When Dusk Shine inherits a hot spring from his late aunt, what will he do to keep it open?
For Dusk Shine, a young college graduate, yet has no idea what to do with his life. But when he inherits a hot spring from his late aunt, what will he do to keep it open? Can he survive the many females that tend to the springs? What secrets hide beneath the surface of warm waters?
~As day gives way to dusk, a special place slowly comes to life.~
~Upon the mountain top of Canterlot Peak, we find a beautiful scenery of cherry blossom tree's in full bloom, allowing all who come to see the peaceful place to be at ease in both mind and body.~
~Many have found love.~
~Many unknowingly started famillies.~
~Many have found family long forgoten.~
~Many even found friendships from hated enemies of long ago.~
~During times of war, many believed it to be a safe heaven for those who seeked peace.~
~Sure, trouble does arrise from time to time. Yet, it is always sent retreating from confronting the guardian spirits that inhabit the springs.~
~Many think that the area in the hot springs is a holy area. Some even believe that it has the power to give one youth once more.~
~Nobody knows who the mysterious spirit is. Many believe it to be more then a single spirit.~
~Many mysteries surround the hot springs from years of the past. Yet as years go on, many are still remembered and added to the location, making it one of the many wonders of the world.~
~So if you ever go to such a place, keep these words in mind.~
"~Respect the spirits of the land, and the spirits of the land shall respect you.~"
~Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that my spirit must now go to be with the rest of the family that had passed on over the years. Do not take this as a final goodbye, but as a gift from me to you. For I give the 'Dusk Hot Springs' to you to care for and manage.~
~But do not fret, you won't be alone in this endevor. I have personally hired a staff of nine women ahead of time to help you along to care for the place, and you if need be my young great nephew.~
~I know it may be hard to hear of my passing like this just after finnishing college. But I truly hope to watch you from the next life as you work hard to find your calling in life.~
~May your creativity shine through the dark, just as dusk shines through the night.~
~¤~
Forever your great-aunt, Eclispa Shine
Setting a pen down, we see a aged old hand take the parchment of paper and fold it before placing it into a envelope she had already stamped and addressed to her great-nephew, Dusk Shine. Taking a shaky breathe, she set it on a closed book before moving to her bed, gets comfortable.
"May you find what your looking for, my dear nephew."
Closing her eyes, she took a final breathe before falling into a final sleep with a smile on her face.
Deep in a cave, two fox statue's with nine tails each resides within. Guarding the territory of the land. Looking closely, we see the eyes of the statue's begin to glow, as tear's fell from the eye's. In singularity, two female voices ring out through the cave.
'Rest in peace dear Eclispa. We shall continue to watch over the land with the one you have chosen to run the hot springs.'
Through the dark, seven pairs of eyes begin to shine through the dark of the cave.
'You seven have been chosen to join us in helping the next owner, Dusk Shine, to run the hot springs. Do all of you accept this task? Speak now or forever hold your peace.'
Nobody spoke.
'Then it is settled. We shall all serve the new master, whoever it may be. Rest now, for tomorrow we start preperations for the barial of Eclipsa, and to keep the hot springs running till the chosen has arrived.'
With the orders given, the statues eyes returned to stone, as the seven eyes in the dark disappeared.
All was silent in the cave. As the wind blew outside, the cherry blossom petals scatter. Bringing a day to a end as dusk turns to night.
Deep inside the core of the mountain, molten lava swirls around, taking rock from the inside, as well as leaving behind enough to create new structures.
In the center, we see a pure white ivory jewel is seen as it begins to crack. As the color changes to blood red in, a black mist escapes as a shadow of a figure begins to takes shape, taking the form of a demon thought to be nothing more then a mythe, and left to stories of legends.
As dark red eyes soon open, a raspy voice can be heard as it echo's throughout the chamber.
"So, Eclipsa has finally fallen. Which means, I can finally escape this infernal prison that she and those seven fucking vixens placed me in decades ago!'
It was then a seal began to appear in the jewel, forcing the jewel to repair itself. Surprised by this, the demon began to get angry.
"What?! A seal of finality?! That bitch! I'll get her replacement for this! And her little foxes too! As soon as they are gone, I'll take back what's mine, and rule this world, just as I was ment to all those decades ago! Hahahaha... HAHAHAHA... HAHAHAHAHAHS!!!"
As the laughter grew, the molten lava became more active, creating more layers upon layers of molten rock around the jewel. As the layers were made, the laughter grew quieter until finally being silenced from the final layer enveloping it, containing the demon within.
Deep in a forest near the bottom eastern side of Mount Canterlot Peak, a swamp full of vegitation surrounds the landscape.
Deep in the marsh, a stone begins to crack, causing unknown steam to shoot out at high temperatures. As the temperature increases, so did the pressure.
It wasn't long till a sphere like object was shot into the air before landing near a road.
It was then the pressure shooting from the stone died down, leaving the marsh in silence once more.
Upon one of many routes that lead to the mountain the locals call Canterlot Peak, we see a young man riding his bicycle.
