The Collective History of Asgard as Salvaged from All-Father Erik the Mad’s Burning of Archives by Luna Odinmaden

Chapters

Candles of Corpses, Mere of Dead Faces
Prepare Unto Death, And Follow Me
Near Death, Who See with Blinding Sight
The magician longs to see, One chants out between two worlds
When the Fox hears the Rabbit scream he comes
How we live is so different from how we ought to live
Made of Most Beautiful Things

Candles of Corpses, Mere of Dead Faces

Don't Follow the Lights

The rain is what finally woke Luna.

She had murky memories of being shaken and shoved out of bed and shuffled across the freezing floor. But having freezing water driven directly into her face was enough to shock her mind out of the clutches of sleep.

She winced and tried to shrink back but she felt the firm nudge of a wing pressing into her back.

“Come now Luna,” Mama’s voice came from over her shoulder. “Keep up.”

Luna blinked and glanced back to see her mother with a still nodding Cadence on her back, balanced carefully between her wings. Mama’s horn flared and a gleaming shield appeared above their heads and about them, the rain instantly cut off and becoming nothing but a steady drumming against the walls of the shield.

Luna shook the rainwater out of her eyes and now realized Celestia and Sunset were flanking either side of her.

“How far do we go, Mama?” Celestia asked, her voice enhanced by the magical cocoon.

“Just until I say stop,” Mama said. Her voice calm as usual but Luna heard a funny strain in it, like a lopsided singsong tone, the kind she used when Grandpapa was about to break into a fury and she was calling the girls to come out of the room.

“What is this, Mama?” Sunset demanded. “It’s in the middle of the night and it’s storming like a fiend.”

“A fire caught somewhere in the castle and we need to stay outside until it’s put out, just to be safe.”

“Where in the castle?” Luna asked. The castle was an immense structure with countless rooms carved into five stories of stones maintained by a legion of servants, where could a fire catch where it wouldn’t be put out immediately before it posed any kind of threat?

“Hurry along, Luna, we’ll speak more when we’re a safe distance,” Mama said.

A safe distance was apparently outside of the palace gates, where they were met by a gaggle of servants and a few guards, who all looked bedraggled and bemused. They immediately surrounded Mama and the fillies, the guards setting themselves in a perimeter around the royals while the rest inquired as to their safety and the exact state of emergency.

While Mama tried calming the servants the fillies stood to the side, warming themselves with their magic.

"It must be some sort of magical flame to cause such a threat," Celestia said, her horn glimmering as she used it to dry out and re-curl her hair.

“That the guards could not put out?” Luna said skeptically. "We have unicorn guards for the very purpose of such a possible assault."

Celestia shrugged. “Maybe no one caught it until it was too great.”

“That’s not possible."

“Well do you have a better idea?” Sunset snapped from beside her, her magic spitting fiery flecks causing Luna to wince. “You’re always acting so dour and distant as if you were all-knowing. Just because you bury your nose in ancient tomes all day doesn’t make you a sage.”

“Why are you savaging her so? She was only speaking her opinion," Celestia said.

"I was speaking to Luna not you!"

Luna quickly ducked out from between the two as they lunged at one another, their magic clashing in a hissing and snarling collision of red and gold.

Luna tried to distract herself from her sisters' shameful display and the glances from the servants by turning towards the palace. She was astonished to see plumes of smoke pouring upwards into the sky, pillar upon pillar, creating a heavy cloud that fell like a curtain over the walls and spires of the palace. She couldn't see any flames from where she stood but it had to be massive to produce such an amount of smoke.

For the first time since she woke Luna began to feel pangs of anxiety. Where is Papa? Why was Mama the one to lead us outside by herself without a single guard? Where is Grandpapa, as the All-Father should he have not been brought out first? His rooms are not far from ours, why isn't he with us?

As if in response to her thoughts, Luna caught sight of a figure coming towards them from the palace. She squinted through the rain and saw the outline of a horn and a pair of wings.

"Papa?" She called, but the rain and the wind drowned her voice out. But there were no other alicorns left besides Grandpapa and he would not be wandering about without a host of guards.

After quickly casting a magical shield about her body, Luna started walking towards her father, having some trouble wading through the grass which was so tall it tickled her muzzle against the wind and rain. She was about halfway to the palace gate where Mama had lead them through, when she heard a faint voice behind her:

"Highness!"

Luna glanced over her shoulder and saw a young gray unicorn colt with a black mane coming towards her. He must have been with the group servants.

"What is it?" She asked as he came up to her, his horn glowing dimly to light his way. His magic clearly wasn't skilled enough to offer any better protection from the elements.

The colt dropped a quick bow. “Highness, if you will forgive me, but I do not believe it is prudent for you to be so far from the company given the circumstance.”

“You are here,” she said distractedly. She turned back around and frowned. She was certain she had seen Papa heading directly this way but now she couldn't see him anymore.

"Papa?" She shouted but the only response was the whine of the wind.

"Is the Prince out here?" The colt asked.

"I thought I saw him coming this way."

"I saw nothing, my lady. Perhaps the smoke and rain is playing tricks."

Luna shook her head. "No, I saw him. He was right this way..."

Suddenly, there was a sound like a mountain being cleaved in half and blast of light that turned the whole world white. Luna felt a blow of heat drive into her like a giant fist, knocking her entire body to the ground. For a moment she lay there, stunned, blind and deaf.

Her sight was the first thing to return, fuzzy and unclear, and Luna perceived a face leaning over hers. The ringing in her ears subsided next and she could hear the voice of the colt crying frantically:

"Are you alright, my lady?"

"Y-yes, I believe so," Luna said shakily.

She heard an audible sigh of relief. "Let me help up, my lady. Take my hoof."

Luna's body felt numb but she was able to lift her hoof and the colt took it, pulling her to her hooves. It took her a moment to regain her balance with her head swimming and her ears were still ringing from the explosion. She could smell burning and feel heat of flames but when she tried to look towards them the light was so fierce she had to turn her face away.

"Can you walk my lady?" The colt asked.

"I think."

"Come, let us get back to your mother then."

Luna took two steps and nearly fell over, only saved by the colt catching her just in time.

"Lean against me, my lady," the colt said and Luna thankfully did so. This meant the going was now much slower and since the explosion the storm had only increased in ferocity, with thunder and lightning now striking overhead.

"Did you see what happened?" She asked.

"There was a great light and the palace was set afire," he said. "It looked like a magical discharge but I could not tell."

Just then the colt stumbled and they both nearly tumbled over each other.

"Apologies my lady," the colt said. Luna could hear his breathing coming in labored gasps.

"Let's rest a moment," she said.

"No I am well I just-" the colt insisted, despite even though the rainfall Luna could see the strain in his face.

"I'm tired, I need a moment." To highlight her words she sat down in the grass and motioned for him to join her. He looked unwillingly but obeyed. Luna's head was throbbing now and she was worried she might not be able to stand up again when a strange movement caused her to turn around.

Papa?

The light from the burning palace cast a hellish glow from over Luna's shoulder and lit up the expanse of grassland that surrounded the palace. Against the inky backdrop of the grass below and the thunderheads above, she once again saw the outline of a alicorn. But now she could see the color of the coat and realized it was not Papa.

"Grandpapa?" She gasped.

The colt must have heard her because he stood up and took a step forward. "Is that--?"

Luna stumbled to her hooves, her head whirling from the sudden change in altitude. Grandpapa was not looking at them, he was slinking through the grass as if he were stalking someone.

"Grandpapa!" Luna cried and this time his head snapped around towards her.

The words she had intended to call out to him were blasted away like sand before the tide and Luna felt as if her jaw locked, gaping speechlessly in the air. Grandpapa's eyes were suspended like fiery spheres over the thrashing grass and smoky mist, to her they seemed to cast a sulfuric glow on the raindrops drizzling before them.

His gaze felt as if were scorching her, burning through her with it's raw and hematic expression. Luna told herself to look away but her every muscle seemed completely seized by it, as if they were all twisted and tangled in cramps.

"Majesty!" The colt cried out and Grandpapa's eyes darted towards him. Released from his gaze, Luna's senses snapped back like a taut rope being cut.

Grandpapa suddenly reared his head back, his eyes flashing like sulfur, and let out a sound like a laugh and a scream that tore through the wail of the wind and the roar of the rain like a blade. Then he spun around and galloped into the shadows of the grass and storm.

There was silence for a long moment except for the snarling of the storm as Luna and the colt stared where the All-Father had stood. Suddenly the colt began walking after Grandpapa, causing Luna to jump and grab hold of him.

“Where are you going?” She cried.

“After the king!” he exclaimed, then remembered himself and added: “My lady.”

Luna felt as if suddenly the moors about them were expanding like a serpent's maw about to swallow her. “No, you cannot leave me here alone!” she cried, forgetting how unlady-like it was to raise your voice. "He can care for himself, his guards cannot be so far behind him."

The colt did not look convinced so Luna drew herself up and said with as much authority as she could muster, "I command you to remain with me."

The colt looked very reticent but he did not move to leave. "Should we start back to your mother then, my lady?"

"Yes."

So they began walking again, this time with some space between them. The rain had finally relaxed from a deluge to a easy shower and the wind now was more of a brisk breeze than a violent lashing.

Luna kept her eyes trained ahead, no for fear of misstep but rather trying to distract herself from the memory of Grandpapa's eyes. No matter how many times she pushed the image way she could feel his gaze burning at the edges of her mind, scorching and smoking.

“They were like will-’o-the-wisps," she breathed. She hadn't meant to say it aloud but the colt caught her words and gave her a queer look.

“Pardon, my lady?” He said.

Luna felt warmth creeping into her face and quickly stuttered, “N-nothing, just a foolishness I read in a tome.”

“May I inquire what it was?" He said politely. “As we have nothing better to occupy our time and it might be a pleasant distraction.”

Luna didn’t think so but he was looking at her so affably and it felt pleasant to have a distraction, so she said it anyways:

“They’re the lights that appear in the marshes at night between the earth and the heavens and dance about as if they are indicating for you to follow."

"Oh you mean hobby lanterns!" The colt exclaimed, his voice losing it's formal tone and becoming bright and genial. "They say they mark where Flutter Pony treasure is buried! But you need a magic charm to unbury it."

"That's not what I read," Luna said. "My tome said they are the souls of the unbaptized or stillborn foals leading travelers to the water so they might help them to be baptized. But of course the souls unwittingly lead them into the bogholes and quicksand so they perish.”

The colt looked first shocked and then disquieted. Luna felt the heat in her face increase and she berated herself silently for spoiling his good mood with such a tale.

“May I ask you a rather forward question, my lady?” The colt asked, and his voice sounded suddenly very pensive.

“Certainly."

“Why would a princess trouble herself with such horrid things?”

“Royalty is closely associated with horrid things. It is our place to defend our subjects from them. So we must know it well, if we are to combat it.”

The colt was silent for a moment, the rain pelting his face making his unblinking gaze into the inky field ahead even more fixating. “I must confess I never thought of it thusly.”

Luna frowned. All she had been told since her memory serviced her was that she had been placed in this world to serve Asgard. Her whole life, the lessons she was taught, the duties she would perform, the stallion she would marry, would all be implemented for the best outcome for the kingdom.

"How then did you think of us?” she asked. “What would our purpose be if not to service our subjects? We would only have to sit in gilded cages and preen.”

“I was always told our purpose as your subjects was to serve you by keep you from the horrid things.”

“Who told you that?” Luna asked dubiously.

“Splinter Hoof," he said. "He is one of the other servants I work--"

“Luna!”

Luna and the colt's heads snapped up.

"Papa!" Luna cried.

The prince of the realm came striding towards them with his horn blazing and flanked by several guards. Luna threw herself at her father, her throat filling with tears. Papa pushed her away almost immediately though, demanding severely, "Your mother is worried sick. Why did you leave her side?"

Luna felt herself shrinking under her father's harsh gaze. "I mistook Grandpapa for you."

Father's eyes widened. "Where did the All-Father go?” he said sharply.

“That way, Papa,” Luna said, pointing in the direction Grandpapa had vanished.

Papa followed her hoof and Luna thought he suddenly did not look concerned or anxious but rather very weary. When he spoke, his voice was firm but resigned:

“Take my daughter to her mother.”

The colt bowed deeply but Papa had already started walking with his guards following behind. The two young ponies began their walk back towards the flaming house. Though he was technically leading her the colt walked close besides Luna.

“Don’t worry, my lady, I’m certain his Highness will find the King,” he said.

“Of course he will,” Luna said automatically. “He could not have gotten very far.”

Luna thought of Grandpapa’s eyes again and she suppressed a shudder. To distract herself she said to the colt: "You never told me your name."

"Apologies my lady. It's Sombra."

***

Note from Luna Odinmaden: The author and name of this poem were unsalvageable but given it’s placement in the “Second Volume of Somber Verses” I assume it was written before the reign of All-Mother Aferdita. This poem is in reference to the old folktale of the souls of foals who either by being stillborn or perishing before their baptism day being condemned to wander between both earth and heaven, since being unsanctified they were not known by the Maker. Such miserable thought was the firm belief of the populace until the age of the Holy Seer Aliaksei who with his realm-wide circuit of lectures did much to lead the subjects away from such unhappy ignorance.

