"Legacy"by Novel IdeaChapters"Legacy" Intro "Legacy" Day 1 "Legacy" Day 2 "Legacy" Day 4"Legacy" Day 5"Legacy" Day 6"Legacy" Day 7"Legend" - Prologue "Legacy" Day 3"Legacy""Legacy" Intro "Legacy" Intro Prologue Princess Celestia stretched her brilliant white wings luxuriously, flexing the muscles to work out the kinks. She had been far too long without a fly through the air, the business of running Equestria weighing heavily on her shoulders. With the rise of Discord and recovery at the hooves of her faithful student Twilight Sparkle and her friends, fixing any chaos that had been left behind by the Element of Harmony had become her major priority. The amazingly white Alicorn looked out of the palace window as she made her way through the Castle in Canterlot. It was approaching twilight, one of two times of the day when both her and her little sister's magic would work in harmony. She stopped her slow walk up the tower, resting her muzzle against cooling glass of a building high pane of glass and allowed her eyes a moment’s rest. It had been almost a year now since the defeat of Nightmare Moon and the release of her beloved sister. Her eyelids lifted slightly revealing her tired pink eyes. The sky had darkened considerably; it was time for her to lower the sun and allow her sister to raise the moon. The power inside of her surged greatly at her command, willed by the right of her blood, ordered by her voice. The tell-tale glow of unicorn magic in use enveloped her entire body and spread out into the air, polluting the nearby scenery with it's viciously sweet glow. Celestia could feel it, the magical essence flowing from her blood out across her entire realm. She felt every heart beat, every life encompassed by her magic as it reached up into the heavens and grabbed hold the sun. The Princess allowed her eyes to close to focus on this feeling as she pushed the sun beneath the rim to the other side of the planet, allowing light to be shared with those of foreign lands, awaiting the telltale magical force of her sister, Luna. The feeling never came… Celestia opened her eyes in confusion to view the starry sky, it darkened by the absence of her sister’s celestial body. Her voice called out in confusion, though no pony was there to hear. “L-Luna?” With her unicorn magic encompassing her form, the eldest sister teleported to her sisters tower, barreling forward through the double wide wooden door into her sister’s room. “Luna!” she cried, but there was no pony to answer. The room was dark and barren, Luna’s things seemed untouched, uncorrupted. Stillness permeated the air of the room that showed the age of a thousand years, the youngest sister still taking a long time to adjust to the cultural shift. A cold, icy wind blew in from an ominously open window, a shadow danced across Celestia’s face. Her eyes darted to the windowsill where a letter, sealed and pressed, was tied; being uplifted by the cold night wind. Using her unicorn powers the Princess lifted the letter to her face, her name was written on it in a beautiful and angelic font. Using her delicate magic she opened the letter and levitated the paper near her eyes, the only illumination cast by her horn, the sky dark without it’s moon. I have done the impossible. The moon has been stolen. To be returned at my leisure. Or kept for my pleasure. -The gray-night. "Legacy" Day 1 "Legacy" Day 1 Day 1 The World of 1 Becomes 2 . I made my way through the open market slowly. Their eyes were on me. Everypony, Earth, Pegasus or Unicorn could not help but stare. I had moved here years ago, but I suppose for many of them it was the first time they had seen me… not that I hadn’t seen them… when they didn’t know it. I gave a swish of my black and grey tail, the fruits before me enticing my sense of smell so very sweetly. Raising a hoof I prodded and poked my way through apples, oranges, peaches and almost any other food they offered at this market and bought more than one pony’s fair share. I paid everything up front without hesitation, though I admitted only to myself I did this because I was stealing at least twice as much money with my horn or a quick play of the hooves. They never caught on, and never would. I was too quick, too good. To them I looked like nothing more then an old Unicorn far past his prime. My thick grey mane had once been an onyx black, and though my hair kept it’s nightmare shade the lines of greys revealed my true age for all to see. Still my black eyes were sharp, alert at all times. They would leave me alone--my rugged appearance made sure of that. If it didn't, my cutie mark would. No one but me ever understood the cloak and dagger which I wore on my flank, and no one ever would. I chuckled a little, blowing some of my long black hair from my face. No, these ponies where all too easy to control. . “Well, howdy!” a sickening loud voice called out as I entered one of the few store shops along the open market. Ripe Pickens was one of the few ponies in this town who knew me by name, I had been coming to this store fairly often since my arrival for food and he never seemed to get the hint that I wasn’t one for words. “Looking like you have a heavy load, Mr. D’Rouge,” he said waving his hoof at my heavy saddle pack, brimming with food. “Would you like some help?” the yellow earth pony asked, I took a moment to consider him. Out of all the ponies in this town he was the only one that could pose a problem, I had become too comfortable here, spent too much time in his presence. Looking him over I still found it hard to believe that this simple pony with his thick yellow coat, bright orange mane of short groomed hair; a cutie mark of a tropical tree bearing fruit could cause me a problem. That realization sunk in just how deeply I was jeopardizing myself with routine. Had I become soft? I pondered as I politely turned down his offer, my voice coiling from my throat like the finest silk, as my namesake it was. He smiled to me plainly and bought whatever lies I choose to tell him. For this particular day I decided a long trip out of town and the inability to shop would require me to stock up on food. I paid him well, left a generous tip. Donated haplessly from his neighbours and friends, smiling I left the shop looking up to the sky. It had been a moonless night just hours before and the mere thought sent a shiver down my spine. Looking around everypony seemed to be ignorant or accepting to the fact…their faith in their Princesses was not unfounded, but it was too heavily relied upon. XXXXXXXXXX I moved about my kitchen, my home was to say the least on the outskirts of the town where I had spent my day. It was actually connected, underground at least, to an ancient ruin which contained many magics and treasures for an inquisitive mind like myself to play with. I had learned spells that would put Celestia to shame, and they had…presently served their purpose. I allowed my thoughts to linger to the room down beneath three levels of the house. It was truly a marvel of magical ingenuity and dragon forged technology. It was constructed by a stone that literally fed off of unicorn magic draining a pony to beneath the level of a Earth Pony in magic. This magic is then stored within the wall and can be altered, by a powerful unicorn outside of the room to be used to fuel ruins and glyphs of power. I smiled a little finishing the meal I was preparing, looking down my mind went from the room to my current situation. This was the first time in my long life I had made a meal for two…the circumstances felt bizarre but it had an oddly homely feeling. I shook those thoughts violently from my head, it was not the time to think of such things… my weakness was showing and I did not enjoy it. Balancing the plates in my hooves I began to make the long trip down to the under levels of my home, making sure the freshly diced fruits and cooked flowers did not fall to be tainted on the dusty floor bellow. Hopefully my guest would find her meal adequate. XXXXXXXXXX I came to the magically enchanted room, and coughed loudly to clear my throat. Though surprisingly thick it was only soundproof from within (a benefit to the immense magic pulsing through it’s form) my voice would carry through. “Are you calm…?” I asked ominously, my voice was soft and soothing, gently. The voice of someone who knew how to control the emotions of others, for all my rough and tumble appearance my charm and charisma was my greatest tool. I knew no noise would follow, but I also knew that my house guest would have calmed down. I had been hesitant to leave her there for the hours while I was away gathering the necessary food for us given the nature of… her entire being… was something that even the ancient tombs had little information on. I leaned my head forward touching my horn to the stone, it recognized me, it would answer me and the power of that knowledge filled me with confidence. There she was as I pushed the door open and felt the air of it closing behind me. It felt bizarre, the magic being sucked out of me… yet invigorating, like the weight of it had kept these old bones of mine down for years. I felt for certain at that moment I could steal the wheel off a cart and be miles away before the owner realized it had stopped moving. She was laying before me, her eyes opened slightly almost weak. I knew she wasn’t that bad off, I spent a month in this room straight before deciding it would be safe enough to use without harming her. Those sea-blue eyes looked at me begging me to explain, I shrugged them off and set down the food. “Here, eat.” I said pushing her food towards her, not wasting anytime I began to eat and observe. She was hungry, I knew this, her rumbling stomach and dilated eyes. I took this time as I ate my food to observe her. Her magical mane had been disillusioned, her power drained. Her brilliant blue coat looked as if it had never seen a days decent work, I noticed and her massive wings, twice the size of a normal Pegasus’s twitched against her side anxiously. She had now started on her food, it made me smile. Glad that the young one knew enough to eat when given food, enjoying my own. Not to toot my own horn but I had discovered a talent for food preparation during my early travels in life. Her tail swayed happily, the only movement in the room dragging my eyes to it forcibly. It had lost its magical sheen as well and was a faded blue to match her eyes, on her flank was her cutie mark. That black splotch with the white crescent moon… “Is it to your liking, Princess?” I asked respectfully, sitting back with my plate cleared. Luna choked a little on the food she was currently eating, her eyes moving back from her food to me. She didn’t speak but watched me closely, as if judging my personality and temperament would effect her answer. “Always the royal…” I thought to myself lifting a hoof to my mane giving it a toss and pushing it from my eyes. “Don’t worry, that wasn’t a test. I have done all I needed to do with you and now my only goal is to make sure you are comfortable.” I said, eyes never leaving hers; I could see the shiver down her spine. My black eyes were intimidating, and a great asset. “And what was it you needed to do…?” she squeaked, her voice was so fragile and filly-like that it was almost impossible to take her seriously as a princess, no a deity to the people of Equestria. I gave her my cockiest smile, there was no need to be modest about that question, none at all. “I have stolen you, my Dear Princess. My job has been completed.” I nodded to her food and she turned away from me eyes closing she finished off her food. We sat in silence and I looked up, I had used Luna’s magic to enchant part of the wall to allow her to see the grounds of my home, it was the same thick wall but the magic had made it one way translucent. It would be evening soon on the second moonless night…I couldn’t help but wonder if that was hurting her more then helping…As I sat their and pondered this her voice cut through my thoughts and called me back to reality. “Can I ask why…?” It was a timid whisper, she was afraid to anger me… this Deity was afraid of me. I didn’t know how to feel at that emotion in her voice, to be proud that I had done what nopony would ever believe possible. I had robbed the sky of the moon. I considered her question, and I made sure to show it on my face that I was deep in thought during this moment to keep her quiet, I had never been one for foal-napping and I didn’t feel like I was one now. I had not taken her out of spite, the royal sisters had never been a bothersome to me… no authority had ever been bothersome to me. My motives had seemed clear and they still did not seem muddled or confused by her question. I supposed this is what bothered me the most about the situation. I should have been hesitating, my motives should have felt shaken. I had kidnapped a Princess, a Deity and trapped her deep underground. Still I felt as normal as if I had stolen anything else, if not more so. The rush was something I had expected, but I found that it had forsaken me… like a high that I had become to used too. “Why…I guess if I had to answer you…” I started to say getting up and opening the door, the beaten Alicorn laid there making no attempt to flee, curious to the answer. “It would be…to have a Legacy.” "Legacy" Day 2 "Legacy" Day 2 Day 2 A Tale of the Thousand Year Stay. I spent the next day at home. It had been a quiet, moonless night. More ponies had been out in the streets staring up at the sky, and I was sure it was not an isolated phenomenon here. All over Equestria there would be ponies looking up to the sky at night lost as to why there was no moon, and on the other side of the world there was a eternal orb floating up in the heavens unable to set down into its normal track. It would take time…I knew that, still impatience is a occupational hazard. Often a thief, such as myself, had merely to reach and grab or quickly magic something away. For a heist or a drawn out plan like this impatience would kill a lesser thief. They would slip up, make a mistake. I was no rookie thief. My day was used down with Luna in the room of no magic with her. No words had been spoken during the time I had spent