The Great Awakening
Perspective: Ash Sentinel
“Take tomorrow off, Lance. We both know the statue garden barely rates a one man post,” I said to my best friend, not expecting much in the way of an answer from the drunken blob on the verge of passing out on the couch of his second story apartment. My father would have put me through a wall if he heard me compare it to the barracks rooms in his day, but the place was still somehow simultaneously barren and cramped, decorated with a few possessions tied to memories only those closest to him would know. A dented helmet from his graduation day from basic training. He’d thought his newly returned ponyhood meant he now got to speak to his instructor like a normal anyone else. A singed blanket from our first weekend of drunken debauchery. A broken dresser he refused to replace, “So he wouldn’t forget how territorial mares can be.”
Terminal Lance had already been eying a team leader position when I joined third Squad almost three years ago. Tonight I became his superior. Our first team leader retired tonight, but instead of bumping Lance from the second team leader spot to first, as would be the norm, our squad leader shifted me from third to first, citing outstanding leadership abilities on my part, but feeling a lot more like a personal slight to him. He tried to keep a happy face, for my benefit. Were our positions reversed I’m not sure I could have done the same.
Terminal Lance was easily the best combatant in our entire platoon, putting up consistently high enough showings in the annual tournament that I was aware of his reputation even before joining the guard. One year he even eliminated Captain Shining Armor in the quarterfinals. I personally suspected that had a lot to do with his current situation. He spent better than a year as the Pegasus in the squad’s command team, a position only traditionally populated for six months at most before either making team leader or being transferred to another squad to lead a team there. Our commanders told us that we were supposed to be observing everything that goes into leadership from the additional closeness to the squad leader, but I was not really sure about that. Lance was adored by his team, rapidly becoming a legend among the platoon. Every week I heard new rumors about how he so consistently dodged recognition. My personal favorite was that he slapped Celestia’s flank during the award ceremony after his first tournament. He didn’t look like a pile of ash, so I was pretty sure it wasn’t true, but many laughs had been had over the thought of her reaction in such an event.
He finally picked up third team a week after I got the nod as Command Unicorn. We closed half the bars in Canterlot that night, spawning a few legends of our own. I can neither confirm nor deny rumors of the two of us getting the Captain’s little sister drunk off her flank and convincing her to walk around all night with a moustache, but I can say that old man Shining Armor is the least fun member of his family. We hit the other half four months later when he moved to second team and I took over third for him. Now, after a year of relative stability, our old first team leader and second in command was retiring. Our squad leader announced his successor at the retirement party. There were not as many surprised faces as one would expect.
The steady breathing from the couch told me that sleep had taken him while I was lost in thought. I quietly turned, leaving the comfort of his living room for the poorly kept kitchen a low ranking guard’s salary supports. If he was as far gone as I thought, the odds of him remembering what I said were low. He was far enough from his alarm clock that it probably wouldn’t wake him anyway, but if it did or he woke on his own, I didn’t want him to worry. From the next room came a sleep dazed grumbling about how he wasn’t pretty enough to be a court decoration. He always hated extended barracks time, I shuddered to think what he’d do if he got put on Royal Guard duty. I sighed and levitated a sheet of parchment and a quill from across the room, writing down my message to him and setting the note by the coffee pot he was guaranteed to visit the second he woke up. I walked to his door as softly as I could, opening it and moving into the barracks hallway, defeatedly pushing the door closed with my face, leaning into it with a sigh.
“Enjoying your first night as a noncommissioned officer, Ash Sentinel?” asked a cheerful voice from a previously uninspected section of the hall. I groaned and turned, finding myself looking at a young stallion bearing the standard guard uniform and enchantments, with the exception of his closely cropped mane. Officer.
“Yes, sir. Just about to head back to my room and bring it to an end,” I replied, hoping with all my heart that this was one of the disconcertingly friendly variety of officers instead of a regulation spouting monstrosity whose goal in life was to demotivate as many fresh guards as they could. I often wondered how they managed to fit a stick up their flank with the silver spoon still so firmly planted in it.
