Wish

Chapter 8

After giving Trixie a little while to recover herself Valiari is anxious to share everything has told me to her. All three of us gather in his living room as he retells about the cult that the robed ponies belonged to and what they might be planning; about how he barely escaped from them with the curse that has been set upon him. He tells about Aria and his lost relationship with her. During this story I noticed that this touched her in a very emotional way; I can see it in the sudden change of expression in her face from curiosity to a form of fright. Then I begin to wonder why must all this pain exist? Why must theses ponies suffer such heartache? I have felt it for a brief moment, and I never want that back again. I feel inferior compared to them. What I have felt doesn’t even compare to the years of pain they’ve had to endure. I feel the need to cling to them and never separate out of fear from the possibility that something just might tear us apart. I feel that all of us have one distinct quality that we share. Or perhaps, it was something else that has brought us together. Maybe we were supposed to meet. But why? After getting lost in my own thoughts again I realize that Valiari has already explained everything about himself and what’s been happening, but then he comes up with a question.

“Well, that is all that I have to say. . . But now I am puzzled. Just why are those six other ponies after us anyway? Who exactly are they?”

“I have met them before; they are a group led by that Twilight Sparkle. After I made my way out of the tar they had soon discovered me. They were all wearing this ornate golden jewelry and began to pursue me. So I ran and ran but they just wouldn’t give up the chase. My legs felt like they were on fire and there was no way I could’ve kept it up. So I leaped into a bush. Horrifyingly it was laced with these awful thorns. Thankfully they got distracted by something else off in this dreadful swamp, because I would not have been able to deal with the pain any longer. But before they left I heard them talking. . . They had mentioned that Princess Celestia has gone missing and were sent by Princess Luna to find her. I’m assuming that this “cult” of which you speak is responsible for this.” Says Trixie.

“Precisely, and if something isn’t done about this they will capture Princess Luna as well. I fear the worst for them, because if they are able to succeed. . . Aireal if what you said is true, then this whole land will be covered in darkness and every last unicorn will be stripped of their horn and turned into slaves along with the rest.”

“. . . Why is this happening to us?”

“I do not know, but it sounds to me that those six ponies do not have a good idea of what is really going on. We might have to take matters into our own hooves . . . or hands in Aireal’s case . . . to stop them.”

“. . . Well what do you propose we do?”

“Ah, luckily for you two I have a plan!” Valiari reaches back behind him and holds out one of the stones in his hoof as it glows a bright blue. “This just might be the key. The power that this little stone possesses is beyond anything that I have ever encountered! Its healing powers are incredible! And if we can find where this stone originated from then there are bound to be more! With that power that means that we have the upper hand against the cult, and we can finally put a stop to them! . . . Except, where do we start looking?”

“. . . I know where we could start.”

“Really now? Then allow me to draw us up a map. . .” Valiari quickly reaches over and pulls out a canvas placing it on the stand. With a dipped paintbrush in his mouth he stokes the paint over the canvas. With every stroke he takes it’s as if he’s painting a window with a perfect view of the forest. Everything can be seen right down to the smallest detail. All the paths, trees, the river and empty patches of space are so crystal clear that just as his previous painting I feel I could just step right into it and fall straight down into the mass of trees. The scenery is not during the daytime, but it’s easy to see the leaves blowing in the wind and ripples in the river as it flows down to the waterfall. Trixie and I stare in awe of the stunningly realistic painting and the quickness in which it was done. It seemed that a painting as beautiful as that would have taken months to complete where he was able to do so in a matter of seconds. “Now, Miss Trixie, why don’t you show us where we would go? This here is where we are at the moment; the rest is the Everfree Forest.” Trixie steps up and studies the map for a brief second. “We. . . We would have to take this path here, make a turn straight into the woods and . . . here. This is where I had found the stones. If we delve deeper into the area perhaps we can find out where these came from.”

