The Five Cardinal Directions

Once upon a time, in the August Empire of Chineigh, there lived an Emperor, appointed by Heaven, who ruled justly and fairly. He understood that there were two paths to enlightenment—the Low Path and the High Path. The Low Path favored strength, aggression, and ambition, while the High Path favored peace, understanding, and harmony. The Emperor followed the High Path, and his most trusted Warlord followed the Low Path. For centuries, there was peace. The Emperor governed the land and the Warlord protected it.

As the years passed, the Warlord grew jealous of the Emperor. The ponies of the August Empire doted on their Emperor and his ministers, but the Warlord and his faithful soldiers were ignored, seen as fixtures and taken for granted. The Warlord remembered the days when his soldiers were truly soldiers, not peacekeepers. Long ago, he and the Emperor were two mortals with a vision, and Chineigh was but a collection of squabbling states. In those days, he was respected as much as the Emperor.

One day, the seas stood still, the wind ceased to pass through the Jade Forest, and the animals fell deathly quiet, as if anticipating some dread event. On this strange day, the Warlord schemed to forcefully win back the respect he had—he would give the people of the Empire something to fear, and in doing so, show them exactly what they had been taking for granted. This strange day was not merely a coincidence, however. The Celestial Bureaucracy and the Emperor's ancestors had warned him of the Warlord's treachery. The Emperor, in his kindness, tried to offer the Warlord concessions, but this was only seen as a bribe. The Warlord swore that he would unleash a blight of monsters and demons on the land, forcing the people of the Empire to rely on his soldiers for protection. Left with no choice, the Emperor used the most treasured artifacts known to Chineigh, the Five Cardinal Directions. Using the sorceries contained within, he banished his closest friend, sealing him forever within the Jade Forest. Though harmony has persisted for generations since, the Jade Forest has remained untamed, never bending to the will of even the strongest weather sorcerer.

Studious Wushi wasn't stupid. After all, his intellect was how he had gotten his name, or at least the prefix usually attached to it. His parents had named him “Wushi,” literally “mage” in the old tongue, with the hopes that he would become one. One special talent and a formal education at Xuanling High Sovereign's Academy of Magic had landed him here, in the Imperial Library.

He closed the book with a sigh. There were clear parallels between the fairy tale and reality—he wondered why no one ever questioned the longevity of the Emperor. Perhaps the book itself, The Five Cardinal Directions, wasn't as readily available as in the Imperial Library. Wushi could acknowledge that he was more fortunate than many others in that regard, even if he didn't believe in luck. Being apprenticed to the elderly but powerful court magician, Wo Long, gave him a definite advantage over other sorcerers, not to mention other ponies.

Perhaps anyone who might question that fact was afraid that they, too, would be banished. Of course that was a ridiculous thought. The pale blue unicorn chastised himself for such a childish, superstitious thought, idly playing with his black, braided tail. The Emperor was a fixture in the young sorcerer's life, almost like a benevolent uncle. He was kind and fair, lacking any hint of cruelty or malice. Even if Wushi, a Low Path traveler, disagreed with the Emperor's beliefs, he could not deny that he loved the wise ruler. Still, it was hard not to be a bit... intimidated by his presence at times. Wushi chalked it up to the fact that he was an alicorn, and an alicorn that ruled one of the most powerful countries in the world.

The sorcerer pored over the book, closed though it was. There was a grain of truth in every story. This story had more than its share of grains, and it didn't sit right with him. Wo Long wouldn't have even been born when this 'Warlord' was banished, so that left the Emperor as the only reliable source. Wouldn't he have spoken about it before? Banishing one's best friend seemed a little more than ordinary. Was the Emperor hiding something from him? Wushi scoffed. As if he could get the stately yellow alicorn to speak up if he tried. He would just adopt that enigmatic look, the same one he got when he spoke with Princess Celestia of Equestria.

Wushi's thoughts and theories were promptly interrupted by the sounding of a small gong and the smell of incense—the telltale signs of Wo Long's teleportation spell. He cursed softly to himself, jumping in his seat and nearly falling out of it. “Master, must you startle me so?”

