Chapters Chapter 1 – Never think simple
The empty streets and abandoned warehouses play amplifier to the two mens fast paced shoes slapping against the slick wet ground as the old worn out baseball field quickly fades behind them. Preston and Damien both know the side streets around this area are used for shady activities and both know not to trail too far down them, but knowing these things only makes their fear for emotional unstable younger kid flourish.
Damien's hold on the wooden bat has not softened as the slight corner of the abandoned two story building slides past his left, "Matt!"
The two men are brought to an abrupt sliding halt as they spot the smaller dark haired boy standing with his jacket covered back towards them, Matt has the clay caked dripping ball in his right hand but he has frozen his head up to the sky and has not turned to his older brother's voice.
Damien again calls out to his kid brother as his face scrunches up in a little bit of anger at not hearing his younger brother call out earlier, "Matt!"
"Shh!" Matt shifts his head a little brings his right ear towards the empty sky as he calls back behind him, "Did you guys hear that?"
Preston and Damien both give each other an annoyed look, "Did we hear that?" Damien shakes his head as he loosens his grip on the bat with each step he takes closer to his brother, "We thought you were shot or something!"
Matt again hushes his brother as he walks closer, "It's aliens."
"Ya ya ya, its aliens alright...you know what aliens do to your ass if they get it?" Preston holds his sarcastic comment as he traces his eyes over the broken windows of the abandoned warehouses that litter the street.
"Lets get back to the field Matt." Damien nudges his arm with the tip of the bat as he starts to turn back.
But his brother doesn't follow as he tosses the baseball back to his walk, "Hold on I want to go see something."
Damien fumbles a little as he catches the ball in his free hand, "Wait!"
"Just one minute." Matt puffs his jacket out a little trying to show some ounce of toughness but the slick back black haired boy's short stature plays contrast to his actions. His motion is fast as he breaks to a slow run down the street.
"Great..." Preston and Damien follow suit after him as they swing their heads back to the street behind them to make sure no ones following them.
Matt's light run picks up as he shifts his head to an open area between two buildings.
"Oh oh cramp cramp." Preston grabs at his right side as he slows his pace down, "Ahhhh yep...ow."
Damien gives a slight laugh as he shows himself to his blond haired friend, "Really dude that's like two blocks?"
Damien gives a sarcastic roll of the eyes as he slaps his bat wielding arm to him, "Told you that you shou..." His voice is slightly cut off the loud banging sound rings through the streets around them. Damien ‘s sarcastic face is shed as he tries to locate the sound, the two men bring their heads up as they look over the drastically changing cloud cover above them. The taller dark haired Damien holds his gaze as he starts to the corner of the building, "Alright Matt lets get out of here before it rains again."
As he brings himself to the round about Matt stumbles back and falls to his back holding a wide eyed gaze with his left arm extended to something still shielded by the wall, "S-see aliens dude..."
Preston squints at the young mans serious face as he starts himself to his friend's side, "Theres no such things as aliens Matt, you've seen too many movies."
"Preston...look at this thing..."
It took the blond haired guy a moment to shift his gaze to Damien, his face is fixated with squinting eyes to the same thing Matt seems to be pointing to. As Preston moves himself to his frozen friends side he too joints in the astonishment as the three men stare at a large gold glowing orb floating in the adjacent empty grassy lot of the warehouse.
Matt is the first to speak as he brings himself to his feet and pushes himself through the two bigger men, "Let me see, let me see!" He may be seventeen but his voice takes on more of a pre-teen child as he brings his short body too his brother and friend's side.
Preston's voice is low as he looks at the gold orb that floats just above the grassy dirt ground, "W-hat is that?"
"Let me see this..." Matt takes the baseball from Damien's clenched hand as he talks. His brother's hand only releases the ball as his deep voice calls down to the slick haired boy, "Wait what are you..." Before his voice stops Matt cocks his arm back and throws the ball at the light.
As the ball makes contact with the orb a ear shattering ringing is sent billowing off the walls of the buildings around it. The glass that has remained unbroken even after years of lacked maintenance now shatters to this abnormal sound. Damien and Preston both grab at their ears in pain as they let out a light yell. Matt though seems unaffected by the sound, instead his eyes are still widely fixated on the now wobbling light.
Another loud sound echos from the orb but the strange noise is now a high pitched chiming.
Damien and Preston back away at the sight but Matt is moving close towards it, "Matt come here!" His brother's call goes unfollowed as the young guy gives a light laugh, "We found an alien spacecraft!"
"Ya thats fucking great bu....don't touch it!" Preston's voice now spikes in a yell as Matt continues to walk ever closer to the orb. "Matt!"
As the short kid walks himself to only a few steps from the ball of chiming light he reaches his hands out, Preston and Damien both stare unwilling to move but still trying desperately to call him back.
Matt's voice is low and carries a naive joy as he reaches his hand to the ball, "Guys it feels really warm..." He gives a light hearted laugh as he moves his hand through the ball of light, with each passing a few wispy trails of gold run traced around the edges of his hand and fingers. The wispy light that traces off of the orb and into the air around him doesn't settle to the ground but begins to just levitate where his motion stops.
He follows through the motion a few more times as his arms tingle a little, "You guys have to feel this its so c...-" Matt's voice is cut from existence as the short dark haired teen is vanished with a loud resonating chime.
"MATT!" Damien stares in shock to the empty spot his younger brother once stood. Preston is speechless for a moment as he pulls his hands through his hair, "Oh fuck! Oh fuck! What was that! What WAS that!"
The light surrounding the still suspended ball begins to grow a little lighter as the clouds above give a thundering crack.
Damien clutches his bat as he tightens his gaze to the orb, "Oh no you don't!" In a quick motion the star batter for NYU has charged to the chiming light and vanished.
"OH god!" Preston rubs at his hair a little more intensely as he starts up in a shifty walk, he gives a little whine to himself as he turns back to the gold shine starting to fade to the graffiti covered wall behind it. With one more pull at his now rat nest looking hair he charges to the orb.
Preston's adrenaline pumped charge and yells are soaked up as the orb closes with him around it. The blond haired man closes his eyes tightly not wanting to see the cause of the noise around him. His mind is telling him that he's not moving but the rushing air being thrown past his head and the flipping stomach in his body is telling him that he is not only moving, but that he is now being carried somewhere with the same whipping weightlessness of a high speed roller coaster. The loud chiming around him is the only thing other than the howling air dwarf his voice as he manages to call out through his sporadic fear driven breathing, "Shiittt!”
End of chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 2 – Taking the first step
The roller coaster only last for a few moments as Preston's feet starts to again feel a solidness beneath them. His eyes are still closed but as the ground become a reality he flops to his knees in a faint. The ground he's flopped to is not the trash littered streets but instead before his eyes lush dark green blades of grass, "W....where are we?"
Matt and Damien stand around there keeled over friend as they all look around the new surroundings. The abandoned buildings and grey pot hole filled streets have disappeared. Tall rugged untamed trees now surround the three men.
"T...this is incredible." Matt spins himself around in complete amusement unaffected and not even holding the simplest of questions as to how this is possible.
"Incredible? Incredible?!" His dark haired brother's hot face and bellowing rage filled voice is brought down to the kid as Damien drops his bat to free his hands in a grab for Matt's jacket, "How is this incredible!?" His strength brings his puny brother from his feet, "We are in a fucking forest Matt! How the hell are we in a forest!"
Matt shutters a little at his older brother's voice, Damien rarely ever gets mad at the young kid and the sound and look of his flustered face snaps the young kid's mind back to a realism.
"Fuck!" Damien shoves his brother back to his feet as he turns back to his blonde haired friend still holding his face to the ground, "Are you alright?"
Preston shakes his head as he talks, "Ugh...no no n-horlagaaa!" His stomach has not settled from the roller coaster effects and inturn has now made him vomit, his exposed knees due to the gym shorts he’s wearing rub against the dirt ground with each body shake he gives trying to hold back from vomiting more.
Damien puts his heavy hands on Preston's back as he tries to calm his voice, "Just calm down."
The young kid is finally starting to come around as he frantically looks around again to the tall jagged trees and thick bushes that lay around the small clearing they stand in, "Where's the road?"
Damien calls back to him as he continues to try and comfort Preston, "Matt just keep your voice down we don't know what's in these woods."
The blond haired man slowly starts to bring his body up as he spits to the ground, he talks through a groan, "W-we were drugged...ya...we were drugged and then taken to a forest."
"No..." Damien looks around the trees for a minute as he pauses, "This doesn't look like any forest I've ever seen."
Matt shakes his head as he move back to the other two men, "No maybe Preston's right, maybe we just got like kidnapped or something you know? L-like we're still in New York and this is just an overgrown part of central park right?"
Before anyone of the two men could speak in response there's a loud rustling in the bushes around the clearing.
"What's that?" Preston sits himself up as his fearful voice springs Damien into action, "Matt stay behind me." Damien bends down to retrieve the wooden bat as Matt hurries over to him.
The rustling in the bushes grows a little louder as a faint animal like panting comes trailing after it. Damien’s blue eyes sharpen to the rushing as he tightens his hands around the bat. But no amount of preparing could have made him ready for the sleek black creature that springs from the underlying brush.
The tall fearless athletic man froze not knowing what to do as a small feeble looking Shepherd high animal blinks its huge blue eyes back to them frozen as well. The creature's chest puffs sporadically as it shifts its body to the strange looking thing in front of it.
"What is that a dog!" Preston backs himself away from the changeling as the sight of it finally registers in his mind.
But the confused helpless looking animal is not spooked for long as it bends its front legs down and gives out a loud demonic cat like hiss, the hair's on its back look like they flex out only its not hair as the changeling springs its wings forward in a frenzied attack to the unknown things in front of it.
Damien's reaction is quick as he swings the wooden bat to the changeling, landing the bat squarely to the animal's head sending a wood crack sound wave through the dense forest as the bat shatters to its target.
The changeling slides to a halt and rams against a tree base as it sits lifeless against it.
Damien swings himself around in a scream as he throws the no longer useful bat, "What was that!"
Matt and Preston both shake their heads as they stutter, "Its a fucking alien..."
"NO, no no Preston get your ass over there and figure out what it is!" Damien holds his shaking arm to the animal still resting against the tree as his demanding voice settles.
"W-why me?" Preston's eyes widen as he's brought to his feet by Damien,"Because you're trying to be a vet right! Well tell me that that's just a fucking dog with mange or something will ya!?"
With no other option Preston reluctantly nods his head as he's shoved to the sleek black animal, "Uh...ok"
"What is it Press?" Matt and Damien move themselves behind the blond haired man as they look over his shoulder. Preston is quick to show his annoyance to the pressure as he looks back to them, "Give me some room would ya!?"
Preston hesitates to move his hands to the unknown animal so he looks over it as best he can, "A-alright look, its got...hooves like a horse right?"
The two men nod their heads as they wait for his words to finish, "uh its got canine teeth." Preston holds his arm to the sharp whitish grey bones sticking out of the things mouth as he continues, "...And it...its got wings..."
Damien nods his head a little fast as he talks, "So what is it a dog horse?"
Preston shakes his head, "To big for a horse...dog pony maybe?"
The young kid moves in between the two dumbfounded grown ups as he talks, "No its an experiment done by aliens!"
With a slight nudge Preston pushes him back, "Don't touch it could have some disease on it."
"So what do you thi...-" Matt's voice is cut off as a deep male voice is heard calling from the bushes the animal ran from, "It went this way sir!"
Preston and Matt both freeze at the voice but Damien takes the noise as a sign of good luck, "Alright!" As he starts to move towards the bushes Preston calls out, "Where are you going?"
The tall dark haired man stops as he turns back, "What alien knows English?" He nods his head as he cups his hands to his mouth, "YO! Over here!" As his deep voice resonates through the woods he turns back with a smile, "Now we can get out of here."
The three men listen to the sound of the bushes crunching towards them, but they can't see anything due to a thick layer of water vapor spreading from the dense trees and the tangle mass of vines that extend from each tree.
"Hello? Could the pony that called out please come to the road?"
Damien gives a little laugh as he holds his anxious hands to his hips. Matt and Preston both look to the tall man as they wait for an answer as to why the voice just said pony. Damien notices there wanting eyes as he rolls his hand in front of him, "You know uh like how how people say cat...this guy just says pony..." He holds his fading smile as he cups his hands to call back, "YA sure, one sec!"
"Lets go guys that voice doesn't seem to far, and if there's a road maybe all we did was get a little loopy from chemicals at the old warehouse or something you know?"
Matt inspects the answer as he walks to his so sure brother, Preston however looks over the animal he still kneels beside as he talks, "You two go, i'm going to drag this thing out in a minute..." He cocks a smile as he nods, "They said it ran so maybe this is the it."
Damien nods his head as he waves to Matt to follow, "Just don't get lost when we come back."
The two brothers push their way through the thicket of vines and shrubs as they start to where the voice called from. Damien lets out another call as he follows behind his younger brother, "A yo uh where you at dude?!"
As the two men continue to push into the layer of water vapor in front of them they come to a thin blue lay over light. Damien quickly stops his brother as he looks over the light, "Whoa...whats that?" The vapor that they have walked through seems to vanish on the other side of this very low gold glowing light and the forest on the other side is clear. A dirt path can be slightly seen but only a part of it as the thick trees grow all the way up to the edge of the road.
Matt slightly ignores his brother as he reaches his arm through the light, before his brother can speak up the young kid has moved himself through the wall like light that extends from the ground, "Its just fog probably lit up weird from the dim light."
Damien nods his head as he pushes through the light, but as the light travels past his ear's a low chime like the orb is heard. The tall man again calls out to the voice as he stands confused, "Where are you?"
As he does this the faceless voice calls back more clear and the sound of horse like walking can be heard, "Right here sir."
Matt doesn't stop his pace as he hops a small fallen log onto the street. Damien still stands in the cover of the forest as he looks over his younger brothers confused and now pale ghost colored face, "Matt!" He's snapped out of his freeze as he runs and hops onto the dirt path looking the same way his brother stares.
But the burst of brotherly protection leave the older man feeling sick as he looks over the face of the voice that has been calling out to him. Damien's heart races as he looks over the scene in front of him.
There is a large white carriage that's hitched to two large stallions, but unlike a normal horse theses animal's have large alien like eyes that are beaming on Matt and Damien in confusion. Beside the large white carriage there stands five white coated gold maned silver armored stallions only these are not normal horses like the ones hitched to the carriage these horses have horns that protrude through an opening in the silver medieval knight looking helmets
The moment of silent stares is over as the larger stallion who's helmet has a long red spike down the middle lowers his head and gives out a command, "I order you to identify yourselves!"
Matt's mouth quivers not able to speak as Damien shouts back to the talking animal, "How can you talk your a fucking horse!"
The unicorn's horn glows a bright blue as he calls back, "Identify yourselves!!"
Damien again screams back in disbelief as he balled his fist, "What the fuck are!"
“Dragon you will identify yourself or you will be apprehended by the royal unicorn federation!"The stallion's hooves dig to the ground as his voice calls back out.
Damien's mind has still not grasped anything the horse says as he calls back again, "What are y..-" His voice is cut off as the unicorn sends a bolt of light towards him. Damien's reflexes allow him to step aside but as he does this Matt who was standing a little behind him is hit with the full force of the blast and is dropped like dead weight to his back.
Damien's body plays on pure primal instinct of self preservation as he brings himself to a full run into the forest he and Matt left.
The large stallion brings his fully armored left leg up a little as he calls to the unions behind him, "Find that dragon! We can not have it causing an ambushed down the road!"
Two small unicorns break away from their positions around the white carriage as they start up in a gallop with their horns glowing bright.
The large stallion looks over the still petrified kid as he calls back, "Sargent, detain this dragon until we can bring him to the capi...-"
"What is with all of this noise!" A sharp feminine voice springs from the side of the chair as a white mare pokes her head out of it, her mane is a slick perfectly brushed pink color and a regal gold and purple gem encrusted crown sits on top her head.
The large stallion quickly turns back to the voice as he gives a bow, "Princess...we did not mean to disturb you, ...but we had a run in with dragons."
The mare's eyes shrink with shock as she brings her hoof to her mouth, "Dragons? This close to the capital? How is that possible general Stone Hooves?"
The stallion shakes his head as he straightens up his posture, "Never the less Princess you have nothing to fear, we have captured one of the dragons and are preparing to do away with it now."
The mare places her front hooves to the window as she pushes her body out a little more to see the creature still laying on the ground. The Princess shakes her head as her royal proper voice calls to the stallions around the chariot, "Oh no no no, we will take this dragon to the capital, it will be much use to us there."
Stone Hooves cocks his head as he tries to understand the mare's request, "But..."
His voice is cut off as the mare beams her green eyes to him, "No buts, how do we intend to reunite this land if we don't show compassion to its beast?"
The stallion tightens up as he nods, "Yes your majesty."
"Good." The mare takes her head back into the carriage as her words leave her lips.
Stone Hooves turns back his sergeant that still stands above Matt as he talks, "You heard her Sargent stand this dragon up and lets get a move on."
The armor suited pony over Matt nods as his horn takes on a low glow.
Matt's body that was paralyzed by Stone Hooves magic now comes back to his control as he rolls himself to face the talking animals.
"You are now here by in the custody of the royal unicorn empire, how say you?"
Matt's blue-green eyes are a little watery from watching his brother abandoning him and his body, mind and stomach have a slight burning pain to them, but he nods his head unable to scream or bring himself to run away.
"A wise choice dragon, that spell should have drained your body so running would had proved no use to you. Sergeant! You will look after the dragon until we reach the city understood?"
The pony blinks over Matt's sad and confused face for a moment before he nods, "Yes sir."
Stone Hooves looks back to the earth ponies that are hitched to the carriage as he talks, "Let's move mud ponies we want to get back before nightfall."
The ponies give a quick gallop as they bring the carriage to a wheel turning move.
Matt stares at it as it rolls past where he still sits, there are four purple flags on each side of the carriage that have an emblem of a unicorn head on it, "W-where am I?"
The pony next to Matt flicks his ear as he talks to Matt in a low but stern voice, "You are in Equestria dragon...now get up or I will have to spell bond your legs."
Matt stands from the road as he's motioned to follow the carriage, he wants to bring himself to a full run but at the moment his body is still trying to pull itself from the strange tingling feelings that linger in his body from the unicorn's spell.
End of chapter 2
Chapter 3 – A land of ponies
Damien's teary eyes are making it hard to see where his absent minded running is carrying him but he continues to follow through the motion as he tries to escape the things behind him. The image of his younger brother laying on the dirt ground motionless beats through his mind with each step he takes that sends him further and further away.
The two white gold armor plated unicorns that pursue after him are still sending the same paralyzing bolts of magic towards him, but the thickness of the forest is shielding him from being hit.
The breaking down man calls out desperately as he tries to adjust his footing in the shaky ground beneath him, "Preston!"
"Preston!" Damien's pace slows down a little as he hear his friends voice but only for a moment as he quickly darts toward the sound. After a short run he burst through the tree line into the small clearing his friend still waits in.
Preston still stands near the changeling as he looks over his flustered friend, "What happened?"
A screeching bolt of magic slams into the tree he stands beside as he waits for Damien's reply. But his friends reply doesn't come in the form of words instead Preston is pulled behind the strong man as he makes a mad dash from the stallions galloping after him.
The booming through the forest are played with a amplified sound as each tree gives a crying howl to the slamming bolts of magic clamming into them. But these thunderous claps pale in comparison to the two human men running for the lives, their minds are cumbersome with only the pulse that carries their legs forward; their hearts much like their breaths are rampant and sporadic as the two men call to each other after every thunderous bark breaking bolt of screaming purple and blue magic that slams all around them.
"...Damien !...W-...What wa-s thAT!?" Preston the younger of the two men struggles to keep pace with his fit friend as the bushes around his barely tied shoes begin to slow him down.
The dark haired man in the blue polo and tan baseball shorts turns his body with a slight hopping on his feet to keep his momentum and adrenaline pumping. His weary red teary eyes turns to his slow moving blonde haired friend, "Don't stop Preston! Don't stop! We need to keep moving!"
Preston’s nose is running from the overexertion of his body and even though his mind is screaming to run he can no longer achieve his goal as he leans himself to a mossy tree, "I-I can't I ca...-"
The young mans voice is cut off as he falls to the ground sheltering his head from the splintering pieces of wood as another bolt of light strikes into the tree only a foot from his resting head. His ears are ringing as the heat from his body is channelled through his face in fear, neither one of the two men know how where or why they have been thrust into this forest nor do they know anything of the talking armor suited animals that they had just encountered.
Preston’s head shakes in fear as he tries to hold himself from vomiting, but his rest comes to an end as his older friend yanks him to his feet. Damien’s eyes are still teary as he shakes his younger friend, "We need to go!"
The younger blonde haired man shakes his head in a absent minded agreement to the older mans strong voice.
Damien pulls on Preston’s shirt as he forcefully pulls his friend behind him.
"Wh-where are we!?" Preston stumbles himself to the souls of his shoes as he brings himself to a fear driven start up run.
Damien locks his jaw for a moment as he leads through the low lying tree branches; as the large branches move and the two men enter a clearing they come to a cliff like drop where they can see the the lay of the unknown land.
The cracking sounds of the bolts behind them have dissipated and they stand looking over the lush grassy field lands in a tired heap of heavy breathing. This scene in front of them stuns the two men in silence as they try to take in the reds, oranges, yellows and greens of trees and grass lands that lay in front of them.
Damien is the first to bring his breathing to a steady pace as he stares wide eyed to the lavish area around them, "...I don't know..."
Preston grabs at Damien's shoulder as he talks, "Where's Matt?"
The strong looking man expels a low sob as he wraps his arms around his friend. Preston pats at his back not knowing what to do as he talks, "W-what happened?"
Damien lets loose of him as he swings his arms in anger, "T-this place is not earth! There's no way!"
Preston holds his confused face to him as he continues his emotion driven rant, "...This place has t...things Preston..."
"Like what?"
Damien wraps his fist around his friends shirt as he brings him closer, "This place has talking animals."
"Ya ya ya, so where is Matt?" Preston takes the seriousness as a slight joke but Damien quickly assures him its no joke as he talks again with watery eyes, "T-theres unicorns that talk...and and wear armor!"
The younger man closes his mouth as he looks over his tough friend breaking down again, "What?"
Damien gives a hard sniffle as he straightens up, "T-they took Matt..." He turns his blue eyed gaze to the cilf they both stand beside as he looks around the world beneath him.
"Damien?"
The dark haired man still catches his breath as he talks, "...Lets wait a little and then we head back to the road..." He starts walking back to the edge of the treeline with a newfound determined gaze as he stops talking.
Preston follows after him as he talks, "And then what?"
Damien turns back to him as he brings his breathing under control, "And then we find Matt."
(Elsewhere in Equestria)
The dirt path and forest around it starts to become a little absent as Matt and his captors venture out of the forest. The young kid still has not said much as he still battles in his mind that the things walking around him are not a figment of his imagination but real life...beings.
The stallion that was tasked with watching him speaks up a little in a low voice as he walks beside him, "You know for a dragon you sure are short."
Matt is silent to the words as he follows behind the carriage. But the stallion continues to talk as Matt remains silent, "...You also don't have scales like a normal dragon..."
"I'm not a dragon..."
The stallion cocks his head to him as he talks a little louder, "Not a drag...-"
"Hey Sargent! Do not conversant with the captive."
The stallion straightens up his posture as he calls back to Stone Hooves, "Yes sir sorry sir!"
Stone Hooves's voice gets a little louder as he drifts back from his position at the front of the carriage, "Now dragon did I hear you correctly you said you are not a dragon?"
Matt tightens up a little as he talks back, "Y-yes."
Stone Hooves squints his auburn eyes over the young kid for a moment before he averts his eyes in front of him as the white carriage stops, "Why you stop mud pony nopony told y...-"
"Actually somepony did tell them to stop." The white mare pokes herself from the window of the carriage as she talks, "We are nearing the earth pony village on the outskirts of the city are we not?"
Stone Hooves nods his head as he talks, "Yes your majesty we are."
The mare gives a slight whine as she talks, "Very well, just make sure none of these ponies touch the carriage..." Her voice is cut off as she cocks her head to Matt, "My my dragons do look strange don't they?"
The pony calls back to him as she gives him a small smile, "Are you getting tired of walking little dragon?"
"Um...yes?"
The Princess gives a nod as she motions her head to Stone Hooves, "Than come here dragon and ride with us, after all anything as rare as a dragon should not have to walk."
"But your highness..." Stone Hooves is cut off as the mare raises her voice, "Do not contest your Princess, now bring the dragon to the carriage."
The large stallion gives a nod as he motions for Matt to follow, "Come dragon."
Matt is a little hesitant to follow but after a few slow steps he brings himself to a steady walk to the side of the carriage.
The mare that still hangs her head out of the window gives him a smile as Stone Hooves lowers the royal red carpet stairs into the carriage.
Matt pauses as he looks over the hard face of the stallion and he's unsure if he should follow what the pony said.
"Do come in dragon, its much cooler in here than out in Celestia's sun."
With a quick swallow back of any doubt Matt makes his way into the carriage. As he reaches the top stairs he notices how small the inside really is. There are only two seats and one of which is being taken up by the white mare and the long purple cloak that hangs around her lower neck, the cloak is studded with jewels and the crown that sits on top of her mane has the same dark purple gems as the cloak , "Sit dragon."
The mare looks back to the open stairs as she talks, "We are ready you can close the door." Her tone changes from a sweet low tone to an almost bossy tone instantly as Stone Hooves snaps into action, "Yes your majesty."
Matt takes his seat across from the white mare as the carriage begins to move.
The pony is much smaller than the stallion's outside but she is still a unicorn like the others, and as the carriage starts to pick up a little speed her horn glows a faint pink. The royal purple curtains around the windows shift over the opening of the window and blocks out the outside world.
Matt watches a little confused as her horn stops its glow, "Are you an alien?"
The white mare cocks her head to him as her low voice takes on a slight hint of annoyance at his question, “I am Princess Platinum, surely you have heard of me?”
He fiddles with his hands a little nervously as he talks, "No, we came here th...-"
The mare cuts him off as she talks in a little louder but more surprised tone, "We? You mean to tell me that there are more of your kind?"
Matt gives a low nod as he continues, "Yes, and we are not dragons...where humans..."
"H u m a n you say?" The mare taps her hoof to her mouth as her voice takes on an almost amused tone, "So you are no dragon correct?"
Matt shakes his head, "No..." he doesn't pick up on her change in tone as he focuses on the heat inside the closed carriage starting to pound against his zipped up jacket. He begins to unzip the jacket as he lets out a calming, "Ahhh."
The mare blinks at his action as he takes the sweat drenched jacket off. His gray under shit is covered in sweat and he rubs at his no longer slicked back hair as he tries to make sense of the world around him.
"Forgive us, but you claim you are not a dragon but thou has just shed skin in my carriage..." The mare looks a little disgusted at the jacket that now rest on the seat beside him.
Matt looks over his jacket as he brings it up to her face, "Its a jacket, see?"
Princess Platinum holds her muzzle from it as she talks, "Oh, clothing ha ha, you can put it down now."
As Matt follows her words he squints back to her, "How can you talk?"
The mare cocks her head to him as she talks, "I beg your pardon?"
Matt swallows hard as he starts up, "Well, I have never meet a talking horse before."
Princess Platinum stares at him a little confused as she takes a moment to think before she talks, “All ponies can talk, HU-man.”
Matt cracks a slight smile to the animals voice as he talks, "Where am I?"
The mare stops her voice as she talks, "You are in Equestria none dragon."
Matt's body shutters at the word, "Equestria?" He cups his hands as he lets the realization sink in of truly not being on earth anymore, "W-where is that?"
The pink maned pony is taken back as Matt's voice changes to a strong sense of sadness, "This is Equestria, the new empire founded by Unicorns, Earth ponies and Pegasus...where do hu-mans hail from, is it the frozen north? That would explain your pale...scales?”
Matt rubs at his cupped hands a little more as he feels the strange tingling come under his skin again, "I...I-we come from Earth."
The mare focuses on his hands as her voice drops in an almost confused disgust, “Earth?! You mean to tell me you and your kin are of Earth pony decent?”
The young man thinks over the mare’s change in tone and tries to deepen his voice, “No, we-we don’t have any pony kin...we come from a planet called earth.”
Princess Platinum blinks her green eyes back to him now even more confused but her voice lowers again, “You have said we, how many are there might I ask?”
“Two me an-...” Matt's mind races a little with fear of never being able to go home again or never seeing his family again as his voice stutters out and is unable to bring himself to a complete sentence as he quickly talks, “C-can you help me find my brother?"
Princess Platinum picks her head back up a little as she talks, "Brother? You say?"
"Ya..." Matt still shudders a little as he nods his head, his hands still run together mindlessly as he tries to keep himself from going into a panic attack. Matt does not usually have panic attacks but the weight of what's happened in only maybe an hour or so is starting to weigh in as he thinks over his current situation.
The feelings in the small carriage change a little as Matt rubs his hands over each other and Princess Platinum starts to feel a slight change in the magic in the tight area. She focuses her eyes to his hands as her voice takes on a low calming trance, "Do not worry hu-man I will send for your brother, but as for you, I need your help in something."
Matt raises his head up a little as he looks over her soft green eyes, " W-what can I do?"
The mare gives a smile as she looks over his still trembling hands, "I believe that you and your kin have been sent here to help us in this turbulent time. We are going to the unicorn capital where all will be explained.” She stiffens up her posture a little as she talks, “Earthling you are ok with being taken to the unicorn capital yes?”
Matt nods his head not really knowing what else to do.
Princess Platinum smiles as her horn takes on a low pink glow, “I would like to offer a spell, it won’t hurt and it was created to help royalty think more clearly in stressful times. I can not imagine what it must be like to be in a new land and now all alone.”
Matt looks over the pony’s glowing horn as he talks, “It doesn’t hurt?”
The mare shakes her head as she talks, “The spell only calms the mind to help you think.”
After a few seconds of looking at the low chiming glow sitting around her horn Matt nods his head, “ok..”
“Close your eyes..”
Matt follows her words as he closes his eyes, the low pink glow of Princess Platinum’s horn slowly creeps around Matt’s head. As the magic engulfs his head it turns a slight green color, the mare blinks her eyes a little at the change in her own magic but she holds the spell.
After a few moments she releases the glow and Matt opens his eyes to the carriage’s royal red carpet flooring.
Her voice is low as she talks to him, “Do you feel better?”
Matt’s hands have stopped there shaking and the tingling under his skin has stopped, his mind is clear and he now looks to the mare with a newfound sense of weird feeling confidence, “I’m fine.”
“Perfect, now could you please tell me about the land you hail from?” The Princess shifts herself a little as Matt’s mouth quivers as he thinks of something to say.
End of chapter 3
Chapter 4 – The land before us...
Matt still sits across from the princess of the unicorns but unlike earlier in this journey talking with the animal has become easier and almost slightly normal. The young kid has never truly been the most interesting person before but all of the attention that he is getting from the pony is starting to run to his head as more of his self rising story expels from his mouth, "...And back in my home land all of the monsters fear my name."
Princess Platinum has hung on every word as she tries to take in the strange creatures stories, "Well sir Matt you must be the talk of the mares in your land."
The young kid gives a laugh as he talks, "Ya, after I took on King Kong by myself I was pretty popular among the ladies."
"Matt, such a strange name for a distinguished individual." The white mare gives a simple giggle as she looks him over.
"Well I don't know if I would say that, wait until you meet my brother now hes a real cool guy." Matt quickly changes his words as he talks, "But hes still not the prince like me."
The mare's eyes blink over him as she cocks her head, "Tell me Matt, why would the prince of his land want to travel like you said you did?"
Matt expels a laugh as he talks, "Well after defeating Godzilla we thought it would be in the best interest of our people if we tried to expand our land."
Princess Platinum again gives another giggle to his words as she talks, "Well I now see that you truly are the important being I was hoping for."
Matt gives another laugh as his cheeks take on a little bit of a red shade.
The mare gives a slight gasp as she talks, "Your face has become flustered, are you sick?"
Matt shakes his head as he calms his laugh, "no...I-I just didn't think I would be talking to aliens today."
"Hm, well it seems that the divine ones have something for everypony no?"
Before Matt can speak back the carriage comes to a halt. Princess Platinum stops her laugh as she looks to the carriage doors, "It seems we have arrived."
The door swings down as Stone Hooves face comes into the night skies glow as he talks, "We are here Princess."
Matt blinks at the world outside as he talks a little low, "I-its night time? But how can that be it was noon only a little while ago?"
Stone Hooves gives the young kid a glare that silences him as Princess Platinum brings herself to her hooves, her horn glows a low pink as the silver crown is floated next to her, "Come Matt I have much to show you."
Matt grabs his jacket as he takes his first steps into the cold night air. The area around him is dark with only the light of a full moon and a few lit torches around. Matt swings his head around the medieval looking city, there are a few buildings scattered around his view but most just look like small wooden huts with poorly laid hay tops. But these are not the things he focuses on instead he drift his eyes to the gates that sit just a little ways down the stone road, there are two large banners that lay over the stone white walls, the banner match the purple emblem of the unicorn that are on the carriage.
"Stone Hooves, please take our guest to the palace." Platinum rolls the silver crown to flip upside down as she moves her magic grasp to the purple cloak.
The stallion shoots Matt a look as he talks, "Take our guest?"
Princess Platinum stiffens her posture as she talk down to the stallion, "Did I not make myself clear general?"
"Yes your majesty. Sargent!"
The smaller white stallion brings himself to Stone Hooves side as he stands at attention, "Yes sir?"
Stone Hooves's voice has a little bit of resentment as he nods his head to Matt, "Take the dragon to the palace."
The stallion is unamused as Matt follows after the other pony.
Princess Platinum holds a smile to Matt as he walks towards the stone gates, her voice takes on a whisper as she talks to the still hard faced armored stallion, "Stone Hooves keep the carriage waiting I need to prepare something for tomorrow's gathering."
"Yes your majesty." Stone Hooves moves to the two dark brown coated earth ponies still hitched to the carriage as he talks, "You hear the princess, keep these hooves galloping."
The two earth ponies nod their heads as they clap their hooves to the stone floor beneath them.
Princess Platinum calls out to the the stallion and Matt as she picks her pace up, "So Matt, what do you think of our fair city?"
Matt looks around the inner city in amusement as he swings his head from each building, unlike the shift wood buildings outside of the gates these buildings that surround the main street are all two story buildings, "I think it's amazing..."
The mare is quick to talk over him as she holds her head up proudly, "Yes, the unicorns pride themselves in creating the biggest and best way of living anypony can have." But the pony's confidence is cut short as Matt speaks up again, "Well this doesn't hold a candle to my city."
Princess Platinum blinks her eyes at his words as she talks, "I beg your pardon, did you just state that there is a fairer city than ours?"
The armored stallion shifts a little curiously as he softens his army like trot.
Matt quickly changes his tone as he realizes her tone, "N-not that this is not a cool city and all, its just where I come from there are buildings that reach over a hundred stories."
The stallion that trails beside Matt gives a slight wide eyed stare as Princess Platinum expels a gasp, “Why...that's almost into the pegasus domaine, how do you manage this unless your kind can fly?"
"We use machines." Matt gives a low chuckle as he dips his free hand into his pocket, "You know for aliens you sure don't have a leg up on us."
The stallion speaks up a little as Matt's words hit him, "I would tell you to bite your tongue with that kind of talk when in the presence of a mare especially the Princess."
Matt looks at the stallion a little confused as Princess Platinum still hangs on his first comment, "Tell me again sir Matt you have metal carriages in your land that do not need hooves?"
Matt ignored her question as he asks one of his own, "How can you guys even build these building anyways? You don't have hands."
The mare blinks her eyes to his question as she talks, "It is the royal right of a unicorn to manipulate the land to their liking? Is it not the same where you come from?"
Matt starts to put his jacket on as he gives a light chuckle, "Ya pretty much..." His words are cut off as he looks over a large castle like building down the road, "Whoa..."
Princess Platinum squints her eyes to his astonishment as she talks, "You do not live in a castle sir Matt?"
"What? Oh no of course." He stutters at his words as he talks, "Its just I didn't think you would have such a big place."
The mare lifts her head up proudly as she talks, "Well the unicorn capital must be simply the best if Equestria is going to make it through these times in one piece."
Matt gazes away from the medieval looking castle as he thinks over her words, "What do you mean one piece?"
"Oh don't worry about that, you will be shown tomorrow." The Princess holds her head up high as the group comes to the large wooden doors of the massive stone building.
A stallion standing by the door steps forward as his deep male voice originates through the night, "Princess." The pony gives a low head bow before he continues, "I regret to inform you but the pegasus and earth pony leaders have already left for the night...-"
Platinum cuts the stallion off as she nods her head, "I am quite aware of that fact, but what I am not aware of is why you have not opened the door yet."
"Forgive me your majesty..." The stallion quickly darts to the door as he opens it.
Matt gives another sigh of atonement as he looks into the brightly lit room. There is a long red and gold trimmed carpet on the floor and the room seems to be lit by floating chandlers. On the right side of the room there are large windows that look over the outside town and in the distance parts of the forest that Matt traveled through earlier today. To the left there are more corridors that seem to lead out of the entrance room and into the rest of the castle.
As Matt holds his gaze to the moon lit windows as he tries to follow after the Princess he is stopped by the stallion at the door, the stallion stutters a little as he looks him over, "N-No pony can enter but the ro..."
Princess Platinum calls back to the stallion as she talks, "Sir Matt is allowed into the castle."
The stallion holds his stop for a few more moments before dropping his hoof, "W-welcome sir...Matt."
The young kid gives a sly smile as he dips into the castle entrance behind the Princess.
"Oh sargent do go and tell Stone Hooves I will be back in a little." Platinum gives the other stallion at the door a nod.
"Yes your majesty." The large wooden doors close as the stallion straightens up his posture.
Matt still holds his eyes around the medieval carved stone as the mare talks to him, "Sir Matt you will be staying in the castle for the time you are on our land, if you would you ca...-"
"Princess Platinum!"
The white mare's green eyes shrink a little as the loud bellowing feminine voice calls down to her. Shes quick to turn to the voice as she places her front legs to the ground, "Yes Luna..."
Matt doesn't follow the mare's motion as he stares to a large bright blue maned dark blue coated horse trotting herself down the red carpeted hallway. The larger pony has two gold bands that wrap around the large horn that pokes out from her mane, but this is not what Matt focuses on instead he stares to the wings that are folded to the ponies back.
"Why does thou not kneel before Luna?' The pony's teal eyes squint to Matt as her loud voice again calls out, this time directly to him.
Princess Platinum talks before Matt can expel a breath as she brings herself up, her voice still does not have her confidence like before but the larger pony still listens, "We are sorry Luna but he is not from this land."
"Not of this land?" Luna's voice still bounces off the walls as she holds herself in a completely straight posture.
"Yes Luna I'm not." Matt speaks up for himself still a little big headed from the way he’s been treated by Platinum.
The large dark blue pony blinks at him for a moment as her voice lowers a little, "What is thou? We have not before seen a being such as thou on these plains."
Matt swallows as he talks, "I'm a prince from the planet Earth." His jaw twinges at his lie but he holds strong.
