Twilight Sparkle finds herself transported to another world straight out of old stories she used to read. A world of monsters, myths, heroes and villains awaits her as she gets tangled up in a plot to resurrect a deadly threat...
Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship, finds herself transported to another world straight out of old stories she used to read.
Equellas. A place where earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns still live in three separate kingdoms, and the looming threat of war hangs constantly over everypony's heads.
She enlists the help of a hero from her childhood stories in order to find her way home, and discovers that fate has it's own plans for her as a conspiracy threatens to not only destroy this world, but perhaps even Equestria as well...
A tempest raged across the skies and the oceans, creating howling winds and lashing rain.
As lightning cracked the sky itself, ponies down below on the earth huddled together in their homes. Mothers and fathers alike covered their young one's fragile ears as the gods bellowed and raged amongst themselves.
One lone stallion stared up as great flashes lit up the world. His mane slapped against his neck as the rain drenched him, his long braid growing matted and knotted. His golden irises shone like beacons in the darkness. A figure seemed to fall from the sky as he watched, and appeared to be struck by lightning. He rushed forwards, cast off his tunic and strode into the water without fear.
The figure, a pony from what he could see, crashed into the water and sank beneath the waves. The stallion dove in after, and upon seeing she was a mare, he was both entranced by her beauty, and suspicious as to her origin, for she had both pegasus wings and a unicorn horn. His mind raced as he swung a hoof around her and dragged her to the surface.
Taking care to keep her head above water, he paddled back to shore and carried her to his home along the coast. The storm continued to rage high above, robbed of the life it would have claimed had he not intervened.
He entered his home and quickly took her to his bedroom, wincing as he thought of anypony catching him in the act with this mysterious mare. As he lay her down, he checked her over and wiped the blood from her nose. Satisfied she was injured but alive, he grabbed a blanket and threw it over her before leaving and allowing her to rest.
***
Canterlot was quiet today, thought the princess as she strode through the castle's corridors. Her long purple legs carried her with grace and dignity, and her mane remained neatly combed and brushed as it draped over her neck.
The palace was usually abuzz with nobles, delegates from various allies of Equestria, or even just serving ponies going about their daily lives. Not today, however. Today was strangely peaceful and quiet. The princess strode through the empty corridors, gazing up at the portraits of past rulers and high born nobles as her wings fluttered. They were growing larger and heavier by the day, and she found herself continuously rearranging them as her frame-struggled to hold them up at times. She grunted in frustration and she paused to give them a quick stretch, just as a pair of guards rounded the corner. They quickly stopped chatting amongst each other and bowed to her, each giving a respectful salute.
"Princess Sparkle," they said in unison.
Twilight Sparkle nodded at them and folded her wings. "Hello, gentlecolts. Anything to report on your rounds?" she asked as she straightened up. She thought to herself that she was getting tall now, not quite to Celestia's height yet but still taller than most. Her mane had gotten longer too, but not to the levels Celestia's or Luna's were, and didn't yet have that 'wavy' quality to it.
"None, ma'am," one of them responded. "Same as usual, all quiet in this part of the castle."
Twilight nodded thoughtfully. "That's good."
An awkward silence fell upon them as the guards waited expectantly. She gave them a goofy smile and a small salute and felt her ears begin to burn. "Well, keep up the good work, guys. As you were."
They both clicked their heels and saluted back.
"Your highness."
They trotted away, resuming their rounds of the castle's corridors. The princess watched them go with an almost sad smile.
Truthfully, Twilight was bored. Not that nothing happening was a bad thing, but she longed for adventure like she had before she became princess, rushing off to save the world or even just to solve some friendship problem somepony was having. Now what became known as the 'young six' were running around doing the rescuing and the solving. With a quiet laugh, she wondered if Celestia did something similar in her youth.
Equestria was the safest it had ever been, and with her enemies either reformed or turned to stone decorating her garden she felt like she had very little to do nowadays beyond make appearances here and there. Her friends were all taking care of their own lives, and their weekly catch up wasn't for another few days yet. Tempest Shadow still visited her from time to time, telling tales of her exploits in the frozen north, fighting windigos and spreading word of Twilight's lessons to lost little hamlets of ponies, and even a griffon colony or two.
Eventually, the princess found herself at the entrance to the great library. As she entered, the librarian gave her a smile and a polite nod before burying her nose back in the book she had open.
Twilight smiled back and gazed around at the books. Sadly, the library was as empty as the rest of the castle. "It seems nopony wants to just read books anymore." She laughed to herself quietly. "Oh my gosh, Twilight, you sound just like Granny Smith. You must be getting old."
With a sigh, she strode forwards and began taking random books off of the shelves. Some from advanced mathematics, to see if there were any equations she hadn't solved yet. There weren't so she put them back with an unsatisfied sigh. Some from advanced string theory, to see if she could drop her two bits into the matter. Her head swam as she gazed over the seemingly nonsensical scribbles and, even by her standards, advanced equations.
"Maybe not that one," she murmured and put it back on the shelf.
She passed several other rows before coming to the fiction section. She found herself rarely coming here as she grew older, finding books grounded in reality more entertaining. Her wings rustled uncomfortably, and with a grunt she began to rearrange them again.
She was glad the library was virtually empty, besides the librarian of course, while she did this. It felt embarrassing if anypony saw her do this, to have to rearrange her own wings, and was glad to do it in solitude. She bumped a shelf and knocked a book over.
"Darn these infernal things."
Her wing folded by her side and glanced down at the dusty book. A warm magenta glow surrounded it as she rose it up and looked at the cover. "The Legend of Broncoles..." she read aloud as she traced her eyes over the engraved image of a lightning bolt.
One of many stories about a hero who performs great feats of strength and bravery, in a land of war and poetry, where the world remained three separate kingdoms of unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies. Where heroes and monsters, myths and legends were commonplace.
Twilight's personal favourite from when she was a filly was the book she held at this very moment. Countless books were made detailing the life and times of the hero Broncoles. Some claimed to be historical pieces, others outright novels of grand adventure, and some simply for children. Regardless of fact or fiction, to this day he remained of Equestria's most legendary and epic heroes, often discussed by lovestruck young mares playing out a fantasy, and a popular choice of costume for stallions on Nightmare Night.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to read something just for fun for a change, would it?" She glanced around to see if anypony was around. Of course there wasn't, and she let out a content sigh. As she opened the book, her face twisted in confusion and dismay as she saw the pages were either blank or all the words had been smudged out. "Huh?"
She flipped through the entire novel. Every single page was damaged, each word a meaningless scribble and the whole book just a senseless waste of paper that had been bound and pressed. Her brow furrowed in frustration.
"Who would do something like this?"
The mindless slaughter of a precious book shook her to her core. She squinted at the words, and saw some small writing that was just barely readable, along with the symbol of a lightning bolt scrawled next to it.
"It looks like a spell almost, but I don't recognise it..." she murmured as she squinted at it. She traced a hoof over the symbol, and the book suddenly began to tremble. Twilight took a step back and covered her eyes as a bright light started to emanate from it's centre. Pages ripped themselves away and formed a swirling tornado as the princess was lifted off of her hooves. She cried out and kicked in the air as she tried to grab onto something, her wings flapped uselessly against the magical pull of the vortex. "Somepony! Help!" she cried as she felt her body being pulled into the swirl of magic.
"AAAAHHHHHHH!" She shrieked as the light grew around her, and then she found herself falling, and sudden wind and rain lashed against her skin. She whipped her head around in fright, the flashes of lightning around her caused her to shriek continuously and fly blindly through the night.
Why was it night? It was barely even noon when she went into the library. Her horn ignited as she cast a shield around herself, hoping for a momentary reprieve from the storm. A bolt of lightning thundered down onto her, causing her to squeal in pain and her magic to dispel. The winds continued to buffet her, and she felt weary as blood trickled out from her nose. She feebly attempted another shield as she felt her strength weaken. Another lightning bolt struck her, and darkness took her as she began to fall.
***
The librarian put her book down and pursed her wrinkled lips. "Really now, a princess should have more sense than that," she muttered crossly. She rounded the corner to where the commotion was coming from, and glared around at the mess. Books lay scattered about, having been knocked off of their shelves, and a light breeze rustled some loose pages that blew idly by.
"Tch. I shall have to reprimand that filly later, princess or not."
Quiet Quill quietly began to tidy up the books, paying no heed to the Legend of Broncoles as the lightning bolt on it's cover seemed to sparkle.
***
Twilight stirred gently as she felt something soft and warm underneath her. A warm blanket was draped over her, yet her mane and tail remained drenched. She sneezed and rubbed her muzzle, shivering lightly beneath the blanket as she pulled it over her shoulders. Her wings fluttered lightly as she sat and looked around. No decorations, save for some nets along the walls and things that resembled a mix of farming and fishing equipment. Four simple stone walls with two small windows to the outside, which the light of the pale moon spilled through, and the water beyond seemed to glow in it's shine.
"The storm..." she murmured. The image of the Storm King flashed through her mind, and she shivered as she realised they were eerily similar.
The princess unsteadily rose to her feet and gave herself a shake. She twisted her tail and rung it as dry as she could. Her mane had already been dried, and the warm blanket that was over her
A simple cot of hay lay in one corner, where she now was, and a large wooden door stood opposite. A rug lay on the ground between the cot and the door, and the ceiling was made of a sturdy looking wood. She stepped towards the window, her hooves echoing slightly in the small room against the cold hard floor.
A knock at the door startled her. "Are you awake?" A male's voice called out from behind it. "I heard you moving about and I don't want to intrude."
His voice was soft, yet deep and powerful, Twilight thought. "Y-yes, thank you. I'm-" she stammered. "Please, come in." Butterflies lined her stomach as she readied herself. She had several questions, starting with where exactly in Equestria she was.
The large door swung open, and a stallion slightly taller than her, and stronger looking than Big Mac, stepped through. His coat was a light brown, and his long mane a darker brown, braided into a neat knot that draped behind his neck and over his shoulder. His eyes were golden in colour, and a white tunic covered his body, ending just at his flank, covering up where his cutie mark would be. Strange shoes that looked straight out of an old play covered his back hooves, and his front hooves remained dirty and rough, from years of hard work it looked like. She gazed up at him in a mixture of wonder and fright and her wings rustled under the blanket, causing it to drop from around her.
The moonlight spilled around her as her wings spread. Her mane seemed to sparkle in the silvery light of the moon's watchful eye.
He seemed to freeze as his eyes traced over her body and his cheeks turned scarlet. "Oh I didn't--One moment."
He turned and left the room in a hurry. Twilight stared after him with a puzzled look and took a glance around the room. Slightly bigger than the bedroom, more harvesting equipment adorned the walls, and a few cabinets and shelves were dotted around. A large fireplace took up most of one wall, and a large conspicuous ornate chest, where the stranger was currently hunched over, head first into the large box, sat opposite it, near what she assumed was the main door. She could see no other doors to separate rooms, and a small collection of pillows and cushions lay around a small wooden table by the fireplace
"Can you tell me where I am, please?" she asked.
"You're in a village called Haylos, in Equellas." The stranger replied as he rummaged around in a a chest. "Or on the edge of it at least. Where was that blasted thing?"
"Haylos? Equellas?" she murmured quietly as unease began to set in her as she took a deep breath and tried to remain calm. "Breath, Twilight. Breathe." She shuffled nervously as he continued to rummage, throwing bits and bobs over his shoulders and muttering and cursing to himself.
She cleared her throat and mustered up her courage. "I need to get back to Canterlot, can you tell me the way please?"
"Canterlot? Is that a new unicorn city?" The pony paused and glanced at her. He rubbed his chin and smiled. "I admit it has a nice ring to it. But I've never heard of such a place. The closest unicorn city is Cubic Zircorinth, in the far north, past Dirta and on the edge of the unicorn kingdom."
Twilight froze. Sweat dotted her brow as his words sank in. "Cubic Zirwhat now? Dirta? They're not real places," she murmured. "They're... only in storybooks..." Her voice wavered as she began to suspect what had happened. The book, the magical glow, the symbol upon it, the sensation of being pulled. Her mind raced and her mouth felt dry as she put the puzzle pieces together. Had she really been transported into a world separate from her own? She'd experienced something similar before, when she and her friends were transformed into the Power Ponies in one of Spike's comic books. Sunset Shimmer also had experience travelling between worlds, what with going to a different version of Equestria. She had her friends to help her in those situations, however, now she was alone.
The tall pony gave a throaty laugh and grimaced, turning away from her. "I assure you the Dirtans would have your horn as a trophy if they heard you speak such blasphemy. There is a war going on you know." He turned back to the chest and cried out triumphantly. "Aha! There it is." He pulled out a simple looking sky blue robe and shook it gently at Twilight, trying his best to avert his eyes from her figure. "Here. Put this on."
War? She had never experienced war before, only read about them in stories. Twilight didn't seem to hear him continue as worry knotted her stomach. "Deep breaths, Twilight," she told herself quietly. Her legs began to tremble and her tail swished nervously. Her eyes flicked back and forth as she struggled to form complete thoughts.
The stallion coughed and shook the robe again, and chanced a glance at her face, trying very hard not to let his eyes wander. "Hello? She who fell from the sky?"
She snapped back to the present, and looked down at the cloth. "What do you want me to do with that?" she asked.
The pony's ears flattened down as a small smile played across his face. "Oh I see." His grasp of the robe slipped and it dropped to the ground as reached inside his tunic. "How much drachmae do you charge?" He asked as he extracted a small pouch from around his neck. A small jingle of coins caught her attention as she looked at him, quite confused.
"Drachmae?"
The pony rolled his eyes and sighed. "Money. Drachmae is the most used currency in Equenelles. Heh, it's virtually the only thing the three kingdoms agree on." He looked around out the window, almost ashamedly, to see if anypony was nearby or listening and rubbed his nose "When I saw you fall I figured you a messenger of the gods on some divine quest, not a mare of the night." His gaze focused on her and he winked. "But I won't complain. How about... twenty drachmae for an hour? Thirty? That seems fair."
Twilight shook her head. "Mare of the--What? I don't-" Then it dawned on her what he meant and she recoiled, snatching the robe up from the ground. "I'm not a prostitute!" she cried as her cheeks turned scarlet. "How dare you!" Her hooves trembled as she held the cloth over herself, feeling her cheeks burn as blood rushed to her head. "How--How dare you!" She repeated, lost for words.
The pony raised his hooves defensively. "Hey you're the one flying about naked, it's not my fault if I or anypony else mistook you for a whore."
Twilight felt anger build up inside herself. She marched straight up to him and jabbed a hoof at his chest, momentarily dropping the robe. "Listen buddy! How dare you speak to me like that. I am a princess I'll have you know!" She spread her wings as if to illustrate her point as her eyes blazed with magical fury. "I am the Princess of Friendship, the First and Last Star, sole successor to Celestia and Luna." She slammed a hoof down to punctuate her words. "My name is Twilight Sparkle! And--and--HOW DARE YOU?!" The 'royal Canterlot voice' Luna had taught her shone through for a moment. She spun around as magical energy built up inside her skull, and her temper grew too much for her to contain.
A bolt of pink energy fired from her horn and struck the wall with such force she cracked the stone in two. Moonlight spilled through, shining a silver beam of light across the room.
He stared at her in awe and chortled quietly. "I've heard of the power of unicorns, but nothing like that... most impressive."
She took a deep breath and turned back to him. A scowl spread across her face as she stood in silence, her wings still fully erect and almost throbbing with an extreme dislike. Magic surrounded the robe as she held it up and brought it close to her chest. "Turn around."
The stallion obeyed with a small shrug, and began to hum a quiet tune as Twilight slipped the robe on.
It surprisingly fit her quite well, and her wings rustled gently underneath as she thankfully, although they were clearly still visible under the robe. She glared at the pony as he continued to sing and remained facing the wall.
"You can turn around now," she said. The anger had subsided for now, and she took deep breaths to remain calm. She hadn't gotten that angry in ages, and yet it felt somewhat of a relief to let off some steam.
He turned and looked at her, eyeing her properly for the first time.
"You say you're a princess?" His eyes focused on her forehead. "Of the unicorn kingdom I'm assuming? But then..." He gestured to her wings and cocked his head. "You have wings, like a pegasus." He looked her in the eye curiously. "Are you a bastard?"
The anger rose once again. Twilight raised a hoof to give him a deserved slap and he simply reached out and caught her hoof before it connected.
"I wouldn't do that, if I were you." Although his voice was kind, there was a subtle threat hidden beneath his words. "Trust me." His muscles seemed to ripple with his words, and his grip was tighter than she was expecting.
Twilight wrenched her hoof away from him and glared at him. "Why shouldn't I? All you've done is insult me and call me a whore and a bastard!" She looked around as panic and fear began to swell inside her. "I've never been--and I don't know where--or when I am--and---and." Twilight rounded in him. "And who are you anyway?!" she demanded from him as tears began to well up in her eyes. She backed up and stumbled over a chair.
The stallion sighed and bowed to her. "My name is Broncoles. I saved you from Poseidon's embrace. You're in my house, where you cracked my wall with your sorcery, and we're on the edge of the village of Haylos. It is currently the four hundred and forty first year of Lord Zeus's Light, and the beginning of Poseidon's Month. You're lucky the water didn't kill you when you landed in it, it's treacherous this time of year." He scratched his nose awkwardly. "Although you were naked, so maybe that's why the Ocean Lord spared you. He likes his mares as much as Zeus does."
Twilight stared at him with an open jaw, choosing to ignore his remark about her nakedness. His words reverberated around her skull as she absorbed the information. "Did... you say Broncoles? As in-"
"The one and only," he said proudly with a smile as he straightened up.
Her eyes widened and sparkled with excitement. "The legendary hero?!" she exclaimed as she tapped her hooves together.
His smile faltered as he gave her a quizzical look. "The... what now?"
The excitement faded from Twilight as she looked him over. He had none of the markings Broncoles was depicted as having, and he remained rather rude for a legendary hero of his renown. His home reflected a simple fisherpony too, and she stammered. She figured it must just be a coincidence and felt disappointed. "It's... difficult to explain. Let me start over, Mr... Broncoles. My name is Twilight Sparkle, I'm-"
He waved a hoof and grinned. "Yes I know, oh great and powerful first and last star." Her ears burned with indignation as he gave her a mocking bow. "Come. Sit. Tell me your story. I'm intrigued."
Twilight relented and sat down on one of the pillows beside her. The surprising comfiness of it caught her off guard. Broncoles trotted over to the fireplace and , soon creating a small blaze as he stoked it gently. For such a large pony, he moved with a certain graceful quality, she thought as she watched him.
"There. That should do for now." He turned to look at her and settled down on his own pillows. "Begin."
She took a deep breath and began to explain herself on how she arrived in a storm, starting with her morning routine, and the daily life of a princess.
Broncoles watched and listened intently, simply occasionally nodding, but remained silent.
***
As the princess finished, Broncoles exhaled quietly and ran a hoof through his mane and fiddled with his braid.
"That is... very interesting, Twilight Sparkle," he murmured after a few minutes of saying nothing. The quiet sounds of the oceans waves lapping against the shore outside filled the heavy silence that fell between them.
Twilight looked up at him miserably as he stood and stretched, cracking his neck and shaking his legs. She took a deep breath and asked him, "You don't believe me, do you?"
He shook his head. "I am afraid not, but I will still assist you to the unicorn kingdom, as I am intrigued by this word 'alicorn', you call yourself." Broncoles narrowed his eyes at her. "A unicorn with wings was once said to be the son of Zeus, a fallen warrior, a great and terrible evil upon the world who dared defy the gods..."
His voice faded as the fire lightly crackled. Silence once again fell between them, interrupted only by the sounds of the waves cresting the coast outside.
Twilight hung her head and looked at the ground as she traced a hoof over the table. A great and terrible evil? The only alicorns she knew were some of the best ponies Equestria had, save for when Luna had her Nightmare Moon phase. "I'm sorry, I don't know anypony called Zeus, it was just an accident that I came here..." She felt embarrassed, and her wings rustled uncomfortably under her borrowed robe.
"Hmmm." Broncoles rubbed his chin and thought for a moment as he watched her. "Ah. No matter." He clapped his hooves and smiled as she looked up. "You are welcome to stay the night, I will sleep in here so you can have the bed. You seemed quite taken with it when I brought you in from the cold."
Twilight felt stunned for a moment, and nodded slowly, impressed with his generosity. "That's... thank you. Thank you for saving me." She smiled at him.
He waved a hoof and chuckled. "No need for that, I was raised to be respectful by my mother, Hades rest her soul. Besides-" He leant down close to her. "How often does one get to save a princess?" he asked with a cheeky grin. She waved a hoof at him and scowled before breaking into a smile. She rose from the pillows and moved to the bedroom doorway, taking a long look around the room.
Her gaze rested on Broncoles and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. "What are you doing?" she asked as he began to stretch and lift his tunic up, revealing his flank and sides. He pulled at his mane, releasing it from it's small braid and sent it cascading down around him.
