acknowledged the pounding of his heart was absent in his panic. Was he just… a floating head? No, no. He can fell his chest compact and expand as he took his precious, ragged breaths. He can feel his fur mat from his sweat. He can feel the shaky joints of his large wings. He can hear a voice cry out as he felt his sharp ears flatten harshly against his scalp. His ears sunk into his mane as it spilled over his wide, scared eyes.

He just could not see them. The darkness was never-ending.

Then he realized, he is hearing a voice. It was so faint as it called out.

”… ere… can… be… nly… … p… ess…!”

In front of his wide eyes, a pillar made of stone formed abruptly in his sights. Half a second had not passed when a navy-purplish beam of condensed dark magic cut it in half and crumbled in his direction. He started up at the falling, stone cylinder with his unblinking, teary eyes. His mane chose that moment to mercilessly fall on those horrified pink orbs and blocked his vision in the last second as the tumbling pillar threatened to harm his petrified body.

As it tumbled upon his person, a surprised gasp rang within the room that the pillar once held up as Craig took his turn to cry out.

Then, simultaneously, it stopped.

Everything. The suffocating darkness, the nightmare he nearly drowned within, fled unexpectedly and evaporated once he calmly blinked.

”How can your laugh be so annoying?!”

What?

It was gone. Craig took a breath, very confused. As he gazed back down at the forest he was flying over, he noticed he was flying above the same trees he had flown over moments before. Or, before the… the, ah… darkness. But he felt completely fine, like it never happened in the first place.

How absolutely terrifying.

”Hey, look!”

Dazed, the fatigued King glanced at Stone, still wrapped in the large Aicorn’s forelegs, and flapped his massive wings to stay aloft within the calm draft that carried him.

”What has't thee found, young Stone?”

Stone excitedly pointed a cleft hoof southward, to the left of them.

”Over there! My grandpa always told me that the mountains from Peaks of Peril go wwaaaaaaayy up!”

River, turning away from the map she was inspecting, leaned over Craig’s shoulder. ”You mean ’way up’ as in up north, right?” she inquired sharply, smothering her urge to correct the ”illiterate idiot.”

”Uhh, yeah. That.” Stone chuckled sheepishly.

Craig slightly moved his long neck under the peeking Kirin. ”Please, youngling,” he urged, ”you might fall.” Concern laced his voice, something the Kirin he was warning caught.

She shimmied back between the King’s wings, apologizing as she shifted back. She glanced at her map, then toward where Stone pointed excitedly.

”Oh, did we pass the Lost Lagoon already? I was looking forward to seeing it.” she sighed somberly. Stone hardly heard her through the wind rushing in his ears. Craig however, was the contrary.

”What wast that? The what?”

”Oh! The Lost Lagoon. A large waterfall that is said to lead to large islands of coral reefs.” she happily elaborated from the King. River frowned suddenly. ”Say, are you alright? You don’t look very… er, less lively than usual.”

The King laughed loudly. ”We never look the part, as some say.”

River laughed along with him, albeit less jubilant. “Well, you certainly don’t look like a king. More like an old hermit grouch.”

Craig blinked heavily, not by the rushing wind, but the brutally honest comment. ”Thy honesty is refreshing. Thanketh thee.”

”Er, you’re welcome? I didn't insult you, did I?”

Craig shook his heavy head as a smile graced his lips. ”No, child.” he replied, looking ahead of them as the sun began to set. ”What is the next settlement, River?”

The Kirin in question got started by the use of her name. ”You… called me by my name.” she whispered breathlessly. The King just nearly caught it.

Throughout the week, River realized that the old stallion never called anykin by name. And neither did he with her. Well, most of the time. There was maybe only three times he actually did call her by name and it was when she was hardly paying any attention to him. It was very annoying, and she had asked several times on numerous occasions to address her properly. Needless to say, it never worked. And yet, now, once she heard him speak her name, she wondered if there is a reason why. She’ll ask later.

Craig grunted. ”River? The next settlement.” Her repeated himself, a bit harsher this time.

”O-oh, right. Sorry.” Scanning the map granted to her by her community’s cartographer, she announced, ”The next settlement we’ll cross with is Hoofington, which is next to Wagongong.”

The King nearly fell from the sky by the absurd names. Hoofing-what?

”Gagon whatsits?” Incredulously spoke Stone from under the baffled Alicorn. ”Never heard of Gagonknob.” He stated, having a bit of trouble pronouncing the last word.

River nearly growled as she virtually crumbled the map in her cleft hooves. ”Arggh, Wagongong, you moron! It is called Wagongong!”

Stone’s eyes lit up, but his other two friends didn’t notice. ”Oooh! I get it—!”

”There is nothing to get, Stone. It’s just a name you stupidly said incorrectly.” River cut him off.

Craig grumbled silently to himself. Malapert.

Stone continued speaking, as if he hadn't heard his fellow Kirin. ”I bet it has a lot of wagons. Heheeha!” he laughed. ”Get it?!” Stone screamed louder for his friends to hear when Craig flapped his wings and accelerated surprisingly quickly. The wind blew harshly passed them and River suddenly had trouble keeping her map in her cloven hooves.

”H-hey! Slow down!” River panicked as she yelled over the rushing wind, fearing she might loss her map to the strong drafts.

Stone wasn’t fairing too well either as he gripped the larger male’s forelegs in slight fear and surprise. ”Yeah! What she said.” Normally, he would be very excited and enjoy the rushing wind, but it had been a few hours they were soaring in the skies, and that rush of exhilaration blew over about an hour ago.

”Apologies, children.” Craig loudly asked forgiveness as he angled his wings downward toward the roofs of a few houses peeking over the horizon. ” The travelling lamp is setting. T’is nearly twilight, and ye senses wilt rest.”

It was irritating, yes, but mortals need their rest if they want to continue to be alive. Craig tried not to mind. He wasn’t upset at the two as he watched them trot away, the twilight having given way to night. The moon hung in the sky, and as usual it tugged on his magic. He was impatient. He could be using this wasted time to travel to his daughters as his youngest subconsciously called for him desperately. They were strangely far away, but he wouldn’t let that get to him. He will not impede his travels unless necessary, which leads him back to the present.

They arrived at this ’Hoofington’ earlier. The name irked him greatly. He landed in the middle of the little town and his forelegs got a little rest from being curled for so long. During that time, his presence got the attention of whoever was out at that hour. Something else that irked greatly was the stares of absolute marvel he got. He knew he was gone for a long while and that they were privileged to be near a king, but their gaping astonishment was not necessary. He didn’t like being stared at too much. He shuttered as he remembered the shock that dulled the townsponies’ eyes as he landed onto the soft ground and let his passengers get off of him. They herded at a little café and whispered among themselves and just… stared at him. ‘Twas very uncanny, and he didn’t like it.

”You sure you want to stay out here, my Lord?”

Craig blinked and turned to look at Stone, who had stopped to repeat his question. River didn’t stop trotting to the direction of the local inn and craned her neck to yell at Stone impatiently. ”He already answered you the first time, Stone!” She glared at the King after Stone looked away innocently, whistling a strange tune. ”Don’t think I forgot about you, mister! Tomorrow at sunrise I’ll be getting all that knowledge in that head of yours!”