The white mare moves herself to Luna as she holds her head to Matt, "Sir Matt if you would not mind, could you just go down the hall and wait there?"
The dark haired man nods his head as he starts his legs up and walks past the dark blue mare, the pony stands a few inches taller then him and as he walks past her he shutters a little with the thought of no longer being the biggest thing in the room.
As Matt gets a good ways down the large entrance room Luna's voice starts up as the pony brings her eyes to the white mare in front of her, "Princess Platinum did not show up at the peace meeting today, our sister and I are very displeased."
The mare puffs her chest out a little as she talks, "I regret to say that due to circumstances that you can clearly see making the meeting on time proved more difficult then once thought."
Luna seems unfazed by the excuse as the dark mare talks again, "Why did our Princess bring a unknown creature into the capital?"
Princess Platinum shifts her eyes to the young man to make sure of his distance before she talks in a low voice, "Luna this being has a strange aura about it...at first I thought that this thing was nothing special but after performing a simple mind calming spell I felt a strange magic."
The large mare blinks a little at the white pony's words as she listens to the white mare continuing, "...I believe this Matt might hold something we need to stop this war before it even starts."
Luna cocks her head slightly as she follows in an awkward low voice, "We must do this?"
Princess Platinum nods as she talks, "Only for this night, I need somepony else to reassure me of my thoughts."
"Should we not wait for our sis...-"
Platinum cuts the large pony off as she talks, "No, Celestia must not find out until after the meeting tomorrow."
"We are unsure if we can keep this from our sister."
The white mare squints her green eyes as she talks in a serious voice, "Luna, Celestia will send this creature back and we may never know if this may be the answer."
Luna hesitates for a moment until she gives a low nod, "We will do this task, but only for this night only..."
Princess Platinum cuts the dark pony off as she turns herself back to the door, “Thank you Luna, you truly are kind just like the brightness of the sun.”
Luna’s face tightens up but she nods to the white mare as she makes her exit from the castle doors. The dark pony takes a moment before she turns herself back to Matt, her loud voice comes back to her as she walks over to the short kid, “I have been tasked with watching after you this night, does the Matt require anything?”
Matt gives a little laugh as he looks over the pony in front of him, her voice bounces off the walls of the stone castle and it seems almost pointless to talk so loud.
“You have found amusement in this question?” Luna blinks at the strange creature in confusion as he stops his laugh.
The young kids laugh is not halted by her words but by the rumbling that calls from his stomach, his voice lightens up as he sheepishly talks to the strange animal in front of him, “Um... can I have something to eat?”
Luna stares blankly for a moment before she brings her body past him, “It would seem that substance would be in order, especially if you have traveled as far as the Princess.”
Matt follows after the tall mare as her voice slowly starts to lower, “Tell us, what does a Matt eat?”
The dark haired kid adjust the jacket around himself as he talks, “You got any hot dogs or burgers?”
The mare stops as she turns her confused face back to him, “You wish to eat a flaming dog?”
“...O-or a salad?”
Luna nods her head as she starts her trot back up, “Very well Matt, follow.”
End of chapter 4
Chapter 5 – The split
The castle dining hall is big fitted with a large bright gold candle lit chandelier that hangs above the gold trimmed polished white stone table. The walls around the room are covered in banners representing unicorns much like the ones that were on the carriage. The wooden chairs of the union castle's dining room are not necessarily the most comfortable thing and the various pastries, fruits, and vegetables that the chef dressed unicorn's brought are not really what Matt wanted; but the large empty room starts to play in Matt's favor as the large blue mare that sits across attempts to break the silence.
Luna sits fully across the large table, but her loud sounding voice doesn't take any hitch as it carries across the room, "If we may ask...how did you come to be in Equestria?"
The young dark haired man twiddles at a grape filled plate with a fine made silver fork as he brings his voice back to himself. This is the first time since he sat at the table that the starring mare has talked so his voice is a bit cracky as it starts up, "We got here through a weird light ball thing." He gives a laugh as he tries to put the strange thing into words, "...I...I can't really explain it."
The mare nods her head as she blinks to his words, "I understand there must be some strangeness in your current situation." She lowers her voice a little as she talks, "Please forgive us as we have not properly introduced ourselves, "I am Luna, the keeper of the night of all of Equestria."
"Hello Luna..." Matt tries to give a smile to the straight sitting pony as he continues to fiddle with the food on his plate.
Luna cocks her head to the motion as she talks in a lower sweeter voice, "I express my feelings for you Matt, we understand it must be difficult for you to be here without your parents or family."
Matt gives a light laugh as he drops the fork to the plate, "Ya, like they care." He follows his motion as he slumps a little down to the unfamiliar chair.
"You are not feeling the homesickness? Princess Platinum has stated that you are not of this land, and I have never before seen another being like you." Luna lightens up her posture as her voice calls back to the young kid.
But Matt's answer back is not the seriousness that she expected, instead the comment has sparked a sarcastic tone in the young kid's voice as he sits back up in the soft cushioned chair. Her comment has brought back the realization of being separated in this strange world, "My parents are probably more worried about Damien...not me." His voice picks up as he stares back to the mare, "...my brother always seems to do everything right and me... I always seem to do everything wrong..."
The young kids voice spikes up in an emotion filled crack as he tries to hide the slight fear of the new world around him. Luna stares back to him, "I feel for you Matt..."
Matt looks up from the gold rimmed plate as he calms his mind and listens to the mare across from him, "Our fair sister raises the warm sun, where we have the duty of the cold dark moon..." Her voice picks up a little as she continues, "Everypony in Equestria enjoys our sister's joy filled day. But now as problems through the land arise the ponies of this land shun the night as dangerous and dreadful."
The mare's soft blue eyes for the first time tonight lose their gaze on Matt as she pauses in thought.
Matt holds a confused and astonished face as he tries to think over the ponies words. He shoots back a slight laugh as he speaks up, "The nights not dreadful? It's free."
Luna brings her eyes back to him as she shake her head, "Free?"
The young kid smiles as he brings his arms to follow his excited voice, "Are you crazy? The night is great, cold air, star lit sky..." He pauses in a laugh as he looks to her, "Well its kinda hard to see the stars in New York, but they're there...the strange little orbs that make us feel so small."
Matt's voice continues off the empty rooms walls as he talks, " The best part about the night is that its free, you can do whatever you want and no one is around to judge you or stop you...you know?"
The mare gives a smile to Matt as her voice calls back lowly, "We thank you Matt...nopony has ever talked of the night with the same passion you have just shown."
He gives a low laugh as he adjust himself to his chair.
"Your land's must be lucky." Luna's voice lowers as her tone shifts to a more serious one, "The nights here are filled with horrors that keeps ponies from their enjoyment."
Matt's happy tone shifts as he thinks over her comment, "You mean like those flying dogs?"
Luna holds her smile to the strange question as she answers back, "Flying dogs?"
"Ya, when we got here there was this really weird looking black dog thing...Preston said it kind of look like a pony....But it was ugly and had fangs." Matt shakes his head as he looks over the dark blue mare, "It didn't have the big life filled alien eyes either, they were just...blue?"
She nods her head as her voice picks up, "You speak of a changeling."
"What's that?"
Her voice picks back up in a regal loudness as she talks back, "We do not yet know, they have only recently started arising." Luna stops herself as she squints back to the young dark haired kid, "You say this pony had wings?"
Matt nods his head as he waits for her to continue.
"This is strange as we have only seen earth pony changelings." Luna studies the table in front of her as she tries to think of an answer.
The young kid speaks up before she can bring her unsure voice out, "Luna, how unsafe is the night?"
Luna looks over his expression as she stutters for a moment, "Do not fret, I am certain that come tomorrow you shall be reunited with your family."
He gives a nod as she continues, "If you would like I will show you to your room if you wish to retire until tomorrow."
Matt licks at his lips for a moment trying to think over how Preston and Damien are doing, he pauses the thoughts back as he talks, "ok."
(In the Everfree forest)
The dense fog that settles over the Everfree forest throughout the day settles a little, but the nip in the moonlit air wips itself against the two older men struggling to make their way through the almost pitch black forest.
Preston holds his arms around his chest as he calls out to his friend that huddles close to him, "We're fucking lost aren't we!"
The large man swings his unsure head back around the slightly moon shined trees as he talks, "No, the road is close...I know it is."
"That's what you said the last hundred times..." Preston's comment shrinks a little as he shivers in the cold.
Damien turns his gaze to his outline as he rubs his large hand to his friend's shoulder, "Don't worry dude, at least its not winter."
The two men both give a low laugh to the stupid comment as there treck through the dense underbrush begins to grind to a halt.
Preston swings his head around again as he gives a low sigh, "So Damien, those talking horses...how big were they?"
The large man picks up his pace as his deep voice calls back to the comment, "I don't know man...I didn't stay around to ask them..." He swallows at his comment as the memory of Matt's body laying on the ground plays through his mind, the memory has been slowly eating away at him all day but the tough guy has managed to stop himself from reliving when he left the young kid's view.
But this time its not Damien’s will that breaks the thought, the two men freeze up as a loud wolf like howl rings through the trees behind them.
"...What was that..." Preston holds his mouth a gasp as the wisp of his hot breath swirls in the dimly moon lit light in front of him, his dark brown eyes latch onto Damien for an answer.
But the stern looking friend that his eyes were hoping to meet doesn't trace through the light as Damien holds the same fear stricken astonishment, his voice is low and his breathing is not panted like Preston's as he talks, "Press, I want you to start running got it?"
The blond haired guy runs his shifty eyes around the tree line behind him as he talks, "W-what do you mean?"
"Press, just run straight and well meet up in a se...-" His voice is cut off as a low hungry sounding growl resonates in the bushes dangerously close to them.
The two men's hearts beat's go rapid fire as they listen to the bushes they stare at rustling, neither one of them can bring their bodies to start as the growl turns into a multiple hungry tone. But this moment of pause only last a second as two dark green orb like eyes show their presence in the bush they stare at .
"NOW!" Damien's voice snaps them into a mad dash away from the sounds as they head straight on through the night blindly.
The sound of a dog like pant is tracing close behind as the fallen leaves beneath their feet mash with a chip like crunch.
Damien's run comes to an end as he spots a large low lying tree branch, As Preston ducks under the branch Damien hules himself over and onto it, as he lays on the branch he calls to the fading figure in front of him, "Preston get on the tree!"
But the outline of his friend does not slow as it fades quickly into the dark. Damien's hot breaths only last a few seconds as the the animals that were chasing him come into view, he watches as the two wood like wolves run under the low hanging branch, the two wolf like animals have their heads down low so Damien's slight high up position goes unnoticed.
The flash of the timber wolves is only a second as they dart into the dark where Preston's figure ran.
Damien's blue eyes blink at the fading sound as he slowly slides himself to the base of the large tree trunk. He gives a few low pant like moans as he looks up through the branch covered sky, he wants to scream and his mouth quivers with the need to yell...but his mind races to much to allow the call to the dark heavens above. Instead he is only allowed the guilt of thinking his friend has been attacked by the creatures that just ran past.
Preston's pace has not slowed and his absent minded running has kept him from noticing the lose of his running mate. The timberwolves growls start to lower behind him as his legs pound to the forest floor, but his momentum is not truly acting as a savior as a low thin wall of gold light shimmers in front of his path.
But his pace can't be stopped as he runs at the light wall in full force.
He instinctively shields his head as he brings his hands over his face but the motion blocks his view of the path as he trips on a nearby fallen log. The blond haired man is sent tumbling through the low light as he falls and hits his head to the hard twig and dead bark covered forest floor.
Preston lays on the ground past the wall of low magic as the timber wolves that were following him come to a sliding stop only a few feet behind where he lays unresponsive.
The two beast of the forest pant as their wood chest buckle back and forth. After a few moments of staring through the dim magic glowing wall they walk off in a still hungry growling turn.
A low feminine voice stirs Preston's eyes open for a moment but the heavy lids quickly close shut again in a faint as the sound of hooves crunching against leaves gets louder.
End of chapter 5
Chapter 6 – Pressing matters
Preston's eyes are still closed and his body rest on the ground, but unbenounced to him his body has been moved. His fainted eyes do not stay shut from the world around him for long as a dampness pressing against his head every so often.
With each passing moment the cool wetness pressing against the dirt covered side of his head brings his eyes open. His absent minded brown eyed gaze comes to rest on a dark purple face, the blurriness of his eyes quickly fades as the crackling of a nearby fire flickers his mind back on. The young man blinks his eyes to the dark purple mare as he tries to take the strange looking creature as something real.
He can tell in the orange glow of the flickering fire that the animal in front of him has pony like features, but other than a fur covered snot face and ears that mare looks nothing like a normal pony should, Preston's eyes stay pinned to the low purple glow that gives off a slight chime as he stares to the pony's horn.
The big teal alien huge eyes of the mare finally catch on to his as she stops her dab at his head. The mare holds a almost confused smile for a moment as she turns her head back and speaks up, "Master the creature has awoken!"
Preston holds his mouth shut as he looks over the animal sitting next to where he lays in a little disbelief to the words he just heard resonating from her lips.
"Good, good." An older sounding male voice calls back from closer to the cracking red-orange fire as the stallion's hooves start to get louder.
The young man is quick to bring himself in an upright position as he jerks his body forward, as he does his head rings with a shoot of pain. Preston closes his right eye as the ringing in his ears brings his hands up to his head.
The purple mare that he can still see from his opened left eye stares back at him in a slight shock as she brings herself to her hooves. Her body is covered by a brown cloak and a hood like extension lays over top of her back, the mare's voice is sharpened as she looks to Preston's up right sitting, "Maybe this is not such a good idea."
Preston slowly brings his hands down from his head as he turns his body around on the dirt forest floor to the two ponies that stand before him.
Beside the purple brown cloaked mare stands a grey very old looking stallion, the pony has a wispy white beard that matches his mane, most of his body is covered in a dark blue cloak that seems to have emblems of gold stars around it, "Nonsense Clover, if this beast meant us harm it would have not been able to pass Celestia's barrier."
The stallion gives a coughing laugh as he brings his alburn eyes to Preston, "So tell us dragon, what brings you to the Everfree forest?"
Preston's mind still throbs a little from his earlier fall but his thoughts are still coming through as he tries to scurry himself back, "Y-your a talking pony!?" His high voice and crab like crawl backwards is brought to a quick end as he brings his back to a tree trunk.
The shorts around his legs have slightly slid down his legs and his arms are quickly brought to them as he hikes them up.
The stallion cocks his head a little to Preston's quick motion, "It is strange for a male dragon to wear clothing..."
Preston breaks over the old man's voice as he catches onto his words, "What are you talking about animal?!”
"Me?" The grey stallion lets out another loud old man laugh as he brings his leg over his mouth for a moment with a cough.
"Master?" The purple mare besides him lifts her leg up in concern.
Preston watches the human like actions as he squints his eyes between the two animals, "Where am I?"
The stallion points his dirt covered hoof to Preston as he gives another low laugh, "Bha!" The older pony turns to his side as he talks to the mare, "You see Clover, dragon's are simple thinking creatures nothing to..."
"Where am I and what did you do to Damien!?" Preston stand brings himself to tower over the ponies in a decently good height advantage as he balls up his fist.
The mare jerks her body back as she lowers her horn, "Stay back dragon!"
"What did you do with Damien?!" Preston's mind has focused on his absent friend as he yells back to the mare.
The mare's horn glows a bright purple as her teal eyes squint back to him, "Sit back down!"
"Now now lets all just..." The older stallion's voice is cut off as the ringing of bolt magic is sent to the standing Preston, the young man is struck by the bolt and wobbles a second before falling face down.
"Clover!" The stallion turns his head back to the mare as his disappointed voice echos off the trees around their camp.
The mare timidly rubs her right hoof over her left leg as she talks, "But Master Swirl it was only a calming spell...-"
The stallion cuts her off as his horn glows a bright gold, "That is no excuse for stunning this poor creature." The gold aura surrounds Preston's body as he picks the man up and brings his back again to rest on the tree.
"Star Swirl I..." The mare's voice is again cut off as the stallion walks closer to Preston's closed eyed body, "Clover no."
As the mare nods her head and brings her gaze to the ground Star Swirl blinks his amber eyes back to Preston as he talks to himself, "ok...what was that awaken spell again... Ah yes." The stallion's horn glows a faint gold to the spell. With a slow lower of the head the glow seeps toward Preston as his eyes again start to open.
"OW!" The young man brings his arms around his head as he lets out the yelp of pain from Clover's spell.
"OH hush now, you act like magic is foreign to you dragon." Star Swirl shakes his head as he talks, "I mean really, magic and dragons is like Sombra and crys...-"
Preston's voice takes on a light sob as he holds his head still, "I'm not a fucking dragon..."
Clover brings herself to her masters side as she speaks up in a fast voice, "Not a dragon? Master I think we need to...-"
Star Swirl brings his hoof in front of her mouth as he squints to Preston, "What do you mean not a dragon?"
Preston slowly starts to lower his arms as he shifts his eyes around the two ponies faces a little hesitantly, "I-I'm a human..."
The purple mare lets out a quick sarcastic laugh as she point's her right hoof to him, "Then how can you channel magic if you're no dragon?"
"What?" Preston stares at her in confusion as her voice picks up a little.
"Look at your claws dragon!" The mare nods her head down as her voice stops.
Start Swirl rubs at his long wispy beard as Preston follows her nod, his hands have a slight green aura around them and the tips of his fingers tingle a little. The young man gives a light huffy cough as he stares at the ground beside him, "I-I feel like I need to throw up..."
"Good." Star Swirl’s horn glows a faint gold as he nods his head to Preston. As the stallion follows through his motion the blond haired man quickly brings his hands to his mouth as he hunches over, " horlagaaa!!!"
Clover gives a disgusted look as she turns her head away from Preston. But her motion doesn't go far as Star Swirl taps her, "Clover I think you should say something to this poor...human."
Preston gives a slight huff as he tries to look anywhere around the dirt ground but where he throw up.
The mare's voice is low but his ears still pick up on her words as they come to him, "I'm sorry..."
Preston brings his head up and his body back to the tree as he gives a confused laugh “you shock me with alien mind control and you say you're sorry?"
Clover brings her head up to him as she blows at the comment, "Fine then don't take the sorry, and its magic human not mind control."
"Just magic? Listen here you talking little..."
His voice is cut off as Star Swirl shoots a tiny bolt of gold light in between them, "Are you sure you're not a dragon Human? You sure have a temper?"
Preston swallows back his comment as he nods to the mare, "Thank you..."
Clover rolls her eyes as she talks to the stallion, "Can we put it back in the forest yet?"
The stallion smiles to the mare as he gives another old sounding laugh, "You are funny...no, now clean it up and bring Human to the fire near me...its too cold to talk away from it."
Star Swirl trots himself in a slow walk back to the crackling fire as the mare brings her skeptical eyes back to Preston.
He brings himself to his feet and after a little wobble he brushes some dirt from his pants and legs and follows after Star Swirl, Clover keeps her eyes on him as she traces behind him.
The old stallion has brought himself to sit on a fallen log near the fire, his front legs are extended to the fire and his flank is seated on the fallen log with his old white tail dropping off the back to the ground, "Sit Human."
Preston looks over the pony's way of sitting as he takes a seat to a log across from him, the logs have clearly been dragged over as the dirt beside them have the marks. But the blond haired man does not look around to much as he brings his voice to him, "where am I, and have you seen my friend Damien."
The stallion slightly ignores him as the mare takes a seat next to the old stallion, "You know Human that is a strange name..."
The man pauses for a moment before he speaks up, "My name is Preston...Preston Armor."
The pony brings his front legs down as he gives a smile, "Much better." He strokes at his wispy beard as his voice continues, "As for the friend you seek I am sorry, you are the first human I have met."
Preston gives a silent nod as the pony's voice doesn't stop.
"But as for where you are, well perk your ears up for this as I am far too old to repeat myself." The stallion gives a loud throat clearing cough as his long words start up, "You Preston, are in the land of Equestria...And from the way you react to magic its much different then from where you come from."
Preston shifts his eyes to his normal colored hands as he holds his voice down for the pony to finish.
"...This land was founded five years ago by the pegasus, earth ponies and unicorns." He smiles as he nods to the mare beside himself, "Clover the clever, my assistant helped in the founding of this land and helped establish a peace between the three tribes."
The mare gives a low proud smile as the old pony coughs through his words, "...But that was five years ago...the land that was founded on friendship and peace is no more, and we stand on the constant threat of war between the three..."
"Why?"
Preston's voice is brought down as Swirl brings a laugh in, "Calm yourself you will get the full story. Now where was I..." The pony strokes at the wispy beard a little longer before he talks, "Ah, yes...The peace agreement that the three have lived by is starting to fade as new problems have arisen in this land, the pegasus feel mistreated by the two land bound ponies and threaten to rebel. Princess Platinum is doing her best along with the earth ponies to simmer down these threats." The old pony leans forward a little more as his voice drops, "That is the story everypony will tell you...but I will tell you the side nopony should hear."
Preston follows his lean as he tries to listen to the old pony’s words over the crackling flame between them.
"The first city where the three tried to live under the new peace was called the Crystal Empire, and it was ruled by a king by the name of Sombra. He was a brilliant mind and a great king even though he could not speak but a few words...but a dark power came over him and his heart turned bitter and cold and he sought out to the element of harmony in the city for his own personal gain... His end came at the hoof of the two goddesses Celestia and Luna....but sadly with his end the magical symbol the three tribes made to show peace for the land was lost along side Sombra."
He gives a laugh as he talks, "The spell that Sombra used to bring the kingdom down with him was not a normal magic, and Celestia and myself fear that the power in the crystal city may be lost forever.”
The stallion straightens up as he coughs, "...But the point is this, Celestia and Luna after coming down from the sky and banishing Sombra’s dark powers and self where praised by the unicorn Princess and where allowed to use their powers as the sole providers of the moon and the sun; a task that many unicorns had not just two."
He holds his hoof up to the sky as his words lower again, "And this is the problem we face, the pegasus have taken this as a sign that these...these half pegasus half unicorn gods are siding with the land dwellers to take away there powers and ultimately make them follow the unicorn's way of life. The pegasus believe the lose of the symbol of harmony that was held in the crystal kingdom was intentional, and that it was nothing more than a blunt show of the unicorn's trying to control the land. Now because of this idea they refuse to listen to the other two tribes."
Swirl takes a deep breath as he speaks for the last time, "Without a magical symbol of peace, harmony and friendship the threat of unity breaking is imminent. Celestia, the older, has asked us to find a new power that can spread the feeling of harmony like the one founded in the lost first empire."
Preston thinks over the story in silence as he tries to understand it, the two ponies wait as he quivers his words, "H-how does one item stop a war?"
The old pony smiles as his horn takes a gold glow, "Magic my weird friend, magic, it is all around us, it binds us together through its effects on every living being. Magic is created from emotion or thoughts and its effects can be channeled from touch, actions or it's creator's own will. Its effect are determined by the way the way it's used, positive life, joy and tolerance or negative fear, anger or death. But without an instrument to convey a feeling much like the Crystal heart that was lost, the feelings of are fading unity...and fear has taken hold over this land...”
Preston listens to the chime as he talks, "That's what brought us here..." He buries his head in his hands as the two ponies look to each other in confusion.
Clover speaks up as her voice carries, "US? There are more than you?"
Preston takes his head up as he talks, "Matt, he was taken by unicorns earlier today." He quivers a little at the thought as he stops his words.
Swirl is quick to talk as he holds his hoof out, "Oh no-no, do not worry, the Princess is trying to keep harmony no harm will come to him."
"What about Damien, he is still out here!" Preston holds his head up as his hands start to tingle a little, "He is not safe right? Right?"
The old pony looks over the green glow as he talks, "I sense that you are not from this land...not from this land in more ways than one." He brings his old eyes up as he looks him over, "But our magic has already taken its hold on your emotions Press-ton."
The blond haired man brings his hands up as he talks, "W-what do I do?!"
Clover's voice is low as she talks, "Just calm down, magic should be only generated with happy thoughts and feelings not with...what you feel at this moment, just calm down."
Swirl smiles as he stands from his log, "Well I for one am too tired to talk more, so I bid you a good night."
Clover speaks up in confusion as she holds her hoof to Preston,"But what of him?"
Swirl cocks a bushy eyebrow as he talks, "He will come with us, it's far too dangerous to let him go alone, and he now knows of Celestia’s task, can't have him telling everypony."
"But master he knows because you told him!?"
"Yes, yes I did...now good night Clover." He nods to Preston as he walks to a tan colored tent.
Preston's voice comes back as he talks, "Wait, what about my friend?"
"Your friend will be found by the unicorns, this forest is guarded by them, do not worry you will meet them all again." Swirl starts to trot himself into the tent as Preston's voice calls back fast, "Where do I sleep than??"
Swirl gives a low smile as he talks, "Clover will happily take you in tonight, unless you wish to lay with a stallion."
Before Preston can answer the drape of the tent is closed. He now brings his eyes to the mare with an awkward stare of dismay.
Clover calls back to the tent as she talks, "But master?!"
No answer comes back as she looks back to Preston, with the same look as him. her stance straightens as she swallows, "I-it seems that Star Swirl has made his mind up..." Her voice picks up a little as she takes her eyes off of Preston a little angry, "Follow me, Human."
Preston hesitates for a moment but then follows after her towards another small looking tent.
She dips herself inside as Preston stops and looks over the tent, "Great...small..." He takes a long sigh as he follows in behind her, but to his surprise as he dips under the tan drape the tent seems to double in size.
The inside is bear with only a decently large bed and a simple dresser but the tent definitely is larger and taller than he thought. Clover looks back to him as she stares at his confusion, "are you ok?"
Preston laughs a little as he talks, "Ya...I just am having a hard time understanding that aliens and the TARDIS are real."
Clover squints to his words a little as her horn takes a low purple glow, the brown cloak she has on starts to slip off as Preston takes his eyes off of the room to her. But his eyes quickly dart away as the cloak leaves her face, the clothing is floated over to the dresser as it's folded and neatly set atop the wood.
She brings her eyes back to his weird wondering eyes and shifts her body as she talks, "Are you not going to take that off?"
Preston feels weird at watching the weird action of a pony taking off clothes only to reveal fur but he quickly answers back as he stutters, "no no, I-uh, i'll sleep in this."
The mare nods as she walks over to the bed, "You are strange."
He watches as she floats the cover of the bed back and then slowly eases herself in. Clover feels his gaze set on her as she brings her head to him as she gives a groan, "Look I know this is weird but honestly I would rather tonight be over so..." She nods her head to the large empty space next to her as she stops.
Preston quickly walks over to the bed as he talks, "Ya, ok..." As he moves the bland grey covers back he places his hand to the bed, its soft and not made of hay like he was thinking. As he moves the covers back Clover lays her head back to the one pillow on the simple bed. Preston dips into the bed as he brings himself in, but as he does this the bed shifts down to his weight and Clover rolls onto his side.
Her eyes shrink a little as she stares to him, "Sorry..." With a quick motion she brings herself off of his side and tries to stay to her spot of the bed.
"its fine." Preston holds his eyes to the ceiling of the tent as Clover holds her fully awake eyes to the side of the tent she faces. Both hold all comments back as they sleeplessly stare away from the thing beside them, both just hoping that the night ends soon.
End of chapter 6
Chapter 7 – Sight for sad eyes
The morning sun has just barely started to seep through the forest, and its gold orange like glow hangs to the underbrush of the tangled trees. Even though the sun has just barely started to rise the hot light still starts to create the morning fog from the underlying plants.
The older dark haired man has remained huddled to the tree trunk; after last nights exhausting run and the bitter thoughts of his blonde haired friend, the tough Damien could not find the energy or the will to walk further in the forest.
His eyes remain at a emotionally drained blank stare as he smacks his thirsty lips to the ground below him. His body has only allowed him mer-moments of sleep, too haunted by the thoughts of his brother and friend. Along with the mental pain he is left to deal with his right leg has suffered a slight gash after trying to climb further up into the tree late last night, in search of a feeling of safety from the unknow forest. The nice polo shirt that he had on now is dirt ridden and ripped slightly, his nursing skills helped him wrap the wound up as best as he could with the shirt piece to keep the wound clean from any dirt.
Yesterday has left this once fit and energy filled man a mere shadow of his former self.
He holds his blue eyes to the ground with slow blinks as his night up in a foreign forest starts to fully sink in...With another slow blink the sad true thought comes to mind...nothing will be the same, even if he leaves this place.
The man's cold thoughts are brought to an end as the sound of bushes and leaves crunching hits against his ears.
His eyes open up a little more as he shifts his head to the sound, there is no fear left in his body thanks to his worn out mind he feels almost nothing as the sound gets a little louder.
Only a few seconds of the crunching continues through the forest floor before the source is brought into view below him.
Damien blinks silently as he stares to the scared looking colt below his tree.
The colt has brown almost red mane and tail, his coat has a chocolate like color with a darker shade of brown in a circle around his left eye and base of his tail.
The pony also has a small wool like brown cap on his head covering his ears and a little bit of his face from Damien's view. But even at the awkward position Damien can see the fear on the small animal's face.
Unlike the unicorn's he saw yesterday this small colt doesn't make him feel threatened or slightly scared, instead the colt's fear like face brings out a protective feel in the dark haired man as he calls down in a low tired voice, "...Are you lost?"
The colt jumps back a little as he turns his gold brown eyes up to the voice, "Whoa!"
Damien gives a slight smile as he watches the pony cocking its head in confusion.
"Are you a dragon?" The pony's voice is childlike and almost has a slight Scottish tone.
The man shakes his head as he stares to the pony still mesmerized by the voice.
The colt's child like voice calls back to him in a slight whine as the pony stomps it's front hooves to the ground, "But you gotta be a dragon you just gotta!" The colt gives a soft sob as he follows the stomping motion again, "...please..."
Damien's voice takes on a low deep tone as he looks over the sad pony, "Hey, hey...What you need a dragon for anyways?"
The colt whips at its large eyes as it talks in a whiney voice, "Mommy is sick...a-and Daddy always says that dragons will help good little colts." The pony gives a loud crying call his gold brown eyes beg at the strange creature in the tree, "I've been a good colt! I have I have!"
Damien's mind sparks up to the child like cry as he brings his body to the side of the large tree branch, "Whoa whoa, calm down calm down...." The dark haired man looks over the small animal's quivering lips as he swallows back before talking, "I'm a dragon ya i'm a dragon."
"R-really?" The colt still holds its teary eyes up to Damien as he talks, "C-can you please help Mommy?"
Damien brings his legs over the edge of the tree slowly before he jumps off, he's only a few feet from the ground but his hurt leg sends a little twinge of pain as he looks over the small pony that only comes up to about his knees. Damien's mind is a little confused and still very tired but the pony's sad eyes bring a response in him as he talks, "I-I might be able..."
The colt gives a sniffle as his voice picks up from the sad tone, "I-i'm Martty Grapes." The brown pony gives a smile as he turns back in a happy trot, "Thank you mister dragon!"
Damien gives a slight chuckle as he follows after the pony. But before he follows after the colt he gives a look back to the tree he's leaving.
The small colt leads Damien through the brush of the forest for a few moments before the man's deep voice calls back to him, "Where are we going?"
"It's just down past Platinum trail." The colt's child like voice has picked back up to a happy tone as the pony gives a slightly faster pace gallop, "Come on Mr.Dragon..."
Damien picks his pace up giving a little slack to his leg as he follows after the pony.
But the fast pace doesn't stay long as Damien comes to a stop at a familiar sight, he holds his gaze to the very thin gold light wall in front of himself as he stops.
The pony doesn't slow down as Martty passes through the slight chiming light, the colt stops as he looks back to the frozen gazed man, "Come on Mr.Dragon, Celestia's spell only keeps out the bad ponies."
Damien looks over the small pony's child like innocent face as he nods and takes his first step into it, as he passes through the light the low chime rings in his heart with a reminder to what happened yesterday. But he holds his thoughts back as he listens to the colt. "It's just down here!"
Martty brings his tiny legs to a hopping gallop as the colt leaves the treeline to the dirt road, Damien follows behind him in silence.
The area around the cleared dirt road is thick with the jagged trees that Damien has been around for all of yesterday, the dirt road's smooth ground feels a little different after walking on the ups and downs of the forest floor. But its a good feeling as some of the pressure is taken from the wound on his leg. Damien's mind also starts to give a little relief as he realizes he's walking towards where Matt was taken.
The fast pace walk starts to come to an end as a few wooden buildings start to come into view down the winding road, the buildings are not small but they're definitely not a normal sized house. Each building is made of dark very weathered wood and is topped with dark equally as weathered hay. The worn out houses all seem to have a farm that’s connected behind them. Bright green plants and trees litter the cleared out forest area behind the houses with various foods growing on them. The bright pumpkins, watermelons, grapes and apples trees and plants sit in contrast with their bright colors against the weathered houses.
But Damien's view of this poorly constructed town is cut off as his eyes drop back to a few of the ponies that stare at him. Every pony that he can see either is hitched to a large wheelbarrow with some kind of food in it or have some kind of bag around them. Most of the mares and stallions he walks past are a dull brown but a few almost look orange or light red-pink.
The tall man walks a little closer to the small colt as the pony's confused faces look back to him.
"Martty!"
Damien stops his walk as a loud male voice calls down the dirt road. The stallion's voice seems to have the same Scottish tone as the colt but a much older tone. A face to the voice is quickly brought to sight as a chocolate brown earth stallion with gold brown mane gallops towards where Damien and the colt has stopped.
"Dad!" Martty gives a quick gallop before the running stallion brings the colt up with his front hooves in a hug.
The stallion's voice is a little shaky as Damien watched the pony holding the colt in a human like hug, "Where did you go?! I thought you got lost in the forest!" The pony slightly tightens the hug as his deep voice comes back, “Don’t ever do that again.”
The stallion finally lets go of the colt as his child like voice talks over his dad's sob like squeal, "I went to find a dragon daddy."
Damien listens to the colt's words as he watches the older pony bringing his dark yellow eyes to face him, the stallion's face looks tired but the voice that echoes from his lips is still heavy and audible, "Martty go in side would you?"
The small colt hesitates for a few moments before walking down the dirt road towards a house.
"I have seen dragons before, you-you are no dragon, are you lad?" The older stallion's eyes look over the man as he nods his head.
Damien's voice is low as he watches the colt down the road still hanging his gaze to their spot in the road, "I know bu-..."
The stallion cuts him off as he talks, "Then why would you lie to a young colt? No...pony should lie."
Damien gives a slight sarcastic laugh as he talks, "He said something about his mother."
"He did..." The pony drifts his eyes toward the ground a little as his voice drops, "...its nothing."
"Maybe I can help."
The stallion brings his eyes up in a hope like stare as his mouth quivered a little, "W-what did you say?"
Damien swallows as he tries to pick his voice up with all of the other ponies around him starting to get a little closer, "I, I am a nurse where I come from...I might be able to do something..."
His yellow eyes shift a little as he talks in a low voice, "D-do you think I would let some strange creature anywhere near my family?"
Damien is silent as he slightly lowers his head.
The stallion straightens up but he can't bring himself to talk as his voice gets cut off from the small colt that has galloped back over to where they stand, "Is Mr.Dragon going to help Mommy?"
Martty's father brings both his eyes to the colt as he talks, " Martty I don't thi...-"
Damien quickly cuts him off as he looks over the colt’s expression change from even the first few words, "I'm going to try."
As his words run over the stallion the pony brings his head back to face him, his face shows a large sum of doubt but it also shows a deep wanting to believe, "....F-Follow us...dragon."
The dark haired man follows behind the two ponies, the onlookers that started to gather around them follow a little behind the strange tall creature as Damien is brought to the wooden house.
As they dip into the building the stallion holds the door for a moment as the tall man bends his head down slightly, after a moment the stallion looks out at the group of ponies that have gathered outside of the house before closing the door.
The inside of the house is small and really is nothing more than a kitchen like area with a wooden table and three wooden chairs, the other kitchen like items are primitive furnishings. There are three doors towards the back of the house where the colt seems to be walking towards.
"This way, this way." The small colt gives a anxious tug on Damien's pants as the child like voice beckons him.
Damien shoots his head back to the stallion for a moment before following the colt into one of the rooms. As the threshold to the room is crossed, Damien's blue eyed gaze is sent to the bed where he looks over a light cream colored pegasus. The mare's eyes are closed and her cream coat seems to be a almost black color around her neck and bottom hooves. She rest in a almost curled up position with her front and bottom hooves near the edge of the bed.
The colt's mouth quivers as he brings his big eyes to Damien, but the man stares at the pony without the slightest idea as to what's wrong. The man walks a little closer to the sleeping mare as he looks over her coat, her chest moves as her long breaths are taken in and out which seems to be the only thing that still shows shes alive.
Martty puts his head to rest looking at the sleeping mare with wanting eyes as the sound of hooves comes into the room behind where Damien and the colt stand..
"A lot of ponies are getting this problem, there coats turn as dark as night and they will not wake..."
Danien bring his head back to the older voice as he looks over the stallion as he continues, "...Some think its because the land is angry at the loss of tolerance being shown...others think its because of doing bad deeds." The stallion's stern voice shakes a little as he talks, "...But my Lilly is no bad pony..."
Damien blinks his eyes to the pony's emotion, the ponies that he has seen today are more human than he thought...and even though these are animals and this is not his world he still feels for this family. He brings his eyes back to the darkening fur as he tries to think of something, "Maybe its a rash?"
He points his finger to a small purple jeweled silver necklace that hangs around the mare's neck, "It could be some kind of reaction to metal?"
The stallion blinks at where his fingers point as he walks a little closer.
Damien's voice continues as he talks, "How long has she had this on?"
"Uh..." The stallion stutters as he looks over the silver line around the mare's neck, "...A few weeks ago some of the Princess's royal guards gave out these amulets to show a sense a trust between earth ponies and unicorns...she's worn it since then."
At the end of the stallion's words Damien wraps his hand around the necklace as he tries to move it from the mare's neck, but as he wraps his first finger around the silver chain the purple jew changes to a green gem and his hand is jerked back snapping the chain as he drops it to the ground.The shock feeling that shot through his hand ends as it drops to the ground. He looks to the broken chain on the ground as he snaps back to the stallion, "I'm sorry but tha...-"
"M-Martty?"
Damien brings his head back to the very weak sounding feminine voice as he stops his words.
"Mommy!" The colt warps his tiny front legs to the mare as she gives a very drained light laugh, her pale pink eyes search around the room as the colt gives a loud sob.
Damien backs up a little as the stallion rushes over to the mare's side, the stallion breaks into a light sob as he hugs at the mare still resting her head to the bed.
"Lilly!" The stallion turns his head back to the tall man as he tries to keep from choking up, "W-We must spread this news!"
The stallion leaves the room in a gallop as he runs out of the room in a happy holler. Damien doesn't follow as he looks over his hand as he clenches them open and close trying to figure out what shocked him.
"...Mommy this is the dragon!"
He stops his motion as he brings his head up to the child like voice.
The mare gives a smile to Damien as she brushes her hoof to the colt's mane, "Thank you..."
He gives a smile as he walks out of the room and towards the door, his motion quickly brings himself to the morning sun pouring in from the door. But as he tries to go outside he stops as he looks over the dispersing group of ponies in front of the house as the stallion’s words end there call to them.