"Eh?" He turned to her quizzically as he slipped his tunic over his head. "Undressing. You don't expect me to sleep in my clothes do you?"
"Uhhhh..." Although she was used to ponies being quote-unquote naked, the sudden sight of him without his tunic made her acutely aware that he was now naked, and she had still never 'been' with a stallion yet in that sense.
She stared at his muscles, and how they rippled, and his light brown skin appeared bronze in the dim light of the fire. She noted his cutie mark, a golden lightning bolt emblazoned on his flank, the same symbol that was on the book. She quickly turned into the bedroom. "Uhhh s-sorry," she mumbled as she closed the door.
Broncoles flexed his shoulders and stretched his muscles. He snorted with a laugh as he lay down on his back and folded his hooves over his chest, his thoughts swimming about the strange mare in his bedroom. When the moonlight hit her, and she spread her wings, she resembled a nymph of the wild. Like one of Aphrodite's attendants, beautiful, yet deadly. Her magic had more than proven that.
Her words echoed inside his head, of how she came from a place where all ponies were equal and wondered what that would be like. "By Zeus," he muttered as he slapped himself in the face. "What have you gotten yourself into now, Broncoles?"
He closed his eyes and turned over, stretching his legs out as he rested. His breathing remained the only sound as the last of the embers snuffed out.
Meanwhile, Twilight lay as still as she could and covered herself with his borrowed blanket. Her mind raced as she thought about the book, and the magic that it had contained. She'd never even read about anything like that, how was she supposed to know what would have happened? She thought about Broncoles, and the stories she had read about him and his adventures.
She raised her hooves and looked at them as a sudden realization spread across her. "What am I doing?" she asked herself. The butterflies in her stomach slowly disappeared, and her feeling of fear merged with the small excitement that was beginning to grow in her. "Just this morning you were wishing you had some excitement in your life, now you've got some. In what seems to be one of your favourite historical settings no less, fictional or not."
She turned over into the hay and stared at wall opposite her. "Also this would be a great way to study interdimensional travel." A smile spread across her face as she thought about the stories she read, and how different it would be to experience them first hoof.
She pushed any remaining negative thoughts out of her mind for the time being and closed her eyes, taking deep, slow breaths. The strong scent of hay in her nostrils gave her a small comfort.
Twilight groaned as the sun hit her face. She turned over on her bed, breathing in the rich scent of hay and softly smiling to herself. Her eyes snapped open and she shot up in a fright, realising what sunlight meant. "Oh my gosh I overslept!" she cried and fumbled with the blanket, throwing it off and stumbling to her hooves.
After a few moments of confusion, the events of the previous night washed over her, and excitement began to through her veins as she faced her first day in a brand new world. She performed a quick happy dance, and set about doing her daily routine as best as possible, starting with smoothing down her ruffled coat and giving her wings a quick preen. She gazed out the window at the sun as she stretched her legs and trot on the spot.
"I hope Equestria's doing alright without me," she murmured. As a contingency for any sudden absence she might have had, and in case of emergencies, she had taught Starlight Glimmer the spell to raise and lower the sun and the moon, so at least there was that covered.
Finished with stretching and feeling her muscles sufficiently relaxed, her thoughts turned to how Broncoles's own muscles flexed and popped when he began to undress last night. If Twilight didn't know any better, she'd think he was showing off for her.
Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink as girlish thoughts trickled through her mind, and a small giggle escaped her. Sure stallions had shown her an interest before--that Flash Sentry was kinda cute--but she'd never had a coltfriend before, or been seriously romantically involved with anypony. Her ears turned down as she thought about Broncoles. He seemed interested in her, but maybe that was just being respectful? She had a lot to learn about Equellenistic customs yet. Celestia would have probably encourage her to flirt, calling it a 'learning experience', like when she set her student up on a date a few years ago with a distant nephew of hers. Twilight rubbed in between her eyes as she remembered he disastrous evening, even going so far as to swear Spike and the princess both to secrecy.
She ran a hoof through her mane, tutting as she felt the mess and made an attempt to smooth it down, then knocked on the bedroom door, wondering if the stallion who found her was awake yet. "Mr Broncoles?"
Silence answered her. She bit her lip and knocked again. She pressed one ear to the door and listened for a moment. Further silence.
Tentatively, she pushed the door open and looked around. The room remained largely the same as last night, save for the amassed pillows slumped against wall with the imprint of a large stallion, and she winced at the large crack in the far wall. She couldn't help but feel guilty for taking the bed and breaking his wall, and resolved if she stayed there again she would insist she sleep amongst the pillows.
The equipment lining the walls caught her eye, making her turn and look. Nets and hooks, as well as wooden contraptions lined the walls, and what looked like a small collection of gardening tools poked out of a chest in the corner. The room itself was quite plain, as she remembered it last night, save for one thing she had missed. A small statuette of a mare expertly carved out of wood was situated on a shelf, and a small plate with flowers lay next to it. She examined it, careful not to damage it in anyway, and noted how the wood was carved to give the impression of the mare's flowing mane.
"She must be somepony important to him," she mused.
She gave the flowers a look over as well, and noticed they were freshly picked, ranging from daisies and posies to the sweetest smelling lavenders and daffodils.
"Broncoles mustn't have gone far, then. I wonder where he is?"
Twilight left the figure alone and glanced around the room, not seeing anything else of interest. She gave some of the pillows a quick rearrange, just for the sake of being polite if nothing else, and cast a quick reparation spell on the wall she had broken, then looked at the only other large wooden door. Her knees knocked in anticipation. This was it. Waking up was just the first step, now was when she really got to see this new world.
With a trembling hoof, she pushed the door open and stepped into the sunlight. The cool sea air waved over her, causing her mane to flutter in the wind. The grass under her hooves crunched lightly, and she breathed in the bracing sea air as she raised a hoof to her eyes.
"The sunrise is nice here," she muttered begrudgingly, the light reflecting off of the crystal clear blue water. The sun seemed yellower than Equestria's, not to mention the other colours she saw seemed more vibrant, like an artist had gone to town on the world with various paints. The grass beyond the house was a luscious green, dotted with flowers of all colours, and the trees were a bright orange signifying fall, not to mention the ocean was as blue as the sky and just as clear, so much so that you couldn't even tell last night was a furious storm of howling winds and lashing rain. She shivered, remembering the panic and confusion she felt as she gazed up at some seagulls squawking high in the sky.
With how picturesque the world was, she really felt like she had been transported into one of the very storybooks she read as a young filly.
Letting loose a contented sigh, she looked down and spotted a few hoofprints in the sand nearby. Deducing that they must belong to Broncoles, she resolved to follow them.
***
The hoofprints went down to the water's edge, a few meters away from the house, and Twilight noticed a plain white tunic bundled up into a ball, along with some sandals. As she approached, she spotted something big in the water moving towards her, and took a step back in alarm.
Her eyes widened as a large stallion breached the water, throwing his mane back as his body glistened with droplets of water. Broncoles strode forwards onto the beach in all his glory, clutching at some green thing in his mouth and gave her a grin and a small wave. Twilight couldn't help but watch as his coat shone in the light of the sun as water clung to his coat, and had to avert her eyes as she felt those girlish thoughts creep into her mind again.
Broncoles grinned as he looked at her. "She's cute when she was embarrassed," he thought, giving his body a shake in an attempt to dry off. His tail swished some droplets of water back into the ocean, and he grabbed his tunic. After a polite cough, he let her know he was dressed, although her cheeks remained a touch pink.
Twilight thought the greenery in his mouth looked almost like leaves, now he was closer. He retrieved them and held them in one of his hooves and smiled at her. "You're finally awake. I was just getting us some breakfast."
He waved the leaves with a light chuckle.
"Fresh kelp! Delicious!" he cried and bit off a leaf.
Twilight felt her stomach knot as she looked at their 'breakfast', still dripping . She'd never personally eaten kelp, but heard it can be quite nice if cooked properly--although it certainly didn't look that appealing. As he continued to chew she recoiled and puffed her cheeks out.
"You're just going to eat it raw?" she asked. The head chef of Canterlot Castle, Ramsme, would have had some choice words to say about that. "But it's covered in salt water!"
"Ah but Poseidon has blessed this water." Broncoles grinned as he chewed. "Means it's harmless. Eat! It's not as bad as it looks. Trust me."
Her stomach rumbled as he shook what was left of the kelp in front of her. Her magenta glow surrounded it and tore a small piece off, bringing it to her nose for a sniff. It smelt salty, like the sea. What did he mean blessed by Poseidon? And what sort of guest would she be if she refused him? First impressions are everything when you're royalty, Celestia had told her. With a deep breath, she murmured and smiled, "Well... here goes..." And placed it into her mouth.
The intense saltiness hit her like a brick. She chewed it as fast as she could and swallowed. Despite her churning stomach and the feeling like she had just taken a mouthful of the ocean itelf, it was surprisingly filling. "Slimy... yet satisfying," she murmured with a small smile and forced herself to swallow some more bites.
"I told you, blessed by the sea god himself!" The stallion chuckled softly and began to ring his mane out. His tunic was quickly drenched, and clung to his muscles. Twilight couldn't help but find her eyes wandering over his sturdy looking forelegs.
"I have some questions," Twilight blurted out, before she started blushing again. She nibbled some more of her own kelp, forcing herself to satiate her grumbling stomach and scooted forwards an inch. "About this place. Eq-uell-en-es? Am I saying that right?"
Broncoles sat his haunches down and continued to much on his breakfast. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You are. I'm afraid I'm not much of a historian, but I do know of some stories my parents told me, that their parents told them."
Twilight's face lit up as he spoke and prepared herself, her mind was so teeming with questions she didn't even know where to begin.
"What about customs? Do ponies here have any traditions I should know about? How do you make friends? Are there any celebrations or rituals when a pony gets their cutie mark? What's schooling like? What money system do you use?" She ratted off the questions, thinking of anything and everything that came to her.
The stallion laughed and answered each one of her questions, no matter how inane, boring or downright strange they seemed.
As they reached the subjects of deities, Twilight inched closer, hanging on his every word.
According to Broncoles, the ponies of Equellas worshipped a whole range of gods, and he explained to her that there was a hierarchy of deities, with Zeus, the king of the gods, having a level of control over all the others, although he was not 'almighty' like some would believe. Some deities had dominion over certain aspects of nature, similar to how Celestia controlled the sun and Luna the moon, but with some differences. For instance, Zeus was the sky-god, sending thunder and lightning, Poseidon ruled over the sea, Hades ruled over the realms of death and the Underworld, and Apollo controlled the sun, and his sister, Artemis, the moon.
What he told her of Apollo and Artemis reminded her of Celestia and Luna, how they each raised the sun and moon and bickered over which was superior, but here they were equally worshipped, and there were no feelings of resentment or animosity.
Finishing up with a brief rundown of the Equellenistic pantheon, he asked her if there was anything else she wanted to know. She smiled coyly at him as her thoughts focused themsevles. "I was kinda... hoping you could tell me about yourself?"
He scrunched up his face and blinked. "Myself?"
She nodded eagerly. She gazed up at him in awe and wonder, and the inner filly inside of her screamed at her to gush over the countless stories she had read about him.
Twilight thought he was remarkably calm and receptive with learning he was a fictional hero in Equestria, as she explained herself to him, and couldn't help but wonder if some of the authors of those books had actually travelled to Equellas before, in some weird twist of fate.
he began to smile, and happily discussed what some of the stories said.
The subject reached his childhood, and he leaned back and rubbed one of his ears. "Not very eventful, I'm afraid."
"So you didn't lift houses before you could walk? Or didn't fight a two headed snake?"
He threw his head back and laughed. "Ah. Well. It's possible that's true, but who am I to say?" He grinned at her and winked upon seeing her befuddlement.
"A whole house?"
"So they say."
Twilight gaped. She'd heard the Cutie Mark Crusaders talk about when Big Mac dragged a house through Ponyville when he was under a love spell, but he was a fully grown stallion, and definitely the strongest pony of their town. Broncoles must have just been playing with her. She gave him a playful push and asked about the statuette in his home.
"Who is she?" she asked, remembering the design of the mare, and how her mane flowed. "The intricacy of the design is fascinating, it must have taken a long time to carve."
"My mother. She passed away two summers ago." He spoke bluntly, and matter-of-factly, with a hint of sorrow in his voice. The jovial pitch of his voice dropped for a moment.
She balked and stammered, lost for words. "Oh... oh, I'm sorry, I didn't-"
"No fear, Twilight. You didn't know." He smiled at her, and his expression softened. Despite the heavy feeling in his heart, he roused himself for her sake, and thought his mother would have loved to meet her.
The princess placed a hoof on his leg. "I'm so sorry, Broncoles," she murmured quietly.
He waved a dismissive hoof. "She's in Hades' care now. And life goes on as usual."
"What about your father? Is he..."
With a curt nod, he answered. "My mother told me he was a warrior of Dirta, and died before I was born. I never met him."
Twilight felt so bad for him she simply extended a hoof out and placed it on his chest. She wasn't expecting him to say that, and words had completely failed her, so she just stared into his golden eyes and offered her silent condolences.
He felt something inside of him as he gazed back into her eyes. Something deep and primordial awakened within him as they gazed at one another. She retracted her hoof as both their cheeks turned pink and shared an awkward silence.
Broncoles thought to himself that she resembled a vision of Aphrodite herself. He had been with mares before, yes, so what was it about this one that made him feel... different? Was it her innocence and pursuit of knowledge? The exoticism of an alicorn? Raw physical attraction? Something stronger, perhaps? He didn't know, but felt something inside him telling him he had to help her. Maybe the Goddess of Love was playing with some of her magic.
As Twilight looked at him, she found her thoughts turning to home, and her stomach knotted with worry. "So, uh," she began, trying not to blush under his gaze. "You said last night that you'd help me get to the unicorn kingdom?"
The stallion set his jaw and took a deep breath, having to wrench his eyes away from her.
"I did. The Unicorn Queen has a library the size of a city, they say. It's possible she might have some knowledge of magic that can help you get home. If she's willing to share." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "But the road is dangerous. And we would need to pass through Dirta." He grimaced and pawed at some of the sand, turning a small pebble over in one of his hooves. "And Dirtans themselves aren't the friendliest lot either these days... Especially not to unicorns."
Twilight furrowed her brow. "I'm not a unicorn though. I'm an alicorn."
He nodded in response. "I am aware." His eyes graced over her side, where her wings rustled underneath her robe. "And that may be more harmful than good." The princess shuffled uncomfortably and squirmed under his gaze.
"Do you really think hiding what I am is necessary?"
"Maybe not, but I wouldn't want to see you get hurt regardless."
"I'm capable of defending myself you know."
"I have no doubt about that, princess," he chuckled in response.
Twilight continued to glare at him as he stood up and cracked his neck.
"We should start moving out, unless you'd prefer to stay on this beach forever?" He chuckled as she scrambled to her hooves. "We'd need to pick up some supplies in the village. You are more than welcome to come, perhaps you can observe how we exchange goods and purchases."
Twilight nodded eagerly. "I'd love to--ahh!" She felt a sudden pinch, and looked down to see a crab clasping a piece of her skin in it's pincer. She shrieked and gave it a shake. In her surprise, she stumbled in the sand and fell forwards into the stallion's chest. The scent of fresh hay filled her nostrils once again, giving her a comforting feeling. Was it just the memories of a soft, warm bed? Or was it the stallion himself? It was his soft warm bed, after all...
Broncoles looked down at her and closed his eyes as he inhaled the rich, earthy scent of her mane through his nose and was filled with a sense of serenity. "Lavender," he breathed. A smile crept onto his face and he opened his eyes.
After a few seconds she realised she still had her muzzle pressed against him and quickly retracted, feeling her cheeks burn with embarrassment. Her hoof stung lightly, and she silently admitted she might have overreacted--just a smidge--to a simple crab.
"Did you say something?" she asked. She rubbed her ear and gave it a shake, feeling a touch itchy from the sand in her hooves and the crippling embarrassment she felt. Her friends, as well as Celestia, she suspected, would mercilessly tease her for weeks about that if they only knew.
His ears splayed down and he pawed at the ground, turning his head as his cheeks reddened. "Oh, uh... Your mane smells like lavender... It's... nice."
The heckles on the back of her neck stand up, and her ears splayed down as far as his to the back of her skull. Her tail shot out at a full ninety degree angle, and she turned as pink as Pie. She always felt embarrassed when somepony complimented her, and never knew how to usually react. So when a handsome pony like Broncoles, who she might have the tiniest crush, on said something like she had a nice smelling mane, her mind went into overdrive.
The stallion scratched his nose and shuffled awkwardly. "By Zeus you have a way with words don't you, Broncoles?" he muttered to himself when he caught her looking at him. "I didn't mean to, uh, that is..."
He forced a grin at her, and felt his own cheeks flush.
Twilight felt her heart slow in it's palpitations and she began to smile back, thankful he was at least as awkward as she was. she opened her mouth to speak, and at the same time her stomach let out an audible groan. She looked down at the half eaten kelp and winced when she saw it was now covered in sand and beginning to smell. "Oh, um..." She offered an apologetic smile to the stallion and rubbed one of her legs awkwardly.
Spike regularly chastised her for forgetting to eat when she was working, a habit she had always kept from when she first started at the school for gifted unicorns all those years ago.
Broncoles looked down at the kelp and formed a plan in his head. He wordlessly turned and darted back towards the treeline. Twilight watched him go sadly, thinking she had offended him somehow. She tilted her head in confusion as he rummaged around on the grass for a moment before crying out in triumph and trotted back to her with a mouth full of flowers.
"Lavenders," she murmured with a smile. He took them in one of his hooves and offered them to her.
"I know kelp can be an acquired taste," he chuckled. "Here."
Her magic surrounded them and lifted them up. She took a big
Upon finishing, Twilight burped and excused herself, but felt sufficiently full and her stomach finally began to settle down. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
They set off towards the village, walking next to each other in silence. The water lapped at their hooves, and birds high above call to one another. Listening to the sounds of the ocean, Broncoles realised he knew nothing of where she came from, and despite her questions he hadn't asked any of his own. He wondered how different their worlds were and his mind began to fill with questions. "Twilight? May I ask you about your homeland?"
Caught off guard by his sudden interest, Twilight beamed at him. "Of course you can! What would you like to know?"
He paused. What did he want to know? He was intrigued by a lot of what she had said. A slight grin appeared on his face, and an idea came to him. "You."
"Me?" Twilight was surprised. Even so, she straightened up and held her head high. She had to represent Equestria in this new world, as it's princess and as a visitor. "What about me?"
"Well... Your father must be a powerful king to sire an alicorn princess."
Her ears splayed down. "Oh, um, well-" she stammered with a wave of her hooves. "My dad's definitely not a king." She imagined her dad in their little lamp shop wearing a crown and couldn't help but giggle. Both of her parents had chosen to remain largely out of the public eye when she became princess, and save for being asked for the occasional autograph by some fans they remained undisturbed, for which she was quite thankful. She felt a pang of guilt as she realised she hadn't visited them in a while.
His eyes widened. "Oh I see. Your mother the queen was seduced by somepony else then?"
Twilight flinched and felt the veins in her neck pop out in frustration. "My mom was not 'seduced' by anypony. She met my dad when they were young and fell in love."
"Hmmm." Broncoles scratched his chin. "Are you sure? Many stories of the world we share in Equellas are thanks to Zeus's--ahem--exploits."
"My mom didn't sleep around!" She defensively cried and stamped a hoof. This line of questioning made her exceedingly uncomfortable, and she felt like she was going to curl up into a ball and die of embarrassment at any moment. "And she's not a queen."
He leant forwards and frowned. "Were you adopted?"
"No I was not adopted!" she cried defensively and glared at him. "Celestia chose me to be the next princess, and eventually her successor."
"Celestia? Is this your queen?"
"Princess."
The stallion twisted his face in confusion. "By the gods, this Equestria of yours sounds complicated. How many princesses do you have? Where are the kings and the queens? What power flows through your blood?"
Twilight rubbed her nose and closed her eyes. "Inhale, count to four," she told herself as she took a deep breath. "Exhale, count to four." She released the breath and opened her eyes, feeling calmer already.
Her brother Shining Armour had taught her that trick. He himself used it when he needed to calm down.
"Okay. So there are Princesses Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and myself…"
She began to explain to him in as much detail as possible the history of Equestria. He listened, interjecting at some points and earning glares from her before quickly falling silent.
Their hoofprints behind them in the sand were washed over by the water, and eventually mixed into one before fading into the wet sand.
***
The village of Haylos was quiet. Simple. Peaceful, even. Located on the very edge of the known world, most who lived there often joked that the world would soon forget about them and move on.
