Prologue : Watching from the Shadows
Prologue: Watching from the Shadows
MLP FIM Season 4 Episode 3
*Gasp* "Wow! Look at all of these ancient books! It's a veritable gold mine of information! I can't believe it! Whoo - hoo!"
"Dou- whoa - oooh! Daugh!" .... Dah! Eh-heh-heh - so, uh, Twilight, uh, ready to head home?"
"Are you kidding?! This place is perfect!"
It was a day I had decided to pay a visit to the place which was once my home. I roamed the ancient halls for hours, studying every bit of the palace which I had once shared with my Lord, my sisters, and my Mistress many, many, many years ago.
But think not that I stress the length of time simply because - neigh, never. Alicorns, such as I, can live for a very long time and think nothing of it. I only note it, now, because I was not an alicorn for the all the time of my banishment. 'Tis a shame to say, yet an honor to admit, for alicorns are to be as humble as they are powerful; a good example being my little lovely, Celestia. How I miss her, so! Her pink, flowing hair, her skin - the color of purity itself - and her eyes! Ah, her eyes! Sadder eyes have I never seen since my departure, many years back;
Her parents left her with a heavy crown and a heavier heart, while I could not to be there for her. I left her, just as they did. Never to return. Never... until now.
And oh! Where is my beloved sister, the other? Where are they both? Have they so shamelessly forsaken this castle in which they lived, from birth? Did they think nothing of letting it go to shambles? The thought troubled me, greatly, and I wondered why they would do such a thing.
Now in the academic area of the castle, I peeked about the corner of the Royal Library and - to my complete and utter surprise - saw a petite, lavender alicorn! She was kept company by a babe of a dragon who... wasn't acting at all like a dragon.
"Sister...?" I wondered. "Nay, that is not her... I couldn't be... The aura is far off, and... that mane... certainly not her. But even so... who is she, then?" I watched the young alicorn passionately admire the surplus of books about her as the baby dragon shivered amongst the spiders, webs and dust. I knew I had heard something - not far back in the castle, as I indulged in the thoughts of my past life - although I knew not what to expect. Certainly not a baby dragon - let alone, an alicorn!
"Come on, Spike!" The alicorn's cheery voice drew me from my thoughts, "We need to go find us a light source. Perhaps a few candles are around here, somewhere..."
"R-right behind you, Twilight!" The baby dragon hurried after his young, alicorn mistress.
"Intriguing!" I breathed, "That alicorn has taught such a young creature to speak so fluently! No doubt she is alicorn, but is yet so young..." Again, I marveled at her youth, bringing to mind many questions, such ask these:
Where are and who are her parents? Why have they allowed such a burden upon their child? And who hath allowed such power to one such as her? Surely she had not been born as I, so what possessed them to do so? And, exactly, who were they that did this? Certainly none of mine, right? I looked about my surroundings. The near-vacant wreck of a castle provided me with nothing to hide myself behind, as I did plan to follow the two, in hope that these questions might be answered.
"Very well, then." I murmured, keeping my voice low, "Back into the shadows..."
Long ago, the shadows and I had become one. My banishment wasn't much less then the shadows, themselves, to begin with. Disguising myseIf within them, now, I slipped through the palace after the young alicorn and her younger companion.
~ ~ ~ ~
"I don't think we'll need all of these candles, Twilight. I was really only scared for a second."
"Oh these aren't for you, Spike. We're gonna be studying late into the night - and we're gonna need all the light we can get!"
"Oh. Great."
I calmly tread after the two, eager to learn of there relationships and what had brought them here. Perhaps that young dragon - though intelligent he may be - does not know how to honor his mistress. To dare mutter in such a foal tone, before her, is dangerously degrading... even for a servant. Does he think so highly of himself? What about the gift he seems to have been given, the rights? Is it not so that he is verily at her mercy? A multitude of thoughts, such as these, filled my head. I went to continue following behind them, but something caught my attention; a voice.
"Welp! Here we are!" The voice said.
"Uhh what's so daring about this place?"