I was brought forth cold and blue to my bone

Even my heart lay in me still like a stone

So they shut me up beneath the ground

The earth’s pillars pressing me all around

(See me, good stranger)

Come to the water and put my head under

Until the ripples close over my crown

(See me, good stranger)

Let my airy fetters at last be sundered

So the host in heaven will know my name

When the moon lifts and her misty veil unspins

Then from my grave I am at once unpinned

And may walk to and fro between the winds

To the fathomless pool where black water brims

(See me, good stranger)

Come to the water and put my head under

Until the ripples close over my crown

(See me, good stranger)

Let my airy fetters at last be sundered

So the host in heaven will know my name

Every night I see the heavenly stairs unfurl

Up the gilded steps the blessed ones whirl

I mayn’t touch the last where the clouds swirl

For without water none enter the gates of pearl

(See me, good stranger)

Come to the water and put my head under

Until the ripples close over my crown

(See me, good stranger)

Let my airy fetters at last be sundered

So the host in heaven will know my name

Prepare Unto Death, And Follow Me

The Death of Faust Borrmaden:

As Faust Bormaden lay in her bed, ill with wear of age and time, she called her sons and daughters about her to give them any words of wisdom left in her.

--Note from Luna Odinmaden: These are compiled and written of in the tome simply called “The Wisdom of Faust” if the reader wishes to know them.--

When she had finished, she implored her children with all the feeling of a mother’s heart:

“My children, when I declare which of you will ascend to bear my title of All upon my death, I pray for the comfort of my soul which will look upon you from behind the veil of the heavens, do not quarrel with one another or bear any resentment to the one chosen.

You all must know the love I bear for each of you in my heart, for a mother must love all her children equally, and I count the value of each of you as beyond measure. So do not take my decision as a slight against the rest who were passed over for the task, but that as your mother and by the wisdom given to me by the Maker of all things, that I know the different gifts given to my children and that your purposes all lay in varied paths.

So bless and pray for the brother or sister who has been chosen and remember your mother lovingly and forgive her weak soul for whatever mistakes or injuries I might have made in my rearing of you. For besides your wondrous father, there were no creatures on the earth I treasured more than you.”

All her children assured her that they would and Faust smiled, saying she would take some sleep and then tell them which would be All when she awakened. So they left her side, each retiring to their own room.

***

The funeral was bound to be a strange and uncomfortable fare.

It was technically for Grandpapa and his wife, but there was only the body of the queen present. Two weeks of search had failed to recover a sign of Grandpapa but given his age and his state when he disappeared it was a sort of silent agreement throughout the kingdom that he had surely perished.

It was decided that for the stability of the kingdom Papa would take the throne as All-Father Odin, the first of the name and fifteenth All since Mother Faust to rule over a united Asgard. Papa thought it best to first lay his parents to rest before claiming the throne and so had spent three days locked in the council chambers with all the priests, councilors, and lords of the land throwing together a properly splendid funeral for a fallen king and queen.

It all felt strikingly familiar to the historical accounts in the tome Luna was salvaging. Sudden deaths of royalty, a hasty ascension, a rushed funeral...it was all rather primitive and intriguing.

Or at least that was the least distressing way to perceive the happenings around her.

It was an better balm to project the images of those long separated from her by time and death onto these events. Better, at least, than ingesting the bitter draught of a mad grandfather running loose, a grandmother perished from grief, and a child uncle's own quick illness and sudden passing as the precursor to all this.

Luna was brought out of her thoughts by a playful nudge from Celestia.

“You look lovely, Lulu,” Celestia said, nodding to Luna’s mourning dress. “Dark colors become you very nicely.”

The two sisters were standing in one of the castle’s long hallways, leaning against the wall listlessly. Mama had sent the both of them and Sunset ahead to wait for Papa to come out from his dressing, which would take some time, since Cadence had been acting uncharacteristically difficult, refusing to allow Mama to put her mourning dress on.

Sunset naturally was standing away from them, in the middle of the hall. Every few minutes she would pace a few steps back and forth, stamping her hooves so they rang down the hall and huffing impatiently.

“You look better,” Luna told Celestia, nodding at her mourning dress. All the daughters were wearing matching black dresses with no trimmings, accessories or makeup. Luna thought her dark coat blended too much with the cloth so it looked like she was fading into her clothes.

Celestia sighed dramatically and looked down at her skirt desolately. “Black does not flatter my coat as it does yours. It makes me look piebald.”

Luna suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. Celestia could have worn a sack and still be the loveliest creature at the party, even now in their matching dresses Luna felt like she was cast in wilting shadows against her sister’s buoyant shimmering.

It wasn’t that Luna was jealous of Celestia, not entirely at least. She didn’t envy Celestia’s flirty, flighty manners or her petulance, she thought they made her seem younger than Cadence sometimes and were unbecoming to a princess. Even Mama had complained to Papa that as long as he overlooked them Celestia would soon be an irredeemable hussy when she came of age.

But Luna did wish she could make ponies folk around her as effortlessly Celestia did, have them wait on her every whim and hang on her most careless word. Fillies and colts, mares and stallions, servants and courtiers, all fell at her sister’s hooves, charmed out of their sense and self by her brilliance.

“What are you thinking?” Celestia said, leaning her chin affectionately on Luna’s shoulder.

“Me? Nothing.”

“That’s wise. It’s better than thinking on...other things.”

Grandpapa’s eyes flashed in Luna’s mind and she felt suddenly cold. “What do you think is the matter with Cadence?” she said, hoping to distract herself.

Celestia shook her head. “It’s strange, she did the same thing at Little Uncle’s funeral.”

“I don’t remember that.” That had been such a terrible day, the worst of her entire life.

Papa’s little brother, who the princess's called Little Uncle Vasilios, had been born long after all the physicians said Grandmama could never bear another foal, especially after Papa's own birth which had been so long and arduous she had nearly died. But then miracle of miracles, Grandmama had born a healthy and strong colt who they named after Grandpapa's beloved mother, Vasilisa the Lovely. Since he was two years younger than Cadence, he was treated less like an heir to the throne and consequently was spoiled sweet, even Grandpapa's wild nature cooled around Vasilios. If Cadence radiated love, Vasilios had emitted pure joy, nopony ever left his presence without a smile.

He had drowned in the river that ran through the castle’s main garden. He was only five years old.

Grandmama, who had been the one to lift his body up from the riverbed, had been hysterical, running up and down the halls howling so loudly that every corner of the castle heard her. Grandpapa trailed behind her, trying in vain to reason or comfort her in any way, so Papa once again had been appointed to overseeing the funeral arrangements.

The whole household had stumbled about in a stunned haze, no pony seemed to know where they should be or what they should be doing, Luna recalled Papa having to order every servant at least twice of their duties.

Celestia’s voice brought Luna out of her thoughts once again: “I never thought I would have to wear this dress again. Not so soon at least."

Luna nodded somberly. “My dress still feels warm from Little Uncle's funeral,” she said.

“They should have made us new dresses,” Sunset’s voice, sudden and sharp, caused both Luna and Celestia to flinch.

“I was only speaking figuratively. It was such a short time ago, is all I meant,” Luna said.

“It doesn’t matter how short a time ago it was. The subjects shouldn’t see us in the same dress again. Papa should punish the tailors.”

Luna thought of the grey colt Sombra and that he might work with the tailors, and she imagined him having to encounter her father’s displeasure.

“That’s so unjust of you!" she said hotly. "It isn’t their fault the situation gave no time for preparation.”

“It is their purpose to be prepared for any situation! What else do they have to do with their time?”

“More than you!" Celestia snapped and Luna nodded furiously, adding: "You spend all your time commanding others to do the labor for you, what would you know of work?"

“And I suppose you are the specimen of a drudge!" Sunset shoved her face into Luna's. "You don’t even take part in any of your own proper royal duties. If Papa knew how many times you’ve stolen out of royal dinners and festivals it is you who he would be punishing!" Sunset's lips suddenly shifted from a scowl to a smile. "And if he knew how poor your marks our with our tutors he'd probably disown you."

"You are one to talk, if the tutors ever complained to Papa about any of us it would be how you abuse them like slaves!" Celestia exclaimed.

"And you charm and wheedle your way out of all discipline so they don't reprimand you!" Sunset shouted. "You are the disrespectful one, not I! Father hates disrespect above all!"

"He hates cruelty more, so you'll be the first in his line of fire!"

"Tia, ignore her, she speaks nonsense," Luna said, realizing the situation was spiraling out of control.

"No! You think you can get away with anything but not with me, Sunset!"

"I am the heir to the kingdom now!" Sunset declared, drawing herself up stiffly. "I can do what I want to who I want because this kingdom will belong to me and therefore all who inhabit it owe me allegiance! You will be my servants one day and follow my commands!"

Celestia's face turned red with outrage. "I am a daughter of Faust too, I am as worthy and equal as you in all things, and I shall never be in servitude to you!"

"How will you be able to defy me, then, without Papa do defend you, preening prancing filly?" Sunset crooned mockingly.

Luna shut her eyes and heard the magical shriek of her sister's clashing. She felt the hairs of her coat stand on end at the lightning like sizzling from their dueling magical forces.

Mama will have a fit if she sees their hair torn up again.

Luna opened her eyes--Celestia and Sunset were indeed trying to yank at each others hair--and said: "Stop this before you undo all of Mama's work! Tia, you'll tear your dress!"

They either didn't hear or did not listen because their fight only increased in ferocity.

"Stop this right now! We will have to go out any moment!" Luna raised her voice so it echoed through the hall.

One of Sunset's flailing hooves caught right above Celestia eye. Celestia was sent stumbling back and squealing in pain.

At the sound of her sister in pain, Luna felt her heart contract painfully as if the very sensation had channeled its way from Celestia to her own body. She instinctively leapt forward, placing herself directly in front of Sunset.

"What is wrong with you?" She shouted, throwing her face into her sister's. "What do you think you're doing?"

Luna felt like she was burning up from outrage, that unbearable sense of injustice, was like there was an inferno in the center of her chest and it made it hard to breath around and stung her eyes.

But she felt even that must pale in comparison to Sunset, whose whole body was blazing like a solar flare, so ferociously Luna could barely look her in the face.

Like the fire in the castle and Grandpapa's eyes...

It thought made her afraid. But she still didn't move.

"Celestia was right," she said, surprising herself at how firm her voice was. "You cannot treat us like this. We are your sisters, Sunset, we are your flesh and blood. How can you behave as if we are your slaves? How can you do these things to us?"

"Get out of my way!" Sunset snarled and tried to reach around Luna to charge at Celestia again, who was leaning against the hall pressing her hoof to the scratch above her eye.

Luna shoved her back, using a simple magical surge to add to her push. But Sunset must have been already off balance, because rather than stepping back she went reeling back into the opposite wall with a terrible thudding sound.

"WHAT IS THIS?"

All three fillies spun around, Luna feeling her leap heart in her mouth.

Papa stood in the hall, resplendent in sheer silver cloth that offset his dark blue coat marked with white specks like constellations, his inky mane wreathing his head like a stormhead. His normally black eyepatch was replaced by one embroidered with a galaxy on it.

And his single pale eye was searing.

"Have you lost your tongue?" Papa's voice was like the blast of an organ and it rang in Luna's ears.

Suddenly Luna realized he was speaking to her.

"Are you deaf or do you simply have no respect, Luna Odinmaden?" Papa thundered and in two massive strides he was towering over Luna.

Luna felt herself shrinking like an insect. "I-"

"We are here to honor the memory of your grandparents and mourn their tragic departure. Have you no love for them in your heart to command your baser impulses? Is whatever conflict you have with your sister greater than the regard for your ancestors? Will we have to present your elder sister like this before the public, torn and smashed by your hoof?"

"Papa--" Celestia squeaked from her corner but the glare Papa gave silenced her.

He turned back on Luna. His eye was so blistering with fury it made Luna think of brimstones and that made her think of once again of Grandpapa’s eyes...

Maker, let the ground open and swallow me. Let me disappear, make me invisible.

"Odin, what is it?"

Every pony turned to see Mama standing in the hallway with Cadence at her side.

"I came from my dressing to find Luna casting Sunset aside,” Papa said, motioning tersely at Luna. “Now Sunset is unpresentable. You must speak with this child, because I cannot look upon her."

Papa then strode past Luna, shaking his massive head in frustration.

Mama’s eyes narrowed as she looked from Luna to Sunset and then Celestia. She looked suspicious, but said nothing and instead nodded for the three fillies to come over to her. She first magically healed Celestia’s little cut and then proceeded to magically close all the small rips in hers and Sunset’s dresses before finally correcting their coiffures.

While Mama was adjusting Celestia’s mane, Celestia tried to whisper, “Mama, it was Sunset who--”

“Hush, darling,” Mama shushed her. But when she turned to Luna, who did not require any repairs, she leaned over and spoke in her ear, “I will speak with Sunset later, best beloved.”

Luna suddenly realized she had tears in her eyes and she quickly rubbed them away, nodding at her mother.

“Come now Frigga, are they presentable or will I have to lead my heirs out looking like drafthorses?” Papa demanded, stamping his hoof down, which made a sound like stone cracking. Luna half expected fire to come spitting out from the force of it.

“They’re ready,” Mama replied calmly.

“Well, then line up!” Papa barked at the fillies, and all four instinctively took their practiced place: Sunset and Celestia stood shoulder directly behind Papa and Luna and Cadence did the the same behind them.

Papa’s flinty eyes inspected each of them, snapping commands at each daughter: “Sunset, throw your shoulders back. Celestia keep your eyes straight ahead. Luna lift up your head. Cadence--” Here his voice softened, even Papa could not be severe to her, “--stop fidgeting, child.”

“Aren’t they beautiful, my love?” Mama said. She had walked up to her place beside Papa and her voice had a pointed air.

Papa exhaled deeply. “We needed at least another week," he said pensively. "I should have pushed for another week.”

“You know you couldn’t wait any longer, it’s been too long as it is,” Mama said and now her voice had a comforting tone.