One particular inhabitant of the village yawned and stretched his hooves as he swung his door open. His mane was a mess of fuzzy black hair, the faint traces of stubble graced his chin, and his tail was matted and unkempt. His clothes were, although clean, ragged and full of holes and exposed his muddy brown coat underneath. From the outside, he would resemble a vagabond, a simple vagrant you wouldn't think twice to look at. The villagers of Haylos, however, saw him as the donkey Braylas.
Braylas found comfort in the simplicity of life in this small village. He greeted the world with a cheery smile, inhaling the bracing sea air and giving a wave to his neighbours.
Despite their initial suspicion and hostility towards him, he had made a name for himself as Haylos's handypony, taking any and all odd jobs. Donkeys, unlike ponies, didn't have cutie marks, so while he had no particular 'special talent', he had some level of skill in almost everything. The jack-of-all-trades they fondly called him.
He craned his head upwards and yawned again. Some seagulls hung in mid-air, caught in the wind, trying to dart down to reach some fish in the nearby ocean. His thoughts traced back to the storm last night, and the figure he'd seen amidst the lightning, and another figure on the beach swimming out into the rough waves.
"I wonder..." he murmured softly. His voice was softer than most suspected, without the usual gravel donkey's typically had. "I could have sworn I saw Bronco himself swimming out." He tapped his chin and stretched his back legs. "I'll ask him."
'Bronco' was his best friend and often coworker. Broncoles and his mother, Hades rest her soul, were some of the only ponies who didn't try to run him out of the village when he first arrived. They had quickly formed a fast friendship, and the enormous pony often assisted him with his odd jobs.
Braylas held no grudge against his neighbours for their unneighbourly treatment of him in the early days of his life there. The world was dangerous, and to invite a stranger in these uncertain times was to invite disaster, so they say. He gave them a chance, and they gave him one and he quickly proved to them he was worth something.
He closed the door to his humble home and trotted off through the village. Several ponies had already begun to set up their stalls, shouting over one another to proclaim their goods were superior. Braylas chuckled to himself as he passed them, giving everypony who met his eyes a polite nod and a smile. Manners played a large part in his acceptance in this place, and his indomitable spirit played another.
He spotted a young mare called Harmone arguing with her father, as usual. He slowed and cocked an ear out to listen to the usual argument. She wanted to go to Dirta to support the soldiers in their fight, and he in turn told her no repeatedly. Many earth ponies, even those in quiet Haylos, practically worshipped the Dirtans like gods, claiming their king was a descendant of Ares himself.
Braylas didn't understand it. Why would a young, healthy mare like Harmone wish to go out into the blood soaked world and support ponies who killed and fought each other? Earth ponies, unicorns and pegasi all looked the same to him, and the point of war didn't make much sense in his eyes.
As a gaggle of pretty young mares approached calling out for her to come look at Broncoles, for his muscles did ripple and pop and many a young mare enjoyed simply looking at him, Harmone stomped off, leaving her father tutting and shaking his head. He gave the donkey a sad smile when he noticed him.
"The youth of today, eh Braylas?" he muttered.
Braylas shrugged and smiled back. "It is what it is," he replied with an old donkey saying, passed down through generations of storytelling. What it meant exactly, Braylas had no idea, but it seemed to bring comfort to those he said it to.
"Indeed," Harmone's father replied with a sigh before turning back to his cart. "Well, I should get back to my work, Braylas. Give my regards to Broncoles would you?"
The donkey nodded and continued on his way. They all knew Broncoles just as well as they knew him, for who else in Equellas had the strength of a god? Yet he never felt like he was living in the shadow of his large friend. As he reached the beach, the sand felt cool on his hooves. He took a deep breath, inhaling the salty sea air through his nose and smiled. Life was truly peaceful here, and he looked forward to seeing his friend. He turned, and spotted the aforementioned pony striding forwards. Braylas opened his mouth to shout a hello and began to wave, then spotted the mare beside him.
He frowned. The mare was tall, not as tall as Broncoles but still tall, and she had an air about her. Braylas squinted and crouched behind some bushes, taking care not to be spotted straight away. She had a horn. She was a unicorn.
"What's a unicorn doing in Haylos?" he mumbled to himself quietly. He shook his head. Broncoles seemed to be okay, not under any sort of spell, not that Braylas knew what a pony under a spell would look like, he just ehard his friend's voice laughing out loud cheerily, and thought everything was normal. Save for the unicorn.
With a breath, he stepped out from behind the bushes and waved at them. His friend waved back and trotted happily over, while the mare lingered behind for a moment.
"Ah, Braylas! Just the donkey I wanted to see. I need a favour from you, my friend." Broncoles smiled as they clasped hooves and gave each other a small embrace, as was the custom.
The donkey glanced around his friend and nodded to the mysterious mare, who stood silently and watched them still from a distance. "About her?" he murmured.
Broncoles nodded. "It's... difficult to explain. I need to borrow your saddlebags. I'll pay for them, if need be."
Braylas started back and scrunched his face up. "Pay for--Bronco you're my friend, what sort of friend would I be if I charged you for borrowing my things? Planning a trip are you?"
"I know, I know. I might be a while, it's hard to say. She-" The stallion pointed back to the unicorn. "Is special. I'm taking her to the unicorn kingdom. I can't really explain more right now."
The donkey tapped his chin and grumbled. "I think Harmone's looking for you, you know. You'd best not let her see you with a unicorn, of all mares. You know how she is."
Broncoles shrugged. "I'll deal with her if need be."
Braylas peered around him again and looked at the mare. She had sat down now, and was gazing out over the ocean as the wind blew around her, making her mane flow around her almost ethereally. He whistled and looked back at his friend. "She's pretty. Are you two... you know?"
"No."
"Oh. Would you mind if I-"
"Yes."
"Tch. You always get the pretty ones."
"She has wings."
"She has... what?" Braylas was stunned. "Wings? Did I hear that right?"
"Yes." Broncoles sighed and tapped his hoof impatiently. "I need your saddlebags to cover her wings. The robe I gave her won't be enough. If you look carefully you can see them right now, folded by her sides."
Braylas squinted at the 'unicorn'. "You're right," he murmured upon seeing the outline of wings under his borrowed robe. "She does have wings. That means she's..."
"Yes."
"By the gods, Broncoles... do you think..."
"Maybe. I'm not sure yet." Broncoles glanced back at her and sighed wistfully. "I don't know. Something's telling me to take her to the unicorn kingdom, and she's... not exactly from around here..." He kicked the ground and hummed to himself. He felt hot and bothered, if he was a pegasus his wings would be rustled. A bead of sweat rolled down his side, and disappeared into his tunic.
Braylas looked at his friend curiously. He'd seen Broncoles with mares before, even the hot tempered Harmone, but hadn't seen him get as flustered before. She must be something special, he thought, and relented. "Alright. I'll be as discreet as possible, wait here for now, I won't be too long." The two friends clasped hooves again and Broncoles smiled.
"I promise I'll tell you everything when I can, my friend."
"You'd better. I want to hear this," Braylas replied with a grin. "Hermes grant me speed."
"Hermes grant you speed," Broncoles repeated. As the donkey made to leave and hurried back towards the village, the stallion turned back to his companion and trotted over to her. "Braylas is going to get the bags we need for your wings. He won't tell anypony else, I trust him."
Twilight glared up at him. "You could have introduced me, you know. I haven't met any other ponies in this pace, I didn't know there were donkeys in this wold too."
"There are very few. Braylas is the only one I know. And besides," he chuckled, "You haven't met Harmone yet. You'd wish you didn't."
"Who's that?" the princess asked. She made a mental note of the donkey's name, and thought she'd have to thank him later for being helpful. What sort of princess would she be if she didn't use manners?
"She has what you might call romantic feelings for me." Broncoles scratched one of his ears. "Truthfully, she scares me at times. Her temper is known throughout Haylos--despite her name she's not very harmonious."
Twilight giggled. They had strange names in Equellas, she thought. Strange but somewhat pretty names. He'd told her of a few in the village: Harmone, her sister Melode, little Ariel, the Olive family, which reminded her strongly of the Apple family, and a smattering of others including Chrysanthius the old poet and playwright--she thought about how much she'd love to see a play here. She looked forward to seeing what the rest of the world had, despite Broncoles's warnings and protectiveness.
Her ear flicked and she heard a noise, somepony--or donkey--approaching quickly and turned to see. Indeed it was Braylas, he rounded the corner with two large looking saddlebags draped over his sides. He smiled as he approached, and gave Twilight a small bow and extended one of his hooves.
"Hello, miss. My name is Braylas. Any friend of Bronco's is a friend of mine." He seemed cheery enough, and Twilight extended her own hoof in greeting.
"Hi Braylas. I'm Twilight Sparkle." She took the advice 'Bronco' gave her and left out the princess part, thinking he was right and it was probably for the best. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Broncoles has been so nice to me so far, I'm glad
Braylas smiled and gave her hoof a kiss. She gave him a slight curtsy in response. He turned to Broncoles and grinned as the stallion simply glared at him, like a big grumpy rock. "I hope these will do. Careful, they're not meant for pony backs. Even you my large friend."
The stallion waved a hoof, gazing off towards the village and grimacing. He saw the tell-tale fiery red hair of Harmone amongst the trees and the village, and prepared himself for what would surely be a painful experience soon enough. "Thanks, Braylas. For a donkey you moved as fast as a pegasus."
"I'll take that as a compliment, you oversized salt licker," Braylas muttered back and gave Twilight a wink, sidling up to Broncoles with a smirk and tapped his barrelled chest. "He always gets grumpy when he's trying to show off."
"I'm not trying to--come here!" Broncoles grumbled and grabbed the donkey in a headlock.
Twilight thought it was strange, the friendship they had. They bickered and argued, even called each other names and fought, yet were still clearly good friends, even as they play-fought now. Perhaps that was just the way friendship was in Equellas, like tough love, not mean spirited but in a teasing, brotherly sort of way. Braylas wrenched himself free and muttered a curse under his breath, then stepped towards Twilight and swung the bags off of his sides and onto the ground, where they landed with a heavy thunk.
Twilight noticed a metal object poking out of one of them, and curiously used her magic to lift it up to get a better look. It was a strange disc shaped... thing, like a plate, she had never seen before.
Braylas's eyes gleamed in the light. He grinned at Broncoles and gave him a gentle nudge. The stallion rolled his own eyes and grumbled. "We don't have time for this, Braylas," he warned and tapped his hoof impatiently.
"I'm not in any particular rush, you know." Twilight replied, examining one of the discs, genuinely curious about such strange objects. In truth, she had hoped to get home to Equestria as soon as possible, and prayed that they weren't struggling too much without her, or worrying about her all the same. However, she just couldn't help herself when it came to new opportunities for learning. "What are these?" she asked.
Braylas cleared his throat and held a hoof out. "May I?"
She gave it to him, releasing her magical grasp as he took a told of it. "They're called discus. We use them for games sometimes. Bronco here is the best discus thrower in Haylos."
"Oh?" Twilight was intrigued. Her host hadn't mentioned any of the games they played in Equellas, and was curious to how this 'discus' worked.
Broncoles sighed and stepped forwards, plucking up the other discus with his teeth. He nodded his head towards the ocean, and stepped closer to the water's edge. Braylas gestured for Twilight to follow and the pair trotted after him.
"See that rock?" Braylas asked as the stallion held the strange disc in his hooves. Twilight spotted a large rock, far out at sea, quite a few meters away.
"Yeah?"
"Bronco here is the only pony to ever hit it."
"You came close one time," Broncoles murmured as he stretched his legs, preparing himself.
"Close, but not close enough." Braylas flashed a smile at Twilight and offered her the discus.
She eagerly took it in her hoof and examined it closely. It sort of resembled a frisbee from Equestria, but heavier, and appeared to be made out of some type of metal. The image of a skipping stone came to her for a moment, and she had an idea.
Broncoles coughed and gestured towards the rock. "Care to try, Twilight?"
"Oh no, after you 'Bronco', I've never thrown a discus before." She gave him a coy grin. "I'd like to see how it's done."
The stallion shrugged and took another step forwards. The cool sand underneath his hooves felt nice, and the sun on his face felt warm and comforting. He inhaled a deep breath and angled his leg backwards, preparing himself to throw the discus as far as he had thrown it. He wasn't going to show himself up in front of his guest, after all.
Releasing his breath, he--HURLED--the discus out across the water, where it soared through the air like a strange, wingless bird, and clattered against the rock. Braylas stamped his hooves in a small applause, and Twilight's eyes widened with awe.
"Impressive..." she murmured. And she meant it, for she'd never seen a pony throw something so far. She didn't think even Big Mac was strong enough to do that.
Braylas tapped her on the shoulder and lowered his voice to a whisper. "That's why Broncoles is the best discus thrower in Haylos," he chuckled.
Twilight furrowed her brow and stepped forwards, discus held in her hoof. She glanced at Broncoles, who smiled at her and condescendingly told her, "It's alright if you don't make it. It is your first time, after all."
Giving him a glare, she gritted her teeth and flexed her leg. The disc was heavy. She'd need to angle this right if her plan was to work. She gave her leg a quick pull towards her, then flicked her hoof outwards and let go of the disc, sending it across the water.
Braylas watched with bated breath as the discus skipped along he water a few times, then crashed into the rock with a solid clang. With no small amount of pride, Twilight beamed and turned back to them. "Hey, looks like I hit it."
The donkey stomped his hooves in the sand and whooped and cheered as he fell about laughing. "Aha! Oh I like this one, Bronco!" he cried as he rested on his friend.
Broncoles stared at Twilight in silence. She turned towards him and held her head up high, and stuck her tongue out at him smugly. He began to chortle, which turned into a chuckle, which in turn changed into a roaring laughter.
Braylas wiped a tear from his eye, promptly cursing something about sand, and left them for a moment to retrieve his bags. He liked Twilight. She was smart. Friendly. She didn't appear to think less of him for the fact he was a donkey, and yet he felt something off about her. Was it the fact she had wings as well as a horn? Possibly? He didn't know. And he definitely saw the way she looked at Broncoles, as most mares did.
He chuckled to himself and hoisted the bags up onto his back, and made his way back to the stallion and the mare. They looked like an odd couple, and he wondered exactly where she came form again. "A long story, eh?" he murmured to himself as he looked at Twilight.
She waved at him and trotted over, still beaming with pride. "So what now?" she asked the stallion.
Broncoles sighed and gestured to the bags. "Well first, you have to wear these. The villagers might get a bit... tense, when they see you, and we don't need any more questions."
The mare nodded glumly and looked at Braylas. "He's right," the donkey said and tapped his chin. "If anything happens, let Bronco do the talking, Twilight Sparkle." He smiled and offered to help her with the bags.
Twilight shook her head and used her magic to lift them up, and placed them onto her own back. They covered her wings sufficiently enough, and didn't make her feel like she was being crushed at all. Satisfied they were on comfortably, and after tightening the strap around her waist, she smoothed down the robe and brushed some of her mane out of her eyes.
Broncoles sauntered onwards and cleared his throat, gesturing towards the donkey's hoof prints in the sand. "Shall we then?"
Both Braylas and Twilight followed him towards the village. Twilight was strangely quiet for a change, the stallion thought. He was sure she wanted to ask the donkey some questions. Upon seeing her face sick with worry, he paused and turned to her.
"If you'd prefer, Twilight, Braylas can take you to the village's edge and wait for me there." He shot the donkey a look as he opened his mouth to retort.
The princess shook her head. "No, it's alright." She smiled bravely. "I can do this."
"If you're sure."
Braylas's eyes flicked back and forth between them. He had never seen the stallion be so tender before. This mare must really mean something to him, which surprised him more than the fact she had wings. Bronco mustn't have known for her... less than a day at least, yet they shared a fondness for each other that would have made Opalpheus himself proud.
He hung back a moment as the pair of them walked together, laughing and joking as they approached the village. Braylas swallowed. Hopefully this went as smooth as possible for Twilight.
***
The bustling crowd of ponies stared in silence. Twilight felt their accusatory stares, and heard their whispers about her. She held her head up high, trying not to show how afraid she was. "Maybe it would have been better if I went with Braylas," she thought.
Broncoles and Braylas flanked her on either side, the enormous pony shielded her from most hateful looks, and the donkey did his best to give everypony an encouraging smile. Two very different stances.
A mare stepped forwards, eliciting a quiet groan from them both, and Twilight looked at her curiously. With her mint green mane, her light coat and the lyre on her side, as well as her scowl and visible disapproval, the princess thought this must be Harmone. Broncoles was right, she didn't look very harmonious.
"Who's she?" she demanded, jabbing a hoof towards Twilight.
The crowd silently watched, thinking this would surely not end well.
Broncoles stepped forwards and held his head high. "We're just passing through, Harmone."
"We?" She looked Twilight up and down with a disgusted look. "She's a unicorn. You know what we thi-"
"And Hades take you I don't care!" Broncoles shouted back, making the crowd take a collective step back, including Harmone. He scraped at the ground and flared his nostrils and glared at them all. They'd never seen him angry before. He'd heard their hateful words and speeches, and seen the young colts and fillies wanting to go off and fight for Dirta, and he was sick of it.
Braylas motioned for Twilight to take a step back and held a hoof to his lips, shaking his head. "She's just passing through," Broncoles spoke slowly, trying to keep his temper. "I'm helping her get home. We're only getting some supplies and then-"
"And then what? You'll betray us all to the unicorns?" another villager sneered. The rest of them began to murmur amongst themselves, giving filthy looks at the trio.
"Broncoles you were a good pony, don't befall yourself to this..." One pony muttered gesturing at Twilight with mud caked hooves. "This... horned one."
"Are earth ponies too good for you now?"
"I bet you like it when she jams her horn up your-"
Twilight felt like she had to say something as they continued to jeer at Broncoles. Braylas held a hoof out and stopped her, giving her a sad look. She pushed his leg down and strode up to the side of the stallion without words. She puffed her chest out and cleared her throat.
"Everypony, please listen to me."
The crowd fell silent and stared daggers at her. Broncoles himself stared at her with wide eyes and silently pleaded with her not to get involved.
"I'm not here to hurt any of you," Twilight continued, either ignorant of his pleading or choosing to ignore it. He had been so nice to her, he wasn't going to let these ponies badmouth him just for helping her. "Please, Broncoles has helped me, I just want to go home."
"Yeah I bet," muttered Harmone. "You want the other unicorns to come and slaughter us all I expect?"
"That's enough, Harmone."
A voice wrought with age came from the back of the crowd before Twilight could respond. The ponies parted silently, looking down at the ground as the village elder strode forwards, assisted by a young filly. Broncoles visibly tensed as the ancient looking pony frowned at him, and Braylas smoothed his long ears down, also pawing at the ground and trying not to be seen.
The old mare regarded the stranger in their midst curiously, and looked her up and down. "What is your name, young one?" she asked. Her bright blue eyes pierced into Twilight as her face creased into a smile. Whether it was forced or not, Twilight didn't mind, thankful at least one pony wasn't scowling at her or muttering under their breath.
The crowd continued to watch, their eyes shifting between the stranger and the elder like they were watching a tennis match.
"My name is Twilight Sparkle." Twilight felt her knees buckle as this old pony looked at her. She appeared to be just an ordinary earth pony, but clearly very respected and honoured by the villagers of Haylos. She also exuded some unseen power Twilight hadn't felt before, not even from Celestia herself.
"Curious." The old pony's body heaved as a wracking cough sounded from her throat, and she stumbled as the filyl caught her and gave her assistance.
The wrinkles in her face signified she was very old indeed, and her mane was long and grey, with hints of what was once yellow a long time ago. Her mottled silver coat struck Twilight as peculiar, as most ponies she knew were one solid colour. "And are you planning anything against the earth ponies, Twilight Sparkle?" she asked.
Twilight blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected question. "Of course I'm not! I really just want to find my way home. I promise." She sat down briefly and performed the sacred Pinkie Promise, despite how strange it must have looked to these Equellenes. "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."
The crowd looked at each other worriedly. What sort of promise was that? Where was the swearing to Apollo?
Broncoles licked his lips and glanced at Braylas, or rather, where Braylas used to be. The donkey had long since slipped away, and the stallion cursed him under his breath for leaving him high and dry, but didn't blame him at all. The ponies gathered murmured amongst themselves in confusion. Was this some strange unicorn tradition they had never heard of?
Harmone snorted and turned her head. "Come on, Daisimedes, you don't believe this horn do you?" she spat and glared at Twilight, but eyed the elder cautiously.
Daisimedes chuckled dryly. "Harmone you could learn a thing or two from your sister here." She smacked her toothless lips together and patted the filly next to her. "What do you think, Melode? Can we trust her?"
The small filly looked at Twilight fearfully, yet curiously. The princess noticed now she was like a miniature version of Harmone, but with kinder eyes. She lowered her head and smiled at the young pony as she stepped forwards.
"Hi," she said, offering an encouraging smile, doing her best 'princess' impression, as most young fillies liked her to do in Equestria.
