Light Fades Fast

A cold filled Lsy to the bone as he awoke in the dawn light. He stood shakily and stared at the empty spot in the snow next to his. Strya had gone, but where? A burning panic settled in Lsy’s stomach and he started to move forward then stopped. What am I thinking? She’s an alicorn of course she wouldn’t just up and leave me. Not after we promised to work together to solve this. No, she’s probably just working… A shudder ran through Lsy’s body as he thought of her work. The questions from yesterday swirled in his mind. How could such a beautiful little mare be the arbiter of death? If he had to pick a personification of death he would have gone for a flaming stallion with hooves twice the size of Brev’s and a voice like thunder. Many other images came to mind but none were even remotely close to the dainty white mare he had met.

Lsy drew out his box of candles and began to set up his stand. At least I can get some work done today. I need the money and ponies will start to worry if I take too many days off. I can’t do anything until Styra comes back anyway. He had been honored that Strya chose him to work with but to be truthful he felt rather awkward around her. Certainly she was nice enough to him…well after their first meeting. But she gave off an aura that was disconcerting to say the least. It was as though the mare saw through his every thought and to the very core of his being. Lsy shuddered remembering his musings on how attractive Strya looked under the moonlight. Please don’t let me get struck by lightning for that!

Lsy groomed his mane with his comb and stood proudly behind the row of candles on the stand. Most were of varying widths and a few more closely resembled oatmeal than quality lighting. But though they weren’t much to look at but his candles lasted nearly twice as long as other dealers’ and every pony on the street knew it. In two hours he had sold ten of the candles and Lsy was beginning to feel confident that today would be a good one for his pocketbook.

The midday sun finally began to peak out over the clouds when Lsy heard the sound of beating wings. He looked up in time to see Strya land gracefully onto the street in front of a pair of elderly mares discussing the latest gossip. She waited patiently for them to saunter by then walked towards Lsy smiling. “Good morning. My it seems you have been busy.”

“Yup. With those ladies’ purchase that makes twenty candles sold today. Things are looking up.”

Styra snorted with laughter when she saw the dilapidated candles. “Lsy are you quite certain you’re a candle maker? It looks more like you’re in the business of torturing wax to me. Good gracious are candles supposed to look like leftover porridge?”

“Beauty is as beauty does Strya. Why my candles are the best in all the city ask any pony. Sure they may not be beautiful but I make do with not having a workshop and all. Besides, lately every time I make candles some freak storm shows up and warps the wax before it cools. It’s not entirely my fault you know!”

“Well while you have been peddling your creations I have been quite busy.” She turned to her back where she had placed a small saddlebag and pulled out a yellowing piece of parchment. "Here is a map I found in the library, it outlines the surrounding mountains. Celestia tells me that the source of this darkness is one of the caves on the map. I thought we go up and look around today.”

Lsy’s green eyes grew wide with apprehension, “Whoa there Strya! I’m not sure I’m ready to face the greatest darkness in all of history today. I mean, don’t we have to prepare some spells or something first? It’s not like I’m scared or anything I just don’t think it would be exactly wise at the moment.”

“No Lsy we aren’t fighting it today. Heaven knows I’m not even ready to take it on today. No, our goal will be long range reconnaissance. We just need to outline the general location and strength of the danger. That way I can research different approaches we might take. How does that sound?”

Lsy sighed and nodded, “Okay but let me close up shop first.” Quickly the stallion packed up the remainder of his candles and closed down the stand. Styra took off at a brisk walk and Lsy trotted to catch up.

The sunlight was fast turning the snow-laden streets into a muddy slurry. Lsy was surprised to see that Strya plodded along beside him, mud staining her alabaster coat. “Why don’t you fly or glide over the snow like you usually do Strya? After all it’s a shame to see such a pure white coat get covered in mud.”

Strya continued walking for a while then turned back, “Well I thought it might be more fun this way.”

“Fun? This?” Lsy lifted his now slime-covered hoof with disgust for emphasis.

“Sure. I thought it would be fun to see life as my new partner does. It’s been many centuries since I had to slosh my way on the ground like you do.” Strya smiled and galloped forward slopping the mixture all over her chest and legs. For good measure she pranced in a particularly large pile of it sending flecks flying into the air.

Lsy broke out into uncontrollable laughter and ran to join her. Together they pranced and splashed in the snow like young colts skipping out on school. They would have continued for longer but for the pair of fillies passing by.

“What’s wrong with you mister candle maker?” Misty the unicorn was staring incredulously at the filth covered stallion.

Flushing crimson Lsy pawed the ground. “Sorry Misty guess I got carried away. I just remembered playing in the mud as a colt and…well I couldn’t help myself!”

Misty frowned a worried look at Crystal and whispered, he’s starting to lose it Crystal I’m telling you. She gave a quick nod to Lsy and continued down the street.

Slowly Lsy turned to Strya who was suffering from a fit of giggles. “They think you’re mental Lsy. Just the crazy neighborhood candle maker! I can’t… it’s too funny…”

“Yeah, yeah laugh all you want Strya. You look just as ridiculous as I do missy.” He stood and attempted to shake off the mud. The result was an even deeper imbedding of the substance in his coat. He stamped his hoof in frustration and kept shaking.

A blue magic shone around him and in an instant all the mud was removed from his coat. Strya walked up to Lsy smiling, her coat already reverted to its’ original snow white state. “Thanks for that Lsy. I’ve been under so much stress lately, I really needed a good laugh. But, we had best be going toward the caves now. Come along.” Strya walked determinately forward and the pair set off towards the lonely mountains in the distance.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

The Bitterhoof mountains around the city were notoriously dangerous. Every pony in the city knew to stay well clear of the craggy cliffs and loose shale footing that surrounded the peaks. Lsy felt an instinctive urge to turn tail and run as they approached the foothills.