there. At time she had fallen into a sleep from exhaustion or a lack of anything better to do…and I was sure at one time I also had fallen asleep. It was quiet with the Princess, peaceful…things that in my mind had always been synonymous with solidarity. I’ll admit finding peace with another pony present was something that I had never known. There was…surprisingly so, no malice or anger in the Alicorn. Only curiosity and fear…thankfully not enough to push her over into panic or violence. We had both silently come to terms with that we had not wanted to hurt one another and were content with that for now. Then why did I feel so restless. It bothered me to no end, honestly. That though everything was going far better then I could ever plan that I was irritated, unsatisfied. I wanted something, I didn’t know what and that made me angrier. Sighing I looked at the clock, it was only half past eight at night. The “moon” would be out soon, or lack there of. But it was still far to early to call it time for bed. I fidgeted and twitched around, restless. Nothing I did could stem how badly I wished to move, to do something. As if I was the one being imprisoned, the one held against my will. The thought of this made me freeze completely, a cold nerve tingling shiver running across my entire body. There was no way Luna would have been able to use her magic. No way to interfere with my mind. Still I had this impenetrable feeling and odd twitch. I recalled a time when a Pegasus had once told me when he was unable to fly for a few months due to a broken wing, I felt now much as he did…or how he described it. He had spoken of an insanity inducing need to move to be free of whatever it was that held him down. I decided, quickly and rather foolishly to go to the local pub. It would be open on this moonless night, the ponies in the town would need a place to gossip. Rummaging around I found a cloak, it looked very much like my cutie mark and indeed carried the same unearthly feel about it, grabbing it by the hood my eyes fell upon the small gold lettering beneath the hood’s thick rim. Silk D’Rouge. My name, it seemed odd being on my cloak… I felt it was out of place, something that could get me in serious trouble if it turned up in the wrong place at the wrong time. I shrugged and threw it on. If anything it was a reminder of my current lifestyle. I could afford to have a name, to have a home and objects. The past was the past…My mind drifted to those terrible times for just a moment before I shook them away opening the door. I was about to start down the black path to town when a thought occurred to me. Moving slowly I made my way around the building to the spot where I knew Luna’s window to be. I rapped my hoof against stone and waited a moment to give her time to notice me. “I’m going out.” I called to her, I knew she could hear me, looking up into the sky for a moment I paused to view the star which seemed to sad and foreign without their guiding moon. “Don’t stay up all night looking at a sky you can’t change.” I finished, moving away from her down the road to what I could already hear was a rowdy time. XXXXXXXXX I’m not one to drink, and if on occasion I do choose to drink then I am one to make sure I do not abuse. The past wouldn’t let me, I knew what it meant to be opulent and inebriated by that sweet sickly swill. There was a saying on the streets, well the streets I was from… “Only the man who can afford twice as much as he drinks has a hope of drinking his fill and living to tell about it.” It was sage advice…how little did I know how much of an effect it had to me even to this day. I was no longer that colt, starving on the streets trying to survive, I was a grown stallion with wealth and power if needed. Still however those words echoed within my head as I stumbled out of the bar, the last patron to leave. I had never been so drunk in my life, admittedly…there was something bothering me, it forced me to this. At least that’s how I rationalized it. I made my way loudly through the streets toward the dark path, it was morning now… still the sun was down and the moon was no where to be seen. I groaned a little and stumbled along in the darkness. There was something I wanted to do…I didn’t know what it was in my drunken stupor but I knew home was the way to go. So though a tripped over my cloak on more then one occasion and bumped rather loudly into several rather innocent trees I made it back to my home. XXXXXXXXXX Pressing my horn to the magical door I forced it up, and entered, tipsy falling too my haunches. I could smell the booze on my own breath, it must have been something else all together for my presence was enough to stir the Princess. I wiggled where I sat, getting myself comfortable, midnight eyes staring down Luna, who shied away slightly from me, either my appearance or smell. We sat frozen, silence…nothing but that same silence for a long, long time. I destroyed it, and to my sharp penetrating eyes Luna can not hide how she flinched away from me. “Speak.” it was a command, the silk charisma in my voice hidden behind a drunken will. I levelled her with a cold, debilitating stare. The kind of stare that you either have the will to defeat or the cowardice to run from. Not that the little filly before me had any choice… “Little Filly?” my drunken mind focused for just a second, a Princess yes, and a variable god but this mare before me was half my size, shivering slightly in her fear… “Speak to me.” I said again the deadpan expression on my face doing nothing to warm her up. “Thou art… drunk.” she said in that soft, naïve voice of hers that made my ear twitch and my horn itch. I gave my neck a twist, creaking the sore bones, sharply. “Yes, Princess Obvious. That’s been determined already. Talk to me.” I ordered and she looked up at me. Her brilliant night sky coat shimmered with her little shivers. It was bizarre, for me at least, to be so enthralled by her appearance. Why did I want her to talk to me…why did I feel the need to be near this mare… I didn’t know, maybe that’s why I was here demanding her voice. “What dost thou want from us…?” the Princess asked looking down and to the side, not meeting my cold black eyes. “I want you to talk. Speak to me.” I said, my deep voice resounding and echoing over her tiny squeak. An interesting thought crossed my mind. It was no small secret of the possession of Princess Luna by the Nightmare Moon, nor was it private knowledge that the Princess had spent a thousand years banished to the moon that was now absent over Equestrian skies. I stared her down and felt her waver under my gaze. Lifting a hoof I stroke my small, black and gray goatee considering the idea that had come into my head. Suffice to saya culture gap of one thousand years would provide a fair bit of shock, I was more then aware that she was not entirely caught up on the occurrences of life which happened in her absence. Perhaps she had spent her time this year, learning of the world from her older sister… in another form of isolation. “Am I…I really am the first Stallion you’ve spent any time around in the last thousand years. Aren’t I.” I said in my deep, masculine voice. Accusing the frail Alicorn before me. She refused to meet my eyes, but I could see the darkening of her cheeks to a midnight black from a sky blue. After a minute or two she nodded, still facing away, laying down on all fours. Sighing I leaned back against the magical draining wall. “You really don’t have to worry Princess…” I said with a defeated groan, for some reason the wall was spinning around me and chuckling, mocking me. “If I had intended to harm you I would have done it by now, I’m not one for torture.” my words, in my opinion should have been uplifting. Though I suppose the young Princess would not take them the way I had intended them. My limbs felt heavy and slow, sluggish in my drunken haze…I felt my forelegs collapse limp against the magically warmed floor. Eyes exploring the dull light purple room glowing in spots with out magic. “Just talk to me…okay…?” it was not the same command, this time I did not force her eyes to meet mine…it was a statement if it was anything. “But what wouldst thou have me speak…” She said looking away from me, her voice was thicker now. Perhaps it was the confidence, I understood the feeling. “You hath absconded with me and trapped me here like some rat in a cage. We do not know what more you want from us.” she said, facing me with each word her voice grew louder and deeper, more like I assumed she would have sounded a thousand years ago when the Princess were something to fear and revere. A time long lost. “First, quiet down.” I said looking at her with my sharp black eyes. “I know you have been away for a long, long time Princess but times have changed. You should relax. Second, I merely am asking for you to speak to me…converse…who knows maybe it’ll break your accent up a bit.” I chuckled, her “thee’s and thou’s” having grated on my ears enough. “Lastly, I just want to talk to you.” I said looking at her with the most bored expression my drunken face could manage. In her courage she stood up and approached me, her voice getting louder still. Perhaps the pride of being a noble, a Princess was coming back to her. “And who dost thou think thou art! Imprisoning US!? To make demands of us!?” she was practically yelling now, her hoof pressed against my chest as she yelled, accusingly. It was instinct, honed to perfection by my body which hid its true strength. My left foreleg spun around my back across a blade I kept hidden within my coat, the weapon spinning into place along my leg. The cold metal was against her sky blue neck, biting at her deeper then had I actually cut her. I was much like death, I could only assume, in appearance to her now as I held a dagger to her throat, much like the one that resided on my flank. “Sit down.” I ordered and she followed. I pulled the blade from her neck and slide it back to its concealed sheath. “Now listen here, Princess.” I said, my words calm and collected. “In this room we are nothing but equals. Without your magic you’re nothing but any other pony to me. And I NEVER lose to an equal.” I threatened. Luna, for all her worth, managed to keep some semblance of her composure as she sat down and stared at me. I didn’t blame her, this all must seem very strange to her…thousand year culture gap or not one does not run into many ponies like myself in the palaces of Canterlot. “What…dost thou wish us to talk about…?” she asked looking down and away, worried of a drunken attack I assumed. Though I was hazy, and I’ll admit more tipsy then I’d ever like to be I was not a violent pony by nature. Just a crook. “Tell me about the moon…” I said eyes going dreamy, leaning into the wall for warmth I rested, not noticing her flinch. “What dost thou mean…” she said looking to me. “I want to hear about how you felt when you were up there…What it was like to be alone like that…What could have been going through your head.” I said my voice growing lucid, losing its tangible qualities. She looked away, then walked away from me a bit. Though drunk I could only imagine the inner turmoil going on within the Alicorn before me. Not that I was overly concerned, her feelings were not my responsibility. That baggage, the baggage I could see in her eyes as she looked deep into her heart to find strength would kill her one day, in my mind, I was doing nothing but helping her grow. “It…it was lonely…and cold.” she whispered after a long time of silence, her speaking voice far softer and quieter then the royal voice which she had attempted to enforce just minutes ago. “Like you’d never be whole again.” I said looking away from her down at my self, this old and tired body of mine. There was a small gasp, I looked to her and she was facing me with this incredulous look. I wasn’t too sure if that part was real or the handiwork of the drink which was thick in my veins. “Y-yes…” she stuttered, sitting down looking at me. For all my worth I did not pity those sad and haunted eyes. Pity would lead to guilt, guilt would lead to a mistake. Mistakes lead to death. “I…I didn’t think there would be anypony else who’d understand that feeling…” she whispered, to herself. But my trained ears could pick up any sound within a good mile radius. I couldn’t help but scoff a little at her words. “Times have changed in deed Princess, ponies have lived through isolation to rival your own and much worse to survive.” I whispered sarcastically, not sure if she heard me. Not that I cared. “It was like a darkness…all around us all the time.” she whispered looking out the window the moonless night, the sun’s rays could be seen rising from the east. “We were so sad….we just wanted…we only wanted to be with our people…to be able to share their happiness.” Her eyes trained off on the sun light encroaching on her beautiful stars. I looked at her for a long time, my eyes growing unfocused as the seconds passed. “I bet you were angry too.” I said with a quiet yawn. “At ourselves more then anything…We suppose…” she whispered looking out the window again as the fiery orb of her sister’s graced the sky and burnt away the night. “We were very lost…and now that we have found a way back into the light…the time hast left us behind…” Luna said eyes darkening with an inner sadness that nopony could fully know. “It was so cold and forsaken there, trapped in…in HER form…We never enjoyed what we had become…it haunted our every breath at the monster that hath wrapped itself around us in our jealousy. “ Luna shivered at the feeling of that other self encroaching on her thoughts. I could tell it was bothering her, I was used to the feeling, more then many pony would ever know… I watched her for a long time, eyes tired and spent. I rapped my hoof against the stone floor beneath me to draw her attention. She looked to me, I motioned with my hoof to get her to move near me. Luna hesitated for a moment then approached, hopefully remembering that I had no intention to hurt her. She sat down in front of me and I stifled another yawn with my hoof, bringing it to my lips. I shook myself awake a little leaning forward I touched my Unicorn’s Horn to hers for a moment before leaning back down against the wall, the darkness of sleep encroaching on me. “Well now you have all the time in the world… To catch back up to us all.” "Legacy" Day 4Day 4 Ripe for the Picking. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. The primordial drum shook my otherwise destroyed consciousness. I could feel it echoing through my skull and baring its fangs down my spine. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. It bounced around inside my mind, the light of early morning forcing its way through my eyelids. Light, light had broken through the darkness. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Constant and warming. I felt the sound vibrate through my entire body, meeting and colliding with a resounding bass in my chest. They rocked against each other in asymmetrical harmony. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Swirling light and sound rocked my senses, pulling me to the world of the living once again. Dark black eyes filling with their once lost sentience. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. I placed a hoof strongly beneath me…I had been laying down…But where? On what? Where did this bass come from to intrude so deeply into my soul. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Eyes rolled over to the right, I could see something on my peripheral. Escaping my sight just barely the image teased me. Forcing it, with all my might, I turned my head and looked down upon what I had collapsed. There was Luna, in all her royal glory. I moved my eyes over her brilliant midnight form, her aquamarine mane…its once midnight black magic lost to the draining powers of the room we were encased. I forced myself up and off her, what was now revealed as the beating of her heart leaving my aura as I pushed away. I could feel the loss in that moment, a loss of a kind of purity I would never be able to explain. No words I have can be used to explain the perfect mechanism of that sound, that sound which echoed across all planes of mind body and soul. I stood still looking down at her sleeping form for a long, intermediate time. That heart beat had pushed its way through my core as if the hand of god had, with just the gentlest touch, parted all the walls around my heart. Speak, you want to speak. You want to let her know how that moment feels. I struggled with my body as it fought my mind. The memories of those flames stilling my tongues, muscles held their grudge firm. They recalled those flames, the injuries…the pain of the life they had lived and though my mind and heart begged for me to forgive my body, in all its power forced me still. I looked at her with what I can only believe is the most open expression I have ever worn, however as she stirred to awaken I felt my body return even that to its original state. Luna looked up to me, I turned away unable to bear it at the moment, my heart and mind aghast with myself…I…I had no idea what to do. This was new, different. I felt different. I was different. I. Was. Different. The idea of it almost set me flat, how was I different? What happened…? Her voice broke my thoughts, the royal force had left her. She seemed very much like any other pony at that moment, her voice filly-like. It was as if I had walked into a different world, a different time. So different did everything look and sound. “Art…no..” she corrected herself after a moments pause. “Are…you ok…?” she asked me, I wanted to tell her how I felt, how light I felt at that moment. Body, how it betrays me thus. It refused me word, I could not speak or nod, nor cry in anguish. It was as is the clarity that my mind was now busy working out had caused a befuddlement of my limbs. I turned from her, lost within this new type of fog. A fog I could see through so clearly that it scared me to look. Without a word I walked slowly towards the door, opening it with one hoof I began to leave the unadorned room. There was no sense of danger, she would not try to escape. Instead all that my senses could feel were her brilliant sea coloured eyes boring into my skull. Her voice, so sweet, called out to me. “Do you…do you really hate me…?” I could feel the shivering uncertainty in her words. Sense the balance tipping ever so delicately. It was as if I could feel the horror and the pain etched into her voice, the words I had thrown at her the day before leaving deeper scars on her heart and soul then I had ever thought possible. I wanted to speak to her, I didn’t know what I wanted to say, my body and mind at odds. Nothing…no word would leave my lips. I turned my eyes to her and tried as hard as I could to relay my emotions to her through them but her face showed that I did nothing of the sort. Defeated by my body which would not let me forgive and a heart that would not open up all the way. I turned and left her in cold, unforgiving silence closing her prison behind me. Only much later would it come to me that the chilly indifferent silence I was forced to offer would hurt my Princess the most. XXXXXXXXXX I had been walking…for how long I wasn’t really sure. As stated above I had entered into a paradoxal haze of clarity about myself and my past. Desires had always repressed and disregarded as unnecessary and dangerous seemed to crop back up in that crystalline mud. It was not until I heard that, obnoxiously, loud voice echoing out to me that I came to my senses and realize where I was. “D’rouge? Are you okay…” blinking hard I found myself staring into the brilliant orange eyes of Ripe Pickins, the store owner. I looked around in the early morning sun, I had made my way all the way into town and was now standing inside of the just opened shop ran by my Earth Pony counterpart. “I..ah-yeah, I’m fine.” I stumbled over my words like a preschooler, as if it was all new to me, I began to stumble back turning to leave. “Sorry for intruding, I don’t quite know how I got here.” Now, let it be said… that had this been any other shop, and any other pony in all of this wide world I would have left there in peace, to the solitude of my own mind and the problems I was facing internally. I would like to be able to say that this is how my day would continue. Ripe, for all his salt however, is not just anypony. “Now ya’ll just hold on there Silk.” he ordered and I froze. I FROZE. It may have been because this was the first time Ripe had ever called me by my first name or because he had used that fatherly tone which he used with his children, a tone an orphan like myself had grown old never experiencing. “I know you may not like talking to ponies but I can’t in good consciousness let you just leave her like that, now can I.” I strived as hard as I could to inform him that he very well could, and that it would be far more satisfactory for myself if he did but the shop owner had already walked around the counter and taken off his apron. His strong, fatherly voice rang out. “Dill, take over cash I’ma go talk with out friend Mr. D’Rouge for a bit.” I felt his hoof on my back ushering me out the door when his oldest son yelled back with a responsive ‘Yes, Pa!’ XXXXXXXXXX Ripe dragged me outside against all of my protests, and I did protest. As hard as my addled mind would allow. “Now ya’ll talk to old Ripey here and we’ll solve what’s making that cloud over your head.” he said, with such seriousness I did indeed look up to check above my head for a dark cloud. Confused at his metaphor. “Really, there’s nothing wrong.” I stammered being dragged along the side of the building. “Now we both know that’s nothing but full on bull crap.” Ripe said annoyingly, taking me aback at his forwardness. “Ripe, seriously there’s noth----” he raised a hoof to my mouth jamming my words. We had come to the back of his shop and were now viewing an illustrious garden with beautiful flowers growing to pony height, fruits and vegetables populating row upon row . In the center of this beautiful garden was an equally beautiful and earthly unicorn. She had long hair ranging from moss green to a dirt brown, her coat had a beautiful muddy sheen, eyes half opened just hiding emerald orbs. I heard a sigh from Ripe as he viewed his wife in a moment of peace. Clearing his throat he moved up past me. “Daisy, dear.” he swooned, practically fawned to her. So hard in fact that it summoned a flush to my cheeks, let alone hers and his. “Think you could go inside and help Dill open up, Master D’Rouge and I need some private time.” he hinted none to deeply and she smiled sweetly. Kissed his cheek and walked past me. I wish someone would smile at me like that… ran through my mind before I could suppress the treacherous feelings and emotions. Still I could not deny how I felt, I could however turn my head away so as not be seen starring at another stallion’s wife. Not that it stopped Ripe. “Silk, I have got to be the luckiest slob in the world….” he drooled watching his wife walk away, eyeing me with a wink and pulling me to a nearby bench. “So she’s pregnant again, eh?” I asked sitting down, the surprised gasp from Ripe obviously meant he had not expected me to notice. “How’d you…” he left the question hanging waving a hoof at me. “Oh, pregnant mare’s walk a certain way, there’s a sway to it.” I said shrugging, I had seen enough pregnant mare’s, a glimpse was enough of a hint for me to tell. “Not that I was staring.” I added quickly feeling uncomfortable. “Well, you do have an eye…don’t you.” There was a tone in Ripe’s voice that was hinting that he knew more then he let on. “So I assume it’s Mare trouble?” he asked making me choke on the nothing I had in my mouth. “No it isn’t, and if it was why would I want to talk about it with you?” I said trying to recover myself in my own eyes. “Oh you do…” he chuckled and got this smile. Damn that smile pisses me off. “And how can you be so sure of yourself?” I demanded rather coarsely, the velvety silk in my voice leaving as I let slip that pretence. “Listen to me Silk, out of all the stores in this town, and all the vendors you keep coming to mine. The one store where you know you’ll get agitated the most because I won’t let you leave without exchanging some pleasantries or taking an attempt to get to know you better. Even though that annoys you, you still come back again and again to my shop. Consciously or not you want to have that communication no matter how small and insignificant it is.” Ripe said staring me down. His appearance did a radical shift, he appear much more like a man of power then a shop keep. My eyes traced over his strong muscles, far too honed to be from managing their garden or lifting crates. It made my heart race to feel so uninformed…had I really become so complacent. “Oh, and you’re one to go all Hoofian on me, eh?” I accused, meeting his stare with my black eyes. “Oh I am… you may not know this but before I moved here I was a homicide detective in Mareami.” the Stallion mused leaning back stretching over the edge of the bench. My eyes sharpened immediately as all my defences raised, thief or not the petty crimes would pale in comparison to stealing a goddess and imprisoning her. I looked deep into this stallion like a predator before the prey, eyes sharper then the dagger which adorned my flank. “But that was ages ago…” he mused carrying on as if there had been no change in the atmosphere. “When I met Daisy I decided to settle into something a little less dangerous and became a private detective…” “Then how’d you end up here…?” I asked curious, millions of simulations looping in my head as I predicted every outcome and method of attack or escape. “Well Daisy got pregnant. Not to say I didn’t have a hoof in that.” he teased giving me a nudge on the shoulder his nonchalant manner chipping away at my barriers. “So we decided to leave the city and moved here. Opened a shop. Been happy ever since as well.” he concluded looking deep into me. “I know that you think you don’t want to talk to me but I know some small part of you does.” he finished. I sighed and looked up to the sun, the brilliant orb looked back, mocking me for my transgressions against its divine trajectory. I allowed my body to relax against the bench looking straight up. “I suppose…that I just don’t know what I want… I had always just wanted to find a way to be remembered when I’m gone.” I whispered looking up eyes unfocused. A gentle and fatherly chuckle pulled me back to my reality. Ripe was smiling at me benignly. “Oh, I doubt people will forget you, you do stick out.” I chuckled myself feeling foalish… why had I not done this earlier again? Those fire days and those painful deaths seemed so far away in this pristine moment. “You know, I never in my entire life thought of what I wanted. I had been alone for so long and to be honest I was perfectly content with that…but now…” I said voice growing more and more incalculable as I carried n with my words. Waving a hoof out to Ripe’s house, no, his home. “I find myself wanting this a little in my old age…” “What do you mean this?” Ripe asked looking out at the edge of my hoof. “Can’t you see it man?!” I accused. “A home, a loved one, family…children. A legacy. Something to say you were here.