Papa shook his head again and turned his back on them, still murmuring about how they had needed more time.

Now there was nothing to do but wait for the servants to signal. Papa and Mama whispered between themselves and Sunset and Celestia were close enough to lean in to hear them, while pretending they were looking somewhere else. That left Luna with time and silence to stew over her humiliation.

Why is it that Sunset and Celestia can do what they wish and never be caught or corrected but I cannot escape with even a little mistake?

But this wasn’t even a mistake, I was doing nothing wrong! He never sees how Sunset lords herself over us and Mama cannot stop her anymore, am I suppose to let Tia take all the abuse?

It’s not fair how he favors her, what has Sunset done except be the firstborn? Tia is as good in magic and studies as her and is as pretty as her, and she is loved better by all. Even Sunset knows this!

But because he indulges her she believes she can do what she pleases and now that’s she’s the heir what will we do, she will be unbearable--

Luna suddenly caught the sound of a sniffle and glanced to her right. Cadence was rubbing her nose with her hoof and Luna could see her cheeks were damp.

“Cadence, what is it?” she whispered, shooting a glance at her parents but they were too involved in their conversation to hear.

Cadence shook her head, her purple, pink and vanilla curls swaying back and forth, but Luna catch sight of a large tear rolling down her nose.

“You mustn’t cry, Papa won’t be pleased,” Luna said.

At the mention of Papa’s displeasure, Cadence bit down on her lower lip but Luna could see it was still shivering and her eyes were now glazed with tears.

Luna thought of telling Celestia who had a way of making anyone smile at any time but was too worried of drawing her parent’s attention, so she leaned down herself and put her wing over Cadence’s shoulder.

“Shhh, don’t be sad. It’ll be over soon,” she said gently, using her wing to rub Cadence’s back the way she had seen Mama do whenever any of the fillies were upset.

“Grandmama…” Cadence squeaked, her voice squeezed by tears into a whisper.

“Don’t be sad for Grandmama, she is with the Maker now. Remember the High Seer spoke to you about it, now she will be in the sun’s light forever surrounded by green fields and diamond waters, and all our fathers and mothers are there to commune with her. She is happy, do you not wish her to be happy?”

“Yes. B-but I--”

“What?”

Cadence’s eyes darted about as if she expected something to swoop in and bite her. She pressed herself close to Luna and breathed, “I saw it.”

Luna did not understand what she meant but something in her sister’s voice made a shiver go down her spine. “Saw what?” she said, despite not truly wanting to know.

At that very moment three servants entered the hall, one walking directly to Papa and conversing with him in a lower voice. The other two came and began dispensing garlands to each filly. This was Papa’s idea, in most funeral processions the heirs carried nothing but he had thought each should be individually noted for the public and the best way to do so would to give each a piece of the traditional funeral wreath.

Sunset was given a garland of fennel, Celestia columbines, Luna rue, and Cadence daisies--Papa would get rosemary and Mama pansies.

There was supposed to be violets as well, as Cadence had pointed out in a rehearsal two days ago. Papa, who had been overseeing the affair in his short manner, had told her in a strangely hoarse tone, “There are no violets to be found. They all withered when your Grandmama died.”

Cadence, being young, accepted this. None of the other fillies knew what to make of it, except that when they had all gone to the garden to look there were indeed no violets to be found.

I suppose it’s just as well, Luna thought. The garlands would be an uneven number if there were any.

Papa finished speaking with the servant who he sent off with a nod. He then motioned the other servants forward and they bestowed him and Mama with their garlands and also with two extra traditional objects, an unlit torch and a string of prayer pearls blessed by the Holy Seer.

Luna wiped Cadence’s eyes with the edges of her wing feathers and whispered as she straightened, “Hold your garland close to your face, then no pony will see your tears.”

Cadence sniffed but levitated her garland as told and Luna straightened.

Mama turned to look at the fillies and said gently, "Now don't be anxious, just keep your eyes on your father and I and follow us and all will be well."

Just as she finished speaking the sound of metal grinding metal echoed down the hall, reminding Luna of the growl of a dragon. Immediately Papa and Mama began walking forward and the princesses followed, their hooves making a clatter that contrasted sharply with the cool demeanor the royals emulated.

It was some ways down the hall to the massive double doors--eighteen feet tall and two feet thick cut from ironwood and coated with gold. On both doors on each side was carved a relief of All-Mother Faust, each in profile facing one another so the horns overlapped like an extra dose of symbolic barrier.

It was called the Sentinel Entrance and it lead to the literal end of Asgardian ground, from there one could walk down the Rainbow Bridge (Luna preferred that name to it's other title, Bifrost) to it's Observatory, where the Sentinel in days of old used to stand and command the passage between the worlds. There had been no one to oversee it since the youth of great-grandfather Lief the Righteous.

As the royals finally approached it the doors were magically parted. Luna could hear the noise of the crowd ahead, subjects waiting to catch a glimpse of the royal family passing by. She could see the royal guards standing in the doorway step back to allow them through.

Luna braced herself, fixing her eyes on her parents ahead and trying to focus on the sound of her hooves hitting the floor. They passed under the arch of the doorway and Luna felt as if she were walking out of a protection spell.

As the guards instantly arrayed themselves before, behind and to each side of them, a flood of sounds and strange smells struck Luna, the feel of eyes pressing and running over her. She felt like one of Mama's pin cushions, all the whispers she caught in her ears and the eyes she felt on her were like needles pricking through her, splitting her hair from her flesh and her flesh from the bone. It was like each layer of herself was being peeled back and laid out to be inspected and dissected by strangers.

She felt her muscles tighten and she felt she had to force her pace and expression to remain even.

Can they see how my steps are stiffer? Can they see how my brow is furrowed? Can they hear how my heart--

Luna bit her lip, forcing her mind to focus. She thought of what Papa would tell her: Stay strong for the family. For our honor and that of our ancestors.

She chanced a glance at Cadence and could see her eyes darting around anxiously. At Vasilios's funeral Cadence had cried so much Mama had been required to cast a sedating spell and carry her on her back, so this was in her mind the first funeral procession she had ever walked.

Luna levitated her garland closer to her face to hide her mouth and used her magic to funnel her voice directly in Cadence's ear.

"Keep your eyes on Mama and Papa. Listen to the sound of your hoofsteps. Don't pay heed to anything else."

Easier said than done. I'm barely managing myself.

Cadence glanced at her and gave a timid nod. Luna kept her eye on her until she felt Cadence was at least looking a bit steadier and then returned to focusing on her own appearance.

Because she didn't allow herself to look around or listen to anything, she wasn't sure how long the walk was to the start of the Rainbow Bridge. There, flanked by four white censer swinging servants of the Holy Seer, was Grandmama. She was laid out on a bed of silk pillowed with lily blossoms, her body from head to hoof wrapped in matching cloth.

Luna could smell the spices that she had been wrapped in to preserve her body, and somehow the contrast of the pleasant smell with their unpleasant purpose made her feel suddenly sick. She realized there was far too much sweetness in the air, perfumes, blossoms and the incense from the censers, as if it was all designed to distract from the purpose of this day.

Her grandmother was dead and so was her grandfather and their little son, why was everything arrayed like a wedding or a feast day, all beauty and life-filled, when it was nothing but the opposite?

Why do we honor death this way? It has stolen from us and we answer with a declaration of his victory.

Since the bridge was narrow, two guards went first casting magical walls on either side to act as barriers should anyone slip or trip over the edge into space. Then Papa and Mama went, Sunset and Celestia next, and finally Luna and Cadence followed by the rest of the guards. The Holy Seer's servants levitated Grandmama's flowered cradle and began guiding it down the Bridge, towards the Observatory.

Now that they had left the crowd behind Luna felt her breath come easier. She looked at Cadence and saw her staring down at her hooves, which with each impact on the bridge caused bursts of color to shoot through it's surface. Luna felt a slight tug at the edges of her lips, she remembered she had the same reaction when she had first walked the Bridge.

The Bridge was not very long so they were at the Observatory quicker than Luna would have liked. The Holy Seer was standing within next to the raised platform where the Observatory's ignition stood. The Sentinel's sword was inserted within--only the Sentinel or the All could power it.

Grandmama was levitated before the Holy Seer, a tall light blue stallion clothed in purple and red, signifying the blending of holiness and passion. The royal family filed in a line before him, Papa at the far left and Cadence at the far right, and the guards stood behind. The Holy Seer's servants stood at the head and hooves of Grandmama.

The Holy Seer lifted his hoof and spoke in a sonorous voice the funeral blessing Luna remembered him speaking over little uncle Vasilios:

"Blessed be the Maker, the Speaker, the Voice and the Word that manifest and sustain our beings."

In unison, all present responded: "Blessed be He evermore."

The Holy Seer continued: "As it is His authority to bestow so it is His to deprive, all His works are perfect and good and loving."

All present: "May He be blessed evermore."

"May our eyes not be lifted up in arrogance, our hearts burned by wrath or our souls overcome by sorrow, let us fall into the all encompassing embrace of the Maker in this tribulation. If we fail this, may His mercy fall upon us like the rain upon the barren earth."

All present: "May He be merciful."

"Incline your ear to us and hear our prayer, and unfurl the steps and pull aside the veil for Hildr and Erik, those who You weaved in marriage and threaded together in death, and guide them into the Golden Hall to feast in Your presence. May they be found by those who loved them and their blessed ancestors to rejoice evermore past the falling of the firmament, the uprooting of the World Tree, the drossing of the unclean. We commend their souls into your healing wings."

All present: "Into your wings we commend them."

The Holy Seer took an aspergillum out of his voluminous robes and shook it over the length of Grandmama's body, sprinkling the blessed water, wine and oil over her.

When this was done he lifted his face in unison with his servants and they began to sing in low tones in the Holy Speak, which Luna did not know since only the Holy Seer and his servants were allowed to learn it so it would not be abused or defiled by wicked tongues.

Luna did like this part, she recalled it was the only pleasant moment in uncle Vasilios's funeral. It sounded rather like a lullabye but more...divine, like it's melody was a loom that set the fabric of reality from the blades of grass to the veins in her heart. She was certain the Maker could hear it over any other sound in the universe.

Suddenly, Luna felt a warm dampness on her leg. She flinched and looked down to see Cadence nudging her. Cadence nodded towards their left, down the line. Luna stole a glance and did a double take. Celestia, Sunset and Mama were all looking in the same direction and at the same figure: Papa.

Luna stared and couldn't look away but did not process what she was seeing until Cadence whispered in her ear:

"Papa is crying."

Luna watched the tears, one after the other, rolling down Papa's cheeks and the dampness spread like a stain over his coat. She could hear the sobs coming out strangled and choked from his throat. But she couldn't unite the concepts--tears and Papa--into a comprehensible thought in her mind. She couldn't even attach an emotion to it except that of confusion.

Mama then leaned close to him, laying her wing over his back and pressing her lips to his ear. Luna saw her jaw moving but could not catch her words.

"What is she saying?" Celestia said to Sunset in a loud whisper.

Sunset shook her head, allowing Luna to catch the stunned expression in her eyes. "I cannot hear."

Cadence began to sniffle again. Celestia glanced at her. "Don't be upset, precious," she said, using Mama's pet name for Cadence. "He'll be well in a moment, see how Mama is comforting him."

Rather than calming her, Celestia's words set Cadence to weeping, dropping her garland and covering her face with her wings. Luna and Celestia both immediately rush to her, stroking her with their wings and sending waves of soothing magical energy.

"Please Cadence please don't cry for my sake," Celestia said tenderly. "I can't stave off tears if you cannot."

"You see even Papa is not crying so much even though it is his parents who are passed on. He is being brave and you must be too," Luna said softly.

Sunset, who had stood watching Papa and Mama, now turned and stalked over to her sisters, shouldering Luna and Celestia aside. Her horn flared and a series of sandy golden band of magic fell over Cadence's head. Cadences eyes grew suddenly dim and her sobbing faded like it was being snuffed out.

A sedation spell.

"Now hurry to your places before Papa is himself again," she said in a low voice, glancing worriedly at their parents. "When the Holy Seer calls us forth for the offerings, Luna you must help her to the cradle and lay out the garland. Understood?"

Luna nodded and Sunset tugged Celestia back into the line. It was just in a nick of time; Papa had recovered and was straightening himself, blinking the last of the tears from his eyes and the Holy Seer and his servants' voices had faded into silence. The Holy Seer motioned with his hoof and the royal family all stepped forward, Luna bringing Cadence along with her wing.

With a nod to each respective member--Papa's rosemary, Mama's pansies and prayer pearls, Sunset's fennel, Celestia's columbines, Luna's rue, and Cadence daisies--all were placed over Grandmama's clothed body. Then Papa held out the unlit torch he held in his magical grip, and the Holy Seer spoke a blessing in the Holy Speak and then lit the torch with his horn. Mama and the princesses stepped back as Papa laid the torch upon Grandmama, the oil and wine soaked into her burial cloth igniting instantly.

Then both he and the Holy Seer stepped upon the Observatory platform and the Holy Seer spoke more holy words over Papa, moving his hoof over Papa's head in the motion that indicated divine anointing. When he finished, Papa grasped the Sentinel sword with his magic and there was a heavy clank as the blade fell into place.

The walls about them began to whirl, making a terrifying whining noise like the voice of ten thousand windigos that almost caused Luna's heart to burst out of her chest. She instinctively drew Cadence closer to her, though she knew the filly probably did not perceive anything.

Recalling the last funeral, she looked up and saw the barrel of the Observatory cannon pointed directly into the heavens. It's magical funnel fell upon Grandmama and began to lift the smoke from the fire into the night sky. The process was slow, after the smoke would come the flames and the ashes of Grandmama and all the offerings.