Harmone practically growled in warning as Melode approached, earning a cuff on the back of her head from the elder and quickly fell silent once more. After a few moments of silent examination, the filly turned to Daisimedes and nodded.
"Well that settles it." The elder's eyes grew wide and she marched forwards, and enveloped Twilight in a firm hug, surprising and startling her somewhat. "Welcome, Twilight Sparkle. My name is Daisimedes, the village elder, as you may have gathered." She released the alicorn and gestured to the ponies around her, scowling at each them, making them all look towards the ground, the sky, or anywhere besides the old pony. "Ignore these bigots. They have no idea they stand in the midst of a princess!"
Twilight froze. Broncoles froze. The crowd gasped collectively, and Harmone even stepped backwards in shock and looked around at her neighbours bewildered faces.
"How did-" the princess shakily began.
With a wave of her hoof, the elder interrupted her and signalled to another pony. "Bring them some fresh apples, food, and whatever supplies they need. This one has a long journey before her." The pony snapped to attention and dashed away.
Broncoles tapped the ground nervously, earning him the attention of Daisimedes. The old pony's eyes looked him up and down, twinkling with age. "Elder, may I-"
"You shall go with her, of course. Even beyond the unicorn kingdom." The elder looked at him gravely, her smile faltering for a moment, and her eyes pierced into him. "Your destiny is intertwined with hers, it would seem."
The stallion felt the colour drain from his face and he swallowed hard. "Destiny..." he murmured quietly. He didn't know what 'destiny' had in store for him, but couldn't imagine it would be anything good.
He nodded respectfully and looked at Twilight, who smiled at him bravely, and felt some small relief. She knew he was taking her to the unicorn kingdom, but what could beyond mean? "Looks like you'll get your own adventure, after all, Twilight," she thought to herself.
The pony the elder had commanded away rushed back to them; a sack laden with food, blankets, what looked like camping equipment and an assortment of other things slung over his back. The elder hobbled over to Twilight's side and began to place each item in the bags.
"I hope this isn't too heavy on your wings, princess," the elder whispered to Twilight, just audibly enough for the latter to hear.
Twilight's head whipped around and she looked at the elder with wide eyes. "How-"
"Smart one that Bronco, to hide your wings until the right time. You might say some ponies have inherent knowledge of the world they inhabit, princess. You should know this," the elder said with a wink and tapped her nose.
Her face creased into a smile once more as she finished placing the last of the items in the pack. Melode dashed forwards and helped her hobble back. "Thank you, my dear," she said to the young filly. "You two. Follow me."
Broncoles silently obeyed and marched forwards, following the elder. The crowd also began to shift, leaving Twilight with a pack full of equipment, and one angry mare glowering at her. Only Harmone remained behind, and despite the smile Twilight gave her, and the elder's own approval, she remained in a foul mood. She huffed and flounced away, in search of some quiet place to brood and pout.
The princess sighed and trotted after Broncoles and the elder, towards the edge of the village.
***
Daisimedes tapped the ground wordlessly, and raised her eyebrows at Broncoles.
The giant of a pony sunk to his knees and held his head low. The elder scooped up some mud and smeared a few small strips of it on his neck. "May Hermes grant you speed. May Hades be kind to you, and may Zeus watch over you, my boy," she said, as Twilight observed some sort of ceremony taking place. Even crouched, he dwarfed the old mare.
"Thank you, elder," Broncoles whispered back. He rose to his hooves and looked back at Twilight, nodding for her to approach. He tapped the ground where he had kneeled, and she obeyed. The mud dripped down his neck, quickly blending in with his brown coat.
The elder once again scooped up a small bit of mud and smiled at Twilight. "You are not one of us, Twilight Sparkle, yet I will bless you as one of us all the same. I fear your path is long, and wrought with danger." Her blue eyes watched Twilight with interest as the mare began to tremble.
"Danger?" Twilight gulped. Sweat dotted her brow. Her chest felt tight and heavy, and her mind raced with questions. "What-"
The elder simply smiled and shushed her. "Indeed. May Hermes grant you speed, child. May Hades be kind to you, and may Zeus guide you." She leaned forwards with another wink. "And... give my regards to Celestia when you get back, would you?"
Twilight's eyes widened. Who. In. Equestriawas this old pony? "Th-thank you, elder," she stammered, as words almost failed her for the second time that day.
With that, the village elder, her young assistant, and a few polite ponies waved them farewell as the pair of them set off along a dirt trail, leading up into and through a forest.
Broncoles released a breath he didn't know he was holding and felt his knees tremble. "By the gods, it's a good thing she likes you," he murmured. His face was as white as a ghost, and a stunned smile danced across his face. He glanced at Twilight, who's own face was wrought with worry and unease, and gave her a gentle nudge. "Are you okay, Twilight?"
She didn't answer.
Instead, she was too focused on her immediate surroundings, thinking on the elder's words. The trees were a bright orange, again reminding her of pictures in the old storybooks she read. High above the sun shone down on them, surely a good sign of things to come, despite the warning of danger.
She glanced up at him and forced a smile onto her face. "I think so, Broncoles... I think so..."
Once, long ago in ages past, there was a beautiful young mare called Persephone. Her mother was Demeter, the Goddess of nature and the earth. Demeter and her daughter lived in a world where it was always summer, and the flowers and plants were always so colourful and were always blooming, and the sun was always shining high and bright in the sky.
One day, while picking daisies, Persephone felt a trembling beneath her hooves and heard a rumbling. The ground split open and Hades, God of the Underworld, appeared to her. He stole the girl and took her back into the earth with him, back to his dark realm. The ground closed up again with a huge roar and all that was left of Persephone was a bunch of trampled flowers on the ground.
Demeter searched everywhere, but she could not find her daughter. She looked high and low for Persephone, and days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Her grief was so great that the earth began to grow cold and all the green things died.
In the underworld, meanwhile, Persephone came to see that Hades wasn’t as frightening as she had first thought. He had been so lonely in the underworld, and he told her he had seen her in the world of the living, and that he longed for her company. The two began a courtship, and it is said that the filly managed to soften the stone heart of the Lord of the Underworld itself, allowing a chance for loved ones to be reunited even after death. However, Persephone knew that if she ate or drank anything in the underworld, she would have to stay there forever. Even though Hades begged her to have just a sip of a drink, or one bite of food, she refused.
Despite dearly missing her mother and the unimaginable hunger and thirst she felt, Persephone embraced her role as Queen of the Underworld alongside Hades, performing as dutiful as he did in their combined dealings. Soon however she began to grow glum and sad, and sorely missed the bright things of the earth, the wind in her mane and the warm rays of the sun on her face.
As Demeter's hope for her beloved daughter began to disappear, so too did all the greenery of the earth, and soon it was covered in a blanket of harsh winds, freezing cold snow and ice. Hades realised his terrible mistake when the souls of the innocent creatures who died from the first winter flooded the underworld. He visited Persephone, and upon seeing how unhappy his wife was, sadly agreed to take her back to her mother. But before they left, he offered her one last thing to eat--a single ripe, blood red pomegranate. Persephone starving after months of not eating, couldn't resist and ate the smallest amount of food she could: six seeds of the pomegranate..
They went back above ground, up through a crack in the earth. Demeter was surprised but delighted to see her daughter again, and they threw themselves into each other's hooves, overjoyed to be reunited. The earth again grew rich with flowers and the sun shone once more, and the cold winds vanished and the snow and ice melted.
In response for the theft of Persephone, Demeter promised retribution upon Hades. Her wrath was so great that Zeus himself had to step in, and mediate terms between the two. It was here that Persephone revealed she had eaten the seeds. Therefore, Zeus decreed that she must return to the underworld with Hades for six months of the year, one month for each pomegranate seed.
Reluctant to agree, but knowing it was the only way she would ever see her daughter again, Demeter agreed. This was the beginning of spring, and when what would be known as the first autumn came, the earth goddess would go into mourning, and the world would lose it's colour and turn cold and bleak once more...
"So you see, Twilight," Broncoles concluded with a soft smile, "that explains how the seasons work. The eternal cycle of the death and rebirth of nature." They had been walking for hours, and the sun was quite high in the sky, beating down on their necks amidst the yellow and orange forest.
Twilight looked up at the trees in a new light, thinking of home. "We don't have any stories like that in Equestria," she mumbled shyly. It was true, she thought, to an Equellene, Equestria must have seemed quiet boring in comparison.
The stallion furrowed his brow in confusion. "So this Celestia of yours controls the sun and the seasons?"
"Oh no not at all," she stated, eager to explain some of her favourite stories. "No the world rotates on it's axis, so the seasons depend on the position of the planet around the sun."
He cocked his head and further furrowed his brow. "Positions of the--by the gods what did you just say?"
Eager to explain herself, and jumping the chance to explain the wonders of science to her new friend, Twilight quickly leant down and picked up a conveniently round rock. "Well, see the world is on a tilt, like this-" She held up the rock and turned it over in her hoof, holding it at an angle to show him. "This is us."
Broncoles looked down at it and frowned. "That's a rock," he said plainly.
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Pretend it's us. See how it's on a tilt? That's the axis." She held her hoof out. "My hoof is the sun, and this rock is the world. When we orbit the sun like this, that means the parts of the world that are closer to the sun are warmer than the others, and vice versa."
The stallion continued to look confused. "But... it's a rock."
"I know it's a rock. It's a metaphor," Twilight grumbled. Her ears turned down in irritation.
Broncoles shook his head. "Metaphors, rocks, 'planet', you sound just like the crazy philosophers in Haylos."
Twilight stuck her tongue out at him. "It's just science!" she grumbled to herself as he sauntered on ahead. "Are you hungry anyway?" she muttered bitterly, feeling her stomach rumble. It had been a while since they had their 'breakfast' and se longed for some real food. Not seaweed.
The stallion stopped and turned around. "I suppose." His stomach grumbled in agreement, causing him to chuckle. Twilight looked at his size and worried about the paltry amount of food they had. Four apples, and a bag of oats. She didn't resent the villagers at all for it, though, and was quite grateful to even get some help. She used her magic to levitate the bags onto the ground, and pulled out two of the apples, giving one over to her companion.
She did begrudge how greedily Broncoles tore into it, and tutted at him as she took smaller bites. "You know it's better to savour them," she told him. "They last longer."
"Mhm," mumbled Broncoles back through a mouthful of apple. He didn't care about making food last longer. He was hungry. Such was the curse of being the largest pony in Equellas.
She rolled her eyes at him and looked up at the sky. Not a single cloud in sight. Today would be a perfect day for flying, she thought.
The stallion swallowed and smacked his lips together. He burped and excused himself, and noticed her gazing upwards. He followed her gaze. "What are you looking at?"
"Oh nothing, just... up there." Her wings rustled uncomfortably. She longed to stretch them, to feel the wind on her face and in her feathers. But she lowered her gaze and smiled at him as he gave her a worried look. "I'm alright, really. How long until we get to Dirta?"
Broncoles rubbed his nose. "Should be less than a day now, I think."
She nodded in acknowledgement. "And..." She hesitated. She wanted to know more about the history of Equellas, even if they were just stories. "Do you think you could tell me another story?" she mumbled shyly.
The stallion rose to his hooves and gave a hearty laugh. "Of course. Do you like spiders?"
Twilight wrinkled her nose as they set off again. "I mean, they catch flies and keep bugs away, so yeah, I guess. Why?"
He grinned and cleared his throat and marched on, while Twilight trotted next to him and gazed up at him, pleased he enjoyed telling the stories as much as she liked listening to them.
"As the stories go, Arachne was the greatest weaver Equellas had ever seen..."
***
The great city of Dirta rose up to meet them as they emerged from the forest. Twilight gasped as she saw two rows of magnificently carved statues lining the cobblestone path up to the gate. "Who are they?" she asked.
"The past kings of Dirta, watching any traveller who dares approach," Broncoles grumbled. "Listen, Twilight." he turned to her and stopped moving. She gave him a concerned look. "Stay close to me. This place isn't safe for unicorns, or anypony not an earth pony for that matter." He looked down at her with worry in his eyes, and glanced at her horn. "Try not to do any magic ether."
She nodded and swallowed. "I understand."
"Good. Come on then."
They strode towards the large gatehouse. Beyond it, a huge crowd of ponies jostled amongst each other, selling and trading, and trading and selling. The hubbub of voices and hooves grew quieter when the two approached, and the crowd parted as they marched forwards.
"Broncoles?" Twilight whispered to her companion as the crowd fell deathly silent, giving them both stares of great curiosity, anger, confusion, and even murderous hate. They all wore simple white togas and tunics, with a few wearing gold or bronze bangles or collars around their hooves and necks. A gaggle of naked foals ran past them, pausing to stop and stare at Twilight. She offered them a friendly smile, and opened her mouth to greet them, but they quickly turned and fled, calling out derogatory names towards unicorns--something about flaccid horns.
"What?" Broncoles whispered back, glaring at any pony brave enough to match his gaze. He strode forward with confidence and held his head high, taking long powerful strides, pausing only to let his companion catch up. Twilight glanced around as ponies stared at her and felt her knees begin to tremble as she hurried after him. The children's calls rang out in her head. What kind of place is this?
She shivered. "Why are they all staring at us like that?"
"Because of what's on your forehead."
She reached up and gently touched her horn. "My horn? Do they hate unicorns that much?"
"Yes."
Before she could ask anything else, Broncoles held a hoof out as several angry looking ponies, wearing armour of bronze and blood red cloaks, strode out to meet them. Their shields were large, and had the symbol of Dirta, the same symbol that was on the flags at the entrance to the city, and Twilight thought their spears looked awfully sharp and vicious.
"Halt!" One of them called out.
His eyes darkened underneath his helmet, and his white coat underneath his chestplate gleamed in the sun, casting the illusion of a celestial being upon the crowd and the intruders upon his city. He slammed a hoof down and pointed his spear at them. His eyes traced over Twilight with a sneer as he glanced at Broncoles.
"The bounty for unicorns only stands when they are delivered in chains, stallion. Explain why this one still has her horn free."
Twilight felt dread build up inside her as the crowd gathered and began to whisper among themselves. She stepped closer to her companion for some comfort and felt the accusatory glares of the crowd on her. He puffed his chest out and addressed the soldier who had spoken.
"She is no prisoner of mine. We have come together, to treat with the King of Dirta."
Broncoles narrowed his eyes and scraped a hoof along the ground and flushed not air out of his nostrils. His muscles flexed and a gleam of sweat traced down his side. Apollo had made the sun shine as bright as possible, and beat down on them as they walked. He had no patience to deal with the hard headed fools of Dirta, least of all a colt of a stallion with a chip on his shoulder.
The pony who had spoken cleared his throat and lowered his spear, it's honed edge gleamed in the sun. "The king is away fighting the war, fighting for freedom of all earth ponies." He scowled at Twilight. "You will go no further until that unicorn lies in chains and her horn is silenced."
He gave a sharp whistle, and another soldier stepped forwards, carrying a heavy looking chest on his back. With ease, he slipped it off and it crashed onto the ground in a small display of Dirtan strength, eliciting a few coos from the middling crowd. He undid the clasps on it and thrust it open, revealing as set of chains and a large iron ring.
Broncoles raised his eyebrow, unimpressed. "What do you intend to do with those?" he growled as a pair of soldiers grabbed the shackles.
The soldiers didn't answer. Instead they merely lowered their spears at him and began to slowly approach.
The giant of an earth pony sighed and cracked his neck. He gave Twilight a dark smile as he took a step forwards and lowered his head. Gone was the usual jovial look in his face, she thought. Gone was the usual calmness and playfulness that he seemed to ooze. She watched his muscles seemed to grow and swell before her very eyes and let out a small gasp. She reached out and placed a hoof on his side before something terrible happened.
"Broncoles, please don't hurt them," Twilight whispered fearfully. "I don't mind being arrested if it means nopony gets hurt." She smiled bravely at him and rested on him for a moment.
He turned to her, flicked his mane out of his face and swished his tail in annoyance. He said nothing as he gazed into her purple eyes, full of a certain childlike innocence and wonder, and thought about what a rare and selfless thing she was in this vicious world of his. He thought Equestria must be a wonderful place to produce such a creature. With a sigh he visibly untensed and straightened up as she stepped forwards to address them.
"Please everypony," she said, smiling at the soldiers, and some members of the crowd who looked her in the eye. The soldiers all took a step back and raised their spears at her, glowering with hateful eyes. "There's no need for violence, we surrender peacefully and nopony needs to get hurt."
The crowd chuckled amongst themselves as some threw jeers and curses at them both. The white pony who had spoken first also laughed at them. "Peacefully? Who does this unicorn whore think she is?" His nostrils flared as he jutted his head towards some nearby warriors. "Arrest them."
Twilight bristled at the needless insult and felt her ears burn. She was trying to be nice, couldn't they see that? Her wings wanted to rustle with indignation underneath the robe she wore, and the heavy saddlebags that covered them thankfully prevented that. She thought if this was how they reacted to her having a horn, then she didn't want to see how they reacted to her having wings as well.
Despite the encouraging face she gave Broncoles as a pair of the warriors approached her holding out the cold iron shackles, watching her with bloodshot eyes from underneath their helmets. Both of them were the size of Big Mac, yet still dwarfed in comparison to her companion, who she was extremely grateful for.
Broncoles flared his nostrils again and glared at them as they fastened the manacles to her hooves. Satisfied she was secure, they turned to him. One of them looked at his hooves and grimaced, giving a head nod to the soldier beside him. Without words, they produced a length of rope from the chest and threw it around the stallion's neck, where it sat loosesly, ready to be tightened at a moment's notice.
Another of the soldiers picked up the small iron ring and moved towards Twilight with it. She didn't know what it was, only felt that something disturbed her greatly about it. She felt a chill run down her spine and shivered, despite the heat of the sun, and a great despair welled up inside her just by looking at the simple piece of iron. Instinctively, and perhaps subconsciously aware something terrible was coming, she backed up and reared away from the soldier as best she could. The chains around her legs clanked and rattled. In response, the guard holding the rope attached to Broncoles gave it a yank and pulled him down, away from her. "No, please!" she cried as she heard his pained gasp and hung her head. "I'm sorry, I'll wear it..."
She braced herself, and felt herself grow cold as the guard seemed to enjoy her torment, noticing his small smirk, and the slight grins on the rest of their faces, including the white pony. "Inhale, count to four..." she told herself. Her horn tingled as the iron ring unclasped.
"Exhale..."
She couldn't help herself. The cold penetrated deep within her and instinct took over again as she fired a small magical blast towards a--thankfully--empty cart. It shattered into splinters, and the guard dropped the ring and leapt backwards towards his comrades, away from the 'dangerous' unicorn.
They all lowered their spears and advanced as Twilight stammered an apology. Broncoles reared up as more rope was thrown around him. He stomped his hooves and snorted, grunting in pain as they pulled him down. His body hit the ground with a loud crash. "Enough!" he gasped, feeling the rope tighten around his neck, digging into his skin.
"Please! Stop, I didn't--I'm sorry-" she continued to cry. All their eyes were watching her, all ready to kill her. Her horn tingled again. What she would give to be in good old Canterlot again. She found herself collapsed and cowering, tucked up into a small as possible ball, tail wrapped around her and-
"Enough!"
A loud voice boomed over the crowd. The soldiers immediately retracted their weapons and planted them in the ground at their sides, standing up straight and at attention. The ones restraining Broncoles released their hold of the ropes, and he quickly stood and shook the dirt and dust off. He marched to Twilight's side and protectively stepped over her, shielding her frame with his massive body. He knew if the soldiers struck him he would die, for he was as mortal as the rest of them, but as long as he kept Twilight safe he didn't care. He didn't know why he had to keep her safe, but something drove him. The same thing that told him to help her on the beach, and the same thing that told him to swim out to sea and catch her in the first place. The Fates are fickle mistresses in Equellas, and must have been playing some game with him today he thought.
The members of the crowd who remained quickly dispersed, trying (and failing) to make it look like they weren't paying attention to the strangers and the soldiers. One stallion simply tutted and tapped his hoof at his shattered cart, rolled his eyes, and muttered something about no good, dirty rotten, cart breaking unicorns.
Twilight removed the hooves over her eyes and peered out from underneath Broncoles, before realising she was in fact underneath him. She glanced upwards towards his face and felt herself calming down. Feeling shame burn away inside her for losing control of her magic--something which hadn't happened since she was a small foal--she patted one of his hooves to assure him she was okay. He ignored her, and watched intently at the newcomers approaching them.
A sand coloured mare and a large, bigger than Big Mac stallion strode towards them through the soldiers. Her blood red mane was tied back into a knot, held in place by a golden clip encrusted with a single ruby. Two gold hoops hung from her ears, and a gold bangle made to look like a serpent weaved itself around one of her front legs. Her simple white dress wrapped itself around her, hugging her slender form. Despite her jewellery and obvious regality, her hooves were laid bare on the ground. Twilight quickly identified her as the queen, feeling the same thing she felt when she looked at Celestia for the first time, that air of royalty that only princesses--or queens--conjured.
