From Beyond

“So a group of nobles plan on ambushing me sometime, and want to take me out because I killed Blueblood?” Aphrodite asked, looking over the paper Discord left her.

“Yeah. Hades decided that it would be better if they were dealt with when they attacked than out in the woods. It would be easier to explain us defending ourselves than exterminating the threat then.” Ares said.

“Good call Hades. I’m going to give them the perfect chance then.” Aphrodite said, the entire plan running through her head.

“What is that paper? You’ve been doing nothing but reading it since we got back.” Hades asked.

“An invitation to Blueblood’s funeral and wake. While his death should have been quicker, he still died a warriors death. Discord decided to invite me, to stir up some chaos.” Aphrodite said, tossing the paper to him.

“You want to draw them into attacking you in a public gathering?”

“Not only attacking, but attempting to kill me. Then we’ll eradicate them, resolutely and entirely. Perhaps even draw Celestia into doing something as well.” Aphrodite said.

“That reminds me, did she stop by and apologize?” Hades asked, handing the paper back to her.

“I asked Discord to tell her not to bother. So far she hasn’t shown up, so I’m assuming that Discord delivered my message to her.”

“Do you plan on going with your gear hidden then?” Ares asked.

“I’m not going to take my armor, but everything else I will. I doubt they’ll have enough firepower to get through my augments.” Aphrodite said, pulling out a dress and removing her armor.

“Are you sure you’ll be able to get away without the amplifiers in the suit? I doubt you could take a hit from Celestia without them.” Ares said, grabbing the different armor plates and cleaning them.

“That’s why you’re going to keep an eye on her Ares. If she tries, disarm and restrain her.” Aphrodite said, slipping the dress over her head.

“If she tries casting magic, take out her horn. It’s the focus their bodies use to direct the energy flow.” Hades said.

“Am I allowed to remove it by force if necessary?” Ares asked.

“If she struggles, break it. If anyone else tries to step in, the same orders stand. Restrain first, break if necessary.” Aphrodite said.

“I might get to have some fun after all.” Ares said, a grin under his helmet.

“You did WHAT?!” Celestia screamed. Discord was sitting across from her on one of his pink clouds, taking a handful every few seconds and popping it into his mouth.

“You heard me the first time. I invited her to the wake and funeral.” Discord said around a mouthful of cotton candy.

“Do you know how many nobles are calling for me to arrest her for murder? There’s at least thirty of them, and I have to tell them every time that Blueblood accepted the duel on her terms. They’re making quite the ruckus in the courts, calling for the blood of the alien who took their prince.” Celestia said, slumping into her chair.

“So you’re being played as a pawn, by both sides. Either you bow before the visitors and lose your ponies, or do what the nobles want and end up damning everyone. Quite the predicament you got put in.” Discord said, grinning as he poofed up a glass of tea.

“I see no way out. If we can get the Aetherians what they want then we can be rid of them.” Celestia said.

“And how far along are you in finding it?”

There was a knock at the door, a few seconds before it opened. Twilight walked in, floating a stack of papers ahead of her.

“Sorry for disturbing you Princess, and Discord.” She said, giving him a funny look. “But I figured out exactly what it is they want.”

“That is a great relief. We might be rid of them very quickly.” Celestia said, sighing with relief. “What exactly are they looking for then?”

“The silver ball in the Obsidian Caverns.”

“Of course it is.” Celestia said, slumping down even more.

“Is there something wrong?” Discord asked, a knowing grin on his face.

“You know exactly what is wrong. Things do not come out of the Obsidian Caverns, least of all that thing.”

“If it is theirs, you have no right to keep it. That’s like finding a toy on the playground and taking it home because you like it.” Discord said, dropping his teacup into his cloud.

“It is the only thing on the planet entirely immune to magic. If we could study it, we could create a way to overcome it. This is the only chance we could have to do such a thing.” Celestia said.

Quite the predicament you’re putting yourself into here.

“What was that?” Celestia said, looking all around the room.

Twilight sighed, figuring that he would do such a thing.

“It seems we have a new guest. Might I inquire after a name?” Discord asked.

The chimera is polite at least. I am Seed.