Wearing black pants, white sneakers, a red button up long sleeve shirt, heavy coat, and a pair of dark purple translucent reading glasses. He had short dark purple hair with a thin streak of pink going down the right ride of his hair he had purple eyes and a thin build for his age.
This was the new proud owner to the famous springs known across the land, Dusk Shine.
It's been a whole three months since the passing of of Eclipsa Dusk. Many came from far and wide to her funneral to pay there respects to her and pay condolences to the grieving family. But it was there that he recieved the final letter she wrote adressed to him, telling him she was giving him the bussiness she proudly built during her life.
Instead of a barrial, she was cremated placed into a urn she had saved from years ago. She wished to be placed in a ancient shrine in a cave near the springs. And as to her will's instructions, he decided to do just that personally as thanking her for her final gift.
Stopping at one of many benches along the route, Dusk took time to take in the view of the forest below, farming area's, and the occassional animal life that pass overhead.
'Man, I forgot just how calm, beautiful, and peaceful this place really is. It's been so long since I been to the hot springs that I lost complete thought of the place since I last visited when I was fifthteen. Really do miss her. Kinda wish I visit her more often instead of keeping my nose in a book in college.'
Taking enough of the view, he was about to ride off when he spotted something shiny near the edge of the woods leading to the marshes. Placing his kickstand to the ground to park his bike, he slowly approaches the item to find a egg shaped stone as big as his own head covered in many forms of gems. Looking at it, he was marveled at what he found.
"This is incredible. So many different gems in one stone. Lets see here, saphire, emerald, topaz, ruby, is that a bismith? Oh my gosh, a heart ruby?! Those are extremely rare to find anywhere!"
As he looked it over, he deduced he was correct on what he was looking at. In the center of the stone was a ruby in the shape of a heart. Upon closer inspection, the heart seemed to give a soft glow. It felt as if it was a heart beating within.
"What is this? Is... Is something in it alive?"
Feeling like he wished to study it more, he carefully placed it in a carrier case on the side of the bike. With a satisfied nod, he mounted his bike, kicked the kickstand up, and continued on his way to his destination.
Yet, unknown to him, a black raven was sitting on a nearby brach, watching him very closely as he traveled. With his eyes flashing a dark purple, the raven took to the air, intent on following the target his sights were set on.
It wasn't but three hours later when Dusk finally made it to his destination. With a shaky breathe, he stopped his bike in front of the entrance of what looked like the entrance of a shrine.
"I'm finally here. I finally made it to the place you built, great aunt Eclipsa. I finally made it to the Dusk Hot Springs."
Looking at the twin tall red oak posts standing on either side of a gravel road. At the top of the two posts was a third oak post with the name of the location. Dusk took time to admire the craftmanship put into it as he saw the name carved into it. Infront of each posts on either side of the entry way, he saw what looked to be two fox statues. Each having nine tails, spread out on full display.
"Huh? Are these decorative? Maybe they drive dark spirits away? Hm, kinda reminds me of the stories on the kitsune. Guess I'll have to do some research on it later. Might even have the workers dress up as fox girls to bring in more bussiness."
Getting off his bike, he carefully walked it through the path and through the entrance with a light and careful step. As he passed through, he never noticed the raven try to follow through with him, only for the eyes of the fox statues start to lightly glow before a ball flame appeared infront of the tips of the tails, warning the raven to leave or be burned alive.
Sensing the warning, the raven redirected it's flight path and landed on a pine tree on the opposite side of the road. As he landed, the flames vanished as the glow of the fox eyes of the two statues vanished.
Thinking he heard something, Dusk stopped and turned his back to the entrance.
"Weird. Thought I heard something..."
Blinking a couple of times, he shook his head, thinking it was playing tricks on him again.
"Maybe I'm just hearing things. Better get a move on, faster I get there, the sooner I can relax and check the place out."
With that in mind, he turned back to the trail, and continued on his way.
Back at the entrance, and unknown to Dusk, as soon as he was out of range, the eyes of the statues came back to life as they began to glow, surrounding the statues fully. It was then leaves began to swirl around as the statues turned into actual female fox like beings with one having dark blue fur with light blue fur on the tip of each tail, while the other had white fur with each tail tipped green, pink, and blue.
As the blue furred vixen turned to the white fox, a question is heard.
"Tell me Celestia, is he the one we have been waiting for? The new owner of the springs?"
Giggling, the white fox only smiled as she looked to the blue furred fox.
"Yes, that was him, dear Luna. He has finally arrived. Yet, I wasn't expecting him to have somebody watching him."
At this, both foxes turned to the raven in the tree, making it gulp as both vixens ignighted there tails with flames.
"So Tia, up for some target practice?"
Hearing this, both Celestia's and Luna's grins became dangerously evil as she spoke the next few words.
"Of course I am Luna. The raven will make a great dinner for us tonight."
It was then the only sound that was heard that could be heard was small explosions, and a raven being burned to a crisp as it's feathers are flown into the wind down the mountain as they slowly turned to dust, and scattered through the forest.