“Splendid! Then let us be on our way! But we should be weary incase those other ponies are still searching around here. The three of us are alone here, and so we need to stick together as a team. Miss Trixie, if you would take the lead?” Trixie at first seems extremely nervous, but I can see she pushes it aside and takes charge of the situation. We leave Valiari’s shack after taking a few quick glances around to make sure there are no signs of the other ponies. We walk down a lonely sleek path of shiny dull green soil leaving behind somewhat deep prints. The mist begins to take over our vision the further we go. The whole time our steps slosh in the mud I can’t help but feel that another set of eyes is watching us. Somewhere beyond the mist around the dark trees . . . I just can’t shake the feeling away. At one point while staring off into the cluster of tilting trees I believe that I catch a small glimpse of a figure. Perhaps it was just my imagination, or maybe it was just an animal. Either way, I feel that we are not alone. We make our way through the swamp without any kind of confrontation by the other ponies and begin to make our way out of the cloud of mist and into a flourishing realm of lively trees. The air has changed from muggy to slightly chilling, and the further we go along the path the cold gradually increases to the point of forcing our bodies to shiver greatly. The sky has become completely visible to the luminous Moon and her stars but is nearly shrouded by dark clouds. It feels so peaceful being able to see the night sky that I, for a moment, forget about all the troubles that have come our way. A wind brushes by that feels like icicles across my cheeks forcing me to try and hide behind my bent collar. The grass has become frosty as small particles of ice gently float down from the sky. We are now following Trixie’s directions that she had once said before, following the path but cutting into the woods in the middle of it. However, along the way, Valiari appears to be acting a bit strange as if he is alien to this forest bouncing his vision all around the woods. “. . . Are you okay?” I ask.

“Huh? Oh, yes! It’s just . . . this feels oddly familiar. Never mind me, let us carry on.” Valiari’s eyes look around the area with such confusion, and his pace has seemed to slow down. Something is definitely bothering him, and I only hope that it isn’t breaking him down. After brushing past groups of bushes and stepping over loose logs of fallen trees Trixie suddenly comes to a halt. “Umm let’s see . . . there should be a way down from here. . .” As soon as Valiari and I move closer we find that we are on the edge of a cliff that drops down into pitch darkness. Just staring down it gives my body the feeling that it is already being consumed by the dark, but I feel that Valiari is acting a bit more terrified than me. His body is trembling as he stares blankly into the pit of black. I feel the need to ask him once again if he is sure nothing is bothering him, but I feel he will just continue to deny. There is something about this place that he is just not taking a liking to.

“Ah! Over here!” Trixie shouts beckoning us to follow. The three of us are now taking careful steps down a rocky hill leading downward with Valiari and I nearly tripping up while Trixie instinctively knows the right stones to step onto. The cliff descends down so deep that it our vision becomes blinded by the dark. Trixie’s horn begins to grow a small violet orb of light at its tip lighting up the way to a path of extremely tall grass where some if has been bent over from previous trips to this place. We follow her down the path of bent grass while looking up at the mile high jagged walls of this valley that block out most of my vision of the sky. Only the Moon can still peer through the slit of sky that is still visible. Looking down from the top was a bit frightening, but looking up at the cliffs gives me the same feeling. “. . . Here. . . Here is where I found them.” We all spread out taking a look around the plain grass and stones. There doesn’t seem to be anything special about this place . . . until a sparkle catches my eye. Crouching down I move away some blades of grass and find a stone stuck in the rocks glowing a bright white.

“. . . There’s more of them. They’re everywhere.” Valiari says while jumping around from stone to stone inspecting and finding several different colored glows shining beneath them. “This is the place where I would always find them. I came here nearly every night because . . . I would always get this strange feeling. . . Valiari? Are you alright?” Trixie asks while the two of us watch Valiari continue down the path of the valley on his own without saying a word. We follow behind him a bit worried but too afraid to ask him what’s wrong. “This. . . This is it. . . This is where. . .” Suddenly he stops. Trixie and I keep a short distance behind him as he peers down to the shadowed ground. He falls to his knees and we hurry to his side, and notice that he is crying. I don’t understand why, but looking over to my side where he was gazing I find that what he was staring at wasn’t shadowed ground, but an oddly shaped hole leading down to blackness.

“Valiari what is it? What is the matter?” Trixie asks.