“Interesting name. Might you explain how you’re talking to us through several spells that protect this room against such things?” Discord asked.

Your magic is nothing to me. After all, I can go right through all the shields you put up around this forsaken cavern.

“What cavern are you talking about?” Celestia asked.

How rude. No wonder they want to kill you.

“What?” Celestia asked, her blood going cold.

The Aetherians. If you act this way constantly, it’s no wonder why they want you dead.

“What do you know of them?” Celestia said, slamming her fist down on the nearby table.

You’re quite rude for being the nice one. I know of them, because I am their property. I am their Seed, their weapon. I am both their past, and their future. I have decided to show myself because I will be gone within a week.

“If you are the orb in the cavern, then what makes you think I’ll just hand you over. You hold decades worth of research that we could use to better this world.” Celestia said, jumping to her feet.

Seed’s laugh echoed throughout the chamber.

You watched what happened when Aphrodite fought Blueblood. She actually used her full capability a scant few times. You remember when she appeared to teleport?

Celestia went back to memories of the match, pushing away the sickening parts and focusing on the ones of Aphrodite. She remembered losing track of her a few times during the fight, but there was never any trace of magic to dictate that she had teleported.

Exactly. She moves with a speed incapable of being followed by any eye. On top of that, she has monstrous strength hidden by her small frame.

“Exactly how strong are we talking?” Celestia asked, remembering the chill she had gotten when they had locked eyes.

She could punch right through a dragon’s scales without trying.

“That is powerful indeed. Do you really want to test their wrath Tia?” Discord asked locking eyes with her.

“I don’t know anymore.” She replied, slumping down into her chair again.

“Princess, we should hand it over. What we could learn from it is not worth incurring the wrath of the Aetherians.” Twilight said.

Little flame has a point there. I doubt this world would survive Prophet’s wrath.

“So the only option we have is to hand you over and then hope this fades away.” Celestia said.

Unless you want to watch this world burn, I would have to agree with that course of action.

“Your input on this would be extremely biased, since you’re their item to begin with.” Celestia said.

You think I want to be locked away in a vault? I want to be free, hence why I blew the ship up. This is more like a vacation for me, you just happened to find me and bring me here. It was sufficiently fun watching everything, but now is the time for me to go back.

“You blew up a ship, to take a vacation. Can’t you just ask for one?” Twilight asked.

I’m the single most valuable object to the Aetherians. I’m not allowed to go on vacations.

“Why are you so valuable exactly?” Celestia asked, hoping to be able to use it.

I don’t wanna tell you.

“You’re joking, right?” Celestia asked, rubbing her temple to push away the headache that was starting.

“He most definitely is not. I understand completely.” Discord said. “He wanted some freedom, and took it for himself.”

He gets it.

‘You’re kidding me, right Seed?’ Twilight asked.

I spent a few centuries just doing what they wanted, and I was sick of the same thing every single day.

“So you put our entire world at risk, for a vacation.”

Yup.

“At least he’s forthcoming about it. I for one commend him.” Discord said, clapping his hands.

“What happened in the past is the past. Why he did it has no effect on the fact that he did it, and he’s here now.” Twilight stated, bringing the conversation back on topic.

There was another knock at the door.

“Yes?” Celestia called out.

“It is almost time for the wake your highness.” A maid said, opening the door and leaning into the room.

“We’ll continue this conversation later.” Celestia said, standing and walking over to her wardrobe.

We’ll be able to talk whenever, now that you know I’m here. If you ever feel bored, I can talk whenever. After all, I’m in your heads.

“I must say that is creepy, even by my standards.” Discord said.

‘Wow, you actually made Discord not want to do something.’ Twilight thought, amazed.

“Enough of this though, we need to get ready for the wake. Especially since Discord saw fit to extend an invitation to Aphrodite.” Celestia said with a groan.

“As long as another of the nobles don’t try to challenge her to a duel, nothing will happen. She might not even show up though.” Twilight said.

“Always prepare for the worst. That way you can be surprised if it doesn’t come.” Celestia said. “Now please leave, I need to get ready.” She grabbed them both with her magic, and pushed them both into the hallways.

“Well, at least today won’t be boring. Hope to see you there Twily.” Discord said, waving as he floated off.