“Well, don’t let me bother you then. Your rest is more important than exchanging pleasantries with some boot you don’t even know, no matter how shiny his armor gets on parade days,” smiled the stallion, by all appearances genuine in his benevolence.
“Have a pleasant evening, Sir,” I replied, leaving for my room while thanking Celestia for such luck. Four doors down the hall I reached my room, stopping to glare at the door. A sign was posted on it informing me that I had until the end of the weekend to be moved out and go to the NCO barracks a block away. It’s the personal touches like these that made me love the guard.
***
Perspective: Spike
She’s going to stay awake all night again. I can see it in her eyes. She thinks I haven’t noticed the half dozen spells she cast on herself to help her stay up. Sometimes I really find it hard to believe part of me used to miss Canterlot. It’d been two months at that point. Two months since Cadance took the throne in the Crystal Kingdom. Two months since she had found the first of many caches of magical artifacts Sombra had spread around her new lands. Two months since Twilight gleefully accepted the Princess’ request to temporarily move back here to identify all of them.
The first few days were easy. Half the time she was able to just cast a spell on the artifact and she would know what enchantment was on it. The rest of them she was able to look up in the library easily enough. That was when she cast her first spell on herself. It let her read fast. Like really fast. She just flipped through the book and knew if what she wanted was in there. I didn’t really understand how it worked, though. She’d needed a few of those books again. Like the information never really stuck with her unless it was what she needed. Then she came across the first one that gave her trouble.
Twilight got really weird when she was nervous. And that made her nervous. She eventually figured it out, but it wasn’t too long before she found the next hard one or the next one after that. After the fourth hard one she was just staying weird. She’d been stuck on the same necklace for the last two days. I don’t think she’d slept in three. She was really starting to scare me. A week after we got here, Rainbow Dash stopped by to see if we knew when we’d be back. We were lucky that she got Twilight in a sane moment, but we didn’t have an answer. She checked back every week. For a while. I haven’t seen her the last couple weeks.
“UGH! Spiiiike! It’s not in any of these,” came a frustrated cry from behind a wall of books that looked ready to fall at any moment. Heavy books. I missed when a wall of books meant book fort.
“Maybe you should get some sleep, Twilight. It’ll be easier to find when you’re rested,” I tried, already knowing the answer.
“Spike! The Princesses trusted me to identify all these artifacts! I can’t let them down! If I do, who knows how long it will take to get them to trust me again! Now go find me ‘Heraldries of the Unicorn Empires.’ If I can’t find this item specifically, maybe I can identify the crest and work from there. I know I’ve seen this crest before,” she rambled. I doubted it would help much. She had the same idea three hours ago. I sighed in defeat, trying to remember where it had wound up last time. She was really worrying me. I’m going to the Princess before I go to sleep tonight.
***
Perspective: Twilight Sparkle
No, no, NO! It’s around here! I know it is! I know this crest! I’ve seen it dozens of times when I didn’t need it. And now it’s hiding from me. Where is Spike with that book?!
“Spike! Where are you?” I shouted, reasonably annoyed that he was being so slow. I knew this library was well organized. I had helped design the system it used! It was like Spike didn’t even want me to succeed. He didn’t get how important this job is! Why else would the Princess ask me to do it? I couldn’t let her down. She’s the Princess! I just needed to find this necklace. Then find all the other things. Then I could go back to my library. Mine. Not this one. This library was terrible. But if I didn’t! If I failed! The Princess would hate me! She might even banish me! Spike wanted us to get banished, I thought, throwing my book into the air in astonishment at the realization. No. No that was silly. Nobody wanted to get banished. Plus we couldn’t take Rarity with us. I absentmindedly caught the book just before it landed. Mustn’t destroy things. The Princess hated when I used my powers to destroy.
“Twilight, at least try something else. You can come back to this necklace later,” Spike said, oblivious to everything! It took every bit of self control I had not to turn on him before getting the frustration on my face in check.
“That’s ridiculous, Spike. This is the next item. If I did any other artifact, it wouldn’t be the next one! Societies would crumble! Rivers would run with blood! Unicorn Supremacists would rule Equestria from the backs of Dragons!” Spike sighed and set down Heraldries.
