"Oh, Angel!" exclaimed Fluttershy in her docile voice as she held the white rabbit above her. His ears were laid back over his skull and he crossed his arms over his chest as he gave her a hard look. Angel loved his servant dearly, but she was much too prone to gregarious display of affection for his liking. She held him above her as she lay on her back in the warm embrace of her bed.
"I read all those romance novels and I always come to the same conclusion; no stallion will ever love me," she wined, pulling the bunny down to into her soft warm coat.
The warmth enveloped him like the spring sun on a chilly morning, he hated to admit it but being cuddled was one of his favorite things in the world. It almost made up for Fluttershy's lack of punctuality when it came to dishing out his meals, almost.
Setting the rabbit down, Fluttershy reluctantly walked over to her wall of books. After carefully picking one of their numbers, she returned to her bed with a sigh. The turning of a page alerted Angel that Fluttershy would be a while so he hopped out of the room heading for the kitchen.
His bowl of vegetables sat there untouched from his morning meal. No other critter dared touch Angel's dish lest they invoke the wrath of the cotton tailed beast. He was small and cute but, he made up for that by his sheer tenacity. After taking a couple of bites of his vegetable medley thinking the heaviness that he was experiencing was hunger, he discovered much to his dissatisfaction that it was something different.
Passing through the little door with in a door he was met with the blinding brilliance of the noon day sun. The world was in full bloom its vibrant colors and succulent smells were enough to stoke the fires of his poet's heart.
"The sun doth not dispel the wariness of my dreaming mind. For I wish to milk the honey from the sweetness of my honey suckle vines. I could not raise or bare a hide or hair in the winter dreary but, like a dove the full of spring descended. Landing upon the fields of brown and gray, I watched as to green they gave way. The fires of youth and love unspent filled my heart with carnal flames, for as of yet I still had seeds to be sown. It was to that duty that I awakened." he hummed.
Suddenly, the weightiness lifted from him as he realized why Fluttershy was acting so mopey. It was spring. More than that it was spring and Fluttershy was again alone. He knew that just like all creatures under the sun, ponies were driven by more than just mind and body. They being were pushed forward by a driving hormonal hammer that drove them to not only procreate but, seek refuge in the warm folds of love.
It was a fool's errand trying to find a stallion or even a mare to satisfy both Fluttershy's lascivious and psychological needs. Three years he had tried to pair her with one pony or another and three years he had failed. His stalwart companions in the endeavor were two of his servant's friends Rainbow Dash and the illustrious Rarity. The rainbow manned one tried to help him get Fluttershy laid but the mare's timid nature wouldn't allow her to throw herself uncommitted at anypony. Rarity's attempts were just as futile. Angel needed advice and on that note he marched towards the Everfree forest.
Spotting the sentries he slowed down his pace. They were rabbits just like him only they weren't like him. As much as Angel tried to boost his own ego he was still just a common rabbit and the two stalwart defenders of the great hole were the sons of noble families. Knights not just by deed but by blood they were and if Angel was to be granted admittance he would have to treat them as such.
Approaching them he notices the waxy brilliance of their walnut husk armor clinging tightly to their robust forms and the spears they held. The simple wooden spears each carried held the dangerous glint of obsidian points on their tips. Just thinking about how one of those tips could easily skewer him he came close to just turning around and forgetting the whole thing. The only thing that kept him from doing so was the image of his servant's down cast face. So swallowing his fear he called out,
"Good afternoon!"
Neither guard budged, the only inkling of recognition was the two pairs of hard eyes that now drilled their way into his soul.
"Speak your business or be on your way!" said one in his steel cast voice.
Wetting his lips, Angel answered.
"I seek the wisdom of one who lies within. Will you grant me admittance?"
"Name yourself," said the other, his voice sounding more like the hard ringing of brass.
Taking a cautious step forward, Angel bowed low and then spoke.
"My name is Angel son of Argus, of the unnamed."
The two juggernauts shared a glance and then they said in unison,
"Enter!"
The winding halls of the ancient capital were all but foreign to him as he made his way towards the city square. Many rabbits passed to and fro as they went about their business. The earthy aroma of the cityscape was nostalgic to the white coated buck as he savored memories that flooded into his mind. He had played in this very square along with other younglings not too long ago.
Spotting another couple of guard he walked up to one of them to ask for directions to the Sacred Hold. Unlike the steely eyed bucks outside he was friendly and more than happy to help. After pointing Angel in the right direction, the guard watched the tight flanked young buck walk away.
"Damn, if I wasn't on duty," he muttered under his breath.
His partner cast a judgmental eye on him and spat,
"Buckbedder!"