The cocoa-colored Alicorn chucked quietly. ”Thee can tryeth. Seeth thee tom'rrow.”

River huffed as she continued to trot away. Stone, after a moment of staring at his newest friend, smiled. ”Goodnight.” He followed River to the inn.

Craig simply nodded in response with a warm smile on his lips. The King turned his gaze upward to the beautiful night sky. He watched in amazement as luminous white stars moved in the empty space of darkness, only illuminated by the soft glow of the moon. They created different patterns and shapes in various forms, as if the creator was debating on what to leave on their canvas. Finally, after a few minutes, the creator of the art in the night sky left, not any shapes or patterns, but two words.

The homes of the ponies had their lights turned off, with the exception of a few bright lights that shined through a couple of windows scattered across the line of houses. His best guess was that a few studious ponies were having a late night read with a pleasant novel in bed.

As he sat right in the middle, for the first time since he had awoken, his horn softly lit with his magic. A weak shine twinkled as the magic he summoned encircled his long and sharp horn, as so not disturb the ponies asleep. In a single sweep, the world around the Alicorn blurred and shifted as he closed his eyes, keeping the two words in his mind.

’I’m sorry’

For some odd reason, he thought it was funny.

Who is she apologizing to with her own beautiful night sky?

6) Little Black Bird

View Online

”Smoky— Black! Foal!”

Three Days Earlier

The Crystal Guard tried to speak as he wheezed his ragged breaths. Sweat trickled down his brow as his legs quivered. Innocent laughter drowned the quiet huffs and puffs as a foal bit on the out-of-breath guard’s ear with it’s toothless gums. As the foal sat on the hacking Crystal Guard’s back, a stallion sat behind a wooden desk and stared incredulously at the rasping guard in front of him.

The stallion, blinking greatly with confusion, has a much bigger build than the one carrying a giggling foal, and has much less experience compared to the stressed guard. His blue streaked mane drooped beside his eyes as they blinked rapidly, the white-coated stallion stumbling to find out what was happening and why a single foal caused his lookout’s apparent problem. But he couldn’t help the distressed guy if all he said were three words.

After what seemed an eternity, Captain Shining Armor, a happily married husband, spoke four words as he sat on his chair to the guard that finally caught his breath, albeit still a bit winded.

”… Care to repeat that?”

The guard’s heart continued to thump quickly, partly from adrenaline and partly from embarrassment. Rocket Bullseye, the aforementioned guard kneeling before his captain, had ran from one end of the Crystal Empire; he gets stationed at one of the lookouts with his partner Smoky Comet, nine to usually twelve times a month. Today is… well, was one of those days, and it was like every other day: normal, as always, until… uh… Huh.

The silence stretched and his sweat dripped as he hesitated. He took a breath to calm his panicked heart to— hopefully— start fearlessly.

”Er… He… Uh…”

Well… Okay, it was bad, he just… has no idea on how to describe what happened.

The Captain cut him off. ”Okay, okay.” he calmly said. Shining Armor raised his hooves to address his guard. ”Take a deep breath,” Shining instructed, slowly placing his hooves on his desk, ”and please, calmly explain what happened.”

Confused, baby blue eyes started into a single yellow one, the other closed shut.

The foal that laid on his back laughed and reached out with a tiny navy-colored hoof at a little bird perched on the other side of one of the office’s windows. The little bird tilted it’s small feathery head as it watched with it’s black marble eyes.

Atop one of many lookout towers, two watching guards stood opposite of each other, surveying the area and dirt paths that lead to the gates about forty-seven yards behind them.

Rocket Bullseye silently sighed, not wanting to alert his work partner and since-birth best friend. On the Monday, Friday and Saturday of every week, he would guard the gates from the afternoon till dusk with his old buddy, Smoky Comet. He quite enjoyed this side job. It was always quiet and calm, unlike his main job, which was basically making every explosive in the book. In the soft silence, he also enjoyed the comforting presence of a friend. It was never like the old days, years and years back, where a quite minute between guards was a miracle from Celestia. He isn’t too old, just a retired Day Guard of Canterlot. A veteran that loyally served over ten years to the crown.

Ever since the Crystal Empire reappeared however, he was one of the many guards that ’volunteered’ to join the accumulating numbers. Which also meant he had to live in the Crystal Empire.

Well, it’s too late to think about that now, he was meaning to move from Fillydelfia anyway. His life was getting boring, and he doesn't go too well with boredom.

The peaceful atmosphere weaved into the soft drafts that hardly ruffled his flame-themed mane, unseen by the enchanted guard outfit clinging on his lightly muscular body. The blue sky was in stallion’s sights, and like most boring days, thought of what his life could have been if he hadn’t accepted that business card. He was never born in Equestria, if you can believe that.

A whisper interjected his curious thoughts.

”Hey, Red.”

Rocket’s sharp left ear flicked, not because of the abnormal softness in the voice of his equal, but rather in irritation. If he wanted to speak, why didn’t he talk earlier? They spoke with each other right before their shift so that something like this didn’t happen, since he’d like to keep this job. It was one of the few things that helped keep the insanity at bay.

Nevertheless, he didn’t fail to reply. His concern for his friend not out of mind.

”What is it?” He replied quietly. The quicker this ends, that faster it’ll once more be silent.

”Have you…” Smoky paused to collect his thoughts. ”Do you… You remember Gupi, right?”

The hard-headed stallion blinked at the absurdity of his friend’s question. ”You mean your pet fish?” A short clank of armor proclaimed Smoky’s sharp nod. ”… Yes?”

”Do you think I should get him a friend fish?” Right then, Smoky went back to his usual cheery tone, unlike his, now gone, quite softness.

Grumpy at the fact that he fell into his friend’s fourth trap this week, Rocket grumbled a retort as he narrowed his eyes. ”You should get a pet cat to eat Gupi. Then it’ll run away because you’re so annoying.” He snorted the second time that day, irritated, both caused by that lousy and not to mention bucking annoying slacker.

Smoky Comet, a stallion with serious issues, snorted as an attempt to stifle his laughter. ”Don’t be like that, Bullsy! Just pullin’ your tail! But you’re a big and strong stallion, right~?” Smoky teased with a singing voice. ”You can handle it.”

The beyond irked stallion shifted his gaze to glance at the pest. ”Don’t you dare call me that!” He harshly whispered. ”You know I hate that name.”

Smoky suddenly gasped. ”Ooooh!” He yelled. ”You said the h-word!”

”Shhh! Not so loud!” Rocket warned.

”You’re just mad that you have a terrible name.” The insane child entertainer laughed. He sounded quite proud.

”I swear to Celestia, something is very wrong with you.”

”Nothing quite like your anger issues though, Bullsy.”

Rocket sighed tiredly. ”Oh my Celestia.” The merciful embrace of calm and quiet would feel very nice right then. Don’t think there is any other example as to why he loves silence to much. He was stuck with the fool. Smoky just knew how to push all the wrong buttons. The fact that he is doing it on purpose made him more upset.

As soon as it fled it returned. The silence shortly came back to soothing his mind.