“I’m going to sleep Twilight. You should soon too,” he said, not waiting for an answer. Which was good. Because I was too busy pouncing on the book that would solve the mystery! This book had brief histories attached to the heraldries of every major Unicorn family in pre-unity Equestria. For this enchantment to still be active, it must have been very powerful, and the services of powerful unicorns didn’t come cheap. At least not back then. Whoever had it made would have had to be very wealthy. I flipped through it, knowing that such a powerful family would surely be in here. SO WHY AREN’T THEY IN HERE?! In frustration I cut the speed reading spell. It wasn’t meant to be maintained for so long anyway. Or mixed with other mind altering spells. Maybe it was messing up and I was missing bits. I was going to have to read it the slow way. Very slow. I started moving through the early pages of the book, analyzing and comparing every crest. No. No. No...Woah. That one’s...weird. Oh. The whole page is blurry. How odd. I yawned. Tired all of a sudden. Did I cut my other enchantments too? No. That doesn’t seem like me.
“Spike? When was the last...time I slept?” I asked the empty room, dropping to the floor as the world faded to black before it could answer.
***
Perspective: Ash Sentinel
My alarm went off far too early for my taste. Like so many other mornings, I held a debate with myself about the merits of reducing it to a fine powder. Then setting the powder on fire. Then pouring acid on the fire. Then salting the earth where it had burned. I rolled out of bed, crossing the room in a few short practiced steps, pointedly keeping my eyes closed. My father had once told me the story of a blind mare who had embarrassed some of Princess Celestia’s finest using her other senses and a healthy dose of magic. Plus it helped dull the throbbing in my head. The thought idly crossed my mind that I’d need to learn a new room soon. I hoped the layout was similar. I had heard it was a little bigger. A few mornings of bruised legs would teach me quick anyway.
I opened my eyes just in front of my armor stand. From the way the sun’s first rays reflected off the polished metal, I could tell that today was going to be an unpleasantly bright one. Maybe I could ask Princess Celestia to turn down the sun for the morning. Ouch. I tried to ignore the unpleasant sensation using magic brought to my head as I lifted the various parts to my armor from the stand, slowly reassembling it around myself. First my chestplate, then my greaves, finally my helm. I let out my breath as the familiar sensation of the uniform enchantments taking hold came over me. My coat changed from its normal grey to white, my mane kept its blue coloring but shortened a bit, not quite matching the officer from last night, my whole body grew slightly larger, though still no bigger than most Earth Pony stallions, finally, my facial features shifted slightly to give me a more authoritative look. I no longer appeared to be someone it was wise to misbehave around. And it wasn’t entirely inaccurate. While I was far from master level combat skills, I was well beyond what the guard required.
As an afterthought, I floated the saber that acted as my badge of office over and strapped it to my side. My squad would never let me hear the end of it if I managed to forget that on my first day. My clock informed me that it was six thirty-eight. I didn’t take over the gardens until eight, so if I didn’t drag my hooves, I could grab some breakfast before heading over and still have plenty of time to handle the unexpected. Stories of rescuing foals and arresting thugs tended to provide little comfort to the pony being relieved from his eight hour shift thirty minutes late. I left my apartment, tearing down my eviction notice as I kicked the door shut behind me. Which was a terrible decision, as my headache cheerily reminded me. Worth it, I thought as I crumpled up the parchment and threw it at the mare currently assigned to waste her morning sitting at the end of the hallway making sure everyone behaved themselves in the barracks. She giggled and shot me a mock stern glare. Had my body not been screaming for something caffeinated, I might have stopped. After heading down the stairs at a slow trot, I exited the barracks into a slowly wakening Canterlot courtyard. The main building of the palace separated the guard facilities from Canterlot proper, but the guard and their civilian support staff populated the courtyard quite nicely.
A hundred yards to the left stood an exact copy of the building I just left, housing all of my fellow noncommissioned officers. To the right was the chow hall, slowly filling up with all the other ponies enacting variations on the same plan I was. I turned right, steeling my nerves for the inevitable noise of happiness that always fills that accursed building. As I closed the gap, I saw through the large windows that dominated the walls, allowing a clear view of the dining area. A few dozen guards were spread amongst the tables, some cheerfully chatting with each other, some trying to quietly and peacefully drift closer to full consciousness without being harassed by their more easily wakening comrades, and even the odd pair privately whispering to each other.