Angel made haste toward the Sacred Hold. Soon he spotted the gate to the religious center of the city. Stopping only briefly to wash his feet and face he proceeded inside.
Unlike the city the place was unnervingly quiet. The only thing his keen ears could detect that could be sound was a faint echo of something that didn't quite sound like wind or a whisper. He knew in his heart it was a little of both. He finally reached his destination.
The room had high arcing walls that drew to a center oculus that bathed the room in a warm glow. In addition to the light from the oculus the room also had dozens of bioluminescent mushrooms that shaded the room a greenish yellow. The room was large enough to house several large families of rabbits but, the room had only a sole occupant.
The ancient looking hare sat upon her rose quartzite chair. She peered at her visitor through half lidded eyes. Her old boned barely filled her jasper hued robes and many coils of beaded garlands adorned her neck. As Angel crept closer the old sage graced him with a thin smile.
"Welcome my child!" she wheezed, as he came into the outer limits of her failing sight.
Bowing low, Angel replied,
"Honored mother, I have come to seek your guidance and if the Goddess permits a spell."
A throaty laugh filled the air as the old doe inched forward in her seat her eyes now fully open. Looking over the small buck that had come to beg her indulgence she was struck by a small affection of one who would command such a tone with her.
"So you will not pile upon me loft praise about how my fervent cries aided you in the circle of life. No long list of haughty titles and deeds. I find it curious that one such as you would be so direct. Speak your mind brave one and let me judge you as I see fit. Now what is it that you want?"
Rising from his bow Angel approached the old priestess and kneeled before her. Fidgeting he tried to think about how he was going to word his desire. He was just about to speak up when forefoot lifted his chin up. He tried to look away but his eyes kept zeroing in on the priestess's cloudy eyes.
"I'm waiting!" she said in a grating tone.
Clearing his throat he prayed that he had the courage to ask for what it was he desired.
"I have a friend who has not a love to call her own. I have done everything I can think of and still she is without companionship."
Chuckling, the old doe shook her head in disbelief,
"I should have known. You come to me to ask for a glamour or potion so you can woo her when all of you other attempts have failed. How petty!'
Reaching out he laid a foot on her cloak and gazed at her with hard eyes,
"YOU ARE WRONG!"
Her eyes widened in surprise at the foolish buck's outburst. No one in her long life had ever yelled at her in asking for a favor. Many had begged and pleaded but none had ever yelled.
"You amuse me, foolish buck. Please tell me what you mean."
"My friend isn't a rabbit or hare. She is a pony."
"Ha! A pony you say. It's best to let those conceited creatures to their own devices." bitterly said the old doe.
"Conceited?" asked Angel.
"Umm yes, Conceited. What other creature would take command of the sun, moon, weather, and seasons when they can manage themselves. Only the proud and vain would even attempt to command the forces of nature. They lord over creation while the rest of us are happy just to be a part of it." She said while sneering.
His grip tightened on the priestess's cloak.
"They are not all like that!" he spat, "And you are a bitter old hag for even thinking that about your fellow creature."
Not having time to react he felt tendrils of energy coil around his form and pull him away from the doe as he was hoisted into the air. Hearing the creaking of old bones he looked down to see the priestess draw herself up to her full height. Her once clouded eyes now were filled with a feral blackness that made him feel like they were injecting poison into his very soul.
"You have forgotten your place and because of that you have no place. If your allegiance is to the ponies to the ponies you will go. However, if beg me for forgiveness I shall allow you to leave unharmed if not I can't guarantee your well being," she said, her voice booming with arcane power.
Angel was afraid but, more than that he was angry. All rational thought left his mind as he hissed,
"Send me away. I will not apologize!"
"Gack ack ack ack!" she cackled, "SO MOTE IT BE!"
Pounding a hoof onto the floor the room roared with terrible sound like the eruption of a volcano. The tendrils of energy that were holding him aloof pulled back and then dug into his flesh. He tried to scream but another tentacle wrapped around his throat and drew tight. The invading energy tore is skin from the muscle and flesh underneath. In a flash of energy he felt like his pelt was nothing more than a coat that he could be thrown off. Tears streamed from his eyes and the arcane energy dug deeper pulling his bones apart as blood splattered to the floor.
"Hmpf!" scoffed the doe as she watched him wreath in agony, "Go die and be reborn someplace else." With a wave of her forefoot she watched him soar upward through the oculus.
The ground beneath him fled as he was hurled upward. The darkness gave way to blinding light. Is this what it feels like to die. The pain became too unbearable so he succumbed to the welcomed numbness of the black.