The silence didn’t last long however. A sudden flutter of wings hovered above the post, prompting both the lookout’s ears to twitch.

Since the Crystal Empire’s arrival and it’s necessary cleansing of evil kings, its been a large tourist spot. Nothing surprising there, for obvious reasons. With it came the lost knowledge of the Empire and it’s quarks. Modern ponies noted the drastic difference of homes. The Crystal Heart began to be the marvel of the Empire and became widely known as the Lost Relic of Crystal Millennium, the fragile, priceless artifact that was doomed to disappear for a thousand years. From its many visitors, certain things the Crystal Empire became know by surfaced, ’fun facts’ if you will.

One of the lesser known but incredibly unique ones, is that the Empire had a lack of any bird. The only local animals were ones that can survive the harsh temperatures of the Northern Snow, making then strong and admirable beasts that can easily cause damage in a rampage; One of the lesser known reasons for the most magically strengthened Guard Shield known to Ponydom that surrounds the Empire. Of course, there are animals who are brought from the rest of the world, so that they can provide necessities for the Crystal Empire’s citizens.

It took all of three seconds for Bullseye to acknowledge this, and immediately threw his sights above. At the moment, he was worried if they had be caught talking two minutes before, and a fellow Pegasus Crystal Guard had arrived to collect them.

…

Nothing.

Rocket blinked in confusion. He was expecting an angry expression of disappointment from a guard, or a slight frown of pity, perhaps. So where was the guard? Who was going to pick them up to take them back to the barracks? What flapped just now?

Smoky narrowed his eyes as he looked around at the sky. ”Hey, you think they finally put birds in this shiny bowl of ours?”

”I suppose. You’d think we’d know.” He didn’t bother to correct his companion’s minor insult to the Empire. He would sometimes hear the ’slang’ around the Empire’s corners, but usually said nothing, since it was also used by the Crystal Ponies. Celestia, today he was just tired.

Grinning, the stallion stood slightly taller on his tippy hooves as he arched his neck, zipping his vision across the clear blue sky. ”Yeah, I guess. Hey, you want count how many birds we see? Whoever sees more wins~!”

Like usual, Rocket ignored Smoky, and rubbed a hoof on his chin. ”But why? There aren't that many trees here. They would have no home if birds suddenly popped up. That makes no sense though… How would they fly through the blizzards to get here…? And the barrier, that would stop them from getting through. Unless they went through the train’s gates?”

After all the attention the Empire was and still is getting, Princess Cadence decided to move the train’s tracks so that they entered through the shield for safer transportation. That meant the shield needed to have a specific weak point for the trains to pass. That’s where the Crystal Gate appeared. It’s not actually made of crystal. It’s made of a material that, when on contact, the Crystal Heart’s magic is nearly completely repelled, however not entirely. No pony except the Princesses know what the gate is made of, which makes sense. No leader wants an enemy to know a weakness to their protection.

Talking advantage of the present aura that did pass the gate to it’s center, Prince Shining Armor, with a bit of help from the newest crowned princess, Princess Twilight, weaved an advanced spell that relied off slight magic from the Heart. Similar to Canterlot, the Gate can detect good or bad intent.

Intent is a magic-related term used mostly to ’code’ magic spells. Basically, an Intent Spell, as it’s called, casted upon the gate to keep baddies out.

Rocket chuckled lightly as he continued rubbing his stubbly furred chin. As well as his ego. He remembered being the top of his class in Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. He always knew his stuff. Mainly because he’d get extra Desert at the end of the week if his grades were really, really good. And he has a pretty good memory, unlike his older brother. He’d once had three scoops of extra Strawberry Ice Cream and just a dabble of Chocolate Ice Cream, since it isn’t the greatest to consume(mostly for ponies, unfortunately). He enjoyed watching the jealous faces of his siblings. Their faces and extras after dinner were basically his motivation in his early years of school. It wasn’t until he matured a little after about two to three and a half years and fell into that ’hard worker’ mentality that extra after dinner deserts was a just a really nice bonus. And his sister’s faces after his brother moved out, that too. Heh.

Mostly forgetting about the sound of flapping wings, Bullseye repositioned to his ”Lookout Position” and proceeded to continue guarding. Only to, once again, be interrupted by that crazy stallion.

”Hey, Bullsy~!” The navy blue colored stallion sing-songed. ”How many birds did ya count?”

Sighing once again, like every other time, Rocket wilted a bit. ”None.”

A hoof shot into the air. ”Alright! I won!”

Rocket’s eyes widened. ”What? You mean—?”

”Yup!” His golden armor clanged against each other again, indicating another nod from the entertainer. ”I saw eight of them!” Bullseye nearly fell over. ”What’s funny though, is that they were all black and acting a bit creepy. I was hoping for some Macaws or something!” He huffed indignity. ”I swear, sometimes I'm the only one with good tastes for birds in this world.”

Puzzled, Rocket looked up, searching for the birds Smoky apparently caught flapping around. He knew Smoky would never lie, so he couldn't be wasting his time looking for non-existent black birds. About a minute passed.

He clicked his tongue on his unsuccessful search. ”Where’d you see them?” Rocket asked his partner.

”Oh! They’re just over there…!” Smoky replied happily, making sure Bullseye was watching at where he was pointing. Looking back, the entertainer realized something. ”Oh hey! There are more of them.”

Rocket’s eyes continued to widen as he realized something Smoky didn’t at that moment. ”And… they’re heading toward… us.” He finished, increasingly alarmed as the unexpectedly multiplying flock of black birds are flying at them at equally alarming speeds.

Smoky blinked. ”Huh, would ya look at that, Red. You’re right, they’re doing exactly that.” He acknowledged a moment after.

Rocket hooked his foreleg around Smoky’s. ”Which means we should move!” Yelped the more responsible of the two.

Comet nearly fell over pulling his hoof back. ”Aw, come on, Red! What are a bunch of birds going to do? I’m not scared of them like you are. Besides, I'm a Pegasus! I’m sure I can have a nice talk with them.”

”That is very racist. Move, idiot!”

Smoky flared his wings. ”Hold on, dude. They won’t do anything!”

”You don’t know that! They look aggressive!” He nearly slapped the slacker.

”Do they—? Woah!” Black filled their worlds as the small birds flowed like an inky river around them. Their ears nearly rang from the sharp flaps that emitted from them; They hardly looked like birds anymore, though.

Rocket hovered low to the ground, ready to bolt the moment the chance came. His heart proceeded to hammer against his ribs. Cold sweat began to run down his neck, much to his dissatisfaction, though that was the last thing he was concerned about. His thoughts jumbled incoherently. ’These can’t be birds…’ He squinted, trying to see through the birds, if he can even call them that anymore. One thing’s certain however. These aren’t normal birds. Meaning he had to be very cautious; he has to act like his life is in danger if he wants to get out. He ignited his horn, trying to startle the cursed things. When that didn't work, he charged his horn for a Flash Spell. He hasn't been hurt from the birds yet, not exactly, so there was no reason to harm them. However he did feel pretty threatened. He has gotten just a couple scratches perhaps. Let’s hope Smoky is the same.

”Ow! Hey! Wings off—! Ouch!” Shrieked Comet. Well, that did not last at all.