Luna made the innocent mistake of watching the body last time and knew she could not bear seeing Grandmama's body consumed and dissipated by the fire. The flames hid the graphicness but somehow it did not remove the disturbance of watching a creature being burnt out of existence.

It made her think of the library she had walked into the night of the fire. How the words on so many pages had been blackened out of reach of memory or restoration. Silenced and unknown forever to the world...

She did not want to think of that, so Luna focused her eyes and mind at the sky above. She could see the edge of a constellation--Faust's Heart she recalled it was named. She had seen it many times through her telescope during nighttime lessons with their tutor.

The tutor had once told her when she was perhaps Cadence's age that if she kept staring so long in the scope the stars would burn themselves into her eyes. She hadn't seen how this was an evil thing and had then spent hours in private staring at the stars in hope that this would happen.

She remembered she had spoken of it once in Grandmama and Grandpapa's presence. Grandmama had laughed, that had made Luna blush but in a pleasant way.

But Grandpapa...

At that memory the stars suddenly seemed to grow harsher and to flame like Grandpapa's eyes.

Stop that, for the love of Faust. You shouldn't think ill of the dead, especially not at the funeral.

She tried to think of a pleasant memory of Grandpapa but those were all tied to poor uncle Vasilios and that made her feel worse.

She hugged Cadence closer to her, finding comfort in her sister's warmth. She could feel Cadence's faint heartbeat against her own ribs, and it seemed to match the pace of her own. That must have affected her somehow because she did not recall standing through the rest of the ceremony until Celestia nudged her and she realized Grandmama's remains, the bed and all the offerings were gone.

Then lead by the Holy Seer they filed out of the Observatory and down the Bridge back to the palace, but she did not end up recalling much of that either for she spent it helping Cadence's dulled senses across it.

Near Death, Who See with Blinding Sight

On Faust’s children:

When Faust’s children awoke and went to their mother’s bedside to hear which of them would be All, they found only her body for the Maker had taken her spirit behind the veil.

One of her sons, Erasmus, known for being sensitive of spirit, was so overwhelmed at seeing his mother’s corpse that his heart gave out and he died on the very spot.

Faust’s other children were equally grieved though not so overcome. For three days there were no words between them but only the sounds of weeping.

But on the fourth day Faust’s eldest son, Haroun, stood up and spoke to his brothers and sisters: “The time of weeping has passed, now we must turn our thoughts towards the good of our mother’s kingdom, which she and our father toiled to prepare for our comfort and security. Mother has passed and did not speak the name of an heir, so now it must be decided: which of us will become the All and rule over the rest?”

Now each of Faust’s children looked at the one next to them and there was none who could answer him. Finally one of Faust’s daughters, Monifa, spoke aloud saying: “We should draw lots and see which of us the Maker favors.”

But her brother Jeshurun protested, saying: “The Olympians did so and it has been naught but a suffering for them and their own since. Lots are too unclear, let us pray until the Maker reveals the answer unto us.”

“It might be too lengthy a time until the Maker speaks,” Haroun said. “The kingdom requires a ruler lest our enemies gather against us.”

So there arose an exchange amongst the children of whose method was the wisest. Then one of Faust’s daughter’s by the name of Midian, a cunning mare, a maker of riddles and full of great silent ambition, spoke thusly:

“The answer is a simple one at its root, who do we believe our honored mother trusted most? For no matter how lofty or fortunate or upright she believed one to be, if she did not trust in the contents of their character she would not have entrusted the might of the All to them.”

At that moment it was as if a double-edged sword cut through Faust’s children and they were divided into those who were too fearful to image such responsibility and those arrogant enough to desire it. And as like calls unto like, those with the lust for the throne perceived the desire in each other’s eyes and soon the venom of mistrust spread as a plague.

For those lacking the drive for the throne soon found themselves trampled beneath---

Note From Luna Odinmaden: Here the manuscript was irreparably damaged. But this story is one of the most well documented in our history and hardly requires retelling, especially in such sparse language. Also for the chronicler to give the impression that it was only Midian’s words that provoked Faust’s children to their conflict is to overlook the effects of Faust and her husband’s own rearing of them and the responsibility of the children themselves for their own sin. In short, it is never one soul that destroys, but the surrender of many to its will.

***

Luna was brushing out her mane at her vanity. She was so weary that she kept pulling the brush too heavily and it would end up slipping out of her hair and slamming against the edge of her vanity.

After the funeral there was a feast the royal family hosted for the guests who had come for the funeral and that had been a blur of much anxious commotion so she hadn't realized how exhausted she was until she sat down to brush her mane as was her nightly habit.

She had thought of just going to bed but didn't want to have to struggle with tangles tomorrow, which even with magic was a very long and painful process.

At least there'll be no more functions for a two months. So I'll get some rest before Papa's coronation.

She grimaced thinking how much longer that event would be and how long the feasting would last for that. Grandpapa's coronation celebration had lasted an entire 40 days, though Papa had never been as fond of revelry as Grandpapa had been in his youth.

Grandpapa reveling...now that's a strange thought.

She tried to visualize the scowling, brooding alicorn smiling and laughing. The only time he had not been silent and sullen was in his fits of wrath. But he had smiled with uncle Vasilios but that was in a gentle, fatherly manner not a drunken, joyous one.

And once Vasilios had gone so had his smile. But most everything had gone away with Vasilios. It was as if he had been the star of their solar system and all grew cold and spiraled out into emptiness without his warmth or gravitation.

There was the sound of a lock clicking and Luna turned to the door that led to Sunset and Celestia's bedroom. The door opened and Celestia stepped in, carefully shutting the door behind her.

"Where's Cadence?" Celestia said, looking around the room.

"Still with Mama and Papa," Luna said. The brush slipped and slammed on the vanity for the hundredth time, causing Luna to hiss through her teeth.

"Let me see that," Celestia said, walking up behind Luna and taking the brush with her magic. She pulled the brush gently through Luna's mane and Luna sighed with relief.

"Why are you here?" Luna asked.

In the mirror she saw Celestia make a face. "Sunset is being more hateful than usual. I was trying to talk about how pretty the ambassador's son was and all she could say was how he should have engaged her in talk more than me. Then I said if she wasn't so contrary colts might actually want to speak with her and of course then she went on about how scandalous my flirting is and how I'll bring the millennia of generations of our family to ruin with my behavior--"

"I think I grasp the meat of your exchange," Luna said, waving her hoof dismissively.

"You would think for one night she would be pleasant, at the very least grateful for her living relations."

"Perhaps she also thought you would be more solemn on such a night."

Celestia hit a tangle and with the brush gave it a vicious yank. "The Holy Seer himself prayed that we should not be weighed down with sadness. So if the Maker gives me joy even in sorrow wouldn't it be wasting the blessing to make myself unhappy?"

Luna was sure there was a middle ground on the matter but was too tired to discuss it. Celestia finished the brushing and proceeded to braid Luna's mane.

"Would you like one or many?" She asked.

"One. Too many give me headaches. Remember what a bad one I had on Cadence's birthday?"

Celestia nodded and wove Luna's dark hair into a long single braid.

Luna stood up from the chair and stumbled over to her bed, practically falling into it. She regretted that quickly since her dolls were tucked into the covers and so she was lying on stiff lumps and bumps. She wriggled around, pulling doll after doll out from under her--there were at least ten--tossing them on the other side of the bed, even half asleep she hadn't the heart to throw them on the floor.

"Are you staying or going back to bed?" Luna asked Celestia.

"I don't want to apologize just yet."

"Whose bed do you want then? I think Cadence might be staying with Mama tonight."

"Can I lie down with you? I don't like to sleep alone."

"I don't mind," Luna mumbled, finally crawling under the covers and pulling them up to her chin.

Celestia dove in, tugging the covers nearly out of Luna's grip to wrap around her body.

"Your bed is so much softer than mine," Celestia said.

"Hmmppfff," Luna said, already feeling sleep gripping her.

The sound of a lock turning again and the sound of stamping hooves caused her to sigh.

"What are doing here?" Celestia snapped.

"I could ask you the same," Sunset's harsh voice answered. "Running away from our argument, how like you."

"Can't you let anything rest? You're not Mama, you haven't right to command my habits."

"I am the heir to the kingdom, I will be the next All-Mother so you had best become accustomed to obeying my commands!"

"Oh this again..." Luna groaned. "If you two are going to argue hierarchy semantics do so in your own bedroom."

"I can argue wherever I so please--"

"I'm not going back with her--"

"Shhhhhhhhhhhh!"

All three fillies turned to see Cadence now standing in the doorway, frowning at them.

"You'll disturb Papa and Mama!" she chided, stepping into the room.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were staying with Mama tonight," Sunset said.

Cadence walked over to the bed and climbed on, wriggling to lie down between Luna and Celestia. "Papa came in and seemed like he wanted to talk to Mama, so I was sent out."

Luna thought about Papa crying during the ceremony and wondered if Mama was comforting him right now as she had then.

"What did Papa look like?" she asked.

"Tired," Cadence said.

"I can imagine," Sunset said. She pulled a chair up to the bedside and sat down. "Tomorrow he'll have even more work with preparing for the coronation. He said I have to sit in on all the meetings and the proceedings for it. Since I'm the heir I need to learn how to arrange such events."

"Will you shut up about this heir business?" Celestia said sharply. "We know you're the heir. But it's only because our five year old uncle and his mama drowned and grandfather set our palace aflame and ran off in a mad hysteria. I wouldn't be so proud about such a miserably begotten title."

Sunset stared at her, her face a mask of shock, but uncharacteristically did not respond.

Cadence started sniffling, causing Luna to say, "Don't fight, you're upsetting her."

"It's not them," Cadence said, her voice damp with tears. "It's..." She stopped and swallowed, looking suddenly afraid.

Celestia turned to Cadence, her brow furrowed. "It's what Cadence?"

Cadence burrowed herself under the covers so only her eyes were visible, wide and quivering.

"Cadence? What's the matter?" Celestia insisted, looking concerned.

Cadence said something but was muffled by the cover.

"What?" her sisters said at once.

"I'm afraid to say," Cadence said louder, her voice strained with anxiety.

Celestia voice became firmer: "Cadence, you cannot hide something that's frightening you."

Luna nodded and added worriedly, "You need to tell us."

"I'll tell Papa if you do not tell us what this threat is," Sunset demanded.

Cadence covered her eyes with her hooves. "I had a bad dream."

"That's it?" Sunset exclaimed but Celestia and Luna both waved her away.

"What was it?" Celestia said.

"Of Uncle Vasilios, Grandmama and Grandpapa."

"What about them?"

"Of them dying."

Celestia looked saddened and put her arm around Cadence. "Oh precious, I'm sorry about that. How about I ask the cook to create a sweet sleep soup--"

"No it was before they died I saw it!" Cadence exclaimed.

The three older fillies stared at her and then each other, trading expressions first of confusion then realization.

Sunset was the first to speak, hesitantly: "Like...how Mama sees it, when she is at the loom?"

Luna remembered this--it had been so long since it had been spoken of. She had been very little and watched Mama weaving vividly colored threads into massive tapestries, each utterly dissimilar from the last, filled with images of every creature known and some never seen. They were so life-like that sometimes when the servants or Papa would walk in they would have to look twice to assure themselves they weren’t alive.

Mama stopped letting Luna or the rest of the princesses watch after Cadence ran out of the room screaming that one of the wolves in the tapestry Mama was creating had leapt out and gnashed its teeth.

Cadence's eyes were shut tight as she nodded in answer to Sunset’s question.

After a long pause, Luna asked in a low voice: "Did you tell Mama?"

"I tried but I kept crying," Cadence said. "And she was busy because of the funeral."

"We should go tell her," Luna said.

"She's with Papa," Sunset pointed out.

"What did you see?" Celestia asked quietly.

Cadence’s eyes suddenly appeared cloudy and her face took on a bizarrely serene air. When she spoke her voice was slow and soft like she was trying to piece together the memory of a dream:

“Three days before little Uncle Vasilios died, I dreamt I saw him in the part of the garden where the river ran through. He was wading into it and I said, ‘Little Uncle, where are you going?’ and he said to me, ‘I heard the Word of the Voice, I hear it Speaking to me across this way.’ And he walked over the river like it was solid ground and disappeared from my sight.

“Seven days after his funeral, I dreamt I saw Grandmama sitting by the bank of the river where little Uncle Vasilios drowned that day when we all were turned away. And the train of her dress was all made of violet blossoms and she had them woven in her hair too, the way she did when she, little Uncle and I would sit in the garden and make crowns of them.

“She was crying so that there was water all around her and it kept growing higher. I asked her, ‘Grandmama why are you weeping?’ She said to me, ‘My babe passed over the river and I cannot follow so I will make the river overflow so it will carry me over to be with him.’ And the water went over her head like the mouth of a great beast and she left my sight.

“Then in the same dream, I would suddenly see Grandpapa standing in the throne room all wreathed in fire, in his hair and on his horn and his legs. I said, ‘Grandpapa, why are you full of fire?’ And he said, ‘The river took my wife and my son so I will burn it up.’ So I said, ‘But only the river can take you to them.’ He then told me, ‘Then I will bring the river back.’ And he took all the smoke from the fire and threw it to the ceiling and they turned into stormclouds and poured out rain that filled the room and swallowed him up, so he was hidden from my sight.”

Cadence blinked and her expression abruptly regained it’s frightened look, her eyes darting between her sister’s with fearful anticipation. Sunset’s face was twisted in horror and she had pushed herself as far into her chair as possible, while Celestia’s face was soft with compassion but quivering with an edge of anxiety.

