The door to the throne room exploded inward as a striking figure rushed up to the dais and fell to one knee.
“My lord,” the man burst, raising his bowed head. His ruler watched on with amusement as his face scrunched up in confusion. “Prince Solaris, I thought—“
“I told you I had something of utmost importance to converse with you. Not that It was urgent,” the ruler cut in. He stood, his soft yellow robe sweeping the floor as he stepped down to his pupil. “I need you to go on a quest for me.” The kneeling man’s purple eyes blinked, and he didn’t know quite what to say.
“My liege, are you sure I am ready? I still have so much to—“
“Dusk, you have already done so many tasks for me, a quest is definitely right up your alley,” Solaris interrupted again. “I have selected five others to go along with you, all you should recognize from previous encounters. Barb is to stay here with me and complete various sets of paperwork that would be meant for you.”
“As you wish, Teacher,” Dusk mumbled bowing his head, not liking the thought of leaving Barbara by herself. “What am I to do?”
“You, my student, are to meet up with the individuals on the road. Once you have found all five, you then need to locate a couple by the names of Eris and Discord,” Solaris replied, turning around. “They have seven people of great importance under their wing and we need to get them back. You are dismissed, Mage Dusk Shine.” The man nodded, coming to a stand and hurried out of the room. Solaris looked back at the fleeing figure and nodded grimly. He would get it done. He and the others would make an unstoppable team. “Artemis!” the prince said in a commanding tone. When the prince appeared from behind the throne, waist-length hair shimmering in the stained glass sunlight, the older brother strode toward him. “How are the two we found last week?” he asked.
“They are stable, Sol. There has been no word about this alternate place they once spoke of,” Artemis said quietly. Solaris put a hand on his brother’s shoulder and squeezed lightly.
“Good. I am glad.” Solaris stepped away from his brother, staring down the long throne room at all of the stories in the paned glass. Soon there would be another.
“Barb, it will be fine,” Dusk Shine groaned, attempting to pry the young girl off of his leg. She had her cheek pressed harshly against the side of his knee and was wailing about how she had to go with him. “Barbara Spines, I will send you to boarding school if you do not let go of my leg and go to the palace!” The volume and tone of his voice shut Barb up and she stopped squirming to finally let Dusk get a good grip on her so he could pick her up. “Now listen, I won’t be gone for too long, okay? Don’t get yourself into too much trouble and listen to Artemis and Solaris.” Barb nodded, green eyes brimming with tears. Dusk smiled lightly and pulled the girl in for a hug. “Oh, and don’t get me behind on anything, okay?” he added, emphasizing ‘anything’. She giggled and he set her down. “Now go pack your things.” As she scampered up the stairs, Dusk Shine made a mental check list of the things he needed. All of what he felt he needed was laid out on the table by the door, and now he just needed to find a bag.
His teacher Solaris had not specified which road he had to go down, so Dusk wasn’t sure which he should take. He looked to the sky and tugged his cloak tighter around himself. This was not going to be as fun as he wanted it to be, not with those clouds and this wind.
“Dusk!!” Barb cried out and escaped the clutches of the royal guards who were going to take her to the castle. He half-turned and grinned at the little girl running toward him, arms outstretched. She hit him with full speed and clung to his legs, shaking with sobs. “You can’t leave without me, Dusky! You just can’t!” He shook his head, prying her arms from around his lower body so he could crouch. As soon as he got to her level, her arms snapped to his neck.
“Hey now, is this any way my number one assistant should be acting?” he teased, hugging her back. She mumbled a sniffling “No” and pulled away reluctantly. “Listen. I know you don’t want me to go, but I have to, okay? I will write every other day, and pick up presents for you. Please do this, Barbara. For me?” She nodded, and he wiped her tears away with his cloak. “Now then,” he began, coming to a stand. “Put out that chin, stiffen that spine, and for Solaris’ sake: Be good.” Barb did just that, adding in a salute and beamed at the man whom she had always considered an older brother.
He smiled back down at her, ruffling her hair and jerking his head in the direction of her escort. He watch her bounce off, running a hand through his unruly hair and then turned back to mount his horse. His staff was tied already, his books were in the leather saddle bags imprinted with his star insignia, and his paper and quills were wrapped with his bedroll. Check, check, check, and check. Dusk Shine did a look-over on his horse, making sure he wasn’t holding up a sore hoof or getting spooked at the gathering crowd.
He was sure it wasn’t over him, but over his horse. And maybe the royal entourage. Orion, named so after the star formation, was a unicorn so of course he would attract attention. Unicorns were given by the king himself to worthy magical pupils. This particular stallion came from Artemis’ stables, so he was gentle-natured like the mysterious prince. Orion had a faint purple glow about him, giving his soft lavender coat an appearance of sparkling. The mythic beast tossed his head and snorted, causing Dusk to frown slightly and pat his neck. He mounted easily and looked over his shoulder at all the stares he was receiving. Yes it did bother him; though it was something he tried to get used to, being the lead pupil of Prince Solaris.
Dusk Shine nudged Orion’s sides with his knees and the unicorn started forward. A boyish smile overtook his face, creeping upon him and slowly growing with excitement. The uncertainty of this adventure was tantalizing, akin to what he read in novels, yet sweeter with fact that it was real and actually happening.
The Canterlot guards behind him did the royal send off, sending into the air the specific number of light displays in the appropriate colour and corresponding order. Two very large ones in an almost invisible yellow and inky blue that burst in the insignia of each prince; four small scatter-displays in green (for luck), blue (for hope), red (for remembrance), and silver ( for courage); and the last to be shot up was a glitter-display--that lasted for long after Dusk exited Canterlot along the main road--in an exact replication of his own crest.