Issuing the charged spell through his horn, light ricocheted off Smoky’s golden armor, though it didn’t do much at all. He tried to flash light at the birds instead, in an effort to control the situation a little, perhaps even salvage it. Nothing.

So, that’s a fail. His spell is completely useless.

’Buck!’ Bullseye tried to see through the black blur. ”Smoky!”

”I-I’m okay! I think—! Ow! Stop! Stop it!” Smoky seemed to fight back with his wings. Needless to say, he was definitely struggling. ”Um, forget what I said! I totally need some help— Ow! A lot! I need a lot of help like, right now!” Comet screeched his last words.

And apparently, he literally did.

Smoky’s struggle suddenly stopped. His grunts faded away.

He screamed.

Rocket’s widened eyes watered slightly, and he didn't know why. ”S-Smoky? Smoky! Comet! What is it doing to you?!” It didn't take long to find out, unfortunately.

Loud clangs hit the Lookout Tower’s tallest floor, completely out of the blue from the flapping ruckus. That just made the hard-headed stallion even more worried. Bullseye’s calls were so raw they hurt his throat.

”Smoky! Smoky?! Come on, Comi! Please answer me! Are you okay?” He was so desperate, he called his old friend his old foalhood nickname. In a last desperate effort, Rocket practically fired a white-hot laser from his flashing horn at the swirling mass of blackness. As soon as it hit, a wave spread outwards from the hit as the screaming mass broke apart into these tiny floating blobs.

Broken appart, it scared away the the Celestia-damned things. Moments later they all accumulated into one large blob after spasming mid-air from the massive discharge of the magical blast. He hissed as light finally flashed at his eyes, so he turned his head in an attempt to make it less painful. He heard the mass zip away, a few caws being yelled as it did.

Oh boy, PTSD, here it comes.

Once his eyes adjusted to the light, he searched around for Smoky, albeit slowly. ”Smoky!” His concern was drowning him at this point. He looked at where his companion was last. ”Smo—!” His yells died right then.

There, around the full armor of a Pegasus Crystal Guard, was a foal. Smoky Comet, the silly entertainer, was now a foal. A bucking foal. It lied on the ground, fast asleep.

Rocket’s brain just… stopped. It then rebooted, played the events of the lest minute and a half, and began panicking.

”Nononononono. There’s no way… There’s no way! There is no way! How?!”

Okay— Okay, okay. Let’s just… think logically for a moment. Uh, alright, just… What’s he supposed to do with a foal? A friend-turned-foal no less.

…

The Captain! He’ll know what to do! He’s really good at magic, right? Yes! This is an emergency.

Taking a deep, deep breath, he tiphoofs toward the small thing. Unmoving, the tiny foal continues to peacefully slumber. He paused for a moment, watching the formerly full-grown stallion. Craning his neck downward, he softly grabbed the foal’s scruff between his teeth. Rocket gently elevated the Smoky-turned-foal and placed him on his back. He would teleport, but that would be too dangerous and it’s commonly frowned upon to teleport with a foal. Unless of course you and the foal are in immediate danger.

Bullseye sighed, hoping that this day wouldn’t be any weirder and just end. I mean, he likes strange oddities— it makes his life more interesting— but that was too much. Especially since... well, his foalhood friend got turned back into a foal. He never thought he would ever think that.

He sighed heavily as he quickly went down the steps leading to the ground floor of the Lookout Tower… Hey, look at the bright side, at least he gets to joke about this once Smoky get back to normal. Heh.

Uh… right?

…

Sure, yeah.

7) Dragon Toothed and Dragon Tailed

View Online

A Claw, A Paw, A Magic Feather

Present Time
One Day Later

It wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be. Meaning that it was worse than she could have possibly imagined. With nearly every single question, he answered back with another question, was incredibly vague, faked ignorance or confusion, and basically just blatantly deflected each question that he didn’t like with more diverges that somehow worked.

She has to admit, Craig was tough to crack and unbelievably clever, very tough, tougher than a will of a minotaur in fact. But she was even tougher than him! And she can prove it.

”My Lord, you mentioned Aidenn? That’s a place, right?”

”What doth thee bethink?”

Stone squirmed. ”Uhm.”

They laid upon the vibrant green grass, of which belonged to the ample fields that possessed the land occupied by the ponies. They weren't that far off from Hoofington, next to Wagongong and it’s railroads. They enjoyed a few beverages and foods from the local café Stone said is called Hot Hoof. Craig felt significantly more comfortable away from the ponies currently, he told them he couldn't handle the stares. It made sense, she supposed.

However, if she wants things to be easier she’ll need the King to actually act normally.

”Argh. Alright. My Lord?”

He took a sip of a tall cup of cold water that Stone bought for Craig from the café, and still with that Celestia-damned smirk still plastered on his face. ”Hmm?”

”We need you to speak normally, since ponies might be like Stone and not understand you half the time.” A part of her felt regret for sounding so annoyed.

Sharp’s nose scrunched, clearly offended. ”Hey!”

The King finally cracked! Ha! The only downside however, is that now she’s drenched is water.

”We apologizeth, youngling. But, what? We has't to doth what? The way We speaketh shouldst beest n'rmal!”

River shivered. ’Ugh. Gross.’ She thought. She felt a little better as Sharp hoofed her a handkerchief.

”Well, maybe for you. But for quite literally everypony else, T’is not. There. Do you understand?” River wiped her face with the cloth.

”Woah. Brutal.”

He sighed. ”Thou art v'ry condescending.”

River snorted rather unladylike. ”Look who’s talking.”

He blinked. ”…Us?”

She sighed. ”You need a disguise or something. You also need to speak Modern Ponish so you don’t stand out. Oh, and that means that Sharp and I have to stop calling you by your title.”

The King was quiet for a long few minutes. Craig was defeated. He heard the truth in her words and knows that she has a very good point. To disguise? What would he change to? The problem isn’t that he can’t do such a thing, he easily can, however he has no suitable form to use. He can also learn this ”Modern Ponish” very quickly, since during his rule, it was really only the Royal Family and it’s connections to other nations, it’s nobles and servants that kept up appearances. Lucky for him, since if his subjects didn’t start converting into something similar to Moder Ponish before he left to slumber, he wouldn’t have understood a thing.

Though a bit odd, Craig supposed that about two decades was enough to completely convert into speaking Modern. Though it was a bit different.

”Ah… Very well. If, if… We’ll doth it so mine subjects don’t stareth at Us in such a mann'r.”

She rejoiced! ”Perfect! Thank you for understanding, my Lord, erm, Craig.”

Craig sighed. He’ll need to rebuild his pride after this if he doesn’t get used to it.

Stone perked up. ”Wait, does this mean he won’t look like an Alicorn?”

River smiled, relieved. ”That’s right.” She took a bite of her sandwich in a shameless victory. ”Which means,” Her eyes shined as she turned back to Craig, ”studying!”

Stone groaned. ”I have to participate too, don’t I.”

She snorted. ”Why did you even ask?”

Hmm. Acting like a mortal shouldn’t be too hard, could it? He was one once, after all. Craig smiled. ”Well. We doth liketh studying. Howev'r, yond wouldst taketh too longeth, We wanteth to seeth mine young daught'rs.”