“ The earth pony chuckled and ruffled his mane a little. “I suppose that this is something special isn’t it…” he said as if seeing something which to him had been rudimentary and common in an entirely new light. “You have no idea…” I sighed and looked out to that home, Daisy was outside now in the front with one of the young ones hanging up a sign. I felt a twinge in my heart and a distortion crossed my eyes. There instead of Daisy was Luna…the Princess, hanging a sign…I couldn’t make out what was on it… She looked so beautiful there, radiant in the morning sun. A small colt ran up to her, his horn barely visible above his wild mane of the darkest black I had ever seen. He tugged at her wing playfully and pranced around her to a smile that melted my once onyx heart. Then there was myself, an older version…I assumed though I looked much the same, and she graced me with that smile…god that smile. It was no wonder that this mare could coax the moon to dance the skies every night with a smile like that. I felt as if I may melt on that spot, a future before me that I knew not how to handle. And then it was all gone, the illusions and delusions I had made. I shook my head violently rubbing my temple looking over to Ripe who was watching me intently with this all knowing smirk on his face that made me want to buck a tree. “Oh wipe that smirk off your face.” I groaned getting up to leave, Luna had not eaten the day before and must be as hungry as I was… thought deep inside I admitted I just wanted to be in that room again. “ I have somewhere to be.” I excused myself taking a step away. “Oi, Silk.” Ripe’s rich voice called to me, twitching my ear I stopped and allowed him to continue though I did not turn back. “It may shock you to hear this but I have always considered you a friend. Funny as it may seem. I want you to be happy. So if you want to find a life for yourself like this, I’ll be here to help.” he gave me that sickly smile. I didn’t need to see it to know. I just walked away, a foolish colt like smile on my face. Knowing that though in the end I would never have that home… that life. I was happy for the first time. XXXXXXXXX Finishing with the plate of fruit I moved away from the fridge. I had placed some peaches within to ferment in syrup to make a deliciously sweet snack which was soft as clouds. Carrying a bowl of said peaches and a large fruit salad down the stairs to the lower ruins was no mean feat but I did it without complaint. The realization of what my silence had done to Luna hit me hard and I felt that future I envisioned slipping ever further from my hooves. I had yet to fully come to terms with my feelings... struggling through the last few walls I built on that fiery night. It made me more then a little contemptuous at myself for my hesitation. Pressing my horn to the door the magic parted the portal. There she was, sitting there inside… God she looked so beautiful. Her face looked so sad it broke all the onyx that coated my heart and turned my tongue to a jelly like substance. I walked in, the door slamming behind me. Setting down her food I pushed it forward with my muzzle, sitting back and looking down. I could not meet those sad and injured eyes. I had hurt her and the thought was turning my stomach like a butter churn. Nauseous I did the best I could to focus on the ground while she ate soundlessly but my mind saw nothing but that heartbroken Goddess. How long we sat there like that I didn’t know…time had no meaning to us in that room. We were in a world entirely our own…composed of just us. It was a special room…to me at least. It was our place. The one place where the onyx of my heart was gone in all my long life. Courage, find courage in that image. Courage in what you saw, feel it flowing through your body…I demanded of my mind forcing it to my will. So, I spoke. “I…I don’t hate you…Luna.” I whispered… and there was silence, I could feel my cheeks flush beyond a colour of black that any cheek is meant to flush. I couldn’t meet her eyes for fear of the hate or anger in them, and the shame on my cheeks. Was I surprised when a crying Princess threw her legs around my neck in a gripping my in a vice like hug. And, unable to move from that spot I held her tightly. I embraced that hug, my first and what may very well be my last. Burrowing into Luna’s mane I nuzzled her as I rubbed down her back. When I did she eased into me, her sobs slowing gradually. Now…don’t hold it against me but for the first time in my existence I was completely open and void of barriers. It was the first time my heart was free to do as it pleased with my body and the words that left my mouth next left it without my permission or guidance. “Luna…I love you.” "Legacy" Day 5Day 5 A Walk in the Park. I was awoken by the same primal drum beat…this time conscious of what it was. My legs were around Luna…I remembered that. Shaking my mane and back I forced the sleeping princess off me slowly. I had no desire to wake her now…The throbbing in my chest had left a residual burn I was unused to. It was a heart without barriers, defenceless and open…the thought scared me far more then a little. I pushed my horn against the portcullis, the grinding of its opening causing my nightmare princess to stir. “Morning…” she said in that voice of hers, the quiet one of a filly; a confused voice. Not the booming Royal one she came in on. I preferred this voice to the others, truly. “Good Morning.” I said too embarrassed to face her, I could feel my cheeks redden. “Damnit I’m almost sixty years old!” I thought angrily at myself, urging myself to relax. “I’ll go make some breakfast.” I informed her taking another step outside when she cut me off with her voice. “Can we go outside today…?” I paused for the moment and considered the question for a moment. Was the WE as in her and myself? Of was it a slip into the royal “We” in which she had referred to herself? Either way it was not as if I could be seen outside with the missing Princess… especially now… Equestria had faced its fifth moonless night. No matter how well Celestia attempted to stem public opinion it would have escaped by now. “Don’t get carried away…” I whispered head down sighing, I had a role to play. “But…” I added, not looking to notice her crestfallen expression…I truly had grown too soft hadn’t I? “I’ll see what I can do…” XXXXXXX I sat down and watched Luna eat the small breakfast I had prepared for her…my hoof fiddling with a small device. It was a necklace with a gemstone made from the room…It would allow her to go outside…but rules had to be laid. “You can join me outside today for shopping.” I began slowly, choosing not to notice the food drop from her mouth. Or the surprisingly common expression on her regal face. “There will be rules of course. I’d have no hesitation levelling this whole town if I need to.” I lied…full on. I knew in my freshly open heart there was no way I could hurt Ripe and his family… or anyone else in this town. But I kept up that cruel face from the streets…from the flame. “You will act as one of the normal people. No “we”s. If you can’t do that then we won’t even attempt this.” I said, no one would know, at least here; that Luna had such a way of speech. “W-…I understand…” she said head down. “I’ll put you under a radial spell. Everypony who enters the area will see you as a normal Pegasus. If you get too close they may feel your horn.” I warned seriously. “If they do…game over.” I cracked my neck leaning down and noming on a piece of apple I had sliced for her. “No flying, you will have your wings. But no flight.” I said eyeing her seriously. “And though it should go without saying I’ll say it anyway: Do not tell ponies you are Princess Luna, do not attempt to flee.” I looked at her and she met my stare. God how I hoped I could shield my eyes. Unsure if I had when she smiled to me and nodded. Moving forward with a sigh, I lifted up the necklace in my hooves and wrapped it around her neck. “Just a tidbit…this necklace can only be removed by me. If something is to happen to me while we are out… this stays here forever. No more magic.” I said, seriously this time. I may have gotten soft, but not too soft. “ I understand.” Luna said with an almost school filly like smile. Sighing I pushed my horn to the door and stepped outside. I could feel the magic flood back to me. I turned to her and held out a leg. Luna took it in hers and walked out beside me; my mind, the treacherous organ that it was, imagining a scene of myself and Luna walking down and isle at the end… was nothing. I commanded of myself shaking my head slightly. “Well…?” I asked pulling her free of the room, resealing it with my horn; eyes always on her. “No different then inside.” she said, though she didn’t seem disappointed. “Good now stand still.” I whispered letting my eyes roll. The magic for a spell with such a large radius would require more then what I had at my disposal, I hated to admit it but magic was not my talent. I reached deep within the core of stone behind me and sucked from it Luna’s magic which it had been siphoning for the past five days. Adding it to my own the spell in my mind became much easier to grasp. I could feel it coil around me and embrace me, causing my breath to catch. This was not just any magic, this was Luna’s magic…and though I would admit this to nopony my manipulation of it was nothing short of an extremely intimate experience for myself. Using this foreign, delicious magic I created a sphere which covered miles in every direction and placed the center onto Luna…the was a pause as the magic register and bonded with her being. I don’t remember the words I spoke, being so deep in magic but I’m pretty sure I ordered Luna to move to test the spells capacity to move; for she moved to one side then back in the other direction. The magic dome moved with her. I opened my eyes to view the spoils of my labour; breath coming in deep gasps. I could feel the sweat on my brow. The spell had been no easy feat. Before me now, was not the same regal Alicorn Princess, with her impressive wings and long flowing hair. No, now I was faced with a Pegasus Pony with back length turquoise hair, a coat of midnight blue. Her eyes had darkened to a rich, royal blue… I took a moment to look her over, the spell seemed complete, even the Cutie Mark had changed. Instead of Luna’s regular mark was now a richly coloured dark grey cloud hiding half of a brilliant full moon. “Well… how do I look…?” Luna asked hesitantly, the words seeming to be awkward and stilted. I stared at her for a moment gauging my response, at least that’s what I intended to do. What I actually said was the betrayal of an open heart. “Beautiful in any form…” it was barely above a whisper but I could tell she had heard me for she blushed and looked away unwilling to meet my eyes. Real smooth Silk, class act. I groaned at myself turning away from her I could feel my cheek flushed. “Well lets go, we can visit Ripe and his family then go eat…”I said leading her up through my house…hoping that everything would go okay. XXXXXXX Surprisingly everything went well as the duo made their way through the town towards the Pickin’s store. Some ponies had cast us with rather incredulous looks surprised to see me with another pony. Luna seemed rather content and happy to out in the sun. More then once I caught her stretching her back and wings; a shiver running up her body from the release. I shivered myself, it was a beautiful moment every time she did it. And I hated myself for being so enticed. We came up to the two story home and store of Ripe and Daisy Picken after a good hour of walking through town. Luna seemed enthralled by the life we lived down here in this small rural town. I didn’t blame her…I went from a thriving cesspool of a port city to almost every other town and city Equestria had to offer. I had been to Canterlot, I understood the class difference that would be shocking the princess right now. So I allowed her to enjoy it. Reaching a hoof up I knocked on the thick wooden door, the sound of Dill and the other Picken kids could be heard from outside as the readied the store for another day and gathered there things for school. “I got it, I got it!” Ripe yelled in that jovial voice of his. “I’m powerful sorry but we’re closed at the mome…….” His jaw hit the floor as he took me and Luna in for a long moment, it looked comical to say the least. “Silk, is this…?” he left the words hanging, the question unasked. I nodded chuckling at his appearance. I enjoyed watching ponies squirm but to see Ripe so flabbergasted was pure delight. I wondered if this is what it was like having a friend to tease. “Well man! Introduce me!” the brilliant coloured earth pony demanded. Buck. I’m fairly certain both Luna and I shared this reaction as for some ungodly reason I had not thought of an alias. “Um… This is Fabric Moon, a clothe trader I met on my last trip south…” I lied on the spot, thank you imagination. Luna looked at me for a long moment, impressed or disillusioned I didn’t know but she nodded toward Ripe to confirm. “Pleasure it is my lady.” he drawled deeply lifting her hoof to his mouth giving her a gentle kiss making me chuckle. Old foal that he was. “Ripe, stop embarrassing yourself.” Daisy said in her soft, motherly voice pushing the flustered stallion aside, his orange cheeks burning red. “Come in dear, you can come spend time with me and the kids while the boys chat.” the unicorn said to Fabric smiling in that same way she had looked at her husband the day before. Luna looked to me and I nodded her along, her soft voice gave words of thanks to Daisy as Ripe, leg around my neck pushed me out the door. “You stud you!” he accused viciously, walking me around the house. “Hardly.” I teased chuckling a little to myself, a stupid grin on my face, annoying the muscles there. I walked with him for a few moments before either of us spoke. “It seems to me…Silk, you’re closer to having this then you think.” this wasn’t a tease, the tone was different. Ripe was being very sincere with me and it moved me to know he genuinely cared for me that much. I smiled and though I wanted to live in that moment my plans had been laid. There was no future for me like this, though I enjoyed the illusion. “It’s further away then you realize…” I whispered, to myself more then Ripe but he thought it bed not to reply. Once out of earshot of the girls the two stallions slowed their pace to a crawl enjoying the early morning sun. “Did you see the paper…These moonless nights?” Ripe asked, thinking he was changing the subject. “Mmm? No. I’ve been too busy at night.” I said rolling my shoulders in a noncommittal way. I knew how he would take that and the sly smile on his face. We came to a window looking into the kitchen and I couldn’t help but smile in a way my face had never smiled before. XXXXXXX “Fabric dear could you flip those pancakes?” A flustered Daisy asked the Princess in disguise as she struggled to comb the knots out of her youngest daughter’s hair. The little filly groaned and squirmed around, under the assumption it was a game. Luna stared at the pan on the “oven” a device that Celestia had informed her about when she had been learning about technology. “Fabric” reached forward and hesitantly grabbed the pan. Okay… she thought… You can do