The brown pony turns back to the door with a teary eyed smile as he talks, "Are you off?"
Damien nods his head as he talks, "I am looking for two people..."
"No, no, stay! A unicorn patrol comes as the sun rises, you can get help from them!"
The man shakes his head as he grinds his teeth a little to the thought, "I don't want any help from them...they took my brother."
The stallion shakes his head with a smile as he talks, "This is a good thing! The unicorn's never harm anypony, and they would have surely taken a healer like you to the capital up the road! I will take you there when the sun is high!"
Damien blinks at his words as his voice shakes up, "J-just up the road?"
"Yes."
The man turns his anxious body down the road but before he can walk the pony speaks up, "Wait, you can't make it there now?"
"Why not?" Damien turns back to the stallion with a slightly raised voice.
"Because, the barrier spell that keeps the creatures from the road is very weak until Celestia's sun is high, its too dangerous to go now."
Damien's mouth quivers at the thought, his body is still too weak to have to run and his mind is fatigued from not eating...he knows he would not be able to run if anything attacks him in the forest and he also knows he would run the risk of getting lost again. His voice is beaten as he talks, "How long do we wait?"
The stallion holds his hoof out to the mans hand as he talks, "We wait until the sun is high, my name is Trotting Grapes."
Damien looks over the ponies extended hoof before wrapping his hand around it in a slight hand-hoof shake, "Damien."
Trotting gives him a smile as he nods back to the house, "Well Day-me-in, let me repay you with a hearty meal yes?"
Damien's stomach slightly groans a little at the mention of food and he follows after the pony as he gives a nod, "Do you guys have any bacon?"
End of chapter 7
Chapter 9
Chapter 9 – War's looming clouds
The large round dome building that Matt and the group have walked to is adjacent to the castle grounds and is decorated just like the castle with elegantly carved stone walls and white spotless marble floors. The only difference between the two buildings other than being almost windowless is the fact that other than just the unicorn banner that the young kid has seen there are two other banners, one with a pony head atop two sprawled out blue wings; and the other banner with four pictures of the sun, and various stages of food growing in dirt.
Chatter in this round dome stone building is almost ear pounding as the group continues down the tight hallways with motionless and emotion ridden guards of the three tribes.
Matt swings his head around these almost statue standing stallions and mares as he tries to stay close to Princess Platinum in front of him.
The short walk down the hallway seems to come to an end as the center of the room starts to come into view. The white mare stops herself as she turns around to Matt and Luna, "You two should wait here until the babble is over."
She gives an almost playful smile as she rolls her hoof almost unamused, "You know those Pegasus are going to be rather angry with me not showing up yesterday, its best if we wait."
"Wait?..." Before Luna's voice can leave her mouth the mare has walked into the room.
The dark coated mare squints her eyes a little confused but Matt's gaze on her face is cut short as the sound of trumpets come from the circular main room.
"All hail Princess Platinum!"
Matt walks closer to the opening of the hallway as he pokes his head into the room to watch the scene in the room, Luna walks up beside him as she points her ears to the table in the middle of the room. Above the circular room there are hundreds of multi-colored ponies, pegasus, unicorn and earth ponies silently pinning their eyes to the table below.
"Sorry for the delay everypony." Princess Platinum's voice has taken on a proper royal tone as she takes a seat at the far end of the long table. She causally floats her crown off of her head as it's placed to the stone table under the pink magic with ease.
A blue pegasus stallion wearing a gold and black armor with gold and white streaked mane, on the opposite side of the table blows at the comment as he bangs his hoof to the table. The stallion's voice is a raspy older sounding deep tone as he talks,"You expect that to clear the air you left us with?" He straightens his posture in the chair as he lowers his tone, "Princess Platinum you not arriving here yesterday has left a fog in my mind that I doubt simple words can clear."
The white mare seems unfazed to his words as she nods her head, "I understand your struggle Commander Hurricane."
Her gaze shifts to the earth stallion sitting in the middle of the table as she talks, "What say you Chancellor Pudding Cup?"
The caramel colored stallion with light brown mane fiddling with scrolls looks up from the piled paper mess as his shaky voice calls back, "N-no Princess the earth ponies are not bothered."
Hurricane gives a light chuckle as his wings flar out, "Of course the other land dweller sides with you."
Platinum again does not let the comment penetrate her gaze as she shifts back to the stallion's laugh, "Well it seems that two of our three are ok with yesterday. Shall we continue with today's agenda?"
"You mean yesterday's agenda?"
The mare cocks a slight smile as she talks, "Yes well, what was the first thing." Her horn glows a faint pink as one of the scrolls is captured and floated over to her, "Ah lets see."
She looks over the paper as she rolls it up quickly, "I'm sorry but we can not deal with this problem right now."
The earth pony stammers out as the scroll is placed onto the table, "B-but Princess Platinum, this sickness seems to be taking hold in most earth pony tow...-"
His voice is cut off as she speaks up, "Do not worry about this sickness we have Equestria's finest looking into it...Now the next item..."
Matt's listening in on the room fades a little as he passes a comment lowly, "Is that what we were talking about yesterday?"
He brings his eyes to Luna as he waits for an answer, but her eyes are pinned to the room and it takes her a moment to answer but she eventually turns her head to Matt, "Yes, I believe it is."
Matt looks back to the room as he talks back in a whisper, "What is this place?"
"This is where the three tribes try to collaborate on working out what's best for Equestria."
The young kid gives a slight laugh as he listen back to the room.
Commander Hurricane’s sarcastic tone has not changed any as another scroll is rolled past Platinum’s eyes and read aloud, "...All Unicorns in the area of Fillydelphia must abide by Earth pony laws."
The blue stallion gives a chuckle as he looks to the caramel stallion, "No unicorn ruler would allow their kind to be ruled by another."
Princess Platinum gives a slight scoff at his comment as her royal voice changes to a sweet tone as she looks back to the earth pony, "Why, I find this fair, after all you and your kind founded this city."
"Thank you." The earth stallion nods his head as the scroll is carried off by a long robed unicorn off to the side of the room.
The ponies that sit above the room all start to mutter something but the tone doesn't sound unhappy or unruly.
"Next order." The white mare's horn glows a faint pink as another paper is floated over to her, she clears her throat as she reads the letter out loud, "All pegasus living in the Vanhoover must follow the rain schedule and not over water."
The blue pegasus still holds a surprised face to the unicorn's words earlier as he pauses for a moment. But his voice quickly comes back to him as he talks, "No, the weather is the sky and this is our domain."
The crowd of ponies around the room start to mutter a little louder as Princess Platinum squints her eyes to the stallion, "No?"
"Yes, our way of life must be permitted to in the ways we see fit."
Princess Platinum rolls the scroll up as she passes it back to the earth stallion, her voice no longer has the same royal tone as a comment slips from her mouth, "Well it seems that you are still going to be difficult."
"What was that?" The pegasus's voice picks up a little as he quickly springs into another comment, "I for one was not the pony who made us wait yesterday."
With a scoff the white mare's voice takes a turn into a bossy almost yell as she speaks up, "Do not hold one thing over my head when you refuse to work problems out."
Commander Hurricane’s voice is again quick and fast as he talks, "A pegasus does not wait to tend to a tornado! They tend to it when the problem arises."
The earth stallion starts to slump his head down to the table as the two's voices raise further with Platinum’s voice over head, "That does not make any sense?"
The stallion's voice is holding on the height as he barrels down again on the mare, "Of course your mind is to hazed to understand true wisdom."
"Oh? And yours is not? You will not even give rain rights to the earth ponies, the ponies that produce your food mind you." The white mare has taken her stand from the table as her high pitched voice calls back.
Before the stallion or mare can make another comment Luna trots herself into the room with a bellowing voice, "Enough!"
The three ponies look to the alicorn as she continues, "We find this very concerning that nopony is truly willing to do anything for the other." She swings her sharp eyes around as her large wings hold flared out beside her, "Dost thou need a reminder of what happened in the old land because of this bickery ?"
The Pegasus speaks up in a lower voice as he stands from the table, "With all do respect Luna, why do you allow monsters into the night?"
Luna is taken back by the comment as she blinks her eyes to him silently.
His voice trails through the room that has been put into a silent gasp from his comment to the larger moon ruler, "...Why do you allow this when your sister does not?"
Her voice is loud but cracky as she talks, "W-we do not?"
Hurricane’s next comment is fast as he looks around the room, "And now that my eyes have laid onto you I ask, where is Celestia? Has she become cumbersome with unicorn duties as well?"
A slight muttering of concern rounds the rafters above the room as her words echo through the dome building.
"So she has left us?" The stallion takes his black and gold helmet off of the table with his hoof as his voice lowers.
Princess Platinum looks around the room at the on looking ponies unsure faces for a moment before her eyes drift to the young black haired kid still hiding in the shadow of the hallway, "Oh Commander Hurricane would you like to see why I was late yesterday?"
The stallion holds the helmet from his head as he brings his eyes to the mare.
"I believe you will see that nopony is conspiring against you once you lay your eyes on this." Her horn glows a faint pink as Matt's grey shirt starts to be tugged into the room.
The young kid stumbles forward into the on looking animals as her grasp leaves his shirt. Matt has never been one for crowds and the large eyes that stare at him from around the room scare him a little as he mindlessly waves his hand around in a low voice, "hello?"
Commander Hurricane looks over Matt as his mouth stops its jabber.
The white mare trots over to the stage frightened young kid as she talks, "This is Matt, he is a Prince from the land of Earth."
The earth stallion sitting at the table perks his ears as the name passes by him, "Y-you are not of this land M-hat?"
He shakes his head as he stutters out a few words still a little unwilling to speak at all to the large eyed ponies watching his every move, "No, i'm not."
Platinum speaks up for his shakiness as her royal tone comes back, "As Princess of the Unicorns..." She pauses her voice as she looks to the two other leaders looking at her, "...And as a member of this new land of Equestria I for one welcome Matt to our new land, with open hooves and warm hearts."
She turns herself to Matt as she bows her head a little to him. He doesn't know how to react to all of the ponies around him but the moment of uncertainty is broken as the ponies around the top of the room give a cheering.
The dark haired kid looks around the room a bit surprised at the sudden change of tone. As the cheering of the ponies round the room a little more Commander Hurricane’s face softens a little as he looks over the strange creature in front of him.
But before he can bring his voice out Platinum brings hers to the room, "Is this a good enough reason Commander Hurricane?"
The stallion's silence starts to simmer down the ponies around him as he pauses for a moment before talking in a low voice, "...You have brought a strange Prince from another land and welcomed it into yours?"
Platinum nods her head as she puffs out her chest proudly, "Equestria was founded on the idea of tolerance, I intend to hold this idea."
The stallion nods his head slightly as he talks, "I may have mis-judge the unicorns..."
Luna who has stood speechless now blinks her eyes almost screaming with surprise. As the pegasus ambassador talks further, "I will take this news back to the capital...I will return tomorrow with a reaction for you."
The white mare nods her head respectfully as Commander Hurricane walks past them towards the hallway.
Her voice comes back to her as she looks around the room, "Today's session is over everypony!" As her voice resonates throughout the room she trots herself over to Matt as she talks to him in a low voice, "Follow me Matt."
He follows after her as she dips into the hallway.
The mare gives a giddy giggle as she talks, "I can not belive that worked!" Her voice prompts the dark blue mare to trot over to where she and Matt stand as Luna's voice starts up, "Yes, why would you want to do this Princess Platinum? I do not see how this makes things with the pegasus any better?"
"Don't see?!" Her voice is showered in a shrill cry as she speaks up, "Why Luna, surely you understand that if the pegasus do not honor the Equestria peace treaty then this is a clear sign that something must be done."
Luna's eyes widen as she nods her head a little, "Why yes...This does make sense...but our sister will n...-"
Platinum rolls her hoof to her as her voice cuts into Luna's, "You can talk to your sister correct? Surely you see what." She looks to Matt as she pauses, "...WE did here today yes?"
The tall dark mare nods her head slowly as she talks, "Yes but..."
"I knew you would understand, could you give me a moment alone with Prince Matt?" Platinum gives a smile as she waits for Luna to answer back.
"I suppose..." She trots back out of the hallway as the White mare looks to Matt.
"I knew you were something special." Her smile is a little wider as she bows her head to him, "Thank you Sir Matt for arriving at such a important time in our land."
The young kid shakes his head as he holds onto the lie he's created for himself, "No problem...I uh, deal with this stuff all the time." He give a light shifty chuckle as he shrugs.
"My you are the noble Prince aren't you?"
Matt gives another simple laugh to her comment, to him all he did was walk out into a room and stutter a little. But her tone is making it feel a lot bigger than just that simple of a task. He stops his chuckle as he speak up, "H-have you guys found my brother yet?"
She shakes her head as she talks in a low voice, "No bu...-" Her horn glows a faint pink as her voice stops, her eyes drift upwards as she smiles and adjust her voice, "But I believe you have nothing to worry about. Now I have to go, you will be ok while I am away yes?"
Matt blinks at her words for a moment as he stutters, "Y-ya I guess."
She nods her head as she turns back down the hallway, "I shall not be long Sir Matt."
The white mare walks down the hall with her hooves giving an echoey clap to the marble floor beneath her. Matt watches her leave before turning back to Luna's voice behind him.
"Matt, would you mind a question or two?" The dark mare gives him a smile as she talks again in a low soft voice, "I would greatly appreciate knowing more about you when I cover with my sister."
He gives a slight chuckle as he talks, "I don't think I have anything else today."
Luna walks in front of him as she trots herself down the hall, "Good, than follow me and explain your world."
Matt bites at his bottom lip a little as he follows behind her trying to remember everything he told Princess Platinum the other day, "Y-ya why not."
End of chapter 9
Chapter 10 – An order of the law
The bright sun outside hangs at high noon as it's golden rays shine onto the hay covered roof of the house Damien sits in. The layered roof blocks the sky but the sun's light almost seems magnified from the slightly yellow hay above the house making the whole main room of the house glow with the same brightness of a well lit room.
The tall man sits at the wooden table trying hard not to lean back in the shifty wooden chair as he rubs his hands to his head.
Most of the time he has been in the house has been filled with questions from the young happy colt, but right now the colt is sleeping in the other room and Damien is giving his mind a rest for the time being.
His moment of relaxation seems to come to an end though as the sound of hooves knocking against the wood floor taps against his ears.
With a slight turn of the head he listens to the feminine voice behind him, "I never got to truly thank you...Demien is it?"
The dark haired man gives a light chuckle as he turns around to the pegasus mare that weakly stands by the door's threshold. Light cream colored spots of fur are starting to poke up in the darkened fur around where the necklaces onced lay.
Damien shakes his head as he looks over her weak stance, "You should not be walking around for a little...I don’t know a lot about animals but any allergic reaction like that should be slept off."
The mare gives a slight smile as her wings stretch a little behind her, "I believe I have had enough sleep for now." She gives a light giggle as her words fade into the room.
Damien follows the tone as he gives his own light chuckle.
However the mares voice doesn't stay light for long as she talks, "I have to ask, why are you wanting to go to the unicorn capital?"
He drops his head in a slight nod as he pauses, "I'm looking for some friends of mine..."
The mare picks her tone back up as she walks a little toward the table, "Oh, well you should not be so down then. Anypony that helps others is always rewarded for their good deeds."
Damien picks his head up as he talks, "Anypony huh?" He gives a light chuckle to the words as he stretched his arms out in front of him, "Lets hope I count then, right?"
She nods her head as her soft pink eyes look over him, "This land is founded on acceptance, you will be just fi..."
Her voice is cut off as the door to the house opens to the chocolate brown stallion smiling to Damien, "Are you ready my friend?"
The man stands from the table as he nods.
Trotting holds the door open as Damien walks to him, the stallion's voice picks up again as he talks, "I was even able to get an escort on our trip." He holds a happy friendly smile as Damien walks out of the house and stands on the doorstep.
The mare follows after Damien and her husband as she speaks up, "I'll see you two off than." Her voice is still weak and Trotting holds his hoof out to her as he talks, "Oh, honey you should be sleeping now."
She holds a smile as she walks to the doorstep with Damien and her husband, "I will sleep later, I want to feel the wind on my coat for now."
Damien looks back from the two ponies as he moves his gaze to the two unfamiliar white unicorns in silver plated armour standing in the dirt road in front of the house. He feels a little uneasy as he looks over the ponies military sternness but after talking with Lilly and Trotting they don't really seem too intimidating.
One of the stallion's horn glows a slight blueish green as a rolled up paper is floated over to Trotting.
The stallion beside Damien gives a confused stare as he takes the scroll to his hoof, "What's this?"
The two unicorns don't speak as they both nod to the paper, there blue pupils stay focused on Damien as the earth stallion unravels the paper and reads aloud.
"By the power of the unicorn federation of law in these lands we hereby take this being into custody?!"
Damien turns his gaze back to the earth stallion beside him as he gives a confused mouth dropped silence.
Before his silence can be broken one of the unicorn's horn glows a bright blue and Damien's figure is trapped in a cylinder shaped magic hold. He struggles at the magic grasp as he calls out to the unicorns in fear and anger, "Why am I arrested?!"
Both of the unicorns remain silent and emotionless as Damien is slightly pulled towards where they stand.
Lilly and Trotting look on in a slight shocked frozen stare but the moment only last a second as Trotting steps in front of the magic's light stream cutting it off from Damien, his voice is fast as he calls to the two stallions, "Listen here! He has done nothing wrong under any of th..-Hummf!"
Trotting is blasted back toward the house as the second stallion shoots a low bolt of cracking magic at him.
"Trotting!" The mare quickly gallops over to the stallion who rest in a pained groan against the house.
The two unicorns both now glow there horns as there eyes shift to Trotting.
"Wait!" Damien jumps in front of them as he holds his hands out, "Wait, i'll go i'll go!"
The two unicorns blink at his words for a moment as there horns glow a lighter shade of blue-green but a bolt is still sent towards Damien.
As the magic strikes him it encases his body and gives off a almost zapping sound, he falls to the ground face first as he faints from the spell. Before the crowd of pony onlookers that have gathered from the commotion can speak up the two unicorns and the motionless Damien disappear in a slight chiming poof as the unicorn's spell clouds around them.
(Elsewhere in Equestria)
The hot noon sun shines bright even through the cover of the trees. the beads of sweat that have been forming on Preston's forehead now start to sting against his eyes each time his head bounces from the unleveled steps he takes.
"Yo Star Swirl we've been walking all day man?" Preston's voice echoes through the trees as he gives a little whine.
"Bha! we have had several breaks." The old stallion still leads through the slightly less thickening forest as he calls back in a still chipper voice.
Clover gives a slight pant as she adjust the satchel she now carries, "Perhaps another break is in order Master?"
Star Swirl pauses for a moment as he swings his wizard hat wearing head back to the pony's voice, "We are so close Clover?"
"Pff, how can you tell? It just looks like trees around here?" Preston swings his head around the forest as he calls back to the stallion.
But the pause doesn't last long as the light grey stallion starts back up in a trot, "I can feel it in my beard."
Preston rolls his eyes as he shakes his head, "Sorry gramps but I think what you're feeling is rocks or something."
"Nonsense, the rocks are in the satchel Clover has."
The old ponies voice perks up Clover's ears as she talks in a slightly annoyed voice, "You have rocks in this?!" Her tone holds its high as it takes on a slight girlish wine, "Why do you have rocks in this?"
Star Swirl gives a light coughing chuckle as he talks back to her, "Oh Clover you still have much to learn about the world around you..." He gives a low sigh as he moves his head up to the trees above him.
The purple mare's speed has slowed a little to where Preston's is as she nods her head to the older pony, "Yes Master."
The blond haired man squints at the comment a little skeptical as he talks in a more questioning tone, "So magic is everywhere? And that just makes sense to you guys?"
Star Swirl takes his head from the trees as he focuses back to the path he walks on, "No magic is everywhere."
"Thats what I said?" Preston scratches at his head a little confused as the stallion stops again in front of him.
"Yes I know, but its the way in which you said it, that makes it incorrect." The old pony smiles as he turns his body back to them.
The blond haired man still holds a sense of confusion as he talks, "I don't understand what you mean?"
Star Swirl nods his head to the left and then back to the right as he talks, "Some ponies think its everywhere freely and some ponies think its not everywhere but allowed to be everywhere. Magic is thoughts, memories and emotion just put into the world around the user..." He smiles as his old voice picks back up, "Its like being lost in a forest, your destination can be right behind some trees...or you could have taken the wrong turn back at that mossy tree." He nods his head behind Preston and Clover as he tries to continue.
But the old ponies voice is cut off as Clover's eyes shrink, "Master we're not lost are we?" Her and the man both lean themselves a little closer as the old stallion pulls at his beard with his left hoof.
"Well Clover..."
Again his voice is cut off as Preston points to the pony, "He got us lost?!" His face turns to Clover as he holds his finger to Star Swirl.
Clover's eyes meet Preston's as she talks back to the old stallion, "Master?"
He smiles as he puts his hoof back to the forest floor, "...Magic is binding...much like they way you two have just combined ideas based on..."
Both Preston and Clover call back over the old voice as they talk, "Star Swirl?!"
"Ah you two ruined an old ponies fun." His horn glows a bright gold as the tree line behind him is disappeared. As the falling leaves drift to the forest floor Preston and Clover stare in awe at the sight behind him, the area that they can see is rocky and open with a waterfall coming off of a large hanging rock that falls into a decently large crystal pond.
"...I give you Feather Peek..." The old stallion steps aside as Preston and Clover walk towards the area for a better view.
Preston is the first to talk as he looks around the small clearing, "Theres a city here?"
Star Swirl trots himself into the area as he holds his gaze to the small waterfall dribbling into the crystal pond, "No, at the right time this pond will turn into a vortex and will be sucked into the clouds. This is an area where the pegasus collect water to disperse all over the land...this pond may look small but its very very deep."
Clover walks over to where he stands as she talks in an excited voice, "When is the next vortex?"
Swirl smiles as he turns back to Preston and her, "Tomorrow my clever companion."
Clover and Preston both give an annoyed groan as the man speaks up, "Why would you even drag us out here if its not till tomorrow?"
"Bha! I did no dragging. I simply stopped you two from cuddling in that tent...-”
Preston holds his arms out to the pony as he talks, "Whoa whoa whoa, I may work with animals where i'm from but I don't..."
Clover and Star Swirl both squint as his words as the mare speaks up, "Animals? Who are you calling an animal?"
The blond haired man gives a laugh as he points his finger between them, "Oh i'm sorry I wasn't clear...I'm talking about you two."
Swirl shakes his head as he looks between himself and Clover, "Animal? Why why thats just a logical fallacy? We do not live in the forest?"
The mare speaks up as she leans her head up proudly, "And we most definitely do not reek like the humans do."
Preston looks over his slightly puke covered shirt as he stutters, "O-oh ya?"
Clover pokes her head towards him as she takes his stutter as a sign of her winning, "Yes."
The blond haired man rolls his arms at her as he walks toward the forest.
"I wouldn't do that Preston."
He stops his walk as he turns around, "Oh ya? Why not? You said those unicorns guard the forest right? I'll just have them pick me up."
The old stallion holds a stern face as he talks, "...Daytime in our land right now is not definite, and I suggest not leaving this close to night."
Preston blows at the comment as he looks up to the sky.
"Do not be fouled by the sun my friend."At Swirl's voice Preston brings his head back down to the stallion as he talks, "Let me guess magic?"
The stallion gets a slight smile as he nods, "I think you are learning."
The man stops as he gives a groan, "Alright...what do we do?"
Swirl walks a little closer to the pond as he dips his hoof to it, "Oh well I am going to relax and set up camp. You two are going to gather firewood, stay close to this area will you?"
"Master?" Clover turns her head back to the stallion as his words hit her.
"Oh very well, we all shall rest for a little." Swirl's horn glows a bright gold as a slightly long fallen log is slid over to the clearing.
Preston takes a seat on the slightly rotten log as he watches the stallion pulling at his beard still looking at the pond. After a few moments of watching the stallion he drifts his eyes to the mare but she quickly turns away in a slight annoyed hmph as her gaze catches his eyes.
End of chapter 10
Chapter 11- Under the moon
"...So tell us again Matt, you have never once watched your moon keeper lower the sun?" The dark mare holds her gaze to the dark haired kid as there walk towards the castle begins to come near its end.
Matt holds his gaze to the large doors of the stone building as he tries to stutter out an answer, the day after Platinum left has consisted of almost non-stop questions from this pony and its starting to affect his judgment on his words, "No, no I never said I haven't seen it...What I meant to say is that I have seen the person do it."
Luna nods her head as she takes in the answer, "This Neil Armstrong must be quite the powerful being if he can raise the sun and the moon."
"Ya, ha ha, he's a real powerful guy." Matt nods his head to her as he dips his hands into his pockets.
The pony doesn't stop her low chatter as she continues, "I could not even begin to imagine the stress one being would go under to be able to do that kind of magic everyday by oneself."
"Do you do that?" Matt's blue-green eyes shift back to her as the door of the castle is opened by an armoured stallion.
"Why yes, we raise the moon and lower the sun; but our sister lowers the moon and raises the sun for the da...-" She stops her comment as she brings her head to him in a slightly excited voice, "Would thou like to see the moon rise?"
Matt stops his walking into the castle as the door shuts behind him, his voice echos off the walls a little at her question, "Heck ya?! But you can just do that now?"
Luna cocks her head up with some pride as she trots her large figure in front of him, "But of course? When our sister is away its our responsibility to decide when the day is to end." She turns her head back to him as she smiles, "I believe you will greatly enjoy this."
Her pace picks up a little as she turns into a hallway at the entrance. Matt follows behind the pony as he looks over the new area of the castle.
"The castle is divided into five area's ours, our sister's and Princess Platinum's throne room and living area along with the main area where you are staying."
Matt nods his head as he looks over the end of the short hallway to the large dark stoned spiral stair case, "So this is your side?"
Luna nods her head as she begins the climb up the spiral stairs, "Yes, will you follow?"
The young kid starts after her as he begins the climb up the tall staircase. He holds his gaze from the mare's rump that unfortunately bounces in front of him each step she takes.
Luckily the climb is not too long as the sight of a brightly lit room's light shines from the top of the staircase.
As Matt follows the mare from the stairs he looks over the room it's lead up to with a gasp, "Wow..." The staircase stands in a short hallway that leads into the room but the view of this room is not cut from his sight as he walks into it.
It's walls seem to have a blue tint to the stone making the room give off a calming feel and stone floor is a polished deep dark blue with swirls of white stone spread through out it. Down the length of the open room stands an open two door window leading out to a balcony, he’s too far to see what it over looks but the blue sky and light of the sun reflects off the flooring.
A large bed fitted with silver drapes that are folded to each of the four bedpost around the corners. The covers have what looks like an embroidered emblem of a moon stitched into the bed.
Matt swings his head around the room as Luna walks further down the open space. All around the room sit neatly decorated tables, chairs, bookshelves rugs and a fireplace where Luna is trotting to.
The mare's horn glows a low blue as she stares to the fireplace, after a moment a orange flame starts to crackle in the wood that sits inside.
The young kid stops his gaze on the now slowly starting up fire as Luna brings her eyes back to his slightly confused look, "Matt does not fully understand magic correct?
He shakes his head.
"Well, then thou shalt find this next action wonderous." Luna starts her body towards the open two doors balcony as she trots away.
Matt hesitates for a moment before following after her. But as she takes her first steps to the open air he pauses at the threshold.
Luna holds her head up to the sky for a moment with a very determined and experienced gaze, but her sight is turned back as she looks to the empty spot beside her, "Do you not wish to see anymore?"
Her gaze shifts back to the young kid almost with a hint of sadness. Matt holds his arms out as he tries to deepen his voice, "No, no I do I do...but um..." He swallows as he starts to stutter, "H-how high are we?"
The castle sits on a slight incline from the city and he knows he just walked up a decently tall staircase and the last thing he wants to do is walk out to a balcony that is only barely enclosed by a few stone walls almost no bigger than him.
Luna gives a laugh as she smiles, "Does thou have a fear of the heights?"
Matt nods his head as he talks, "But only a little."
His faked light chuckle at the end of the sentence doesn't deter her as she spreads her wings, "You have nothing to fear out here Matt, no falling will happen out here."
The young kid nods his head as he takes his first shaky steps out to where she stands, he holds his gaze between the sky and the mare as he stops, "Piece of cake."
Luna nods as she looks back to the sky, "Yes, cake does sound fitting after this."
Matt doesn't correct his words as he watches the pony close her eyes. The large horn starts to glow a dazzling blue glow.
He watches her for a moment as he feels the sun's rays on his face starting to shift, Matt tries to look back but the bright light makes him turn back.
Her glow only last a few seconds as she opens back up her eyes, "We do not want to lower it to fast, so if you are ok we will wait."
Matt has a big smile to the new position of the ball of fire in the sky as he shakes his head, "Ya, i'm fine with that." He shakes his head almost in disbelief that this mare could truly move something so big.
Luna nods her head as she looks over his mesmerized expression.
End of chapter 11
Chapter 12 – Unlucky twelve
Damien's eyes still hold shut since he was knocked out by the two unicorn’s magic. But the world's noises are starting to bring his body back to him as he listens to the sounds around him.
The two voices the man focus on in his still fainted state are a male voice and a female voice that almost seem to be a great distance away. But he listens as the deep voice leads the conversation to the lower feminine one.
"...I told you, you have nothing to fear...."
"...But what if there is a power she's creating?"
"....Celestia is a fool, and I have seen to the Pegasus, no help will come from them..."
"...How can you be sure? You are too fearful to even leave this castle?!"
"..Fearful?! You dare speak down to the one that gave you this opportunity!?" The male voice is followed by a loud echoing magic sound Damien's blue eyes shoot open in a loud intake of breath that sparks his once calm breathing into a sporadic fight for air.
He quickly sits up in where he lays as he looks around the strange room. The small room has dark orange walls the stone floor is a bounce of splatters of bright color, "Where am I ?" Damien slowly moves himself from the coverless bed which is the only piece of furniture in the room.
The two voices from outside of the room come back to his attention as they echo into the small room. But this time they're not loud enough to be fully understood , Damien slowly walks to the threshold of the door as he tries to listen to the voices.
He's brought to a short hallway, as he walks down the hall a little more the voice gets an audible tone.
"Princess, all you have to do is keep the.... did you hear something?"
Damien listens to the voice as he holds himself to the stone wall, as he waits for the unfamiliar voice to start back up but it never does as he hears a low poof behind him.
"I see we're up."
The voice that strikes his ear is not from around the room but behind him, Damien is quick to turns his body around but before he can talk his body is lifted off the ground as an orange glow, "Wh...-"
His words are cut off as the creature in front of him snaps his fingers, "No, no don't talk human." A zipper across Damien's mouth pulls his lips together stopping his words, he pulls at his closed lips but nothing happens.
Damien looks over the creature that smiles at him, the thing is tall and stands a foot or two higher than him...but its no pony, it looks more like a ...a dragon mismatched and smashed together into other animals.
"I can see you are having trouble trying to figure out what I am." The creature's eyes are different sized and have a life filled orange glow to them. It's goat like mouth holds a smile as one sharp tooth pokes out from it's mouth. The creature waves it's lion like paw forward as his motion ends Damien feels his body floating around the corner as the controler of the magic talks to him, "I am Discord." The creature laughs as he releases his magical grasp of Damien.
Damien regains his feet to the ground as male voice is cut off by a white mare that trots herself closer to him, "Finally, I had feared you would sleep all day."
The man brings his eyes up to the smaller white coated pink maned pony wearing a purple jewel studded cloak as he talks, "Where am I?"
"Ha ha ha." Discord wraps his lion like arm around the man as he pinches Damien's cheek with his clawed hand, "Awww, you're cute, you don't know where you are yet."
Damien pushed off of the strange creature as he stumbles away. But Discord seems unintimidated as he looks down to his paw hand, "You're in Equestria human, and this? Well this is my castle."
"Castle?" Damien looks around the brightly lit room of orange and splattered color's, but the room doesn't look like any kind of castle he would think off. The only thing in the room is a large red and gold throne that seems to have a bright white light shinning down to it from seemingly nowhere.
Discord smiles as he spin's himself around happily, "Yes, castle." His ballerina like spin comes to an end as he plops himself into the throne like chair. Discord holds a happy smile to Damien as he taps the bird like fingers to his mouth, "You know Princess, he doesn't really look to important."
The white mare nods her head as she taps her hoof to her mouth, "Yes, but I guess this one will have to do."
Damien shifts his eyes between the two as he tries to understand what they're saying, "Do for what?"
Neither one of them reply to him as Discord smiles, "Yes I guess he will."
"Do what?" Damien's voice sparks up in a slight annoyed and confused tone as he talks down to the two in front of him, "What? What? What are you talking about?!"
Discord sits up in his throne a little as he and the mare give a laugh, "It seems the poor human is confused...lets change that." The goat creature smiles as his clawed hand snaps.
The echo of the snap rings through the room for a moment and Damien looks back to his smile in confusion.
But the purpose of the snap becomes clear as a low growl sparks through the large open room from one of the side hallways.
Damien looks towards the familiar growl a little fearful as his body tenses up.
The mare gives a light giggle as she talks, "So human, are you ready for what we want?"
"What?" Damien looks back to her calm voice as the growling gets louder.
She doesn't answer him as she nods back in front of him.
The tall dark haired man turns his head back in front of him as his eyes focus on the familiar sleek black dog like pony he's seen before, his heart skips a beat as he looks at the animal's hunched down growling stance.
"Well human? Begin." Discord snaps his fingers once more and at the sound the earth pony changeling charges towards Damien.
The moment it takes the viciously fast moving small pony to dart towards him is only time enough for Damien to move out of its charge. The changeling stops for a moment as the mans voice calls back to the goat animal sitting in the throne, "WHAT AM I SUP...-"
The changelings confusion only last a second as it turns its large blue eyes back to his voice in a demonic cat like, "HISSSS."
It charges back to him but this time he can't bring himself from its charge and the changeling leaps onto him bringing the tall man crashing down to the hard ground. Damien struggles to hold the changeling's fanged mouth from his body as he holds the thrashing changeling above himself, "AhhHH!"
The mare and Discord both look on with a happy smile as they watch the hands Damien has holding against the changeling glowing a bright green.
With a burst of strength the earth pony changeling is sent off of him and loud echoing boom follows it as a wall of green magic forms around Damien's person. The man erupts in a yell as he calls back to the smiling mare and Discord he faces, "What is this?!"
Discord laughs a little at the man's angry tone as he claps his paw and claw together, "My my Princess Platinum you were right, these humans do have a form of magic."
Damien's voice calls over the mares as the green bubble diminishes around him, his body is fully shaking and his words follow the tremble as he talks, "What are you ta...-"
His voice is cut off as Discord snaps his claw and the zipper around that encased his lips comes back over them. He struggles at the unmoving zipper as Discord talks, "Hush up, the adults are talking...now we're where we...."
Discord's voice is broken by the changling that starts to get up, its growl echos through the room as it hunches back down gazing at Damien.
"No, no go play in the road or something the human is no longer your play thing, shoe!" Discord waves his arms to the earth pony as he stands from the throne. The changeling immediately straightens its posture as it trots out of the room.
Damien still fiddles with the zipper around his mouth as Discord walks closer, the goat being smiles as he cocks his head sweetly and talks in a baby like voice, "Are you going to scream if I undo this?" Discord extends his pawed arm as he playfully pinches at Damien's cheek, "Are you hmmm?"
The man bats the paw away and then tries to throw a punch, but his momentum is cut off as the soles of his shoes almost melt into the ground making him unable to move, "mMMHMHm!" His muffled yell sparks a laugh from Discord as he backs out of the man's reach, "It seems somepony left there ice cream in Celestia's sun too long."
His playful tone is brought down as the white mare trots herself forward and talks to the trapped man, "So tell me human which are you? The brother or the friend of Prince Matt?"
Damien's eyes flicker to the name as his body shakes again.
Discord losses his smile a little as he watches the man's green glowing hand pull the magical placed zipper from his mouth, "Wheres my brother?!"
Princess Platinum lets out a slight laugh as she nods her head, "I take it your Damien than. The pleasure is al...-"
"Where is he!" Damien's voice calls out again as his body shakes a little more noticeable.
The mare backs away to where Discord stands as she talks, "My, such raw magic? How is that possible?"
"Ha!? You speak as if you have never seen this kind of magic?" Discord points his paw to the man as he talks in a jokey voice, "He acts as if he is a common unicorn foal just learning magic." Discord again snaps his claw finger as Damien's mouth becomes closed to an overgrown pacifier with an emblem of the Discord on it.
"Awww, can we keep it?" Discord turns his happy orange eyes to the mare as he talks.
She shakes her head as she stiffens her voice to the jokey tone, "Discord?! This is no time for jokes, we must prepare for tomorrow!"
He rolls his eyes to her voice as he looks back to Damien's angry red face, "She's no fun human, i'm sorry...but business calls I suppose."
Princess Platinum nods her head as she turns her green eyes back to Damien, "Discord you know what to do...Make sure its done."
Discord cocks an eyebrow to her words as he watches her horn glow a faint pink, "You speak as if you are leaving?"
The mare nods as she holds a devious smile, "That kind of magic is untamed...there is untold amounts of power that can be gained from it?" She points her hoof to Damien as she talks, "This being is not even a Prince! Just think of the power Sir Matt has!"
Damien again struggles his feet at the name but he cannot free himself or remove the obstruction in his mouth.
"How do you intend to get this power from the human?" Discord cocks his head to the mare as he waits for an answer.
But her words do not come back to her as she smiles, her horn glows a bright pink as she is poofed away with a light resonating chime.
Discord snaps his fingers as Damien's feet and mouth become his again. "Now human you ne...-"
Damien cuts off the creature's voice as he calls, "If you hurt a single strain of hair on that kids..."
"Hush yourself, as far as I am concerned you and your family are gone from this land when the deed is done."
"W-what?" Damien blanks his voice to a panting halt as Discord talks further.
"Do you care about this world human?"
Damien shakes his head.
"Do you care about what we have planned?"
Damien again shakes his head.
"Good, then listen up because this will go easier if you help us." Discord snaps his clawed hand as a copy of the throne is poofed behind Damien. Discord's throne moves to him as he sits his body to the air behind him, his scaly leg crosses his grey furred goat leg as he nods to Damien, "Sit."
The man hesitates for a moment before he follows.
Discord leans forward as he talks, "I'm telling you this because despite what you do, you can't stop it...so listen up my ugly pink friend because I will only talk once." He gives a crooked smile as he taps his hands together, "...Princess Platinum wishes to got to war with the three other ponies of this land in order for her to become the sole ruler of this land, in return I get to retake my way of living across the land." His bright orange eyes hold a joy to his words as he talks, "But the only way to do this without getting backlash from two very mettling ponies we have to use something they won't see coming."
The dark haired man tries to follow the strange creatures words as he leans closer.
"...The only way to ensure our plan works is if these two ponies are convinced the other tribe or tribes is unreasonable." Discord gives a laugh as he talks, "...And we have made sure there is no possibility of mistake; all thats needed now is a little push from me."
Damien nods his head as he speaks up, "S-so what do you need me for?"