Sharp Stone flopped down. ”I don’t— What?” The drink in his cloven hoof nearly spilled. It has been a terrible day for him so far. He had to avoid so many questions at the café about His Majesty. The ’rumors’ had gone around like a wildfire, and all the ponies were staring at him. He noticed, even though they tried not to be. He discovered today that ponies aren't that subtle. At all.

River had to keep down a laugh. The Princesses? Young? ”Heh. Well you can go to Canterlot with ponies wondering why you speak ’Royal’, as you called it. Then you’ll have ponies asking you if you’re royal, then boom! Your cover is blown.” It was a lie, obviously. She’s pretty sure the average pony has no idea what Old Ponish sounds like.

Craig’s eye widened as disbelief abruptly appeared on his face. ”We’ll beest blown? Oh leif!”

Oh right. Ponies were very literate back then. No double meanings either. ”No, no. It’s metaphorical. You won’t, uh, blow up if you’re found out. But you will have a hard time.”

Craig growled. ”What art these phrases thee sayeth? We und'rstand not. Oth'r w'rds has't meaning anon?”

”Look! Do you want help or not?”

Craig huffed at how rude she was acting. ”We nev'r did need help. We simply did want mine kin to meeteth mine new companion.” He pointed his shaggy right hoof at Stone, who wasn’t listening to the conversation at that moment. He’s watching a large flock of black birds racing in the sky, it was going to pass over them.

”You mean to tell me that you would have been able to handle a world you don’t understand?”

”W-what? We used to ruleth it!”

”Well that doesn’t matter now! Quite a lot time has passed since then, and a lot has changed.” She shouted at him at his own foolishness. ”So. Let’s start reading some books so that you can understand.” She placed a cloven hoof on her chin. ”Oh, and some history books as well.”

Craig stomped his hoof in anger. ”It shall taketh far too longeth! We shalt simply collecteth the knowledge, it only doth take a moment.” He knocked Stone on his head with a hoof.

”Hey!” Sharp screeched, swiftly placing a hoof on his cranium. ”What? Ow.” He gawked at the King’s horn, which was pointing at Stone’s forehead. ”Uh… Yeah?”

Craig put on a very warm smile in an instant. ”May We has't thy consent to gain the knowledge of thy lexicon?”

Stone grinned awkwardly. ”Uh, s-sure! But, what’s a lexic—?” In a flash, Craig’s horn twinkled in lustrous magic.

”Very good! Stayeth still, mine companion, this might sting.”

River’s eyes widened. In that moment, a single thought slapped her face harshly. ”Wait! Stone, you idiot! Stop— Gah!” Her retinas suddenly burned in pain as a harsh light flashed unforgivingly into her vulnerable eyes.

A dirty-ish blond shaped igloo of radiant golden light expanded outwards from the trio, swallowing all objects it passed through as it inflated. The world around was seemingly unaffected. The wind unmoving. The world darkened milliseconds after, the clouds in the sky like bright stars as they gleemed from the intense light. Bigger and bigger the orb of magic grew, nearly reaching Hoofington, the town they so hurriedly tried to avoid. It then flickered at the end of it’s brief existence.

It lasted exactly four seconds in time.

The air is heavy with static, almost weighing down the three frozen figures in the middle of it all. And as promised, it only took a moment.

Breathing heavily, Craig’s body nearly tipped over, caught unawares by his weak legs. His head ached as it overflowed with intrusive information. Questionable knowledge blurred his preexisting understanding of the world. Gradually, the ache dulled and he slowly looked up…

… Right into the squinting eyes of an enraged Kirin.

”What were you thinking!” River screamed. She was about to slap some sense into him. Hard. ”Didn’t you think things through?! Look at what you’ve done!” She jabbed a cloven hoof to the male Kirin limp on the ground next to them.

Stone clearly laid unconscious. However, the only thing Craig noticed was Sharp’s drink spilled upon the grass. He blinked calmly.

”Oh, yeah. That’s pretty bad— Wha—?” The words died on his tongue.

Craig’s eyes swiftly enlarged. River’s body stiffened in shock. Stone suddenly awoke, his sights shifting to peer at the towering Alicorn above him. ”… Dude. What did you do?”

Craig’s wings shifted uncomfortaby. ”Uhm. I… learned how to speak Modern Ponish from you?”

”Wait— What?” Stone abruptly asked, flabbergasted.

”What?” The King parroted, equally as confused.

Sharp Stone gasped dramatically. ”Wait! You’re speaking normally!”

”… So I am.” Craig laughed. ”Fascinating! It worked!” He started to move his jaw around, testing out the new way of speaking. ”Dude. Duuuude. Doooodaaaaa… Oh! I know what chad means now. Hehe.”

River hadn’t moved a muscle. ”Y-you… What—?”

…

”You mean I brought all these books for nothing?!”

Stone laughed. ”Yeah.”

The late afternoon sunlight shined through the window and fluttered out her motionless silk curtains. Her flowing hair cast a shadow upon her messy desk as open envelopes were cast aside. As she read letter after letter, her tears nearly stained one of them.

After an unmarked period of time, the doors to her chamber clicked and silently opened inward, her back facing away from the slowly entering invader. She hardly paid any mind as her form shook; She was enveloped in a mist of joyful tears. Finally, she can now live peacefully knowing that… that, they’ve all—

”They’ve forgiven you. Every single one.” The doors clicked closed and her sister’s hoofsteps gradually fell silent, stopping right beside her.

A shaky chuckle left her trembling lips. ”It feels… so fulfilling.”

Encircling her sister with a comforting wing, Celestia gave her younger sister a loving smile. A genuine expression instead of her daily practiced complexion.

”A few of them actually appeared before me when you were out.” She revealed.

Luna paused to look up from a letter between her hooves. ”Really?”

The older sibling nodded matter-of-factly. ”What were you doing?” Celestia asked slowly.

”I had some… alone time.” Luna felt her sister’s wing tighten slightly.

”You know you can tell me anything, sister.” The Solar Princess stated. It wasn’t up for debate.

”Yes, I know.”

…

”Do you want to talk about it—?”

Two knocks spewed from the door, prompting the siblings to turn their heads. The knocks reverberated around the walls of Luna’s chambers.

Odd. Her brows scrunched together in confusion; Her room was noise-canceling.

”Strange.” Her older sister commented. She folded her wing back into a resting position. ”Your room doesn’t echo, right?”

”No, it does not.”

”Come in.” Celestia’s voice was raised to address the one waiting behind the door.

The doors opened with a noticeable click, and there poked in a chimera’s head with two miss-matched horns.

”Do I smell happiness? In this room?” He chuckled. ”I thought I'd never see the day!” The Lord of Chaos posed dramatically after fully entering the room.

”Discord.” Celestia calmly greeted. ”Is there something you need?”

Luna huffed heavily. ”Yes. What do you want?” She asked, lightly aggravated.

He stood on his two miss-matched legs, deflated slightly. ”Oh. Did I interrupt something?” He kneeled. ”I apologize.” By the way he said it, it was difficult to make out if he was sincere or not. Discord looked up. ”That’s what friends do, right? Hey, I knocked first!”