Luna wasn’t certain what she felt, it reminded her of when the explosion from Grandpapa’s magic inferno had struck her and she had felt shivery and numbed.

Somehow she found herself being the first to speak, “You dreamt all this?”

“Yes,” Cadence said.

“You haven’t told anypony?” Sunset demanded.

“Only you three and the Maker know,” Cadence insisted.

“You must tell Mama first thing in the morning,” Celestia said. “And then she will tell the Holy Seer what you saw.”

Cadence suddenly sat up, her face ashen. “Oh no don’t tell the Holy Seer!”

“Why not?” her sisters said all at once.

“He will take me and chain me in a hidden room beneath the temple to burn foul incense to compel me to prophesy before him forever!” she cried.

“What?” Celestia said and Sunset added, “Who told you such madness?”

“Luna!”

When Celestia and Sunset turned to her, Luna put her hooves up in defense. “That was a story from ages past, before Asgard was even united! It was under the False Seer, and he used to find true seers to serve him so he would appear to be--”

“Oh shut up,” Sunset said in a tone of great exasperation. “Haven’t you done enough already, filling her head with such nonsense stories!”

“They’re not nonsense, they’re our history and if you’re so set on being the All one day--”

“Both of you be still!” Celestia snapped. She rubbed her eyes with her hooves furiously, as if trying to wipe them off her face. “We’ll tell Mama tomorrow and she will decide what’s to be done. That’s it. Now I just want to go to sleep.”

As if to emphasize her point she flopped down on the bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. Cadence followed suit as did Luna, while Sunset remained firmly planted in her chair.

“Go to bed, Sunset,” Celestia said.

“I’ll sleep where I please,” Sunset snorted.

Luna’s eyes rolled behind their closed lids.

***

“Lulu are you still awake?”

“Yes, Tia.”

“So am I, if it matters.”

“It doesn’t.”

“Don’t you two start again, you’ll wake Cadence.”

“Wake her, I’ll never sleep again because of her.”

“Perhaps it’ll improve your personality, my lady heir.”

“Oh, Bor and Faust help me.” Luna sighed deeply and sat up, shoving the covers off her body. “This night will never end.”

“I could barely lift my hooves when they sent us away for bed and now I couldn’t sleep if you offered me a kingdom,” Celestia said, also sitting up and using her wing to fan her face. “Sunset, open the window. There isn’t a drop of air in this room.”

“No, the wind will bring the soot in here from the throne room,” Sunset said.

“When will that be fixed, before or after we die of asphyxiation?”

“If you weren’t all piled in one bed you wouldn’t be so uncomfortable. Just exert yourself for once in your life, Celestia.”

Luna threw her legs over the edge of the bed and dropped to the floor, walking around the bedframe and over to the window.

“What are you doing, didn’t you just hear what I said?” Sunset cried.

“I’m going to throw myself out the window to find some peace. Shut it when I’m gone if you’d like,” Luna said, unlatching the window and shoving it open.

A deliciously cool breeze flowed directly into her face and Luna released a long sigh of relief. She threw her front hooves over the windowsill and stuck her head out into the night air, the half moon casting gentle milky veil over everything.

“When Papa comes in here tomorrow and sees soot covering everything don’t think I won’t tell him who's repson--”

“There’s no soot, the wind is coming from the opposite direction.” Luna added under her breath, “Why don’t you relax and enjoy something for once in your life.”

Luna heard hoof steps approaching and braced herself for an angry tirade but Celestia instead of Sunset came up beside her, putting her own hooves over the sill and her head out the window. Her long pale pink mane hung over the window’s edge, dangling and wavering in the wind like a glimmering banner.

“Ooooooh it’s lovely out tonight,” Celestia breathed. “It’s so clear. But they say the sky and air is clearer after a great storm.”

“I’ve heard that too,” Luna said. After a pause she said, “I wonder if Grandpapa summoned that storm as well as the fire.”

Celestia rubbed her forehead with her hoof as if she suddenly had a headache. “Don’t think about him.”

“I can’t help it, I was the last to ever see him. Sometimes I wonder if I ought to have gone after him or said more to him.”

“Don’t consider that. That’s what Grandmama kept saying to herself and see what became of her.”

That was terribly chilling and very unlike Celestia to speak of, which provoked Luna to give her a shocked look. Celestia must have seen it, though she kept staring straight ahead, because she said defensively, “That’s why I’m determined never to speak or think on sorrowful things. The world itself is already so full of grievous matters that can never be helped, but my nature can and so I’m set to be merry in every circumstance.”

“Sounds a lot like willful blindness to me,” Sunset said from her seat behind them.

Celestia spun around and spat, “Well what do you call your outlook--despotism?”

“No it’s called pragmatism.” Sunset turned around in her seat to face them, her expression suddenly very fierce. “Do you recall how Papa got his eyepatch? Of course you don’t, neither of you were there. Well I was and this was it:

"Papa had me sit in on of the council meetings to learn my future duties and there arose some dispute on the subject of opening the Bridge again, to quash some quarrel in Hekkerhiem before it infected the other realms. And Grandpapa was against it for you know how he despised every grain of dust that was not Asgardian since it caused so much grief and distance in the relations between him and his father.

"But Papa thought it wise course since if Hekkerheim ever got a hold on another realm they might gather enough strength to strike at us. So he and Grandpapa got into an almighty row so that all the council blanched and I thought the roof of the room would come crashing down upon us.

"Then Papa said Grandpapa was acting out of willful blindness and in answer Grandpapa took hold of his scepter and struck it across Papa’s face. It split the flesh from his crown to his eyebrow open so blood went pouring all over his face and the force directly drove into his eyeball.

“And while everypony was rushing about calling for the physician or attempting to assist Papa with the pain or holding Grandpapa back since he was still in a fury and trying to hit Papa again--I sat in my seat forgotten and watched. I saw in that moment my father, so noble and mighty and immovable, reduced to a bloody victim and my grandfather, the all-powerful All-Father of the most formidable realm, revealed as just a violent, cowardly lunatic. What is a child supposed to think of her station and her ancestors and her kingdom when the two pillars that supported it are knocked down?

“Every since that moment I have turned it over and over in my mind, in all my waking and resting hours. And the conclusion I arrived to was that if anypony else had done thusly to Papa, he would have died. But because Grandpapa was the sole authority in that room, he lived on and instigated more such mad events, culminating in burning and blowing up our ancestral home which took the lifespan of two All-Fathers to build!

"So in conclusion, I understood that the only thing that secures safety, stability and sense in the world is the strength of arm to enforce your will. In short, it is power. Only that.

“So when the day comes and I am All-Mother, I will rule first and foremost by impressing upon my family, my servants and my subjects that I am the sole power in this land and none suprasses me unless they court destruction. Therefore I will be established until the end of my days.”

There was a very long stretch of silence and Luna was glad Sunset’s burning gaze was aimed solely at Celestia.

Those horrible sulphuric eyes...

No, not again, *not one more time!** First Grandpapa then Papa and now Sunset, they cannot all have the exact same spirit in their eyes. Your mind is playing tricks on you again.*

“Do you intend that to be your All-Mother coronation speech? It’s long enough,” Celestia said disparagingly, striding up to Sunset in her brilliant, brazen way. “You call Grandpapa lunatic and Papa victim for the sake of one incident? You are more narrow minded than if you had blinders. Do you want to know how Grandpapa and Papa’s states truly were before Vasilios and Grandmama’s death?

“You remember that time for merriment I made those puppets, Luna wrote a little play for them and you demanded to direct it? And we had Cadence and Vasilios do all the singing and effects, like banging a drum or tossing confetti at the puppets. We set ourselves up behind the settee in the nursery and it was one of the few times we were all together with no servants or politicians, just our family.

“Grandpapa and Papa sat beside each other and for the whole of the play, and they couldn’t stop laughing because of how terrible and messy it was, while Mama and Grandmama tried to make them behave. And for days after that they would quote the worst lines to each other and burst into laughter.

“That’s how they truly were. Yes Grandpapa was touched in the head, and yes Papa bore the brunt of it so nopony else had to, but they were still father and son. All parents love their children and Grandpapa was no different, it wasn’t his fault he couldn’t express it properly at all times, and Papa is wise and pragmatic enough to understand that. Papa loved Grandpapa and that’s why he cried at the funeral today. Are you going to call him a victim because of that too, that somehow Grandpapa can reach from beyond the grave and crush him under his authority still?”

“He might,” Luna said, speaking aloud before she could stop herself.

Both Sunset and Celestia turned on her with looks of scandalized incredulity.

“What?” they demanded simultaneously, with Sunset adding on, “I knew those old books were addling her.”

“I don’t mean that how it sounded,” Luna said quickly.

“Then what did you mean?” Sunset said. “Don’t leave us in suspense now, storyteller. You love words so much, don’t tell me you’ll allow Celestia and I beat you in that regard.”

Luna shrank against the window, the breeze now hitting her back and feeling chilling rather than soothing.

“You have to tell us what you meant now, Lulu,” Celestia urged. “I’m not getting any sleep tonight anyway, it isn’t as if anything you say will change that.”

“It’s just nonsense, my mind works such miserable fancies,” Luna said.

“Everything you say is nonsense, I wish you were as reticent about it always.”

“Shut up, Sunset. Luna, just tell us or it’ll eat you alive as these things always do.”

At Celestia’s insistence, kinder than Sunset’s but still with an uncharacteristic edge, Luna gave in.

“All I meant by it was that Grandpapa had a way of casting a shadow over you and that it clings even with him gone.” When her sisters still looked at her in expectation she blurted out as quickly as she could:

“You remember when I used to stay up for hours staring out of the telescope, because I was hoping the stars would imprint themselves in my eyes? Well one day, when we were visiting their royal chambers, I told Grandmama and Grandpapa about it. Grandmama laughed and said I was very amusing as always.

“But Grandpapa instead leaned down from his great height--remember I was smaller than Cadence then, so it was a long journey--to look me right in the eye. And you can imagine how impressive this was to me even at such a young age, I knew even then he hated to look anypony in the eye. But when he did look at me, it was like he was considering how to break open my skull, so he could pull out all the stuff within that was displeasing to him.

“Then spoke to me--I don’t remember him ever speaking to me before this--and he said this: ‘When you were born, they told me you had the new moon in your eyes, they were so dark. But I look in them now, and I see no such promise of renewing light. I see supermassives in them, and if you continue in this way you’ll take the stars out of the sky. So keep them closed, darkling.’”

“So?” Sunset said. “I was expecting a black curse or the summoning of Faust’s spirit, the way you were acting.”

Sunset’s dismissiveness suddenly angered Luna and she stamped her hoof, exclaiming: “You dolt, can’t you comprehend insinuation or is your mane the only bright thing on you? The way he spoke, how he looked at me! It was like he was prophesying some great doom over my head, like he peered into my mind’s eye and saw all this darkness within it.”

“You’re just assuming that’s what he meant,” Sunset said. “It sounds to me like the common ramblings he spouted in one of his dark moods. And what you’re spouting sounds like it came out of your grim tomes. That’s where any darkness in you comes from, you’re too simple to have any real wickedness.”

“I am sadly compelled to agree with the dolt on this one,” Celestia said. “Grandpapa said many things in his moods that had no grounding in reality. You simply were the subject of this particular one.”

Luna felt outrageous aggrieved, as if they had each spat in her eye. She had been kept up so many nights with the memory of that event, her nightmares had been exaggerations of it and it had tainted her view of herself all this time.

And these two felt they could just sit there and dismiss it, because Lulu’s the *dreamer** and the storyteller* just nice words for lazy and liar, empty-headed except for dusty old stories of dead folk and false tales of ghosts and monsters--

Luna shook her head, trying to loose it from the angry clutter the thoughts caused. But she couldn’t let this rest and so looked both her sister’s dead in the face and spoke in the bone-chilling tone she recalled her Papa using earlier that day when chastising her:

“What I meant by that story was to illustrate that Grandpapa had a power to make you feel lowly and frightened. When he spoke to you, no matter how nonsensical it sounded, he could make it run through like a sword and permeate everything like a fever. So maybe Papa does feel like Sunset said, like Grandpapa still rules over him beyond the grave, because his words won’t die with him.

“Words can’t die unless they’re forgotten, and Grandpapa’s won’t be, and the more they’re remembered the more power they have. Words shape all things that’s why the foundations of the most potent magic is in spells, that’s why all things are given names, and why we write down our histories.

"So what I was attempting to say, is that I think it’s obvious Papa cried because his beloved parents and little brother are dead. But that you can love someone and feel oppressed by them all at once. And maybe Papa feels thusly.”

Luna expected silence to follow this, after all it had been long and well-spoken, but instead Sunset rolled her eyes so dramatically her irises disappeared and said, “Wonderful. Another nervous, superstitious lunatic.”

Celestia abruptly started walking across the room, towards the double doors that lead out into the hall.

“Where are you going?” Luna asked.

“For a walk,” Celestia said shortly.

“Alone?” But the door slammed shut before the word even was out of Luna’s mouth.

“Probably not for long,” Sunset grumbled and stood up, stalking over to the door that lead into her bedroom. “She always needs somepony to hold her hoof.”

Luna winced as the door slammed behind her and looked at Cadence, but her sister was thankfully a heavy sleeper and didn’t even flinch at the sound.

The room now felt unnervingly empty and the wind made hissing sounds like a serpent in Luna’s ears. The moonlight alone now seemed to intensify and stretch the shadows, even her own shadow loomed out before her and seemed to take a sinister form.