"Two voices!! There is another?" I slide down into the shadows of a stairwell, intently watching the two mares who had apparently -and very carelessly - entered into the palace.
"This is where we got the Elements of Harmony."
"What?! The Elements!!? What in Heavenly's name were they doing with those? Were they thieves? Neigh, neigh... no lowly band of thieves could possibly... wait... How did they come to know of the elements, in the first place? The elemental stones are a sacred selection of tools created by the king, himself! Being as immensely powerful as they are, not just *anypony should know about them!! They - "* The other mare spoke up and, for once in a very long time, I was greateful that the only ponies closest to me could not hear a word I said. And how could they? I am a shadow, after all.
"When ah was just a filly..."
"My, how silly her accent is. I noted, instantly stripped of my former thoughts. I wondered how many others of the queendom had such an accent. That's right; queendom. I knew that both of my sisters sat at the head of the land, during my banishment - and even now. But all of that would change, once I take on the throne. It would then be a kingdom... My kingdom. I decided to cease my thoughts and continue to listen to the mare, for I knew had missed some of what had already been spoken.
"...when Naghtmare Moon was bahnished, naht every bit of her dark magic went with her...."
"Night Mare moon? Who is this... Nightmare Moon? And why was she banished? Was there another banished, other than I? What nonsense is spoken so boldly by these ponies? What are they? Crazy? Or... Or! Perhaps it is that this Night Mare Moon is part of what might be their band of thieves! ... Hm... perhaps not. Neigh, neigh, that is not so. It's just... that name... so great a title, even I'd know that it couldn't possibly be possessed by these... What are they? Necromanecers? Banished Necromancers? Neigh... they look not the sort. Then again, they do seem to have a very powerful vibe about themselves... Hmm..."
"....That magic takes the form of The Pony of Shadows!"
"Ya mean like a ghost?" The rainbow-maned mare asked, seemingly touched with a hint or so of fear.
"Who-oo-oo kno-oo-oows?" The blonde-mare waved her hooves around in front of the other, tauntingly.
"Uhg." The other mare seemed untouched by what was supposed to a "chilling" display.
I grinned, for I knew better.
~ ~ ~ ~
"I don't see what is so daring about an old legend." Plus, I don't believe in ghosts." The rainbow-maned mare said. They had now brought themselves to another area of the castle.
"Y-y-you maght wanna rethink yer position on that." The blond mare answered, frightfully.
I looked to where her hoof was pointed, and herd a soft mumbling, murmuring and whimpering beneath the royal-blue tapestry... "Somepony must have activated the trap door." I thought aloud.
Both mares gasped - "Yaaaaaaahhhhh!" And off they went.
"Mm-hm-hm-hm-hm." I chuckled as lightning flashed across the sky, stopping both mares in their tracks. "What was that blue pony saying about her beliefs? How petty."
"Waaaaa-aaahh-aaahhh!" Both ponies screamed, again, and I couldn't help anther laugh.
"You saw that, raght?" The blond mare asked the other.
"Run!" The blue mare cried. She was so good at hiding her fear, wasn't she? And, needless to say, they both did run, causing me to laughed all the more.
Before following, I re-activated the trap wall with my magic. A storm was coming and I didn't want such respectable piece of work to be sullied by the rain. No telling how impure it had become after the leaving of my dear mistress, the queen. How glorious she had kept the heaven, in her day; it and all that fell therefrom.
~ ~ ~ ~
"Okay, so maybe the legend is true." The rainbow-maned and blond-maned mares sped through the castle, panting all the while. I easily kept up, a fraction of the reason being that they could not hear me and, therefore, could not investigate. Then again, if they could, would they? Every sound or movement seemed to keep them on their hooves... Neigh, they would not, I was assured, for they were much too frightened. Again, I laughed; tickled at the thought of such pettiness.
"Well. That's whah I brought you here. I guess... only th' most daring pony of all could stay in this castle all night without bein' sceered off - The blue mare came to a halt and I decided to take refuge in the shadows of the ceiling, for the time being.