The sisters blinked simultaneously, realizing then that Discord did indeed knock.

”You… did.” A smile slowly appeared on Celestia’s lips.

”Miraculously.” The Lunar Princess mumbled angrily. Her sister nudged her side with her large wing.

”I’m proud of you, Discord. Your use of mannerisms is improving.” She smiled at him.

Discord’s eyes widened as the fur on his cheeks turned bright red. He swiftly whipped out a paper fan from behind him to cool from the praise. It had a cheery blossom design on it’s front as he waved it to and fro.

”My, Celestia. I thank you, dear. I’ve been working very hard, it’s about time somepony noticed.”

Celestia’s cheeks flushed a soft pink. Luna only huffed.

Discord put down the paper fan. ”Luna dear, don’t ruin your mood. It smelled so wonderful!” He almost rudely pointed his claw at the annoyed Mood Maiden. ”You know, I like you better happier.”

Discord winked. Luna’s cheeks flushed this time.

”What do you want?” She yelped, slapping Discord’s claw away.

He hissed for a moment, shaking his claw around. ”Ouch… Er, right, well.” He cleared his throat, motioning a balled hurting claw toward his brown-fured neck. ”Well, I caught wind of some… ah, few strange magics that’s going about.” Leaning back, —er, on the air— he crossed his miss-matched arms in a huff. He looked away, as if recalling a memory. ”And not the friendly kind, I can guarantee you.”

A glance was shared between the sisters.

”What do you mean?” Luna inquired.

Celestia blinked flatly. ”A few strange magics? Discord, there are many magical auras our top scientists are still studying, of course there are strange magics. Some of them ought to be a little dangerous.”

”No, no!” He waved his paw. ”I know that, but that isn’t what I meant at all! Two new ones, out and about! All willy-nilly! That isn’t right.”

Celestia placed a hoof on her chin. ”…How odd. You’re right, that isn’t…”

”Really, sister?” Luna deadpanned. ”Are you seriously believing him?” She glared at Discord, who looked hurt. ”Why would we believe you? How can you know that there are exactly two?”

”Sister, please!”

He snorted indignantly, positioning his paw and claw on— his lower torso? Uh— his waist. ”Well, I apologize for warning you. I suppose you want your subjects to turn into foals.”

Luna’s eyes widened. ”You wouldn’t—!”

”I wouldn’t,” His claw jabbed his chest. ”but rather one of those strange magics.”

She huffed. ”You jest.”

Discord simply crossed his arms and looked at Luna, bored and completely serious.

”Er… Discord?” He looked to Celestia. ”How do you know that this magic can turn ponies into foals?”

”Sister!” Luna seethed. ”How is that believable in any way?”

Ignoring her, Discord continued. ”I’m not sure if it’s the same one, but I do remember experiencing it once before quite a long time ago. If it’s even the same one that is. It wasn’t pretty.”

”What about the other?” She asked.

Discord nearly paled. ”It’s just… erm, incredibly strong.”

The Mood Maiden’s brow crept upwards. ”How powerful?” Celestia’s ears perked up.

He rubbed his neck for one moment, pausing hesitantly. ”The three of us combined might have the possibility to rival it. Er, maybe. That kind of powerful.”

The room was silent. The only thing that dared make a noise was the alarm clock that sat idle on Luna’s nightstand, tick after tick.

…

Celestia sighed.

”Buck.”

Discord chuckled. ”Me too, sis.”

8) Mortal King

View Online

“We’d parish for thee, mine Queen.” He stated wholeheartedly, bowing before her.

She sat on her throne, looking down upon only one of her many loyal servants. She smiled warmly at him, but is feeling troubled. “We know.” Yet she did not want to.

Lauren nearly shed a tear. “Please don’t...”

“What was that?”

She faked a chuckle. “Ah, nothing.”

Her soul cried as she told Craig a lie.

Silence had not reigned in minutes upon a specific trade route between the towns of Hoofington and Wagongong, and as the three travelers walked on the pathed road, another conversation emerged.

“It’s incredible, what he did.”

Stone sighed. ‘This again…’

“I doubt you say that in a good way.”

“What do you think?” She asked rhetorically. “No, I don’t. Because of his little stunt we had to flee. And, let me remind you, we were perfectly fine beforehoof.” River seethed, flinging a cloven hoof out in anger as she vented. “But no, he just had to learn right then! I could have put some good use on those books I brought as well.”

“Erm… I wouldn’t call it fleeing, uhm…”

“What would you call it then, hm? I would just love to know.”

“Well it was more like a, a…” Stone looked around, trying to find his words, “quick escape! Yes.”

“Oh, so what you call a quick escape is running with our tails between our legs, from an open and otherwise safe grass field? Yeah, okay.”

He stopped in time to stomp his hoof, completely fed up with the topic. A bit of dirt jumped some. “Oh come on, River! Give him a break already, you’ve been yelling at him for like, two hours. Don’t you think enough is enough? Look at him!” Stone pointed behind him, which River turned to glance past. “I think you can see he regrets what he did.”

River’s eyes narrowed at a sorrow-filled Craig. “That may be, but I’m still angry.”

The male Kirin rolled his eyes. “Clearly.”

“And so what he feels guilty? He is guilty! He’s the reason we had to practically gallop from the town.” Stone shivered as he heard her teeth grind.

“Have I not apologized enough? I said I was sorry.”

River glared at the Alicorn whimpering a few hoof steps behind her, effectively making the stallion shrink, somehow. “I don’t want to hear it.”

Stone grumbled. ‘It’s definitely her time of the month.’

Silence persisted once more, like a daunting monster overhead. In no more than ten seconds though, it was rather…

‘Huh, you’re in a bit of an awkward situation right now, aren’t you?’

Craig silently sighed to himself as his wife giggled. He did not have to answer her, like most times; she already knew.

‘Though you must admit, what you did was rather foolish, even of you. You hardly ever act like this, dear.’

He grimaced. Does he have to pay a comeuppance?

‘Good Heavens, no! I’m not mad at you, sweetie, I’m simply referring to what you did as stupid, since it really was.’ Craig huffed. ‘Besides, that wonderful Kirin already made you learn your lesson. My job was already done for me, and for that she is all right in my good book.’

His wife giggled as he smiled. ‘How terrifying…’

‘Hm?’

‘How, it’s so terrifying how much I miss them.’

‘Don’t worry, dear. You’ll see those two troublemakers soon.’

Then, he lost his smile. ‘Do you think they’ll remember me? Since… when, you know…’

Silence. ‘…Yes, I know. They were very young; they were so small.’ Craig could feel her love for their little girls. I mean, how could somepony not love them? They are so cha-

… Wait…

Right, they should be in their first mature stage of alicornhood. He chuckled to himself. Just wait until their fourth mature sprout, they’ll be all over the place!

‘…Tell me how you’ve been, sweetie.’

‘All is well, dear. These two Kirin have been putting up with me, somehow.’

She snorted, though not unkindly. ‘Now, don’t think like that. She’ll forgive you soon.’

‘Very well. The Kirin are a wonderful bunch. I’ve retold our tales with them since they seemed to enjoy them so much.’