“Sh-She fell . . . right down here. I thought I knew this place . . . I’ve just been trying to push the memory out for so long that I didn’t recognize it at first.” That is why he was acting so fearful. This is where he and Aria ran to before she was shoved off the cliff. My mind imagines the scene of her body helplessly flaring until finally crashing through the dirt and stone. I cringe at the imagination of the impact. “I-I need to go down there.”

“What?! Are you insane?” Trixie asks. “You don’t know what’s down there! And besides even if we were to go down there’s no guarantee that we’ll survive the fall without injury!”

“I may be insane . . . but . . . but I can feel that something is down there for us.”

“But how do you know it’s safe?” Valiari reaches across the grass and moves over a small stone. He pushes it off the edge down the hole, and after a few seconds of silence the sound of a splash echoes below. “There’s a pool of water down there. It sounds deep enough to break the fall.”

“But it’s too dark down there!”

“We have the stones and your light spell; we should be able to see plenty.”

“How do you know there’s a way out if we go down?”

“. . . I don’t.” Trixie looks away from him in frustration, and then at me as if expecting me to maybe try and talk some sense into him. I must admit that I agree with Trixie completely. We could get hurt or trapped down there, but I just can’t speak up. “Please, I need you two to trust me. . . Please. Aireal, do you trust me?” Immediately I’m thrown into the situation without warning and lost on what to say. Trixie is absolutely right and I should just say no, it just seems to be too much of a risk to take; but something in the back of my head is telling me to believe him. “Aireal? Do you?” Looking at Trixie as she and Valiari await my answer her face looks afraid. Thoughts are conflicting in my mind as I feel torn between two choices. I do not want to let Valiari down, but at the same time I do not want to leave Trixie if she disagrees with his plan. Valiari turns his head away from me after my long pause believing he already knows my answer. “. . . Miss Trixie. Can you . . . explain what you’re feeling right now?”

“A bit afraid if you’re really wondering!”

“Set that aside for a moment. Now I want you to come closer, and lay near the hole here.” Trixie nervously and cautiously does so. “Now close your eyes, and tell me what you feel.”

“I. . . I don’t know it’s. . . I feel. Peaceful. This is so strange I. . .”

“That is why I feel that we need to go down. We are feeling this for a reason, and we won’t find out why unless we take a chance and go down. . . Aireal, are you with me?” Once again I’m thrown back into the situation, but that feeling Trixie described is now flowing through me calming my mind and heart allowing me to come up with some kind of response this time.

“. . . I will go, but only if Trixie goes.”

“Miss Trixie he will not leave without you. I need you with us. Please, will you trust me?” After a short sigh and moment of deep thought Trixie finally comes to an answer.

“. . . I will go.”

“Thank you. Thank you both. I did not want to go down alone, for I know that without you two I. . . I wouldn’t have even made it this far. So if anything happens to us I want you both to know that. . . I appreciate all that you have done.” The three of us position ourselves along the edges of the hole staring down into the pit. “On the count of three we all jump at once. Ready? . . . One, two . . .” Our legs are bent, ready to jump, and our hearts are pumping. “Three!” On that final word we all leap into the air and down into the dark. I can no longer see anything except the opening of the hole to the outside. Our bodies break through the surface of surprisingly warm water as it seeps through my clothing. Unable to see I fear that there might be something inside the water with me, watching me, waiting for the right moment to attack. I never realized how frightening something can be even if it you can’t see it, and how imagining it only makes it worse. The dark makes it all more horrific, and the lack of air makes me feel vulnerable. I use every amount of energy I have to push my arms and kick my legs through the water. Breaking up through the surface I take in a gratifying breath of air while paddling myself across. I hold my hands out desperately trying to find some kind of land. I can hear Trixie and Valiari’s voices gasping for air and swimming through the water as well. My fingers rub against a hard dry surface and I immediately attempt to grip it. Climbing out from the water I instantly begin to freeze. After every breath I take I can see it whisk on by. I can hear Valiari and Trixie climb out as well, but I still cannot see anything. Except from the hole through which we had jumped the Moonlight peaks through and against the rippling pool of water. The only sounds whispering in the dark is our breathing and the movement of water. “. . . Are we all okay?” Valiari asks.