Discord gives a laugh as he stands up, "Oh you? No, we don't need you, but the Princess is convinced that these human's have some kind of magic she needs. Truthfully our plan would have gone on without you." He smiles as he motions for him to stand.
Damien follows the motion as he stands.
"...I'm going to use your magic to make sure my changeling army's are ready." He gives a laugh as he nudges the man, "They are mean, but they don't think too well for themselves." At the end of his words he extends his arms, "Now, lean your head forward so that I may feel your magic."
The man leans his head in between Discord's arms.
A low chime rings in his ears as Discord's magic starts to engulf his head, he gives a light laugh as he talks, "Good, all I need is...-" Discord's smile fades a little as Damien's memories of his world start to flow through Discord's body. The man's body trembles a little as the magic starts to focus in on pain and fear.
Damien starts to shake a little more rampant as Discord's magic chime grows loud in his ear."Oh...human..." Discord licks at his lips a little as he talks, "...Why would you leave your world?" His voice starts to come out almost in a pleasure filled tone as his claw and paw hands grab onto Damien's collar bone.
"Ahh!" Damien gives a call of pain as the grip around his shoulders tightens.
Discord's eyes flicker a dark black as he tilts his head up in pleasure to the other worldly thoughts pulling into his head, "...s-so chaotic....so deceptive...so...so.... FUN." Discord's paw and claws dig into Damien's body now as the poor man calls out in pain. The pressure in his shoulders and his minds racing brings him to his knees as he holds his head down to the multicolored splatters on the ground.
Discord turns his head down with his tongue flicking wildly as he talks, "Oh no...forget Platinum's plan...I don't want to rule Equestria...I want to burn it!" His body glows a deep orange as his claw and paw almost start to absorb into Damien's body.
The pain filled man calls out with his eyes closed in agony as he yells to the echoing room.
But the magic Discord uses doesn't stop as the goat like creature starts to become one with Damien's body. His voice calls out to the man as he talks, "Your mind is great is it not?....I especially love this Trojan Horse idea...shall we try it?!" Discord erupts in a laugh as the room fills in his swirling loud chiming orange magic.
At the apex of the magic's glow and vibration Discord's figure disappears and only Damien's body is left in the room. The man falls to the ground as his fingers and limbs move without his control, he can no longer scream but a tear rolls from his eyes as he looks to his hands in front of where he lays, "I...I'm sorry Sara...I'm not coming ba...-" His voice is stopped as his blue eyes flicker into an orange like Discord's.
Damien smiles as Discord's laugh expels from his mouth, the man pushes himself off the ground as he walks to Discord's throne. He stops as he rubs his hands around his new body, Discord's voice almost echos out as he talks, "Yes...my plan will work much better..." He stops his slight laugh as he calls out to the room around him, "Changelings! Find me the third human!" Damien sits back in the throne with a smile as seemingly hundreds of hooves begin to clap against the floor around the hallways surrounding the main room.
End of chapter 12
Chapter 13 NSFW
Chapter 14 – The pretty little liar
The outside air has started to lose the warm day's feel as Luna's horn glows a bright blue. Matt watches as the great orange celestial body falls out of view from the line of the world. The chairs Luna has floated out to the balcony have a large cushion to them so the slightly short kid has the perfect view of the setting sun.
As the magic chime fades from her horn she holds a content gaze to the darkened area before her.
"Does that hurt?"
The dark mare turns her head back as she cocks an eyebrow to the words, "I beg your pardon?"
He nods to the blank night sky as he talks in a low voice, "When you do that..." He wiggles his fingers around his head as he tries to put words to what he witnessed, ...You know..."
The mare gives a slight giggle as she shakes her head, "There is no pain, but a unicorn is left feeling a bit tired from a spell of this magnitude."
The dark haired kid nods his head as he looks over the clear starry night sky for a moment in silence.
Luna doesn't follow his motion as she stares her teal eyes to the smiling kid. Matt's words come back to him as he cocks his head a little high to the sky, "...I never really get to see the stars." He gives a laugh as he folds his hands behind his head in a comfortable posture, "...They just kind of show me all the places I can't go...you know?"
She doesn't give a response for a moment and Matt turns his head to her silence, "Sorry." He gives a light laugh as he brings his hands back in front of him.
"No, don't apologize...it was a compliment correct?" Luna slowly takes her seat as she listens to Matt's stuttering.
"Oh ya." He laughs as he points to the sky, "I mean you just lowered the sun and made it night...no one can do that where I come from."
Luna blinks at the comment as she talks, "Forgive me, but I thought that this Neil Armstrong did this?"
Matt's eyes widen a little as he catches on to his words, his voice is quick as he tries to correct himself, "Oh ya ya, it must just be this beautiful night making me forget." He gives a shifty laugh as he stops.
But the shakiness of his voice is absent from Luna's mind as she gives a slight giggle, "I thank you for this compliment."
He takes advantage of the change in conversation as he talks, "It's not a compliment when its the truth." He holds a slight smile as he stares to the slight blushed cheeks of the dark mare.
"Tell us Sir Matt, are you always this flattering to the mares in your land?" Luna blinks a little unsure from her words as she impatiently waits for his answer.
Matt pauses before he talks, the young kid has never really been good with words and usually around women he can't find anything to talk about...but the lie he's been playing with since yesterday has become a way of bettering himself. The self arrogance of the moment takes hold as he talks, "Well I kind of have to be i'm a Prince right?"
Luna nods her head as she stretches in her slightly relaxed posture, "Yes, yes of course."
He notices the slight change in her sitting as he talks, "Luna...Can I tell you something?"
She brings her eyes back to him as she waits for him to finish his words, "...I think I have said somethings that I...-"
Matt's voice is cut off as a loud high pitched voice calls from inside the room, "There you two are!"
Luna stands from the chair as she picks up to the voice, "Princess Platinum."
The young kid turns his head to the white mare as she trots herself down the hall, her voice is still a slightly less regal tone as she talks, "I hope I am not interrupting your spell Luna I just require Sir Matt's company for a little."
The taller dark mare shakes her head as Platinum stops before the open doors, "N-no Princess we are perfectly fine in our spell."
"Good." She turns her head to Matt as she bows her head a little, "Would you accompany me Sir Matt, I have some news that you may enjoy."
The young kid stands from the chair as he looks at her in a slightly confused stare, "Like what?"
She turns herself back as she adjusts the cloak around her body, "Trot with me Sir Matt." She holds her green eyes to him until he follows behind her. As they near the staircase she calls back, "OH Luna, do make sure you bring the moon out fully tonight, I believe a bright night world would be a nice treat tonight."
Matt turns back to the dark mare as he talks, "Hey, i'll be back. Could you wait for me before you bring the moon out?"
Luna nods her head with a small smile as she talks, "We will wait for your return Matt."She watches the two starting down the stairs. She holds her teal eyes to their disappearing figures for a moment before she looks back to the sky with her horn glowing.
"So what's the news Princess?" Matt watches his footing as he follows behind the cloaked pony.
Her regal tone has come back to her a little more now as she talks back, "We believe that we have found your brother in an earth pony village not too far from here."
"Really?!" Mat holds an excited smile as the mare's voice spikes over his, "Yes, he will be brought to the castle the day after tomorrow."
Matt blinks at the words as he talks back in a slightly faded enthusiasm, "Why not tomorrow?"
"Well with the last meeting of the tribes tomorrow he has decided to stay an extra day." She turns back with a smile as they reach the bottom of the stairs.
Matt squints to her words for a moment as he talks, "O-ok? But he's ok right?"
The white mare nods her head as she leads him down the large hallway of the castle's entrance and towards another hall, "Why of course."She holds an almost surprised smile as she gives a slight giggle, "...Why nopony would hurt something as special as you beings."
Matt nods as he looks over the large white wood two door stop in front of their path.
But before he can speak up the two doors are brought open with a pink glow, Matt stops as he watches the mare in front of him walk inside.
She picks up on his stop as she talks, "I just wanted to show you something." She holds a smile as she nods her head to follow.
Matt follows in behind her as the doors close behind him. He looks over the room as he stops, the room is a little smaller than Luna's but it still has most of the same lavish furnitures. The walls are a bright white almost light pink shade with the stone floor slightly matching, but most of the room is covered in red rugs with gold trim which give the pink tent to the stone floor. There's are large window to the right side of the room that shows the dark moonless night sky. The left wall of the room is another white two doored wall much like the one they just entered in through.
In the middle of the room theres a large white and red trimmed bed where Platinum is trotting herself towards.
Her voice is low as she flicks her light pink mane to one side of her neck, "Could you help me remove this cloak, its far too warm in this castle to have it on." She holds a smile to away from Matt as she hears his footsteps coming closer.
"Y-ya sure." Matt gives an awkward laugh as he places his hands to the cloak, after a few moments of fiddling around it he notices two tied purple straps. The first one around her back comes off easy and he moves his hands to the second towards her neck as he starts to fiddle with it a little.
"What do you think of this land Sir Matt?" Her voice is a low almost hypnotic tone as she moves her neck a little up so that Matt's hands can better grab onto the tied cloth.
"Its great." Matt gives a light laugh as he starts to untie the cloak.
The mare slightly turns her head to his words as she talks, "Would you stay here Matt?"
He stops at the fully untied strap as her words hit against him, he squints to the words as he talks, "I...I don't know...it's different here." He gives a smile as he hopes his words didn't show his true feelings for this strange and weird world.
She holds a smile as she moves her body a little next to, "Strange and weird is sometimes fun." She nods to the cloak as she talks, "Would you?"
He nods as he grabs his hands to the cloak to help remove it.
A pink glow comes over the cloak as its taken from his grasp and floated over to a large oval shaped table in front of an equally big polished mirror. She flicks her tail a little as she rolls her neck around, "Mhh, much better."
She cocks an eyebrow to him as she slowly moves a little closer to the bed, "Would you like help with your clothes Sir Matt?"
Platinum's smile slightly fades a little but she holds onto her trancing voice as she turns her head away from him and slowly starts to move her front hooves and legs onto its firm but soft cushion, "Don't be shy Sir Matt..."
His eyes drift to her swaying curled pink tail as he listens to her voice, "...I don't bite." She turns her head back to him as she holds half closed eyes to him.
Matt's face begins to beat red as he looks over her slight presenting pose, he quickly turns his eyes as he stutters, "oh-y-you a nice pony and all...bu-but I'm not really into...animals."
Her seductive half eyed gaze and flicking of the tail pauses as she turns her head to him, "Excuse me?...Excuse me?!" Her low tone quickly is lost as she brings her hooves front hooves from the bed.
Matt backs up a little as he looks to the mare trotting to him with her eyes sharp to him, "Did you just call the Princess of the unicorns and animal?!"
He quivers his lips a little as he talks, "Y-ya bu-..."
"How dare you!" She straightens up her neck as her voice bellows back to him, "You dear reject the most beautiful mare in all of Equestria?!"
Matt's sightless retreat has lead him to the oval shaped table which he is trapped between. Platinum's voice has not simmered down as she continues to come closer, "Well!?"
The dark haired man's voice is still weak as he presses his hands to the table, "Y-You're very beautiful, I-I just am not into...-"
His voice is cut off as the mare stands on her back legs and presses her mouth to his as her front hooves hold her balance on the table Matt leans to. Her eyes are closed as she works her tongue to his unfamiliar mouth.
Matt's moment of shock is quickly lost as he pushes the mare off him, he wipes at his lips in a blushed red face. The kiss was strangely appealing leaving a almost tingling sensation to his lips but his upfront mind calls back to the mare as he speaks, "I'm not interested!"
Platinum's horn glows a faint pink as she licks at her lips, "I am the most beautiful mare in all of Equestria, and the Princess of the most powerful ponies...I will get what I want." She holds an almost hungry gaze as she lowers her horn to Matt.
A stream of light pink magic is quickly channeled to his head, and the young man's blue-green eyes open wide as the chiming magic loops around his head. His body and mind struggle to fight against the magic but his control of his legs are lost and with each attempt at closing his eyes to the swirl of deeping pink that encases his head ends with them flying back open.
Platinum's voice comes down again as he slowly stops his struggling, she cocks her head as she holds her smile, "Much better wouldn't you say Sir Matt?"
The deep pink color slowly starts to fade as he nods his head almost zombified.
Platinum brings herself back to her back legs as she presses her mouth to his like before, she lets out a low enjoyable moan as shes allowed to continue her assault into his mouth. As she breaks the kiss with a slight wet slap of their lips she gives a giggle, "You must need help with your clothing Sir Matt." Her smile cracks across her muzzle as she brings herself back to her four hooves, "Allow me..."
Her horn picks back up in a pink glow as Matt's hands grab onto his shirt and are then brought up and over his head revealing his upper body to her. The mare gives a happy smile as she controls him further, "Good Sir Matt."
Her magic again manipulates his hands as he brings them to his jeans, Matt's face still has no twinge in reaction to his actions as he starts to lower his pants to his boxers.
Platinum nuzzles her head to his chest with a kiss as she slowly starts to bring her muzzle to the top line of the boxers, her voice echoes through the low magic chiming room in a giggle as she bites down to his boxers. She looks up at his straight looking head with her large eyes as she talks muffled alittle by the cloth in her mouth, "We do not require do we?"
The young man doesn't reply as she slowly starts to lower her neck bringing the boxers with her.
The dark still moonless sky hangs over Equestria as it's keeper walks down the hallway towards Princess Platinum's living quarters. But as the tall mare walks closer to the room she stops her hooves clopping to the ground as Platinum's voice faintly echoes from the closed door.
"...Prince Matt show me how you treat your mares..."
The tall dark mare blinks at the giggling of the mare behind the door as she brings her head down and slowly and stealthily trots closer to the door trying to listen to the voice in the room. She holds her ear to the wood as she stands very close to it.
"....mmhhh..."
Luna holds her thoughts back as she brings herself closer to the door, she can hear a faint magic chiming from behind it but her mind blocks it out as Platinum's voice again rings from it.
"...Whom is the fairest unicorn in the land Prince Matt..."
Her mind races as a deep voice rolls through the wooden door.
"...Princess Platinum..."
Luna takes her head back from the door as she holds her shifty body in a proper upright position. She swallows back her comments hard as she quickly but quietly trots herself from the door still denying the thoughts she holds.
Princess Platinum smiles as her erotic low voice speaks up to her zombified human toy, "Very good Prince Matt." She closes her eyes as she brings her tongue over the length of his shaft, leaving a saliva trail following her trace of it. She leans her head up a little to look at his still solid face as she wiggles her the tip of her tongue to his length's head.
Matt still leans against the oval table as she again traces back down his still growing appendage, Matt's mind has been blanked but the pleasure and simulation he is getting still runs through his body.
As the mare brings her slow and knowledgeable mouth away from him as he turns herself back to the bed as her tail flips behind her trot, "Prince Matt, I believe you have had all the fun..." She holds a sinister smile as she plants her front hooves to the side of the bed, her curled pink tail sways mindlessly as she turns her gaze back to the still frozen man, "Do come here."
Her horn sparks up in a pink glow as Matt's legs bring his body behind her flank.
"Mhhm..." She bites at her bottom lip a little as she slowly brings her flank over his extended member. Her green eyes hold onto his solid face as she expels a slight wanting moan, "Do not keep your Princess waiting."
Her horn glows pink as her position becomes aligned with his, "AH!" A moan escapes her waiting lips as his body is thrust into hers, "Mhhm." Her magic glows again as she manipulates his hands to grab hold of her flank, the grip is loose but it holds her flank still as she sparks her horn back up.
Matt's body rocks with each impulse his puppeteer gives, and with each hard deep thrust into the mare in front of him Platinum gives a deep lonely moan, "yesss."
Her horn glows a deep pink as she has to continue to manually thrust the man into her, the task is almost tedious but as his member slides further and further into her wetting marehood it becomes easier and she picks her pace up.
Her white flank bounces and jiggles to the insufficient hold only making her horny each time she hears the slap against the man's legs. Her front hooves have dug into the bed as she holds her front body back to Matt trying to watch each time his heating up extension slides into her, "OH, Matt...mhhmmfff."
She bites at her lip as her rhythmic movements start to take control of his, her pushing of his body almost stops as she now mindlessly slams her bouncing flank to the standing pleasure rod behind her.
The moans escaping her heightened as she swings her head back in front of her and then to the bed's covers only focusing on her backwards pounding, "Ohhh yesss deeper! I command it!"
Her absent moans go unanswered as the magic hold over the man fades even more as the slapping against his legs clap around the room's marble stone walls, "Ah, ah haAH!"
Platinum's containment and her own self wanting pleasure force her body into an early deeply desired climax as her marehood tightens hard against his cock, "AH!!!" Her flank's bounce back her horn's light pink that it still holds as Matt is released from the spell.
As his mind comes back to him the consciousness is flooded with the erotic moans of the mare still orgasming around his embedded member. He presses his body forward as the pleasure that he has been unable to react to come full force in a drastic heart beating experience. He moans loudly as he collapses his exhausted body onto the mare's back.
She pants as she wiggles her flank to the still hard warm throbbing cock inside her.
Matt's reasoning is blocked as he brings his stomach and chest from the mare's slightly sweaty back. His tongue hangs out of his mouth just like Platinum's as he grabs hold of her tight flank hard and forcefully.
His body now freed from her magic is brought into high gear as he follows thought his body's urges to finish what she started.
Platinum's panting is silenced as her half closed pink eyes shoot open to the hard and inexperienced desire driven thrusts that now pound to her body, "AH yes yesss..!"
Matt's hard grip on the flank and his young sex crazed driven motions make Platinum's front hooves drop as her front body now lays flat to the bed, giving Matt more leverage over her body.
His mind swims in her moans and the sound of their body's clapping together, her inner walls are now coated with her slick juices giving each thrust ample lubricant to the next crazy push.
The man's breathing and heart pounding brings him close as he lets out a room shaking last thrust to the mare as he pushes her further into the bed's cushion, "OH FUCK!" His lower body is mindless as the burning on his tip can’t be held any more, he releases into the mare he now grabs hold of harder. His burst are hot and loaded as he slowly is able to bring his fast pace down.
He again collapses onto the mare beneath him as his tired out body comes to a wall slamming stop.
His hot member still throbs with nothing to show for it as her inner walls almost milk him for anything he has left.
He and Platinum are left nothing more than a heap of sweat and fur as he finally moves his drained rod from her still quivering marehood.
" *pant* You...*pant* Your mares are lucky...*pant*...most stallions do not...have this stamina..." Platinum wiggles her flank down his shaking legs a little as she talks.
Matt's realization to the world around him has come back...but his mind is still swimming in the ecstasy to truly care.
He rolls his body off of her as she brings her spread out back legs to the bed. She turns her body still in a panting smile as she looks over Matt's drained self and member, "You are welcome Prince Matt..."
He doesn't talk as she starts to spread out her legs, her once neatly brushed mane now resides in a shadow of its former self and her back coat is covered in their hot sweat.
Platinum brings her tired out body more to the center of the bed as Matt still tries to regain himself. Her voice is low but strong as she closes her eyes. But her eyes don't stay shut for long as she opens them back to the man still laying close beside her, her horn sparks up in a pink-green glow as it starts to encase Matt's head, "You may lay in my bed until you regain your strength. Once you do you are to return to your own room Prince Matt.." She smiles as he nods his head from her magic, "I do hope you will stay in Equestria my little human." Her horn glows a faint pink-green as he nods his head again to her words.
End of chapter 13
Chapter 15 – For ever free
The air around Feather Peak is cold and filled with the sound of the small waterfall dripping from the rock into the pond beneath it. No bright moon hangs in the sky above the open area and the only light in the camp site comes from the flickering fire and the dim stars of the heavens above.
Preston pokes at the fading fire as Star Swirl drops another log from it's magical grasp, this causes a few wispy sparks to fly from the burned wood as Preston backs away, "Whoa!"
The old pony rolls his hoof to him as he moves the wizard like hat on the log so that he can sit, "You are very jumpy Preston."
"Ya ya ya." He ignores the comment as he pokes back at the wood.
Star Swirl holds a slight smile as he watches the man poke meaninglessly at the fire, "Tell me Preston, you have had experience with your magic but not once have you asked to be shown how to use it...what holds you from it?"
The blond haired man drifts his brown eyes from the crackle of the fire as he shrugs, "I don't know...its just weird."
"Ah yes, the old its to different excuse." The old stallion gives a light throat clearing chuckle as he points his hoof to the man, "You speak as if we are two very different creatures."
"Pff, ya? You're a horse?" Preston gives a slight laugh as he shakes his head.
The purple mare sitting across from the fire in front of him speaks up in a slight huff as she flips the paper of the book she stares at with her magic, "Don't worry yourself Preston, you will never be able to use magic."
The blonde man squints at her comment as he talks in a slightly annoyed voice, "Oh ya? Whys that?"
Clover brings her blue eyes from the book as she looks to him, "Because to control magic you have to be able to tolerate, something you have not shown you can do." She holds a sly smile to him for a moment before drifting her head back to her book.
Preston rolls his eyes as he folds his arms across themselves, "Ya ya ya."
"So true Clover." Star Swirl pulls at his beard as he speaks up again, "So you will be his practice assistant."
Clover brings her head up quickly as she calls out to him, "Master? You can't truly wish me to do this?"
The old stallion cocks his eyebrow as he looks to the mare, "Are you saying you too wish to not show a form of tolerance to our less magically capable friend?"
The mare swings her head back to Preston for a moment a little annoyed groan as she nods her head, "No master..." She brings her self from the log as she nods to Preston, "Get up then."
He doesn't follow her words as he pretends to not hear her.
The old stallion gives a laugh as he turns himself around to the mare's trot, "I would do what she says Preston, its not wise to upset a mare."
Preston gives a cocky smile as he stands up, "Alright what are we doing..."
Clover blows some of her dark blue mane from her face as she nods to the spot in front of her, "Come."
The man gives a slow casual walk as he makes his way over to her. As he gets in front of her she gives a sigh, "Ok, try a simple levitation spell." Her horn glows a faint purple as a piece of firewood floats up and over to her.
Her voice is low and shows her wisdom as she floats the log around her, "All you need to do is focus and you can do it." She gives a smile as she traces the log around her body for a moment with her blue eyes; but her gaze is cut short as she drops her hold on the log, "Now you."
Preston nods as he looks at the log for a moment, he snaps his hands forward with his fingers spread out wide as he speaks in a deep strong voice, "Alakasam!"
Nothing happens and the old stallion burst out into a coughing laugh, "W-what are you doing my young dumb friend?"
Preston looks back feeling a little stupid as he shrugs, "Doing magic?"
"No, just think about the log floating Preston." Clover squints more annoyed to his action as she nods to the log on the ground.
The man nods as he brings his hands beside him. He holds the gaze for a moment with a forced wide eyed stare as he talks slowly to himself, "raise log....raise."
But again nothing happens.
"Master can I sit down no? Obviously this simple spell is too much for him."
"Hey!" Preston brings his eyes from the log as he squints to her words, "How the hell is magic easy anyways?"
Clover rolls her eyes as she slowly turns herself from her stance, "It is...trust me."
"Oh ya trust the pony, right?" His hands tingle a little as they start to take a faint green aura, but he doesn't notice them as he talks, "...Hey I have an idea if you want me to trust you so much why dont you stop acting like a dick?" The aura around his hands gives a low chime as they flicker, "Ah!" Preston looks over his hands as he screams to their glow.
Star Swirl and Clover both look to him with a new found enthusiasm as Clover quickly gallops back to him, "Ok ok, i'm sorry, you just need to calm down."
Preston flicks his hands as he talks, "Come down? I'm fucking glowing green again? I'm like the Hulk or something!?" He flicks his hands a little more rapidly as he tries to bash the color off onto his clothes.
He ignores her as he gives a hard jerk of his hands forward, as he does this the pond close to the camp gives a loud rumble. Preston and the two ponies look to the pond as it takes on large green glowing bubbles that seem to be rising out of the water, "Oh shi...-"
The green glow pops with a loud chime as water is sent into the air and then back down to their camp. The cold water drenches over them as the dark moonless night takes hold to the quickly put out fire.
Star Swirl gives a laugh as his horn takes on a bright gold glow, "Very good, very good, water is better than fire I say."
Clover shivers a little as her dark blue mane covers her face.
Preston's body is also soaked as he gives a laugh, "Ya, your right nothing to it...."
The old stallion's laugh stops as he looks around the area only being lit by his horn, "Well you two need to get more firewood."
Clover's voice comes back as a cold shakiness as she complains, "Why do we both have to do it?"
He rolls his eyes as he folds his front hooves, "Preston can't use magic to light the way and i'm not letting you go alone."
"UGH!" Clover trots past the man as she jerks her wet mane to one side, "Come on Preston its cold out here."
He follows after her as the light from her horn glows bright in the dark forest backdrop.
There short walk from the camp comes to an end as the mare starts to float a few pieces of large logs and fallen tree branches to her. Preston follows her motion as he picks up a few not to rotten logs. He looks over the still slightly shivering pony as he talks, "Sorry..."
She shoots back a sarcastic laugh as she talks, "You should be, its unsafe to use magic when unfit to wield it."
Preston squints his eyes to her as he talks a little louder, "Come on I said sorry?"
Her ear flickers a little as she stops her hoover of wood, "What was that?"
"Oh, really mature? What are you like twelve?" Preston picks up another log as he shakes his head.
Clover shakes her head as she holds a hoof up to him, "No really what was that?"
The man looks up from the ground as he talks, "What?" His ears now drift from their conversation to the cracking trees around them, "Its the wind?"
"Don't take too long its cold over here!"
Preston cups his hand as he yells back to Swirl’s voice, "Hold your horses!" He gives a light laugh as he talks to himself, "Ha!"
Preston's eyes go back to the dark purple mare as he loses his smile, "What?"
He watches her head shake as she turns back floating the wood near her, "I guess its just th...-"
The mare's voice is cut off as the bushes behind her spring forth with a sleek black figure,"AH!"
Preston is quick to react as he punt kicks the small pony from her, he brings his eyes down to her as the changeling squirms on the ground trying to get back to its hooves, "You alright?!"
No reply is able to come from her as the bushes around them spring forth with more wingless bug pony, "HISSSS!"
Each pony bends its front legs down as it arches its back in a surround sound hissing.
Preston swings his body around as he looks over the group of ponies around him. But his gaze is shut as one of the earth ponies charges towards him. He manages to dodge the pony only to be brought into another mindless charge of another. He holds the almost rabie like animal's head as he stops it's chomping jaws from his legs.
Clover still lays on the ground but her horn sparks a bright purple as a bolt of magic sends the changeling flying from Preston's hold.
The bolt stops the changelings for a moment but only for a moment as they give another loud demonic cat like hisss.
Clover's horn glows a bright purple as she squints her eyes to the pony's closely trotting towards them. Preston clenches his fist as he swings his head around the frantic ponies.
But a blinding light is quickly thrusted past his ears as he watches the forest around him taking on the loud chiming glow. The changelings are pushed back with a large force as they tumble on the forest floor.
Star Swirl trots past Preston with his horn glowing a bright loud gold as the old pony pushes the changelings back with the wall of magic.
The changelings give one last loud hiss before they run off.
The magic from Star Swirl's horn glows a little brighter as a pulse of light is thrusted into the air above them, a dome like wall sets up around the area as he turns back to the mare still on the ground, "Are you alright Clover?"
She struggles to bring herself up as she gives a pained groan to the pressure being placed on her left hoof, "Yes i'm fine." Her faked smile doesn't last long as Preston quickly moves over to where she stands.
He takes a knee as he holds his hand out, "Let me see your leg."
Her left leg is tensed up to her body as she leans to her right, "I'm fine...-"
Star Swirl trots over slowly as Clover finally give her hoof to Preston's hand, she lets out a slight yelp as he tugs on her for a second.
"DON'T!" Her hoof jerks a little back but it won't straighten out as she tries to do it.
Preston slowly feels up her leg as he talks, "You're knee is dislocated."
Clover again tries to pull her leg and hoof from him but he holds her from it as he talks in a low voice, "I have to pop it back in."
The mare shakes her head as she quivers her words, "N-no no i'm fine, i'm fine."
Preston nods his head as he picks up on her fear filling voice, "It will only hurt for a second...I promise."
Clover's chest puffs out fast and hard as she studies his face with her big blue eyes, "O-only a second?"
Preston swallow as he nods, "Yes."
Her mouth quivers as she nods, "O-ok."
He moves his hands to the bulge in her leg as he cups around it, "On three ok?"
Clover bites at her lip as she looks away, "o-ok."
"One."
"Two"
"Thre...-" The number's sound is cut off as Preston jerks the knee back into place with a loud bone on bone pop.
"AHHAH!!!" Clover presses her head into his shoulder as she stomps it to the ground, her eyes fill up with tears as she sobs loudly into his shirt.
"Don't jerk it?!" Preston rubs at her leg as her sobs became louder in the dark forest.
"You lied! You LIED!" Her sobs deepen as she presses her head into him more.
"Shhh, you're fine, you're fine." Preston rubs at her mane as he talks in a low voice, "You alright ok?"
Her sobs don't stop as his hands press against her head, but the loudness of them starts to dwindle down into a weep as she holds her head buried into him.
Star Swirl speaks up in a almost sad voice as he talks, "I'm sorry Clover...I should have had a protection spell around the camp when we got here."
The light sobbing still doesn't stop as Preston continues to slowly move his hand through her mane. The blonde haired man brings his eyes back to Star Swirl as the stallion trots back towards the camp hovering a few pieces of wood.
Preston takes his hand from her head as he brings her head from his shirt. Her white eyes that encase the large life filled pupils are puffy and red and the fur around her eyes are damp. Preston slightly chokes up as he talks in a low voice to her, "We're going back to the camp." He dips his hands under her stomach as he talks, "Don't squirm."
With a slight grunt he lifts the pony from the ground as she brings her still teary eyes back to his damp sleeve.
Preston follows after Swirl but as he reaches the camp he doesn't set Clover down as he walks to the tent.
He ducks inside as he starts to struggle to carry her, but he manages to bring her to the bed as he places her down on her back. His voice is low as he looks over the slightly puffy leg, "Don't run tomorrow and you should be fine, got it?"
Clover nods her head as she moves her leg slowly next to her.
Preston gives her one look over before walking out of the tent.
The old pony starts to float the logs to the old fire spot as he stares to it almost not blinking. Preston walks past him as he goes back to his seat, but before he sits the stallion's voice picks up, "Preston, get some sleep...i'm not going to sleep tonight..."
The blonde man stops his motion as he looks over the stallion's hard staring face, he doesn't contest the pony's words as he walks back to the tent he just left.
Before he pushes himself back inside he looks over the low gold glowing dome around the camp.
The dark purple mare brings her head up as the tent opening flaps to his presence. The man nods to her as he talks, "Sorry to wake you..."
She brings her head back to the pillow as she moves her left leg to her chest.
Preston slowly walks over to the bed as he eases himself in, he stares at the ceiling like he did last night as his mind tries to listen to everything outside of the tent.
But the sound's of the forest are gone as the mare not facing him speaks up in a low still slightly shaky voice, "...Thank you..."
He swallows as he turns to her, "Thank you for getting that one dog-pony."
A very faint laugh comes from her mouth as he brings his head back to the tent ceiling.
The silence in the tent is again broken as her voice calls back lowly, "...Good night..."
He blinks at the words for a moment before he repeats them, "...Good night..."
End of chapter 15
Chapter 15 – A heavenly pony.
The early morning air is not heavy with fog today, instead the air around the camp is clear with a slight breeze.
Preston is the first in the tent to awake. He blinks his eyes around the tan insides around him as he slowly starts to wake up, but as he does this he notices Clover no longer beside him.
His mind doesn't get to drift over the thought for long as he hears a loud booming chime from outside that is quickly being followed by an increasing louder swirling wind sound.
"WhoA! He jerks himself out of the bed and to the tent's opening, but nothing he was thinking could have prepared him for what he saw.
The small pond has turned into a huge cyclone of water that gives off a loud turbine spinning wind sound.
"There you are Preston!" The stallion's horn glows a bright gold and his old voice slightly struggles to call over the sound of the wind as the blond haired man walks towards him.
Even Though theres not wind or suction around the camp the cyclone of water that is being shot into the sky is still surrounding the area with its loud wind gusting sounds. As Preston gets closer to the stallion he tries to call over the wind, "What did you do!?"
The old pony cocks his ear to him as his horn glows a little bright, "What lad?"
Preston again calls to Swirl in a loud tone as he points to the cyclone of water, "Why is that here!"
The gust of sounds that come over the cyclone still echo through the forest as the blue watery cyclone begins to become encased in a gold glow.
Star Swirl nods his head as his old voice rings through the mindless noise, "You want a beer?!" The stallion shakes his head as he squints to the blonde man, "Ale this early?!"
Preston closes his eyes as he screams his voice back, "WHY IS THAT HERE!!?" But right as his tone picks up the obsessive chatter of the water tornado is cut off from the world around them.
"Ah! Why are you yelling lad?" Star Swirl brings his hoof up to his ear as he walks away a little, "You should keep your voice down..."
"Wh..how? How did you stop the sound?" Preston holds his finger to the still swirling water being held in a gold tube like encasement as he waits for the old pony's answer.
Star Swirl turns back to him as he floats his satchel to himself, "That nonsense? I used a silence spell." Before Preston can speak back up he nods his head, "Now follow, we don't have much time until this cyclone spell ends." He holds his hoof up to the man as he starts to stop his trot, "You know Unicorns should not even be able to do weather spells so doing one does not always mean you're doing it correctly..." The stallion gives a slight chuckle as he talks, "In fact th...-"
"Master! The spell?"
Preston and Swirl bring their heads to the voice as they look to the rock that hangs over the pond.
Preston shakes his head as he follows after him to where the rock outcropping is.
The purple mare stands in front of the rocks as Star Swirl stops his trot, "Ok Clover you know your cloud walking spell correct?"
The mare nods her head as the old pony's tired gaze drifts back to Preston, "Now don't squirm." Star Swirls horn glows a bright gold but Preston's sight of it is cut off as the flash of magic is shot at him.
"AH!" He rubs at his eyes as he stops his foot, "What was that for?"
"Bha. You act like a filly"
The man slowly blinks his eyes back to the pony as he watches him stop to climb the small rock outcropping, "What are you doing?"
"How else do you think we are going to get into a pegasus empire? It's not like we were invited?" The grey stallion's motion's come back to him as he starts up the rock.
Preston turns his eyes back to the mare beside him as she tries to bring herself to follow after Swirl, "Whoa whoa, you can't climb on these things with your leg."
She blows at his comment as she slowly brings her bad leg to the first slippery rock, "My leg is fine."
Preston looks to Star Swirl for some kind of help in his statement, but the stallion is too busy staring at the cyclone of water to notice. The man gives a slight sigh as he walks over to Clover.
"Hey what are you doing!"
He wraps his arms under her as he picks her from the rock, "You're going to hurt your leg..." He stumbles a little with her as she squirms, "Stop squirming."
She stops her slight moving as the man starts to walk up the out cropping. Preston watches his steps to the slick rocks as he tries to adjust his hold of the pony in his arms, luckily the outcrop is only a few large rocks leading up to the top so its not too far of a climb. As he reaches the last rock before where Star Swirl stands he stops as the old pony's voice calls back to him,"Preston if you want that spell to work you have to believe it will work."
The blonde haired man turns his eyes to the voice as he speak up, "What?"
No answer comes from the stallion as the old pony turns to the water cyclone and jumps in, leaving a low magic chime ringing behind him as he's shot up the fast moving water magic encased tube.
Clover's voice is low as she looks to the ground below her, "You can put me down now."
Preston slowly lowers the mare in his hold to the ground as she takes herself to her hooves on the wet rock.
She gives a sigh as she holds a smile, "Thank you again..." But she doesn't end her comment as she walks carefully toward the spout of shooting water, "...But I am fairly sure I could have made it."
Preston gives a slight laugh to her insincere words as he talks, "Ya ya ya."
Clover gives him a quick smile as she moves to the gold glowing water a little more, "OH and Preston, hold your breath." She takes a big gulp of air as she jumps into the tube leaving the same magic chime as Star Swirl.
Peston's eyes widen a little as he looks at the cyclone of water, "Wait what!?" He shoots his head up as he tries to figure out how high the water is going, but he can't see because a large cloud is blocking its end. He talks out loud as he looks around the camp, "How high is this thing?!"
He knows no answer will come from the trees but it helps psych him up as he takes his first steps to the chiming tube of water, "...aw man..." He squints at the water as he pokes at the magic wall around it, a low chime flickers from it as he takes his finger back.
"Alright..." He takes a deep breath as he jumps into the water tube.
The current of the water was stronger than he expected as he's shot up the tube in a up turning stomach speed. He squints his eyes in front of him as he focuses on holding his breath, at the end of the water approaching very very fastly is a bright white almost wall looking thing, He closes his eyes tightly as he listens to the water rushing like air past his ears.
A slight poof comes around his ears but he holds his eyes closed still.
"Ah, you made it!"
He shoots his eyes open as a hoof pounds against his side. He turns his gaze to the water drenched stallion beside him as he holds his hoof out in front of him, "Welcome to Pegasopolis..."
Preston holds his gaze as he starts to release his breath. The city in front of him is made of bright white buildings that look to be made of shimmering silver and gold like materials. He drifts his head back down as he looks at the ground at his feet, "I-it's clouds?!" He rubs his hands to the fluffy soft texture as he gives a child like happy laugh.
"Yes, everything in Pegasopolis is made of clouds and cloud blocks..." He gives a coughing laugh as he speaks up, "Did you expect stone to float on clouds?"
Preston still doesn't bring his head up as he tries to poke his hand through the white surface, but as he does this he starts to notice how tight the cloud really is. Another childlike laugh comes from him as he talks, "This is crazy!?"
He doesn't even care that his body is covered in cold water and that his clothes are soaked, his mind is to stuck on the floor beneath him.
"Master, can we find a place to dry off?" Clover's voice is a little shaky as she tries to strain the water from her mane with her magic.
"Yes I su...-"
"HALT!"
Preston's mind is still too amused at the ground he still sits in and he gives out a dopy laugh as he tosses a little piece of the cloud to the stallion, "It's fucking clouds!"
The stallion's confusion has evolved into a state of almost bewildering shock as he looks over the creature that has just thrown a piece of fluff to him.
Star Swirl clears his throat a little as he talks, "Our apologies, can you take us to the capital please."
The guard pony stammers out a compliant reply not really knowing how else to talk, "Y-yes follow me."
The pony starts off in a slow trot as Clover and Star Swirl bring Preston to his feet. The old stallion holds up a hoof as he talks, "Listen Preston, if any pony asks you anything just act like you can not speak, understand?"
Preston holds his smile to the city behind the old stallion as he talks, "Y-ya man."
Swirl holds a skeptical nod as he calls back to the guard pony leading them, "Excuse me, but how far are we?"
The stallion turns back with another stammered out sentence, "Oh, the palace is only a few feather flaps away from here."
The old pony nods his head as he tries to pick up pace with the stallion. Clover nudges Preston's sightseeing head back to the old pony as she pushes him to follow faster. They listen to the conversation as the guard speaks back up, "B-but Commander Hurricane has left to the Unicorn capital, it's unlikely that emperor Gust will see you."