‘Oh! Did you tell them about the River in Stardew?’

‘I did! Just image their faces! T’was an experience I never want to forget.’ Craig looked up, as if expecting something to appear from the skies, both Kirin in front of him engaged in another conversation; Stone seemed to be losing.

‘Knowing you, you messed with them all week.’

‘Perhaps, perhaps…’ He replied in a cheeky tone. ‘… Dear?’

‘Hmm…?’

‘… Do you feel a presence? …Here?’

‘Ah, I was hoping that it was just me, but I suppose if you sense that vile fiend-‘

‘He is no fiend.’

‘And why not? Do you really believe he is in reach? To… what they say now, reform?’

‘…Mhmm, I do.’

She sighed, exasperated. ‘I trust you, dear, but please don’t be reckless.’

‘Don’t worry about me, I will not be harmed.’

‘Very well. But if you turn on your word, you will wish I give you mercy.’

Craig chuckled as he returned to the real world, catching the attention of both Kirin. ‘I understand, dear… Question: when until I see you again?’

‘Miss me already?’

‘Must you ask?’

‘Well, until I figure out where in Aidenn I’ll appear if I’m even able to cross to see you, certainly after you reunite the girls.’

‘Wait a moment, are you not in this realm?’

‘No, I am not, unfortunately. I’ll tell you the rest later, dear. Now, this was a wonderful chat sweetie, but you seem to have some attention on you.’

‘Very well…’ Wait, what?

Looking back down, him blinked at the two Kirin staring at him.

“…Ah, yes-? What?” He blinked as Stone squinted his eyes.

“Are you okay, my Lord? You were just…”

“You were simply staring ahead, my King.” Add River, hardly sparing a glance at Craig.

“Yes, I was simply… thinking.”

He heard his wife laugh out loud. ‘Astounding, Craig.’

‘Quiet.’

He felt very weak in his mortal shape. He was much smaller and fragile now, his wife now could dwarf him in size, possibly his kin now as well. All that magic he gained from eating that delicious food helped him succeed in shifting his form, currently victim to the motion of this… ‘train’ he is sitting in, as his two friends claimed it was called. He was weary of the machinery at first, after he realized he was going to have to enter it, but he trusted their judgment.

He realized soon after that he was so glad he did, as he sat there for hours upon hours, only staring out the window next to where he laid, the night and day passing as if a fleeting memory. In awe, he watched the train take him through many villages and forests, past the many valleys littered across the land, past many a mountain that kissed the sky and deserts that beamed whatever water within, as it rhythmically moved him forward and back. But most importantly, it took him closer to his beloved children.

Oh, how he now loved this beautiful piece of machinery, regretting his initial hesitation towards this beast of steel metal as it took him afar, stealing all the time he first thought it would take to travel to Canterlot. He dared not look away, in fear of missing the most luscious acres of landscapes that this planet had to offer, in fear of never witnessing newly built monuments created by the creators of this world, to all the hard work his absence allowed to happen, all without an ounce of regret. And so, he stayed and never moved, never placed his head down to slumber, and not one moment did his tear his eyes away.

In awe, there he stayed. Albeit to his grave disappointment, it wasn’t long after that they stopped at a place, shrouded in the shadows the trees high above cast, down towards his being, where he realized with widened glossy eyes where he was.

Dream Valley.

His wonderful homeland, where he lived and served for countless years. Here, where the grass he stepped upon now were the ones that cushioned his hooves in times of peril, of hope, of joy, and of love then. Here, where he slept and wept, lost so much and won so little. Where he uncovered the purpose of his life, unraveled the numerous mysteries of the universe, and let go of so little burden.

Here, where he met her, where he served her with his very life. Where she ruled with such a loving hoof, his beautiful Queen. The one who guided him throughout his mortal life, and the one granted him the one of immortality.

Here, where the birth of his two daughters occurred. Where they played and lived their foalhood. Where he had to say goodbye to those two curious faces…

It brough him to tears, and it is a fact he was not ashamed to admit.

Here he stood in the land that birthed him and raised him, that watched him grow and stayed for centuries after. Where his lived his foalhood, his adulthood, and his alicornhood. And here he stood again, back to a mortal and with friends, back to where it all began; like always, he is reminded that life is a simple cycle.

He smiled as his heart ached in bittersweet sorrow. It was good to be back, but like what his wife once taught him within the many lessons she preached, home is where the family is.

And so, he marched away, waving away the concern of his two friends with a happy grin, elated tears dripping from his face, continuing without explanation.

Beware, Equestria, your King is back from his long slumber and he is determined to travel the very oceans to return.

The next morning, after both Kirin took some rest and reenergized themselves at an Inn local to an old town named Stratusburg, they boarded another train; this time he could hardly contain his excitement for the, no doubt, amazing scenery he will experience.

And how right he was. Passing snowy mountains and crossing atop a bridge above the ocean, passing the awe-inducing landmarks known as Mountreal, Rainbow Falls, Neighagra Falls, passing by the towns of Windsoar and Bitsburge, Sires Hollow, Foaledo and Detrot, it was then he saw it.

“Ah, Canterlot!” Exclaimed River from beside his surprised self. “What a beautiful view from down here.”

Craig’s tired eyes somehow widened even larger. “It is so… s-so…!”

She smirked. “Lustrous? Noble? Elegant? It is the Capital of Equestria, after all.” She pointed with a cloven hoof. “That’s where the princesses live.”

Craig could only slowly nod in astonishment, his brain hardly processing River’s words as he watched the Canterlot Palace gleam in the sunshine of his dearest daughter’s Sun, eyeing the pleasing view through the train’s window, remembering that the astronomical object was passed down from her amazing mother.

Six days had passed since their departure from Wagongong, only traveling by train from then on after the King experienced the ‘magical metal box’ on their first trip and refused to travel any other way. Much to the annoyance of River, who wanted to fly over a specific forest for some odd reason. Too bad Craig is now his birth race of an Earth Pony.

Throughout those days they have been traveling, as he watched the lands pass by them, he practiced this new Ponish with a little help from Stone himself, since he is the one he rudely took the lexicon from. He also used River’s books to aid him as a sort of apology. He thinks it worked, remembering how the girl smiled at him. He did have the mind to also apologize to Sharp for what he did to him, after much consideration, but the Kirin simply shrugged off what happened, saying that ‘it’s all water under the bridge.’ It took a moment for Craig to understand and he was grateful that the Kirin was not upset, on the condition that it never happens again, which Craig agreed to with a slow nod. A few days they would eat food together, which the Kirin said he brought from a buffet at the front of the train, and every time Stone or River brough him food he would thank them.

He would listen to River talk about Equestria and its latest inventions, by his request of course, since he knew River loved to talk about anything science related and kept up with ‘the latest news.’ What he heard hit him differently though, never in his life did he hear a civilization evolve so quickly in such a short amount of time, and he has seen plethora of them fall. Oh, how he wished then that he never left to slumber, so that he could have watched Equestria grow. Though, he wouldn’t be alive now if he did that. Terms and technology that would be considered revolutionary back then was commonplace nowadays. He then asked about magic and how it has evolved in his absence when he remembered a good friend of his named Starswirl. To his surprise it hasn’t changed too much, though there are dozen new spells he has never heard of, along with new areas of the Magical Theory that could become a career alone which surprised him since there weren’t many of those. Two decades ago, anyway.