"Scared? I'm not scared." The blue pony proclaimed as the orange mare walked back over to where the other had suddenly stopped.
"Well... Mae naether!" She said, (in that ever atrocious accent of hers).
"Then it's settled. Whoever stays in the castle the longest is the most daring pony!"
"Deal!" *Clunk!* Both mares clapped hooves, the meaning of which I cannot seem to decipher, although I was certain they were something like friends. Or were they not? Why else go through with such petty acts of rivalry?
"But! It's going to take a lot more than some shadowy-ghost-pony to get me to leave..." I continue listening to their petty conversation.
"Mae. Too!" The orange mare stamps her hoof and with a huff, runs off after her blue-colored rival.
"My, my." I think to myself, Where is my sister, now? Does she not see this? Does she not care? This ancient place of honor and wonder is to be left in ruins and is but a play thing for fool-ponies? Neigh, I shall not stand for it! And nether should she!
"...Then again... being the foalish ponies that they are, I cannot seem to bring myself to stop them. They certainly mean no harm and - judging my their character - it is not likely that they would do any harm, had they known better. But of course *that** is the problem. Did not my sister teach these ponies to mind the things of their own? Or even there parents - what of they? Where are there parents, now? And I still am not certain why they are here other than why they claim to be... Hmm. It seems I should investigate, some more... Perhaps the young alicorn has answers to give.;* Once again, I decide to leave the two to their folly and headed off in the direction I had come, eager to be in the company of she who was as I.... And also, to find some answers.
~ ~ ~ ~
Not many moments later, I was back at the trap wall. I slipped straight through it and headed towards another corridor.
"Hm. What? A presence? No, two! Two others are here... But how? Why? What do they seek and how many more am I yet to find?"
I lead myself over to a trap door that is built into the floor. It was one of the few that are very familiar to myself, for I had often used it in the most memorable of ways.
"By far one of the most amusing trap-types," I purred, "Just how long ago was it that I -?"
"I'm starting to wonder if maybe this castle doesn't want my expertise!"
Ah! A voice!"
"Oh dear.... Angel?!"
"And another... as expected."
"Rarity, have you seen him?"
"I am not sure he made the trip down, with us, dear." The owner of the voice was using magic. I could feel it, beneath me. Making use of my own magic, I peered deep into the floor's surface and to the small room, beneath. There were, indeed, two others - mares, at that! One was a butter-colored pegasus and the other, a white-flanked unicorn.
"But why? Why no colts? I have known colts to do a foalish deed, every now and then, but they were certainly *not** colts! So very confident they are that it would almost put any colt to shame! Nevertheless, they do not belong here. Evidently, nopony has taught them to respect the - but wait! The pegasus speaks!*"
"....an ancient castle is no place for a bunny. He could get hit by falling debris, or the floor could give out under him - oh! He could be trapped in a dark place with no way out!"
"I can only imagine how that might feel." The unicorn responded, evidently annoyed by the fact that her companion didn't realize their current situation. I decided to stay and see if they would speak on anything in regards to what it was they were doing in this place.
"Hmm..." The unicorn reached her hoof through a small opening in the wall, felt around for but a few seconds, gasped dramatically, and then yanked her forearm from the hole.
"Rarity! What is it?" The seemingly soft-spoken pegasus inquired.
"I felt something! Alive!" The white mare cried. I laughed, for I knew that what she had had felt was surely alive. It had been none other than the mare with the beautiful mane that I had seen, earlier-on. I also knew there location and thought that I might make a little fun of it.
"Angel!" The yellow gasped, mare slipped her hoof through the hole... In an instant or so they both disappeared behind the wall.
"The activation of the escape route.." I observed, "It's about time. Melting back into the shadows, I whisked myself away - deeper into the palace. Never minding the frivolous thoughts of earlier, I moved with alacrity to know what had become of the little alicorn and her dragon-servant.
~ ~ ~ ~
When I found the little alicorn, she and her companion were settled into a room I knew nothing about - although they hadn't gone far from the library.