“Good morning, Corporal,” came a slightly panicked voice as I shouldered open the door. I nearly growled as I looked for the source of the offending noise, my heart softening when I saw her. A young junior guard I didn’t know, probably fresh out of training, her mind not quite willing to accept that sometimes NCOs were just ponies too. I grunted a reply, not intending to be rude, but too tired and hung over to care about being overly polite either.
“What can I getcha this morning,” asked the pink mare behind the counter where they handed out the food. My response was a pained groan that the magnificent creature somehow managed to translate to “Oatmeal with apples and cinnamon, hash browns, and black coffee.” She passed the tray across to me with smile I genuinely tried to reciprocate. I failed, but at least I tried. She wished my tail a good morning as I sought a table without too much obnoxious lighting or equally obnoxious acquaintances. I found a spot to my liking in a corner at the back of the area, mostly missed by the lighting, and unpopulated except by one couple on the other side of the next table. As I approached my chosen spot, one of them looked up at me, eyes settling on my sword before nudging his partner, trying to discretely point me out and whispering in her ear before both parties started eating faster. Because I didn’t have to be observant to earn this sword or anything. I sat down, immediately reaching to my coffee and half draining the dark bitter ambrosia before setting it down and turning to my oatmeal. I ravenously tore into it, ears perking up as the pair stood to leave. I rolled my eyes up from my food to see if I could spot what had them so nervous. The female made a point of walking in front, swaying her hips a little more than necessary and if I was not mistaken trying to control a slight limp. I sighed again as I finished my coffee. Fraternization amongst the guards was not prohibited. At least as long as it did not cause other disciplinary issues. And both parties had to be more or less equal in the eyes of the powers that be. It wouldn’t do to have lovers in charge of each other. She probably spent the night in his room, which is forbidden, but not really enforced. Stupid kids.
Twenty minutes and zero interruptions later, I left the chow hall, contentedly fed. My head still hurt and words were hard to find, but at least my stomach was pleased. This sword did ridiculously good work at opening me a path. Not fear of the sword itself, at least I hoped, but wariness of the authority it represented. If only they knew half the stupid stuff I had gotten up to. And still intended to. I crossed through the main courtyard, at this point every bit as tightly packed as the commercial district out in the city. Out here even a big bad Corporal didn’t get much in the way of space. I briefly considered taking the sword out and waving it around in front of me to ensure I kept a clear path. Probably the quickest way to become Terminal Lance’s junior again. Or get sent to the moon. As quiet as it likely was up there, I didn’t think too much of that idea. It still kept a smile on my face as I moved into the palace, heading down the service tunnels underneath that led to the prep room.
“And here he is, the guard’s newest noncommisioned officer! Tell me, Senty, are you still going to have time for us little ponies while out living the good life,” cheered Hail Storm, the purple maned mare currently populating my old spot as Command Unicorn. Along with the far less passed around title of my marefriend. There was a mixture of halfhearted cheering and indifference from the assorted guards around the room.
“I’m full up on friends at the moment, but I do have an opening for a new hat,” I responded equally cheerily.
“Always so cold, Senty,” she breathed getting up close, magically chilling the air between her lips and my ear. I playfully nuzzled her.
“You wouldn’t have it any other way,” I answered. Now that I was technically her superior, we’d be under a lot of scrutiny and would likely receive pressure to consider breaking it off. Neither of us was under the impression we’d be together forever, but it would take the princess herself to stop us from enjoying what time we had together.
***
The next two hours felt like a week in Tartarus. Foals. Foals everywhere. By the third school group, I made a mental note to stop by the drug store on the way home to buy some preventative measures. After the fifth, I was giving serious thought to a visit to a doctor about a little surgery I’d heard lovely things about. I know they meant well. I know they were fascinated by the gardens. Well, no, actually. They tolerated the gardens. Most of the little colts were fascinated by my sword. And I cringed at some of the looks these fillies barely old enough to have cutie marks gave me. Even the one of the teachers got in on it.