“I am just fine. . . Aireal are you there?” Trixie asks. Her horn glows that bright violet ball of light at its tip forcing away some of the dark. “. . . Oh! There you are.”

“Miss Trixie. . . look.” Valiari points back towards the pool of water. The Moonlight is reflecting off of it onto the cave walls around us shedding light upon the elongated tips of stalagmites rising from the ground and stalactites from the top. These walls do not reflect the light as stone, but as a mirror. It’s as if they are studded with clean cut gems, and then, the most wondrous thing happens. The walls begin to shine in a splendor of many colors. Like a rainbow that had gotten lost in these caverns endlessly circling the walls unable to find an escape. It reminds me of the first town Trixie and I ever visited: the city of lights that would stretch from the ground to the horizon. The colors dance along the wavy stone floor and along the ripples of the pool. “. . . It’s extraordinary.” Valiari mutters while entranced by the lights along with the rest of us. My heart feels as though it’s gently fluttering inside my chest, and with this feeling I can’t help but spread a smile. Looking back at Valiari and Trixie they both have my same smile. . . But, staring into Trixie’s eyes as she stares back at me I feel . . . that feeling again, except it feels that it just might start to pour out of my heart. It’s something attempting to show itself but still remains unidentifiable. I’ve never felt this at peace with she and I, but being surrounded by this splendorous revelry of colors makes it possible. I still cannot find a name for this feeling yet I believe I know every other. Sadness and happiness; pain and peace; fear and pride; but what could this be? “Welcome.” Echoes a voice that sounds too familiar to forget. “I am happy to see that you all have made it here safely.” Out beyond the pool of water is a crooked-cut hole, and out from it emerges a pony. She steps into the beam of Moonlight as if it were a spotlight during a performance; yet she does not fall through the water’s surface. Her body is somewhat tall and translucent like glass reflecting the colors within it, and her mane is of the same texture not even resembling individual hair fibers. The walls and the pool of water can be seen through her body. Despite her fragile and stiff appearance she moves with such grace that it would be impossible that her body is indeed composed of glass. She does not bear a horn, and she does not bear wings; but gazing upon her gives me a greater feeling of wonder than if I were to see another pony with such ailments. “I see that you have carried my message for me, and for that I must thank you . . . Aireal.” I am too entranced by her to even mutter a response as well as Trixie. “. . . Valiari, oh how I have longed to see you again.”

“. . . It can’t be. . . A-Aria?” Valiari’s eyes leak with tears.

“Yes, it is me. A . . . A fair amount of time has passed since I’ve been able to see you.” Valiari begins to walk toward her.

“W-What has happened to you I . . . I thought you were . . .?” Valiari’s voice gets caught in his throat unable to finish his statement.

“I know, and ever since that day I still see it in the time I have to dream. When I looked at you being held back I knew what was going to come of me. I knew there was nothing that could have been done.”

“No I-I could’ve done something I just—”

“Sweetheart please, do not blame yourself.”

“. . . But how are you . . .?”

“I had broken through the roof of these caverns into the pool of water. I could feel that nearly every bone in my body had shattered upon the impact. My body was in such pain yet I forced myself to swim to the edge and lift my dying body to onto the stone floor. But that was the very last movement I would have made. I could no longer feel my body as everything was turning cold and dark. I cried in pain until my heart had slowed, and then stopped. My life at that point had ended . . . but then, something brought me back. I was surrounded by these wonderful stones of beautiful light, and within them is a special power. These, are what allowed me to continue on. They brought the air back into my lungs and the beat back to my heart . . . however, I cannot leave this place.”

“But why?”

“If my body is not within reach of their magical aura then it disconnects leaving me nothing more than an empty husk. So I have lived here, never growing hungry, never to be harmed. Thus over this long passage of time their magic has fused with my body transforming it into this glassy form. I had hoped that you would not have to see me as this abomination.”

“No! I do not see you as that! You are still the same mare that I couldn’t stay away from, and nothing; not even your appearance, can ever change that.”