Luna felt a violent shiver seize her body and rushed over to her bed, practically throwing herself in and diving under the covers. As she felt the warmth of the covers and her sister enveloping her, Luna suddenly felt exhaustion washing over her. So she shut her eyes and the darkness was profoundly comforting.

The magician longs to see, One chants out between two worlds

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When the Fox hears the Rabbit scream he comes

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How we live is so different from how we ought to live

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Made of Most Beautiful Things

The Flutter Pony Queen

The young dark blue filly with a streaming cobalt mane carefully picked her way through the blackened and smoking ruins of the Royal Archive.

“Lulu?” A slightly older white filly with flowing light pink hair stood in the doorway, warily glancing up and down the hallways. “Luna. Daddy said we were not to come here before they—”

“I’m merely inspecting to see what has been spared, Tia,” her sister said, pausing before a scorched bookcase. She ran her hoof over the seared spines of the books. She sniffed, the sound echoing through the vaulted room.

I ought to be sorrowful for Grandfather not a few old tomes…

But she could not summon up any emotion for Daddy’s remote, fearsome and wild-eyed father who roared when he did not get his way and looked on nothing with fondness except his late wife and son.

But these books...

To a princess who had neither the dynamism nor beauty of her elder sisters and often hid behind curtains at royal functions, these books represented the only contribution she could ever offer the kingdom: wisdom through knowledge.

I see now how I shall be remembered: Luna Odinmaden, third spare heir, the keeper of dusty tomes.

…Or burnt.

She didn’t mind that notion so much, or at least she was sure in time she would not. Time heals all wounds, she often heard people say.

They must not have read many history books.

“Lulu?” Celestia called from the doorway again. She was hopping from hoof to hoof anxiously. “We must leave now. The servants will surely find us.”

“They are all afield looking for Grandfather,” Luna muttered. She reached and carefully removed the least burned of the tomes. She ran her hoof over the embossed title, the gold lettering had drained down the leather binding but the title was still readable: The Collective History of Equinsgard.

“Luna?”

The princess spun around, clutching the book to her chest, to see her mother standing beside her cowering sister.

“She wanted to come, I told her—” Celestia sputtered but Frigga held up a hoof.

“Luna, you shouldn’t be here it is unsafe,” she said gently.

“I only wanted to assure the books were not all lost,” Luna said, realizing how selfish that appeared given the circumstances.

But her mother smiled at her. “I understand my best beloved. But let us wait until the sun rises and then we will together salvage what we can.”

Luna sensed her mother meant more than the archives but she simply nodded. She hesitated looking down at her book. “May I bring this with me?”

“Of course.”

Luna smiled and walked back to her mother and sister, tenderly cradling her treasure.

Later that night, while Father and all the able-bodied stallions were still searching the rain swept moor for All-Father Erik, Princess Luna sat up with a dripping candle, carefully examining the singed pages of the tome.

I will salvage you. I will heal what has been hurt.

***The Collective History of Equinsgard as Salvaged from All-Father Erik the Mad’s Burning of Archives by Luna Odinmaden:

There was once a Flutter Pony Queen elected, as is the way of ruler ship with their people, who was held even amongst her own as the loveliest and most beauteous of all the Flutter Pony. Her hair was as soft as a newborn lamb’s and the color of a raven’s wings when it sits in the sun, her eyes were the color of the leaves when they are about to fall from the branches and her lips were shaped and colored like the sweetest apple, and her coat was clear like a diamond when it is polished.

On account of her beauty she had always many suitors and therefore she took many husbands, for the stallions and mares of the Flutter Pony marry many lovers in their lifetimes and may divorce them as quickly as they wed them. In the old days it grew so troublesome for many to share the contents of each other’s bed that there was made a rule that no Flutter Pony may have more than seven husbands or wives at a time and not marry more than two stallions or mares from the same family.

Now this Flutter Pony Queen traveled to the land of Equinsgard (this was many a generation before the Great Rift and the War of Black Blood and the Flutter Pony’s retreat into the realm Fellheim) for she was invited to the banquet of the All-Father of Borrson, Gandalf the Docile, and he desired to display the might of his name by having the greatest of all the creatures see the richness of his table and the wealth of his land. And the banquet lasted forty days and forty nights and on the twenty-fifth day the Flutter Pony Queen laid her eyes upon a young duke of Equinsgard by the name of Edvard.

Now Edvard’s family was not great amongst the Borrsons but he was known by all for his beauty which many said was more on account of his tender spirit and kind manners, for there were many stallions of handsomer countenance than he, but above them all he was loved best and so was invited by the great All-Father to feast with him.

Upon seeing Edvard the Flutter Pony Queen was seized by the fiercest desire for him and went to All-Father Gandalf so he might introduce them. When Edvard was brought to her and stood before her, addressing her with all politeness and worthy speech she was so taken by passion for him that she begged him not to leave her side for all the evening nor any evening after for the rest of the feast. And Edvard knew this was not a righteous thing for stallion as himself yet unmarried to keep such constant company with a married mare but since he was only a lowly duke of his herd and she a great queen of hers he thought it more of a dishonor to disregard her requests.

But finally on the last day All-Father Gandalf went to the Flutter Pony Queen and said, “See here, you do my son a great shame to keep him at lap like one of your husbands, for he is unwed and you make of him like a common wanton.”

And the Flutter Pony Queen was much offended and answered the All-Father sharply saying, “I only do your son a service for he has these past fifteen days the attentions of a great queen who only seeks to hear his good and worthy words. I urge you, ask him yourself if I have done any wrong by him or tempted him to transgress your laws, for upon the souls of my children I have done no harm to his body or soul.”

And this was so in the letter of their dealings but not so in spirit for the Flutter Ponies prize shrewdness above all things, as one of their sayings goes: “If one can eat an apple from a tree without picking it theirs is the world.”

But now she saw All-Father Gandalf was truly angered (though it must be stated that this was out of no real concern for the honor of his subject but rather to spare himself from the whispers that had gone round the banquet since the Queen took Edvard to her lap and how he had sat by and done nothing while a Borrson was put to shame) and so she spoke to him more graciously and said, “Here, I see you are aggrieved by my way with your son so I will recompense you for this misuse, I shall marry this colt and lift the shame from his head.”

And at this there was a great uproar for then it was strictly forbidden a Borrson to marry any of the other people’s sons or daughters for they sought to keep themselves righteous in the sight of the Maker by the virtue of the purity of their blood. The shouting went on for half an hour until All-Father Gandalf finally lifted up his voice and said, “I cannot refuse or accept your proposal in place of the colt’s parents and seeing as they are not here there is nothing that can be done at present. So let us all retire and let the morning grant us the wisdom night deprives.”

But upon the morning the Flutter Pony Queen was more set in her desire than the night before, going to the All-Father before he had even broke fast and demanding he send for the prince’s parents so she might declare her intentions to them. All-Father Gandalf feared to affront the Flutter Ponies who in these days were mighty on the field of battle, so he bowed to her command and sent for the colt’s parents.

The colt’s parents were ones Aahnyas and Saffyra, the lowliest of the royal family in the kingdom on account of their meanness and deceit in all their dealings, it was said they had their daughters accuse stallions of their choosing of violating them to insure a marriage and set their sons upon unwitting fillies to lie with them and so acquire wives. Edvard’s good character was therefore hailed as miraculous considering his parentage for he took no part in his parents ways and spent the larger part of his time in the temple learning from the priests, for he had a great devotion to the ways of the Maker and was often said to have grieved that he was not born into the priesthood. It is also said that when he was yet a child and his parents came to fetch him home from the temple he used to weep and beg the priests to save him from them, but they being his lord and lady in the eyes of the law they could do nothing.

For this reason when they were summoned by the All-Father they came in great terror and trembling for they feared one of their connivings had touched too close to his heart and he was calling them to him so he might kill them. But when All-Father Gandalf called them into his throne room and the Flutter Pony Queen spoke to them, conveying with great ardor her vehement thirst for their son (she often did compare her need for him as a “unquenchable thirst”) their wicked minds began to turn as to how they might exploit this mare’s passion.

So they spoke in humble and fearful tones, saying they had no wish to offend the great lady but that they must consult a priest before speaking of their decision though they assured her it was most certainly in favor of her suit. So blind was the Flutter Pony Queen in her fervor that she did not perceive their deception, though this could also be accounted by the fact that the other peoples consider Borrson incapable of deception of any kind.

So she waited in All-Father Gandalf’s house while the parents went to the priests to inquire as to the law on this matter and the priest took no time in reminding them that it was forbidden for a child of Stallion to marry the children of the unclean peoples. They returned to the Flutter Pony Queen and told her though it pained them the priest was set against the match and they did not want to bring curses upon their son by transgressing the holy words of a stallion of The Maker, but that the law did allow for an unclean person to be consecrated and therefore free to marry into Borrson.

They Flutter Pony Queen therefore went to the temple and begged of the priest to consecrate her, and upon seeing the acuteness of her request he agreed to do so. This affair took two months for of all the peoples the Flutter Pony are considered the most filthy of the unclean on the account that they were born from violence and also as it had never been done to a ruler of the Flutter Ponies since the beginnings of their people.

When she was finally made clean, the Flutter Pony Queen called the parents to her and said to them, “See I am now as you are, unblemished and sanctified, your son will garner no curses from lying with me. Now give him to me as a husband for my heart burns for him.”

The parents answered her saying, “Great Lady, we are delighted at your uprightness towards us and our son and if it were only our hearts ruling the proceedings we would give him to you now but our law also compels us to defer until you have delivered unto us dowry to soothe our grief for the loss of our beloved child.”

When the Flutter Pony Queen inquired as to the amount they solicited of her an exorbitant sum, nearly half of what was stored in All-Father Gandalf’s treasury. And the Flutter Pony Queen agreed to their demand without a thought and wrote to her kingdom, ordering the amount to be sent her immediately from her personal treasury (for even before her queenship she was wealthy among the Flutter Ponies). So her servants saddled a caravan of 500 donkeys each with a chest containing gold, silver, bronze, all manner of precious jewels, goblets, candlesticks, carpets, tapestries and clothes, and yet this was still considered to be only a fraction of her riches. And when those of All-Father Gandalf’s court spoke in amazement at the amount she was willing to part with for the sake of a lowly prince, she said passionately, “I would sell my whole land and people into bondage if it would grant me a single day with him as my lover.” For this talk went out among the Borrson that she had gone mad but this profane manner of speech is wonted of the Flutter Pony.

When her caravan had reached the door of Aahnyas and Saffyra she sent for them once more and entreated them in the most desperate tone for their son. “You have received the acceptable remittance, now deliver unto me your son for I have known no peace in my soul since I set my eyes upon him.”

And they spoke to her saying, “Generous Sovereign, our hearts are truly comforted by your bountiful recompense for we have kept our son to ourselves all these years so great is our affection for him. But we are compelled by the law to disclose to you that our son may not wed a mare who already has a husband, for this is a great sin to our people.”

The Flutter Pony Queen then set about writing to each of her five husbands who remained at home with the Flutter Pony people a certificate of divorce. This caused much anger amongst her people for they thought it a low manner to conduct her business, also her continual absence from their land and matters of state had provoked much ill-will towards her. Many of her own family had written to her of this and pleading with her to return to her own people, but she refused to leave the land of Borrson without Edvard as her husband.

When the divorce requirement were concluded she went herself to the home of Aahnyas and Saffyra, though Saffyra alone was at home for her husband was out in the fields for it was now the time of harvest and all her unmarried children were aiding him.

Before Saffyra could welcome her, the Flutter Pony Queen spoke in a hard voice: “Where is my promised redress for the abuse you have heaped upon me, who has done you no harm but instead sought to elevate you throughout your own land by bestowing a lofty status on your son through his marriage to me. You have withheld my proper request these three times and I have humbled myself before your laws, cleansed my soul to the demands of The Maker, delivered up the most precious parts of my fortune, and put aside my faithful husbands all to ease your hearts. But no more, I require your son this very day or I shall go to your All-Father have him impose his forces on you until you deliver him to me, for my soul shall be sick until the colt is mine.”

At these furious words Saffyra drew herself up haughtily and said with insolent and vulgar manner: “My son is a child of the Firstborns and is beloved to the hearts of all our people, he shall surely marry an eminent mare of Borrson born clean from the filth of this Second Age. You are not worthy enough to lick the dust that falls from his boots though you are considered lofty amongst your own people, even dogs appoint themselves princes. Return to your own, mare, and trouble us with your bestial lust no more.”

And the Flutter Pony Queen’s heart went black with wrath and she lifted up her queen’s scepter in her hoof, striking it across the head of Saffyra so blood spurted from her temple and she fell to the floor dead. Upon seeing the blood and the body of her lover’s mother, she was greatly terrified and fled back to her apartments in All-Father Gandalf’s court where she barred the doors and set her guards at them, fearing some great vengeance for her rashness. But Aahnyas did not find the body until the Mother Star had set and he returned to his house with his sons, and they lifted up their voices in sorrow so all the servants in the house and workers in the field knew of the matter and soon the news was made known in the whole of the land, and there was little doubt as to the reason or the culprit.

Now All-Father Gandalf was loathe to be compelled into conflict with the Flutter Ponies so he went to the Flutter Pony Queen and asked that she leave under the cover of darkness so he might tell his people she had escaped back to her own land and he would not be urged to lay hooves upon her. Hearing his words, the Flutter Pony Queen wept immoderately and could not be comforted by any of her attendings so that her handmaid had to strike her across the face thrice before she regained her senses enough to agree to the All-Father’s plan. So a year and four months after setting sight on Edvard and the second night after the death of his mother, the Flutter Pony Queen fled the land with her attendings, and that very unwillingly for despite all this her soul revolted at being separated from the object of its longing. It is said she did not cease to weep for Edvard all the way to her own land.