“Having fun, Senty?” It was all I could do to avoid turning and pouncing on the mare behind me for protection. Not exactly the most professional behavior to get up to in uniform, but if anyone could scare them off, it was Hail. As Lance’s dresser could profess.
“I have no idea how the famous ponies do it. I have had ponies fawning over me all day. Do you know an invisibility spell?”
“No, but I do know the Want It Need It spell, along with a more minor variant that leaves those affected with some degree of self control.” My face dropped. I quite liked this mare. And now I was going to have to murder her. I was told my sword was dull, merely a ceremonial thing. I took that as a challenge.
“But now I think you’ve learned your lesson for getting all promoted and stuff and making my life complicated. I have a coffee and a giant cookie in the prep room. If they were to disappear while I watch your post for twenty minutes, I suppose I could chalk it up to karmic retribution,” the increasingly magnificent mare continued, ending when I moved in for a kiss. She leaned into it, making a happy noise in her throat as it turned into more than a quick peck, communicating our thoughts on so many more things than this little prank in the purest possible form. Close to a minute later, we separated. This time I wasn’t the one with their eyes staying closed.
“What did I ever do to get so lucky?” I asked, nuzzling her as she drifted back to reality from that place of bliss she had left for.
“I suppose one of the Princesses must be watching over for you. Now shoo! Enjoy your break.” I turned, weaving my way through the outskirts of the hedges surrounding the gardens on my way to the prep room, lost in thought. If I punched the first superior to try to get me to leave her, I might get bumped back down and solve all our problems. A throat clearing behind me interrupted my contemplation.
“Excuse me, Corporal,” came a voice sounding distinctly like a mare I had assumed was a teacher, though she had been a bit more forward than most, and now I thought of it, unattended by the usual gaggle of foals. I froze, not turning to face her, counting down in my head to stop my sudden agitation from surging back stronger than before and boiling over on her.
“Corpor…”
“WHAT?! WHAT IN THE NAME OF LUNA’S MAGNIFICENT HINDQUARTERS COULD YOU POSSIBLY WANT RIGHT NOW?!” I exploded, whirling to face the voices owner. She was considerably more large than I’d remembered. And whiter. And Princessier. My ears folded back on my head as my brain shut down. I swear I could hear a small rodent gasping, clutching its chest and falling out of a rapidly slowing wheel.
“When you return from your cookie, would you be so kind as to inform any guests that that section of the gardens is closed until I inform you otherwise. And Luna is not the only one with,” she coughed lightly into her hoof, “magnificent hindquarters.”
***
Perspective: Twilight Sparkle
I awoke rested in my room in the palace. For a moment I was completely caught up in the magnificent comfort of my bed. The mattress was just the right firmness, the blanket locking in the perfect amount of warmth. From the familiar coloration of the linens to the rows and rows of pleasant relaxing reading lining the walls, it was clear that everything about this room was designed for me. I would have asked the Princess why she kept a room like that, but I knew she’d just get that knowing smile of hers and ask if it was to my liking.
The Princess! How could I fall asleep when I was supposed to be helping the Princess? In terror, I leapt halfway across the room, scattering those perfect linens across the floor. Before I had even landed I was telekinetically reaching out for the assortment of things I was likely to need through the course of my day. My next bound propelled me for the door, magic reaching out to open it and pass into the hallway. In the space of the next half second, I noticed three things. One, Spike’s basket was empty. Two, there was a note pinned to the door. Third, and most importantly, the door was locked. I cried out in pain as I slammed facefirst into the unforgiving wood.
“Ow! Who locked my room,” I screamed at the belligerent portal waiting for it to answer as I stood, rubbing the horn that had soaked the worst of the impact. When the ringing in my head cleared, I reached a hoof up to pull down the note. I was a little nervous about channeling magic and returning sensitivity to my horn just yet. I cringed as I recognized my mentor’s hornwriting.