“. . . You always knew how to keep tears away from my eyes. Every night when the Moon and her smaller sisters would shine though this hole I would always stare up and think of us and every breathing moment we spent together. So many years have passed, and from these stones I have gained magical properties about me. However, I am unlike the unicorns who are born with the natural ability to cast magic, so mine is inferior compared to theirs and is imperfect. I am very limited to what I can or cannot do.”

“But wait. . . How did you know I was still alive?”

“. . . I have heard your wishing.”

“Y-You’ve . . . heard my . . . ?”

“The pain in my heart had become so unbearable that the magic around me allows me to hear other’s pain. It is always in the form of a wish. Every night I could hear voices calling out for help, and I would cry into this pool for every wish I heard. All I could do was sit and listen without a way to maybe fulfill their prayers to the stars. So I must hope that fate can find mercy for them. Then one night I heard yours, and hope had returned to me. So, I needed to find a messenger. One I could pass on a message that would lead to you. This pool of water of which I stand is enchanted to the very last drop by the magic about here. It allows me to peek into the outside world, which is when I found him.” Aria looks and points her hoof towards me. “One night I had been watching the forest, and I stumbled upon this strange being. I watched as he would struggle to try and stand, and out of pity I summoned whatever magic strength I could to interact with him and help him to his feet.”

“. . . It was you.” I mutter at the sudden realization.

“Yes, and some time ago I had felt a strange force pulse through the caverns as it spread across the land. Then before me he laid. He was so still, and I was afraid his life had ended then and there. But I could hear his memories as if they were spoken aloud to me. I heard your name, and I recited to him what has been keeping me sane all these years. After that, all I could do was hope. Aireal, it was indeed me who aided you that night; and I can see that I was not the only one to assist you.” She then turns her attention to Trixie. “Miss Trixie Lulamoon.”

“Y-You know my name?”

“Of course, and I am also aware of the kindness that you have bestowed upon this unknown creature in his time of need. What you did was truly heroic, and I can see that you two have formed a strong bond between one another. Am I correct?” Trixie turns her attention to me, and a smile grows between her cheeks.

“Yes. . . Indeed we have.”

“That I am glad to hear. Now Miss Lulamoon, I would like to tell you that I have heard your wish as well.”

“M-My. . . My wish?”

“Yes. Time and time again you have wished to see your Mother one last time. After years without an answer you have lost your faith in the stars . . . However I feel that we were meant to meet, because now I would like to bring back your faith . . . for I can grant you this wish.”

“You can?!” Trixie shouts exasperatedly and trotting closer to the pool of water.

“Yes, but it will only be this once, and only for this time. The connection will be lost after a short time, so you must make the most of it. Are you prepared?”

“Yes! Yes please! H-How can you—?”

“Peace Trixie, I need you to remain calm as I will need silence to perform this act. Now, if you would take a long look into the pool of water near you, and it will all go from there.” Trixie peers over to the pool while Valiari and I quietly step near her to see the pool of water ourselves. Aria’s eyes close, and leans her head back as the Moonlight rests upon her sleek face. Soon, the light trickles down further into her glass body, filling her to the brim with light. Valiari and I stare at her, dazed by the wondrous glow. She lifts up her hoof, and lightly touches the pool of water. Ripples are sent waving through the water, distorting Trixie's reflection on the surface. As Trixie stares at her reflection in the water, her image is warped until the it is no longer a reflection of Trixie, but a similar looking mare. Her coat is of a darker blue, her mane is more of a gray compared to Trixie’s, and the eyes are a rich pink.

“. . . Mother?” Trixie asks in disbelief.

“My dear Trixie, it is wonderful to see you again. How have you been sweetheart?”

“Mother. . . I . . . I’m just so happy to see you. There’s so much I have to tell you.” Trixie’s voice trembles and her eyes begin to cry heavily.

“I couldn’t be happier to see you as well. Well go on! Don’t keep me waiting what’s the news? Have you been following your dream as I had hoped you would?” She asks excitedly.

“Yes, I-I haven’t given up and . . . and I’m glad I didn’t.”

“That’s my girl! But why the tears? Come now dry your eyes.”

“I’m sorry Mom I just. . .” Trixie attempts to wipe the tears away but they are quickly replaced with a new stream. “I-I made a friend j-just the other day.”

