The Storm Ahead

A pegasus soldier stood at the door of the Empath Institute, guarding his position with an emotionless face. Ever since the incident with the escaped student two years ago, security had been heightened ninety percent. The guard didn’t know why; no one had tried to rebel since. It was only that one student that had actually gotten away. There was really no need for worry. But his mind changed in a moment when a sack was thrown over his head and he was pulled into some bushes. “Help!” he tried to exclaim, but it ended up sound like “Mrph!”

Maelstrom didn’t have much time. It would be moments before the others would discover their soldier was missing. So he would have to become the soldier himself. Tearing the sack off of his victim’s head, the guard started to shout. “Alert! Alert! Hel—” But using his unicorn horn, Maelstrom shut the soldier up—literally. His lips were stuck together, preventing any more calling for help. It wouldn’t last forever, but it would be just enough time to get the job done. After summoning some ropes with his magic, the grey alicorn bound the guard and stripped him of his armor, setting it on himself. It looked a bit awkward on him because, since this armor was custom-made for a Pegasus, his horn blocked the helmet from securely sitting upon Maelstrom’s head.

“Now for a disguise spell,” Maelstrom murmured as once again his horn lit up and disappeared. Well, it disappeared at least to the naked eye. His helmet still was jerked back a bit, and the horn could still be spotted with magic, but though a magic frisk could happen to Maelstrom, he didn’t care. His intentions were not to completely infiltrate the school. His mission was much simpler.

Taking his place at the real soldier’s post, he suddenly jumped when he felt a touch on his shoulder. “Alright, time for post switch. Take your place inside.” Another guard monotonously commanded. Maelstrom wasn’t going to argue. He saluted and marched inside the Institution, thinking to himself, phase one: complete.

“So, what happened next?” Maelstrom came across two other soldiers conversing, a young recruit and an older veteran. The elder, an alicorn with one eye missing, had been telling a story to the other, a unicorn; the first unicorn soldier Maelstrom had seen in the Institution in all his years, in fact. All the others had either been alicorns, the students that had supposedly lost their Empathy or pegasi, which, from Maelstrom’s memory, had supposedly been recruits from the streets that the school leaders would find and hire. But, that had always seemed suspicious to the colt, for many of the pegasi he saw had resemblances to that of students he’d seen around the Institution.

“Well, I called the filly up, chewed her out,” the brown alicorn paused and put up his hooves. “And gave her what for!” He punched the air, and though he was fierce, a loud cracking sound stopped him in his actions and sent him to the ground. “Oh, that old back!”

“Iron Trot!” the unicorn chided. “You can’t keep jumping around like this! You’re not young anymore!” He helped the alicorn up from the ground.

Iron Trot huffed as he brushed the colt off of him. “I know, I know. I just get overexcited. You know how much I love to tell my tales.” The soldier then cleared his throat. “Now, may I continue?”

“Of course! What happened to QuillHeart?”

Maelstrom burst out from behind the two ponies. “QuillHeart Strong-Hooves?!”

The unicorn yelped in surprise and jumped behind Iron Trot. The old alicorn squinted at the pegasus with the off-balance helmet and growled. “A spy!” He slowly walked around Maelstrom, muttering to himself. “Come to listen in on my—” he pushed his face against the nervous, still pony’s own. “SECRETS?” Iron Trot’s horn glowed, and the grey alicorn knew that if he didn’t do something, he was going to be found out. Iron Trot, upon performing a magic frisk, would see Maelstrom’s horn, and would recognize the colt that he and his comrades had pursued those some years ago. And that would not be a good thing.

“N-no, sir,” Maelstrom stuttered. “I was just taking my new post… And I overheard your conversation. Forgive me for intruding; I’m a new recruit.”

The unicorn was skeptical as he said, “If you’re a new recruit, then how would you know about Iron Trot’s old apprentice?”

Now the alicorn was in trouble. “Um, well, I’ve heard the name float around here sometimes. You know, overhearing conversations and the like.” A sheepish smile followed. Iron Trot was not amused.

“Andro, seize him!” The brown alicorn commanded, and before Maelstrom could even think of getting away, multiple rings of blue magic bound his back and front hooves, and tightened over his muzzle. “That was a nice try for an excuse, Maelstrom Storm-Wind. But no one has spoken of QuillHeart since the day you left. And therefore, by order on the day of years ago, we are taking you in to the Council.” The grey alicorn shook his head violently and tried to charge the other pony, but lost his balance and fell to the ground. Iron Trot smiled. “There’s no need to struggle. No one is going to hurt you. That is…” The alicorn used his hoof to raise Maelstrom’s head. “Unless the Council decides to give you due punishment.” The emphasis on that last word indicated that the consequences for runaways were not merciful.