Swirl gives a light chuckle as he trots behind the stallion, "We are unicorn walking in the pegasus empire...I believe he will want to see us."
End of chapter 15
Chapter 17 – Matt's web of burning lies....
The elegant castle room and bed that the young Matt resides in no long is a oasis free from talking animals. His mind did not find any much needed sleep, still too haunted by his own urges and desires that drove him to what he did last night.
His mind for most of the event is blocked by Princess Platinum's residual magic...and thats what eats at him the most, from what he can remember there is nothing in his mind that denies how good he felt....and truthfully if she came on to him again he wouldn't deny it...
But at the same time once he got his clothes back on and returned to his room there was not even the slightest thought in his mind to take them off. Matt even put his heavy hot jacket on and kept it on all night; making the night a warm hellish mind conflicting nightmare.
The large covers and silk bed sheets have made his toasty body feel like he's been in an oven all night.
Matt holds his eyes to the stone ceiling as the bright day's sun comes through the window of the room.
"Sir Matt..."
His body cringes at the words as a hoof knocking to the door hits it, he knows the male sounding voice is not Platinum but just the name Sir Matt sends shivers through his spin, "Y-ya?"
"Princess Platinum requires your presence for today's meeting of the three."
Matt moves his head to the door as he calls back, "I-i'll be right out..." He pushes his thoughts back as he slowly moves his legs from the hot bed...Matt doesn't want to leave the room but he knows that his lying has gotten too deep to try and call it off now.
With a shaky sigh he walks to the door and opens it to the four ponies outside. The two guards from yesterday have the same military attitude as yesterday but the two mares now both have to very different reactions to his face.
"Hello Prince Matt." Platinum is the first to talk as she bats her eyes to him, "Are we ready to go this day?"
He nods his head silently as he closes the door behind him.
Luna's face unlike yesterday does not have the same warm happiness to it and the tone follows through her words as she talks, "I hope you had a fair sleep last night."
He again nods as he follows behind them, "um, ya."
Princess Platinum drifts back from the group as the two guard ponies start to lead the way from the castle. Her voice is in a low whisper to him as she trots beside him in a slight giggle, "I'm glad one of us did."
He cracks a fake smile to her as he looks to the hallway coming close to his side. As he passes the carved stone entrance his eyes lay on the bright purple and gold throne that he walked past last night. But as he holds his gaze to the room his eyes drift to the two doored wall that leads from the throne room back to Platinum's room.
Matt hides his body's slight stutter as he speaks up, "S-so what are we doing today huh?"
No pony or Matt in the group talks further as they near the end of the castle's hallway. But the lack of comments is not brought from there own minds, instead the conversation is halted by the tall white pony with flowing multicolored mane staring a little angrily to the group.
Princess Platinum is the first to speak up as she trots to the front of the group, "Celestia, how are you?"
The white pony doesn't take her eyes from Matt as her low regal voice echos into the hall, "Princess Platinum why is there talk in the land of a new Prince?"
The smaller white mare smiles a little as she dips back to the young kid, "Because there is." She stops her trot next to him as she waits for the tall mare to speak.
Celestia looks over Matt with skeptical eyes as her voice comes back to her, "And why is there talk among the land of unicorns spreading a cursed amulet as a false peace offering?"
Platinum blows at the comment as she holds her hoof out, "I have not heard of this."
The taller mare does not stop her voice as she speaks up again, "And please explain to me how introducing a new Prince to the land is supposed to solve any problems?"
Platinum's voice is quick to cut in as she talks, "Celestia, surely you see that if the pegasus do not follow our lands treaty of tolerance it is a clear sign that peace in this land can never truly be reached...-"
Celestia's royal tone comes back to her as she speaks over the mare, "Bringing in a new power does not solve any problems." Platinum's mouth quivers a little wanting to speak but Celestia is has not finished as her words direct solely to the white mare, "...Pushing somepony or some ponies to accept something just because its what you think is right is NOT the way this land of love and tolerance should be."
Matt stands silently not knowing what to say as the tall white mare's eyes drift over to him.
But his voice is not needed as Luna's chimes in, "But sister..." Celestia turns her head to her sister as her face lightens from its sternness to the dark mare's words, "But sister, I know this does not seem like it would work...but yesterday Commander Hurricane did realize that Platinum is honoring the treaty." She stiffens her posture as she talks, "...I could tell in his face that this got through to him."
Before Celestia can talk Platinum speaks up as she trots herself past the large white mare, "Trust us Celestia, we only want what is best for Equestria." She holds a wide smile as she makes a faster paced trot to the door of the castle, "Shall we not make them wait?"
Platinum and the two guard ponies exit through the castle door as Luna and Matt follow after her. Celestia holds her gaze to Matt for a moment before she follows after them.
The short walk to the adjacent dome building of the castle comes to an end as the two armoured stallions open the doors to the building with their magical grasp.
Platinum turns back to Celestia in a smile as she trots herself to one side of the opening to the hall, "You should make your presents know Celestia, we have all been waiting of return."
The tall white mare nods her head as she takes her sceptical eyes off of the young kid standing next to Luna. The dark mare follows in behind her sister as Platinum holds a smile to there trot down the hall.
But her eyes shift back to Matt as she nods her head, "Shall we my Prince."
Matt swallows hard as he nods his head to the white mare, but he follows her as they enter.
Platinum's pose is straight and her head is high as they walk down the hall, but her smile shifts a little as the chatter beckoning from the center of the room starts to hit her ears.
The noise is brought down as the four take their steps into the main room and the sound of trumpets begin to ring around the dome room, "All hail Princess Platinum."
Celestia and Luna stand to one side of the room and there are two empty chairs where Platinum's spot is.
Matt stops at the doorway as the white mare trots herself into the room under the trumpets call, but she turns her gaze back to him as she flicks her head, "Come Sir Matt, take a seat."
The dark haired kid hesitates for a moment but he eventually walks beside her to the cushioned seats. He holds his eyes from the mass amount of large eyed ponies that stare down at him from the seats above the room. Instead he puts his eyes to the pegasus stallion at the other end of the table, Commander Hurricanes face holds an almost smile, but the smile is not something that screams any amount of joy.
"I see you have made it Princess Platinum." The stallion holds the now sarcastic smile as he taps his front hooves together above the table.
Platinum hoovers her crown to the table as she nods back to him in a regal and low tone, "Yes, and i'm sure you had a good flight here am I correct?"
The stallion nods his head as he looks to the the tall mare standing behind Platinum, "Yes, the sun was high in the sky by the time I set out. Welcome back Celestia." He gives a respectful nod of the head as he speaks back up again, "I am sure you had a very good reason to your absents."
"Yes." Celestia's voice has taken on a powerful but low sweet tone that even brings Matt's stage frightened head to her as she talks, "I have been looking into the earth ponies reports on this strange ailment that seems to be spreading around the land."
The earth pony in the middle of the table now stands his ears up as Celestia continues to talk, "I believe I have found a cause for these problems."
Platinum holds a slight smile almost unamused by Celestia's words as the tall white mare starts to bring herself to the middle of the table, opposite of Chancellor pudding Cup, "...I have found that this sickness seems to have a strange magic surrounding it which seems to be the cause of it."
Platinum's laid back expression shifts as the chatter around the room picks up. Her voice is quick to talk over them as she gives a slight giggle to Celestia's words, "Oh ha ha, but of course, magic is all around us in this world." Her green eyes now move to Celestia’s as she talks, "...We would not want to give any suggestive comment when we are unsure correct?"
Celestia doesn't shift her body to the white mare's words as she talks now facing the earth pony leader, "We will find what is causing this problem, because I believe that this sickness may not stay in one tribe for long."
The room again sparks up in a heightened chatter to the words as her voice ends.
Platinum moves her eyes around the room as she holds her hoof up, "Everypony, like we have said before Equestria's finest are looking into this problem."
Chancellor pudding Cup doesn't speak up as he fiddles with a few scrolls in front of his hooves.
Celestia turns her gaze back to Platinum as her voice begins to move over everypony else, "Now than if we can go to today's meetings agenda." She holds her hoof to Commander Hurricane as she talks, "Commander Hurricane do you have a response for us."
The pegasus nods to her as he talks, "I do have a response for you Platinum." He stands from the table as he clears his throat, "Emperor Gust, as following the treaty of Equestria welcomes Sir Matt to this new land."
Her voice is cut off as the stallion's hard face stares to the young kid fiddling with his hands under the table, Matt's ability to stay unnoticed comes to an end as Commander Hurricane speaks directly to him, "Our Emperor may have said yes to this Prince...but I have acquired a new source that has swayed my opinion."
Platinum's smile grows a little more as she tries to hold a fake sense of surprise, "Oh what do you mean?"
The stallion nods his head to the pegasus guards behind him as they duck into a hallway of the room, "In order of following our way of peacekeeping in our land that we all share as one tribe...I hereby am taking Prince Matt under arrest."
Platinum's smile fades as she stands from her seat, "Excuse me?"
Matt's stage fright nervousness drastically changes as his heart skips a beat, but the young kid can't bring his voice up as Platinum calls out again, "What law has Sir Matt broken?!"
Celestia and Luna both stand speechless to the two tribe leader's voices as Commander Hurricane calls back to Platinum's, "Prince Matt is a danger to all in Equestria and we must remove him from this land, and return him to his own."
"Says who?!" Platinum holds her straighten posture as the pegasus stallion's voice drops.
Commander Hurricane turns his body away from the hall as he points to the two guard ponies bringing in a tall man, "Says the Human who is trying to bring Matt to justice for crimes the Prince has committed in his own land."
Platinum is struck speechless as she looks over the tall dark haired man. But Matt now stands from his chair as his eyes land to his brother, "D-Damien?!"
Damien's eyes flicker a light unnoticeable orange as he points his hand to Matt, his deep voice is unrecognizable to Matt as he talks, "Prince Matt you can no longer hide in this land, you will pay for the crimes you have committed."
"What are you talking about! It's me Matt !?!" Matt's words stammer from his mouth as he pleads to his unfazed brother.
Damien nods to Commander Hurricane as he ignores his brother's call, "Thank you for bringing me to Prince Matt you will all..."
Matt's voice calls back in a voice cracking plea as he talks, "Damien you know i'm not no Prince! What's gotten into you?!"
Platinum turns her head to the panting kid as her eyes widen to his words. Luna follows the white mare's motion but she doesn't have the same purely fixated stare.
Celestia hasn't moved her eyes from Damien as the man turns back in a sly smile, Damien's voice almost echos from his body without moving his lips as he talks, "I know human..."
The voice difference goes unnoticed to the still stammering and hot faced Matt as Damien's hands spike up in a green glow.
The tall man's motions are quick as he sends the two guard ponies flying through the air in green-orange shock waves of screaming magic.
The ponies above the room scream and bring themselves to an absent minded full gallop as they chaotically try to push each other out of the way desperately trying to run from the room.
Commander Hurricane voice is sharp but his eyes are fearful as Damien turns his orange shining eyes to the pony, "W-what is th...AH!" The stallion is sent to the wall slamming his back and wings hard with a thud.
Matt's eyes follow his brother's movements but he can't bring himself to move.
Platinum has galloped herself to the back of the room with the guard ponies and Chancellor pudding Cup. But unlike the earth pony leader she stops at the door as she shouts to Celestia and Luna, "DO SOMETHING!"
Damien smiles as he nods, "Yes, do something." He claps his hands together as a loud screaming bolt of jagged orange-green magic is sent towards the motionless dark haired kid. But the bolt is blocked as Luna's horn sparks up in a shield like form in front of Matt.
The magic is absorbed as the young kid is now pushed aside by the dark mare.
Damien lets out a Discord laugh as Celestia lowers her horn to the man, "Discord."
The man stops his laugh as he cocks his head in a devilish smile, "Aww, you picked up on it hm?" He losses his smile as he cocks his hands back, "Think faster Celestia..." His hands glow a bright green as the man's eyes start to shed some of the orange glow.
Celestia's horn sparks to a blinding gold glow as she squints her eyes to his smile.
But Damien's smile is lost and his eyes turn a bright life filled blue again as his hands come back into a clap in front of him.
The bolt of green magic is blocked by Luna as Celestia's horn fires back in cracking bolt. The magic strikes against the man and his body becomes engulfed in it. He falls to his knees yelling in a pain as he clenches one eye shut.
But as he looks around the unfamiliar room with his open eye he stops to the young kid standing in the back of the room with tear filled and confused eyes, "M-Matt...-"
Damien's normal sounding voice is cut off as his figure is engulfed in a room blinding gold chiming magic.
Matt holds his eyes to where his brother no longer kneels as he turns his crying eyes to Celestia, "What did you do! WHAT!" His hand's glow a bright green as he continues to repeat the shout.
Celestia turns her soft pink eyes to him as she looks over the distressed young kid. But her words never get to reach him as Matt falls to the ground hit by Platinum's pink magic.
"Princess Platinum?!" Luna turns to the smaller white mare she catches Matt's fainted body.
The white mare tilts her horn up as she holds a hoof out, "We can't have him doing what his brother did can we?"
Celestia squints to the comment a little angry but her voice is again cut off as Commander Hurricane echos from the other side of the room, "Magic?! Magic?!" He is brought to his hooves as a group of pegasus guards come over to him, his voice is pained but carries his anger well as he talks, "This means war!"
Platinum's mane is ruffled from her gallop but her voice carries her regal tone as she scoffs back to him, "Humans are not unicorns, surely you do not blame us!"
The stallion trots towards the hall but stops as he turns back with his wings fully out, "The way I see it Unicorns can not be trusted with any decision they make! This is a clear sign of it! War is what you have brought! WAR!" He trots out of the main room with his guards closing in tight behind him.
Celestia and Luna hold a deeply concerned and angry look to him and Platinum as Celestia's powerful voice talks up in a low tone, "Luna take Matt to the castle to rest off the spell..." The dark mare nods her head as her and the young kid still being held by her wing is teleported away.
Celestia now turns her eyes to Platinum as she talks, "You will not leave this castle until we have talked with the earth pony leadership." Celestia's horn glows a bright gold as she and Platinum are teleported from the abandoned and magic scorched room.
End of chapter 16
Chapter 17 – A swirl of cleverness
"Master, just sit down..."
"Bha! This is outrageous...." Star Swirl continues to pace back and forth the cloud castle as his old voice hits around it.
Clover brings her hoof from Preston's hand as she holds it out to the old stallion, "Master, keep your voice down. We are still guest in the royal pegasus capital...a place no unicorn has been before."
"BHA!" He points his head up to the castle cloud made ceiling as he talks out again, "...I'm old my hooves hurt and we have been waiting two hours for them to allow us into talk with Emperor Gust." He gives a little cough as he finally starts to walk over to the could bench.
Clover waits for a few moments as she watches the old stallion take a seat a little ways down the bench. But she moves her hoof back to Preston's awaiting hand as the blond haired man again rubs up her leg.
He focuses his eyes on her knee as he slowly moves his hand around her knee, "You sure these clouds aren't hurting you?"
She gives a slight sarcastic laugh as she rolls her eyes, "Oh yes the clouds are VERY hard, much like stone." She shakes her head as Preston brings his eyes back to her.
He smile as he takes his hand to her knee. Clover's face twinges a little as he slowly rubs at the knee.
"Well you're fine." He holds the smile as he moves from the knee and back down her leg, "...Oh ya, and if you're going to act tough don't tense your face up if it doesn't hurt."
She losses her sarcastic smile as she nods her head, "Well...I didn't know how hard you were going to rub it."n
Preston takes his hand from her hoof as he gives a little laugh, "Why would I hurt you after I helped you?"
Clover gives a bashful smile as she shrugs, "Because you're jealous I can do magic better."
They both give a light laugh to the pointless remark. But the moment of light hearted laughing is brought to an end as Star Swirl lifts his head from the contents of his satchel that floats in front of him, "Preston, if you're quite done fooling around with my assistant hows about you come over here and rub an old stallion's hooves hm?"
Preston loses his smile as he looks to the old stallion's smile, "Ya, no thanks grandpa." Clover quickly turns her body away from Preston as she adjust the cloak around her again.
"Yo Star Swirl, what's in the bag anyways?" Preston looks over the bag as it floats back to the cloud floor.
"Ah yes." The old stallion holds his hoof out to the man as he talks, "Hopefully you will see soon yes? In fact if...-"
Swirl's voice is cut off as one of the cloudstone doors in front of the waiting bench is opened to a tan almost sand yellow pegasus wearing gold and blue armor.
"Private Pansy!" Clover stands from her seat as the mare pegasus exits the room.
The mare's voice is low and sweet as she trots over to Clover, "Actually it's adviser Pansy now."
Clover gives a slight bow as she talks, "Well hello Adviser Pansy."
Star Swirl stands up from the bench as he talks over there friendly conversation, "Do tell me that Emperor Storm Gust is ready for us."
The mare gives a low bow as her voice picks up, "T-they did not say Star Swirl the bearded was waiting out here."
The old stallion nods his head as he holds his hoof out, "Do not bow for me child, I am no god or ruler."
Pansy picks her head up as she tries not to bow again, "B-but of course Emperor Gust will see you, we only had to prepare for land ponies." The mare's voice dips down a little as she talks, "Commander Hurricane has not yet returned and the guards...well they tend to be shifty when he is away."
The mare's shiny grey eyes drift to Preston as her words stop, "O-oh they did say the dragon was quite tall."
Preston laughs as he talks, "Well..." But his voice is cut off as Clover shifts her body to knock into his.
The man quickly goes silent as Clover picks up, "Sorry but this poor dumb, simple minded dragon can only say one word." She gives a smile as Pansy nods, "Oh, well follow me."
Clover turns her head back to Preston as she talks real slow, "Yes come dragon follow."
Preston gives an annoyed smirk as he follows after the mare intentionally stepping on her cloak to make her mad.
Star Swirl pushes past them as he follows after the mare inside the room.
Preston's action stops as he looks around the bright white round room he’s just walked into.
The room is almost like an open colosseum made of the smooth bright white cloudstone like the inside of the castle they just left; but unlike the other cloudstone this has a almost blue tint to it. its kind of a shock to be outside after being inside a cloud made castle for a few hours. But he keeps his mouth shut as he looks to the stallion sitting in a high up podium like thing.
To each side of the high up stallion sits two empty blue throne like chairs.
Pansy speaks up as the group is lead to the center of the room where the light of the open colosseum like room is shining down from, "Emperor Gust, Star Swirl the Bearded and his followers are here to see you."
Emperor Gust is a dark white-grey coated stallion with silver and almost blond streaks of mane being highlighted by the deep red cloak he wears. His voice is low but carries down to the group in front of him as he talks, "Why would the unicorn's send you a blow in the wind Sir Star Swirl?"
The old stallion hoovers the dark satchel next to himself as he talks, but as he does this the guard's tense up a little, "I have come here in need of the last piece for a new element of harmony."
Emperor Gust blinks at the words as he talks almost in a state of shock, "The unicorn's wish to make a new element of harmony?"
Star Swirl doesn't shift his body to the pony's words as he talks, "No, the unicorn's did not task me with this, Celestia the sun keeper did."
Emperor Gust straightens up a little as he sits his back to the chair, "The divine one wishes to create a new Element of Harmony after destroying the old one?"
Star Swirl hoovers the bag to Preston as he talks up, "Celestia and Luna did not destroy the old one...it was simply lost due to an unforeseen spell by Sombra."
Emperor Gust nods as he talks, "We all know this story..." He cocks his head as he talks, "But why wait five years to create a new element of harmony?"
Star Swirls old voice now takes on its low wise tone as he talks, "The divine ones wished to achieve peace through the three tribes by their own feeling of unity...but it seems as thou an instrument is needed to help insure this."
Emperor Gust nods his head a little as he talks, "Yes, but I believe Princess Platinum has shown a new found sense of the old peace treaty with her last proclamation."
Clover and Star Swirl look to each other and Preston tries to follow their confusion but truly can't understand what's going on as Star Swirl speaks up, "What might this be?"
"Your Princess has allowed a new Prince of a distant land to become one with ours, showing that she is willing to tolerate even the newest of change." Gust nods his head again as he talks, "I believe she will be more reasonable now if she has allowed this correct?"
Star Swirl squints his eyes as he speaks up, "I have not heard of this new Prince...who is he?"
The stallion looks to the tan mare as she takes her seat to her spot in one of the empty thrones, "I believe the Prince is named Matt Emperor Gust."
"Matt?!" Preston erupts in a laugh as he starts to talk casually to the stallion in the tall throne, "Yo Matt is no Prince."
Clover and Swirl look at Preston a little annoyed to his voice but they also hold a sense of questioning as Star Swirl speaks up, "Matt, a friend you seek cor...-"
The doors of the room burst open as a loud male voice calls into the room, "Emperor Gust!"
Everypony and Preston turn to the beaten up stallion but the blue pegasus doesn't stay silent for long as he holds his hoof up to Preston, "Guards guards seize this human!"
The guards around the room spring forward as they hold out sharp spears to the blond haired man. Preston throws his hands up as he stops his movement, "Ok ok i'm sorry I talked!"
Emperor Gust puts his front hooves to the cloud podium in front of him as he stands from his chair, "What happened Commander Hurricane?"
The blue stallion holds his eyes to Preston as his hoof still points to him, "We must keep this Human from you, it is a trick played by the unicorns!"
Star Swirl and Clover both speak up as they talk to Commander Hurricane, but the older stallion leads his voice over both of them as he talks, "Now now Preston is no harm and he..."
"Arrest these unicorns as well, we are at war!" Commander Hurricanes voice is followed by more of the guards around the room turning their attention to the two unicorns.
Swirl moves the shackle to himself calmly as Clover's horn glows a low purple. But he holds his hoof to Clover before a spell is fired, "We will go quietly..."
Emperor Gust blinks his eyes to Commander Hurricane as he talks, "War? What do you mean?"
Commander Hurricane speaks up as he stops his hoof to the ground, "The unicorn's attacked us using a deceptive creature." He points to Preston as he talks, "...The unicorns now keep the other human as there own weapon!"
Star Swirl looks back to Emperor Gust as he talks, "We mean you no harm, all we wish to do is bring peace to the land by creating an element of harmony!"
Commander Hurricanes grey eyes flicker a little blue as he stammers out his words, "T-take them to the dungeon."
Clover speaks up in protest as the group is slowly moved out of the room, "You are making a mistake! We are not here to cause harm! W..."
Her voice is cut off from the room as the doors behind Commander Hurricane are closed, the stallion doesn't follow after them as he rubs at his head a little.
Pansy speaks up as she brings herself to the ground of the room, "Hurricane, I do not think they..."
hurricane's voice cuts her off as he shakes his head, "No, all others that are or who have sided with unicorns are who we are at war with."
Emperor Gust motions his hoof to Pansy as he talks, "Pansy, leave us."
The mare speaks up as she talks, "but Emperor I am your..."
The stallion holds his hoof to her, "Commander Hurricane has been my trusted commander for years, and a great friend to my rule. I trust his words, you are not needed at this moment Pansy...I will consult with you in a little." Pansy nods her head as she walks out of the room.
End of chapter 17
Chapter 18 – Sleeping like a dream
"Luna?" Matt blinks at the dark mare in front of him as he waits for her response. Her mane that usually is fallen to one side is now flowing a dark almost with a star night like life to it.
It takes her a moment to take her eyes from her surroundings before she talks, "Your dreams are very blank...Matt."
The young kid looks around the bare light white stone room from his chair as he talks, "I'm sleeping?"
Luna nods her head as she talks, "Yes, you have been for most of this day Matt..." She moves a little closer as she talks, "You were not waking so I tried a dream spell" She gives a little smile as she talks, "...It was very difficult to accomplish."
Matt gives a light laugh as he squints his eyes to her, "Ok?" He crosses his arms as he talks, "...Why have I been asleep for so long?"
The dark mare losses her sweet smile as she talks, "You do not remember what has happened Matt?"
The young kid shakes his head as he talks, "No? Why?"
"Princess Platinum's spell must have..." At the mention of her name the blank room has changed shapes to a replica of Platinum's room and Matt now sits on the bed.
As Matt notices the change of rooms he stands from the bed, "No no no, I don't want to think about her." His face takes on a slight blush as he speaks up, "W-why are you here Luna?"
The mare squints to his rushed words as she talks, "Are you well Matt?"
The young kid nods his head as he talks, "Never better..."
Luna brings her hoof up for a moment as she tries to show her concern for him, "You seem almost fearful Matt? Why?"
The young kid shakes his head as he talks, "N-no i'm good really."
Her voice drops down a little as she talks, "Matt do you know what has happened to your brother?"
Platinum's room that lays as a scene around them begins to fade a little as Luna's voice holds her sweet slightly lipsy tone, "Dose Matt require a moment? I unde...-" Her voice is cut off as the young kid rushes to her and embraces her neck in a sobbing hug.
Luna blinks to his quick motion and doesn't react to him for a moment, but as the young man's light sobbing doesn't stop she brings her hoof to his back as she tries to talk. However her voice is no longer audible as the dream starts to fade.
Luna's eyes open to Matt as her horn's glow starts to leave from around the young man's head. Matt follows her slow eye opening motion as he looks to the room he has been in since he got to this strange world.
Luna looks over him as she talks, "Why did you lie to us Matt?"
He swallows his emotion back as he talks, "I-I don't know...I just thought I could for once be something i'm not..." He folds his hands as he talks, "I...I wanted to play it up while I was here..." Matt brings his green-blue eyes to Luna as he tries to makes sense of his own reasoning, "Do you know what its liked to be overlooked even when you do stuff thats cool...just because of who your family is?"
Luna doesn't speak for a moment as her teal eyes look over the young man's face.
Matt shakes his head as he looks down to his cupped hands, "Stupid...I know...and now..." He chokes up to his thoughts as he looks at his hands starting to glow a faint green.
"OH Matt you're up."
Luna and Matt bring their heads to the door as Platinum's voice hits them. The white mare holds an almost disgusted squint to Matt as she talks in a proper royal voice, "Matt , Celestia wishes to see you."
Matt's green glow to his hand's spike up a little to the name but they stop as Luna speaks up, "Our sister is a kind and gentle pony...I believe your brother is safe." Luna holds a smile to her unsure words as she stands from the bedside and walks out the door.
Platinum gives a smile to Luna as the dark mare trots past her. But as she leaves her sight she looks back to Matt with the same slightly angry expression, "Do follow Matt ."
The young kid watches as she dips away from the door, as her figure moves from his gaze he unzips his hot jacket that he has worn all day and tosses it back to the bed.
Luna and Platinum wait down the hall for him as he picks his pace up to catch up.
They stop as they reach the throne room entrance. Matt slows his pace up as he turns into the room, he brings his eyes onto the tall white mare as she turns her head from a large stain glass window.
"Matt I have a few questions I need to a..."
Celestia's voice is cut off as Matt speaks up, his voice is not truly louder than hers but she still halts her words to his as he talks, "Is Damien dead?"
The tall mare is silent for a few moments before she speaks up, "Damien...as you said, is not dead."
The young kid breaths a sigh of relief as he talks, "Where is he?"
"He has been sent back to his world, and he will remain there for the rest of his life." Celestia's voice doesn't stop as she turns herself to the young kid, "...Now I have a question for you Matt."
Platinum and Luna both have a slightly confused expression but they bite their tongues as Celestia's words come out, "Do you, or have you ever known of the being Discord?"
Celestia's voice slightly lowers but the power of her words does not alter, "Why did you deceive us then Matt ?"
Platinum's voice calls out before he can answer, "Yes Matt why?" Her body impatiently awaits the stammering kid as he finally talks.
"I-I just thought it wouldn't hurt..." He tries to fiddle with a better answer as he talks, "I-I just wanted to be something I can't be back home....I didn't mean to do anything bad-..."
His voice is again cut off as Platinum speaks up, "Did not want to do anything bad? You Matt have caused a war between this land, how could you..."
"Princess Platinum." Luna's voice brings the white mare's to a halt as the dark mare takes her eyes from the young kid's slightly nervous and shaky body.
But Platinum's voice is not stopped for long as she talks now to Celestia, "Surely we must do something? He has misguided all of us!"
Matt turns his head to the mare with a surprise to how sincere the mare's words are.
Celestia nods her head as she talks, "You're right something must be done..." The dark haired kid quickly swings his head back to her as his heart skips a beat. Celestia looks to Luna for a moment before she speaks back up, "Tomorrow Matt, when the sun is high and my powers are full you will be sent back never to return."
Matt's fears slightly change as he nods his head.
Platinum's mouth quivers a little angry at the lack of true punishment but her voice is not allowed to come out as Luna speaks up, "Sister perhaps..."
Celestia holds her hoof up as she talks, "We do not have time to talk this over..." Her eyes drift back between Platinum and Matt as she talks, "...We have a war to stop." The tall mare trots towards the door as she continues, "Shall we Princess Platinum?"
Platinum slightly hesitates for a moment but turns her head back to Celestia as she holds her head up and speaks in a regal voice, "Yes...stopping this fray must be priority."
The smaller white mare adjust the crown on her head as she trots past Celestia and out the door.
But the taller mare doesn't follow after her for a moment as she turns back to her sister, "Luna, begin raising the moon...today is not a day for brightness."
The dark mare nods her head as Celestia leaves the threshold.
Luna turns her gaze back to the young kid as she talks, "Matt...Would you wish to see the moon rise for your last day?" Her voice has a slight sad tone to it but her face doesn't show her emotion as her comment rings to him.
Matt nods his head as he talks, "I would like that Luna."
End of chapter 18
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
Chapter 20 – Planning for chaos
The castle is quite and the night sky has started to take on a dimming light as the sun begins to fall from the world's line. But for Princess Platinum and Celestia there is no relaxation as the meeting being held in the dining room of the castle starts to pick up.
"...Are you suggesting we do not hold a front Celestia?" The white stallion squints to Celestia's seat across the large table.
Celestia repeats herself as she shakes her head, "No Stone Hooves, I am just saying that we must try another diplomatic solution before we create any unwanted turmoil."
Platinum brings her hoof up to her head as she talks in a fainting girls voice, "OH but Celestia you heard those unreasonable pegasus, they wish war!"
The taller white mare sharpens her eyes to Platinum's words for a moment, she notices this and quickly changes her direction as she brings her hoof back down, "But of course another meeting should be called."
Platinum quickly averts her eyes from Celestia to the earth pony leader as she talks, "You agree we should give the pegasus one last say correct Chancellor Pudding Cup?"
The stallion shakes his head as he speaks up, "Yes, a fight with the pegasus is not something we wish. Smart Cookie has been looking into our crops for this season and she has found that if we miss a week of rain the consequences could be enormous!"
Platinum nods her head as she tries to hold a sense of care, "Oh yes this would be bad."
"Then it's decided, a message will be sent to the Pegasus in order to set up this meeting." Celestia rises from her chair as she nods to Chancellor Pudding Cup, "Thank you for helping us in this matter."
The stallion nods as he stands from the table and begins to trot out of the room with a few earth pony guards.
Stone Hooves stands from the table as he looks to Platinum, "Shall I ready the carriage your highness?" He stares at Platinum for a response but she quickly holds a hoof up as she brings herself up, "No, I believe I will stay in this night General Stone Hooves." Platinum turns to Celestia as she smiles, "All of this nasty business with the pegasus have left me drained."
She trots herself a little towards the door as she looks back to the tall white mare, "Does our sun keeper require me further?"
Celestia looks her over for a moment in silence before she shakes her head, "I believe we have quelled this issue for tonight Princess Platinum."
At her words Platinum gives a smile and adjust the cloak around her body, "As I am sure we would." She holds the smile until the threshold of the door cuts the tall mare from her gaze.
She swings her head in front of her as she trots down the hall and towards her room.
But as the turn down her hallway comes to her she passes by it and continues down the hall. Her green eyes focus on the closed door of Matt's room as she brings herself to the room. Her hoof presses on it as her voice takes on a fake sweet voice, "Pardon this interruption M..." Her voice is brought to a halt as she looks to the dark and empty room. Platinum straightened her posture as she looks around the room a little annoyed to its emptiness but her eyes are quickly brought to the window as she looks to the darkened sky.
Platinum's voice is low as she whispers to herself, "Luna..."
After a moment of looking through the clear glass window she turns herself back to the hall as her trot picks back up a little.
Her green eyes stay focused directly in front of her as she hoovers her crown off of her head and begins to undo the straps to her cloak.
Platinum's destination comes into view as she rounds the open door threshold and trots herself past the purple and red throne and into her room.
The door's close behind her as a light pink field comes over them. She moves her gaze to the other set of doors for a moment as they too take on the pink gloss of low chiming magic.
Her cloak and crown are floated to the neatly made bed as she quickly turns her body to the large mirror that sits above the oval table, her voice no longer holds her regal properness as she talks to the mirror, "You will answer to me Discord...." The tip of her horn sparks up in a pink glow but as her eyes squint to the mirror the magic slightly takes on a greenish tint similar to Matt's.
The glow from her doesn't last long as she lowers her head and directs a bolt towards the mirror. The reflection of the room in the mirror begins to fade as Platinum stares to the mirror, her breaths are heavy and as the oval table and glass started to fade with the reflection it holds.
"I was wondering when I would see you."
Platinum's room has disappeared and her hooves no longer stand on her cushiony red royal carpets. Her voice is sharp and loud as she turns back to the voice, "Discord what have you done!"
But as she turns around she blinks a little confused to the scene behind her.
Discord's legs are dropped carelessly over one side of the armrest and his head is cocked up words as he stares at a large almost mirror like object that Platinum has never seen before.
He gives a little laugh as he rolls himself back to a proper position, his lion like arm extends upwards as he talks in a laugh, "HA! Do you like it? Its called a TV." He lets out a happy sigh as the static snow-sound on the tv beings to lower its chatter.
Platinum squints her eyes to him as her anger proceeds her confusion, "Discord I demanded to know what you have done! This pla..." Her voice is cut off as Discord snaps his paw and a remote is poofed into her mouth. She blinks to the foreign object as she takes it out of her mouth and into her hoof.
Discord smiles as he beckons her, "Go on, place your hoof to the button." He holds a crooked one sharp toothed smile as he waits for the confused mare to move.
Platinum looks to the black object in her hand as she reads the words out loud, "NEXT?"
Discord nods his head as he holds his life filled orange eyes to her, "Yes next."
She moves her hoof to the button as she presses down on it.
The static snow on the tv blanks as a image of Matt and Luna sitting on the balcony of the castle appear on the screen.
"What is this Discord!?" Platinum toss the remote to the ground as she brings her hoof to the goat creature, "You have better tell me why you have changed my plans...."
"YOUR PLANS!" Discord's eyes darken as he stands from the chair.
His booming voice echos off the walls of the castle as Platinum's ears fall down, her mouth quivers as she talks, "O-our plans."
Discord's eyes are still a coal black as he smiles and brings a claw finger up to his mouth, "Shh shhh shhh." He lifts his arms up to the large tv that now begins to float a little higher in the room as he talks, "War is not what we want..."
"But..."
"Silence!" He brings his head back down from the floating screen as he talks, "...War is only temporary....it only will last as long as nopony stops it." He smiles devilishly as he talks, "I wish to do something that will cause problems for this land and fear for this lands ponies."
Platinum quivers her lips as she talks, "But what about our power? What about our rule?"
"Awww." Discord cocks his head as he brings his to hands cupped beside him in a innocent like pose, "I would rather see Celestia and Luna unhappy..." He spins back down to his throne as he laughs, "...I want to see ponies in fear for years to come!"
His laugh rings through the castle as Platinum blinks her eyes to him, "B-but Discord? We were going to use Damien, Celestia has sent him back...what will we..."
Discord cuts her off as he snaps his fingers and a cup of chocolate milk is poofed into his hand, "Damien is not the only human..." He turns his head to Platinum in a smile as he talks, "Besides how does Celestia know that spell anyways hmm?"
Platinum blinks to him as she talks a little, "I...I don't know..."
Discord nods his head, "Than a spell is what you will seek." Platinum's face takes on a slight lightness as his words hit her. But he waves his hand as he talks, "But this is your task not mine...I have my own plan which you will help."
Platinum loses her sense of joy as her voice calls back annoyed to his words, "Help? You have ruined my plan why would I help?!"
"OH?" Discord smiles as he drops the glass to the floor to shatter, "But Platinum, you have your power from your..." His smile grows as he elongates his words, "Prince."
Platinum's face turns a hot angry red as she screams back to him, "He is a lie and must pay for what he has done!"
Platinum stomps her hoof to the stone floor as her slightly whiny voice comes out of her, "Yes! How dare he use me."
Discord snaps his fingers as he teleports beside her, "Yes yes, he used you that's what happened."
The white mare holds a slightly annoyed gaze to his sarcasm as she talks, "He will pay for deceiving me..."
"Yes and I know a way if you trust me." He holds a smile to her as he holds out his lion paw.
Platinum looks over his face as she talks, "You have taken my plans and ruined them...what would I gain now?"
Discord's claw hand glows a deep orange as he talks, "But Princess you will get your kingdom and all kinds of subjects...Earth ponies....Unicorns....Pegasus...all you have to do is do one simple thing for me."
She holds a skeptical stare as she talks, "Celestia has said that Matt is to be sent home tomorrow...how can you already have a plan?"
Discord cocks an eyebrow as he laughs a little, "Believe me Princess, that fool has worked herself right into my plan..," He holds his arms up high as he talks, "She wishes to create an element of harmony...But I know what it really needs."
Platinum blinks to his words as she talks, "She wishes to what? I have not been told of this?"
Discord pinched at her cheek as he talks, "Awww she doesn't trust you....but I do." He poofs back to his throne as he talks in a loud voice, "Do we have a deal...Power and a kingdom your own...for your help?"
The room is silent for a moment as Platinum looks over the goat creature, but the moment of truth is only just that a moment, "Deal Discord."
He smiles as he talks, "Good." His claw sparks back up in a orange glow as he talks, "Don't move."
With a loud laugh the magic is sent toward Platinum and she is struck with it. Her breathing becomes fast and heavy as the magic begins to seep into her, "W-what are you doing?"
Discord folds his arms as he talks, "Making you a Queen my dear..."
Her legs twinge without an impulse from herself as she starts to give a few pained groans. The pink mane that hangs to one side of her crownless body starts to darken as her green eyes begin to glow a little brighter, "D-ISCORD!"
His smile slightly fades a little as her own magic starts to form around her horn, but the pink glow is quickly being replaced by a green shine as her pained groans come back to her.
Platinum's body starts to become shaded in a orange and green mist as her screams start to muffle from the magic encasing her.
"Whoa." Discord snaps his fingers as he takes his seat in the throne again, a pair of 3D glasses now set over his missized eyes as he watches the bright swirl of magic around the mare in front of him.
The magic's booming chime starts to fade as a panting voice starts to come out from it.
The goat creature no longer has a sense of joy as he looks to the no longer white coated and pink maned pony barely standing in front of him.
"What happened..."
Platinum's voice is almost echoey as she pants.
"Oh y-you're fine you don't need to..." Discord's voice is cut off as she talks.
"A mirror..give me a mirror!"
Discord hesitates for a moment before he snaps his fingers.
A large full body mirror is poofed in front of Platinum as she stops her breathing and stares to the dark black mare reflected back to her.
"Its really not that bad." Discord presses the 3D glasses close to his eyes as he tries to look away from the mare.
