The Land Before Us

Chapter 20 – Clouding minds

"Preston just stops, you're not getting through there!" Clover's voice is loud and annoyed as she calls to the man in the cell next to her own.

The blond haired man stops his kicking on the white cloud like jail door as he turns to the purple mare in a slightly out of breath pant, "Why? This whole place is made of clouds! We can easily get out of here!"

He turns himself back to the white cloud bar doors as he kicks again; but like the last hundred kicks he has given the door does not break or open. The cloud door only moves slightly to the kick before snapping back into place.

The old stallion across the room gives a slight chuckle as he speaks up, "You can't get out of here Preston, clouds are stronger than you think."

The blond man ignores the voice as he gives one kick with everything he's got left.

As his shoe hits against the bar and than is slightly pushed back he finally stops.

"So what do we do?" Preston turns his defeated head to the stallion still sitting on the cloud ground as he waits for an answer.

Star Swirl looks around the room for a moment as he nods his head to himself, "We wait until somepony comes to get us."

Preston throws his arms up as he turns his body from the stallion, "Great..."

"Master, why did you not just let me teleport us out of here when we had the chance?" Clover moves to the bar in her cell as she waits for the old pony's response.

Star Swirl rubs at his beard as he think for a moment, "Clover...If we would have done anything it would make us seem like we are hiding something."

Preston turns back with a new found excited voice as he points his hand out to the two ponies, "Wait, why the fuck haven't we just teleported now huh?" He claps his hands together as he talks, "Lets do that come on!"

Star Swirl holds a smile to the man but doesn't speak up as the mare in the cell beside the blond haired man talks, "Preston." She points her hoof to the silver band around her horn, "...Why do you think they put these on?"

"Take it off!"

Clover rolls her eyes to the comment as she speaks up, "They are bound to the pony, only another pony can take it off..." She stops her words as she moves quickly to the cell wall closer to Preston, "Wait, you can take it off!"

The man tries to reach through the cloud bars towards her cell but its to far, "I can't reach you."

"I know that you ne..." Clover's voice is cut off as Preston talks over her, "Then why did you ask!?"

The mare raises her voice over his as she stops her hoof, "I meant use magic to get it off ! They didn't put a ban on you."

Star Swirl is silent as he listens to Clover continue, she gives a low calming sigh as she brings her hoof up to point at Preston, "Listen to what I say ok?"

The blond man nods his head as he looks between the mare and his hands.

Clover's voice is calm and slow as she starts up, "You have to just think over the band being removed and you'll do it."

Preston nods his head a little unsure to her statement, "o-ok."

"Just picture it in your mind and you can do it. Magic is thought and emotion..." She presses her hoof up to the bar as she speaks up a little louder, "...Make sure you keep your head clear, I don't want you to mess up on me."

Preston nods his head as he talks, "Ok so just think about that thing coming off?"

The mare nods her head as she straightened her posture, "Yes."

The blonde man swallows hard as he brings his hands up towards the mare. He stares at her for a few moments as he quivers his lips to his thoughts.

Clover waits hesitantly and positively for something to happen.

Preston's hands start to glow a faint green as the silver horn ban around Clover starts to take on the same glow.

The mare squints her eyes to the magic as her voice calls back in a low tone, "O-ok now just think about it coming off."

He nods his head as he licks his lips; the band slowly starts to shift from the base of her horn as the magic begins to move it up.

Clover gets a smile as the band begins to reach the tip. But her smile doesn't last long as a high pitched chime rings through the room and the band is slammed back down her horn, "OW!"

She rubs at her horn as she holds one eye open to Preston, "What did you do?!"

"ME?! I didn't do anything?" Preston holds his arms out as the mare's high pitched voice comes back over his, "...I told you to keep you mind clear!"

"I did I was....-" Preston's voice is cut off as Star Swirl stands from the cloud ground of his cell, "I must say Clover you did an excellent job of helping Preston."

Preston and Clover both turn they’re heads to the old pony's voice as Clover speaks up, "M-Master did you know that wouldn't work?"

Star Swirl nods his head as he smiles, "But the important thing is you two worked together to tr...-"

"Why would you let us even try it than?!" Clover blinks her eyes to the old stallion's smile as she waits for a response.

Star Swirl gives a light chuckle as he talks, "Because Clover, you never really know when something special might happen..."

As his voice comes to an end the door to the large dungeon room is opened.

The three look to the dark white-grey coated stallion still wearing the deep red cloak as he torts into the room with Pansy and Commander Hurricane on each side of him. The three remain silent as Emperor Gust speaks up, "After talking it over and seeing the contents of your bag Sir Star Swirl, we have decided to allow you to complete your task..."

Clover and Preston are speechless as the old stallion speak up for them, "Well I thank..."

Empore Gust cuts him off as he talks, "But...If you or your group show any signs of this not being your soul purpose for coming here...there shall be no amnesty." The stallion pause for another moment before speaking, "What is it that you require Sir Star Swirl?"

The old stallion gives a little chuckle as he talks, "Well given the circumstances you may find this a bit odd..." The old stallion clears his throat as he talks, "For the last piece Celestia has tasked me with collecting I require a Rainbow Shard...from the castle's own supply."

Preston tries to follow the conversation a little despite his confusion.

"Well...You truly are as bold as your reputation suggest." Emperor Gust hesitates for a moment before speaking, "...We will return with an escort once we have prepared." The white-grey stallion turns out of the room with Commander Hurricane following along side him.

Pansy stops for a few moments as she waits for them to leave. But as they do she quickly swings her head back to Clover, "You three had better know what you're doing...It took alot of convincing."

The purple mare gives a smile as she talks, "You have nothing to worry about Pansy."

With a shifty nod of the head the sand yellow mare leaves the room.

As the door closes behind her Clover quickly turns her head to Star Swirl, "Master why did you not say this was the last piece?!"

"Bha, there is nothing to worry about Clover." The old stallion tugs on his beard as he starts to talk to himself, "I wonder if they took my rocks out..."

Preston speaks up as he holds his hand out, "Wait is the rainbow thingy hard to get or something?"

Star Swirl is still too busy with his beard to answer so Clover turns in a slight annoyed huff, "A Rainbow shard comes from a rainbow."

Preston nods his head trying to follow, "ok?"

Clover picks up on his confusion as she talks further, "Its not just any rainbow though...this rainbow is what allows the whole empire to stay above the clouds...its basically the most powerful thing the pegasus have."

"Yes Clover, excitedly why you need to be on your best behavior." The old stallion turns his gaze to Preston as he coughs a little, "You my friend need to not touch anything."

Preston nods his head to the old stallion as he continues, "...If this works like Celestia has said it would then we will stop this senseless feuding once and for all."

End of chapter 20