My Faithful Student,
I hope this note finds you better than you were when I wrote it. Last night, Spike came to me before retiring for the evening. He told me that you were working yourself hard enough that he was having serious concerns for your wellbeing. I suspected he might be exaggerating until I found you passed out with half the library scattered around you. You were still bleeding the aftereffects of a dangerous number of spells. You even had a Parasomme spell still active! If I listed off some of the accidents ponies had caused while resting portions of their brain that spell deemed unnecessary, you would know why they were banned close to a century ago. Scolding out of the way, I would very much like to discuss some of the knowledge you tried to kill yourself over. Say lunch at eleven thirty? Delightful. There is a table hidden in a clearing behind the Statue of Kallisti. I look forward to seeing you then. Tap the door three times with your horn to unlock it.
I looked back at my clock with fear in my eyes. It read eleven o’clock exactly. The young Alicorn mare statue she mentioned was thankfully just ten minutes walk from my room, but it would not hurt to be a little early. I sheepishly tapped the door twice with my horn, sighing as the spell on the door dissipated. I nudged the door open, thanking my luck no one was out there to see the look of embarrassment on my face. As an afterthought, I grabbed my saddlebag so I could return to work if the Princess even still trusted me to.
I groaned as I sensed a familiar presence in the main pocket. I was going to have to return to the necklace, but part of me had hoped it had been lost in my breakdown last night. Much to my dismay the villainous pendant seemed intent on following me. Head hung low, I walked through the halls, trying my best to smile pleasantly at the working ponies I passed. Pinkie Pie herself couldn’t give a warm enough smile to thank them for not drawing attention to my behavior the last few days, or the way they must have left me looking. Actually...I watched my reflection in the next suit of armor I passed, which was thankfully an empty decorative one. I was astonished to see my normal self in the mirror. Princess Celestia must have done a bit more for me than just carried me to my room last night. I would have to thank her for that. During my contemplation I reached the exit nearest the clearing I was to meet the Princess in. When I pushed my way out the door, I immediately spotted a guard, forcefully squeezing his eyes shut. Something in me was screaming at me that I recognized this stallion and should probably be seeking revenge on him.
“You’ve my sincerest apologies,” he paused, ears twitching slightly, along with an inhale through his nose I suspect I was not meant to notice, “Ma’am. The Princess has ordered this section of the gardens locked down until further notice,” he finished, still not opening his eyes.
“I am sure my brother would love nothing more than to hear that he has guards so talented they can stand their post alone with their eyes closed. Tell me, Corporal, who should I tell him this prodigy of a guard is,” I answered, noticing the sword at his side. I took more than a bit of pleasure at his cringe from the light as I shocked his eyes open. Or maybe he was cringing at who he saw. Either way that small vindictive voice was jumping in glee at his apparently well deserved comeuppance. I could almost hear his argument with himself over how best to respond to this. I had to take pity on him.
“The Princess asked me to meet her for lunch out here, Corporal. That’s probably why she’s asked you to keep ponies out. And don’t worry, I won’t tell Shining. He has more important things to worry about. Like what to get for lunch and what to sing in the shower,” I said, surprised at the mischief in his previously dead eyes at that last bit.
“The guard captain sings in the shower,” he asked, mind already running a mile a minute again. “Go ahead Miss Sparkle,” he added almost as an afterthought.
I moved past him into the great maze of hedges. After a couple minutes navigation, I caught sight of the statue I was looking for at the end of a fifty foot straight section of hedges, only one visible path breaking off between me and the statue. The mare it portrayed was beautiful. A little smaller than Cadance, but with an entirely different air around her. The artisan had been a master, capturing a disturbingly lifelike posture. You could sense the self assured confidence coming off of her. She was above everything around her. Rainbow Dash would have scoffed at the cockiness in her eyes. Nothing could challenge her. And she dared any pony to try.
Princess Celestia had once told me that she had the statue commissioned of the main character of her favorite series of books ages ago when she and Princess Luna were young. I’d give anything to read those books, but it seems like no copies have survived all the years since that time. All I had of that great figure from when even the Princess was young was this statue. I could see how she could look up to such a mare.