Platinum's horn has become long and jagged, her perfectly combed pink curled mane now is a sickly green-blue with split ends and strains unbrushed. Her mouth now has two changeling like fangs and her back now seems to have almost bug like still magic glowing wings. But she stares at her eyes as she holds her breathless gaze; the eyes that were once just a simple green topaz are now a two shade green with a rim the same as Matt's magic.
Platinum's voice is low and ecoey as she press her hoof to the glass, "I...Im..."
Discord gives a slight laugh as he talks, "Well its not that bad, you could be all holey."
Platinum's voice still stutters out as she hold her new black hoof to the reflection, "I'm...I'm beautiful!"
Discord is a little stunned by her words but he quickly follows her as he stands from his throne, "You took the words right from my mouth my Queen Platinum..." He bows to her as he smiles to the ground.
"NO!" Platinum turns to him as her green-blue mane falls back to one side, "We are creating a new kingdom...a better kingdom, I am its cocoon from which it will grow...I am Chrysalis ." She smiles as she drops her voice, "I am Queen Chrysalis." She lets out an ear pounding laugh as she stops her words.
Discord wraps his lion arm around her neck as he talks, "Yes, and now Queen Chrysalis you need to listen...there are a few things I need to teach you for tomorrow." He puts his paw to her mouth as he talks, "It's very important you listen."
Chrysalis smiles as she brings her split tongue to his lion finger that rest against her mouth, her eyes flicker a little more green as her voice drops to a hypnotic low, "I'm all ears...Discord." Her tongue licks at his finger for a moment but Discord is quick to step away from her as he brings his arms back to the TV still showing Luna and Matt, "Good, then listen up."
End of chapter 20
Chapter 21- The moon for a night
The light blue chiming slowly fades from Luna's horn as she takes her seat back to the chair.
Matt stares from his balcony seat to the large bright white moon that now sits in the center of the sky; he's silent as he leans his back to the chair with a content sigh still gazing to the unique clear and bright world's sky.
Luna turns to him with a bashful smile, "I hope this moon is a good parting gift Matt."
The young kid loses his smile a little as he looks to the strange world laid before him. Over the last few hours the idea of leaving this wonder land has started to truly sink in, and in truth he's not as happy as he thought he would be.
"Are you ok Matt?" The dark mare stares at his change in tone as she waits for his response.
Matt shakes his head as he talk, "Oh ya i'm happy." He forces a smile as the thoughts of his old life returning starting to take hold, " I'm happy i'm going back, why wouldn't I like going back to my old life or dull and forgetful things." The young kid's sarcastic tone is slightly boosted as in the silent night air as he crosses his arms.
"Are you not excited to be going home?" Luna cocks her head to him as he quickly speaks up, "No, i'm glad i'm going home...but at the same time I don't want to go back..."
The dark mare gives a slight chuckle as she tries to understand his comment, "But Matt surely you wish to go back to your own world? With your family and friends..."
Matt's voice starts to get carried by his impulse of emotions as he talks up. The last few days the young kid's mind has been so focused on keeping up with his lying that his impulse driven out burst have stopped....but now that his web of lies are gone and his mind has drift back to his old life the mindless outburst are starting to come out again, "Like I said before...they don't care...Damien is back and that's all they would probably want."
Luna shakes her head to his words as she talks, "But Matt surely you do not believe this?"
"Why wouldn't I? Why would my life change just because i've been gone a few days." He rubs at his head as his words heighten towards the end of his sentence. His hands glow a faint green as he pulls to his dark hair.
"Matt." Luna looks over the glow to the kid's hands as he continues to pull at his hair, but her voice doesn't bring a response as the kid continues to rub at his head, "Matt."
Luna's voice is a little raised as he brings his head to her.
The dark mare's voice calms down a little as she talks, "Emotion's can cause magic Matt." She nods her head to his hands as she talks, "...You need to take control of your emotions."
Matt looks to his hands as he listens to her voice.
"...Try and think of something that makes you happy Matt..." She gives him a little smile as she brings her head a little closer trying to study his glowing hands, "...If magic is created with joy it will be a great benefit to the world and it's user."
Matt's hands still glow a faint green as he talks low, "think of something that makes me happy?"
Luna nods her head as she talks, "Yes, just try and thi..." Her voice is cut off as Matt leans his head to her cheek and plants a slight kiss.
He quickly brings himself back to his seat a little embarrassed to what he just did.
Luna’s horn flickers a very low light blue as she sits silently, her face slightly blushes a little, but she quickly moves herself away from him as she tries to talk in a regal voice, "I...I'm..."
Matt finishes her sentence as he talks in a quiet voice, "I'm sorry!" His voice is still rushed as he talks, "Y-you said something that makes me happy...you...you make me happy..." He looks away from her as his body shudders a little from his mindless action.
Luna is still in a blushed confusion to him and sits not knowing where else to look but at him.
After a few moments of awkward silence Luna finally breaks the night as she talks, "D-do you truly wish to stay?"
The young kid's mouth quivers a little as he thinks over the decision...but his mind comes clear as he turns back to the mare's teal eyes, "I...I would like more time here...yes."
Luna averts her eyes as she tries to stammer out something else to say, "I-I would like that..." They both share a slight smile as they stare away from each other and back to the large open sky in front of them.
End of chapter 21
Chapter 22 – One step closer
Preston gives a slight yawn as he leans his head and back to the bars of his cell, he would be sitting in the cloud bed but every time he tries to sit in it he falls through.
The man looks down from the ceiling as he talks, "How long does this spell last?"
Clover brings her head up from where its resting on the bed as she talks, "What spell?"
"You know this cloud...walking thing." Preston pokes at the ground as he speaks up again, "I'm starting to feel like its fading."
The mare gives a little giggle as she moves to the side of the bed with a sleepless yawn, "Maybe it's because you're too heavy for the clouds."
Preston cocks an eyebrow to her comment as he talks, "ya ya ya, and you're not?"
Clover gives another giggle as she stretches legs, "HA! I'm the pony that tilts the bed."
"Oh ya? Well i've carried your furry a-..." His voice is cut off as Star Swirl speaks up, "Are you saying you feel like that spell is wearing off Preston?"
The man turns to the old stallion's voice as he gives a little laugh, "No i'm sitting on the ground because I hate beds."
"Oh...well then hush up." The old stallion turns his head back to the door like he has been for the last hour or so.
"What...I was being sarcastic." Preston stands up from the ground as he talks, "I can't sit anywhere."
The old stallion turns his head back a little more confused as he cocks his head, "I beg your pardon, but that spell is supposed to work as long as its needed."
"Well Gandalf check your staff, because I feel like i'm sinking." The blond haired man looks down to his feet as he speaks back to the pony.
"Bha, I use no staff...still perhaps our magic works differently on you." Star Swirl rubs at his beard for a second before he points his hoof to Preston, "You may need to do the spell yourself."
"Ya ya ya, magic is all thought right?" Preston's words start to drift back to there sarcasm as he tries to hide his growing sinking feeling.
"Preston, Star Swirl is right that spell may need to be cast by you." Clover moves herself a little towards the cell wall as her voice stops.
Preston shifts his eyes around the two ponies, "Ok..." He clutches his hands a little as he shakes his head to loosen up.
Star Swirl and Clover get a slight smile as they watch Preston's hands starting to glow a green aura.
"Ok...So just think about walking on clouds right?" Preston waits for a response as he jitters his hands a little.
Star Swirl rolls his hoof as his voice no longer holds on to its faked seriousness, "Oh yes yes."
Clover follow's his change in voice as her slight smile starts to become more noticeable, "Just believe Preston."
"Ya ya ya I got this." Preston stops his hands as he blows out a little loudly, "OK...I can walk on clouds." His hand's have not increased in color and have not started to give a low chime as he continues his mantra of breathing.
But before he does anything else Swirl's voice picks back up, "Preston why don't you try sitting back to the bed, hm?"
Preston moves himself back to the bed still holding a reduced loud breathing mantra. He slowly lowers himself to the bed as his breathing reaches a new high, "Ahhhhh."
Clover lets out a giggle as she turns away from the man.
Her laugh stops his nonsense as his hands lose their glow, "What?" Star Swirl joins in on the light laugh as he shakes his head. Preston's voice is a little heightened as he talks again, "What?"
For a few moments they ignore him, but Swirl's voice comes back to the room as he talks, "Preston, a spell like that only works if you believe it will work." The old stallion stops his laugh as he coughs, "But you did do a good job of creating your own magic. That is truly a big step in learning how to control it."
Preston nods his head as he talks, "Hmf, i'll remember this."
The light hearted laugh comes to an end as Clover speaks up, "Master, how did you know Emperor Gust would believe us?"
Swirl nods his head as he smiles, "I didn't Clover..."
The mare blinks at the comment as she cocks her head but the old stallion's voice comes over hers again as he talks, "...But I had figured Emperor Gust's curiosity would get the best of him, and hoping that the stories I have been told of him were true...I thought it would be better just to wait it out...No pony wants war, and when somepony gives you a better solution...you take it."
He holds a smile to the slightly confused mare for a moment, but the moment is broken as the door to the room creaks open with a slightly wet wood on wood creak.
Swirl's voice picks up as he holds his joy filled tone, "Ah, we finally are ready hm?"
The pegasus doesn't bat an eye as the stallion unlocks the door of Swirl's cell. The old pony turns his head back to the open door as Emperor Gust steps inside, "Forgive us for taking so long...It was a little difficult to find guards trusted enough to help us, but Commander Hurricane has found a few."
Star Swirl makes his way towards the door as the pegasus trots with the key in its mouth towards Preston's and Clover's cell.
As the two cells become open the pegasus guard steps aside waiting for them to leave.
Preston and Clover pick up their pace to follow after the group outside of the room, with the guard pony tracing behind them. As Preston reaches the outside of the dungeon he stops for a moment and looks around the group of ponies, there has to be about ten guard ponies heavily armoured and with spear like objects resting on their backs.
The moment of uneasy feelings is brought to an end as Star Swirl speaks up, "Shall we? I am not looking forward to staying up long." He gives a light cough as he waits for the group to start moving.
A few guard ponies lead the way as Emperor Gust drifts back with Pansy following close beside him. The grey pegasus looks to Star Swirl as he talks, "I must know, how did you create a spell to walk on clouds Sir Star Swirl."
The old pony slightly ignores him as he looks around the castle's walls but his answer comes quick as he looks back to the stallion, "I once knew a pegasus, dear friend of mine." Star Swirl gives a light chuckle as he talks again, "...She believed that anypony could do anything they set their mind to, as long as they were pushed in the right direction."
Preston, Clover and Pansy listen close to the old stallion's words as he holds his head to Emperor Gust, "...She even had me trying to fly." Swirl gives a light laugh as he continues, "...Of course I have no wings, but that did get me thinking about the idea of unicorns learning a spell or two about flying." The old stallion's voice losses his happy tone for a second as he finishes, "...Sadly, I never got to show my friend this spell."
Emperor Gust seems slightly intrigued by the story but doesn't ask any more questions as he talks, "Well then Sir Star Swirl, lets hope that believing is all a pony needs."
Star Swirl nods his head for a moment before he looks around the group, "Where is my bag anyways?"
"Commander Hurricane has taken it already to the castle's rainbow." Pansy speaks up as his question runs past her.
"Wonderful." Swirl turns his head back to the group in front of him as he talks.
The group's walk comes to an end as they near a dead end hallway with nothing but a white statue of a pegasus holding its right hoof out. Preston looks his head around for a moment a little confused to the stop but the confusion ends as Emperor Gust walks to the front of the group.
The grey pony stops as he walks to the pegasus statue, his hoof comes up as he pushes it against the extended right hoof of the statue.
A creaking sound fills the slightly cramped hallway, Clover and Preston watch the statute being pushed back to the wall in amusement, Swirl just holds a old man dullness.
The sound only last a few moments before Emperor Gust turns back to them, "I will give you only ten flaps of a wing, than you will return back to the castle...understood?"
Preston and Clover's moment of amazement is lost as they look to the pegasus in a little confusion.
Swirl nods his head as he talks, "Thank you Emperor Gust."
The grey stallion nods his head as he looks back to the hidden staircase that has come open, "Guards stay up here, Commander Hurricane is already down here with his own stallions."
The guard ponies nod their heads as they move to each side of the hall.
Pansy pushes through the group as she follows Emperor Gust's first steps into the passage.
End of chapter 22
Chapter 23 – False Peace
The journey into the underbelly of the castle has become damp and sparsely lit by only a few torches ever so often. The tight staircase hallway has become more of a cell then the real cell Preston, Clover and Swirl have left. The only sound that plays around the hall is the sound of hooves clapping against the cloudstone floor.
The blonde haired man's ability to keep his voice down is starting to fail as he walks further into the seemingly never ending staircase down, "Do you think we're close?" His eyes squint to the purple mare walking beside him as he whispers to her.
The mare turns her head a little to look to him as she whispers back, "How should I know?"
Preston nods his head as he talks back to her, "Its not going to get tighter is it?"
Clover squints to his words as she talks, "Why?"
He swallows as he talks, "I don't like tight spaces."
She gives a slight giggle as she turns her head back in front of herself, "It can't be too long."
Preston nods his head as her words come across him, "Good....I feel sick."
The constant hoof clapping is starting to become dwarfed as the hallway starts to open a little wider around the group. Preston breaths a slight breath of relief as he looks over the hallway slowly becoming wider.
Clover's ear perks up as a low swirling chiming sound starts to slightly echo just above the hoof clapping.
The few moments of guessing are brought to an end as the end of the hallway comes into view past Star Swirl and the rest of the group.
Preston has the best view over the ponies in front of him as he squints his eyes to the bright goldish light shining from the bottom of the stairs.
The low chiming now is starting to become the main sound, but only for a moment as Emperor Gust's voice comes up, "Sir Star Swirl, you are about to see something no unicorn has ever seen before." The stallion's voice is proud but the regal tone carries the feeling to the situation.
Star Swirl and Emperor Gust are the first to take these steps into the brightly lit room, as Gust moves into the light his jewel studded cloak sends small halo like reflections of light into the hallway. Preston moves in front of Clover and Pansy as he takes his steps to the room.
He's speechless as he looks around the room, the walls are a round blue-silver cloud like bowl that don't seem to differ from the ceiling and the floor. But he focuses on the streams of light high above this large room. The rainbow was not what he thought it would be, instead it looks more like a aurora borealis of gold and light purple blended with a pale pink.
Preston stops as he walks a little away from the staircases down, his voice is in a pure almost kid like bliss as he looks up to the fading and returning lights, "whoa..."
Swirl and Clover share the moment of awestruck wonder but the moment is quickly over as Commander Hurricane’s voice chimes over the light's sounds.
"Star Swirl, your bag."
The blue pegasus in dark armour walks over in a slight out of breath pant as he hands the satchell over to the old stallion. It takes Star Swirl a moment to realize the bag being hoofted over to him but he quickly nods his head as he talks, "Oh yes, thank you."
Star Swirl nudges Clover who is still in the same stunned state as Preston, "Come Clover we are not done yet."
Emperor Gust stands next to the exit with Pansy as he forces his eyes to the old stallion, "You have ten feather flaps Sir Star Swirl, be as quick as the wind."
Preston takes his still smiling head from the lights as he looks at Swirl and Clover removing the horn bands from each other's horns, "H-how are you going to get up there?"
"Up there?" Star Swirl gives a little laugh as he shakes his head, "My weird friend how would you capture light? Light is energy you can't capture that."
The blond haired man blows at the comment as he looks to the few guard ponies standing like statues around the room, "Sure you can, its like solar energy."
Swirl ignores his words as he places the satchel to the ground and begins to open the flap, "...We are getting a rainbow shard, not the rainbow Preston." The old stallion dips his hooves into the bag for a moment, "Ah, here we go..."
He pulls his hooves out of the bag as he brings a gold crown like object. The crow is shiny and looks to be made of gold with nine blue sapphire like stones tracing from side to side. The tip of the crown comes out in gold wisp that extend from an empty star like emblem.
Star Swirl gives a light chuckle as he holds the crown up to Preston, "A shard will be put into the center piece."
The old stallion floats the crown next to him as he turns his head back up to the lights, "Now we just need to find where the light stops...Ah there."
Emopore Gust and Pansy stare at the gold object in his grasp as they slowly trot themselves in the direction Preston,Clover and Swirl are heading.
At both ends of the room the aurora borealis light seems to touch the sides of the cloud bowl walls, this is where Swirls fast pace is leading. The chiming from the light seems to be echoing from the wall as they get closer.
Star Swirl slows his pace down as he holds his hoof to Preston, "You need to stay back, your magic is not the same as ours and I don't want any problems."
Preston nods his head as he watches the two ponies walking closer to the colored light expelling wall. As he stands there Pansy and Emperor Gust slowly trot themselves beside him still watching Swirl in a slight bit of confusion and wonder.
"Clover holds this for a moment." Swirl passes the crown to her as he rubs at his beard. His auburn eyes look over the cloud wall as he stands silently.
Emperor Gust grows a little impatient as he moves closer to the two unicorns, "I would remind you , this room is very sacred...what are you in search of? The rainbow is above you."
Swirl turns back as he talks quickly, "The power for this rainbow is generated from the light that is collected in this cloud, we require a shard of one of the stones that generates this light. The reason we need this kind of stone is because no other kind of stone is moldable enough to fit into the crown."
The grey pegasus squints to the words as he talks, "But pulling too big of a piece could disrupt the rainbow and destroy our city!" His voice comes out almost in protest but he holds his eyes still in question to the old stallion's motions.
Commander Hurricane is silent as he stands in front of the staircase still listening to the pony's voices that echo around the bowl cloud room's walls.
Star Swirl nods his head as he talks, "Yes, which is why we must carefully pick only one."
Emperor Gust straightens his posture as he talks, "If your hoof even rubs against another you will pay Star Swirl."
The old stallion gives a smile as he turns back to the colorful wall of stones, "That is why I can't be rushed."
Swirl is silent as he stares to the wall of glowing cloud stones. But as his hoof comes up to the wall the room drops to a new found silence as the chime of the rainbow takes hold around the room.
With a slight pull at the cloud wall a tiny round glowing piece of cloud like stone is pulled from the wall, "Clover the crown."
The purple mare quickly floats the crown to his extended hoof as he puts his flank to the ground. The crown is placed on the ground as the still purpley-pale pink cloudstone is pressed into the empty star emblem.
As the cloud like stone is pressed into the mold it moves light glimmering water as it starts to fill up the star shape.
Emperor Gust and Pansy stare at the glowing tip of the crown in confusion as the stallion speaks up, "What is it doing?"
Swirl smiles as he looks to the blue stone embedded in the gold crown starting to glow, "Its magic..."
Everypony and Preston looks up as there hearts drop a little. But the rainbow does not shift from its tracing across the room for a moment instead it just rumbles for a moment, but as the sound reaches its peak fast a bolt of white-rainbow light is sent down to the gold crown resting on the ground.
Clover, Pansy and Emperor Gust jump back as the light cracks against the crown and seems to be absorbed by the light purple-pink stone that now glows a brighter color.
Swirl lets out a happy coughing laugh as he stands from the ground hovering the crown next to him, "It worked! It wo..."
His celebration is cut off as he's knocked to the ground by a flying pegasus. But the pegasus is not a normal pegasus, the sleek black pony flaps its bug like wings over toward where Commander Hurricane is, the crown is clutched in the fanged jaws of the changeling as it lands next to the blue pegasus in black armour.
"Guard seize them!" Emperor Gust's voice echos around the room, but none of the guard ponies move.
Preston quickly moves over to where Swirl is as he and Clover help the old stallion up.
Empore Gust again calls out in a louder tone as he talks, "Guard! I said..."
His voice is cut off as Commander Hurricane calls over his, "Guards seize these traitors!" The stallion points his hoof to the group as his words echo around the room.
The guard pegasus all give a smile as they spring forward, but as they do the armour and previous mane and coat color vanishes in a green spiral.
The small group looks around the room of new challenges as the rabid dog-ponies give out a low growl and hiss.
Pansy freezes up as the sand-yellow mare looks around to her new surroundings. But Emperor Gust calls out to Commander Hurricane almost unfazed by the surroundings, "What is the meaning of this Hurricane?"
The blue stallion cocks his head as he focuses his blue glowing eyes to the grey stallion, "Is it not obvious? The Element of Harmony is mine, and when I bring this power to my Master I will be rewarded."
Emperor Gust shakes his head as he talks, "Master? W-what are you talking about Hurricane?!"
The blue stallion doesn't shout back as he talks, "Master will be pleased with me..."
"Master will be pleased with me...."
"Master will be pleased with me..."
Commander Hurricanes voice keeps repeating as his blue body starts to change into a dark black sleekness like the other changelings...But unlike the other changelings Commander Hurricane is larger and has a stub of a horn along with wings. His mane no longer has its color as it takes on a dull blue-grey.
Star Swirl’s horn glows a bright gold as he leans his head down, "Give us back that crown Hurricane." His old voice is not loud but it carries its weight over the chiming rainbow.
Commander Hurricane stops his senseless chatter as he looks to Star Swirl’s horn, "You can not fight me, you could destroy the city."
Star Swirl’s horn doesn't stop its glow as he squints his eyes. Clover follows his lead as her horn takes on a light purple glow.
The changelings around them lower their heads as they wait for a command.
But before Commander Hurricane can speak up a bolt of gold magic is sent towards where he stands, only its not sent towards Commander Hurricane, instead it strikes against the changeling that holds the crown.
As the bolt of magic strikes against the crown a bright white light springs from the crown in an almost explosion like way. The changeling is sent flying back to the cloud wall and Commander Hurricane is stunned for a moment.
The changelings that surround the group quickly shift their heads back to the bright light. But there moment of confusion is not allowed to last long as Clover and Star Swirl quickly send pen pointed bolts of magic to them.
Each changeling is caught off guard by the quick succession spells, each bolt cracking against the sleek black pony sends it back and sliding against the cloud flooring.
Clover's horn glows a bright purple as she swings her head around, "Is everypony ok?"
Emperor Gust and Pansy shakes their heads slowly as Preston erupts in a jumping holler, "Fuck ya!" His voice is heightened by his adrenaline pumping body as he looks around the changelings that lay fainted on the ground.
But his excitement and astonishment along with everypony else is brought down as Star Swirl falls to his front hooves.
"Master." Clover holds her hoof to him but he quickly shakes his head as he talks in a tired old voice, "I'm fine i'm fine...."
The old stallion's voice is cut off as a laugh echoes around the room.
Clover turns her head to the changing alicorn as she watches him struggle to stand up.
"You think this means the end?" Commander Hurricanes dark coat still has the element of harmony's magic shimmer to it as he pushes his upper body up. His voice is pained but he speaks up a little more as his legs buckle, "...This is nowhere even close." He collapses back to the ground as the light around his coat fades.
Clover still holds her horn's glow as Star Swirl stands to his hooves, he focuses his eyes to the glowing crown as he stands silently for a moment, "Preston....get my bag please."
The blond haired man hesitates for a moment before he drifts from the group.
"Emperor Gust!. ..Emperor Gust!" The stallion's voice echos from the stairs as the armored pegasus comes into view, he stops as he looks around to the changelings on the ground.
Emperor Gust's voice comes back quickly as he talks, "Get everpony from upstairs down here to detain these...ponies."
The pegasus nods as he takes himself to his wings and zips back to the staircase.
Clover's horn finally loses its glow as Preston walks back to Swirl, "Here." He holds the open satchel to Swirl for a moment.
"Thank you." Swirl's horn glows a low gold as the open satchel is hovered over to the glowing crown. The chiming from the element is cut off as the satchel scoops it up and closes.
Emopor Gust's voice comes back excited as he talks, "We must get this news out! I have been made a fool! I must go tell the other tribes." He turns his wide eyes to Swirl as he talks, "Thank you Sir Swirl, is there anything we can do?"
The old stallion gives a forced smile as he talks, "A bed and a quick way to the unicorn capital tomorrow would be much obliged."
Gust nods his head as he turns to Pansy, "Adviser Pansy, ready a room."
The yellow mare nods her head as her still slightly shaken voice speaks up, "Y-yes Emperor Gust."
At the end of her voice the armored ponies have come back down the staircase, Emperor Gust turns his attention to them as he trots away.
Star Swirl hovers the satchel back to him as Clover speaks up, "We did it Master, just like you said this has stopped the war!"
The old stallion nods his head as he talks, "Yes..."
Preston cuts in as he looks up at the rainbow of light above them, "Ya and we didn't cause a city to drop out of the sky either." He gives a light laugh to the still weird words that just left his mouth.
Star Swirl again nods his head as he holds his hoof out as he tries to pick his voice up in a happy tone, "Yes just like I said." He taps at his head as he hovers the satchel next to him, "You just have to believe you will and you will."
Clover picks up on his voice as she talks, "Master what's wrong?"
Preston looks between Clover and Swirl as he waits for the old pony to speak up. Swirl takes a deep breath as he smiles, "Nothing, i'm just tired that's all."
The purple mare still holds a skeptical stare as the old stallion starts to walk away, "Come now you two, i'm far too old to not get some sleep."
The old stallion's trot is halted as Emperor Gust steps away from a few guard ponies, "Sir Star Swirl, tomorrow you will be taken by pegasus chariot to the unicorn capital, I will not be able to accompany you tomorrow but do tell Princess Platinum I will be arriving there soon."
Swirl nods his head as he starts back up in a walk to the stairs with Preston and Clover behind him, "We will."
End of chapter 23
Chapter 24 – The last day of....
The sky above the unicorn capital is clear and cloudless as the sun makes its first peek into the world. All around this stone testament of unicorn power it's inhabitants start their day with a little sense of fear from yesterday's proclamation for war. But for one dark blue mare the threat of war has been put aside.
Luna's hooves clop quietly as she ascends the staircase to her sister's part of the castle. The walk up is quick as her eyes lay on the gold and white stoned room, but her gaze focuses on the tall white pony out on her balcony. Celestia's horn glows a faint gold as the sun slowly moves a little further up.
As the aura around the tall mare's horn begins to fade Luna moves herself through the room, "Our sister I have something I wish to say."
Celestia's ears pick up as she listens to the voice, she turns around as her low tone brings the dark mare to a halt, "Yes, what is it Luna?"
The dark mare slightly straightens her posture as she talks, "I have spoke with Matt and he has stated he would not want to go to his own world." Her words are a little shaky but she holds her stance.
Celstia cocks her eye brow to the words as she answers back, "Luna, this being in our world is not something that we need...our land is already turbulent enough, introducing a new magic is not something we should do. Nor do we need to have a creature that can deceive so easily-" Her words are cut off as Luna speaks up.
"Matt is not some creature, he is a human." Luna squints her eyes to her sister's words but she holds her voice in a low respectful tone.
The white mare holds her voice back for a moment as she studies her sister, "Humans from what I have seen are too emotionally detached from their actions and too dangerous to allow in our land Luna."
Luna brings her head up high as she tries to hold onto some of her regal tone, "But we can learn much from humans, there world from what Matt has told to me and Princess Platinum is far more advanced than of our own."
Celestia shakes her head as she talks back up, "The magic human's possess is too different from that of our own we don't know what it could..."
"But our sister, we can help Matt understand magic. I have felt his magic and I don't see how it is any different from our own." Luna's voice has slightly lost some of it’s regal tone as her head lowers with the end of her sentence.
The tall white mare squints to Luna as she talks, "Luna... You have not become fond of this human have you?" Her voice is slightly surprised but it still holds its low sweetness.
Luna pauses for a moment as she moves her eyes from Celestia, "I...I just believe sending Matt back would be the wrong thing to do if we want to better Equestria."
Celestia holds her head up high as she looks down to her sister, "I was informed that Matt returned to his room late last night Luna...."
The dark mare's ear slightly flickers a little but she doesn't say anything as Celestia continues, "...Luna you know that being attached to anypony...or human is something we must avoid." Celestia's low caring tone holds as she smiles to her sister, "...You know you would not want to watch as they grow old before your own eyes...sending Matt back is what's best for him."
The dark mare clenches her mouth shut for a moment, but when she goes to speak her voice is cut off by another's.
"Celestia, we have word of a pegasus chariot coming this way." The armoured earth mare's words are a little rushed as she waits for a response.
Celestia turns her gaze from Luna as she speaks up, "Has our messenger got to them yet?"
The mare shakes her head.
"I will be down in a moment, tell Princess Platinum." The armoured pony nods her head as she starts back down the stairs. Celestia turn her gaze back to her sister as she talks, "We will talk about this when the time comes my sister."
Luna nods her head as the tall white mare trots past her. The dark mare's gaze shifts a little to the rising sun for a moment as she stands in the room with only the sound of Celestia's hooves clapping against the stone. But her silent gaze is brought to an end as she turns to follow after the mare.
The city is starting to come into view for Preston, but at the moment he is too busy huddling up to one side of the open chariot to fully see it. The cart he sits in is not too big but it fits Clover and Swirl along with him pretty well.
The blond haired man has his eyes slightly squinted as he tries to hold some kind of toughness.
"You're afraid of heights too?" Clover holds a sly smile to the man's huddle up position as she brings her head from the world around them.
"What? NO no..." He blows at the comment as he rolls his arms, but as his sentence comes to an end the chariot shakes a little, his eyes open wide as he grabs the side of the cart hard.
"Sorry, a little wind." One of the two pegasus pulling the flying cart turns back around as he talks.
Clover lets out a giggle as she looks at Preston's face. He nods his head as he talks in an annoyed voice, "Ya, real funny...its all fun and games until someone falls out right?"
The purple mare rolls her eyes as she talks, "No pony has ever fallen out of a pegasus chariot before."
"Ya ya ya, it's cuz no one ever ask-..." The chariot bounces a little as his voice stops. "Ugh, why didn't we just take a train or something?"
Swirl looks up from the bag he’s been studying sense the flight started, "A T-Rain?" The old stallion holds his eyes to him a little confused.
But the man laughs at the confused stare as he answer him, "Whoa, for once i'm smarter than Gandalf."
Swirl shakes his head as his voice comes back to its wise smarter than everyone tone, "Preston, if you are going to gloat please make sure you say somepony's name right."
Preston gives a cocky smile as his grip on the chariot's side becomes a little lapsed, "How far are we?"
"Look for yourself." Clover turns her head back to the city that now is coming under them as she talks.
"No, I like it down here." Preston shakes his head as he slowly moves his eyes to the open back part of the chariot, the buildings that he sees look similar to the ones the pegasus city had, but these two story buildings and small shacks are made of grey stone or wood, not clouds.
The old stallion taps his hoof to his mouth as he watches the castle coming into view, "I say, could you two stallions take us a little past the castle?"
One of the pegasus turns his head back as he talks, "To the tower?"
"Yes." Swirl holds his hoof out a little as he nods.
"Hold on then its going to be slight turn."
Preston's body cringes a little as the chariot makes a sharp turn to the left, "ooohhh I hate you!" His voice comes through his teeth as he closes his eyes.
"Oh its not that bad." Clover taps his foot with her hoof as she enjoys the wind blowing through her mane.
Luckily for Preston the trip starts to come to an end as he feels the chariot dropping slowly back to the ground.
After a few moments of a stomach moving sinking feeling the wheels to the chariot begin to touch the ground as it bounces to the dirt it slides over.
"We're here Sir Star Swirl."
The old stallion gives a little cough as he moves his body back to the ground, "Good, good I have much to do."
His body slightly wobbles a little as he takes his step to the ground, "Oh, this is much different than clouds."
Preston jumps from the chariot and kicks a little to the dirt as he speaks up, "Ya? Well it beats flying without seat belts." He turns to the pegasus as he holds his arms out, "I mean come on, I didn't even get any peanuts." He gives a laugh to his joke, but the ponies around him just give him a silent stare.
Swirl nods his head as he talks, "Yes well Preston I need you to stay here for a few hours."
The blond man turns to him with a slight loss of enthusiasm as his voice takes on a slightly more mature tone, "But Matt’s here right? I need to make sure that little kid didn't get into any trouble."
Swirl trots towards the large lighthouse like stone tower as he talks, "You will be reunited with your friend trust me."
Preston gives a sigh as he turns to look to the huge castle that they flew past, he shakes his head as his thoughts come out loud, "Matts been living in a fucking castle? And I had to bunk with a..."
"Hey!"
He stops his voice as Clover's voice hits him.
Preston gives a sly smile knowing that his comment would annoy her; Clover trots from the chariot as she walks past him, "Don't say anything you might regret, I know a few spells you might not want to feel."
Preston nods his head a little unamused by her words.
"Will you two hurry it up already? You can flirt when this crown has been delivered." Swirl stands in front of the tower door with his back turned to them as he fiddles with a ring of keys floating in front of him, "Ah this one."
The key is floated into the lock of the door as he opens it and trots inside, "Come along now." Preston and Clover walk inside as Swirl turns his gaze to the two Pegasus, "It will only take a moment." He closes the door as he picks his pace up in a fast trot.
Clover follows after him but Preston has stopped as he looks around the scroll infested floor and furniture of the ground floor of this lighthouse-tower like building. The inside is made of simple grey stone and the walls are made of the same dull colored material as they wrap circular up the tower.
Swirl stops his trot up the spiral staircase as he turns back to Preston, "Follow me lad, I don't want you messing with anything."
Preston follows after the two ponies as he carefully places his feet to the cluttered floor.
"Master why do we not just take the element of harmony to the castle?"
Swirl hooves the satchel from his body as he brings it to float next to him, "Because Clover I broke it."
"WHAT?!" Clover stops for a moment as she tries to understand the old stallion's words.
Preston on the other hand bust out in a laugh as he waits for Clover to start her walk again.
"Master what do you mean?" Clover quickly catches up with Swirl as he stops his ascend of the stairs and turns into a side room.
The room that Clover and Preston are lead to looks like a large study with various full bookshelves around the room, Swirl has trotted himself to a cleared off table in front of a window that looks towards the castle.
"Master?"
Swirl again ignores her as he dumps the contents of the satchel to the ground, a few rocks fall to the floor along with a few scrolls and some books.
Clover tries to collect the fallen items as she hovers them to a side table, "Master?"
"Hush..." Swirl is silent as he moves away from the table his body was blocking, "...Do you see?"
The gold crown’s purple-pale pink star still glows with a faint magic chime to it and the blue sapphires that are studded into the crown now have turned an almost white color.
Preston looks over the crown silently with Clover, but he is the first to speak as he points to the blue gems, "Maybe those are in wrong."
"Bha, you know nothing, these gems are copy gems...Celestia said there is more than one kind of element and these will help create the others when the time is right..." Swirl pulls on his beard as he stares to the crown again.
"Master perhaps the crown is not fully ready?"
Swirl stops his beard pulling as his eyes widen, "What?"
Clover nods her head as she brings her hoof to the crown, "This is an element of harmony, maybe it has not had enough time to fully become stable?"
The old stallion nods his head as he again starts to pull on his beard, "No...its broke...BUT I think you might be right."
"Huh?" Clover squints her eyes confused to the old stallion as he starts to trot away from the table, "Master?"
"Clover I need to tell Celestia I am here, keep Preston inside until I return." He doesn't slow his trot as he starts down the stairs.
Preston and Clover follow after him as the man calls out to the pony, "Wait, why can't I go any where?"
Star Swirl looks back up as he stops for a moment, "You are a very weird creature, I would not want you to scare the foals."
"What?"
Swirl's pace picks back up as he reaches the bottom of the stairs.
"Master..."
Clover is ignored as Swirl opens the door.
"...Master?"
Her voice again goes unanswered as Swirl leaves the tower with the door closing behind him.
But the moment of confused silence is broken as the old stallion pokes his head back in, "Clover I shall be back in a moment, maybe the element is still settling..." He smiles to the mare as he nods, "...You have started to learn about how magic is more than just magic..."
Clover nods her head as the stallion continues, "...If the crown does anything do not touch it, it is still unstable and could be very dangerous, hopefully when I return it will be ready..."
The stallion takes his head from the door but he quickly pokes it back in as he talks, "Also if you see Wispy feed her please."
The door again closes but does not reopen this time.
For a moment the tower is quite until the sound of hooves comes back to it as Clover turns herself back to the room, "Ok, we just wait until he comes back."
Preston follows after her as he leans to the door post, "What's Wispy?"
Clover moves a chair to where the table is as she sits down, "Star Swirls pet lizard."
"Ok?..." Preston squints his eyes to the comment as he moves another chair to sit down next to Clover.
They stare at the low chiming crown for a few moments before Preston speaks back up, "How long did he say he would be gone?"
End of chapter 24
Chapter 25 - ...An empire
The trip to the castle was made easy by the pegasus chariot, but the tensions between the two tribes has not been quelled yet and as the cart lands Swirl's ears are hit with a stallion's voice.
"State your business." A large white stallion has stepped forwards as he holds a military straight face to the unicorn in the cart.
Swirl gives a light chuckle as he takes his first steps to the ground, "I do not have time to spare for your antics Stonehooves."
The white stallion holds a slightly annoyed smirk to the old stallion as he speaks up, "Why does our mage travel with pegasus?"
The two stallions still attached to the cart turn there heads to the unicorn's sharp tone.
"Stonehooves, I bring good news, there is no war." Swirl holds a smile to the stallion's confusion.
"What?" Stonehooves cocks an eyebrow to the words as he shakes his head, "What do you mean? Commander Hurricane..."
"Was not the stallion we thought him to be...now if you please." Swirl holds his hoof to the closed doors.
Stonehooves hesitates for a moment but calls out to the guard pony next to it, "Sargent, open the door for Mage Swirl."
The younger stallion nods his head as his horn takes on a low blue glow and the doors start to open.
"Thank you." Swirl trots himself inside as Stonehooves follows beside him, "Where is our sunkeeper?"
Stonehooves holds a slight skeptical gaze to Swirl as he talks, "She is with Luna and Princess Platinum preparing to send the human away."
Swril stops his trot as he cocks his eyebrow, "Away?"
"Yes, Celestia has declared the human too dangerous to stay in Equestria." Stonehooves lifts his hoof up as he points down the main hallway, "They are in the throne room now."
Swirl nods his head as he trots himself towards the hallway.
His pace makes the short tips only a moment as he turns to the Three ponies in the room.
"...I shall do the spell when-..." Celestia's voice is stopped as she brings her eyes to the old stallion who has stopped at the threshold of the door.
Swirl nods his head to Luna and Platinum as he traces his eyes around the room to the young kid in a heavy black jacket with his hands in his jean pockets, "Forgive me Celestia I hope I am not interrupting anything important."
The tall white mare gives a smile as she talks, "You have returned Star Swirl!" She trots herself away from her stance near the bright windows as she moves closer to Star Swirl.
Luna watches with a little confusion as her sister's horn stops its gold glow.
The old stallion nods his head as he speaks up, "Yes, but I am afraid the elements of harmony need more time."
Celestia's voice has not stopped its happy tone as she nods her head, "This is wonderful news, I trust you did not have any problems correct?"
"Oh no...But I also have more news-..." His voice is cut off as his words finally trigger a response in the dark mare, "Elements of harmony?" She turns her confused eyes to Celestia as she talks, "I was not told of this?"
Celestia turns her head back to the dark mare as she talks, "That is because it was very important that nopony knew about them."