Saffyra was buried in the tombs of her family and none mourned for her but her husband and a few of the children of her body, for even some of her sons and daughters despised her for her base nature and cruel ways. But Edvard is said to have wept much, but it was his nature to do right in all things and it would be an unrighteousness not to give little honor to the mare who bore him.

Now up to time of his mother’s death Edvard had not spoken either for or against the Flutter Pony Queen’s courtship for it was his belief whatever was The Maker’s heart in the matter would come to pass. After the death of his mother and the Flutter Pony Queen’s departure, he fell into a deep misery for he was seized with the belief that it was for his sake this unhappiness had visited his family, rather than the wickedness of his parents. All the laughter was taken out of his mouth and his countenance grew very somber so he no longer ventured out of his house nor received any visitors.

Now a year passed in this manner when a stallion named Jarl, a stallion of Borrson, journeyed to the Flutter Pony land and begged an audience with the Queen, saying he had news of Edvard, whereupon he was immediately ushered into her presence for she consumed any word of the prince like honey.

When Jarl was brought before her throne he fell upon his face and implored forgiveness for his deception, for he had no news of the prince but had come to the Flutter Pony Queen with a proposal that might deliver him to her.

The Flutter Pony Queen bid him speak and he spoke saying,

“Great Queen, the good prince’s parents, Aahnyas and Saffyra, afflicted me greatly. These people put my daughter, the most virtuous and obedient child, to shame for their son sought her when she was alone in the field and seeing there was none to deliver her from him, took her and lay with her, so she was required by the law to become his wife. And he drove her to such despair that she committed an outrage to herself and while heavy with child cast herself from the roof of his house, so she could not be buried in the tombs of our family and brought grief and ignominy to our name. I sought justice from the All-Father but none was given and now what is there to be done for my other children for no stallion or mare will give their sons or daughters to wed mine for the act of misery of my sad daughter.

“Now I know these people made of you a mockery to our people and your own and I know your heart still yearns for their worthy son, who according to all you have done should be your proper husband, so I ask of you give me the means to bring to pass righteous judgment for their sins. My brothers and son will take their city to seize their riches and distribute them amongst those they have wronged and we shall bring the gentle prince Edvard to you to be a husband as you were promised.”

And the Flutter Pony Queen was pleased with his words and said all of hers that could be of assistance was theirs, even up to half her kingdom. So Jarl took four hundred of the Flutter Pony Queen’s soldiers with him to the land of Borrson and gathered two hundred of his male relatives and lay in wait in the mountains around the city.

Now their movements went unnoticed for the people were preparing for the celebration of Edvard’s wedding, for a queen of Borrson had asked him for a husband and Aahnyas, wary since the last failed suit of his son, consented immediately to her. So the stallions and mares were called from the fields into the walls of the city to slaughter the goats and crush the grapes for the feast. Then the night came when queen and prince were blessed by the priest to go forth as stallion and wife and sat down to their wedding feast to make merry with their friends before retiring to their bed. It was then that Jarl and his army attacked, they broke through the door of the city for there was none to guard it and ran through the city careful not to harm any stallion, mare or child they came to unless they were of Aahnyas’s blood and then only the stallions were seized and not those who were the husbands of his daughters.

They went into the hall where the feast was held and took Aahnyas and all his sons captive but they removed Edvard and locked him in his chamber with armed stallions to guard him, for they desired no harm come to him as to not offend the Flutter Pony Queen and on account of his righteousness. They also sent his bride and her family away, saying, “What have we to do with you? Why do you seek to share the portion of liars and robbers? Return to your home and bless The Maker for your deliverance from evil.” And she and her family fled and took nothing with them, so great was their fear.

But Jarl brought Aahnyas and all his sons he and his army had captured in the city and killed them with the edge of the sword, showing no mercy and paying no heed to the pleas of their wives or the cries of their children. And they slew 60 stallions of Aahnyas’s blood and all perished by the sword and none with a weapon in their hoof for they had all been taken drunk and unarmed. They also opened Aahnyas’s treasure room and took out the sum of the dowries given for each of his children’s marriages and returned them to the husbands and wives of his children. Then they sent his daughters and their husband and the widows of his sons all with their children out to return to their homes in peace.

They then took Edvard with the four hundred warriors of the Flutter Ponies back to the Flutter Pony Queen and the prince did nothing to resist for he had been given no time to mourn and had seen the bodies of his father and brothers cast into the ravines outside the city for the birds and beasts to feast upon. And he spoke not a word all the journey to the land of the Flutter Pony though it took many a month and would have eaten and drank nothing unless the Flutter Pony soldiers had not coaxed each mouthful. So when he was brought to the Flutter Pony Queen she was distressed at his state for he was wasted from sorrow, hunger and fatigue and immediately sent for all her physicians to set upon him to make him well again, and this took a full two months.

When she was told of the slaughter of her prince’s father and brothers the Flutter Pony Queen was greatly dismayed at the shedding of so much blood as it was her belief that Borrson never harmed one another except within the execution of their laws.

“Never did I comprehend Borrson’s enmity for the Flutter Pony until they behaved in our fashion,” she said to her attendings and her words went down as a saying among the Flutter Ponies and Borrson.

After Edvard had been tended to and rested for two months the Flutter Pony Queen called him to dine with her in her chambers. When he came she had him sit at her right hoof, offered him wine from her own cup and all the food she ordered served to him first before her. And she spoke gently to him and inquired as to his health and if he found her land pleasing, and he answered all her questions with lowered eyes and humble tones.

Seeing his apprehension the Flutter Pony Queen took his hooves in her own and said to him, “My prince, do not fear me, I swear on the salvation of my soul that no harm will come to you under my roof.”

And Edvard answered, “I do not fear you, Great Queen, my silence is from my sorrow for my father and my brothers lying unburied without the walls of my ancestors.”

The Flutter Pony Queen grew angry at the remembrance of Jarl’s treachery and spoke hotly, “I shall have your All-Father execute the murders of your blood and their bodies shall be delivered unto me for my people to wreak their dishonors upon them!”

But Edvard was frightened by her words and falling on his knees begged her with tears not to do such a harm to her soul by harming those who had done her no wrong.

The Flutter Pony Queen said, “Indeed they did me a terrible wrong for they deceived me as to their plans and had me believe they only sought your father’s money as recompense for his offenses against them and told me not that they sought his death nor those of your brothers. But even if they had not come to me to exploit my indulgence for bloodied trespass, any who bring unhappiness to your heart are enemies of my soul for you are my spirit is bound to yours like the vine to the tree.”

And now Edvard knew all of the design of the death of his father and brothers for until now he knew nothing but what he had seen and he began to moan, tear at his coat and beat his breast, crying to The Maker that he might die and be with his own. And when the Flutter Pony Queen attempted to comfort him he refused to hear her words but wept all the louder, saying: “Truly The Maker has cursed me for He has used me as the tool of destruction for my family to remove us from the face of the earth.” Nothing the Flutter Pony Queen said would console him and he did not cease his lamentation until he fell senseless from the labor of his grief so her servants were required to carry him to his bed. From that day forth there was no peace in his heart but daily he grieved for his family and prayed for The Maker to strike him. The Flutter Pony Queen attended him without ceasing, pleading and reasoning with him by turns to not let his sorrow so overcome him that he did not see the mercy of his The Maker to spare him when the proper time for his father and brothers came, for did he not once tell her that it was The Maker’s authority only to give life and take it away? But his grief was too great to perceive the wisdom of her words and so still he grieved. And yet so attached was the Flutter Pony Queen’s heart to his that even if she was drawn away from his side if he began shed tears she knew without being told and rushed to his side as a nursing mother does to an unweaned child.

And they both as one, prince and Queen, began to wane in health so that her family spoke to her severely, “Cease this unmerited mourning for those unworthy stallions and tell the colt of the evil they wrought to bring this end upon their heads, that for this very reason none in his own land mourn their demise nor seek to reprise the violence against them.”

But the Flutter Pony Queen answered them “Shall I bring more sorrow to his heart by uncovering the shame of his parents and brothers and sisters? Would I love a stallion who did not grieve for his blood when they were taken from him in such barbarous manner?”

At this her family grew vexed and declared, “We will have none of your possession with this Stallion-child anymore, he has made of you like a bitch weeping for the moon. We shall only return to your side when you have put him away as all sickly fillyish fancies should upon the saneness of marehood.”

So her family did as well as their word and went no more to her house as their family but if she wished to speak with them had to order their presence as Queen. The Flutter Pony Queen did not call them for it was as if all her family were embodied in the prince and she was often heard calling him her father, her mother, and all her brothers and sisters to her heart. But Edvard did not receive any of her love but grew to despise the very sight of her, unable to suffer her to touch him and barely endure her speaking to him. His tongue became harsh like the lash of a whip and his countenance very dark so that her attendings said he grew very ugly in appearance and spirit, even to the measure that on one occasion when the Flutter Pony Queen said she would give anything if only he would smile upon her he demanded she give his mother back unto him. Yet nothing he did or spoke could turn the Flutter Pony Queen’s heart away from him and she soon grew ill of body for want of his affection, sleeping little and unable to stomach much food.

Now all her kingdom grew concerned for she had not come to any royal council or assembling, wholly neglecting her affairs of state so it all fell upon the Flutter Pony King who had been elected beside her and who she had married, for Flutter Ponies who are elected to rulership besides each other often marry though it is still undetermined whether this is a determinant or advantage. She having divorced him to please Edvard’s parents when they said, “Our son cannot marry you for you are already wed,” had not spoken with him since and he had often spoken bitterly of his treatment by her, saying that as King she should have shown more respect for their union than that of her other husbands, though she had been wed to them all longer than he.

So when the Flutter Pony people began to complain at the slowness of proceedings in all things of state he set in his heart to take vengeance upon his former mistress and to remove the inflictor of his distress who he believed was Edvard for stealing the affections of his lady. He accordingly sat at his desk and wrote to the sisters of Edvard, saying thus: “The Queen of my people has bought your last living brother as restitution for the soldiers she gave to the murderers of your kin so they might deliver him unto her to fulfill her profane lusts, all against his will for she holds him in her house under guard to make use of him like a harlot. Now I pray you implore their husbands to speak with your All-Father to compel her to return him and I and my people will support his petition in your name for we abhor her wretched and cruel dealings with you.” And he signed it with his royal seal and sent it on the swiftest ponies in the land.

And Edvard’s sisters did just as the Flutter Pony King wrote and through their perversity of their harassment convinced their husbands to petition All-Father Gandalf without ceasing so that he gave in rather than have his people believe the Flutter Ponies were free to steal from his fold without repercussion. So he sent a messenger to the Flutter Pony Queen who demanded: “Deliver my son unto me who you have taken through depraved means from his family after ensuring their unjust demise.”

But the Flutter Pony Queen sent the messenger back saying thusly: “Tell me who has lied to you and slandered my name as to say I had any foreknowledge of the cruelty visited upon Aahnyas and his sons or took anything that was not my due in the eyes of your own law for in the sight of The Maker and all your children I did all it did require to make this son my rightful husband and only through the treachery of his father and mother did I not obtain him. Is your authority so little that you must suffer your people to exploit your guests before your eyes and then endure them spreading calumny on their names?"

And the All-Father was deeply ashamed for he knew had done nothing when Aahnyas and Saffyra abused the Flutter Pony Queen who was a stranger under his roof. But the Borrson became angered with All-Father Gandalf and began to grow riotous, crying day and nights before the palace gates for him to rise up and break the yoke the Flutter Ponies had put about his neck. So set upon day after day on all sides All-Father Gandalf sent word to the Flutter Pony King, saying: "My people are greatly enraged at the actions of your partner the Queen and press me daily to go forth in force to take my son, but I am loathe to offend you and so humbly ask upon the goodwill between us to remember the generosity and the hospitality I have exchanged with you and speak with your Queen on my behalf for the swift return of my son."

And when the Flutter Pony King received this word he went out into the middle of the city and cried out with a loud voice, "People, gather to me and hear the words of the All-Father of the Borrson and how his hoof is set against us for the grasping of one Flutter Pony!" And the Flutter Pony people gathered about him and he read the words of All-Father Gandalf to them upon which they became wroth with fear and fury, so they called for the death of the Flutter Pony Queen as the only thing that would sate them.

So the Flutter Pony King lead the people to her home where she sat at Edvard's side where it was she heard their shouting as they approached And she rose, put on her royal sash and crown and stood on the balcony of her house to speak to them.

When they came within sight of her house the people began to fling insults at her, calling her a harlot and a traitor and threatening all manner of savage violence upon her person, which is the common practice to all who offend the Flutter Pony. She waited and spoke not a word until they had reached her door and then she held up her hooves which silenced the people more out of curiosity as to how she would defend herself rather than obedience.

"My brothers and sisters, why do come to me like wolves on a doe, gnashing your teeth at me when I have no means of defense?" So the Flutter Pony Queen inquired the mob.

The Flutter Pony King, who stood at the front leading the people, now answered her: "We come as the wronged party for you have provoked the Borrson to threaten us with war for the sake of that princeling who is hidden in your halls."

At this the people once again became furious and resumed their shouting. The Flutter Pony Queen waited until they had cried out for an hour before once again lifting her hooves to silence then.

She spoke to them thusly: "By our laws that which you offer up restitution for is yours and all assembled know well the measure I did give to the parents of this colt and how I was ignobly refused in transgression of every ruling of theirs and ours. Since when have the Flutter Ponies despised the means to acquire their rightful end? This colt belongs to me by all our rights given to us by our ancestors of sweet memory and accordingly there is not a Flutter Pony in the world who has the authority to take what is mine unless they have a better indemnify. Or do we now bow to the laws of Borrson, are Borrson now our lords and masters once again?"