"...Hall of Hooves?" I heard the dragon ask, as I slipped into the most shaded part of the annex.
"Soon the organ to the outside will be finished. I can hardy wait." The little alicorn seemed not to speak of herself... I merged into the shadows of ceiling, so that I might to take a look at what she and her companion were looking at.
Ahh... A journal of sorts. But hold. Not just any journal... My sisters' journal. What? How dare they? Know they not that journals, diaries and the like are personal property of its owner?! Even she who is an alicorn should abide such a simple rule. And on that note... I wonder about her level. Perhaps she is an understudy of some sort...? I continued to listen.
"...the Organ to the Outside?"
Her companion seemed to have asked a question, for she then squeaked, "I have no idea!"
"Squeak... such a terrible word to use. Alicorn's don't squeak... Hmm... But anyways, what of her studies? What did this alicorn come here for? Perhaps she is just beginning her studies? If so then to read from the very journal of my sisters is not only a privilege but it boarders on that of an indulgence! I don't know why my sister would raise up an underling, anyways...Hm. Not underling... but to grant alicorn hood to another is quite... risky. So saying, why did she do it? Or... did she?
Just then, the organ was struck. A series of notes flowed throughout the castle. I didn't flinch - for a prince never does so - but I wish I had, just this once, seeing as I had only so recently reclaimed myself... and I always did dread the sounds of organs... But anyways, I went to go investigate who it was that so haughtily struck the organ in this place which they were most definitely un-welcomed.
And why should they be? Who gave he or she permission to be here? What was their purpose or reason? Did they seek some item, some artifact, knowledge? Neigh, perhaps not... Perhaps they are just a fan of organs? That was still inexcusable. Knew they not who the castle belongs or did at least belonged to? I grew tired of the many visitors this castle had received, in one day; none of them here for a clear and/or purposeful reason. Though in shambles it may be, there is no reason for so many to just come in and do as they please.
Speeding off towards the chamber of the organ, I wondered if I should reveal myself to the intruder and inquire about why they were in the castle and if anypony sent them. It was possible for me to inquire about many things, actually, but I was unsure of where that would take me. Just as I inquired of them, would they not inquire of me?
~ ~ ~ ~
On my way to the organ's chamber, I heard heard several notes resonate throughout the castle. That intruder hath not yet ceased their impetuous deeds. I thought to myself, picking up speed. I could tell that a good few traps had been set off, possibly effecting each and every area of the castle where the mares were located. I could imagine the frightful expressions of the of the rivaling mares - as well as the pegasus and the unicorn. The alicorn would have no trouble with the sounds and sights, at all - or at least I hoped not. No pony of her stature should be so easily provoked to fear.
"That dragon of hers is as cowardice as they come," I murmured to myself. But then again I couldn't blame him, seeing as he was very young... yet still a dragon, no less.
Finally I was there; the organ chamber. To my surprise, when I went to take a step into the room, I couldn't! I...I was...uncertain. This simple step wasn't just that, but a bridge between my new and former way of life, my past to my future, the first ever contact with a being of my own kind withing 2000 years!!
...Or at least it could have been. I decided to turn my attention to the commotion taking place outside the front wall of the caste and hurried away from cloaked figure who still ran her hooves along the organ's keys. I allowed myself to tremble atthe realization of what that one meeting could have cost and/or done to me. I wasn't ready yet. I decided I'd take my time with my appearing and that I'd do it the traditional way. But for now...
~ ~ ~ ~
When I entered unto the area of commotion, I saw that the mares were going crazy! While one flew about the place, while another ran around, frantic, eyes-wide as she hollered something about shadows. Another cried and called out for her companion who was anmed "Angel", while another sat crying on the ground.
"What a sight!" I cried, "Have they all gone mad?!"
Just then I realized the alicorn and her companion were above the mess, looking down and wondering at the ponies, below. I retreated into the shadows to see what the young alicorn would do.
"Alright, everypony, stop!!" She cried, and in an instant they were all paralyzed, be it in the air or on the ground.