Luna squints to the comment as her stance straightens up, "Does our sister not think we could have known about this?" Her voice carries her annoyed tone as she waits for the white mare to talk again.
But Celestia's word's are cut off as Platinum trots forwards, Her voice has a slightly over surprised tone but nopony picks up on it as she talks, "Oh, Star Swirl ! You have created a new element of harmony?! Why this-this will help bring peace to the land and stop this war!"
Luna is silent as she turns her gaze to Platinum's words.
Swirl gives a slight cough as he nods, "Yes, but that problem is no longer a concern."
Platinum's voice holds onto it's high pitched surprise as she speaks in a gasp, "Really? And why do you say this?" Her trot has brought her beside Celestia as she pokes her head out impatiently awaiting a response from the old stallion.
"Well Princess Platinum, Emperor Gust and the other pegasus leadership has been deceived."
Platinum brings her hoof to her mouth as she stops his words, "What do you mean?"
"...Commander Hurricane was really a changeling." The rest of Star Swirls words are drafted as Princess Platinum lets out a loud gasp, "A changeling in the pegasus rule?! Why...why that means that no rule is truly safe!"
Celestia holds her own confusion as she speaks over the gasping mare, "Commander Hurricane was a changeling?"
Swirl nods his head.
Platinum adjust the crown on her head as she holds her hoof up with a loud regal voice, "We must show these elements of harmony to the ponies of this land at once! If what you are saying is true then there must be panic in the Pegasus empire, and surely if this gets out all of the land will be panicked."
She brings her tone down a little as she cock an eyebrow to the stallion, "Um, where did you say the elements where Mage Star Swirl?"
Platinum nods her head as she talks in a lower voice with a smile, "Oh thank you Mage Star Swirl, you have truly made a new way of life possible this day." She turns her head to Celestia as she talks, "I must be excused, I have to go and summon the earth pony leadership."
Celestia is still taking in Star Swirl’s words but she gives an absentminded nod of the head as the white mare in a royal green cloak trots away.
Star Swirl looks to the young kid who has been listening in a little confused, "You must be Matt."
The dark haired kid nods his head as he talks, "y-ya?"
The old pony gives a smile as he talks, "I thank you for the commotion you have stirred up Matt."
Celestia comes out of her thoughts as she listens to the old stallion.
"...If you had not caused such a problem Commander Hurricane may not had come back to the empire so fast." Swirl gives a little cough as he continues, "...and if he didn't do that, well we may not have been able to bring out his real self would we?"
Matt gives a slight smile to the stallion's words, the young kid has never met this stallion before but having this strange pony know his name kind of makes the young kid feel like he actually did something important.
Swirl turns back to Celestia as he talks, "I must return to my tower, I will be back when the magic in the element has settled."
Celestia nods to the old stallion as he trots out of the room. As the old stallion leaves the room she turns her body back to Matt and Luna, "Luna I need you to make sure the guards are at the ready.." Her tone drops to an almost whisper as she talks, "But stay close to the castle...I feel that war may not have been what Discord was seeking."
Luna nods her head as she slowly trots out of the room, but she stops as Celestia's voice picks up again, "Matt, you are to stay in the castle this day...tomorrow we will talk about your departure."
The young kid nods his head as he holds a slight smile to the white mare's words.
End of Chapter 25
Chapter 26 – Element of Taking
Its been about an hour since Star Swirl left for the castle, and Preston's attention span has slowly dwindled away as he now mindlessly searches around the study's bookshelves.
The blond haired man walks back and forth like he has done for the last ten minutes, not really looking for a book but at least reading the titles.
Clover still sits at her chair but her eyes are still focused on the slight chime coming off of the gold crown resting on the table.
After a few more minutes of studying the bookshelves Preston moves his eyes to the two books that fell out of Star Swirl’s bag, both brown almost leather books are title less and the blonde haired man can't take his eyes off of them. He slowly walks over to them as he picks the first one up.
But as he flips through the pages all he finds are meaningless remarks the old stallion must have put down to remind himself of something.
"Put that down."
He moves his eyes from the book to Clover as he smiles, "There's no TV and i'm board."
Clover rolls her eyes to unfamiliar word as she talks, "Well these books are Master Star Swirl’s personal journals and I do not think he would be happy if he catches you reading them."
Preston nods at the comment as he puts the first book down and brings the second open to a random page towards the back of the book, unlike the other one this one is almost full as he reads the page aloud, "...Today is the first day of our quest to create the elements of harmony, our first task is to get a pure Trottingham gold crown made. As it is the finest gold in the land..."
Preston shots a smile back to Clover as he tries to copy the old stallion's raspy voice.
The mare holds an annoyed look to him but she doesn't stop him a he flips to another page and reads again out loud in the old stallion's voice, "...It's been four days since we have left the unicorn capital and Clover has not stopped complaining about the cloak I have asked her to wear."
Clover's ear flicks as Preston gives a laugh and continues, "...Her voice is starting to harm my old ears, she may be part ghastly eel..."
"Hey..." Clover now turns herself to Preston as she holds her hoof out, "Let me see that book."
Preston holds it out from her hoof as he chuckles through the next few pages to himself, "...Oh here we go..."
Preston's copying of the old stallion has started to get a little better as he talks, "Bha..." He gives a loud laugh as he stops, Clover slightly giggles to his voice as he reads, "...Today marks the fifteenth day of our journey and strangely after following a new feeling of magic we have discovered a creature I have never once seen before...." Preston stops his copying voice as he squints to the words now talking about him.
"...This creature has vomited on itself and not even said excuse me, very strange."
Clover gives a louder giggle as she points her hoof to Preston. He ignores her as he reads more, "...I have noticed that the weird magic field around this human seems to react to Clover's magic. I am starting to wonder if this is a sign of their magics trying to pull each other together."
The purple mare stop her giggle as Preston flips the page and reads, "...Day two of the weird creature, it has called itself Preston Armor even though it has no armor that shows it to be a guard or knight. But my first thoughts were proven true, that Preston and Clover seem to have a magical attraction that has allowed them to grow close despite their obvious difference in a very short time. I wonder what may happen if they were left alone with no other distractions. I shall continue to push at this new thought until I am proven right or wrong...."
The blonde haired man moves his eyes from the book to the mare that now impatiently waits for him to continue. He stops his gaze of her as he flips a few more pages, "Night one of the element of harmony, I feel as though Celestia's task is more than just what she has asked I feel-..."
His voice is cut off as the crown on the table gives off a loud ear pounding screech.
"OW!" Preston and Clover both shield their ears as they turn to the no longer glowing crown.
Clover squints to the crown as she talks, "It-it's ready!"
Preston pushes the stuff he read in the book aside as he looks over the crown, "Really?" He moves closer to it as he moves his hand towards it, but as his hand is placed onto it a zapping sound rings from it and he collapses to the table too weak to move his head. The man's eyes become half shut and shutters his body.
"Preston!" Clover quickly pulls him from the table with her magic as he flops back to the ground, her voice is rushed and concerned but she holds her cool, "Are you ok?"
Preston's hands glow a slight green as they shake in front of him. But his voice is cut off as a old stallion's voice rings through the room behind him.
"I told you magic is dangerous when unstable."
They turn there heads to Star Swirl as he trots into the room a little upset, "...Did I not?"
Clover and Preston are silent as Star Swirl moves to the crown and studies it for a moment.
"W-whAT was that?" Preston's voice is shaky but he gets his words out.
"That my friend was the element trying to charge from your magic..." Swirl turns his gaze back to him as he holds his hoof up, "...This element is so unstable it needs another magic to power it...for how long I do not know."
Preston finally moves to his feet with Clover as the mare talks, "Master what does that mean?"
Swirl is silent for a moment as he shakes his head, "I do not yet know."
A knock at the door down stairs breaks the tension in the room as Swirl points his hoof to Preston, "Clover hide him somewhere until I see who it is."
Before the mare can react the old stallion has teleported himself to the bottom of the stairs, his hoof comes to the door as he opens it, "Yes?"
On the opposite side of the door stands Celestia, "Celestia? I-I said I would bring the element in a little."
The white mare smiles as she talks, "Mage Star Swirl, I am aware of the elements unstableness." She holds her smile as her voice drops to a low sweetness, "The element of harmony is only meant to spread the feeling of unity, it does not have to work."
The old stallion blinks his eyes a little confused but he nods his head as his voice comes to him, "I-I suppose that makes sense..."
Celestia nods her head as she moves her hoof out, "Shall we unite the land Mage Star Swirl?"
The old stallion studies her extended hoof for a moment before he calls out to the house, "Clover could you place the element in the satchel please?"
"Y-yes Master."
A low chime runs through the house as Swirl studies his eyes to Celestia's, "You wish to have it now correct?"
Celestia nods her head as she smiles, "But of course, I want to have peace before this day ends."
Clover comes down the stairs with the dark bag floating next to her as she looks to the white mare in the doorway, "Sunkeeper Celestia, how are you?!" Her voice is excited as she passes the bag to Swirl.
The tall white mare blinks a little confused to Clover's voice before she speaks up, "Oh, I am fine this day...Thank you for helping Swirl on this quest."
Swirl hooves the bag to her as Clover bows her head, "It was my honor Celestia."
As the bag passes over to Celestia her horn glows a faint gold as the bag floats beside her, her smile slightly shifts a little as her horn sparks up a little, "Thank you Mage Swirl..." Her voice is cut off as her figure is teleported away in a gold shimmer.
Clover gives a sigh as she looks to the old stallion, "Our quest has finally ended Master." She holds a content smile as she closes the door in front of him.
Swirl lets out a coughing laugh as he shakes his head, "That was not Celestia." He trots back towards the stairs casually as he talks, "...Celestia never calls me Mage Star Swirl."
Clover's eyes shrink as she talks almost in a scream, "WHAT!"
Swirl cocks an eyebrow to her as he talks, "What?"
"You gave her the element of harmony!" Clover's voice is in a panic as she hyperventilates.
"No no no, we gave her a bag of rocks." Swirl squints to her as he talks.
"NO! Master you said put the element in the bag!"
Before Clover can speak up Swirl calls back to Preston who is still upstairs, "Preston, you need to come with us!"
Preston comes to the top of the stairs as Star Swirl speaks up, "We can not teleport with you and we must get to the castle hurry!"
Clover opens the door outside as she springs from the tower, "WE have to tell Celestia!"
Swirl shakes his head, "No Luna, we can not risk telling the wrong Celestia!"
The three run out of the house as fast as Swirl's old legs will take him.
End of chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 27- The golden boy
Celestia hovers Swirls bag close to her as she walks down the castle hallways. But after her teleportation spell her magic has become a little weak and her pink eyes are now starting to show green flakes of her real eyes.
As she passes each pony on her journey to her destination she avoids eye contact.
But as her destination becomes clear she moves her eyes to the white wood elegantly carved door, her horn glows a faint gold as it opens.
The white mare's voice is halted as she looks to the two beings inside the room, she moves her eyes from the dark mare as the dark bag is floated from view inside the room, "Luna, I need you to go and wait for me in the throne room, would you?"
The dark mare blinks at her sister's words as she nods her head, "Yes my sister."
Luna quickly trots out of the room but stops as she becomes out of view of the young kid still in the room, her voice is a whisper as she talks, "My sister I was only talking to Matt because..."
Celestia smiles to her as she talks, "Do not worry my sister, we will talk about this in a moment."
The dark mare nods her head as she trots away.
As Luna moves further down the hall Celestia turns her gaze back to Matt, "Hello Matt."
The young kid gives a friendly smile to her as he nods his head.
Celestia holds her sweet smile to him as she moves into the room, "I have a question I need to ask you...Sir Matt." Her sweet smile has become wide as her horn glows a brighter gold.
Before Matt can speak up Celestia's spell has teleported the two of them.
The magic rush brings Celestia's eyes to a full green as she looks to the confused man in front of her.
Matt swings his head around the gold and white stone room around him, it looks similar to Luna's but emblems of the sun instead of the moon are embroiled into the furniture.
His confusion is not allowed to last long as Celestia hoovers the crown from the bag and onto her head. The chiming form the crown has stopped but the element trying to draw power has not, Celestia's voice is a little pained but she holds her voice to a normal as she talks, "...I intend to bring this land into harmony..." She smiles as she lowers her head, "...By using the element of harmony to unite its ponies."
Matt's heart is beating quick as he shakes his head to her words in confusion, "I-I don't understand what you...-" His voice is cut off in a scream as Celestia lowers her horn to him in a gold glow, for a moment no magic is shot towards him, instead a white-gold light of the crown is sent towards him and has engulfed his whole body.
Celestia clenches her teeth as the element's stream of light has continued to trace between Matt and herself.
The loud chime of magic rings through the room as Matt's scream begins to fade, as his voice is cut from the world around him he drops to the ground hard with his eyes shut.
Celestia's mane is ruffled from the vortex of magic that was streaming from the object on her head, but her devious smile is held as she begins to give a loud laugh.
Her voice no longer sounds like her own as she talks, "Now its time for Equestria to meet its most beautiful and all powerful Queen."
End of chapter 27
Chapter 28 – A New Queen
The throne is quite as Celestia and Princess Platinum are away, the only sound coming from this room is Luna's own hooves clapping against the stone floor as she wait for her sister to enter the room like she said she would.
"Luna?"
The dark mare turns her head too a low voice, she studies the large white mare's slightly confused stare for a moment before she talks, "Yes?"
Celestia squints her eyes to her as she talks, "Princess Platinum has said you wished to speak with me?"
Luna blinks to her sister as she tries to understand her words, "But my sister you have just told me you wish to speak to me about Matt?"
The white mare losses her confusion as she thinks over Luna's words, "...Luna, you know that..."
"LUNA!"
The two sisters turn there heads to the out of breath old voice as Star Swirl holds his hoof out to them trying to catch his breath.
But the moment of silence is broken as Clover brings herself beside the panting old stallion, her eyes have not yet been laid onto the room but the name Luna has sparked her preplanned comment from her mouth, "...Celestia has stolen the element of harmony!..." Her voice is immediately cut from her mouth as her eyes drift to the shocked and bewildered tall white mare.
Preston has stopped himself from the door for a moment as he just listens to the conversation he can't see.
Luna shifts her eyes to the white mare with a questioning stare as Star Swirl tries to talk, "No..I...I think..." His voice is still too tired from his gallop to truly talk.
Celestia straightens her posture as she tries to understand the gasping old stallion, "Star Swirl what is the meaning of this?"
Star Swirl again tries to speak up as his voice comes back to him, "I believe that you were..."
The old stallions voice is cut off as a loud chime comes from behind where Luna and Celestia both stand.
"Hello..." Platinum has turned herself back to her own form as the white mare gives a sly smile to the four ponies in front of her gaze.
But Their eyes do not fall solely on the white mare, instead their eyes move to the gold crown with the bright purpley-pink glowing star.
"Princess Platinum, what is the meaning of this?!" Celestia squints her eyes to the white mare's devilish smirk as she lowers her head.
Platinum is unfazed by her stance as she holds her hoof to her and her eyes to the ceiling unamused, "Oh Celestia, your power is nothing to this weapon you have constructed."
Luna follows her sisters stance as she two lowers her horn.
But again Platinum only cocks her head in a smile as she talks, "Oh...Luna, you two?" She gives a slight gasp as she brings her hoof to her cheek, "...Whatever shall I do? The pony always in the shadow of her sister has taken a stand to me." She lets out a laugh as she stops her hoof to the ground. Her voice is starting to lose its tone as her body starts to take on a green aura, "...You two should be fearful of me...Equestria's new Queen..."
A horrendous laugh expels from her as she tilts her head up and allows the green swirls to move a little fast around her body, her horn and the crown atop her head take on a deep green glow as her figure starts to become shaded in her mist of magic
Preston moves his body behind Clover and Swirl as he looks into the room in the same trance like frozen stare to the swirling magic around the laughing mare.
"You think you are the most powerful..."
"...You are so wrong..."
The room takes on a bight eye blinding green glow as her body starts to reappear in the room, only its no longer the white coated and pink maned Princess that occupies her spot.
Celestia is the first to bring her eyes back into focus as she looks over the wicked looking dark pony with tangled unbrushed green-blue mane, her voice is almost sad as she lifts her head from its point, "Princess Platinum....what happened to you?"
"Princess Platinum?!" Chrysalis gives another ear pounding laugh as she shakes her head, "NO, I am Queen Chrysalis, the most beautiful and most powerful mare in all of Equestria!" She lowers her head and her voice as her jagged horn and gold crown start to glow, "...And I alone will be the ruler of this land!"
Luna is taken back just like Celestia as they both stare at Princess Platinum’s bug like body.
But there gaze is not allowed to stay as Chrysalis's horn sparks up with a spell, as the magic runs up her horn and reaches the crown a loud booming chime of a powerful magic is echoed throughout the room. But the tremendous bolt spell Chrysalis had in mind does not happen as her green magic rolls into the crown...
Chrysalis lets out a pained yell as the crown almost burns on her head, she's quick to throw the crown to the ground, and as the gold crown hits the ground the high pitched chime shatters the windows around the room.
Clover and Preston jump a little to the glass falling in and out of the castle but Swirl, Celestia and Luna just keep their eyes on the black mare still letting out a yell.
"WHAT is this!"
Celestia's voice comes up as she holds her head high, "Greed and hate is not what makes a element of harmony...you are wrong Chrysalis it is no weapon...it is a tool to spread love and toleration around this land..."
Chrysalis grinds her teeth to their words as she shakes her head, "NO! I am the most powerful! I have worked too hard for this all not to be mine!" Her horn sparks up in a bubbly green as a bolt of magic is sent screaming towards Celestia.
The bolt is blocked by a blue field as Luna's horn sparks up.
Celestia's horn is quick to fire back in response as she jerks her head forward. The spell hits against Chrysalis and is absorbed by her as she lets out a pained scream.
Another spell is sent from Luna as the dark mare stumbles back towards the throne.
"AHH!!" Chrysalis is once again struck by the spell and pushed back, she's unable to retaliate as she falls to her front legs.
Celestia and Luna's horns glow waiting to see if she has given up.
"Y-you think you are undefeatable? H-HA!" Chrysalis pushes herself from the ground as her horn glows again, "You're wrong!!"
"AHHH!" Chrysalis is stuck by a white light of magic, but the stream is not sent from Celestia, Luna or Swirl...instead the crown still resting where it has dropped has sent a bolt of light towards Chrysalis.
The dark black mare falls to the ground as she lays on her side in agony.
Luna slightly turns her gaze from the screaming mare as the bright white light leaves her body.
The dark black mare's back and front legs now have burned holes in them along with her blue bug like wings. Her voice is lost as she lays on the ground in a slight sob as she keeps repeating something to herself unable to keep the fight going.
Celestia is silent for a moment as her horn glows a faint gold and the crown is floated over to her head and placed on top...She slowly trots over to wear Chrysalis lays as she listens to the mare's fading voice.
"He lied...he lied...."
"What are you talking about Chrysalis?" Celestia holds her eyes ready for anything but her voice is a low stern sweetness as she waits for a response.
"D-Discord lied!"
Celestia's voice picks up a little as she talks, "Where is Discord?"
Chrysalis mumbles something as she tries to move her legs to bring herself up, but she's too weak to stand."
"Where Chrysalis?" Celestia's voice comes back down to the dark mare a little louder as she talks.
Celestia turns her head back to Luna with a powerful voice as her words leave her mouth, "My sister are you ready to face Discord?"
Luna is hesitant to nod her head but she does, "I am by your side my sister..." As her words leave her mouth a gold necklace starts to form around her neck with the same white light as the element of harmony's magic...the low chime only last a moment as she looks down the gold necklace is starting to become real around her; the necklace has an emblem of the moon in the center.
Swirl squints his eyes to the light as he tries to understand what he just saw.
Celestia looks back down to Chrysalis as she talks, "When you can stand you will show me what you mean."
Chrysalis nods her head as she pants to the ground.
"What's all the noi..." The stallion's voice is cut off as he comes next to Swirl, Clover and Preston at the door.
Celestia turns her head to the guard's voice as she talks, "Please find General Stonehooves please."
The stallion's mouth is in a gasp but he nods his head as he moves away from the door and gallops down the hall.
As the stallion leaves the hallway Swirl turns from the room and starts to mumble to himself as he begins a slow trot from the door.
Clover and Preston follow after him on instinct alone as Clover speaks up, "Where are we going Master?"
Swirl's mumble comes back up as he talks, "How did the elements of harmony just start to work? How did they get the power they needed?..." His eyes widen as he turns back to the two following him, "...Follow me..."
End of chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30 – Magic's old friend
Preston's voice echos off the stone walls of the castle as he tries to wrap his mind around the magical duel he just witnessed, "Who was that?"
Armored ponies are still quickly moving down the hallway as he presses himself slightly to the wall to let them pass. But his voice does not stop as he looks to the old stallion still holding his fast trot, "Star Swirl, who was that?"
The old pony exits the hall as he swings his head back and forth, he ignores the man's question for a moment until he starts toward Celestia's side of the castle, "That was the Unicorn princess..." He stops his voice as he takes on a slight sad sigh, "...Or at least she was..."
Clover shakes her head as she listens to the old stallion, "Could that really had been Princess Platinum?"
Swirl stops his trot as he nods his head, "I'm afraid it was..." His tone picks up from its dreary tone as he continues, "...How can so much have happened in the last few days?" The old stallion mumbles something to himself as he starts back up towards Celestia's staircase.
Clover finally realizes where the old stallion is walking as she speaks up, "Wait Master..." She drops her tone to a whisper as she trots to him in a whisper, "...We can't just go up into Celestia's chambers."
"Clover, that element was not ready when she took it, there might be some kind of clue as to what she did to it up in her room." Swirl takes his first steps to the hallway to the stairs without even giving a glimpse to all the ponies bustling around the castle.
Clover and Preston are quick to follow as the mare speaks up again in her low tone, "But master you even said that wasn't Celestia?"
Swirl doesn't stop his trot as he answers back, "Yes I know, it was Princess Platinum. But where else in the castle would you go if you didn't want to be bothered?" He doesn't wait for a reply as he quickly takes his hooves to the stairs.
Preston and Clover are silent as the winding staircase comes to its end. Star Swirl is the first to come up to the room, and as he does he stops.
Clover looks at the old stallion's hard stare a little confused but as she and Preston come out of the staircase the point of the old stallion's stare is meet.
"Matt?" Preston's voice holds his astonishment and excitement, but the blond haired man's tone changes as he notices the young kid laying on the bed not reacting to his voice.
Swirl is motionless as he stares to the kid's position.
"Matt?" Preston moves himself towards the bed as he gives a slight laugh trying to hold back some of his thoughts, "Yo Matt wake up buddy." His light tone is lost as he reaches the edge of the bed with no response from the kid, "Matt!"
Preston puts his arms to his dark haired friend's arms as his voice spikes up a little, "Matt! Wake up Matt!" The slight jerking of the young man brings no response as his eyes remain close.
Matt's arms are cold and with each jerk Preston gives his voice grows more and more concerned, "Matt come on buddy stop fucking around!"
Clover moves her self a little towards Preston but she is stopped as Swirl puts his hoof out.
Preston turns his head back to the two ponies still standing at the staircase as he almost screams back, "Do something!?"
Clover holds her caring eyes to the blond man's tearing brown eyes but she can't speak as Swirl's voice stars up, "I...I'm sorry Pres...."
"NO, do something, do a spell do anything!" The blond haired man pants a little as his heart races, he looks back to his friend's still closed eyes as he calls back to him, "MATT!"
Swirl moves a little away from the stairs as his voice takes on a wise and low tone, "...Princess Platinum must have used him as a power source to activate the element of harmony..."
"What does that mean!" Preston impatiently waits for the old stallion as his hands shake a little as they still rest on the motionless kid's arms.
Swirl pauses for a moment as he shakes his head, "...I'm sorry Preston..."
Preston doesn't wait for the rest as he starts to rub at his head in a loud sob, "C-Can't you do something?"
Clover and Preston's eyes both fall to Swirl, the old stallion looks to the ground as he shakes his head, "I do not know..."
Preston clenches his teeth as he looks back to the young kid laying in the bed.
But Swirl's voice doesn't stop as he moves a little closer, "But I will try."
The man brings his head up still in a pant as he study's the old stallion's determined face, "W-what?"
Swirl's voice holds its caring wise tone as he talks, "This is my fault Preston...and I will not rest until I know I have tried everything."
He continues as he moves his gaze to the young kid laying on the bed, "The element of harmony needed magic..." The old stallion brings his hoof to his chest as he continues, "...Magic is emotion and thought...these two things are what make us who we are, it's a soul of a being...there is a possibility that we can get him back, if the element's are intact."
Swirl turns himself to the stairs as he talks, "I will return in a moment."
Preston's sobs don't stop but he nods his head to the words as Clover gets closer to where the man is sitting on the bed as she talks, "Just trust us Preston." She gives a sweet smile as she nears him. Preston nods his head as he answer her, still holding his doubt out of his mind, "ok."
(Throne room)
Chrysalis has been brought to her hooves as she stands next to general StoneHooves under his watchful eye.
Her defeat has not started to weigh onto her mind as she looks over her holed studded legs and wings. Her coat has also now taken on patches of grey throughout her once full black coat. But her mind is still set to her own denial to her evil looking for, to her her body still is the most beautiful in Equestria...With this thought in mind Chrysalis head is held high as she is lead to her room.
Celestia and Luna follow in behind her as the tall white mare speaks up to Chrysalis, "Now, show us how to get to Discord."
Chrysalis turns her sharp eyes to the mare as she nods her weak head to the mirror, "Yes, Celestia..." Her voice is almost mocking as her horn glows a low green.
Stone Hooves and the few guard stallions in the room tense up at the magic, but they're calmed down as Celestia's voice calls to Chrysalis, "Do not attempt anything Chrysalis."
The black mare shakes her head as she gives a faked sad frown to the white mare, "Discord must pay for what he has done."
The room being reflected in the mirror takes on a low shade of the green as Chrysalis horn stops its glow, the mare's voice is still weak and holding its mocking tone as she nods her head, "All you need to do now is a simple teleportation spell...Celestia."
Luna turns to her sister as she waits for her horn to start up, as the dark mare's eyes reach Celestia they both nod their heads as there horns spark up with the spell. The moment of chiming magic is short as their figures are teleported from the room.
Chrysalis gives a slight smile to their disappearance, but her joy doesn't last as Stonehooves speaks up, "Ok Princess Platinum follow me." His words are hard to the mare's ears as she turns her head to the stallion.
"Where am I going?" Chrysalis awaits the response already knowing what he'll say.
Stonehooves's face is unfazed by the mare's confused and slightly sad face as he answers, "You know where, you are to be held in the dungeon until Celestia and Luna are back."
Chrysalis nods her head as her voice drops to a low sweet tone, "Do you not think that perhaps I can just wait here?"
Stonehooves looks away from mare's smile as he talks still in his hard voice, "I am sorry Princess Platinum, but you are not allowed to stay here."
Chrysalis stops her smile as she looks around the two other guards that stand in the room, but her smile comes back as her horn sparks up in a green glow, "Its Queen Chrysalis."
In the blink of an eye the doors to the throne room are slammed shut with a green magical field around them, the guards on the other side of the door act fast to try and open the door, but the magic barrier keeps them from it.
The loud door slamming has startled the two younger stallion's and they are unable to react to Chrysalis as bubble like field of magic is sprung from her horn.
The two stallions are thrown to the wall as they give a little groan to the hit, but Stonehooves was unmoved by the spell as the wall of his own blue magic fades.
He lowers his horn to Chrysalis as he sends a bolt towards her.
The small room brings the bolt to the dark mare fast, but shes able to block it as she sends one of her own to the stallion.
Stonehooves is sent to the bed knocked out from the weak spell of the tired Chrysalis.
She pants a little through her smile as she tries to hold the room closed with her fading horn.
"General Stonehooves ? General Stonehooves?"
Chrysalis quickly searches the room for an escape but she's too weak to teleport and too weak to outrun any pony outside. But the dark mare's search ends as she looks to one of the knocked out stallion's on the ground.
Her horn sparks in a bright green as the light of her magic swirls around her body.
The quick spell only last a moment before she emerges from the swirling green lights as a copy of the stallion.
Chrysalis spell on the door no longer glow a faint green as a gold light starts to come over the two doors.
As the spell breaks and the doors fly open to Star Swirl and a few other ponies Chrysalis drops to the ground and screams, her voice is no guard's but it passes as a young stallion as her voice calls out, " Chrysalis has escaped!"
The armored ponies quickly move over to general Stonehooves as Swirl turns his gaze to the young stallions voice, "What happened?"
The stallion holds his hoof to his head as he blinks his green eyes around the room rapidly, " Chrysalis s-she overpowered us! She must be have been stronger than we thought!" The stallion gives a pained groan as he tries to bring himself to his hooves, "W-we have to warn everypony of her escape! We have to make sure everypony is looking for her!"
Star Swirl helps the groaning stallion to his hooves as he talks, "Yes, yes, but lad you need to take a rest."
General Stonehooves and the two other stallions are still in a slightly knocked out state as they are slowly being brought to an upright position.
The stallion Star Swirl is talking to quickly moves towards the door as his young almost mare like voice calls out, "N-No she can't get away!"
Star Swirl holds his hoof out to the stallion but he quickly darts from the door before the old pony can speak up.
He moves his gaze back to General Stonehooves as he walks closer to where he sits on the bed, "How do you feel my friend?"
General Stonehooves's voice is broken up as he blinks his eyes to the room, " C-Chrysalis she...she..."
Swirl holds his hoof to the stammering stallion as he talks, "Its alright, its alright, just calm down. That stallion is going to make sure everypony knows."
General Stonehooves tries to stutter out something else but Chrysalis strange magic is still churning in his body too much to let him speak up.
End of chapter 29
Chapter 31 – The moon under her sun
Celestia and Luna's spells bring them to a an open room of colored mismatched stone with nothing around them in this open room but a large upside down red throne.
But their eyes are focused squarely on the being sitting in the throne as Celestia's voice calls out to it, "Its over Discord." Her mane along with Luna's sways with bright colors that shine almost illuminated by themselves, but the colorful mane of Celestia is contrary to her strong voice as she waits for Discord's reply.
Discord's horns are just above the ground as he sips on some tea that is held in his orange magic grasp. His eyes are closed and he acts slightly unamused by the white mares words. His voice shows this as the throne and himself start to rotate right side up, "Now now Celestia, I know this looks like I have my name written all over it..." He opens his bright orange eyes to the two sisters as he takes another sip of tea, "...But what makes you think I had anything to do with...well anything?"
Celestia is unmoved as she answer back to him, "Discord you have been cast out by your own accomplice, your war has been avoided and the elements of harmony have been created."
Discord snaps his clawed hand as a gold stand table is poofed next to him, he moves his cup to the table as he talks in a slight gasped tone, "War? Why I would never do anything to the ponies of this land..." As he puts the cup to the table it flies up to the ceiling almost as if it were dropped and gravity has taken hold, but as the cup smashes against the ceiling and the pieces don't fall back down Discord smiles, "...If I did anything to harm anypony, well I would have nopony to play with."
Celestia's hard face has still not changed as she talks, "Are you coming willingly or not Discord?"
He lets out a laugh as he moves his claw fingers throughout his beard, "Where to Celestia? We both know no eternal being can be destroyed, what will you have me do say i'm sorry to everypony and cast me out of the land?" He lets out a lower laugh as he brings his hands cupped up next to his head, "I'm sorry Celestia." He quivers his lip as he holds back a laugh.
"You have lost Disco-..." Celestia's words are cut off as Discord slams his arms to the armrest on the throne.
"I never lose!" His eyes lose their orange glow as he quickly talks through a smile, "...I have simply found something that will make both of our lives much more enjoyable for a long time." He smiles as he turns his gaze to Luna.
"Tell me my dear, why is it that Celestia didn't tell you about the elements of harmony?"
Celestia squints her eyes to the change in conversation as Discord quickly continues, "...Why does Celestia always want to keep you from happiness? Why does Celestia call all the shots...." Discord rises from the throne as his voice takes on a new high, "...Why does Celestia get the warm bright and happy day when you...you get the cold and feared NIGHT!"
"That's enough Discord." Celestia's voice is cut off as Discord focuses his eyes solely on Luna.
The dark mare's ability to ignore the goat creature is starting to fade as her eyes start to soften to his true words.
Discord only stops for a moment as he cocks a smile to Celestia, "Luna...why does Celestia get the crown?"
Luna is still quite as she tries to turn her eyes from the creatures dark lifeless eyes.
He losses his smile as he speaks up, "Answer me?!"
"That's enough Discord!" Celestia finally raises her soft voice over his as the star in her crown glows bright with her building magic.
Discord shifts his head to her as she brings her heightened tone back down, "...This was your plan? To turn us against each other?...I would never do anything to harm my sister nor would I ever treat her wrongly...you have failed Discord."
He holds his lost smile for a moment as he looks around his colorful castle, "Your right Celestia...you would never harm your sister....but you would control this land no matter what..." He snaps his claw hand as the big screened tv poofs over his throne.
But his motion doesn't stop as his horns and eyes start to glow with a bright orange shine, "You haven't thought fast enough Celestia..." At the end of his words a bolt of flashing magic is sent towards where she stands.
The bolt is stopped as Luna's blue magic strikes against the bolt and sends it crashing into a wall, the castle rumbles a little as the wall begins to shift.
"Your region of chaos in this land is over Discord...." Celestia and luna's element's begin to glow bright as they both take a step towards each other.
The loud chime and brightening light doesn't shift Discord's smile as he watches the two sister's starting to levitate off the ground in a bright now almost white-pink light.
Celestia and Luna's eyes glows the same fluorescent color as there manes wips to the strong swirling magic around them.
But the moment of aw is just that...a moment as the two sisters that hold themselves above the ground look down to Discord in a godly echoing voice, "We cast you out of this land Discord...For the great good of everypony."
Discord nods his head as he gives a little laugh, "Should I pack now?" He holds his manic and crazy laugh as the bubble of light that surrounds them starts to almost vibrate the castle, at its peak the light turns into an almost rainbow of color as its rushes towards Discord.
His laughs are cut off as he lets out a deeply pained yell to the intense magic.
For Celestia and Luna, the magic takes a moment before they can bring their hooves back to the castle floor, but as they do they both pin their eyes to Discord's shaky stance.
His voice is almost a laughing tone but his pain seeps through despite his ability to hide it, "L-Luna....th-that magic is....familiar yes?"
Celestia is silently amazed to Discord's will to stay standing as he struggles to leave his stance, "P-perhaps you should ask Celestia where she got her element's p-p-power before Platinum stole them from her room." His legs are starting to lose their color as they take on a stone almost grey tone.
He raises his arms to the tv over his throne as he tries to laugh, the stone like color has creeped up to his midsection but its taking a little bit of time to encase his long body, "See for yourself....Luna."
With one last bit of energy he snaps his fingers to the screen as he erupts in a laugh, but his laugh is halted as the stone color quickly comes over his body and encases him in stone. Discord now stands in an almost singing laugh position as the screen above him starts up.
Luna and Celestia both look to the screen and listen as the voice of the two on the tv begin to echo around the room.
But for Luna the image that plays is something she is left speechless too.
The Celestia on the screen is wearing the element of harmony, and from the scene around the room Luna can tell that shes in her own room...but her eyes lay on the young kid standing in confusion in front of the white mare.
The chime of the crown is high as it bounces off the empty stone walls of Discord's castle. But as the Celestia on the screen talks its almost as if the voice is coming from her sister that stands right next to her.
"...I intend to bring this land into harmony..." Celestia smiles as she lowers her head to Matt, "...By using the element of harmony to unite its ponies."
Luna watches her mouth still hold open in confusion as the scene continues on.
Matt's face shows his confusion and fear as Celestia's head is lowered towards the dark haired kid.
Luna's heart drops as she listens to the kid's scream that echos over the loud chiming magic.
The tv is stopped as the white mare next to Luna sends a bolt of gold magic to the tv causing it to break.
"Luna, this is a trick played by Discord." Celestia is quick to turn her head to the dark mare as she talks, "You see this correct? This is what he wanted, he wanted to play with your emotions..."
Luna's mouth quivers as her eyes shift a little water, her gaze is split between the tv and her sisters confused and caring face. She can't bring herself to talks but the necklace around her neck glows a faint blue.
"Sister you see this yes?" Celestia repeats her words as she almost pleads with her unresponsive sister.
Luna slightly nods her head but her figure is cut off as her horn sparks up in a blue glow.
Celestia blinks to where her sister once stood, the only sound in the empty castle for a moment is the white mare's slightly panting mouth...but she moves her eyes back to Discord's stone as it and herself became surrounded in a gold glow.
The spell sparks up fast as the rush of air and swirling gold colors brings her back to her own castle's throne room, Discord's statue stands behind her.
The white mare slightly ignores the armored stallion as she talks, "Where has my sister gone?"
The guard stallion points his hoof to the door as he talks, "Uh, Luna just left here a moment ago...But Celestia general Stonehooves needs-..."
Celestia nods her head as she cuts the stallion off, "I'm sorry I have to go." The white mare's trot is quick as she darts into the hallway of the castle.
End of chapter 31
Epilogue
Epilogue
Dear Princess Celestia
The past five months since you have asked me to work on the element of harmony have lead me to a shocking discovery....
"Yo Star Swirl, where did you want this thing?"
The old stallion brings his tired old eyes from his journal and to the sound of the man's voice as he calls out, "I said to leave it down there Preston." His voice rings throughout the tower as it brings a silence to the building.
But the silence is broken as the sound of glass shattering on the floor bounces around the walls.
Star Swirl cocks his ear to the sound as he calls out through the open door of his study, "What was that?"
"Um...I was just moving the ball thing."
The old stallion thinks over the mans voice as it comes through the door, he shakes his head as he calls back to the door, "Just put the pieces on the table and you can leave now Preston."
Star Swirl mumbles to himself as he lets out a sickly cough, as his cough rings through the quiet tower the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs makes Star Swirl move his journal from the table.
The blond hair man now stands at the threshold of the door as he talks, "You alright?"
Star Swirl moves his hoof to the door as he holds his face from the man, "I'm fine, i'm fine...shouldn't you have left already?"
Preston blinks to the grey old stallion as he looks around the paper cluttered floor of the room "When was the last time you left this tower Star Swirl? You know Celestia still wants you to see the new city of Canterlot."
The old stallion turns his head to the man as he clears his throat, "Bha, new city, this old one was fine." He points his hoof to Preston as he talks, "I'll have you know I have been very busy, with far more important things than..." He stutters on the words as he talks, "Than working on a T-rain track plan, I have been doing things of importance to Equestria."
"Ya ya ya, don't make me get Clover to drag you out of this tower grampa." Preston holds a smile to the stallion as he waits for his response.
Swirl poke his hoof again towards his direction as he talks, "Ah, yes, and another thing my work would be fast if you two were not running off on me all the time. I mean really do you not get tired of that mare’s voice?"
Preston gives a little chuckle as he averts his eyes from the old stallion to the ground.
But Swirl's long windedness carries his voice before he can speak up, "Now, can an old pony get back to his work?"
Preston nods his head to the old pony but he doesn’t move from the doorway as he looks over the tired looking stallion.