“Really now?! Well, may I meet this friend of yours?”

“Yes he’s . . . he’s right here.” Trixie beckons me, and I nervously approach; but Trixie happily grabs my arm and pulls me by her side. The mare stares at me in surprise.

“Well, he is most definitely not what I had expected! I am happy to see that you are not picky!” The mare jokes. “Won’t you introduce him to me?”

"His name is Aireal, and . . . and he’s helped me through quite a bit. . . I couldn’t have asked for a greater friend.” Trixie’s grip around my arm begins to tighten.

“Well, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

“. . . Y-You too Miss,” I say nervously.

“Mom I just. . . I just wanted you to know how my life has been.”

“And would you say you are happy with what you have?” Trixie looks back at Valiari who gives her a reassuring smirk, and then up to me as I give her a gracious smile on my face. She is filled up with a mixture of sadness and happiness as tears are still streaming down her cheerful cheeks.

“Yes. . . Yes I am . . . and I couldn’t be happier.”

“That’s the smile that I’ve been waiting to see. I told you didn’t I? I promised you would find a friend to guide you; I would never lie to you Trixie. You just had to not lose hope.”

“You were right Mom. . . You were always right.” Trixie attempts to wipe away the tears once more.

“You make me so proud Trixie, and I want you to never forget that. I couldn’t have asked for a daughter as amazing as you, honey, and I need you to promise me: that no matter how bad things may get, you won’t stop being this amazing mare.”

“I-I promise.”

“I love you Trixie, so, so much,” her Mother’s voice says tenderly.

“I love you too Mom.”

“And remember, I will always be with you. . .” On that last note the image of the mare disperses into the water as Trixie’s reflection reemerges. Aria’s eyes reopen as the light twirling around her horn dissipates into the air.

“. . . Thank you,” Trixie says, now looking up at Aria.

“There is no need to thank me, it is my pleasure to have finally granted one aching heart’s wish. Besides it should be I who must be thanking you, Miss Lulamoon, for granting me my wish: to see my beloved once again.” Aria takes a bow before Trixie to show thanks, and out of respect Trixie does the same. “I’m afraid that our time of joy will be short lived, for there is still an enemy out there; and I can sense they will be striking at any moment.”

“Then I’ll—!”

“Stop them. We will stop them.” Trixie interrupts Valiari.

“Wait. . . You really will help us?”

“Miss Lulamoon, I understand your feelings, but you do not have to put yourself in harm’s way.”

“You’ve given me what I have been asking for after all these years, and I will not stand by and let these fools even attempt to strike! I will not let them take away what’s between you and Valiari for I understand now . . . the importance and how wonderful such a bond is to have. Nor will I allow them to take over this land we call home! So if it means putting myself in harm’s way then so be it.” Trixie’s voice is carried by such pride and care. This is the Trixie I knew was in there, it was only a matter of time before she showed herself. Valiari is stunned by her speech and a sense of confidence along with admiration of Trixie’s words overtakes him. “Aireal, are you with me?”

“I will never leave your side. Like Valiari said: We’re a team, and we need to stick together.”

“Oh come here you two!” Valiari trots up to us wrapping his forelegs around our waists and squeezing us to no end. “I cannot thank the two of you enough!”

“Thank you. . . Both of you.” Aria’s voice is touched with emotion. “. . . I-I can feel something . . . something horrible is about to take place. It is the cult. There is something terrible . . . so much magic is resonating. . . What could be happening out there? I feel there is little time left to act; are you all prepared?”

“Yes.” I say.

“Of course!” Says Trixie.

“Indubitably!” Valiari shouts.

“Splendid. Now, here is what you all must do. The disturbance seems to be resonating from their secret caverns down below. I will do my best to guide you through the woods to find it, but you all must hurry for I feel that time is—” Suddenly the Moonlight shining through the hole above Aria begins to fade causing her to halt in the middle of her sentence and fearfully gaze up at the descending Moon. The beam of light that once streamed through the hole and glimmered off the water disappears leaving only the comforting light of the glowing stones along the cave walls. “. . . quickly slipping us by.” Aria finishes with her eyes now filled with worry . . . along with the rest of us.