The soldier at the queen's side wore bronze ornamented armour and a crimson cloak that billowed out behind him. What Twilight could see of his hooves underneath the leg plates he wore, along with said armour, were scarred and scratched after countless battle no doubt, and a patch of cloth wrapped itself around one of his eyes. Part of his ear was also missing, and a deep gash across his throat rendered him mute. He still commanded respect from the rest of the soldiers, and they all shifted uncomfortably under both his and their queen's gaze.
The mare's eyes narrowed as she looked at the strangers in her midst. Twilight stared at her forehead, or more precisely, at the stump of where a unicorn horn should be, and swallowed. She looked away quickly when the queen's eyes met hers and she shivered and gazed at the small iron ring, wondering what it was about it that filled her with such dread.
"Your majesty," said the white guard pony, making everypony under his command, tense up. The soldier bowed low before his queen and averted his eyes from her as she looked at him expectantly. "These strangers were-" he began.
"Tormenting a filly, captain? A Dirtan should know better," she sneered, not caring what he had to say. She nodded to a soldier, eyes fixed on the guard captain in a disapproving scowl as he remained bowed. "Release her."
The same one who held the ring towards Twilight avoided her eyes and moved forwards, obeying the queen without question. Broncoles growled at him and stepped away from Twilight, allowing him to undo her shackles. Still averting his eyes from them both, the soldier scurried backwards, eager to be out of the giant's shadow as he stepped back over Twilight. She patted his leg comfortingly, feeling her cheeks blush. He remained like a rock over her, watching and waiting.
The queen sized him up and down before looking at Twilight. Her mouth twitched in annoyance as she saw the scared mare's eyes and whispered something to the soldier at her side. He nodded and stamped a hoof, gently growling as he signalled the soldiers to disperse. They all quickly obeyed, even the white guard captain, but not without giving Twilight one last hateful glance before disappearing.
"Are you going to let her stand, stallion?" the queen asked Broncoles. Her mouth curved upwards into a smile as he straightened up and remained silent. Twilight pulled at his leg and nodded to him, silently assuring him that it was okay, that she was okay. He reluctantly stepped away and helped her to stand. The young mare quickly dusted herself off, and gave a bow to the queen.
"Your majesty," she said and looked at the ground. Her magic pulled Broncoles's ear down into a bow beside her, and he begrudgingly obliged.
The queen's smile widened, and she nodded back to them, pleased with the respect they showed her, even the big one. "Come," she commanded, and turned away, up towards her palace.
The two needed no further encouragement to be away from the crowd's watchful eyes. Twilight felt deeply embarrassed about losing control of her magic, and Broncoles was sick of 'Dirtan hospitality' already. The queen's guard gave him a curt nod and followed after them, glancing back and growling at any who were watching them.
The crowd quickly grew rife with speculation as to who these strangers were, and what the queen wanted with them. Nopony there noticed a large shipment of wine being delivered by a pony shrouded in a dark cloak.
***
They walked silently through the palace. Both Twilight and Broncoles gazed up in awe at the ornate decorations and tapestries that hung on seemingly every wall. The guard pony behind them marched with them, his one good eye swivelling around the rooms they passed through. The queen strode out in front and pushed open a door which led to a large room with a long table.
She stamped a hoof and summoned some servants from the far side of the room. "Bring food and drinks for my guests," she said. The serving mares snapped to attention and dashed away at her command, but not before giving Broncoles lustful looks. "Are you hungry?" she asked her guests.
Twilight's stomach grumbled as if to answer, eliciting a small chuckle from the queen.
"You must have travelled far. Come, sit with me and tell me your names while we wait." She crossed the room and took a seat at the table, gesturing for her guests to do the same opposite her. Twilight obeyed, thankful to be off her hooves for a moment, and cleared her throat. Broncoles remained still, eyeing the scarred soldier who had followed them in.
"Thank you, Farrios," the queen called, sensing the tension rise. "That will be all." The soldier bowed and growled something in response. He retreated back out through the door they had entered from, and closed it gently behind him. The three were alone now, and Broncoles still remained standing. He moved to Twilight's side and looked at the flimsy looking chairs uncomfortably.
"Aren't you going to sit, Bronco?" Twilight asked him quietly, with a hint of panic in her voice. "Her majesty's asked us to."
He scratched his chin and moved a chair out the way. "Well... I'd like to, but, um... I'd break it."
The princess suddenly realised why he had no chairs in his home, or a real bed for that matter, and had to catch herself from bursting out in laughter. He hunkered down next to her, causing the queen to smirk at them. An odd pair they made, she mused. She cleared her throat and raised her eyebrows expectantly.
"Oh, um-" Twilight stammered. "My name is Twilight Sparkle, your majesty."
The queen nodded at her and they both looked towards the stallion.
"My name is Broncoles," he muttered, wary of the queen's intentions, despite how assuring Twilight looked. "Your majesty."
"Charmed to meet you both." The monarch across from them held her head up high and smiled as the door burst open, revealing several mares carrying trays upon trays of food. Twilight gasped. She had never seen so much food before, not even the Canterlot kitchens put on such a spread as the mares laid the trays out, and placed plates n front of each of them.
Bright yellow fruits from far off exotic lands, shiny reds from the heart of Equellas, bowls of freshly cut pasture grass, bowls of oats and a whole mixture of other foods lay before them. Twilight felt her mouth begin to salivate as she looked at it all.
"My name is Queen Goldgo of Dirta," the queen said with a smile. "Welcome to my palace." She waved a hoof at the food, sensing her guests eagerness to begin. "Please, help yourself."
Broncoles greedily began to shovel food onto a plate. His stomach grumbled loudly, and he was eager to eat more than a single apple. He chortled and thought he'd like to try and see Twilight stop him. He glanced at the alicorn beside him, and smirked as she too took greedy bites and hooffuls of food.
Twilight shot him a look and took a big bite of an apple. She closed her eyes and felt the juice dribble down her chin, and a small whinny even escaped her as she savoured each bite. Just one apple, and she felt like she had more to eat in this meal than she had in a lifetime. Such was the difference between common food and royal food, she supposed.
The queen cleared her throat and addressed her guests. "So what brings you to Dirta? Where do you both hail from?" She eyed them up, noting their sudden change in disposition.
Both Broncoles and Twilight paused eating and shared a glance. "We've come from Haylos, your majesty," the stallion murmured. "Twilight here is... lost, and I'm supposed to escort her to the unicorn kingdom."
"Lost?" Goldgo's eyebrows raised. "Haylos is on the edge of the world, as far away from the unicorn lands as possible. What were you doing there, of all places?" She rose and placed both front hooves on the table and lowered her voice to a growl. "What would Diamondae want with Haylos?"
Twilight began to stammer, and shook her head vigorously. "Oh I don't know, your majesty. I was... well, you see, your majesty, I'm... um..." She struggled to maintain her composure under the steely gaze of the monarch. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, calming herself. She opened her eyes and exhaled, looking the queen in the eye. "I'm not from Equellas... I'm from another world. We're hoping the unicorn queen will let me look at her library so I can find a spell to get home."
The queen remained silent and stared at them both. Broncoles and Twilight glanced at each other again, and she even placed her hoof on his for comfort. He silently held her back under the table, and felt his heart swell. Goldgo suddenly turned, knocking the chair back slightly and motioned to follow her. As Twilight rose so did Broncoles, making the queen pause and raise a hoof.
"Just her, sir."
He froze. He had never been a 'sir' in his life, and now the queen was calling him that? What could she want with Twilight alone? He scraped a hoof on the ground and flared his nostrils. Twilight gave him a reassuring pat and smiled at him. "I'll be alright, I don't think I'm in danger, you know."
They looked into each other's eyes, and he gave a heartfelt sigh and sat back down, watching quietly as Twilight followed the queen out. As they left the room, a group of serving mares carried forth large wine jugs and set them down on the table. When they offered to pour him a goblet, he accepted, thinking that the queen wouldn't mind if he had just one sip. The wine might also help clear his head from worrying about Twilight, he mused.
***
The princess followed with hurried steps and felt butterflies writhe in her stomach. Had she said the wrong thing? Was the queen going to interrogate her about Equestria? Each panicked though after panicked though rushed through her head.
They passed through a large marble and bronze corridor. Great intricate tapestries hung on the walls, and painted pottery depicted past events passed down for generations. Torches blazing with fire lit the way, and the queen eventually stopped in front of a bookshelf.
As Twilight watched with wide eyes, Goldgo reached up and tugged on one of the books. With a click, the bookshelf swung back, revealing a secret door. She jutted her head towards the darkness and grabbed a torch from the wall. "Follow," she commanded.
Twilight silently stepped forwards and swallowed hard. The new tunnel was pitch black, and if not for the flickering light of the torch she wouldn't be able to see anything in front of her. Their hoofsteps echoed around them in the darkness as they walked. The very walls seemed to be carved out of stone. Twilight thought it must have taken years, decades even, to build such a tunnel, and traced a hoof along the wall in awe. How she would love to study the history of this place.
"Here," Goldgo said sharply. They paused in front of a large steel door, embedded into the very rock. She held the torch aloft towards Twilight, motioning for her to take it. The princess did, and the queen placed her now free hoof on the door and pushed it open.
An unholy screech was heard as the heavy metal scraped along the ground, making Twilight wince and cringe backwards. The queen looked at her and nodded into the room. On the edge of the light, Twilight could just barely make out the edge of a small pool. She felt her horn tingle with power, sensing a great source of powerful magic nearby.
Goldgo pushed the door close behind them, ignoring the screeching sound again and extended a hoof for the torch. Twilight passed it back to her, and watched as the queen began to light torches around the room. The room itself was circular, with a large pool of crystal blue water in the middle.
Finished with lighting the last torch, Goldgo marched to the centre of the room and began to strip. She reached up behind her neck and undid the clasp in her hair, letting it spill down to the ground around her, and slipped the golden jewellery she wore off and onto the ground where it jingled against each other.
Twilight quickly averted her eyes, feeling a touch embarrassed. "Wh-whaaat are you doing?" she murmured, examining the ceiling, counting the cobwebs.
The queen simply chuckled softly. "Have no fear, Twilight Sparkle." She flourished her mane and smiled. "It is customary for oracles to perform naked before the gods."
Twilight blinked and looked down at her, trying her best to imagine she was in Equestria again, where 'being naked' was normal. "Oracles? As in, be able to tell the future kind of oracles?" Her eyes widened in wonder. The stories she had read often mentioned oracles prophesising things for kings and queens, but she never suspected she would be meeting with one, let alone one who was a queen! Equestria didn't have any oracles per say--Star Swirl could only sort of predict the future, and even then it was vague at best.
"Among other things, yes."
Twilight watched with curiosity as the queen gestured to the water. "What is that?" she wondered.
"It is a scrying pool," the queen stated. "One of a few means for oracles to perform their duties. Come, join me." Goldgo smiled. Her words seemed to ooze warmth, much like Celestia's had.
Twilight made to quickly moved closer, feeling her wings rustle. She stopped herself and stood still, trying not to show how afraid and bashful she suddenly was.
Goldgo noticed the lack of movement and raised an eyebrow, causing the princess to shy away and straighten her robe. Her hooves fidgeted on the ground.
"Your--Goldgo--I, um..." she stammered, quite flustered. What would the queen say about her wings? She remembered the story Broncoles had told her, about the dark alicorn. What if all ponies hated alicorns because of that story? She bit her lip and shuffled awkwardly, continuing to flounder for words.
The queen moved towards Twilight and carefully held her hoof out to her side. "May I?" she asked quietly.
Twilight nodded stiffly. What was she going to do? refuse a queen in her own home, in a secret chamber probably not shown to just anypony. Goldgo's eyes widened in surprise as she felt Twilight's wings. "Might I ask you to show me?" she asked. Her eyes sparkled in the light cast around the room by the torches. Behind her, the pool pulse and rippled with magic.
Twilight squirmed. "Um, I... Broncoles said to keep them hidden..." Her tail swished nervously behind her, and she felt clammy and sweaty.
The queen began to grin before catching herself and removed her hoof. "And are you the type of mare to stand idly by while stallions tell you what to do?" she cocked an eyebrow upwards.
The princess bristled with indignation, taking the bait Goldgo had set without even realising it. "Well, no, of course not but-" Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink as two rosy circles appeared either side of her mouth. She wondered how the queen would react if she knew she was a princess, and ruled her own kingdom. She thought the queen might think her a 'weak ruler' perhaps, and her brow furrowed as she straightened her neck up and looked the golden pony in the eye, determined not to show herself up.
Goldgo grinned to herself as the mare's resolve seemed to strengthen.
The princess's horn began to glow, and the magenta aura of her magic grasped at her dress. She lowered her head and pulled it over herself, feeling relief as her wings unfurled behind her and cast long shadows in the light. She flourished her mane and gave them a flap, scraping a hoof over the ground and holding her head up high.
She looked divine as the queen stared at her with wide eyes. "So it is true," she whispered in awe. "An alicorn has come to Equellas..."
Twilight flittered her wings and pawed at the ground, feeling a hot flush spread across her under the queen's gaze. "Broncoles said some ponies might not-"
"Understand? I am all too aware, Twilight Sparkle." Goldgo laughed and beckoned the princess over, towards the pool once again. She gestured up to her horn, or rather, what was left of it. "Leonidhoof, my husband, was wary at first when we first met as even back then unicorns and earth ponies did not see eye to eye. So we made an attempt to hide what I was, despite my deformity."
She sighed and tapped the broken stub.
"When he proposed to me we agreed we would no longer hide who I was, and now my ponies see me as their Dirtan Queen. More than just a unicorn."
Twilight glanced up at the stub and folded her wings by her side. "What... did happen?" she asked tentatively.
The queen visibly flinched and stopped, making Twilight wince.
"If it's not too much-"
"It's quite alright, Twilight Sparkle. If one is to receive information one must give information. My sister shattered my horn and cast me out for dictating a prophecy to her, promising her failure." She tutted and gave a bitter laugh with a faraway look in her eye. "Diamondae has no forgiveness for those who displease her, not even her own kin."
Twilight blinked. "Diamondae? The unicorn queen?"
"Precisely."
The alicorn made an 'o' shape with her mouth and felt a chill down her spine. "She's your sister? But--but-"
"I know, Twilight." The queen cleared her throat and began. "I was born on the same day as my sister in Jewelthens, capital of the unicorn country. On my fifth birthday I was sent to the city of Corundelphi, home of the oracles, as my blood had the gift whereas my sister's did not." Goldgo sighed wistfully. "As we are twins, we remained close despite our separation. She became the princess in training to be queen, and I became an oracle, destined for failure, as the Fates decreed," she muttered bitterly.
"Many moons later, her coronation took place after the death of our father." She paused to smile softly to herself, remembering happier times, and Twilight listened intently and continued to watch with intense curiosity. Questions were growing in her mind, but she dared not interrupt. Not yet anyway.
"Soon after she ascended the throne, Diamondae came to me, seeking guidance. She told me she had made some friends who could promise an end to the war. At first I was encouraging, as war is nothing but a blight on our country." The queen sighed again and turned her head. Her silhouette cast long shadows on the walls behind them as the light flickered. "Had I only known..."
Save for the crackling of fire and the quiet sparkling sounds of the scrying pool, the room was deathly quiet. Twilight clamped her jaw shut and held her breath, thinking she was breathing too loudly as she waited for the queen to continue.
"I asked the gods for a vision. One was given," she said ominously. "I told my sister of what the gods had shown me, and she was not happy." She touched her horn and looked away with a tear in her eye. "My own younger sister had my horn removed and myself cast out. I was exiled. Persecuted. If not for the sacrifice of my father's bodyguard, I would have perished that night. I fled into the country, only to stumble upon a squad of Dirtan soldiers on a scouting mission. Exhausted from running, I passed out, and their leader carried me back to his home on his own back." She waved a hoof around the room. "To these walls, this palace you are in. That pony was Leonidhoof, the bravest soul I have ever met. The rest, as they say, is history. As the Fates foresaw, no doubt"
"Who are the Fates?" Twilight asked, sensing her chance to ask a question or two. How could Diamondae do that to her own sister? She thought of Celestia and Luna, and swallowed nervously.
Goldgo chuckled, thankful for the curiosity of a young mind and secretly thankful for the change of subject. "They are the Goddesses of Destiny. They play a role in each and every one of our lives, from when we are born to when we die." She looked at the alicorn carefully. "I suspect they have their own plan even for you, Twilight Sparkle. Have you any other questions?"
"What do you mean, 'have their own plan for me'?"
The queen laughed again and shook her head. "That is impossible for me to say, Twilight. The Fates are a mystery to all except themselves, and not even great Zeus can uncover their riddles until they come true. We all must wait and see, as is our fate."
Twilight nodded in understanding, wishing she could only know more. She did indeed have more questions, but where to begin? It was like when she first awakened on that day, and thought about all she wanted Broncoles to tell her about, and one thing stuck out to her in particular. Broncoles's story about the dark alicorn flashed through her mind once again.
"Goldgo, Broncoles told me... an alicorn once visited Equellas a long time ago..."
Goldgo nodded with a saddened expression. "I suspected he would have told you of that legend when he discovered your... lineage. I know the story as well. Many Equellenes do, although far more dismiss it as mere legend." She dipped her hoof in the water and closed her eyes. What was left of her horn began to glow brilliantly, and the water began to swirl and pulse, making Twilight gasp in surprise.
She took a step forwards and looked down at the churning water, and the queen began to speak, still with her eyes shut. Her voice echoed throughout the room as ancient and powerful magic flowed through her.
"Long ago, Zeus, mightiest of the gods, sent his alicorn son to live amongst ponykind and learn their ways."
The water began to swirl with magic, and soon showed the image of an alicorn stallion, standing tall and proud, wings fully stretched and long flowing mane billowing out behind him. No colour was in the image, save for his bright yellow eyes.
"The son did so for many years, even fell in love with a mortal mare... and then... the first war began, and tragedy befell the world. In the aftermath, Zeus's son was changed. Bitter. Hateful. He believed the gods considered pony lives mere playthings, pawns in a dark and twisted game."
Twilight gasped as the image changed, and the stallion she thought once looked so handsome now stood, head hung low, wings looking ragged and battered, horn chipped and chiselled, his once finely brushed mane now messy and unkempt. His armour battered and dented, coated with a dark matter she assumed was blood, making her shiver.
"The son turned away from the father, and raised an army to combat the gods themselves. Zeus, unwilling to let such a transgression go unpunished, swore vengeance against those who dared turn against him, and fought his own son for many moons and suns, chasing him across fields, and oceans, and mountains."
The images shifted again, each time showing events darker than the last. The stallion, the son, was now wearing blackened and scorched armour, and his eyes gleamed with murderous hate. His once luxuriously long mane was now cut short, and his horn was broken off midway. The princess's tail swished behind her, and she began to feel her chest tightening as she hung on the queen's every word. A chill ran down her spine as the image shifted again, showing fields upon fields of bones, swords, shields, rusted weapons, hollow armour, ragged banners and storm clouds high above.
"Their battles were long, and bloody. The son fought with the strength of Ares, and used strategies devised by Athena herself to absolute perfection. But, even with his gathered followers and knowledge had stolen from the other gods, a stalemate was reached between father and son."
The image showed an old, grey pony walking amidst the battlefield, and despite being a still image, he seemed to look straight at the two ponies watching the vision. Fear tightened it's grip on Twilight as the old pony's eyes seemed to pierce her very soul.
"Zeus, growing restless with their conflict, formed a cunning plan, and used the love of his son's wife against him. He disguised himself as his own son, beautiful as he once had been, and bedded her, taking her in the night. Upon his discovery of such an act, stricken with anger and grief, the son threw aside reason and dove into dark and forbidden magics, demanding Zeus answer for his crime."
Twilight recoiled at the sight of an alicorn standing over a mare, grinning maliciously as her real lover discovered them. The look of rage and betrayal on his face was clear to see, and the princess felt a shar stab of fear as she gazed into his eyes.
"The son transformed himself into a hideous abomination with many heads, and marched against Olympus. His soldiers saw his transfiguration as an affront to nature itself, and threw down their arms and begged for the gods' forgiveness. Disgusted by their betrayal, the son swore vengeance on all ponies, claiming them unworthy of even living anymore, and that he would remake the world in his own image. Zeus launched a final attack in a desperate attempt to stop his son from devouring the world, and pierced his hide with a thunderbolt. From the blood that was spilt from such a great wound, great fire breathing lizards were born, each with the intense hatred their father had produced for both the gods and ponykind. Thus the first dragons came to be. Zeus threw his defeated son into a volcano and banished the dragons to the ends of the earth."
