Heroes of Tyria

The Whitetail Woods were unyielding to the pair of travelers. Walking for the remainder of the day the two had chatted idly about their homes. Lions Arch and Canterlot, Divinity’s Reach and Manehatten, Rata Sum and Las Pegasus, the Black Citadel and Cloudsdale, Hoelbrak and Apploeloosa, and finally the Grove and Fillydelphia. Trixie was astonished by the complexity and size of the cities Occultis described. For her part, Occultis was just happy to learn this mare was well traveled and knew a large amount of the world she now inhabited.

“Your world is very strange; Trixie cannot believe you have a city made of boats,” Trixie’s tone was incredulous.

Occultis chuckled lightly, “I could say the same thing about Cloudsdale. Nothing controls the weather in Tyria, except maybe the occasional asuran.”

A topic Trixie didn’t wish to head toward reentered her mind, she had been putting it off ever since meeting Ocultis, but she was curious.

“Why do you wear that band over your eyes?” Trixie questioned. She cringed when Occultis slowed and looked toward her. However, she was met with, not a stern frown, but a warm smile.

“I lost my sight defending my home, centaurs were attacking a settlement dear to me and saving it had a price. I gladly paid it so those families would survive,” Occultis had omitted the part about how the Harathi Overlord had sliced her face, destroying any further use of her sight. She had a feeling these ponys didn't respond well to violence. From what she was told, Equestria was a peaceful land, empty of strife and chaos. Trixie knew details were left out, she had told many stories herself and had an inkling of just what was absent. Nevertheless she was grateful but still wondered how Occultis could see.

“How are you able to see then? Trixie has given no direction save for your destination,” Trixie questioned. She knew now that Occultis was more then she had comprehended beforehoof. The bones adorning her clothes could only mean she was more than just a traveler, and the tale of saving a settlement pushed that notion even further from the truth. Just who was she?

Occultis didn’t like being prodded for answers she had given many times before but she mused; new world, old questions. She should have expected this, she had to gain Trixies trust, and in order to do that answers had to be given. She had a line of course; she wasn't an Initiate any longer. Knowing what questions to tip-toe around was a delicate art she had mastered many months ago. She was the silver tongue, and her partner was the iron fist.

“Magick,” was Occultis’s answer. Trixie stared imploringly asking without words to expand on the subject. Smiling at the innocent look, Occultis continued, “I have a pet dove who is enchanted to share its sight with me. Whatever it sees, so do I.” Said dove swooped in and landed gracefully atop Occulti’s right pauldron, “Trixie, this is Archimedes.”

Trixie stared at the dove, its piecing green eyes gazed right back. She supposed this made sense, but familiars only followed mages of great talent. To get one to do as she bid so easily, Occultis was either very fortunate or –

“Are you a mage? Can you cast magick?” Trixie quickly asked. She knew of only two ponys in Equestria that had familiars, the Princess and her student. They were both powerful in their own rights, and if Occultis had one, she was as well. Occultis’s answer was to simply unsheathe her staff, twirl it around, and allow the black shadows of necromancy to surround her hands. Trixie gasped and backpedaled, she had never seen a non-unicorn use magick before.

Occultis wore a slight smirk as she spoke, “I know a bit. Dabbled here and there, surely you know of the curiosities and complexities magick possesses. Can you command the arcane arts?” Trixie nodded, the soft azure glow reappeared beneath her hat. Occultis found her staff swallowed in the same azure sheen as the wheels on Trixie’s cart. The wooden staff was lifted from Occultis’s grasp and floated gracefully over to Trixie. She examined the odd stick, finding the tribal notches, twine, and hopefully not covered in blood red ribbons tied around the pole intriguing. What gave her pause, however, was the dark skull pushed through the tip of the staff, surrounded by a large vertical circle with sticks and sharp flint attached all around. Trixie didn’t judge many ponys for she had seen every type, but she knew something was wrong here. This stick felt, well evil, there was no other way to describe it. This gave her reason to quickly return it after coming to such a conclusion.

The duo continued in there silent trek, the sun nearly setting. For her part, Occultis was saddened to see Trixie shy away from her slightly. Every step they took, Trixie would be a bit further away than the previous stomp. She supposed that in this word, dark magicks of any kind would be frowned upon, or worse, forbidden. The orange and purple view that greeted Trixie on the horizon gaze the showmare pause. Her stomach grumbled noisily, causing Occultis to snicker.

“We will make camp here for the night,” Occultis’s statement brought Trixie out of her stupor and she found a soft bit of grass and laid down, the distance between the two was greater than their first meeting.

Occultis’s frown deepened, “Have I offended you in some way?”

Trixie felt cornered, a slight fear in her eye was visible. What had she gotten herself into? Why was she still following this dark stranger? As she thought on all the banter they had engaged in earlier, looking for a reason she had not galloped straight to Los Pegasus after making her earlier observations, she found her answer. Occultis had shown her nothing but kindness, answering her questions truthfully and willingly. Listening to her own grand tales and knowing just when to ooo and ahh.

“It’s just… I have never met somepony like you before; you haven’t judged me, thrown me out of your life, or told me to never come back. I was having so much fun hearing of your land, but when I looked at that piece of wood,” Trixie trailed off, staring at the dirt floor below her.

“You think I’m evil, a dark being who can only know pain and suffering?” Occultis was deeply troubled by this revelation. She was being judged, again, for choosing the path she did. Did they not know how much suffering this route caused her? How selfless she had been when the decision had been made. Yet here she was, in a land free of war. Of course Trixie wouldn’t understand, she didn't know sacrifice, or the costs of victory. She was so close to gaining an ally, her first friend in Equestira; Trixie hadn’t run off yet. She wasn’t terrified of her, only confused. She wanted to understand, and Occultis swore she would help her gain peace of mind.

Trixie still gazed at the ground, not wanting to look at the person she felt betrayed by. She was so certain, so incredibly self-assured that she had made her first friend. Now this doubt that was ever growing in her head wouldn’t leave her alone. Occultis had a dark past, she was certain about that much. The strange stick gave her a feeling of dread when she stared at it, its use could be for nothing short of unkind. No, that word wasn’t right, unkind was too soft. Trixie couldn’t come to a conclusion on her own, so she braved the fear and looked up. The sun had fallen by the time Trixie had steeled herself. A small fire once again acted as her silent protector against Occultis. A small pot sat in the flames, Occultis stirring some soup within.

“What did you do in your world, before you came here?” Trixies question was soft. She was tired but needed to know who her would be friend was.

Occultis looked up, a small smile lined her face when she answered, “I was a protector, and I went from place to place aiding those that needed it. Near the end, I stopped a great evil from corrupting Tyria. But that is not the question you really want answered, is it?” She stopped and waited for Trixie to nod her head, then continued, “I use dark magick because no one else will. I found a way to use it for good, to aid others rather than to hurt them. I swear by The Six that I would never harm you.”

Trixie’s competing emotions quieted down, Occultis had sworn by something that sounded important to her. If Occultis really did use her magick to aid, rather than to harm, then Trixie was perfectly safe. Content to wait until morning for more questions, Trixie gladly accepted the bowl of vegetable soup and sigh contently. Maybe going back to Ponyville with a new friend wasn’t such a bad idea afterall.