"Twahlaght?!" The orange mare instantly came out of her trance, seemingly to address the alicorn.
"Must. Save. Angel!" The butter-color pegasus cried, pulling at a fallen stone column.... "Oh." she said, when her fluffy friend finally showed himself in the company of the alicorn.
"Fluttershy?" The rainbow-maned pony gazed down at yellow mare from where she was frozen in the air, "What are you doing here?"
"She's with me." The white mare called from under neither a tapestry.
The little dragon re-joined his mistress on ground-level as the alicorn released the mares from their temporary state of paralysis.
"Oh! Thanks you, Twilight!" The white mare was the only one to express any sort of gratitude, to my great dismay.
"Have you all spent the whole night running around, scaring each other?" The alicorn who I now took to be known as "Twilight" inquired of the lot.
"Well...that depends," The blond mare spoke up.
"On what?" The alicorn wanted to know.
"On whether or not you're the pony of shadows." The rainbow-maned mare pointed an accusing hoof before the alicorn's face.
"How insulting!" I moved closer in case she dared to do more.
"What's the pony of shadows?" The little dragon asked, trembling visibly.
I sighed, He has not the courage of a dragon, does he? Is it at all possible that maybe he isn't even one?
"Oh, that's just an old pony's tale." The alicorn assured her cowardly companion.
Suddenly the cords of the organ were struck, once again, and the group were suddenly huddled in the center of the space.
"Then who's playing that?!" The dragon asked, frightfully.
Who, indeed. My eyes glowed.
"We're going to find out," The alicorn demanded, courageously. I breathed a sigh a of relief as I knew that the petty fears of the group ha not rubbed off on the little alicorn...Nevertheless they literally stuck to her as she headed in the direction of the organ room.
~ ~ ~ ~
Now back inside of the castle, I followed closely behind the group awaiting the moment they would unmask the cloaked mare and find that she was just as they were. All the while the intriguing sounds of the organ floated through out the castle corridors.
"Hmm....I think I am beginning to like that sound." I mused, "She who wields the keys does not a bad job of it."
There was a united gasp as all of the mares, set their eyes on the hooded figure who then still struck the organ.
"The pony of shadows!" The alicorn whispered, stepping cautiously into the chamber as the other retreated backwards. Slowly she crept up to the hooded mare, closer and closer she came... When at last she had come the distance, she used her magic to remove the cloak from the creature, revealing a very pink mare!
While I knew it was a mare, I'll be honest and say I have never seen one so pink, before!
"Oh, hey you girls!" The pink mare greeted the group, warmly. "Did you know I could totally play the organ, because I didn't!"
"So they know each other, then..." I concluded, the least bit disappointed, "I was hoping for a shocking discovery."
"Pinkie!" The surprise obvious and the call simultaneous. A few of the mares weren't happy to see her, though.
"Check it out!" The pink mare began to play the organ, once again, as the rainbow-maned mare took flight.
Once next to her the rainbow-maned pony inquired of her and said, "You're the pony of shadows?"
"The pony of what?" The pink mare busied herself with the keys, pausing here and there to only hear some of what her blue friend said.
"See?! The alicorn jabbed a hoof in the direction of the flying mare, "What did I tell ya?"
"Ah thought ya had to ring the school bell, all week." The orange pony said, evidently recalling a conversation that took plce earlier on that day, between her and pink pony.
"Oh yeah! I only had to ring it for like 5 minutes! They said that was good enough - can't imaging why." The pink pony began to bang on the organ as I was sure she was recalling the ringing of the bell. She then rapidly rambled on about a coupe of parties and invitations and things, calling out both two names of whom I was sure belonged to the white and yellow mares.
"And what party is that?" The white mare asked.
"Uh, the everypony come to the scary, old castle and hide from each other while I play the organ, party!" The pink pony seem to recall there being such a plan -and leaned back on the keys of the organ, resulting in the flinging of the little dragon across the hall.