Iron Trot and Andro dragged the subdued alicorn down a hidden flight of stairs. These, Maelstrom assumed, led to the Council’s court. But while descending, the young unicorn soldier faltered and some of his magic disappeared, freeing Maelstrom’s muzzle. Without hesitation, the captive demanded, “How were you sure it was me?!”

“Silence!” Andro regained balance and was about to silence the alicorn once again, but his elder guard put a hoof up and smiled grimly. The unicorn took a step back, lowering his head a bit; this symbolized submission to his mentor.

“Oh, dear Maelstrom, you really don’t know how close you two were, do you?” The brown alicorn put on a face of forged sympathy. “You see, I was once her mentor, and she told me everything.Everything. So I know quite a lot about you, you see. Such as, she told me your scent, your exact color, your personality…” Iron Trot’s voice was growing more excited and bold, almost maniacal. “I know EVERYTHING about you, Maelstrom Storm-Wind!” He laughed a terrifying laugh that made the prisoner shake, and even Andro backed away in fear. But after a few seconds more, Iron Trot calmed down and continued. “You know, QuillHeart said that you were the only one besides me that knew her last name. I suppose you know why, don’t you?”

Most members of Quill’s family were outlaws among all of Equestria. Thankfully, she had told Maelstrom, she wandered into the Institution after running away from her home one night. The Council took her in and, even though she was just a normal Earth pony, made her an alicorn and granted her the ability to become an Empath. She was the most unique of all the students, for her beautiful green coat was unmatchable in appearance. But no one knew what family she belonged to, except for Iron Trot and Maelstrom themselves, her only true friends, for if anyone else found out, she would be taken away from everything. Her family, her friends, her life.

“I was her only friend, beside you of course, and she confided in me every day. And I kept all of her secrets—until you ran away that fateful night.” The soldier tilted his head as a gleaming, crazy smile appeared on his face. “Did you ever wonder what caused that explosion the night you fled?” With no answer, Iron continued. “Well, I can tell you this: QuillHeart never did have a proper burial.”

Maelstrom’s horn glowed brighter with magic than Andro had seen a horn glow ever in his life. The unicorn was a bit too late to teleport as he was blinded by white.

***

The Institution Council had been in court holding a trial for an attempted runaway when an explosion occurred. One member shouted, “The god has returned in anger!” and the whole room was filled with light. Ponies screamed and tried to run, but all were engulfed.

***

Zarcotan had been working on his herbal bath when an exploding boom from far away made him drop the herbs.

“Heilige kak!” the zebra exclaimed. He would have said this in Equestrian, but the poison joke he had just eaten allowed him only to speak in a language from one of the tribes from his old home. “Wat aan die gang?” He looked to the sky and saw a ring of white light stream across the sky. Recognizing the aura from which the light had come, he said to himself. “Maalstroom.” Zarcotan ran from his home and out of the forest.

After running for quite a long time, he came across a large pile of debris far up ahead. But he stopped to observe the body right in front of him. It was a blue unicorn, bruised and seemingly dead. “Nie, nie…  Maalstroom gegaan het op ‘n rampage…  Ek het geweet dat sy krag was onstabiel!” Zarcotan shook his head sadly and was about to move on when the unicorn stirred. Filled with sympathy, Zarcotan pulled the pony onto his back and went on toward the debris, finding dead ponies, mostly alicorns and some pegasi, dead on the ground. It saddened him. Had Maelstrom accidentally done this? Or had he…

“Nie!” Zarcotan scolded himself. “Maalstroom nooit sou gedoen het doelbewus!” The zebra sighed. Or would he? Zarcotan continued on, searching for his friend and student, losing more hope with every step.

***

“Hello? Is anyone here? Hello?”

Come here, my child.

“What? Who is this?”

I am your father.

“Pardon me, sir, but my father’s voice is not like that of yours.”

No, no. I am your new father, child.

A hoof pounded on the ground. “I will only have one father! And you are not him!” But a nervousness crept back. “Who… are you?”

I am Regulus, Prince of the Stars. I aid the Princess of the Night from afar. You, my dear, have died, and you no longer dwell in the place of the living. But, if you will accept, I will become your new father, and watch over you with my other children that live with me among these stars. A black hoof outstretched, surrounded by mist and sparkling with stars. So, will you accept, QuillHeart Strong-Hooves?

How in the world did this pony know the green alicorn's name? Why did he want her to be his child? But, she did seem to have died in the blast Iron Trot sent at her. She didn't have anypony to watch over her in this strange new world. After some thought, QuillHeart put her hoof in the other, and she and the king of the stars walked off into the mist. Even though Quill had died, she had found life again.