Wo Long appoached his student, his form-fitting black silk finery complimenting his elderly white coat and mane. “I will not be your master for much longer, I should think.” It was a habit of Wo Long's to make statements with many possible implications. Perhaps he thought it benefited his students to meditate in on those meanings. The old unicorn tugged at his long, almost ethereal beard with an amused, curious expression. “The Five Cardinal Directions? What a curious choice of reading material,” he remarked.

Wushi hesitated, trying to read his mentor's facial expression and gauge its meaning. He seemed amused, but was he really? “Do you find it unbecoming, master?”

“Certainly not,” he replied. “I think a little bit of history does everyone good.”

The younger unicorn quirked a brow at that. “History? Surely there is... dramatic license involved.”

“Perhaps. Perhaps you should ask the Emperor, my student. He could give you an eyewitness account, which is something I doubt you'll find anywhere else.” The elder unicorn's wizened mouth twitched upwards.

Wushi blanched at that. What a bold, brazen suggestion! To simply ask the Emperor such a personal question, to say nothing of the implied insult and impropriety, would be dreadfully embarrassing if his assumptions were false. He stared in a stunned stupor at his master, searching for any explanation as to why he might have said that.

“For one who so often employs sarcasm, your ability to detect jokes is in dire need of improvement, Wushi.” The younger unicorn sighed with equal parts relief and embarassment, feeling the hot rush of blood in his cheeks. “In all seriousness, you should know you have nothing to fear from the Emperor. He loves you as if you were family. You know, you may have the chance to ask him about the story today. I came to tell you that he requested your presence.”

Wushi didn't bother asking for what reason he'd been summoned, as there was no denying the will of the Emperor. He stood and bowed respectfully to his master in a quiet request for permission to leave. With a nod from Wo Long, he was off.

The thone room of the Emperor was a place few ponies got a chance to see. Wushi was in rare company in that regard—foreign heads of state and diplomats, high-ranking ministers, Wo Long... perhaps even this Warlord figure. If ever there were two thrones in this room, now there was only one. The walk to that throne seemed somehow longer than it usually was.

How could one hope to describe the throne room? To put such a place to words risked leaving out some detail or other, a dire insult to the majesty and opulence. Five rows of five candles each sat behind the throne should the Emperor care to pray to his ancestors or commune with the Celestial Bureaucracy.

Silk tapestries depicting great moments of legend and history hung from the walls, and two Foo dogs stood watch on either side of the Emperor's throne. They seemed to tolerate the unicorn's presence, as they did with all visitors to this place, but he knew the stone creatures would come to life the moment anypony posed a threat to the Emperor. The room seemed almost to shimmer, such was the quantity of gold within it—gold trim, golden pillars, golden shrines to figures of great import.

Then, of course, there was the Emperor himself. It was said in Chineigh that the color yellow was the center of all things. It therefore seemed fitting to Wushi that the Emperor's eyes, windows to his soul, should be a gentle yellow, as should his coat. His Majesty, the August Personage, cut quite a figure, sitting in his throne with his elaborate and flowing robes. Those eyes of his welcomed Wushi, who bowed before his white-maned, yellow coated emperor. “Ni hao, Studious Wushi. You may rise.”

Few ponies received such displays of respect from Wushi as the Emperor and Wo Long did. “Your Majesty wanted to see me?”

The Emperor nodded slightly, appraising Wo Long's student. “Wushi, I have been speaking with Wo Long. He says that your studies are going well.”

The pale blue unicorn canted his head. Perhaps it was arrogant of him to think so, but how was this any different than normal? “I should hope that they are, Your Majesty. After all, he is the Court Sorcerer. One could hardly ask for a better teacher.”

The Emperor chuckled, holding a hoof (bedecked with elaborate jade ornaments) to his chin. “He has been teaching you so that you might replace him.”

“Is... this revelation meant to surprise me, Your Majesty? I did not think there was any higher calling for the most skilled graduate of the Imperial Academy.” Wushi swelled slightly with pride, improper though it may have been before his emperor.

“Ah, excellent! You may start today, then. Wo Long has expressed a desire to retire.”