this…Just give it a flick. A snap of her neck sent the pancakes into the air. To Luna’s immediate satisfaction two flipped and landed on the proper side… to her immediate dissatisfaction two other flopped onto her head while a fifth splatted on the floor. Gasping in shock Luna fell to her haunches, her wings twitching. It took a totally of three point two seconds for everyone to realize what had happened. Another two point five seconds of silence before the room was filled by vicious laughter and chuckling from outside the window. At first Luna felt horribly embarrassed if not a little angry. Who were these ponies to laugh at their Princess. It took only a moment for her to realize how ridiculous she looked and started to chuckle along. A deep laugh reached out from her in a way that she had not laughed in over a thousand years. They weren’t laughing at her, she determined; but with her. Flipping her head a little to get the pancakes off of her; only to rise more laughter: the children on the floor, Daisy practically bursting at the seems with laughter. It was then that Fabric heard the deeper laughter of men and turned her head to look out the window pouting for a moment at what she saw. There was Ripe pounding his hoof against the side of the building to help release some of the laughter before he collapsed and next to him was a chuckling Silk. Silk had a smile on his face that Luna had never seen before, on anypony…It was a majestic smile that she knew was just for her. That smile caused a pause for Luna, it was as it time itself froze for that moment as their eyes met. There was a love for her in those eyes beyond anything she had seen in the eyes of any pony…and it made her heart jump a beat; a flush to her cheeks. But that moment would not last for time moved on. XXXXXXXX “So did you enjoy the time with the kids?” I asked Fabric as we walked down the path towards the restaurant I had chosen for us to have our lunch. It was a small building but had an out door section…I didn’t feel Luna would want me to keep her crammed indoors on her day out. There was a paused as I waited for a response…I looked at her, she seemed very lost in thought. “Fabric, dear…” I teased and she gave a surprised squeak…Did I see her blush? “Y-yes what is it?” Luna asked me flustered, her eyes reaching everywhere but me… “I asked how you enjoyed the time with the kids.” I repeated the question to her, happy that she smiled at me in response. “Yes it was quite fun…even if I made a fool of myself.” she mused her wings doing a little flicker, unable to hide her feelings. “That’s good.” I said turning and pushing open the fence gate to the restaurant. She went in first and chose a place to sit. I was sure that this kind of restaurant would be out of the norm for her, having spent the last year cooped up in Canterlot and the thousand before that on the moon. A shift from princess to pauper was all too sudden I feared at times. Lifting the menu off the table as I sat to join her. A waitress pony, with deep bubblegum coloured coat and a thick lavender mane came to serve us. It was obvious that I was being treated differently then the other customers, I noticed that Luna noticed this as well. There was no light hearted conversation and laughs shared between a regular and a employee. “How can I take your order, sir?” Sir… I chuckled, enjoying the forced respect while it would last. “I believe I’ll have myself a fried daisy and tulip sandwich…” I requested looking at the menu. “With some OJ, on the rocks… You dear?” I asked Luna, keeping up the façade and cover we had designed with Ripe. “Oh um….” I had startled her out of thought again. “I’ll have a grilled carrot salad with this deep fried strawberry donut.” she said offering a distracted smile. I wondered what was bothering her. The waitress nodded and left us alone, giving us a moment of silence. “Silk…would it be okay if I took a walk in the park…?” Luna asked me, I observed her for a moment. She was deep in thought and distracted…perhaps a walk would do her good. “Of course…I’ll be here.” I said with emphasis and she nodded to me getting up and walking away. I turned to watch her leave. XXXXXXXX “Why can’t I get him out of my head…” Luna asked herself walking into the small forest which was the town’s square. It had a luscious fountain and flower beds, a good number of trees and a small clearing in the center for picnics and a play area for families. The Princess found her mind fixated on one thing and it bothered her to know end. Why couldn’t she get Silk out of her head…? He had kidnapped her, held her prisoner…showed up in the middle of the night drunk forcing her to relive parts of her past that she wanted to forget so badly…Then inform her so cruelly of the world she had missed…the subjects she let down. Then to treat her kindly…to say he loved her. The Princess shook her head violently trying to clear her head of all thought but instead that old stallion with his grizzled features was there. Sighing Luna let her eyes close for a moment, only to be startled back to the world when she bumped into a small colt. “Sister! Sister! Can you help us? Our ball when up in da tree!” the tiny little colt said pointing past his other earth pony friends to a multi-coloured ball which was a good twenty feet up in the air nestled in the branches of the tree. She looked back down to the small child with his bright yellow coat and dirty blonde hair. “Of cour-…” she began to say flexing her wings before Silk’s words came back to her violently. She was not allowed to fly… There was a moment of hesitation when she considered what to do next…just a moment. Before resolutely the princess took off into the air and returned seconds later to deliver the children their ball. “There you go young one.” she said with a smile, words slipping a bit into the archaic. “Thanks sister!” the little boy yelled giving her as big a hug as he could manage before running off to join his friends with the ball. Luna was transfixed watching him and how happy he was. This is what being a Princess meant…being there for her subjects… to make them happy. A shiver jumped up her spine and she turned…as she feared there he was. Watching. XXXXXXXX I smiled and stretched my neck as she trotted over to me looking crestfallen. “Food’s ready…” I said acting as if I had seen nothing. We shared a wordless meal and continued to walk back to the house. Luna followed me with out complaint or comment down into the same chamber. I pushed it open with the magic and before issuing her inside dispelled the spell around her; being graced with Luna’s true form again… I must say I preferred this form. Once we were inside and the door was closed I raised my hooves and undid her necklace, enjoying the moment of closeness with her. Laying down once I had removed it from her I stretched my leg as she sat down on her haunches. “You know…I’m a little disappointed.” I said seriously, eyes on her; my powerful dark orbs boring into her. “You shouldn’t have hesitated.” I clarified smiling, rolling onto my back. Luna stared at me for along time before words left her lips. “You had told me not to…” she said hesitantly. Smiling I put my hoofs behind my head to keep myself awake. “Did you mean what you said last night…?” she asked me, more timid then before…I stared at the ceiling, searching through my feelings. “Yes…I really did.” I said honestly, looking anywhere but near her keeping my eyes away from her. There was a warm pressure pressed against me. I looked over and there she was, leaning into me. “Would it be wrong…” Luna said not meeting my eyes, or anything apparently. “If I felt the same way towards…you?” she asked me hesitantly. I don’t know what I was thinking, at that moment but I leaned into her; ran my muzzle up her neck slowly. Forcing shivers down both out spines. I found my lips near hers and I pressed them together, tentatively; with all the hesitation my war torn body could muster. To my infinite delight she pushed back against me…. We spent that night together, laying there in utter bliss. The happiest day I would ever come to know. "Legacy" Day 6Day 6 Legacy. I moved quietly, away from Luna. The Princess was fast asleep when I had awoken and I wanted to keep I that way for a while longer. My mind was a flurry of activity, I confess, there was barely a moment for my body to breath. Exiting the cell, my magic flooding back, I allow myself a pause of meditation. This didn’t change anything, the plan needed to be complete. If not more now that the situation had changed. I considered myself, moving calmly up the stairs to the house proper. I was an old stallion, no where near as old as Luna…but then again I’m not a god. Or whatever she was…maybe one day I’d ask. “One day…” my mind latched to the phrase considering the implications. I had been resolved since the start that this journey may, on a low chance, be a one way trip. Lifting a hoof I brush the hair out of my eyes leaning against the door I had just passed through. There was no panic, or nervousness…there never was when a job was near completion. Not for me. Not for a long time. I rationalized that it was experience, the sense inside me that a job would be flawless. It was that: cold, rational and cutthroat part of me, that’s what I wanted to believe. There was doubt though, not in the plan…but in my sense of confidence. It was a taint, a disease I hadn’t felt before, this… “elation”. The mission would be successful because my gut told me it would be. My gut is a stupid, stupid organ. One does not think with the gut, not if one wants to survive a life like the one I had lived. I shook my head violently, making my way through my mini-mansion towards the, now, well stocked kitchen. Those thoughts would dull the knife, slow the reflex. If it wasn’t today then it would be tomorrow. It had been enough time, my calculation wouldn’t be wrong. I must remember the plan. I must follow through, no hesitation, no consideration… I looked out the kitchen’s double wide window, a apple resting on my hoof, a large bite out of it. The sun was just pushing the darkness of a moonless night out of the sky, gracing the village with it’s warmth. I considered everypony down in that village, and everypony all over Equestria who had lived this week in the harsh darkness of the night. Shrugging I finished my apple. “Why does it need to end…?” that little, traitorous voice inside my head asked. It haunted me with images of Luna and I together, a family…a family… It was not something I hadn’t considered over the last two days and nights. I always had an answer for that voice, my Legacy must be emplaced…I must leave this mark so the world won’t forget. That had always been my answer…but today…? Today the answer was different, and I felt the voice inside me die off. It must be satisfied…finally. Looking towards the table… my black eyes fell upon a stack of papers and a quill. Pulling out a chair with my teeth and sitting upon it (though awkwardly). I stared down at the blank paper for almost an hour… in deep thought. Magic coloured my horn and encircled the quill, lifting it off the table to my will. The most basic and primal of magic that made each Unicorn so unique from every other pony. I dipped the quill in the ink eyes focused on the paper before me. The words, at my command began to appear on the page, the quill a flurry of activity. This is the last will and testament… XXXXXXX Three hours later I was done with the papers. They were folded into a now grossly full envelope. Taking the quill between my teeth I sign the envelope with Luna’s name. She wouldn’t be happy…I knew that. But it was irrelevant at this time… I steeled myself for the inevitable long ago. I paused, where was I? My hoof was on the door handle to the main entrance…why? What the hell was I doing here? It hit me, slowly. My mind must be sowing my age… I had done this almost every day for over a decade. I would eat my food, do what I needed to do then go outside…to do what? The paper…the news, of course. Everyday… A routine… I had truly fallen from those days in the desert. The only routine should be breathing…never take that for granted either…. Sighing, a deep sigh, it reflected the years on my shoulders as much as my greying tail did. Still, I opened the door, giving in to the muscle’s memory. It had saved me too much for me to believe it would betray me now. When you live a dangerous life, filled with risk one learns to respect the body. It was instinct, reflex that allowed me to survive this long. The same basic concept urged me to open the door before me. So I did. There it was, the same paper that was always there. The local paper delivered above the call of duty every time. I paused leaning down to pick it up…Must have been hard to deliver these in the dark… I thought to myself, chuckling as I lifted the paper up with my hooves. Magic coiled around it, opening the paper and lifting them away from my hooves. The headline was not as surprising as I had hoped it would be. “Moonless Nights cause Panic.” A shadow passed over my face and my entire body tensed. Like a spring ready to release a deadly blade. Above a platoon of Pegasi flew past my house oblivious to my presence in the shadow of the building. My dark eyes combed the sky, counting quickly. Twenty five Imperial Guard flew overhead and descended down into the village. I estimated all factors I could predict as quickly as I could… three hours, tops before they come here for me. Turning I go, to make the most of my time with Luna… XXXXXXXX I watched her eat in a awed silence…How could someone be so regal and commonplace all at the same time? It truly baffled me. I’ll admit I was staring more then what was called for, and thankfully, for all her worth Luna never let on that she noticed it beyond a soft blush in her cheeks. I sighed deeply. This was not going to be easy… “They’ll be here soon…” I said absently, eyes away from hers…Looking at everything but her, my hoof playing with the floor. I growled at myself trying to get myself through this. It was odd…disappointing someone. I never had anyone to disappoint before. “Who?” She asked me, that naïve voice…she’s been out of this world for far too long. “The Imperial