She didn’t talk too much about history after she lost herself in a book, to his disappointment, but he considered interrupting the Kirin as impolite, since he knew there was always time in the future. Besides, he didn’t like it when others interrupted him while reading a good book, why would he want to be a hypocrite?

Packing up River’s books in her pouch and munching on the rest of his ‘donut’ that Stone gave him, which in now his new favorite pastry, he prepared to finally arrive to their destination after their week-long journey: Canterlot.

He looked around to shave off his excitement and, he’ll admit, a bit of nervousness. Craig’s mind wondered as he leaned back on his seat.

He had grown very comfortable with his two new friends throughout the trip, not to mention the modern language. Stone encouraged him to speak with a few ponies within the train as a test on how well he spoke. Albeit nervous, he walked up to a few ponies and even the conductor of the train and had ‘small talk’ with them, exactly what River had suggested he do. He didn’t really like shifting that much attention to himself, especially in more recent years, but he did not let that deter him. He felt like it was an obligation to please his friends now, for some odd reason, and he knew that in the end it would help him in the long run.

Thankfully, it went well, all things considered. He managed to make one or two ponies laugh at a few jokes somehow, and he was now more confident in his social abilities. He was a mortal pony for now, not a King, and he needed to act like one, which both Kirin said he was doing alright so far. He was glad he had brought River, after all she had done to aid him. Not like he’ll tell her. The Alicorn-turned-stallion chuckled.

A giggle he heard from beside him, which surprised him, promoted him to turn his head to his friend.

“You excited?”

A smile met his eyes, from the one and only Sharp Stone. He chuckled again, this time at Stone’s jubilant tone. “Very.” He replied, his voice now a bit hoarse since his change in form.

He watched his companion blink at him. “You know,” Started Stone, “you look a lot different than your… uhm…” He flinched from Craig’s slight glare. “Right, not in public. Forgot.” He grinned sheepishly at his mistake.

Craig motioned him to go on with a hoof. “Right, well, I was saying that you look a lot different from before.”

The King tilted his head slightly. “What do you mean?”

“Well, other than the obvious differences, you know…” He tried to keep it as obscure as possible in case of eavesdroppers, which Craig showed appreciation for with a small smile.

“Mhm.” A ragged reply.

“Well, you have a bit of white hair now, of all things. A lot in your mane and a bit in your beard.” Stone said hesitantly, watching carefully if he has offended the King in anyway with his words. He lowered his voice further. “You sound pretty old now, too.”

Craig nodded, knowing that what the Kirin is saying is true. Since he changed his shape all his aspects changed to fit his form. He now spoke like an aged stallion, which is an accurate description to what he is. While walking the roads of Stratusburg and Dream Valley, he discovered he walks slower as well. Not like he could control what he changed to anyways, this was the only other form he has. His mortal form he was born with, and the one he changed out of when he ascended into alicornhood.

So yes, this form is a little rough around the edges.

Stone, unaware of Craig’s inner thoughts, took his silence as a sign to continue speaking. “But, that’s not all bad.” He grinned, ever the optimist that he is. “Remember when the conductor tried to deny your offer to shovel the coal?” Craig nodded. “Believe me when I say, that every one of those ponies that watched you help him were surprised. I think that’s because you seem weak, but in reality you’re a lot stronger than you look.”

He chuckled. Well, that is what happens when you loyally serve a Queen before and after multiple wars.

“Yes, he looks like an old, ragged goat.”

Craig and Stone turned to River, who was enjoying a small salad, her book closed beside her.

He chuckled at the jab at his appearance. “Do I really look that horrid?”

River nodded. “Yes, you do. With all those scars on your body.” She said, a bit of humor in her tone, which was all Craig needed to hear to know she wasn’t being serious.

“Nah, don’t listen to her. All she does is lie. Your scars are cool.” Pipped in Stone, his cloven hoof now on Craig shoulder, perhaps as an act of comfort.

River laugh loudly as she retorted, her salad nearly finished. “Hypocrite.”

Stone grinned. ‘Two can play that game.’

“Hard head.”

“Mouth breather.”

“Nerd.”

“Loud sleeper.”

“Egghead!”

“An illiterate!”

“Obsessive!”

“A fool!”

“A hoarder-! Wha?”

Both Kirin turned to a laughing Craig, attempting not to fall off his seat as he grips his sides.

River huffed. “What’s so funny-?”

The King then kneeled over in a single motion, a loud wheeze fluttering the air. “I’m failing to contain my mirth, for you sound like my wife and I whenever we argue! Haha!”

“You mean like-” Stone blinked at the other Kirin.

River snorted unkindly at Craig. “We are not a married couple!”

“Yeah! What she said.”

“I would like to personally welcome you to Canterlot!” Screeched the speakers, relaying the conductor’s message throughout the entirety of the train’s passenger car. “We hope you enjoyed your ride; we hope to see you next time on the Friendship Express!”

Somehow, Craig laughed harder after that, suddenly howling in barrels of laugher. Friendship Express? What kind of name is that? It is hilarious! Lauren must learn about this-

Stone patted his back as he suddenly spiraled into a fit of coughing.

“Ah-hah. Thank you, friend. I am well.” Said Craig, waving off both Kirin’s concern for his wellbeing. “Well,” he began, feeling the rhythmic movements of the train slow as they reached their destination, “shall we get going?”

“Indeed we shall, good sir.” Chuckled River.

Ponies hurriedly packed their belongings and readied themselves for departure, a few unfortunate souls just waking up from the obnoxious voice that is the conductor. River nodded at him in appreciation for neatly storing her things beforehoof as she and Stone hauled the bags.

Slowly, he stood after finishing eating his marvelous donut, letting out a grunt as he did. “Would you two like me to assist you with those bags?”

“Nah, we’re good.”

“Yes, we’d rather you don’t. Mainly because I’m pretty sure ponies will make a fuss about an old weak-looking stallion carrying a bunch of heavy bags.”

He sighed. “Very kind of you, River.”

“No offence.” She added, shamefaced.

“None taken, my child. Now come!” He swiftly trotted towards the train’s doors with a happy grin. “I cannot contain my elation much longer! I want to explore this new world.”

“Comin’ boss!” The jubilant Kirin right behind the King, both watching with vigor as the doors slowly opened. River rolled her eyes with a hum, shaking her head.

“Boys…” She calmly walked by the now-open doors leading to the outside world, watching many ponies quickly clambering out the train. Feeling the fresh air comb through her mane and filter her nostrils of any particles that accumulated during the ride, she grinned.

‘Canterlot, here we come!’

”Wait, I’ve Slept For How Long?”

by Mornings Dew

1) Awoken... ✔

2) ...And Ready to Eat! ✔

3) Questions, So Many Questions! ✔

4) Screaming With New Friends ✔

5) Is That A Bird? Is That An Airship? No, It’s… An Alicorn?

6) Little Black Bird

7) Dragon Toothed and Dragon Tailed

8) Mortal King