I started my approach, realizing that I had been frozen at the sight of her. After my first step, I felt my bag getting heavier. I took another step, and it got a little heavier. Every step I took, it weighed me down more and more. With a start, I sensed that the entire aura surrounding the necklace had changed. It...It was like I could feel a primal fear coming from it. The necklace was afraid to continue down the path. That sounded insane, but I could feel a shiver pass down my spine. My ears folded back on my head. My vision changed as someone turned down the entire world. Everything but that mare looked like I was seeing it through a thick pane of darkened glass. She was the object of its fear.
And of mine.
I heard a sob. No. Heard was the wrong word. It was like my mind heard a sob and processed the sound without bothering to travel through my ears. Please. That was not my thought. Why would I hear that. Haven’t I suffered enough? She was finding her voice. The heartbroken mare in my head was gaining some sense of confidence. Save me...Twilight Sparkle. The overwhelming sadness in her voice was starting to give way to desperation. The fear coming from the necklace intensified. My hooves started carrying me toward the mare on the pedestal once more, unbidden by my mind. Have I not paid for my sins? A brand like crest began shining on her chest. I idly noted that it matched that of the necklace. Its fear and her desperation mixed into one. Princess Celestia herself couldn’t have stopped my hooves at that point.
Thank you, Twilight Sparkle.
The stone of her eyes crumbled away, revealing two real ones behind it. They held a sadness I hadn’t seen since the Princesses were reunited. My disconnected mind contemplated this as my bag unhooked itself and the necklace pulled away, floating around the mare’s neck. It fit her perfectly. It was made for her. The stone crumbled away, leaving a grand white mare, ice blue mane blowing in unnatural wind, deep green eyes aflame with victory. My last thought was that that awe inspiring statue had still managed to be an insult. Then the screaming started as my own terror dwarfed what the necklace had forced on me.
***
Perspective: Kallisti
Free. I’m free. This poor broken mare has freed me. I would give anything to restore her wings. What. Why is she screaming?!
“Thank you so much, Twilight Sparkle. I can’t…” I teared up trying to finish. Have to get this out. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for me. Do the ones who took your wings still…”
“Freeze,” came the scream of another broken Alicorn, also lacking his wings. He tore around the corner of the strange outdoor hedge room much closer than Twilight Sparkle had been, horn glowing briefly before everything went white. There was a great explosion of sound and light in front of my face. Alive for thirty seconds and I am already blind.
The Ceraph family would be pleased.
Almost on reflex, I unleashed a telekinetic burst of force, throwing anything in the immediate area directly away from me at speeds that would be agony on the wings for even the best flier to try and stop before striking the grand castle a hundred feet at most from my perch. With a snort of disgust I threw myself into the air, flying away from that great accursed castle as fast as my wings would carry me. I aimed high, knowing that if I couldn’t see, my safest bet was up. My hearing was already started to reassert itself, the ringing left in the wake of the explosion giving way to the rush of wind. I heard a mare scream and take off toward the castle. Unfortunate, but at least it comes with a bit of good news. This whole kingdom isn’t made up of Unwhole. I must have been gone for centuries for such a group to even form. I froze in the air, barely working hard enough to keep afloat. I just killed her. My savior didn’t have wings to catch herself with. I crushed the feelings under a cold calm, memories of the mare that had taught me how to enter a battle trance all those years ago flooding me as always. I could mourn the poor girl later. I took off again, wanting to get as far from there as I could before I stopped to get my bearings. My old mistress would scoff at the thought that the place of peace I kept was curled tight beneath her wing. Better that she died, really.
My clan was probably dead. No. Definitely. I remembered that during one of my more aware moments in that prison. These thoughts too were crushed under the trance. Priority one was escaping the inevitable war party that should be following me. But wasn’t. I couldn’t sense them at least. That armored one had hidden his disruption of the winds of magic well, too. I was barely able to sense his approach, thinking him little more than a child.
I stopped again, this time reaching out, expanding my gaze all the way back to the castle shrinking in the distance. I would be able to sense any of the storms powerful magical beings caused in the winds. My heart nearly stopped. Back in the direction of the castle, a truly horrifying force was growing in size as it started coming in the direction I had left. This monster made the entire high council look like foals.