I blinked, somewhat taken aback. It wasn't the strange way she spoke or her looks, it was somethign else about that pink pony that...captivated my attention. Although seeming to be plagued with poor memory, she had a certain trait about her that stood out very clearly to me, yet I couldn't put my hoof on it.
"Duh!" The pink pony bounced away towards another area of the castle, before, after a short while, being joined by her friends.
~ ~ ~ ~
They group ended up in the library's annex which was founded by the alicorn.
"I swear this will go right back where I found it, just as soon as I return it to its former glory." The white mare proclaimed.
And what a very noble thing for you to do." I purred as I watched from above, her work. But I doubt you can do such a thing, lest you have the hooves of a miracle-worker. She - besides the alicorn - seemed to have had a very good reason for entering into this old, yet sacred place.
They others had a few things to say, but I was uninterested in all of the chatter and landed myself in the shadows just behind the alicorn's servant.
I remained uninterested until the alicorn said, "Well, it's good to know that whenever your imagination is getting away from you, a good friend can help you reign it in. And even though I didn't find anything out about the mysterious chest, I'm glad I was here to help all of you."
"You certainly did that, Twilight!" The white mare, again, expressed her gratitude and I waited for the others to follow... only they didn't.
"Yeah! Why weren't you afraid?" The boisterous, blue mare asked.
"Reading Celestia's diary made it hard to be afraid because I knew hat it was like when she and Luna lived here. Knowing something about the past made it easier to deal with my problems in the present. She bumped her servant, playfully, and said "Even the scary ones."
I was uncertain on how to interpret this, so I left it alone as many other thoughts can to my mind. I exited the annex by way of the shadows and headed off into the library and back from where I had come. Not all of my questions were answered, entirely, but I had an idea about a few things... I turned back to watch what else the group would do, just in case I had missed anything or if they planned to stay the rest of the night (which, of course, I could not allow).
"Uhuh!" All mares agreed.
"I just thought of a great idea!" The jumped to her hooves. "Why don't we keep a journal, just like the Royal Pony Sisters?!"
"All of us?" The yellow pony inquired, timidly.
"Sure! That way we can learn from each other! And maybe, someday, other ponies will read it and learn something, too!"
"What a splendid idea!" The white pony complimented the alicorn, graciously, while the other went on talking about their first enteries and that they were happy about some nonsense not coming to pass.
"Ha! Shadow ponies! How ridiculous is that?" The dragon asked, seeming to speak off of some newly-found courage.
"Shadow ponies?! What on earth did he know about those?! I wondered. I narrowed my eyes after the group; just how many things did they know? They seem to make it their business to posses knowledge of older things and places, while they can't seem to perform the simplest of manners! There was a lot I didn't know about this time, a lot I needed to find out, and soon.
~ ~ ~ ~
So here I am. Standing here, in the light of moon and thinking back on these event which has only happened weeks ago. It gives me great elation to have such a memory for, as you know, I have long time not dwelled in this world and even though it is an ambiguous thing, the memory still serves a precious purpose. I will stay here for a while and concentrate my restored powers on learning all that I can about this world, for it is indeed not the place I left so many centuries ago. Everything about it is different. The ponies, the attitudes, the number of alicorns, care for personal possessions - the knowledge of the youth!!
I sighed and thought, quietly, for a while.
"Indeed." I said, "Now I realize why I'm here. Now I realize why I have been banished for so many years...." A proud and almost sinister feeling began to well up within my chest.
"My father. I thank you for what you have done, for saving my soul from the chaos of my old mind. I thank you for liberating me, for in doing so you have brought hope back to your nation. I thank you allowing me to bare what I have -- causing me to awaken during these confused times. Help me to reclaim the head so that I might guide the hooves of this nation. Help me to regain all that I have lost - and in doing so, help this nation prosper and learn. Learn of the past, live confidently in the present and prepare for the future. I beg you your guidance, wherever it is you may be.... I am here. I am your son. And I will humbly do all that is commanded of me."
The wind blew soft against my fur as I stood there, eyes closed, after finishing my prayer.
Equestria would soon know their true ruler had returned.