Swirl squints his eyes to him as he rolls his hoof again, "You better not stay here too long, Clover might not like her stallion being out so late.”
The blond haired man gives another light chuckle as he shakes his head and walks away from the doorway, “Ya ya ya...”
"Wait!" Star Swirl grabs at a book from his desk as Preston comes back into view, the old pony gives a little smile as he talks, "Tomorrow you will have to tell me about this new city."
Preston nods his head as the old stallion continues, "But I am not going to listen to you if you wear that awfully bright armour."
Preston smiles as he nods, "Alright."
Star Swirl waits for the sound of Preston's feet on the stairs before he brings the small book back to the table and begins to write again.
...the powers that it absorbed from the other world have caused problems in them, yes they are still bound by harmony but the side effects are unknown...Like you have said the element of harmony is no longer connected to you, nor to anypony for that matter. This means the element will only work when they are activated by a magic that is similar to their own...I don't see how this is possible seeing as how they were created with magic not of this world-...
Preston's voice again brings Star Swirl from his journal as it calls back from the bottom of the stairs, "Hey Star Swirl, don't forget tomorrow you're going to Canterlot...Celestia says shes got a spell that may make my life here a little easier."
Star Swirl can't concentrate on the page in front of him as he thinks over his words, "What spell?" His old voice goes unanswered as the door to the tower is closed.
The old stallion thinks over the words for a moment but pushes it aside as he goes back to the journal,
...and with their reactivation they will again need to be charged the same way it was before. You have told me to hide them incase they are ever needed again...I hope they are truly never needed again, for once they are found they will only work for a limited amount of time. The cost to use these elements is too great and I advise you to never use the element of harmony again.
Sincerely Star Swirl
The grey pony moves his chair away from the pages of the journal as he lets the quill drop from his hoof and to the empty spot on the table next to the book.
But his moment of relaxation is brought to an end as his voice picks up a little, "Come here Wispy...come Wipsy..."
The sound of glass tapping against the stone floor is heard throughout the tower as Star Swirl looks to the door.
After a few moments of the glass tapping sound a small crystal like lizard on all fours comes into the room.
Star Swirl smiles as his horn glows a faint gold, "That's a good Wispy."
The crystal blue colored iguana has crystal shards poking up from its back that slightly flail out as its floated up to the table as Star Swirl slowly tears the page from the journal.
Wispy's eyes shift around the room in different directions as Star Swirls voice comes back to it, "Now Wispy I need this to go to Celestia, its not food and i'm too old to write it again." Star Swirl moves his hoof under the crystal lizard's mouth as he start to tickle the crystal animal.
Wispy's eyes close as its back leg starts to thump on the table with joy almost like a dog, its almost see through like body begins to glow a light pink as it opens it’s mouth.
Star Swirl folds the page with his magic as he moves his hoof from the lizard. The moment his hoof leaves Wispy's body a small pink flame burst to the page and its disappeared from Star Swirl hoof.
"Good Wispy...now go and eat the glass Preston dropped."
The lizard is silent as it sits dumbly on the table just flexing its throat.
Star Swirl only holds his gaze to it for a moment as he moves his head back to the journal with another sickly cough.
He looks over the journal's page as he flips to another section, titled 'notes'.
As his couch subsides he moves the quill to his hoof as he begins to write.
My sickness has started to make me tired and i'm now forgetting more and more. I am finding that finishing a spell for Preston weather he still wants the option or not, but this along with trying to focusing on working with the element of harmony is starting to become more difficult. I fear that I will not be able to complete both...
His hoof shakes a little to the words he just wrote as he quickly scribbles out the last line. He lets out another cough as he writes another line under the scribble.
Whether it be my own fault or my own guilt to not being able to save Preston’s young friend but a promise...my promise is much more to me than a spell that will never be needed.
MAybe I could...
Author's Note
If you liked the story continue it with the other 41 parts with following the link above, please note they are older so give me some slake on the first few...But they pick up just like this one did.
Prologue
The Land Before Them <- The first part.
Prologue
The air is heavy, saturated with the evaporated mists as the warm heat from the sun bakes at the waters held in every tree of the Everfree forest. These tall rigid branched trees stand as testament to the new land of Equestria, untamed, untouched, uninhabited. The sounds booming through these forest are played with the amplifier as each tree gives a crying howl to the booming bolts of magic clamming into them. But these thunderous claps pale in comparison to the two human men running for their lives, their minds are cumbersome with only the pulse that carries their legs forward; their hearts much like their breaths are rampant and sporadic as the two men call to each after every thunder, bark breaking bolt of screaming purple and blue magic slams around them.
"...Damien !...W-...What wa-s thAT!?" Preston the younger of the two men struggled to keep pace with his fit friend as the bushes around his barely tied shoes began to slow him down.
The dark haired man in the blue polo and tan baseball shorts turns his body with a slight hopping on his feet to keep his momentum and adrenaline pumping. His weary red teary eyes turn to his slow moving blonde haired friend, "Don't stop Preston! Don't stop! We need to keep moving!"
Preston’s nose is running from the overexertion of his body and even though his mind is screaming to run he can no longer achieve his goal as he leans himself to a mossy tree, "I-I can't I ca...-"
The young mans voice is cut off as he falls to the ground sheltering his head from the splinter pieces of wood as another bolt of light strikes into the tree only a foot from his resting head. His ears are ringing as the heat from his body is channelled through his face in fear, neither one of the two men know how or where or why they have been thrust into this forest nor do they know anything of the talking armor suited animals that they had just encountered.
Preston’s head shakes in fear as he tries to hold himself from vomiting, but his rest comes to an end as his old friend yanks him to his feet. Damien’s eyes are still teary as he shakes his younger friend, "We need to go!"
The younger blonde haired man shakes his in a absent mind agreement to the old mans strong voice.
Damien pulls on Preston’s shirt as he forcefully pulls his friend behind him.
"Wh-where are we!?" Preston stumbles himself to the souls of his shoes as he brings himself to a fear driven start up run.
Damien locks his jaw for a moment as he leads through the low lying tree branches; as the large branches move and the two men enter a clearing they come to a cliff like drop where they can see the lay of the unknown land.
The cracking sounds of the bolts behind them have dissipated and they stand looking over the lush grassy field lands in a tired heap of heavy breathing. This scene in front of them stuns the two men in silence as they try to take in the reds, oranges, yellows and greens of trees and grass lands that lay in front of them.
Damien is the first to bring his breathing to a steady pace as he stares wide eyed to the lavish area around them, "...I don't know..."
~ - - - ~
( Thirty minutes before)
"...Ya ya ya, you always have some bull shit story." Preston knocks his balled up fist to his friends baseball bat laying shoulder as they walk casually down the freshly rained on side street towards the abandoned field they have come to call a normal afternoon hangout. The two men have been friends ever since Preston's parents died when he was just a young kid. Damien’s parents, who were friends of the family took Preston in and they have been like brothers ever since; and growing up with Damien as his makeshift older brother Preston learned one thing...Damien likes to tell bull shit stories.
"...Naw man i'm serious the fucking fish was as long as this bat man." Damien holds the bat from his shoulder as he tries to hold his exaggerated story together to his wising up friend.
Preston no longer is buying into his friends story as he smacks the bat from his face with his unoccupied left hand.
The tall fit darker haired Damien gives a chuckling smirk as he moves his eyes back in front of him and sets their blue eyed gaze on the broken fence, "Well still was a big fish." He stops at the rusty old fence as he tosses the wooden baseball bat over it and prepares to hop over. He holds his muscular arm out to Preston as he gives him a cocky smile, "Don't drop those baseballs again, if they go into the storm drain again your fat ass is getting them you hear?"
Preston gives a sarcastic nod and roll of the eyes as he throws the three dirty clay stained balls over the fence, "Don't worry, they're in the mud now."
"Good." With a low hmmf Damien thrust himself over the fence and plants his new nikes into the slick mud of the old overgrown field.
"You know there's a gate right?" Preston shakes his head as he walks the extra two feet to the loose gate.
Damien nods his head as he pulls his gloves from his back pocket, "Ya, did you know that, that gate could give you tetanus?"
"HA, and jumping a rusty gate can't?" Preston follows his friends lead and pulls his gloves from his pocket.
His dark haired friend squints his eyes at him as he talks, "Bro, you don't get that stuff from rust."
Preston straightens up as he lets his unfaced hands drop to his sides to show a persona of seriousness, "Dude?"
Damien copies his motion as he talks, "I passed health class last year don't mess with me."
"Ya ya ya, I forgot star baseball player with a full scholarship and you want to be a nurse." Preston cocks a smile waiting for Damian's quick response.
"Theres nothing wrong with nursing, I at least I don't fondle animals." He drags the bat up to rest on his arm as he fixes his glove for the last time.
Preston squints at him as he laughs, "So what being a veterinarian is a lot better tha..-"
"Yo guys!"
The two men bring their heads around to the beckoning younger kids voice as they see the dark haired high school junior sporting his trademark dark jacket and blue jeans body running down the still slick street.
Damien gives a low chuckle as he bats at Preston's chest, "I told you telling Matt to get beer wouldn't keep him away." Damien calls out to his younger brother as he walks to the fence, "There you are! Thought you would had got arrested for sure."
The young kid pats at the blue cooler in his hold as he brings it to rest on the rusty fence, "N-naw they didn't ever card me."
Preston calls out from behind Damien as his dark brown eyes look to the cooler, "Good thing too, you know what they would do to sixteen year olds in jail?"
Matt slightly ignores Preston as he passes the cooler to his older brother, "They don't put you in jail for trying to buy the stuff."
Preston gives a little sigh as he notices the short guys change in tone, Matt has always had problems controlling his emotions, just the simplest things will send the young kid into a slight fit. Most of the time its harmless but it always sparks him to do something without thinking. With this in mind Preston calls back in a less jokey tone, "Hey just go through the gate."
.Matt ignores the suggestion as he struggles to hop his short body over the decently tall fence, with a little pull from Damien he makes it over and tries to play it off, "See nothing to it."
Damien gives a low chuckle as he points down the field, "Alright fuck stick go stand down there I need to get going, Sara wants to go to some new pizza place tonight and if i’m late again she’ll have my balls."
Before his voice comes to an end Preston throws his two cents into the conversation, "You wouldn't have to be worried about baseball if you didn't have a girlfriend."
Damien nods his head in a sarcastic fashion as he rubs the scruff on his face, "Ya ya, and you wouldn't have to feel up on cats if you had one either hu?"
Matt gives a overzealous laugh to the joke as he points his gloveless hand to Preston.
The blond haired guy shakes his head as he look over the short kid, "What are you laughing at Matt? Not like you can get a girl.”
Matt stops his laugh as the blonde haired guy continues, “...Its not like you do anything special and you're too short to take a chick to an amusement park.” He stops his comment as he cracks up at his own joke, “Unless you don’t mind not riding any rides.”
Preston's smile is cut short as the young kid tries to rush him, but his path is stopped as Damien wraps his arms around him, "Hey hey-A, go to the field you both can't get a better pussy then a cat now go."
Matt flaps his loose black jacket as he makes his way down the field he gives a low laugh as he nods and points to Preston, "I think you’ve been around those animals to much Press, your starting to sound like a bitch."
Preston gives a slight laugh as he turns back to Damian, "ya ya ya shrimp, take that jacket off, i'm not carrying your sorry ass back when you faint."
The two older men shake their heads as they take their normal positions. Damien pats his bat to the ground as he spits to the grass. Preston wipes some clay off of the first ball as he warms his arm up and Matt squats down ready to catch or at least attempt to catch any fly balls in his gloveless hands.
With a nod from Damien, Preston takes a deep breath and sends the first ball flying towards his friend. The ball strikes against the chain link fence behind Damien as it rushes past him, "Whoa! Throwing fire balls today huh?"
"I got this one buddy." Damien squints his eyes as he works his hands around the shaft of the wooden bat.
With another nod Preston sends the ball flying towards him, this time Damien swings but misses the ball, "Ah! Ok ok this one for sure."
Preston now holds a cocky smile as he picks up the next ball. He doesn't wait for Damien's nod as he arches his body ready for another throw. As he exhales the ball is jerked forward as his arm and hand follow through the last two previous motions.
Clak! The white red clay ball is sent flying through the air as it leaves its smack from the bat,"Whoa!"
Matt watches the white orb fly through the air for a moment before it sails over the fenced in perimeter. Damien erupts in a yell as he pumps his arm, "Oh ya home run first hit!"
Preston gives a friendly laugh to his friend as he points to the two missed balls, "ya ya ya, now toss those back."
"Hey you want me to go get it?"
The two men look to Matt as they toss the baseballs back to their starting position. Damien nods his head as he calls back, "Ya sure go get it!"
The short dark haired kid nods his head as he runs to the gate and then down the street.
Preston drops the two balls as he nods to Damien, "Alright toss me a beer before he gets back."
"What you already thirsty man?" Damien shakes his head as he drops his ready stance and walks over to the cooler with his bat swaying, "I know the suns out but come on Preston you need to get out more."
They both give a stupid laugh as they both know that every day after their classes are over they come out here. Damien being as tone as he is always just likes to press fun at Preston which is not always the best thing but for today its all in good fun.
Damien tosses his friend a beer as he pops his and takes a quick drink, "Ah” He continues to look at the can as he talks in a low deeply grown up tone, “You know man after college i'm going to marry Sara."
Preston gives a nod and friendly smile as he pops the tab, he tries to lower his voice to make himself sound more distinguished as he talks, "All the luck to you man..."
The dark haired guy give a nod back as he studies the can in his grasp. But this moment of light hearted talk is just that...a moment as Damien brings his can up to his lips again a loud bang is heard from down the street that Matt ran.
Preston and Damien both turn there heads to the thundery clap in a slight stomach turning fear...they know the lower side of New York can be dangerous and they just sent their young friend and brother down a street in a very bad part of the city, and with Matt's attitude... In a blink of an eye Damien drops his can and clenches his bat as he runs to the gate, "Matt!" Preston quickly follows after him in the same hot faced fear as they run after the sound.
Chapter 8
Chapter 8 – Waking up the rest
The high morning sun hits against the side of the tent bringing a tan glow to the insides. Preston still sleeps soundly in the bed but Clover stands on the opposite side fully awake, her horn glows a low purple as the folded brown cloak starts to levitate towards her, but the low chiming magic is sheltered from her ears as Preston's loud snoring starts to ring through the tent.
Neither one of the two got any real sleep but in Preston's half sleeping mind feels the empty spot next to him and it’s triggered a deep sleep that he enjoys loudly.
Clover squints her teal eyes at the bellowing creature taking up her bed as the low purple aura on her horn takes a slightly brighter color. The covers around Preston's body begin to glow but the moment is short as the covers are thrown from his body.
Clover folds the covers paying no attention to the man until he speaks up, "What was that for huh?"
The mare gives a fake girly laugh as she floats the covers back to the bed, "OH, was that me?"
Preston brings his hands over his eyes as he rubs, "THAT wasn't a dream! OH FUCK!" He rocks himself to the edge of the bed as he gives another loud groan.
But his pointless yells are quickly blocked as Clover throws the covers at him, "Quite yourself, Star Swirl dos...-"
"Hello in there, how long are you going to keep an old pony waiting?" The old sounding voice makes the dark purple mare's eyes shrink a little as she quickly springs herself out of the tent, "Sorry master."
Preston follows behind her as he squints his eyes to the bright world's sun.
The old pony gives a slight chuckle as he floats a large wizard like hat to his white mane. Draped across his cloak covered body is a large night sky colored satchel that brushes against his long beard as he talks, "It's quite alright Clover."
Preston looks over the campsite as he speaks up, "Where'd your tent go Gandalf?"
Swirl squints to the name as he talks, "I'm sorry but you seem to have confused my name, I guess that would be a side affect of world teleporting."
Preston brings his head back to the old pony as he focuses on the words, "Wait, can you send me back?!"
The grey white stallion gives a laugh as he start to trot away, "No no, long range teleporting is almost impossible, I am still pondering how a pony like you could pull it off." He stops his trot as he turns back to Preston with his hoof raised, "I may have to write a book on that...I think i'll call it Star Swirl the Bearded’s book of teleportation...hmmmm" He bobs his head for a moment as his voice talks back, "...You are going to have to explain that spell to me one day." His trot comes back to him as Preston picks up in a sarcastic slightly depressed tone, “Great stuck here longer.”
Preston's following of the stallion is halted as he looks to the tent there leaving, "Wait, you're just going to leave the tent...-"
Before his voice is finished a loud cracking is heard behind him, he turns his head back to the tent as he watches it fold into nothing more than a tiny scroll like paper.
Clover's horn glows a faint purple as she looks at the floating paper and then back to Preston, "Here, make yourself useful and carry this."
The paper is floated to his hand as he takes hold of it, "H-how did y..."
"Come on." The pony starts up in a fast trot to catch up with the old stallion as Preston looks over the paper still in confusion, "Wait, wait where are we going?"
Preston and Clover bring themselves to a stop as they walk next to the old stallion.
"Ah, yes Preston...we seek Feather Peek."
Preston blinks at the name, "What's that like a chicken factory or something?"
The purple mare gives a sigh as she speaks for the old stallion, "Its where young pegasus learn to fly, the winds there are so powerful that at the right moment you can even be brought into their kingdom."
Preston blows at the comment as he places the paper in his pocket, "And why would you want to go there?"
Swirl gives a slight laugh as he ducks his head under a low branch in the path, "Because how else would we get into the kingdom?"
"Whoa! I thought you said that pegasus don't like unicorns?" Preston follows the stallions head ducking motion as he follows behind him.
"I never said that? Besides the last piece we require is there." Swirl gives a little cough as he finishes his statement.
Preston's voice lowers a little as he talks, "Thats for the element thing right?"
Swirl stops as he turns around, "Ah, you are learning, usually in a stressful environment...like a new area, one's mind locks. That magic we used on you must have opened your mind a little hm?"
Preston shakes his head as he lets out a laugh, "Magic? HA! i'm just tripping on fumes back at the abandoned warehouse and i’ll wake up any minute.” He lets out a low moan as he talks, “...And the best part is when I wake up i’ll have a nice big cheeseburger waiting for me...” Preston holds the comment even though he knows in the back of his mind the world around him is real and not some dream.
The old stallion cocks his eyebrow as he gives a little sigh, "Or perhaps your mind is still very locked away....Why is that Press-ton?”
The man gives a laugh as he folds his hands behind his head in a casual stroll through the forest, “Because your a talking pony.”
“Bha.” Star Swirl turns his head away from the path in front of him as he talks, “...You really must learn to accept things for something more, otherwise you will stay a very boring and dull being my friend.”
Clover gives a slight laugh as she listens to the old stallion’s comment.
Preston nods his head with a slightly annoyed smile as he talks back to the old stallion, "ya ya ya, and I slept with a horse last night, so there's that another reason this world is fake."
Swirl slows his path down a little as his voice calls back behind him, "When I said you could lay with my assistant that is not truly what I intended."
"MAster?!"
Clover's voice is cut off as the old stallion gives another coughing laugh.
"Real funny, lets poke fun at the freaking out human right?" Preston drops his casual walking stance as he holds his discontent to his voice thats directed to the stallion.
Swirl turns back with a smile as he stops, "Oh Preston, you should enjoy small joys in life even bad jokes are funny sometimes...let the happiness turn to a magic in you.”
Preston blows to the comment as he swings his head around the forest, "Ya ya ya, how far till we get there?"
The stallion taps his hoof to his mouth as he talks, "Hm, I say not for a good part of the day, unless you have a map of unexplored land that is."
The blond haired man shakes his head as he looks over the stallion.
"Well, than half of this adventure will be the joy of being lost...shall we?" Swirl brings himself back to a trot with a happy old man smile as he pushes through the forest.
Clover squints to the old ponies words as she talks, "But we need to complete this task as soon as possible?"
The stallion ignores her as he walks down the ragged trail in front of him.
Preston nods his head as he looks to the mare, "We’re fucked aren't we?"
Clover looks at Preston with a slight unsure face as she talks, “No, Star Swirl is perfectly capable of leading the way.” They both hold a forced smile to each other as her words ring in the forest.
(The unicorn capital)
The morning sun slowly starts to creep into the lavish royal room of the castle, its bright light shining in from the large crystal clear windows start to pen point Matt's eyes as he stirs a little.
Matt's stomach is full and mind is calm, the bed is not too large but the young kid's short body fits into rather well. With it's the warm silk sheets and light red royal bed covers feeling good against his shirtless body. The oasis free of talking ponies is making him hold onto his pleasant sleep a little longer.
But the sleep doesn't stay as a hoof knocking on the elegantly carved white wood door brings his eyes open a little, the low male voice is unfamiliar but Matt calls back in prerecorded response. Matt's voice is still asleep but its loud enough to echo off the white marble floor and through the door, "Fuck off Preston...."
The stallion's voice calls back as a slightly louder knock hits against the wood, "Sir Matt, the Princess requires your presents."
The young kid is still asleep as he calls back, "Hmmm five more minutes..."
His voice sparks the door to crack a little as the white mare pushes herself into the room, the royal guard behind her try to call out but she cuts them off before they can finish, "Princess Platinum we wil...-"
"I am perfectly capable of waking a prince." She gives them a slightly annoyed glare as her horn glows a light pink and the door closes. Shes dressed in a royal gold cloak similar to the one she had yesterday but instead of purple gems and white trim around the cloak, there are blue gems and dark blue trim. Her green eyes turn to the still asleep Matt as her hooves clap quietly on the marble floor.
"Sit Matt, will you awake?"
"hmmnnobergluga..." Matt's mumble falls short of a sentence and the mare blinks her eyes a little confused at the sound, "I beg your pardon?"
His eyes slowly start to crack open as he looks over the voice coming closer to his head, as he opens his eyes the mare's face and body is only inches from his as she stands near the bed. "Ah."
He jerks his body up in the bed as he looks to the mare, she follows his surprise as she listens to his voice, "W-hy are you in here?"
The mare holds a smile as her horn glowed a faint pink, "I request your presents this day." The glow wraps around the covers as they start to roll back.
Matt quickly grabs at the covers as he talks in a rushed voice, "I-I'll be out in a minute."
She doesn't take his answer very well as her voice picks up a little, "I know that its only your second day here, but surely you understand that you must be introduced properly..." Her magic overpowers his hold as she talks, "...Surely a prince would want a proper welcome in a new land."
His cheeks blush a little red as he tries to cover his boxer wearing body, "Y-ya of course."
Her eyes trace over his almost bare body as she backs away a little, "Oh, i'm sorry, I was not aware humans were furless. You must be cold." She scans her eyes around the room as she locates his clothes, "Ah here you go."
The pink magic that wraps around the clothing is quickly brought over to him as he grabs at it, "Ya, cold."
Platinum squints her eyes to his cheeks as she talks again, "My you must be cold, your face has gotten red?" She pushes her face a little closer to his as she squints at his colored cheeks.
Matt leans his body back a little as he stammers out a few words, "N-no i'm fine I just...need to get dressed."
She leans herself back as she nods her head, "Very well, please hurry we'll be outside."
The mare turns back to the door as she opens it with her pink grasp and leaves.
Matt gives a low sigh as he stands himself from the bed after the awkward wake up, he quickly throws on his grey shirt and blue jeans as he tosses the jacket back to the bed.
"Ok i'm ready..." His loud voice stops as he gives a quick sprint to the door, and stares at the four ponies standing outside of it.
The two stallion's wearing silver armored chest plate and helmets stand at attention as his voice runs past them. Matt blinks his eyes a little confused to their reaction as the larger dark mare next to Platinum speaks up, "Hello Sir Matt, we hope you had a pleasant sleep."
Before she can speak up the smaller white mare cuts in as she adjust the crown on her head, "Yes, well everypony best get going, we cannot have the others waiting today." She and the two guards start a trot down the stone grey castle hallway as Luna's voice comes back to her.
"Princess Platinum, should we not wait for our sister?"
The white mare's ear flicks a little as she turns herself in a light laugh, "No no, Sir Matt is all we need this day."
Luna's face takes on a little confusion as she talks, "How is this?"
"Trust your Princess." The white mare gives a smile as she turns her head back down to the hallway.
Matt follows after the three ponies in front of him as the dark mare walks beside him.
End of chapter 8
Chapter 32- The fall of an empire
Preston has pulled a chair close to his young friend's side as he listens to the old stallion jabbering to himself as he trots back and forth in the room. The sun sits high in the sky like it has for a few hours, and its rays shine into the room bouncing off the flooring. But the warm light is still not enough to bring Preston's sorrow filled mind out of its funk.
Clover sit across from the bed as she looks over the blond haired man's sad face, "Hey, it'll be alright, all we need is-..."
Her soft voice is cut off as the sound of hooves pounding against the stairs echo into the room, "Luna! Your back!" Star Swirls happy tone is slowly lost as everyone turns to the dark mare's frozen stance.
Luna is silent for a moment as she looks to Matt laying motionless in the bed, her movements slightly pick up as she moves a little closer to the bed.
Swirl again speaks up but in a lower tone as he talks, "Has Celestia come back? I'm afraid we have some bad news about Platinum."
Luna gives no remark as she holds her soft teal eyes to Matt still, the necklace around her neck still glows bright but no chiming is heard from it as Swirl once again speaks up.
"We require yours and your sister's...."
The old stallion's voice is cut off as Celestia's rings from the top of the staircase, "Luna!"
The dark mare's ear flicks as she squints her eyes in anger to Celestia's voice, her motion is quick as she turns to the white mare, "This is your fault." Her voice is loud, but its more emotionally shaky rather than a scream or yell.
Preston turns his head to Celestia as her words quickly come out in her sweet voice, "No, my sister Discord wanted this to happen...I had no idea he..."
Luna takes a stance to her as her voice raises a little more, "We do not wish to hear it! You have caused this..." Her high tone breaks a little as she drops her head to the ground unable to talk through the sadness building in her throat.
Celestia takes hold of the situation as she moves closer to her sister holding her caring eyes to her, "Luna, you know I could not do anything to harm you...in anyway."
Swirl, Clover and Preston are silent as they look to the two large mares.
But the silence is broken as Swirl speaks up, "Celestia, we may be able to help Matt if we use the elements of harmony."
Luna brings her head up a little to the stallion's words as he continues, "It's possible that we can revert the element's spell as long as nothing happens to them."
Celestia nods her head but before she can speak up General Stonehooves appears at the top of the staircase in a rushed fast talking voice, "Celestia! Your back! You're needed, Princess Platinum has escaped and we must have somepony to address the other two tribes." He pauses for only a moment before he continues, "...With Princess Platinum no longer in power the unicorn law dictates the sunkeeper is to become next in line if there are no pony of the same kin."
Celestia nods her head as she talks, "I will be down in a moment Stonehooves..."
The stallion nods as he starts down the stairs.
Luna is silent for a moment as Clover trots over to Star Swirl as he talks, "May I see your elements?"
Celestia turns her gaze to Preston as she talks, "Hopefully you and Matt will be home by the end of this day."
Preston is silent as he gives a simple smile.
But at her sister's words Luna's ear flicks as she starts to think over Discords comments from only a few moments ago.
The white mare moves herself a little closer to the old stallion but before she can take the crown off Luna speaks up.
"Discord was right..."
Celestia is shocked at the words as she trips on her words, "W-what my sister?"
Swirl, Preston and Clover turn there heads to her voice as it starts to pick up in tone.
The dark mare's horn glows a faint blue as the balcony doors behind her fling open, "Discord was right, you have created the elements of harmony for your own gain, not for the benefit of everypony!"
Celestia shakes her head as she talks, "Luna, no I only wanted to unite everypony and work together for a better..."
Luna cuts her off as she takes up a slightly aggressive stance, "No, you only wish to control everypony and you only wish to see Equestria the way you see fit!"
"No Luna, that's not true." Celestia's voice almost pleads to the dark mare as she watches the mare's hoof.
"I will no longer be controlled by you Celestia! Nor will anypony else!" At the end of her words she snaps the element from around her neck and tosses it to the ground.
Celestia watches the gold necklace bounce to the stone floor for a moment but as it comes to a halt it gives a loud chime and disappears from its spot on the floor. Celestia moves her gaze back to the mare walking with her wings out towards the open balcony doors, "Luna...."
Luna's tone has altered to her god like echoing as she calls back to her sister, "Your control over everypony ends today Celestia..." Luna turns back to the room as her horn sparks up in a bright blue.
Swirl and Clover take up a slight defensive stance as Luna's horn begins to crack with her powerful magic.
Preston sits almost frozen to the loud voice unable to think of anything he can do he just sits quietly as his heart beats in fear in his ears.
The point of her horn's glow becomes clear as the room and the world behind her starts to become darkened.
Celestia is in a sad frozen stare to her sister as she looks at the sky behind her, the moon is moving in front of the sun causing an eclipse...but the cause of her sadness is not her sun fading from the sun...Luna's dark blue coat is taking on a black night like shimmer and her eyes are losing their life loving soft teal and becoming an almost serpent like vertical in the pool of her now fading teal eye color.
"...Luna..." Celestia can't muster herself to say much more than her sisters name as she looks to the pony before her.
The now night black mare raises her head in a sad laugh as she talks still clinging to her echoy power commanding voice, "I am the night and the night is forever!" Her head is brought back down to Celestia as she holds her hoof to her, "...You are banished from this land Celestia!"
Luna's horn begins to lose its color as the moon is moved directly in front of the sun, Celestia still standing with a disheartened stare to her darkened sister as Luna speaks back up, "Does thou not hear us! I say you are banished my sister! Never to return, all ponies deserve freedom and a calm everlasting night!" Her voice booms as her mane that now sways despite the breeze vibrates with her voice.
...But Celestia's voice doesn't come as something different strikes Luna's ear, the city that lays behind her has started up in a panic. Luna turns her head to the darkened outside world behind her as she listens to the commotions beneath her balcony.
Celestia's voice finally comes back to her as she talks, "Luna...A world of nothing but night is not beautiful...its a nightmare."
Luna's wings flap hard as she shakes her head, "Bite thy tongue sister, you do not control us any longer!" Luna now hovers above the balcony as Celestia tries to move closer.
"Please Luna, you must-..." Celestia's voice is cut off as a bolt of magic is fired towards her.
The white mare is able to move from the magic, but the bolt finds a target as it screams into the room.
The blue bolt strikes against Clover sending the purple mare sliding back to the wall next to the stairs in a hard thumping sound.
Preston jumps from his seat next to the bed as he rushes over to the mare, "Clover?!"
Swirl's horn sparks up in a bright gold as he holds his gaze to Luna.
The night black mare loses some of the anger in her eyes as she notices who the bolt hit, but she quickly moves herself from the balcony as she flies into the air looking down to the city below her in silence.
Celestia turns her gaze to the three behind her as she floats the element of harmony to Star Swirl, "Star Swirl...please keep this safe."
The old stallion nods his head as his own magic takes hold of the element.
Her soft pink eyes move to where Preston and Clover are as she looks them over.
Preston has his back to her as he moves his hand over to where the magic struck Clover, Clover's fur around her lower neck and upper right almost looks like its burnt as he moves his hands to the mare's head. He brushes her mane from her eyes as he talks in a rushed voice, "Are you ok?"
Clover gives a slight nod of the head as he helps her to lean against the wall.
Celestia only holds her eyes to them for a moment as she hears Luna's voice calling out from outside.
"Ponies of Equestria, hear me, you shall never have to worry about anything again...for you are all free, free in the world of forever peaceful night!"
The white mare closes her eyes for a moment as she spreads her large white feathered wings, a small tear forms from her left eye as she opens them and begins a gallop towards the balcony.
Her fast pace and flapping wings bring her outside and into the air as she stares to the dark mare hovering in front of her, Celestia's voice is no longer its pleading sweetness as she talks, "Luna, this has to end...Please."
Luna brings her head and body to face Celestia as she talks, "The night listens to nopony Celestia, it is free, and not bound by your rules."
Celestia holds her stern voice as she calls back to her sister, "I can not fight you Luna..."
The dark mare cocks a smile as her horn glows a faint blue, "Your day is over Celestia." Her body begins to become shrouded in a dark shadow, but the shadows start to take on a more solid form as they begin to look like armour.
Celestia's soft pink eyes hold their despair to her sister's angry tone as she tries one last time, "Luna..." But her voice is cut off as the night mare calls out.
"It seems as though one must leave this land my sister...it seems this world can only have one..." Luna's wings flap hard as her horn sparks up.
Celestia holds her sorrow back as she closes her eyes and builds her own magic up.
Luna lowers her head as her voice beckons to her sister one last time, "...Your day is lost Celestia...." At her sentences end Luna flaps her wings back hard as she sends a stream of dark blue magic towards the closed eyed white mare.
Celestia's horn booms out in a gold stream like her sisters as her eyes glow a bright white.
The two streams collide into each other and are unmoved as each sister tries to overpower the other.
Their eyes squint hard as they push themselves further for the spell, but the gold and dark blue lights only bring thundering sounds of ringing magic around the world around them as sparks fly from where they are meeting.
The spell last a few moments until Luna flies herself higher into the air, Celestia's bolt is let loose as it flies out of range.
Luna is quick to fire down on her sister as she screams out to her, "Give up Celestia!"
Celestia is silent as again the bolts clash against each other, neither moving in either direction.
The thundering booms from outside rock the inside of the castle as Preston slowly helps Clover to her feet, she's weak but her blue eyes are fixed to the clash of light in the sky outside, "S-star Swirl, what's going to happen?"
Preston holds his hands around the mare's sides still trying to balance out as her words leave her.
The old stallion's ear flicks at each counting clash of Celestia and luna's magic from out side as he shakes his head, "I...I do not know..." He floats the gold crown next to where he stands on a nearby table as he talks in a wise slow voice, "Their magic is stronger than any others I have ever known...and neither one of them could win."
The booms from outside ring through the room as the white and dark mare continue their fight. Luna's circling of her older sister has brought her in front of the room's opening as she again sends another powerful magic bolt to her sister. But like the others it is stopped by Celestia's own magic spell.
As the spell again loses power and becomes absent from her horn she's left with her building frustration, she pants a little as she looks to her seemingly unfazed sister's white eyed gaze.
Luna screams to her sister as her frustration and anger to her failed spells finally have built up to much, "You can not win my sister!"
Celestia is silent as her face shows no emotion to her sister's words.
Luna slightly snarls at the lack of response as she turns her eyes back to the room, her eyes are brought to the element of harmony only being guarded by Star swirl. Her sly smile comes back to her as her horn's glow is now being turned to the old stallion.
Star Swirl notices Luna's turn of face as he points his hoof to the stairs, "Get out of here you two!"
But at the end of his words Luna's spell has already been sent, only it was not a bolt, the gold crown that once sat on the table has been poofted to Luna's grasp as she quickly flies back higher into the air to dodge Celestia's incoming spell.
Luna holds the crown out to Celestia as she talks, "We may be equal my sister, but you have left this unguarded!" She floats the crown to her head as Celestia's horn glows a bright gold again.
As the crown is placed on her head she reacts quickly to her sister's magic. Once more the two are locked in a tug of war magic stream of light that neither seems to be winning...but this time Luna's bolt begins to creep up Celestia's.
The dark mare's smile grows across her face as the crown gives off a loud chiming sound along with her magic. However her moment of triumph is lost.
The chiming element that sits atop her head only grows louder as her spell begins to fade. The purpley pink star sparks up in a gold light as sparks of magic almost like tiny bits of lightning begin to shock around it. The element of harmony that Celestia has used now rejects the new magic being poured into it as it shocks at Luna. Her spell is cut short as it drops, leaving Celestia's weak bolt to strike against her.
She lets out a gasp as the bolt strikes her, but Celestia capitalizes on it as she sends two quick succession whips of gold magic to the stunned mare.
Luna's ability to hold herself above the ground begins to fade as she drops towards the ground. She pants as her body shakes, she jerks her head from the crown as it rolls to the balconies edge as she calls out, "But I am the night!" Her shout is almost a cry for an answer as she struggles to stop her body from shaking.
Celestia slowly brings herself to land in front of her sister as her eyes begin to come out of there white cocoon, "Luna...the night is only one part of harmony..."
The dark mare grinds her teeth to her sister's words as she stutters out her reply, "I-I will never be your night again Celestia..."
The white mare floats the crown to her own head as she closes her eyes tightly, her voice is shaky as she talks, "Than you may not stay here..." Her pink eyes open as they shift with there buidling emotion as she looks to her shaking sister, Celestia's horn begins to glow along with the crown as she talks through her sadness, "Luna...you are to be casted out of Equestria..."
"You can not cast me out, I am the night...I am the moon!"
Celestia nods her head as she talks, "Yes...you are." Her head lowers as the spell is sent to her sister.
Luna is trapped in a cyclone of gold for a moment as she screams to Celestia, "You can not keep us out forever...I will return Celestia..."
Her words are cut off with a loud resonating chime as she vanishes from where she stands on the balcony.
But the crown's magic chime does not stop as it begins the same gold shocking that it did to Luna. Celestia quickly removes the crown as she feels it. She stares a little in shock to the crown's response to her own magic, but she pushes her thoughts back as she takes her steps into the room.
Her eyes move to Star Swirl as she floats the crown over to him, "Star Swirl...find a place to hide this until it's power is needed again." Her words are low and her voice carries her sad tone as she forces a sweet smile to the old stallion.
Star Swirl nods his head a little reluctantly as he takes the crown into his hoof, "Hide it you say?"
Celestia nods her head as she talks, "Today is a new day...and I do not wish to be reminded of its past."
Star Swirl nods his head as he holds himself silent.
The blonde haired man drops his head as he clutches his jaw shut, Clover moves her hoof to his side as she tries to comfort him.
But Celestia's voice is not done as she tries to show her own compassion to her next comment, "...And i'm afraid with Luna gone the magic in our world will be unbalanced for a few years...the moon and the sun are more than just celestial bodies and an eclipse of the sun causes magic all over the world to be altered in strange ways...doing a spell to send you back like Damien would be too dangerous now."
Preston brings his head up as he quivers his mouth a little, "Y-you mean i'm stuck here?"
Celestia reluctantly nods her head but her voice is cut off as Star Swirl speaks up, "No, no I promise you Preston I will create a spell."
The blond haired man is silent as he's left with nothing but the ability to nod his head, too much has happened today and his ability to understand the strange world and its creatures has left him drained.
"But perhaps Preston this is an opportunity for you..."
He moves his head back to the white mare in front of him as he talks, "How? How is being stuck here an opportunity?" His voice is not angry but the words she used spark a quick response to her.
"Our world is much younger than that of your own, perhaps you can help us." Celestia's voice is held in a positive tone as she tries to hold her own self together.
Preston is silent as he nods.
Celestia straightens her posture as she talks, "Now we will need to find a place for you to stay while your are living here."
Swirl cuts in as he raises his hoof, "Clover can watch after Preston while I work on the spell."
The purple mare blinks to the old stallions words but doesn't say anything as he continues, "This way I can have you helping me with the spell."
Clover nods her head as she smiles, "Of course Master."
Celestia smiled to them as she moves herself more towards the stairs, "I wish you luck Star Swirl...today marks a new day for Equestria, and I must go and take it on with all the problems it brings." Her voice is low but her tone has shifted a little away from her sorrows and regrets as she continues her trot.
The white mare trots into the hallway as she leaves the room behind her.
End of chapter 32