Guard.” I explained, curious now…how would she react? Her hooves hit the ground hard and she was suddenly arching over me primed and ready. “Thou must let me go! I can explain everything to Celestia. They’ll be sent home and you can get away! I can get to her with my magic once I’m out of the room, it can give you enough time to get away while I explain things to her!” She ordered all in one deep, royal, booming breath. I raised a hoof and pushed he back down to her haunches with me, staying as calm as I could. I had to keep the aura of the seasoned criminal, I had to be myself or she wouldn’t be able to handle this. “Now listen here Princess…” I said deeply, that silky tone in my voice thick and rich. Don’t let her see the weakness, don’t let anyone see the weakness. You have your plans…they will not go wrong, they never do. This will all go as expected…I must believe this, I must. Or else how will I face her in the end. “ Everything is going according to my initial plan and that isn’t about to change.” I said and was about to explain more to her when I was cut off. “But things have changed! You don’t need to do this anymore! You have me. I can explain this all to Sister it will be okay I promise!” Luna said, the “younger” part of her showing as she struggled against my hoof a little. To no success, in a battle of equals I would always win. Things hadn’t changed. “Luna, please. Be still.” I ordered as she fought against me. It would do her no good to fight the inevitable. It took another moment before she stilled under my hooves. Good… she’s relaxing a little. “Things haven’t changed…My plan must go through to completion now more then ever.” I said emphasizing it with my voice’s tone, making that silk texture contort perfectly. If anyone was a master of rhetoric it was I. “Now I’m going to go out there…and things are going to go down. No matter what. I will be waiting for you Luna.” I said, honestly. Was hiding the full truth a lie? I hoped not. “S-silk…” she said looking at me…her eyes were scared. She didn’t want to be left alone again. “Listen Luna, all of my life I’ve done what I could to just survive. Stealing as I pleased. No matter who or what got in my way. I wanted to leave something behind!” I said getting into my emotions, letting them fill me. “I wanted to be remembered, like those children in Calimare who exist in me. I too wanted to have someone remember me, to tell others of me. I wanted to be know, Luna…I wanted that small little piece of immortality.” I explained as best I could the feelings inside me. “That, that hasn’t changed. I want to be remembered and carried on in the lives of ponies everywhere. I finally found the right way to do it!” Luna looked at me for a long, silent moment. I’m sure she was able to see into the very recesses of my soul in that moment. “What way…” she whispered to me, she was nervous…worried for me. Smiling I leaned in and kissed her. Lovingly, a kiss unlike any other I had known could exist. “You! Luna! You!” I exclaimed looking into her eyes. “You are my Legacy darling, you always will be. I will always be with you.” I said, calming down a little putting my hoof over her heart for a moment. Pulling back I lifted the envelope up to her with my teeth. I could hear the hammering on my door and the sounds of hooves clopping the cobblestone outside. They were here. “Don’t open this until it’s over.” I instructed turning to walk away, I felt her hoof brush past my coat as if she was about to stop me on reflex but fought it back. The internal struggle eating her up. She took one look at the envelope and I felt fairly sure, given the strength should would have knocked me unconscious then and there. “Silk!” I had already turned away. There was no sense of danger. I paused for one long, deep look…fearing it would be the last I would see of her for a long time. “Don’t look outside.” I ordered, in that cold voice. The emotions kept out of that statement though once I had left the room and the magic forced its way back into my body it was hard to control. I didn’t her to see me like this. I wanted her to remember me the way I was last night. The way I wanted to be. XXXXXXXX I walked up those stairs again…I wondered absently if this would be the last time. NO! I ordered my mind to force those thoughts away, it was going to go as I had planned. I was in control. This world was mine to manipulate. The hammering at my door grew louder, their was a deep throated order. I paid it no heed. Whatever little threat the Guardsman was bellowing would not affect me in anyway. I opened my closest and drew out my heavy cloak, a clone of the one on my flank. It was weighted to catch incoming projectiles, and weighted still by the knives I kept stored within. This would be a most delicately performed play. I tossed the hood over my horn with magic and prepared myself. Hoping my spell would not deal too much damage to my home. Opening the door I was met with at least half the platoon of guardsmen that had flown overhead hours ago. They were all white Pegasi in their steal plated armour. It was ornamental. Offered no protection to the parts I would strike. They should have sent soldiers. “We have reason to believe you have a hostage within this residence.” The main Pegasus said, stepping up to me. “Under the orders of Princess Celestia of Equestria we are here to place you under arrest and check the premises.” He ordered. A sergeant probably. Someone used to training the noobs. Someone not used to being disappointed. Closing the door behind me I pointedly locked the door, tossing the key away. “I think not good sir.” I said turning towards them, covered in the cloak. They couldn’t see me…what one can not see, one must inevitably grow to fear. The inexperienced ones were swallowing hard. “I’m afraid I won’t let you take the Princess from me.” I continued coolly. The Sergeant gave me a once over, a soldier’s stare. He would be my mark then. I wondered how long he could last…I really didn’t want to be a murderer after a night like last night. His wings twitched out at his side. Not a subtle signal. Three of the Pegasus at the rear of the platoon took off into the air immediately. First second, they spread their wings and kicked. Magic swirled from my horn and wrapped around my body and mansion. Next second, two are in the air. Wings bent awkwardly as they take off into flight. My house’s front explodes in splinters and shattered glass. Third second, all three were a good four feet into the air. A wall of steel broke free from my mansion, the sky darkened by my daggers. Fourth second. Red lines of blood ruined white coats as four daggers slashed the nearest. I cut along his hind leg muscles, and the muscles just under the wing. He fell down the six feet to the ground with a thud. A dagger lodged into the next’s back, missing anything vital. The stallion flinched in pain, another blade sinking just under his front right shoulder; causing him to barrel roll to the ground. The third, I allowed to escape, blades falling short of any real damage. It wouldn’t hurt to have them underestimating my reach. Fifth second, my countless blades became a hurricane of steel at my will. Cutting myself and the Sergeant off from his support. Within the next five seconds while his mind caught up to the events that had occurred I saw a cocky smile grow on his face. He thought he had the upper hand. His scout would get word to Celestia. I had been beaten…Ha. I leaned forward tossing my hood back revealing my weathered face and steel cold eyes of onyx. The smile left his face. Taking up an offensive stance he stared me down. The rain of blades all around us, biting at his support keeping them at bay; blocking them access to the house as well. I’ll admit this magic was strenuous to use and very distracting to maintain. Especially in a combat situation. I chuckled, this was fun, taxing. A little strain to remind me that I was alive. Flexing my forelegs my muscles hit the needed triggers; a blade on each leg. They were kept stored inside straps, the mechanisms keeping them sheathed until I needed them. Reaching just down to my hooves they wouldn’t prevent me using all four legs for movement in a clutch and could be used for slashing. If I needed I could bend a certain way and use them for stabbing but that was for assassination. That was not my goal this day. No, today was all about delaying. Not that it was entirely in my hooves. The Sergeant gave me a rather vicious buck, well attempted to. I swerved beneath his foreword hooves, right leg lashing out as I jumped past him. Blade clanged with armour, flesh parted to cool steel as I drew a paper thin scratch along his side. He jumped back, hind leg lifting to cover the wound reflexively. Blue eyes stared into mine now, he had tasted the sting of my blade and did not enjoy it. We circled each other slowly, two soldiers locked in one on one combat. My magic keeping the others at bay, a few succumbing to their small wounds, air a buzz of steel on steel. I stared him down, mind separated to control the daggers spinning all through out the air. It had been years since a fight like this, decades since I was put all out in combat. I hated to admit it but the rush felt good. Adrenaline pumped through my muscles bringing them to life in a way they haven’t done in a long, long time. I licked my lips letting that familiar rush take control. My body moving of its own will, we clashed once more. XXXXXXXX Celestia’s arrival interrupted my magic and sent my flurry of blades scattering (dealing more damage to her men then they did under my control I’m sure). The white Alicorn was looking quite the rage at that moment when she blinked into existence, efficiently breaking the fight between myself and the Sergeant. He stumbled away from me, looking far the worse for ware. Sadly, it pained me to admit, I had not been taking it easy on him. Age had finally begun to trump my talent, though I did the best I could to still my panting as I stared the princess-goddess down. Blood was running down my hooves, not my own…I had managed to escape the duel unscathed, but the run off from my blades was staining my coat. “Do you have anything to say for yourself…?” Celestia asked in all her rage; brilliant white wings tossed out making the massive pony look even bigger. I wasn’t intimidated, this was all part of the plan. “She’s mine.” I said defiantly staring her down, unfazed by her size; building up all the ambient magic from Luna into my horn. “The grey-night will not be defeated. I stole the moon. This will not be forgotten.” I teased and predictably the glow of magic wrapped itself around her horn. Our energies clashed as we attacked and defended. I forced my magic to block and repel hers as she pushed back against me. “I sentence you to exist within a prison for 500 years until such a time when your sentence will be decided!” Celestia said as she started to over power me. Perfect. There it was. Confirmation. Five hundred years encased in stone…preserved…. Time for Luna to grow and become acquainted with her people, time for myself to transcend into something worthy of being by her side. I would be the stuff of folk tales, a thief who had stolen the moon, I felt her magic overtake me completely. I forced myself into neatness, my cloak tossed to one side revealing my cutie mark. My back straight, body held high. I wanted to be worthy of my story. I stared her down, not worried as I lost the feeling in my legs. Ponies would tell their children about the stallion who had stolen the moon, ponies all over will tell stories at night to one another about my exploits. In this moment I had achieved the immortality I required… The transcendence to something beyond the norm…Someone worthy of a princess…Worthy of Luna. Shame I have to wait five hundred years…. I thought sarcastically, it was working its way up my body Celestia staring at me. My mind filled with Luna I stared her down. “She’s down in the basement…You’re horn will open the door.” I said calmly, hesitation crossed her face at my tone. My voice dropped for just a moment. “If she’s not there when I wake up. I. Will. Kill. You.” I promised and pushing the white Alicorn from my mind to her sister. Then…I knew nothing as the world around me dissolved. XXXXXXXX Celestia pushed her horn to the bizarre stone, it was baffling to her. It’s properties eluded and mystified her, almost enticing her to enter though she knew that she mustn’t. Out of the door came Luna, her little sister. Looking much as she had before disappearing…Except more sad. There was a haunted look in her beautiful sea coloured eyes which confused Celestia. She tried calling to her younger sister but the mare walked past her; ignoring her voice. The midnight blue princess walked through the house seeing the shattered wood and glass from Silk’s spell. Curious as too how much power the unicorn had truly had. Stepping outside into the dim light of dusk she saw him for the first time in over the two hours since he left her in the room alone. There was Silk. Frozen in stone. A statue. She walked around him slowly taking in the frozen detail. The “grey-night” did not show his age as he was now, immortalized in his stone prison. Luna ran a hoof over his form as she turned to face him, her breath caught in her throat. Luna, Princess of Equestria, felt her cheeks become wet as tears carved their paths down her face. His face…it was that smile. That cocky, loving smile he had shown her the night before, that smile that took her for all she was. All her envy and sins… all of her fears… That smile that loved her. Celestia watched her sister crying in front of the statue for a long time, wondering if she had done the right thing. Either way the spell was cast…it was beyond her power to undo it. Looking to the sky she decided it was time to allow the sun to set. “Luna…little sister.” Celestia said in that big sister voice of hers, lovingly. Luna used her magic to push away her tears, the magical aura returning to her hair. “It’s time to raise the moon.” “No.” Luna said, leaning into the statue’s base, laying on the ground before a surprised Princess Celestia. “B-but Luna…” “Not tonight, Big Sister. Tonight is the seventh