The water began to glow red, and an erupting volcano appeared, and a black cloud of thousands of figures with pointed heads being carried on blackened wings rose up around it, each spitting fire and holding cruel looking weaponry. Twilight started back out of fear, swearing she could feel the heat of the volcano on her face. As if to sense her discomfort, the queen waved her hoof and dismissed the vision. Her eyes creaked open and she gave a sad smile to the alicorn beside her.
Twilight gulped and shivered in horror. A bead of sweat dripped down her neck, and worry knotted her stomach. She as thankful Spike hadn't come with her to Equellas, for she feared what the ponies here would do to him. She had no idea this world was stepped in such barbarity--it looked so peaceful from when she flew above the clouds. "What happened to the mare?" she asked quietly after a few minutes of silence. "The one Zeus... you know..."
Goldgo smiled and closed her eyes again, and her horn began to glow again. The water rippled and shimmered, swirling with magic and revealed a mare cradling a small foal.
"She gave birth three hundred days later to baby colt. But as the foal was born prematurely, he was too small to be raised in what would become Dirta. Zeus, whether out of pity or a sense of duty to his new-born son, blessed the child with a long and healthy life, and forbade any gods from interfering any more than he already had."
The water showed a foal, a cute bouncy foal with a wide smile and Twilight felt her heart melt. "Awww," she cooed without thinking. The sinking feeling in her stomach from such a horrific tale faded quickly as she looked at the cute baby, and thought of her own niece. Goldgo simply continued on with a smile as the image shifted again and again.
"Thanks to the deific blood running through his veins, the colt grew larger than most, and was even gifted with an immense strength. He eventually grew old and died, as all mortals do, despite his demi-god status, but not before siring another child, blessed with the same size and strength as he."
The pool rippled and pulsed, showing image after image of tall, handsome stallions with golden eyes. Each one had an extraordinary set of muscles, it seemed, and each one was twice the size of a normal pony.
Twilight felt her heart leap into her throat, and she gaped as the images stopped, and the water grew still. The smiling face of one such stallion stared her in the face, and she felt faint. His golden eyes, his messy mane braided into a knot, the familiar muscles, and even the plain white tunic he wore, muddied and dirtied after a hard day's work, were all too familiar to her.
"Broncoles..." She breathed in disbelief as she gazed down at him. "It couldn't be..." She shook her head and started back. "He said his father was a great warrior of Dirta..."
Goldgo nodded and waved her hoof, making the images disappear. "No doubt he was, Twilight. Zeus has sired many children across the world, with their lives planned out by the Fates themselves. Each had a particular role for them to play, or a story to be told. And yet... no great heroes have come from this bloodline. Not great songs, no epic deeds. It is my belief the Fates have preordained something special for this young stallion. " The firelight flickered in her eyes as she narrowed them.
The alicorn tore her eyes away from the calm water and stumbled over to where the queen was. Her legs felt like jelly, her heart thundered in her chest, and she felt like she couldn't catch her breath. The elder of Haylos's words to Broncoles flashed through her mind again.
"Your destiny is intertwined with hers..."
"Destiny..." she murmured quietly. She wondered and wondered what these 'Fates' had in store for her, and if she truly was supposed to come to Equellas. She felt cold and remained silent while the queen moved away from the pool.
Goldgo approached a wall on the far side and examined it closely, tracing a hoof over the old stone. With a sharp kick of her hoof, she cracked the wall. The sound echoed throughout the chamber, making Twilight flinch and snap back to reality. She watched the queen continued to kick and chip away at the wall, until she had broken enough to reveal a small wooden box.
"If you could, Twilight, please," Goldgo panted and gave her guest a nod, gesturing towards the box.
"Oh, sure."
The princess's horn ignited and a magical aura surrounded the box. It was lighter than it looked. She lifted it up and placed it carefully on the ground. Despite her gentleness, a small cloud of dust still rose up around them, making her sneeze. "Sorry, your-" She paused as the queen's eyebrows raised. "Uh, Goldgo."
The queen chortled. "Have no fear, Twilight." She touched a hoof to her forehead and smiled bitterly. "The inherent magic that comes form being an oracle is limited, different to the properties a unicorn might use her magic for. For the most part I am an earth pony." Her lowered her hoof and her eyes sparkled as she opened the box and lifted out the object housed inside. "But enough of that. Do you know what this is?"
Twilight stole a glance towards the pool, her mind racing and reeling with questions, she desperately wanted to talk to Broncoles, but listened to the queen and looked at the object--a small silver amulet. She let out a small gasp and saw it bore a mark she recognised. "Star Swirl the Bearded!" she cried. The queen stared blankly at her, making her stammer and explain.
"Uh, Star Swirl is the greatest wizard Equestria--that's where I'm from--has ever known, he's the father of the amniomorphic spell, the most important conjurer of the pre-classical era, and he created more than 200 spells! He even has a shelf in the Canterlot library of magic named after him."
Goldgo nodded, understanding that this wizard of of great importance. "I see." She held it up and gestured for Twilight to approach. "Then I believe you should be the one to wear this."
Twilight lowered her head and felt her heart increase its palpitations as the queen fastened the necklace around her neck. She felt a surge of magic course through her for a moment, and her mane fluttered up around her head, and her wings extended and stretched out. Goldgo stepped back, sensing the amulet held a great source of hidden power.
Twilight looked down at it and cupped it in her hoof, and gave it a quick inspection. It was a small silver thing, engraved with arcane and alchemical symbols on one side, and Star Swirl's cutie mark on the other--a swirl of stars and visualised magic.
The queen tapped her hoof on the cold stone floor, getting her guest's attention. "Many, many moons ago, a pony travelled through Dirta, hooded and cloaked in shadow. This amulet came from that pony, under claims that it was bartered away in exchange for food." She looked at the amulet closely as it hummed and pulsed with energy. "Given the clear magical nature of such an artefact, it was brought to the palace and kept under lock and key, where it has remained dormant. Until now."
Twilight gazed at it as curiosity mixed with confusion in her. Star Swirl's symbol of all things was the very last thing she expected to see. "Do you know who that pony was?" she murmured, glancing between it and the queen.
"I do not. They disappeared after an... incident, and fled the city. Some sources claim that a pony fitting a similar description was spotted in the unicorn kingdom many years ago." Twilight's face visibly dropped and her wings began to droop. "If this pony still exists, they have log since been in hiding."
The princess slumped further to the ground. Her ears pricked up as she thought of something. The elder had known Celestia... was it possible the princess herself had been this mysterious pony travelling across the world? It didn't seem possible, and yet it was the only thing Twilight could think of that made a lick of sense.
"Do you suspect something, Twilight?" Goldgo asked upon seeing her face flicker with recognition.
"Well, I'm not sure, but I think my mentor may have been here before. She's.. like me." She fluttered her wing and gave a shy smile. "An alicorn."
The queen's eyebrows raised. "I see." She examined Twilight closely. "You say you were brought here from another world?"
Twilight nodded warily. "Yeahhh... thanks to a, um... magical book."
"I recall." The queen winced and gave her a small bow. "I apologise Twilight Sparkle, I must confess I had not believed you at first. But between an alicorn walking Equellas again, and the magic you seemed to have awoken in this amulet, I am all but certain the Fates intended for you to come here, to our world."
"What does that mean?" Twilight asked, slightly concerned that she didn't know if she should be concerned or not.
"It means that-" Goldgo suddenly interrupted herself, raising a hoof to her ear and listened intently. "I apologise for the interruption, Twilight," she grumbled and began to scowl. "But it would seem that my presence is required."
The princess nodded and sighed. "Oh... okay." She longed for answers. It seemed to her that every time she got close to answers, she faced only more questions, and it was annoying her.
Goldgo looked her up and down and smiled softly. "I sense you are unhappy, Twilight."
Twilight quickly looked up and forced a smile. "Oh no, no it's just-"
"I understand this must be frustrating, Twilight Sparkle." The queen held out her hoof and caressed Twilight's face, like a mother to a foal. "I assure you, all will be made clear soon enough. Come."
She strode to the heavy steel door and pressed her hoof to it, giving the princess a glance and another smile. Twilight shook her head and trotted over to her, smiling back. Her heart felt heavy, and her knees felt weak. She paused suddenly to pick up her robe.
"You won't need that, Twilight."
She realised Goldgo was also still naked and tilted her head in confusion. Before she could open her mouth to question it, they were suddenly transported back in the main corridor of the palace, where sounds of what could only be described as raucous laughter were coming from the dining room.
Goldgo strode ahead, appearing as she had before they had descended into the darkness, once again fully clothed and looking as regal as ever. Even her hair was clipped up again, and Twilight felt her wings rustle underneath her robe once again, and was startled to learn she too was also fully dressed. She hurried after the queen, left to only wonder what sort of magic Equellas had.
Star Swirl's amulet pulsed gently as it hung around her neck.
***
"Aha! There y'are princessh!" cried Broncoles. His face was red, and the stink of wine was heavy on his breath. Several empty jugs, each intended for several servings each, lay empty around the table, which had long since been cleared of plates. "I thought you'd never--hic--come back!"
He rose to his feet and stumbled for a moment, chuckling away to himself.
Twilight groaned and pressed a hoof to her face. Goldgo gave him a rather bemused look and glanced at Twilight. "A princess, eh?"
Said princess realised she hadn't told the queen that she was indeed a princess and grimaced. "I, uh-" she began in an attempt to explain herself, when the thundering of hooves came from across the room towards them. Broncoles marched straight up tot them, swaying and blinking at random intervals.
"Yes, yourr magister, Twilight 'ere is a princessh, from another world!" He bowed low, or tried to rather, and sunk to his knees in a rather unceremonious way. Twilight flashed a worried grin at the queen upon seeing her stone-eyed expression.
"Shut up!" she hissed at Broncoles. She caught the smell of his breath and gagged. "How much have you had?"
"Eh? Letsh shee... those cute fillies brought some wine, said it was a gift for the queen... that was..." he counted on his hooves. upon realising he had drank a lot more than two jugs, he chuckled and shrugged.
Goldgo raised an eyebrow and strode forwards towards the jugs. She traced the rim of one with a hoof and gave it a tentative sniff. "Hmm," she murmured and turned back to Twilight, who quietly yet rapidly whispered to Broncoles about how he couldn't go getting drunk, of all things, in a palace when they were guests there.
"Tell me, stallion, what did this wine taste like?" she asked him.
Broncoles gave her a grin and slurred his words. "Dellliiishhhciouussss..." And with that, he slumped over and began to snore.
Twilight held her head in her hooves, expecting the worst. Goldgo wiped her hoof on the table cloth and sighed. "That wine was poisoned, I fear."
"What?" The princess shot up and reached out to broncoles. "Poisoned? Are you-"
"Quite sure, princess." Goldgo grinned mischievously, and for a second twilight thought she could see Celestia in her. She grimaced again and looked away, towards the sleeping stallion. "I'm sure he will e quite alright. I do not think he was the intended target, you see."
Twilight looked at her worriedly. "You mean the poison was for you?"
"I do indeed." The queen sighed. "Another attempt by my sister I would imagine. How else to demloralise the king on the front lines, than by striking at his heart. Ah. No matter. I shall have to thank Broncoles." She looked down at him as he giggled in his sleep and bucked a huge leg. "When he wakes up."
"If I don't kill him first," Twilight grumbled and glared at the sleeping stallion.
Goldgo flicked her eyes between them both and began to smile. A deep, knowing smile spread across her face. She merely nodded and stamped her hoof. Out of seemingly nowhere, two large guards marched into view and stood at attention, startling poor Twilight.
"Guards, have this stallion taken to one of the guest rooms. He appears to have drunk too much wine."
"Yes your majesty," the guards replied in unison. They cracked their muscles and looked down at their charge, then glanced up at the queen with an almost imploring look.
"You may get more guards, if you so need," she told them, making Twilight feel at ease enough to chortle quietly. he guards saluted her and one dashed away to call for assistance. Soon a troop of Dirtan warriors hoisted the giant up and carried him away. Twilight made to follow them, but was stopped by Goldgo.
"No, Twilight. Come with me."
"Another scrying pool?" Twilight joked.
The queen, amused, chuckled ad shook her head. "No, no. I suspect you cannot take much more this evening."
Twilight suddenly felt the exhaustion of a long day hit her. She stifled a yawn and nodded. "You... might be right, your majesty."
"If you would follow me, I shall show you to our royal guest chambers."
"Oh that's not-" the princess began quickly.
"I insist." Goldgo cut her off and gave her a wink. The alicorn fell subdued, choosing not to argue for auguring's sake. She did long for a real bed right now. "Now come."
They talked together for a few minutes more as the queen led her towards the guest room. Twilight apologised for not revealing she was a princess sooner, much to Goldgo's amusement. The elder of them assured her there was no foul blood between them, and that she would be wise enough to do the same thing should they meet Diamondae.
Twilight gulped and shivered. Was the unicorn queen that bad? She had yet to find out. They rounded a corner after several twists and turns, and soon Goldgo escorted her to a lavish room, with gold and red rugs lining the floor, and an expertly carved bed that looked seductively comfortable.
The alicorn felt the exhaustion hit her as the queen pushed her towards the bed. "Get some rest, Twilight Sparkle. Your journey is only beginning." She smiled and made to leave.
Twilight nodded and yawned, feeling her eyelids droop uncontrollably. "Thank you, Goldgo," she mumbled. The amulet she wore tingled with magic against her.
Goldgo nodded back and closed the door behind her. She paused for a moment, and almost immediately heard the sounds of the princess's soft snoring come through the door. She chuckled and walked away, to her own chambers, thinking about the prophecy she had told her sister, all those years ago.
"A lion lives in the woods, near Gemea. If you go there, for the love of Zeus don't anger it. It's not been known to be kind to strangers trespassing where it lives."
- A wary traveller regarding tales of the mythical Gemean Lion.
Dirta was a simple city in design. That is, not to say, that earth ponies were simple creatures, but more practical would perhaps be a more fitting description. Although sadly long since it's glory days, Dirta still shone like a beacon to any earth pony wishing to travel there against the dark rock of the surrounding countryside.
The walls of the city to the north, east and south were vast and defensible, true, yet in times like now had too few soldiers to properly patrol them, and rumours abounded from many an outsider that Dirta would fall if attacked. This of course, was dismissed as pure nonsense by any Dirtan citizen, warrior or not, and told as a joke amongst the populace. To the west lay the Aresian mountains, named after the War God, and the site of a statue carved out of the mountain itself depicting the god in a moment of battle for all eternity.
It was in Dirta where the legendary King Leonidhoof resided in times of peace. He was a warrior through and through, and if the old stories were to be believed, descended from Ares himself. He was both a guardian and a general, fighting on behalf of all earth ponies for the freedoms that only Dirta afforded, and though he was strict and dogmatic in his regime, he was no less beloved by his subjects and revered as a hero by them all. His queen--the Lady Goldgo--while born a unicorn, was also given the respect a position of hers required. She had earned her subjects' trust through years of hard work, proving herself to be a shrewd diplomat and a capable warrior in her own right, even without the use of unicorn magic thanks to her broken horn.
The main entrance to the city was a towering gatehouse, of which statues of the ancient kings of Dirta guarded in front. They were magnificent, and incredibly lifelike, right down to the folds in their cloaks and carved out of solid marble, kept in a pristine condition out of respect and honour for the deceased. Two huge banners of crimson red hung either side of the gatehouse flying the traditional Dirtan symbol: the mark of the king, a solid pointed arch of gold. The same symbol was forged into the very shields the Dirtans carried as a sign of respect and admiration.
However, an eerie silence clung to the landscape around the city, its soldiers casting suspicious glares on what few travellers came to visit. Most unsettling to any new arrival is how none could hear the bustle and vigour of a city the size of Dirta beyond its walls. Since his ascension to the throne, Leonidhoof allowed a policy of giving the city guard the right to demand the business of anypony and everypony, noble or commoner, desiring entry. Such demands required the guards to be ever vigilant, and under the Captain of the Retainer Guard Dieneighekes--the same guard captain who had detained Twilight Sparkle and Broncoles the previous day--the gates were sealed shut come nightfall. When a new arrival appeared, announced or otherwise, spears were raised, and archers from high up on the walls readied themselves, taking aim if the need arose, and watched with hawk-like intensity. If the Princess of Friendship had looked up and behind her, she would have seen at least a hundred arrows trained on her, simply waiting for the signal of their commander. Had the order been given, she would not have noticed the arrow already soaring through the sky, and her journey would have been over before it truly began.
Once granted passage, a traveller would notice how the streets came alive with movement. Dirta itself was a rather plain city compared to Jewelthens, but no less in size or spectacle. Once, many years ago, Dirta was considered the jewel of the western shores. Today and in recent years, sadly, the city lay in an all but dilapidated state. The buildings were a faded yellow in colour, mostly, with simple white houses--apartments stacked on top of each other that stretched up like a deliberate mockery of the fabulous unicorn spires. Indeed in ages past there used to be as many great spires and towers as in Jewelthens, and a few ruined towers could be spotted along the mountains nearby, now long since abandoned save for a few scouts keeping vigilant for any signs of incursion. In the heart of the city lay the Dirtan agora, and while nowhere near the spectacle of the Jewelthens agora, it remained no less busy.
Ponies of all three tribes congregated there, although they were kept under the close and careful scrutiny of the guards, and even a few donkey blacksmiths and several griffons from Griffsia visited Dirta, selling and peddling their fineries and bringing some sorely needed coin into the city.
Earth ponies belonging to some of the Dirtan nobility, that would not look out of place amongst the unicorns of Jewelthens--although to say such a thing was madness--could be found wandering the streets at an given time, giving newcomers wary glances and disapproving looks. Indeed, the earth ponies of Dirta were noted for being stubborn, tall, rugged and wary of strangers, and each one carried a weapon at all times, whether it was hidden or not. For these ponies not currently following their king into battle, life remained as it always had, yet each longed for battle, for the chance at a glorious death in the name of their king, and each would gladly give their life for his.
The largest structure of Dirta was the Palace of the King, where the monarchy had always resided. The palace itself was taller than any other building in the capital, even rivalling the temples of the various gods the ponies worshipped. Embedded into the mountain and intended as a last defence should the city fall, the palace was an impenetrable fortress. One of the most important locations in Equellas, the palace contained one of the few known scrying pools, thought lost to the recesses of time from when titans ruled the earth. Before Queen Goldgo arrived, such a room was considered mere rumour and speculation, and such it remains to most, save for those closest to the royal family. At the base of the palace was a single, large wooden door, simple and unadorned. Few windows dotted the outside walls of the palace as well, and a lonely balcony here and there jutted out over the city.
From the highest point of the palace it was possible to view the entire city, and even beyond where countless past wars had decimated the city's immediate surroundings. Despite many a sculptor and architect come to visit, the capital still bears the marks of war. On the outskirts of the city lay several blackened and burned out buildings, as well as cracked statues and what was once a park, now overgrown as nature began to retake control some years ago.
The interior of the palace was very different to the outside. While the outside remained bleak and plain yet imposing, the indoors were filled with magnificent paintings and ornaments depicting ancient events passed down for generations. The grand centrepiece, of course, was a statue of solid gold of Ares, clad in chains. Such a thing would normally be considered blasphemy, but to the Dirtans it was a sign that the War God's martial prowess, desire for victory and skill in battle was to be kept in Dirta at all times. Some rumours even stated that Hephaestus himself forged the statue, and placed it there as a gift to the first Dirtan warriors.
If expecting honoured guests, the Dirtan monarchs would hold lavish feasts, never ones to hold back on wine, or entertainment. If expecting dishonoured guests, however, the lights would be dimmed, and the king would appear in battle regalia. A firepit would blaze in the centre of the room to make his eyes appear with the fury of a god, flanked by his hardiest of warriors and sturdiest of shields.
Aside from the main hall, where such feasts or intimidating displays were held, there were the royal chambers, where the king or queen, sometimes both, would deliberate with their generals and captains, and the strategy room. In this particular vaulted chamber, framed maps of the known world lined the walls, and the grim trophy of a dragon skull hung as a testament to the skill of Dirtan warriors, having brought back by Farrios the Grim after waging war in the dragon lands far cross the sea, he who now resided as the queen's loyal bodyguard.
Dirtans had not always been such grim folk, however, and a select few made light of current events, writing plays and putting on shows of entertainment for any who would watch or listen. Once, the amphitheatres of Dirta would play host to a great many characters, including the famed Masques of Pegasopolis, a trio of pegasus sisters known for their daring acrobatics and air dances. Now, though, those amphitheatres lay overgrown and unused, as many Dirtans saw no need for merry making, unless it was in times of victory. When the king left, so did the joy of the earth ponies, or so they say.
Queen Goldgo currently strode through her palace, thinking of the previous night's events. Her ear twitched as she heard sounds of grunting and pain. Alarmed but curious, she detected the sounds came from a room used for training any children in combat. Amused and curious still, she pushed the door open confidently and cleared her throat.