The unicorn silently regarded the Emperor, assessing the alicorn for any sign of trickery. It would certainly be an auspicious occasion if the statement were true, but the suspicious unicorn thought he smelled a test of some sort. His Majesty only offered back his usual cryptic, amiable smile. “I would be honored to start today, Your Majesty.” What that statement really meant was, 'I'm glad the old geezer is finally out of the way, but I'm too polite to say that.'

The Emperor entertained a small smile, rubbing his chin. He was entirely aware of Wushi's ambitious nature. Ah, the follies of youth. The unicorn seemed to think he could deceive Chineigh's celestially mandated ruler. “What troubles you, my subject?”

Studious Wushi nervously played with his braided mane—the style was known as a cue, and it was quite popular in his home province. “I did not expect such auspicious news today.” He tried to find a way to put it that obscured his joy at the old geezer finally moving aside. “I am... cautiously happy. Your subject is not convinced this isn't some veiled High Path test or an elaborate koan—perish the thought that you would be duplicitous in your actions, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor rumbled with a bit of stately laughter, petting the Foo dog to his right. “No tricks,” he said simply. “I would not dangle something you wanted so badly before you in such a way. In fact, to coincide with your new position, I have an official decree for you. A request of sorts.”

Wushi stood up tall. “Name your request! I will complete it and then some. What would you have me do? Cleanse the Jade Forest? Hunt down the elusive Monkey King and demand his formal apology to the Celestial Bureaucracy? Demonstrate our greatness to the Western barbarians?”

The Emperor blinked. Where should he start? “No...” Western barbarians indeed. The first time that nice young mare Twilight Sparkle visited, Wushi certainly didn't seem to think she was barbaric. Ah, she may have even been his first crush—it was so adorable to watch him back then, absolutely smitten by the older magician. He'd not tease the lad about that, though. “Besides, I quite like the Monkey King. It's a breath of fresh air to find an Immortal who knows how to have a good time. No, my subject, I think your first day of work should be some community service!”

Wushi canted his head. Yes, this reeked of a trick. The unicorn closed his eyes and nodded with resignation. “Ah, busy work.” He bit his tongue too late.

“Not in the slightest, my ambitious sorcerer,” said the Emperor with a chuckle. “It is important for ponies of stature to reach out to their communities. I want you to help with some preparations for the upcoming Lantern Festival. Who knows—you may even make some friends!”

“I have no need for friends, Your Majesty.” The unicorn offered a solemn bow to his ruler. “I will, however, do as you ask.”

The Emperor chuckled. Wushi was truly his mother's son. “Very well, Studious Wushi. You may rise.”

The unicorn stood up and turned to leave, but hesitated, one foreleg hanging precariously in the air. It hit the ground with a soft clop. “Your Majesty... would you permit your young, inexperienced sorcerer to ask of you a personal question?”

Xuanling High Sovereign stroked his beard with a hoof. “Of course, my boy. How may I enlighten you?”

The blue stallion turned to face the August Personage in Jade. “Your Majesty, I came across a curious book in the Imperial Library.” He tried to approach the subject matter as delicately as he could, speaking in vagaries. “It mentioned a certain prophecy, and I was wondering if it was... true.”

The Emperor leaned forwards with interest. “A prophecy? Well, you know that many ministers use such prophecies to their advantages—geomancy and speaking with one's ancestors come to mind. Every story's tree grows from a seed of truth.”

“Truth...” The unicorn mused on the word nervously.

“A seed,” affirmed the Emperor almost knowingly. “I wouldn't let it trouble you, whatever it is. The universe tends to sort things out without much fretting on our parts.”

Wushi offered a quiet bit of thanks and made his exit without much further ado. Wu wei, the art of action through inaction, might work for a High Path traveler like his father or the Emperor, but it was antithesis to any self-respecting walker of the Low Path. He suspected the Emperor was keeping something from him. If it were true, and the book had some truth to it, then the Jade Warlord was lying in wait within the forest named for his fabled treachery. If he existed, could any force in the universe hope to hold him for long? Wushi would help with those preparations, but he also planned to make a few of his own. If the Emperor would not give him a straight answer, he would just have to look somewhere else.