night.” Luna looked up to the darkening sky. “There will be no moon tonight…” she said resting her head against the statue, closing her eyes. Wishing deep within her heart to feel Silk’s warmth flow into her, but there was nothing but cold and lifeless stone. "Legacy" Day 7Day 7 Eulogy. Luna paced the stadium that her Sister had constructed in the town square at her request. She had made a promise to Silk… silent or otherwise. The sun had yet to rise on this moonless night… the seventh. “One full week…” She thought looking up to the lonely stars, they cried to her pleading for their moon to return. Luna felt a pang of inherent guilt. The Stars had aided in her escape from imprisonment, but now she was for the first night of her own will disallowing them their moon. Her brilliant aqua eyes turned to view the statue frozen Silk… the dim star light made the marble encasing him glow slightly… casting her body in an eerie light. The dawn would be upon her soon enough. The Princess knew this all to well. Luna looked to the statue again and moved forward her hoofs touching the wooden platform lightly… she didn’t want to break the silence of this night. Looking down at the envelope that she had yet to open… His Will… His Testament… What He had left for her… The Princess fought off the tears, the pain. She had been alone for a long time, another time of loneliness was something she could handle. At least this time the future prospects were more in her favour. The wait would be long and painful… but it was her wait, and his choice. The morning would come soon… and it would be time to open that letter. Read Silk’s writing to the people… read his words… Luna looked at that piece of paper for a hard moment. It was the enemy, another tie to him that would twist the knife in her heart; she knew this. But it was his wish and she would do this much for him… or it would have all been for not. She dragged her eyes away and looked him in the face. She would make sure that his price had been worth it. XXXXXXXXX Ripe rolled himself out of bed with a violent crash. Sadly the aging stallion found this was the only way to truly wake himself up for a long hard day at the store. No one would ever accuse him of being a morning pony. Ex-detective be damned. Stretching his bright body slowly he felt his muscles stretching over bone with a delightful pain that only one who is exceptionally lazy could understand. Ripe yawned and licked his lips a bit pushing himself up and taking a whiff in the air; the delicious scent of grilling strawberries assaulting him. “Mmm She’s too good for me.” He said absently to himself as he hobbled his way to the bathroom to wash his face and clean up his beard. After he felt he was tidy enough to deal with traffic all day he made his way down to the kitchen. The kids were about making a racket but by this time in his life he had come to terms with the ability to only pick up on sounds that meant the hustle and bustle of their everyday life was about to shift. He passed the window that he and Silk had looked into just two days before at his new filly-friend attempting to help in the kitchen. Silk. A shiver ran down his spine, cold and sobering. For a moment he was no long Ripe Pickins a friendly, smiley merchant with a large family in a small rural village… he was that detective again, hardened and cold to a city filled with death and violence. It was a part of himself he thought long dead, and it filled him with instinctual dread. A feeling like that didn’t come along for no reason. Ripe did the best he could to push it out of his face, Daisy hated that face… it scared her. And he knew his kids wouldn’t know how to react to seeing him that way. But today… today would be a different day for sure. He kissed his wife and snuck a strawberry into his mouth before prancing away from her swings and echoing words of “waiting till the food was ready”. It was a daily game, Ripe knew that she put some just out of her reflexive reach for him to nab every morning but it was part of what made their relationship work so he had no complaints. Opening the shop door he took in the clear air… it was invigorating… he remembered a time when this air would have been a godsend to his younger self… foreign. “I’m just full of nostalgia today aren’t I…?” He asked the air ominously. Shaking his shoulders he leaned down to grab the paper which was at his feet… but there was a paper on it… a town address. “There will be a public announcement to be made By Princess Luna of Equestria this morning At 10 a.m.” Ripe looked at that address for a long time before walking back into the house to get Daisy, leaving behind the paper. “Kids, no school today stay home and help Dill run the store.” He said in that tone of authority an alpha had over his pack. “Daisy come with me.” Ripe very rarely used this tone, and his kids took it not as a day off school but a day of hard work. Dill looked like he was going to question but Ripe and Daisy had left before he had a chance to. Ripe was practically dragging Daisy who still had an apron on from cooking as she scrambled to stay upright and with him. “What’s going on dear? Is everything okay…?” she breathed hard keeping pace with her husband; a much faster pony then she ever was. “I don’t know… but I think not…” he said… it was his old voice. A voice that spoke volumes with every word. XXXXXXXXX 10 a.m. Could not have come soon enough. Luna was still pacing, though now behind a drawn red curtain. The stadium her sister had constructed was impressive… essentially just a stadium for her to do her business but with a wide enough stage and a curtain hung about it. Her aqua eyes looked out to the crowd and she was certain that almost everypony in the town was gathered there…. And there…. Was that Ripe and Daisy? Luna had a moment of panic… she knew those two they were not the same as strangers. It would be so much harder to break this to them… did they already know? Had they always known…? Taking a deep breath she remembered Silk, remembered his instructions on how to talk…how to act as best as she could. Magic, feel the magic. There was safety in magic…it was a part of her that was static… constant. It was a warm, homely feeling of peace. It flooded itself out from her horn, coalescing through her shimmering midnight hair and up along the curtain. Magic pulled it aside to reveal her and a tarp covered statue. They did not need to see him yet. “We have called you here today!” No, quiet… we can’t yell at them. We were Nightmare Moon not that long ago… they fear us. “I- I mean… I have called you here today… for the public reading of…” Hesitation, the ponies before her had seemed to recover from her shouting they looked less afraid now. “Of the Last Will and Testament of Silk D’Rouge.” There was a general murmor through the crowd… did Daisy gasp? Luna couldn’t tell, she was busy forcing the couple from her mind and sight. Focus on the will, open the will, read the will. It was levitated before her eyes and with her magic she opened the sealed vessel. The thick papers lifted from within and opened themselves before her. It was his writing… Luna felt a part of herself break as she read the first part silently. “The Last Will and Testament of Silk D’Rouge, the Gray-Night” Choking back her tears she started to speak as he would have spoken… That silk edge to his voice seeming impossible to replicate at the moment. The first line was to her, she chose it best not to read it out loud. “This may be hard Luna… but do your best. Do not forget these are your people, you are their Princess. You command them and demand their attention. They’re listening to you.” She closed her eyes hard for a second, found her voice. “I Silk D’Rouge, the infamous Gray-Night of the burning desert city of Calomere leave this to be my last words and wishes to be carried out upon my death…” Luna paused where the letter paused, he seemed to had added the next part as an after thought. “Or become unable to manage my own estate. I would like to first apologize… To all of you here. ” Another of his deep pauses… Luna tried to swallow and wet her dry throat. It had been so long since she was before her people… would it always be this hard after her isolation… Would she be ready for Silk. “I have been stealing from you all for years now… I’m sure many of you know this. And I’m sure you know I meant you no malice. I stole out of habit… Which probably worsen my crimes in your eyes. For I stole not of need… not for a long time now. Which brings us to the first matter of my recompense.” There was a long pause now and Luna took it as a moment to breath, in brackets was a line to her… just for her. “You’re doing excellent… they’re enthralled by now aren’t they? Hanging on your every word.” They were… she couldn’t help but smile sadly. He truly was a pony of a class all his own. The pause passed and the words began to move of their own accord. “I can never return the rarities I’ve taken… The heirlooms and precious gems handed down through the families that you believed to be… “misplaced” but I will try my hardest to make up for them. Included with this will is a map of my mansion and grounds. For each family I have stolen from is a plot, a piece of treasure and unique gifts that will help to recover some of which I had taken.” Luna paused and gauged the reaction, some were surprised and others seemed relieved as if all their fussing over a lost item suddenly made sense to them. “Ah my mansion now… That needs to be taken care of…of course. My Mansion I leave to Ripe and his family…” That got a gasp, from Daisy… Luna was sure though she didn’t look over to them… unsure of how to handle it. “You had been a friend to me Ripe before I was willing to accept that fact and after I had come to terms with it you were there in a way nopony else ever was. Now I’m sure you’ll complain to yourself about the commute to work… and Daisy I know it’ll be hard waking up to a home without a garden for a while but I want to make sure you all are taken care of. So I have left a rather large sum of money for you all to help take care and raise your children…” Luna couldn’t help but look now. Daisy was crying her face borrowed into her husband’s neck trying to hide it. Ripe himself looked on the verge of tears. “You will occasionally get letters from all over the world… I have let a book on how to reply to them in your new bed. Sorry for the added maintenance but it’s crucial. The letters will explain how and why.” There was a moment of pause… The first page was almost over. “To all here, you may be curious for what crimes was I punished…I have stolen the moon from the sky… and my Legacy will live on. The Grey-Night.” As the line was finished the tarp over his statue was removed by Luna’s forceful magic revealing the body of the frozen thief. There were more then a few gasps in that moment… “This Statue… will rest in Canterlot.” Luna said and walked towards it. Pressing her horn to him…to Silk the magic coalesced around him; writhing in its entirety. A second statue formed from the magic a perfect clone of the first. “And this statue shall remain here a token for the land which the Gray-night lived the last of his days.” Then the group eventually dispersed…the statue was emplaced there in the town square; the makeshift theatre removed, and the Princess teleported the statue and herself away… without another word to the people there. XXXXXXXXX The next night… Luna lay in her bed, alone… the moon had just been risen into the sky by her command. In the dull moonlight she read the last page of the will over and over again… the page that was hers alone. She had done little but read that letter over and over again, sitting not far now from where Silk’s statue rested. “To you my dear…dear Luna. I leave my body and my most heartfelt apologies. I hope by now you understand why I needed to be captured and punished… I proved that it was possible to steal the moon from the sky. I had to prove that one could not GET AWAY with it… I hope I have cut any other attempts at your person cold now… As was always my intention. In however many years I have been stoned for I will awaken to find you, my Princess. My Legacy will have lived on for me, grown larger for me. The Gray-Night will be a name of awe and fear, the type of name that the new foals are taught when their parents wish to teach them good behaviour. I will be a better stallion…the best stallion for you. I will be a man you can look over to and know you are with a Stallion who is there for you. When I wake up…I will be…” Luna stopped reading and looked over to the statue. She pressed her lips to the stone and whispered into the ear. A soft whisper that was for those ears only…before she lay beneath it’s protective form. An act that would become all too commonplace to the Alicorn. XXXXXXX Deep within a plane of unconsciousness, disembodied and asleep. A bestial version of myself, the instinct and animal part of my subconscious was stirred. A voice reached through cold space and through the walls of magic to reach my ears. Distant yet clear. The voice spoke to me but a simple sentence and it renewed my sense…my sense of self. I existed. I would exist again among that world. And till then the memories of that week would always be with me. Every moment with Luna would be there with me. I listened to the sentence and let it play over and over in my mind. It spoke to the core of my soul on a level like no other word could It reminded me the reason I was here. The reason I had to live. My voice reached out within the empty plane, for my own senses to detect; though they felt separate to me. “Yes.. When I wake up more… I will be more. When I awaken. I will… I will be… Legend.” "Legend" - Prologue "Legend" - Prologue “Legend” Prologue. I felt a radiating sense of weight forming deep within what could only be described as my chest. I felt. To feel. “How long had it been?” I was unaware... the part of my mind that had thought, consciousness... it had been asleep for so very long. “What does it mean to feel again?” It feels important. I stirred... there was an “I” again, that was this weight coalescing my soul. A body. A shape. Existence. “How long had I been trapped within my