***
Twilight Sparkle panted heavily. Sweat dripped down her head, and her legs ached. her wings were outstretched, and her teeth chattered as she fought for breath. In her hoof was a wooden sword, used primarily for teaching children. When the door swung open, the poor princess nearly died of fright, being completely taken by surprise, and dropped her weapon.
"Ahh!" she cried out. Upon seeing her host's bemused look, she straightened herself up and cleared her throat, trying to alleviate some of the anxiety she felt. "Goldgo! I thought it was... you know what? Nev-never mind." She looked at her opponent awkwardly, and felt her cheeks begin to burn as the wooden dummy stared back at her, it's crudely drawn on face mocking her almost. She found it in this room, and prepared it to act as a faux sparring partner, but she hadn't expected fighting to be so exhaustive.
Goldgo raised her eyebrows as she observed the sight. She felt a smile twitch at the corners of her mouth but restrained herself. "What in Equellas were you doing, Twilight?"
The princess flinched and pawed at the ground, still trying to catch her breath. "Well, uh... If there's going to be danger where I'm going I thought I should... I don't know... learn how to fight?" She winced, feeling like she sounded pathetic. She felt pathetic, being unable to beat a stationary target with even just a simple wooden sword. "Uh... I've never... fought using a weapon before, I've just used my magic..."
The queen bit her lip and kept from laughing, instead smiling sweetly like a mother to her foal. "Oh, my dear. Well, training alone will only give you a false confidence." She crossed the room and pushed the dummy aside, picking up a wooden stick in her hooves and turning to face the princess, whose eyes widened in wonder and horror both. "This is why Dirtans train in pairs."
"What are you-" Twilight began, suspecting she had done something wrong, although what she couldn't say.
Goldgo rushed forwards and swung the stick. The princess yelped and quickly jumped backwards, wincing as the stick made a loud clatter on the ground. The queen grinned and nodded as she retracted her weapon. "Good, your reflexes are sharper than most. Pick up your sword, Twilight."
The princess shakily stepped forwards and reached out for the wooden sword, only to yelp as Goldgo slapped her with the stick and danced around her.
"Ow!" she snapped and licked her hoof as she turned red and stung like heck. "You said-"
"If you disarm your opponent, Twilight, do not give them a chance to regain composure."
Goldgo grinned and nodded at her opponent. She set down the stick for a moment and pulled off her dress, once again a simple white tunic. She took off the hoops in her ears and set them down carefully, and slipped off the bangle she wore once again. Her mane remained clipped up, and her tail dragged along the ground slightly.
Twilight realised she had forgotten to get dressed, and further realised in absolute horror that she had actually been walking around the palace naked all morning, although nopony had seen her, thankfully. if they had, they had chosen to remain silent and save her from further embarrassment.
"What makes you wish to use a weapon, Twilight?" Goldgo asked her. It was a fair question, thought the princess. It deserved a fair answer. The only thing was, she felt like she had no choice, and the current subject was a difficult one.
"I, uh..." she murmured, and pawed at the wooden sword. She thought it would have been easy, and remembered watching old movies of ponies having dashing sword fights atop castle walls and swishing rapiers around. In reality, fighting with a weapon as more exhausting than using her magic.
Goldgo sensed her apprehension and smiled in an attempt to calm the young princess's nerves. "Why wouldn't you use your magic, my dear?"
Twilight tensed up. "Well... what happened yesterday, with the guards, I don't..." She inhaled sharply and looked her host in the eye. "That ring, your majesty, it-" She felt her voice quaver and felt the same cold dread of fear she had felt build up inside her when simply looking at the thing. "I haven't tried to cast magic since that... I'm not sure I have control over it..."
The queen's face grew dark. "I understand, Twilight," she said, cutting her off. "A silencing ring is no laughing matter, and it is kind of you to worry for others' safety." She sighed and looked down at the ground. "I wore one, once, before I was exiled. oracles must go through a training process, you see, to determine whether we are just using our magic to foresee the future, or if it is in our blood."
She tutted and looked up with a haggard smile. "It was a truly... unpleasant experience, to say the least."
Twilight felt herself begin to relax. "I didn't even... it only got close to me and it felt like all the happiness had been sucked out of the world..." She shivered and felt the hairs on her neck stand up on end.
Goldgo nodded. "You must be powerful with magic, for it to have such an effect on you so."
The princess felt a proud smile spread across her face, despite her apprehenson. "Well, I, uh... am the Element of Magic, after all."
The queen tilted her head and gave her a questioning look. "The Element of Magic? I've never heard of such a thing." her nose scrunched up as she spoke the foreign words. "I take it this is some of your... Equestrian magic?"
Twilight nodded. "That's right. My friends and I were the Elements of Harmony, until the Tree of Harmony was shattered , and then we realised the elements were inside each of us anyway and-" Se paused, and felt her ears burn as the queen gave her a bewildered look. "Um... yeah. So..."
Goldgo shook her head and chuckled quietly. "You are a strange princess, Twilight Sparkle. One day you must tell me more of your story, it sounds very interesting to say the least." She narrowed her eyes. "Perform some magic, Twilight, for me, please."
The princess felt her smile vanish. "Really? But-"
"I insist." Goldgo spoke with the same authority she had shown the previous day when addressing the soldiers, but winked and flashed her a grin all the same, showing that warmth that once again reminded Twilight of Celestia. "If you incinerate anything I won't have you arrested. Queen's word."
Twilight smiled back, unsure if that was intended as a joke or a threat. "O-okay... well here goes..." She lowered her head and focused her thoughts into projecting a beam of light at the wooden dummy. She felt it bubble up inside her, and felt the power flow through her head and channel into her horn, and then something passed trough her mind. A flash of something dark and foreboding, and once again she felt cold like all the happiness of the world was suddenly removed. Her grip on the power loosened. She gasped and tried to cancel the spell, only for magic to burst forth from her horn, and a beam of dark purple energy blasted forth, promptly shattering the training dummy into a thousand splinters. She hung her head in shame and mumbled an apology.
The queen simply nodded. "I see. It seems the effect the silencing ring had on you runs deeper than I originally thought, even coming into close proximity to it appears to have disabled your magic for now. I fear had it touched you, you would have lost the ability to do magic entirely." She crossed the room and placed a hoof on the alicorn's shoulder in a comforting way. Upon seeing the fear and worried look in her eyes, Goldgo took her hoof and guided her towards the door. "Come. I suspect a hearty breakfast will help."
Twilight gave her a glum look and silently obeyed. She was nervous about seeing Broncoles again as well, and hoped he was feeling better and not too hungover from consuming all that poisoned wine. Her belly grumbled, and she folded her wings at her sides, remembering she had forgotten to bring clothes to the training room.
"Um, Goldgo?" she murmured quietly as the queen picked up her things.
The queen looked at her, then at the clothes in her hooves. She chuckled and shook her head. "Have no fear, Twilight. The servants aren't in this part of the palace at this hour, and nopony will see you." She saw how rattled her guest was already, and lied to alleviate some of her fears. She suspected some of the serving mares had already seen the alicorn walking about, and grinned to herself. "Are clothes optional in Equestria?" she asked, hoping to make the princess feel more at home as best as can be.
The question caught Twilight off guard. "Well, sort of. My friend makes dresses for parties and events like the Grand Galloping Gala. Some ponies in Canterlot wear-" She paused again, feeling the curious gaze of the queen on her once again. "Sorry," she mumbled shyly.
"Do not apologise, Twilight," said Goldgo with a smile. "You are a guest here--both to me and to Equellas itself." She mused on her words. "Hmm. This Grand Galloping Gala... what would such an event be?"
Sensing her nerves begin to settle, Twilight began to gush about one of her favourite events, much to the queen's amusement and delight. She rarely had a chance to speak with such interesting guests, and relished in new learning opportunities, very much alike to the pony she conversed with now.
***
Exactly one hour later, Twilight was fidgeting in her seat. The food laid out before her remained half eaten, and although she was hungry, she couldn't possibly force herself to at any more. she was anxious to leave, to begin whatever quest these 'Fates' had in store for her, and whatever it entailed. The elder of Haylos's words came to her again, and she swallowed nervously. She had retrieved her clothes, and once again her wings lay hidden underneath her robe, where they rustled uncomfortably and longed for the wind.
She cast a glance to her right, where the hulking figure of Broncoles--looking rather sorry for himself and worse for wear--clutched at his head and groaned softly again. His food was also untouched, although she suspected his reasoning was far simpler.
Goldgo sipped at her drink and regarded them both carefully. She thought they made an odd pairing indeed, and wondered exactly what the gods had planned for them. "If I may, Twilight," she spoke after a while.
Twilight looked up at her and smiled weakly. Broncoles remained unmoving, and the princess wondered if he had fallen asleep at all.
"I would suggest you avoid the main roads as much as possible on your way to Jewelthens." Goldgo narrowed her eyes and set down her cup, a shining bronze goblet embedded with small rubies. "I can arrange transportation for you up to a point, and then you will have to continue by yourselves."
The princess felt a quiet dread creep up inside her, despite her desire to leave. She nodded in understanding, grateful for any assistance they could receive, however limited.
Broncoles shifted next to her, startling her a bit. "That's all?" he rasped. His eyes, bloodshot and strained, gazed across the table at the queen. His voice bore the strain of the poison's effect, and had he been any other pony--blood of Zeus or not--he would be long dead. "That's all you can do?"
Goldgo looked at him, both nonplussed amused. "I have you to thank for my life, Broncoles. I am in your debt. And while I am grateful, I will not tolerate uncalled for aggression." Her voice was lined with menace, and Twilight was reminded--like a sharp stab to the abdomen or kick to the chest--that she was in fact queen of a warrior kingdom.
The stallion appeared to also be reminded of this, and bowed his head, wincing as the movement caused him a small pain. "I apologise, your majesty. This wine, it-" He swallowed nervously. "It has dulled my sensed and inhibitions. I meant no offence." He spoke to her differently to how he spoke to Twilight. Perhaps it was out of respect, with a touch of fear.
"I am aware, stallion." Goldgo smiled sweetly at him. The room suddenly felt colder, and poor Twilight fidgeted in her seat. She wondered if she could disappear quietly, where nopony could find her or see her. Not with her magic in the state it currently was. With a grimace she wondered how her friend would react upon learning she had been affected so by the silencing ring.
Broncoles noticed the look on her face and gave her a worried glance. She began to blush as he looked at her, and felt her cheeks flush with blood. Now she knew his heritage, she was slightly more intimidated by him, but still somewhat excited. She cursed her girlish thoughts and looked back at him. "I'm fine, really," she said, putting on a brave face and trying to calm herself.
He raised an eyebrow and said nothing, but turned to look at his half eaten food. He shrugged and grabbed an apple, taking a large bite out of it. His crunching filled the hall with sound, and the princess began to feel herself relax as she listened to him.
Goldgo mused to herself that they would make a fine couple, and would no doubt produce many a powerful offspring. As she knew the princess was struggling in her surroundings enough as it was, she refrained from saying such things. Instead, she cleared her throat again and rose from the table. "If you would excuse me, I would go now and arrange for your transportation. Please, eat something before you leave. Your journey is only just beginning."
Twilight rose form the table and gave her host a bow as a sign of respect. "Thank you, your... Goldgo, for all your help."
The queen smiled and waved goodbye, striding through a large doorway and disappearing from sight. Silence fell upon the hall where Twilight and Broncoles remained, and a tension began to rise.
"So..." the stallion murmured. Twilight felt the heckles on her neck stand up again, and slowly turned to look at him. He looked back at her, and scratched his head. "How are you?"
Twilight gave him a baffled look. "That's all you have to say? How am I?" She felt a fire build up inside her as the stress of what she felt came to a head. "Well, I'm just great, stuck in a strange world where everypony either hates me or fears me, no way home, scared out of my mind about what I'm supposed to do, worried about Equestria, unable to use my magic and-"
"What?" Broncoles stood and moved closer to her. She felt tiny in his shadow, and looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "What do you mean you can't use your magic?"
She silently looked down and thudded her forehead against his chest as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I'm... I'm not sure. When that pony tried to put that silencing ring on me, it... triggered something in me. Whenever I try and use magic I get cold, and feel... afraid..." Her body heaved with silent sobs as she rested against him, listening to his heartbeat. Sometimes, rarely, she wished she wasn't born a unicorn, and could enjoy the simple life of a pegasus or an earth pony without having to rely on her magic too often. This was one of those times. "I feel useless, I can't even-" She began to choke up on her words. Broncoles put a hoof around her and gave her a comforting cuddle.
"It's alright, Twilight. I can protect you." As he spoke those words, he wondered if this was the reason he felt so inclined to keep her safe. If so, it was a cruel ploy by the gods indeed to keep them together. A unicorn unable to do magic was a sorry thing, and if Twilight was affected so by this then he felt like he had no choice but to stay with her as her guardian, although he would welcome that position, and happily serve in her royal guard in Equestria if he could.
The princess pushed way from him, but kept one hoof on his chest. She looked up into his golden eyes and felt her heart perform somersaults. She felt a wave of relief pass over her, and any thoughts she had about him thinking she was useless were washed away. She did have a tendency to over think things after all, and of course he was a true gentlecolt.
The sound of a door opening made them both turn and look, and saw the same white guard captain from yesterday approach them swiftly. Twilight felt the muscles in her friend's chest tense up, and his ears flattened down. He pawed at the ground and stepped in front of the princess in a protective manner. She hovered next to him, hoping that whatever this pony wanted now was something good.
Dieneighekes removed his helmet and gave them a stiff nod each, seemingly not caring about the tenseness or interruption he brought. His eyes coldly glanced over them, before settling on the wall behind them. He cleared his throat and spoke aloud. "The queen has requested I escort you to the edge of the city. From there, a caravan is waiting to carry you onward." His voice rang out with military authority. Dieneighekes was never one for small talk, and notoriously of very little patience, especially for unicorns he deemed dangerous. "Follow me."
Twilight thought it was strange the queen would send them on their way without saying a goodbye, but supposed she had her own duties to attend to, and didn't begrudge her for it.
Dieneighekes turned on his hooves and strode back the way he had came from, not even waiting to see if they responded to him. Broncoles glanced at Twilight and straightened his ears, feeling himself untense. She nodded and made to follow after the guardspony, seemingly reluctant to take her hoof off of his chest. Bronco took one last glance around the hall they had sat in for the best part of the morning, and realised his headache was long since gone. He also realised that the Queen of Dirta herself owed him a life debt, as she had said, and wondered what possibilities that could entail.
***
Four days later the caravan finally stopped.
Broncoles stirred himself awake and stretched his legs as a large, hairy beast that resembled an old grandmother looked at him with sweet, ancient eyes. Twilight had called them yaks, and while he had heard of them before he had never seen one. What they were doing in the heart of Dirta who could say, but Goldgo had enough knowledge of the world to broker a deal between them. In exchange for carrying these two strange ponies as close to the unicorn kingdom as possible, great riches would await them when they next returned to the earth pony capital. Broncoles hopped down off the cart a large pair of them pulled and looked around, thinking they were indeed strange looking. Most were dark shades of brown or black, and a few calfs--what they called their young--were light brown or cream coloured. They were big too, and their carts were huge, big enough to carry him for which he was grateful.
The yaks themselves seemed amicable enough as well, and Twilight had some basic understanding of their language to converse with a few of them. Broncoles however, remained dumbfounded that such creatures could be found in civilised places. What information he could gather from Twilight was that these yaks were a race of travellers, never staying in one place for too long. Nomadic she called them. As such, they had no concept of cities, towns or settlements of any sort, so everywhere they went was was simply 'home'.
He approached Twilight as she was speaking to the caravan master, and overheard the tail end of their conversation.
"Where are you going to go now?" the princess asked. She waved Broncoles over as he approached, and smiled as he stood next to her. To Broncoles, she appeared to have regained some of her usual self, despite still being magically muted.
"Yak home," the caravan leader said bluntly. The stallion looked at him curiously. He was a large brute of a creature, with thick woolly hair hanging down around his face, and a long beard that scraped along the ground. His voice was gruff and hoarse, and his horns were decorated with bangles of bronze and copper, signifying his status above the rest of his kind, whose horns were plain and unadorned. All of them wore similar strange hats made of their own hair fibres which rested in between their horns, and each wore cloaks with intricately designed patterns of many colours that draped over their large backs. "Great khan summons all yaks home. Pony no follow." He looked down at her with wizened old eyes and appeared to smile. He had that much hair it was hard to say, but his eyes shone with a certain kindness. "We return to pony queen later."
Giving Broncoles a look up and down, the yak snorted and made to leave.
Twilight thanked him and the rest of the caravan as they began walking. A calf with wide brown eyes looked up at her and mumbled something in yakish, eliciting a small giggle from the princess and waved a fond goodbye, trotting off after it's parents.
Soon all that was left of the yak caravan was a dusty trail and muddy hoofprints, and the occasional squeaky wheel of one of the carts as it faded into the distance.
"You speak yak?" Broncoles asked, breaking the silence.
Twilight nodded and turned to face him. "Sort of. I understand enough of their language to know what they're saying, but I can't pronounce anything in yakish." She was glad the yaks in Equestria and the yaks in Equellas spoke the same language, as it made things easier for her. She wondered if the other races of Equestria were present here, and she wondered if she would find Equellenistic counterparts of herself and her friends. An interesting thought to say the least.
"Huh." Broncoles murmured, continuing to be impressed by the alicorn's abilities. "So now where? Onto Jewelthens?"
"I think so, yeah."
He scratched his head and looked around. The dirt path behind them turned, and unless they risked following the yaks into Yakolia--wherever that was--they were lost. "You wouldn't happen to know which direction that was would you?"
Twilight felt anxiety creep up on her again. "I'm sure there's... something we can do to find out where we're going." She touched the amulet that hung from her neck and felt it pulse slightly when she looked in a certain direction. She frowned, and tested it a few times. "Hmm..."
"What?" Broncoles snorted and scraped the ground. "It was nice of the queen to give us a way out of Dirta and to get us halfway to where we needed to go, but she couldn't have given us a map or something?"
Ignoring him for a moment, Twilight continued to test the amulet. When she looked left the amulet remained still, and when she looked right, towards the sun, it pulsed ever so slightly. "I think she did give us a map, sort of."
She turned to look at him, and fished the amulet out of her robe. "See this? It's pulsing wherever I face that direction. I... I think it's telling us we need to go that way." She pointed over the hills to their right, in the direction of the sun.
Broncoles remained sceptical. He examined the amulet closely, not recognising any of the symbols engraved onto it. "What is that?"
"Goldgo gave it to me after it responded to my touch," Twilight explained, turning it over to show him the other side. "She said..." She trailed off, getting caught in the stallion's golden eyes for a moment. She coughed and snapped herself back to the present before he could notice or comment. "She said it belonged to a pony that came through Dirta a few years ago. See this symbol?" She pointed to Star Swirl's cutie mark.
"Yeah?"
"This is from Equestria. The pony who's symbol this was is a great and powerful wizard." She hated using the term 'great and powerful' thanks to her one-time-rival-turned-sort-of-friend Trixie.
Broncoles's eyes widened. "Oh. So it's important then?"
"I believe so." She held it aloft, towards the horizon, where it pulsed steadily. "I say we follow it. It can't do us any harm can it?"
The stallion nodded his massive head in agreeance with her. "Onwards then. Princesses first." He swung a hoof out and bowed low. Twilight snorted and gave him a playful shove, feeling a grin spread across her face.
He grinned back and together they trotted towards their destination.
***
After hours of walking, Broncoles glanced back to see the young mare struggling. He sighed and stopped for her to catch up. "Just a bit further, Twilight, then we can rest," he told her, and pointed forwards. "Once we reach those trees, we should be safe."
She panted and nodded, feeling winded from marching for so long. On both of their backs were a pair of saddlebags, filled with fresh supplies and an assortment of items they might have need of. Twilight was used to walking long miles, but this was something else. She usually had her magic to help with carrying heavy things, or wasn't carrying a much as she was right now. Her hooves were cracked and dry, and her mane clung to her neck with sweat.
How Broncoles kept such a steady pace she could only assume had something to do with his strength, and demigod blood. She bit her lip and still fought to keep from asking him about it, trying to thin of a good opportunity to do so.
His words suddenly hit her like a brick. "Safe? What do you mean, safe?" She scanned their surroundings and paused, cocking an ear out to listen.
"Wolves live in these hills, or so I've heard. I'm sure there are boars and lynx here too, and maybe even a lion or two somewhere. I'd rather not sleep out in the open where anything could drop in on us unannounced, you see?" he smiled at her, choosing to ignore her horrified expression for the time being.
"Boars? Wolves? Lions?"
Equestria's wild animals were of the magical nature usually--bugbears and parasprites and a manticore or chimera here and there. When it came to real animals she had her faith in Fluttershy being able to keep them under control. Alas, she was without Fluttershy right now, and began to feel fearful that she was in a foreign wilderness, with no way to deal with them without her magic.