At these last words the people erupted into a frenzy for there is no memory more heinous to the Flutter Ponies than that of the days the Borrson ruled over them and many say they were driven to pagan ways out of spite for the abuse they suffered under their hooves. And they turned on the Flutter Pony King, crying, "You seek to put us under the heel of Borrson once again for the sake of your own vengeance towards the Queen." And there was nothing he could say to calm them and was only spared harm by the remembrance of their law that a Flutter Pony ruler is exempt from violence so he was able to escape to his own house.

So the Flutter Pony King wrote to All-Father Gandalf: "The Queen has so seduced the people that they now think it a transgression of our laws to return your son unto. Therefore I tell you this: send one of his younger sisters to me and I will set her before the gate of the Queen's house above which in the walkways the prince often takes his air. And upon seeing his sister he will yearn for his home again and ask to be released to her and anything he asks the Queen will give him up to half her kingdom."

And All-Father Gandalf was pleased with the word of the Flutter Pony King and did accordingly, taking Edvard's youngest sister, a mere filly of fifteen, and sent her to the Flutter Pony land. And the Flutter Pony King set her before the gates of the Queen's house at the hour before sunset when it is coolest and Edvard walked along the walkways to take in the cool of the evening. When upon hearing the voice of his sister, he at first spoke sorrowfully to his attending, "My heart fancies I hear the voice of my babe sister calling my name as she did when my parents lived." But seeing the expression in the servant's eyes he looked over the rail of the walkway and saw his sister standing beneath with her hooves outstretched to him and crying in a loud voice his name.

Whereupon Edvard gave a cry of joy so loud that all in the house heard it and ran out to see what could have causes any happiness in him. And the Flutter Pony Queen looked out of her window and saw the child of those who had wronged her now come to rob her of her labored for prize, she ordered the gate bolted and all the windows to be shut. But Edvard ran out into the courtyard and threw himself against the gate, pawing at the doors like one gone mad and crying out for his sister so that when the Flutter Pony Queen came to the balcony overlooking the yard she commanded her servants to take hold of him for fear that he might do a harm to himself.

When they seized him he fought like any wild beast and attempted to take hold of the gate to keep from being drawn away but his hooves were slick with blood from beating them upon the gates so he was dragged way. But he wrested himself from their hooves and cast himself on his knees, clasping his hooves and begging the Flutter Pony Queen with tears to let his sister attend him. And there was none present who was not moved in their heart by the grief in his voice and it is said the Flutter Pony Queen's tears matched his own in profusion. But still she refused to grant his sister entrance for she was afraid and rightly so that she was sent to draw Edvard away from her. So the gate remained shut and the sister returned to the Flutter Pony King's house for the night.

All that night Edvard bowed at the feet of the Flutter Pony Queen and wept, pleading with her that if she truly had a heart for him to let him meet with his sister if only for an hour but the Flutter Pony Queen would not be moved though she cried to see his misery. The next day the sister came again and cried Edvard's name but all the windows were shut and no one went out of the house all day. All the day Edvard wept into the lap of the Flutter Pony Queen and she stroked his hair and shed tears but would not let the sister in. And this intransigence must be accounted for the natural state of the Flutter Pony, which is pure spite. This aspect of their nature is so pronounced that it is infamous among all the peoples, even the fanged Sirens who dwell in the sea have heard tales of their malice for their ill-will follows to the offspring of those who offended them even unto the tenth generation.

But it must also be given to the Flutter Pony Queen that her love for Edvard overcame her baser nature for after three days of his continual sorrowing she relented and allowed his sister to enter her house but she offered her no water to wash herself and no wine or food to refresh herself.

And when Edvard saw his sister he fell upon her neck and wept, unable to speak for the better part of an hour. The he and his sister sat together for five hours speaking of all manner of things and all while he shed tears unceasingly. The Flutter Pony Queen sat near them but did not speak but only watched and listened to their speech, for she was wary of his sister. But the sister said nothing to distress her all day and when night fell she went back to the Flutter Pony King's house. So for a fortnight it was thus, the sister spent her days conversing with her brother before returning to the house of her host and the Flutter Pony Queen sat with them unspeaking. Finally, on the fifteenth day the sister spoke to Edvard saying, "Tomorrow I must return home to attend the funerals of our father and brothers for we have acquired their bodies from Jarl to bury with our ancestors."

And Edvard grieved to know that he would not be present for the burial honors of his family but the Flutter Pony Queen spoke shrewdly, asking the sister: "How is it that you acquired the bodies from Jarl who hates you so furiously and cast their bodies into the ravines outside the city walls where many a beast was swift to feast on them?"

And the sister had no answer and the Flutter Pony Queen drew herself up in anger and said, "You see you are here to provoke the soul of your brother so you might draw him back to your land and detain him there with the memories of his wounds. Get yourself back to your own people and out of the reach of my hoof before my mercy is utterly exhausted and let me never see your face again."

So the sister fled without a word to her brother back to the house of the Flutter Pony King and departed that very hour. And Edvard, hearing the threat of the Flutter Pony Queen and witnessing his sister's abandoning of him, fainted away into such a deep stupor that he could not be wakened from by neither the Flutter Pony Queen or her physicians, so they all believed he would now surely die. And many in the Flutter Pony land rejoiced for they said, "Surely now his thrall will fall from her and she will return to her senses."

But the Flutter Pony Queen was sore sorry she had spoken harshly before him and for all she had done to grieve him so that her heart grew sick and her mind blighted. She wandered through her halls by day and night, tearing at her mane and flesh so her blood streamed down and pooled on the floor. And she cried out in a loud voice saying: "I have killed my heart, all that was precious to me is now ruin and rot, I have brought the worm and the fire to my forest and all that remains is ash in my mouth."

She also would no longer enter the prince's room but sat before the door repenting with moaning and weeping without ceasing. And she swore to The Maker upon her soul and the souls of all her children that if Edvard would but live she would return him to his people and never trouble him again.

On the seventh day Edvard awoke and he asked for wine which was given him and revived his countenance. Then he asked to see the Flutter Pony Queen, who stood without his chamber concealing herself from his sight and her attendings were compelled to coax her into his presence. And when she was brought in she was frightful of appearance for her flesh was torn and raw from her raking and she had neither slept nor touched food or drink for seven days. On the sight of her and the evidence of her sorrow Edvard's heart was touched and he called her to his side, took her hoof and spoke gently with her. And seeing his compassion the Flutter Pony Queen fell on him and kissed him and praised The Maker, saying: "The Maker has spared me the extinguishing of my soul for if this colt had died I would have surely perished along with him."

Now she was reminded of her vow and though with much sorrow she told Edvard that he was free to return to his home and people and never to suffer her face again. And Edvard’s heart was much lifted at the thought of returning to his land and when he was well the Flutter Pony Queen set about preparing for his journey, she gave him 700 servants saddled with caskets of riches including fine clothing, cups and plates of precious material, casks of wine, and boxes full of precious stones. And she gave him the gold medallion off her neck which had come down her family for nineteen generations and when he tried to refuse such a gift as too great she said to him, "My only treasure leaves me, this band is nothing but weight on my shoulders and now I have enough weight in my breast to last me. Take this and remember me fondly."

So with deep melancholy the Flutter Pony Queen sent the prince back unto his people though on the hour of his departing she kept drawing him to her breast and kissing him many times before she could allow herself to release him. Edvard showed regret at her distress but left in good spirits and is said to have sung all the way back to the land of Borrson. The Flutter Pony Queen stood in the road and watched until he and the caravan left her sight and then went into her house and sat in silence all the rest of the day. She had not shed a tear the whole of the day, not even in their farewells, and this was surely her greatest gift to the prince for she set aside her own grief for the sake of his happiness. And all this, her releasing him and sparing his heart her sorrow, was held as a wonder and a marvel by all in the land of all the peoples for that which a Flutter Pony possess they shall never relinquish without requitement and he had none to offer her yet still she surrendered him.

Edvard came back to his land and was welcomed by All-Father Gandalf, who took him into his house as he had no place to return to since the capture of his family’s city by Jarl. And All-Father Gandalf told him to ask anything that the All-Father might do to serve him since the prince had suffered much in so short a time. So Edvard said to All-Father Gandalf, “My father and brothers were unrighteously slain and there has been none to avenge them of the dishonors heaped upon them. I ask Your Grace that those who by consent or design plotted the downfall of mine be brought before your court and that proper justice be dealt to them according to our laws.”

All-Father Gandalf was very loathe to do this but he was compelled by the past sufferings of the prince to fulfill his vow and sent forth a commanded throughout the kingdom that those responsible by consent or design in the death of Aahnyas and his sons where to appear before him for judgment. When Jarl heard of the All-Father’s command he said, “Should I be afraid of speaking of my actions when they were brought upon by righteous indignation at the indifference to the evilness of these people?” So he and all his sons and all those who helped him scheme the undoing of Aahnyas, some 200 stallions and mares not of his own blood, and they all presented themselves to All-Father Gandalf and Edvard at court.

According to the laws of Borrson the accused may speak in their defense first so Jarl, his sons and the 200 all came forward one after the other and told of the wickedness Aahnyas and Saffyra wreaked upon them, sending their sons to violate their daughters when there was none to deliver them and slandering their sons to capture them in marriage, also robbing money and land from widows and orphans, denying pay to their servants, and hiding their sons at the call of the war horn so they would not die in battle. And this went on for ten days.

And upon hearing the crimes of his family spoken of at length and in particulars, inflicted on so many and so numerous that he had been ignorant of nearly the whole of them, Edvard’s heart was stricken with contrition. So on the eleventh day when All-Father Gandalf called him forth to voice his complaint Edvard instead said before the All-Father, the assembled court and all the slayers of his father and brothers, "My family was a blight upon our people and it is the curious justice of The Maker that they perished in the manner they did. I request no recompense but offer up myself to finish in full the payment for their sins."

But all those who had spoken against his family answered him, "May it not be said that we punished the innocent with the guilty for you are good and worthy and have done us no harm. We have settled with those we sought, we will have no more bloodshed."

The All-Father then declared the matter closed and sent each to his own house. And Edvard stayed in All-Father Gandalf’s house for five years and was like a son to him.

Then the Flutter Ponies sought to make peace with Borrson so the King and Queen invited All-Father Gandalf to a banquet at their court to feast with them, to which he agreed to attend and bring many of his own court with him. But he was cautious to pose the invitation to Edvard but the prince accepted and when asked if he was fearful of the Queen he said, “She never gave me cause for fear.”

They traveled to the Flutter Pony land and the Flutter Pony court where they were feasted and entertained for thirty days with the richest food and finest wine in the land for this is when the Flutter Ponies possessed the best land for harvest and game in the kingdoms. And on the twelfth day the Flutter Pony Queen met Edvard as she rounded the hall assuring the merriment of her guests and he spoke to her saying, “My Queen, the night is still long ahead and the wine is sweet, will you not sit with me awhile so we may speak as we did on our first encounter?” So the Flutter Pony Queen sat by him and it was clear to all that she still pined for the prince yet neither spoke of the matter but restricted their discourse to the topics they had talked of before all this had come to pass. And they remained that way all the rest of the days of the feast and none troubled them for their company, even the Flutter Pony King when asked of it by one of his guests merely said, “This feast was the bring peace between our peoples and from my place it seems to go smoothly. Leave them in peace.”

On the thirtieth day Edvard returned with All-Father Gandalf their own land and spoke not of the Flutter Pony Queen. It was soon learned of throughout the kingdom that they had begun to correspond with one another and for this reason there was much gossip for there were messengers weekly sent to and fro from the land of Borrson and Flutter Ponies carrying their letters and though both were often approached by suitors they refused to consider any of them. And when Edvard was invited again to the Flutter Pony land by the Flutter Pony Queen many said she meant to ask for him as a husband again but he went and returned in forty days, so most soon forgot of their suspicions as nothing came of them. But after two years in this manner Edvard went to All-Father Gandalf and said, “I implore your blessing that I might marry the Queen of the Flutter Pony.”

All-Father Gandalf was greatly astonished and questioned him gravely, “Do you truly wish to marry the mare who was the cause of so much misery to yourself?”

But Edvard answered, “The judgment of my family was right and just recompense for their sins, this lady cannot be condemned for the strange ways of The Maker for which she could not account for. The mare loves me well, she is no longer the creature she was when she first courted me, and my soul hungers for her alone. Please give me your blessing so I may make her my wife.”

Seeing his earnestness in this All-Father Gandalf gave his blessing and sent Edvard to the Flutter Pony Queen with a priest that they might be married in the manner of Borrson, and none of her family or people dared object to this seeing the lady’s joy at finally receiving him as her husband. So were made husband and wife immediately upon his arrival in the way of Borrson and went to live in her house together with her children from her previous husbands, and despite the madness of their former courtship they settled together in peace and accord so that even those opposed to the marriage could find no wickedness to speak of it.

One messenger reported that the prince spoke of his wife as “The tender reward of all my sorrows” and called her Tzeruya, which in the speech of the Flutter Ponies means “balm of The Maker”. Also the Flutter Pony Queen took no more lovers and this was indeed a marvel as she was the first Flutter Pony ruler to do so since the formation of their kingdom.

And they had many sons and daughters from their union and when the Flutter Pony Queen’s term of rule ended she went with her husband back to the land of Borrson where they built themselves a house in the mountains and they lived out the rest of their days together in perfect harmony.

So went the first marriage between the children of Borrson and Flutter Pony.