Legend had it that once, thousands of years ago, dragons tore apart the mountainside in a great battle, scorching the earth and scarring the very rocks underneath. Lsy had heard enough tales of missing ponies to stay well clear of the place. He found his legs shaking underneath himself as he stared up at the sharp peaks above him.

“Are you coming Lsy?” Strya looked down from the path.

Lsy hurried forward to join the mare and they continued their trek upwards. The further they walked, the more nervous Lsy became. The footing was indeed treacherous and his hooves kept sliding atop the shale. Trying to keep his mind off of falling, “So, do you know much about dragons Strya?”

“Oh no. We ponies try not to meddle in the affairs of dragons. At least I don’t. What brings them to mind Lsy?”

“They say these mountains were formed when they had a great war here years ago.”

“Truly? I do not remember such a tale! But it does not mean that it did not happen. Dragons have rather short tempers and argue amongst themselves a good deal.”

“I see…” Lsy struggled up a particularly steep rock while Strya flew next to him.

Reaching the top he stood for a moment and looked out to the city. The many businesses and homes glistened in the setting sun like a fine painting. “Wow, I’ve never seen it from a distance. You would almost think it a pleasant place to live.”

“It is a dismal place now but if we are successful it will be pleasant once more. Let’s hurry Lsy, I can see a few caves in the distance.”

Slowly they finished the climb and stood before the entrance to a large cave. “Is this it?” Lsy pawed the ground nervously. He hadn’t the faintest idea how to detect dark magic and was beginning to feel like an imbecile.

Styra shook her head and continued along the narrow path snaking along the mountainside.

“How do you identify dark magic Strya? My parents were unicorns but they never told me how to differentiate types of magic.”

“Your parents were unicorns? How unusual for you to be born an earth pony.”

“I know. I was told by the elder ponies that I’m some kind of mistake of nature. But my parents didn’t think so. Being an earth pony isn’t something to be ashamed of after all.”

“No Lsy it isn’t. Hold your head high and be proud of what you are. No, I didn’t expect you to know how to detect dark magic. It is a skill learned over many centuries.”

“Then why did you have me come along. I’m pretty slow after all.”

Strya chuckled, “I thought that would be obvious. Yes, earth ponies have difficulty detecting magic but they have many other useful talents. No unicorn, pegasi, or alicorn in this world is as deeply connected with nature as earth ponies are. You Lsy have a particular affinity that I find astounding. After all, only you can see me and that is impressive enough!”

“Yes but I’ve never felt especially in tune to nature!”

“Oh, that skill isn’t something you would notice on a daily basis. Unlike magic it works in the background, appearing only when it is most necessary to do so.”

“All right. Just as long as it I can use it when the times comes. If not I’ll just have to improvise!”

The narrow path was even more dangerous than the slope and Lsy had a difficult time steadying his long legs on the ledge. Eventually they came to a large outcropping jutting from the cliff to reveal a cave. Once he placed his hoof on the rocks Lsy felt a sense of foreboding. The very air around the mountain felt stale and carried a foul odor Lsy couldn’t describe. He glanced at Strya who had stiffened and drawn her scythe in front of her.

“Do you sense that Lsy? This place is thick with dark magic and that’s only by the entrance to this place. I believe this is the source. Come, let’s head back. I don’t being here for long.”

Just as the pair moved to leave a great shadow rushed out of the cave and fell on them like a heavy veil. Strya struggled for a moment then surrounded the scythe with her magic and forced the shadow back into the cave. Panting with the exertion she looked around for Lsy and was horrified to see him gone.

Strya rushed to the edge of the outcrop to see him struggling on a tiny ledge a good distance down the cliff. To her horror the stallion slipped off the ledge and began to tumble down to earth. Without thinking she plunged off the outcrop and raced to him.

Lsy awoke with a start, surprised to find himself lying at the foot of the mountain in a patch of soft snow. He looked up to see Strya’s worried face. “What happened Strya? What was that thing that attacked us? And how…how did I end up down here.”

“That was dark magic Lsy, it pushed you off the cliff and nearly overwhelmed me as well. As for how you ended up down here I carried you down after you fell.”

“What?” Lsy stood quickly and stared at Strya perplexed. “You didn’t save that pegasus when he fell. Why didn’t you take me like him?”

“It wasn’t your time. Your light is still quite bright I can assure you of that Lsy.”

Lsy stared at Strya’s left wing which she seemed to be holding to the side. “You’ve hurt yourself. Are you alright? Argh! It’s all my fault I never should have come with you in the first place!”

“It’s okay Lsy. I just sprained it at all. To tell you the truth I wasn’t thinking straight myself. That blast of magic disoriented me. If I had been in my right mind I would have simple frozen time and gently lifted you to safety.”

Lsy stared dumbstruck at her, “You can stop time? Seriously Strya? That’s amazing! You really are powerful aren’t you? Why don’t you use it more often?”

“Messing with time is a very dangerous business. However, such magic is a necessity with my line of work… In any case I swore to only use it in emergencies. I dislike the effects if has on the balance of nature.”

“The balance of nature?”

“Yes, you would no doubt be able to sense such an imbalance if I used such magic frequently. My magic might even become as corrupt as that we just encountered.”

“I see. Well thank you for saving me Strya. I feel rather bad about injuring you though.”

“Think nothing of it Lsy. However, we must be getting back to the city. It is quite late and ponies may begin to wonder where you have gone.”

“Lead the way then Strya. But you had better promise to rest that wing tonight.”

“I will do that. We must plan our strategy tomorrow Lsy and we could both use a good night’s rest.”