"I've heard-" Broncoles continued as they walked on, approaching a set of trees ahead of them as the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the world. "That there is a lion living in the hills near Gemea--the borderlands between earth pony and unicorn kingdoms--and has skin as strong as iron, and teeth sharper than any sword or spear, able to eat some ponies whole-" He rubbed the back of his head and quickly shut up as Twilight's pupils shrank to pinpricks, and grimaced awkwardly. "Sorry."
The princess felt her hooves tremble as they walked. "Where did it come from?" she asked, morbidly curious about such a dangerous sounding creature. Despite her fear and worry that they might run into such a thing, she was eager to know more about it.
He shrugged. "Depending on who you asked, you'd get a different answer. Some would say it's one of the offspring of one of the gods, Artemis I think usually. Others would say it's a living relic left over from when titans ruled the world."
"Titans?" Twilight interjected. "What are they?" Every answer she got from him seemed to raise more questions. She longed for a notebook or something to write down all the thoughts and questions she had bout this world.
Broncoles looked up at the sky with a smile. He thought her curiosity of the world was cute, and he enjoyed telling her stories, both good and bad ones. He looked down at her and began to explain. "The Titanomachy, as some call it, was the war between the Olympians and the titans for control of the world. Some of the titans are still alive today, like Atlas, who holds up the skies." He smiled sadly. "Or Prometheus, who gave ponies fire in the first place. Although, to call his situation 'living' would be an overstatement."
"Prometheus? Who's he? How do you mean?"
There was a hill in front of them, and the final hurdle before they could start to relax. Broncoles prepared himself for the climb, and shook some of his muscles loose.
"Well, as he stole the fire from the gods, Zeus saw his punishment would be to be chained to a rock for the rest of time."
"That doesn't sound so bad," Twilight murmured as she too looked up the hill. She gave her legs a shake, careful not to stumble as she was weak from exhaustion already.
"Ah but Zeus sent a pair of his eagles to accompany him, however. They eat his liver daily--it grows back you see--as he is a titan and immortal."
Twilight stopped and gaped in horror. "Wait, really?"
Broncoles nodded silently and had a grim look on his face. "That's his punishment, just for giving ponies the first flame. The gods punish those who wrong them, even if it was in jest or an act of good. If you disobeyed the gods they would punish you in cruel and unimaginable ways. remind me to tell you about Sulphysos some time. Come on," he told her, casually dismissing his own stories. "Up this hill, and then we can get a camp set up and get some rest."
The princess roused herself after a moments pause and began the climb alongside her companion. It wasn't even that steep, just a gentle incline really, but coupled with her exhaustion and the heavy things she carried, she feared she would pass out before reaching the top. As she struggled she thought about the Equellenistic gods, and what Goldgo showed her in the scrying pool. Zeus was certainly deceitful, she concluded, but were the rest of them so bad? She dreaded to think what might happen if one of them took a disliking to her. She hoped being in the presence of Broncoles helped her in some way, and looked over at him. His muscles bulged and popped as he carried himself, showing no signs of slowing down, and she felt a touch jealous that he was moving with such ease while she struggled.
They eventually came to a stop before the dark trees, and just as the sun set behind the hills. Twilight looked over as the moon slowly began to rise, and thought about how strange it felt to not be the one raising and lowering the celestial bodies for a change. She winced and thought of Equestria once again, and sincerely hoped they were coping as well as can be. If she went back and her home was a decimated land of ice and snow, or a scorched wasteland she wouldn't know what she would do.
She gasped and panted for air, eager to be done for the day. "Do we have a tent?" she asked as Broncoles rummaged in his pack.
"Aha! There it is!" he cried joyfully, and extracted some cloth and pegs. He looked over the exhausted princess, noticed how her robe had risen a bit above her flank and coughed politely. "I'll, uh, get this set up. You just rest, Twilight. You've done enough today."
"I'm not a child you know," she grumbled at him, forcing her wobbling legs to stand. "I can help." Despite how she felt, se was determined to prove tat she wasn't as useless as she felt.
"Have you ever set up a tent before?" he bluntly asked, trying to hide a smirk.
"Yes of course, lots of times when my friends and I would go camping."
"Without magic?"
"Oh. W-well, no, but-"
"Then let me handle it."
She stamped her hoof and huffed, turning away from him. "Braylas was right about you," she muttered. "You are thick headed. At least let me get some firewood or something. I'm freezing."
At this Broncoles paused in his work and grinned from ear to ear. "I'm sure you're more than capable of doing that, Princess Sparkle," he replied with an overly dramatic bow.
She stuck her tongue out at him and undid the straps on her packs. They slid off and landed in a heap on the floor, where some fresh apples poked out temptingly.
"Try and get some rocks too for the base," he told her.
Twilight rolled her eyes at him and turned away. "I know how to make a campfire, like I said I've done this before." She muttered as she marched off, into the trees, leaving the silhouette of her companion behind. "Really the nerve of some ponies." It wasn't like she was a dainty princess like in a fairy tale, she was Twilight Sparkle! The successor to Celestia, the First and Last star, yadda, yadda, etcetera, etcetera. She realised how silly some of her titles were, and if she ever got back would remind Chancellor Neighsay to have some of them changed, or flat out removed. She giggled and imagined calling herself the Queen of Equestria.
Twigs snapped under her hooves as she walked through the trees. It was dark, but the light of the moon above provided enough light for her to see where she was going, and soon a large bundle of sticks and stones sat in her now full pack, prompting her to smile with satisfaction and turn around to head back. She paused and looked around, and felt a palpable dread begin to rise in her as she realised she hadn't been paying attention to where she had gone, or was going. "Uh oh," she murmured quietly. "Oh no. Oh no..." A cloud passed over the helpful light of the moon, enshrouding her in darkness.
She frantically began to double back, taking to just flat out walking backwards as a panic began to build up inside her. her flank touched a rock she didn't recognise, so she stopped and caught her breath and fought to stay calm. "Inhale, count to f-"
She froze and fell deathly silent as a low growl was heard from above her.
Hot breath traced the back of her neck, and deep, short, hot and heavy breaths made her mane blow around her. A glob of drool dripped down and landed on her shoulder, eliciting a shiver of horror from the princess. She slowly looked up into the gaping jaw of a vast creature the size of a small house. She let out a small shriek and jumped backwards, staring up at it with wide, terror filled eyes.
A lion, a huge monster as big as Broncoles, twice, maybe three times the size of a normal lion. The same lion he had told her about? She felt her knees tremble, and she continued to stumble backwards as it hopped down from its rock and began to prowl around her.
What a delightful little supper.
Twilight shook her head and swore she heard it speak. Can animals in Equellas do that? Was that something she had picked up from Fluttershy somehow? The second she thought about casting a quick teleportation spell away, that dark presence passed over her, and she began to feel her knees grow weak. She remembered Broncoles's words, about a lion of huge size. This must have been it, as it was truly a giant beast, towering well above her. Its fur was difficult to determine in the half light of the moon, but she spotted a dark patch around its chest and its muzzle, and assumed it was blood, and swallowed nervously.
What comes walking to my kingdom? Is it scared? Is it delicious?
"N-now now, Mr, lion, sir," the princess stammered as the beast shook it's mighty mane and crouched low to the ground. "I don't know if you can hear me or understand me, but I'm, j-just trying to find some f-firewood to make c-camp with. I didn't m-mean to disturb you and I'm s-sorry." She felt sweat dot her brow. Her heart beat louder and faster than it had ever had before, and she felt her teeth begin to shatter as she grew cold, and truly believed that she was staring death in the eyes.
I wonder, little supper. Can it run?
It flexed its massively long claws which were stained with a red substance. Twilight noticed, even in the dim of the night, that it's chest was stained with the same red, and it's fangs gleamed in the night as it licked it's lips. "I can run, sir, if-if you'll allow m-me to sh-show you-" She tried speaking at it, still being far from sure it could even understand her, or if she could understand it or if that was her own fear playing tricks on her mind.
I think not...
The lion lunged forwards, its claws fully extended and its jaw opened wide, caring nothing about what she had to say. Twilight screamed and covered her face up, falling to the ground as the monster's jaw latched around her, narrowly avoiding it, and thankfully it pierced only her robe instead of her skin. It hoisted her up and threw her away. She landed with a thud and skidded in the mud amongst the twigs and grass. It prowled around her, pushing her around with its massive paw as she remained curled up and unmoving. Twilight felt true, unabashed fear for the first time in her life at that moment, even after everything she had faced on her way to becoming princess as it slid her across the mud for the fourth or fifth time. Time seemed to slow down as she waited for the final blow.
The princess swore she could hear it laughing as the beast laid its paw on her and pushed her into the mud, pressing down on her ribs and expunging the air from her lungs. Its head moved closer to her, and she could smell the blood on its breath now, and the rotting smell of decaying meat in its teeth. "Broncoles..." she breathed, just barely above a whisper as the world began to turn dark. "Help me..."
"LEAVE HER!"
A loud shout roared out through the dark forest. The lion removed its paw and allowed Twilight to take a deep breath. She saw spots and blinked a few times, squinting into the darkness. The moon shifted through the trees and revealed the speaker, a pony, standing eye to eye with the beast. Its golden eyes lit up the dark like two shining spotlights, and she felt her heart flutter as she recognised it as Broncoles. A thought passed through her mind at that moment, and she wondered if she had actually summoned him by quietly calling for him.
The lion licked its lips, setting its unnaturally yellow eyes on a larger meal, and began to stalk towards it, crouching low to the ground and ignoring its smaller prey for a moment.
Another supper? I am spoiled.
Broncoles reared up and let out a mighty cry, and slammed his hooves down into the ground. The trees around them shook as they had when the beast first roared, and hot air flushed out of his nostrils. He looked past the monster and saw Twilight staring at him with wide eyes, clearly terrified out of her mind and possibly injured, but alive, and felt a godlike rage inside him build up.
"Get away from her you filth!" he growled, and rushed forwards, head lowered and ears splayed down.
The lion roared back and swung at him with its massive claws. He nimbly dodged one, then another, and connected his hoof with its face, sending it back a step in the mud. "Twilight!" he raged, "Run!"
She needed no further encouragement, and quickly scrambled to her hooves. Adrenaline from her fear pumped through her, and she darted behind a tree just as the lion roared again and lunged forwards. She heard their bodies thunder against each other, and heard the pained cries of her saviour mixed with the sound of ripping fabric. "Come on Twilight," she told herself. "Just one spell, anything, for him, please..."
She tried with all her might to cast a spell, a source of light, a beam of energy, anything to give her friend an edge in his fight, but all that came was that same dark flash and sense of cold dread. She sank to the ground and peered out from behind her cover, to see Broncoles and the lion encircling each other.
He was clearly hurt, as blood poured from some deep claw marks on his side. His muscles pulsed and rippled though as he braced himself for another strike. The lion swung its paw at him and found its mark, knocking him down and leapt forwards, aiming to pounce on him and end their fight.
Twilight gasped as Broncoles rolled over and aimed a kick at its head. She found herself cheer for a split second as he connected with it, stunning it from the sheer force of his blow, and clamped a hoof over her mouth. What good would it be if the lion turned on her now, when he was so far away? She watched in a mix of both wonder and horror as the stallion leapt onto the back of the beast and grappled with it.
They crashed into the ground, and Twilight spotted him wincing in pain as he landed on his side. He remained clinging to it, however, and latched his mouth onto it, biting down hard into its mane. The lion reared up on its hind legs and thrust itself downwards, trying to shake him free. Blood dripped out of its mouth, indicating it had been hurt, perhaps internally, Twilight thought, as she saw no bruises form on its body.
With another roar, it charged forwards towards the rock it had originally climbed down from, and turned at the last second, slamming its side--and half of the pony on its back--into the solid stone. Broncoles grunted in pain but remained chomped down on it, like he was holding the bit for an exceptionally heavy cart.
The princess gaped in horror as the lion began to thud itself into the rock time and time again, and noticed Broncoles began to lose his grip. He gritted his teeth and let out a primal sound, something Twilight had only heard in movies about ancient Equestria. The lion eventually shook him free, but he nimble dodged another blow and landed where the rock wasn't, where he then spun around and aimed another powerful kick at it.
The lion swiped at him, just barely missing him by mere inches, and its eyes widened as the pony's hooves struck its side, knocking the wind out of it, where it then slunk to the ground and panted heavily.
Broncoles saw his opportunity now, and stepped closer to its head, careful to avoid its mighty paws as they feebly clawed at the dirt and mud. Twilight watched silently and stepped out from behind her tree as he wrapped his hooves around its neck and seemed to give it a large hug. She soon realised, even with her naïve mind, that he was in fact strangling the beast as its back legs kicked and scraped at the ground, trying to free itself. One of its paws found their mark as it raked across his back, drawing even more blood. He didn't care, thinking only that if he didn't win, they would both die. She would die.
Soon the lion's movements grew weaker and weaker, and as the last ounces of life left its eyes, it knew fear for the first time as death embraced it. Twilight stepped closer to the stallion as he released it, and reached out to touch him tentatively. "Bronco?" she whispered.
He turned to face her. His breath came ragged and dogged, and the wounds on his side and back spat blood out. She stopped reaching out to him and froze. "Bronco... you're bleeding," she said quietly, looking at him with utmost dread, and was quite frankly amazed how he was still standing. He looked at her with bleary eyes and felt himself begin to wobble.
She rushed forwards and caught him as he fell and gently lowered him to the ground. "Bronco? Don't die on me, please. Oh that's a lot of blood--oh Celestia that's a lot of blood..." she gasped, feeling sick with worry. "What do I do?"
He raised a shaking hoof and pointed through the trees. She turned and saw a small light glowing, apparently he had started a fire without her. She felt relief pulse through her as the familiar glow of safety made itself known, despite the growing feeling that she was useless in her stomach. It wasn't even that far away either, thank Celestia. Or Zeus.
"Okay... okay, Bronco, come on-" She felt tears well up in her eyes as she struggled to lift him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and shakily rose to his hooves. "Come on, you can make it," she told him with a sniff. "You're gonna be okay. You're gonna be okay. Stay with me, big guy."
Together, they hobbled towards the light through the dark trees. The stink of blood was all over him, and he stumbled a few times over the roots of the trees. Twilight struggled to hold him, throwing one of his hooves onto her back and putting a wing underneath him in an effort to keep him up. Her robe was also tattered and ragged, and she hoped they had a change of clothes in the supplies Goldgo had provided for them.
She lowered him down in front of the fire and scrambled over to the saddlebags, grabbing them and pulling them over to him, where she then began to rummage around in them for some bandages and any medical supplies. She wasn't expecting to find any modern Equestrian stuff, but there had to be something. Anything. For her saviour, the big, stupid stallion who nearly killed himself trying to save her flank.
"Come on... come on..." She began to grow desperate as she saw no sign of the things she needed. "Bronco, I'm sorry, I can't-" She spotted a vial of red liquid and fell silent. "Is that?" she murmured, and plucked it out of the bag. She spotted a whole case of them further in the bag behind the one she currently held, and a small note made of a scratchy sort of paper, later to be known as papyrus, attached to the front of it. Picking it up, she scanned over it with big, frightened eyes.
Twilight Sparkle,
These vials contain a potion of unicorn make, brewed with an enchantment and able to heal any non-lethal wound. Use them wisely.
Goldgo.
Twilight felt a laugh escape her and looked up at the night sky, mouthing a thank you to any god who was watching them. "Broncoles, here, drink this." She turned to him and felt cold upon seeing him lying still. "Broncoles? Bronco!" she called out and shuffled towards him, nearly dropping the vial.
His eyelids fluttered, and his mouth lulled open. Twilight quickly undid the stopper and shoved the vial into his mouth. He coughed and some of it sputtered out, so she clamped her hooves over him and begged him to swallow.
He did, and the princess wiped a trail of spittle from his chin. She watched with bated breath as he coughed and sputtered for a moment, before thrusting his eyes wide open and crying out in pain.
The wounds along his back and sides began to slowly close up, and the blood trails that streamed from them began to slow. "Twiliiiight?" he groaned. The princess grasped his hoof and felt tears spill out from her eyes.
"I'm here, Bronco," she cried, and clutched him close to her chest. "I'm here. You're gonna be okay-"
He lunged forwards, wrenching himself free and doubled over in pain. The wounds continued to seal up, and he writhed as his biology was being rewritten. His jaw swung open in a silent scream, and his eyes bulged. Twilight began to suspect something was wrong, and started back. Almost as quickly as he had started, he was suddenly placid once again. She held her breath and waited for him to move.
After seconds which felt like all of eternity trickled by, Broncoles finally took a deep breath and moved his head.
Twilight released the breath she was holding, and placed a hoof on his back, now completely healed. "Bronco?" she whispered. She was amazed how well the potion had worked, even if it looked like it had hurt him so much, he was as healthy as a horse after all.
He turned to look at her. His beautiful golden eyes stared at her, and he shakily cupped her face in one of his massive hooves. "Twilight?" he croaked. "What happened?" The stallion's voice came out just barely audibly, gravelly and changed. A side effect of the potion no doubt. It made him sound more rugged.
The princess pushed her face into his hoof and beamed at him, placing her hoof on top of it. "You're okay! You're really okay... aren't you?" she asked, hesitantly.
He nodded and gestured for her to help him stand. "I... I think so. What happened?" he repeated as she obeyed. "What was that you gave me?" He wobbled a few times as he stood upright. His head throbbed, and his back pulsed, like it should be bleeding. Craning his head to get a look at himself, he saw the blood stains and his ripped clothes, and his eyes widened in wonder. "Is that... my blood?"
Twilight reached into the bag and pulled out one of the vials, and showed him the note from the queen.
His eyes traced over it, his mouth moving as he read the words written there carefully. "Heal any non-lethal wound..." He looked at Twilight, who still stood half crying, half smiling at him. "You gave me... I drank one of these?"
She nodded, wanting to just throw her hooves around him and give him a kiss. She made the excuse to herself that would be somewhat inappropriate though, despite the circumstances, and refrained from doing so.
After a moments pause he knelt down in front of her, much to her shock. "You saved my life," he said. "I am forever in your debt, Twilight Sparkle. I will make it my life's mission to protect you wherever you may go, and keep you safe from all harm to the best of my abilities." He swore the sacred blood oath to her and kissed her hoof tenderly.
She felt herself begin to blush and hoisted him up. "You saved mine first, you big lug. If you hadn't shown up when you did, that lion would have..." She gave an involuntary shiver, and closed her eyes, trying to calm herself. She felt his presence move closer, and when she opened her eyes she saw he was very close to her.
Her heartbeat quickened, and her eyelids fluttered. "Bronco?" she whispered.
"Yes, Twilight?" he whispered back. Time seemed to slow for her as the first droplets of rain fell from the heavens above.
"I'm afraid..."
"What of?"
"What we have to do. I can't use my magic, I can't... I'm useless-"
"Shhh." He placed a hoof around her and pulled her close. She let herself go willingly into him, and pressed her head into his neck. The rain began to fall heavier now, and soon they were both completely soaked.
"I thought you were going to die. I was so scared."
"I'm fine. Thanks to you, Twilight. We saved each other."
She sniffed, and began to cry.
"Hey..." He pulled away and lifted her head up, smiling as he gazed into her eyes. She rubbed her nose and smiled back. "We're a team. No matter what happens, I'll keep you safe. As long as you keep bringing me back to life.." He grinned and winked. "Deal?"
Twilight giggled and nodded, placing her hoof over his. "Deal."
They touched heads tenderly, and their breaths intertwined in the space between them in the cold rain.
Broncoles pulled away, much to the disappointment of Twilight, who didn't let on how she felt. "Come on. Let's get some rest. I'll take first watch, in case any more lions show up." He smiled and guided her towards the tent. "I saw some clothes in the pack earlier, too. You should get changed, you'll catch your death in this rain." He traced his eyes over her, noting how her wings appeared ragged when they were wet, and how her mane clung to her slender neck. She glanced back at him before disappearing underneath the sheet of the tent, noticing how he looked at her. She thought he looked similar, how his tunic lay in tatters around him, how the water traced down his muscles...
"Goodnight, Bronco..." she murmured. "Wake me if anything else happens, okay?"
"Okay."
He turned around and sat down, staring into the darkness. The fire had long since gone out now, and the sizzling embers grew wetter and wetter as rain continued to fall. They had, thankfully, set up the tent underneath a large oak tree, and the leaves above saved it from getting wet, save for only a few drops.
Twilight lay her head down on the bag of straw they used for pillows, and sighed. She hoped, soon, that her magic would be useable. She grew determined to practice, every day if need be, just to be able to help Broncoles if he needed it. She was still amazed at the magical potion the queen had given them, and wondered how it was made. such a thing would be a great help to Equestria, if she could only replicate it somehow.
As sleep and exhaustion took its hold of her, the princess yawned and closed her eyes, offering a prayer of thanks to any and all gods who were listening.