I took off again, desperate to put as much distance between myself and that creature as I could. I could almost feel tangible winds flowing from its magical storm. If that thing caught me there was nothing I could do to escape. She could crush me like an ant before I even threw out the simplest of defenses. It was like being chased by the sun itself. My wings screamed in pain as I tried everything I could think of, grabbing thermals, diving, changing direction. My vision slowly returned, not that it did me any good. The entire sky was blindingly bright. I looked down, watching the landscape tearing by below me. It looked completely different. There were no landmarks I recognized. There was no hope of finding an old hiding spot then.
I flared my wings, coming to a dead stop for a fraction of a second in midair, pivoting in place before tearing off in another direction, aiming toward a great smoking mountain in the distance. Monstrous as it was, if there was a Dragon settlement out there, even this being would be hesitant to attack to find me. Just had to get there and disappear for an instant. The monster seemingly grew bored of the chase, closing the distance while flying higher than me to force me to angle down. My brief flicker of hope was crushed. It would catch me on the ground.
I briefly thought that this might mean she was less confident in aerial combat, but with that kind of raw power it would be like a squirrel thinking it had much better odds against a griffin if it could get the beast into the forest. There was no hope left. After all these years, I would taste fresh air one last time before dying. But I would die with my head held high, not a panting broken thing that had been run into the ground. I folded my wings, diving the last hundred feet it had allowed me. It had herded me well. Out, into the barren plain, where the chances of collateral damage were nonexistant.
I landed, planting my hooves and turning to face the oncoming storm, a mask of defiance painted over the mind numbing terror I truly felt. I don’t want to die. What a strange thought. Over the ages I had wanted few things more than death. Left for unknowable amounts of time, drifting in and out of sanity. Death would have been a sweet release. But now I face it...I don’t want to die. I took a deep breath. The air had a perfect crispness to it, and I vaguely became aware that it was cool for all the sunniness. The beast reached my natural vision. I don’t want to die. She was a great white mare. Half again as large as I was with the most striking mane and tail I had ever seen. They seemed to billow independently of the wind, dancing in a draft that had thrown my own around like a robin in a hurricane. She softly landed in front of me, barely out of reach. She paused, closing her eyes and breathing deeply.
“My student is still alive,” she stated simply, implying there was a great deal more meant by that sentence than just the words.
“Th…” I DON’T WANT TO DIE! “That is good to hear, Milady,” I answered, not daring to let anything but respectful neutrality enter my voice.
“I wanted you to know the reason you are not a pile of ash, Kallisti,” she stated as though she were informing me the color of the sky. She opened her eyes, locking them on mine. Those eyes were ancient. She had seen sorrows in her time that would put my entire life to shame. Joys that make my greatest day look like terminal boredom. And now. Right now they held a barely contained rage that would could end nations. I’m still alive.
“I…” I started unsure of the words to use.
“My guard reacted very strongly. After being woken from a four thousand year slumber, you were immediately attacked. You reacted in self defense. Excessive self defense,” she paused with a softening in her eyes. Those eyes knew my every sin. And forgave me for them. “You will not be killed. Or bound. At least not yet. You are to be held until my sister can speak to you. Learn more about you. Decide if you are safe to keep around my ponies. Unless you have objections to that arrangement?”
“...Four thousand years?” That was far beyond anything I had considered.
“Assuming you are the true Kallisti and have not gone mislabeled all this time, yes.” I felt light headed. That was far too long. Far far too long. The world faded as I collapsed.
***
I woke hours later in a cold room. Probably underground. There were bars lining one wall. A prison then. Makes sense. I looked around, taking stock of my room. Bed was nice enough. Four walls. Pretty much the ideal number of walls. One ceiling, one floor. Pretty standard. Yep. This was a prison. I looked around again, feeling a prickling at the base of my mane. Two pale aqua colored eyes. Far from the ideal number.
“Good Evening, Kallisti. My name is Princess Luna. Tell me about yourself.”
Author's Note
So, yeah. This is my first attempt at writing...well anything. At least barring a couple thousand words here and there for English class.years ago. I hope you enjoyed it, and I'll try to have chapter 2 up as soon as I can! Be brutal if something is wrong. It is the only way we learn.