subconscious?” I remembered images of my past; a body of my own, strong and powerful. I saw a week of time... Luna. Princess. “Are you waiting for me?” It was clearer now, my name returned. I was Silk...yes...Silk. How much of myself had been lost in the years... how many years? It forced its way before my soul, my mind; all that I had lost. Movement; “Remember?” I asked myself. Do I remember what it feels to move... to breath. Slowly, try it out. Remember what it felt like to order a limb to move and have it respond. Force movement to that which is static. Nothing. No movement. Try harder. Pain. That feeling is pain, yes... pain. I recall pain now. It hurts to force it, my body does not wish to move. Or it can’t? The darkness has not lifted on my soul; there is still nothing but the black. “Luna!?” I cried, through a mouth trapped within my mind. I wanted out, wanted to be freed so greatly; struggling with all my might to move limbs that had not existed for so long that I had forgotten their existence. Luna was waiting for me...I knew she would be. I have to get out, get to Luna. I have made her wait for far to long as it is. Again I tried to push out, tried to open my eyes. As the time spent with the Princess whirled inside my mind. A long life played out in front of me, so much seemed to be foreign to me now that I look back upon it: A sea, burning cities, daggers filling the air, a land of mountains and beasts the size of which no scale can be set, and of a sky locked in stasis. A sky with no moon or sun to illuminate. Then came the light. My eyes, yes they were my eyes... they had opened; the stone which had been my prison since Celestia arrived in the small town which had become my home was retreating. Cold. The air was cold. Air. Breathe, remember to breathe. I gasped hard in the air that had magically been void to me. Move, break from the stone. My limbs remained trapped against all my struggling. Eyes of the newborn haunted me; I found myself unable to see beyond the painful light of existence. “How did I use to move!? Why is it so hard? When I couldn’t move what would I do?” Magic, it came to me suddenly. When all else failed I had my magic. I had power. Focusing inward I reached into my blood, the source of my magic. There was a dull throb; not the rush of power that was once there. As if my powers too had been trapped in Celestia’s hex. It was there though, the magic that had always been inside of me; it would answer my call. I felt the power surge up through my horn and encompass the wilting stone around me. Using it’s weight to push in as I struggled to push out I crushed it all to dust, falling down to what I presumed to be the dirt bellow. Haggard and spent I tried to put my feet under myself to push up. They were so weak that I was hardly able to force a stand. Darkness broke through the endless night, I turned my head up to the sky. It must be summer, for though the air was cold the specific scents of flowers which dotted Canterlot all summer long could be felt. To smell. How much did I appreciate it now over when I had it before. Every sense seemed to be heightened acutely. Darkness, focus on the darkness. The night broke into my light and barren world; pulling my eyes through the spectrum of pain. A shadow crossed my eyes and the star lit world I had awoken into. The shadow of a unicorn with massive wings on its back. Luna. I forced all the light from my eyes in that moment, the moon was behind the figure and the light was hidden from its front as it stood before me. So tall and elegant. I moved to speak but my words caught in my throat sharply. The Alicorn before me was on a pedestal much like the one I had fallen off of, vines...plant life. Now that I could see it, there were vines crawling up its legs. The moon moved through the sky, just as it always had, the new position putting new light on the situation. And the statue of Luna. I felt my heart clutch; voice in my head begging for my body to relax and consider all possibilities. I turned my head side to side, and all I could see were overgrown trees and overgrown hedges. Statues lined the path I sat upon on both sides and the vines and plant-life was eminent in all of them. My fresh born breath was caught in my throat as I forced my old body to stumble towards the statue. There was nopony in sight, nopony around. I raised a hoof to try and caress the statues face, wondering to myself where my Princess could be, but I was too weak. The hoof fell down out of my control and sharply slid down some of the vines on the statue’s base. Revealing what looked, in the dim moonlight, to be words. Frantic I leaned down and with hoof and teeth bit at the vines till a full phrase was revealed to my charcoal eyes. “Here lies Luna, Princess of Equestria.” The world I knew faded away, and Silk D’Rouge knew nothing but pain. "Legacy" Day 3Day 3 It’s always Sunny in Calimare I stirred slowly, the sleep lifting from my body much like the early morning frost upon the grass would as the sun reached ever higher in the sky. I opened my dark, black eyes. The coal like pupils lined in blood trimmed vessels. Hooves lifting from the warm floor I rubbed the sleep and nausea from my eyes, trying to bring the world to focus. Thankfully, though the drink may have taken me, I remain the master of my own domain. Coal’s turned to Luna, she had fallen asleep in the center of the room, her large Alicorn wings wrapped around herself much like a blanket. Stirring slightly the blue coated goddess opened one tired and weary eye to me. It was a questioning stare and I offered it no response, choosing to spread my forelegs and stretch every kink along my vertebrae. She gave a deep throated whiny and stretched out on the floor rolling away from me. It was understandable, I had barged into a lady’s room during the middle of the night and demanded she inform me of her emotional state when she had been imprisoned on the moon for a millennia… at least in my head that made sense. I’m sure looking in on the situation a prisoner being interrupted by the warden would not be too bizarre. She was my captive and I her master…Laughing inwardly I push that thought from my mind. I was no sadist... last night had been something different. The urge to talk to her had come from the alcohol, I’m sure…no, maybe it was from my lack of pony contact… How long had it been since I lived with another pony…not that this situation was ideal. I pondered this thought eyes on her, taking in her form. It had been so many long years since I had been this close to another pony…never a mare. Not that I’m no into that kind of thing, or that it was wrong, just spending time with a pony mare or stallion had never really been the option for me. Contact with myself and other ponies had always been…an inconvenience…since back then at least. Why…why did back then come to mind now, I pondered leaning back against the wall pulling on my arms. It had been what…twenty years, thirty? Those old faces coming to mind having been so lost… I looked at Luna for a long moment her wings twitching, she was awake and could feel my eyes on her back. I had an urge, to talk to her…to make her understand. Why? This ‘Princess’ was a means to an end, a legacy to be had. I had stolen the moon, so why did I feel the urge to converse…to open up. Open up… I blinked hard and laughed, audibly for Luna raised her head and looked at me. The fear from the last two days had seemingly left her, good. She knew I had no intentions of hurting her or damaging her unless she forced my hand. This as a good lesson. I couldn’t stop a coltish grin at how quickly she had learned that lesson. Deeply I hated myself for these trains of thoughts, this prisoner of mine attacking me on a level I was not use to defending without the awareness of her vicious assault. It as my voice that broke that cold chilling silence first. “I was born in Calimare.” I said titling my head to the side, why did I want to talk…this, this tale was not for her ears. Anypony’s ears for that matter. But I craved to tell her, I could feel my heart flutter against my aged chest as if I was teasing it with a key. Forcing my body to be relaxed I spoke again the once silk tone of my voice returned now that my drunken husk had been absolved. “Well, maybe born there. I don’t really know to be honest.” My eyes drifted to the morning sun pouring in from the magical window. “I don’t remember much before waking up in that dumpster…Rather lucky that I had waken up then I assume, Celestia knows when they may have taken it away and crushed my body in it…” “No name… no idea where I was, what I was doing… it was a miracle that I could survive the first day.” I said rolling my hoof along the ground distracted by it. “I know you don’t know what it’s like in that city…and I’m sure your Sister does not. Do you know how many newborns die in Calimare each day? Upwards of fifty…fifty new foals brought into this world only to die. I wonder if you know how many survive…?” I mused looking at her, her face was pained. A monarch seeing a part of her people and world that she did not want to see… a world that she had never had to see. Well I had to see it…I had to live it. “One. On a good day when all the celestial bodies align… one out of fifty children survive.” I laughed hard not angrily…bitterly not at the situation, at myself. “I hit the fucking jackpot.” “I wasn’t entirely alone…after a while, I suppose. After time all us vermant and survivors collect in small groups. We’d split the city you know…Like we were kings.” I laughed and lifted a hoof to my hair pulling it away from my eyes. “Kings…they ruled the city, the goal and the end…but I digress. Where was I…the children… We got together to form surrogate families, of thieves and cut-saddles.” I was interrupted for a moment by a laugh from Luna and I looked at her my eyes taking her in. “Oh we stole Princess, money, goods. Life.” the smile faded from her lips, I was common. Common was survival, I would not allow myself to be mocked for being beneath Royalty. “We stole to survive, to live. Many of us died…many faces without names…Ha!” I laughed sharply, laced with bitterness. “Most of us before we found our cutie marks if you’d believe it. Not many people now adays can imagine the funerals held by little fillies and colts for their brothers and sister’s who died simply because they were not strong enough…fast enough…smart enough….” “The Pegasi had it the best, begrudgingly. In that hot, blazing desert where the only solice from the sun was a cold and biting night. They were the ones who could flee the easiest…most of them at least. Then the earth ponies, they controlled the middle class of us rugged survivors. Hard to think of a creature so unwilling to die when there was nothing left to live for…” Again my eyes drifted to the upper corner of the room into the light. “Then the unicorns, ponies like me. Hard to imagine, I know.” I scoffed, waving a hoof at her. “In your society the unicorns are a sign of power and nobility. Well on those streets it meant weakness and inevitable death. There was no way for us to harness our magic…to learn how to wield it properly. Assuming it didn’t go wild…the horror’s I’d heard of the one’s who went wild….” “There was another unicorn in our family, only one. They were often abandoned by the groups. A wild magic eruption could kill far more then just the caster… The screams she cried the night she died still keep me up at night.” I shivered, spine tingling with the pain. “There really wasn’t enough left of her for the traditional burial at sea…” I stopped and wiped a tear from my eye…what was wrong with me! I pleaded with my mind and heart to stop talking. It hurt, it hurt so much. Every nightmare I had ever lived for being replayed again and again. I could feel my chest heaving as if it had no greater desire then self-destruction. Stop…its all I wanted to do…stop, but the pain wouldn’t let me. Like pulling off a magical-aid strip, quick and painful in one sharp pull. “You know that’s how I got my name? We named each other, I supposed it helped us cement what we had…helped us have something worth fighting for. Dying for. Ha, this stallion before you was named by a Pegasus and Earth pony from the streets… no one would think that, looking at me would they. A venerable member of society and all that.” “Her name was Clips…” I said rolling my shoulders, eyes lost on that once image. I could see here there in the room, my ghosts come to haunt me. I could see her dirty orange and yellow mane on a sand brown coat… her small seeming misshapen wings…body beaten by the desert, but will not crushed. A will to survive. “She was the first one I named you know…clever isn’t it? Her wings had been clipped at birth…to help keep the population down.” I scoffed harshly at the image of Clips moving around, little wings twitching. “I guess its another way I was lucky, my mother had something like a heart.” I raised a hoof up and caressed the filthy and ruined mane of the hallucination before me.. My eyes lost on her image. “Clips was the first one in our family to die after I joined.” I could feel the pain in my heart, the twitch. I had never spoken of clips. “Then Ruby-max…he was one of the strongest Earth Ponies running those mean streets…He was caught in the street war with the guilds…as did everyone else…” I paused for a long moment…that war…I could feel the heat of it’s flames swirling around, flames of danger. Suppress, neglect, fight the flames. “I had gotten lucky once…”I whispered now my limbs shaking a little at the raging flames underneath. “I had managed to get my hand on some silk…nothing too unique or impressive that I could be signalled out for it…to steal something unique was a taboo of the street. If it was traceable it was a risk. Well the silk I fashioned into a cloak for protection from the sun… Not surprising they named me Silk is it? A very basic view of things I suppose, but then again I was one of the only ones alive with an education and the ability to talk and read properly.” I pushed my hoof through the images of Clips and now Ruby-max, the blood red earth pony with rough brown hair. His eyes of brilliant ruby haunting my own, looking to me pleadingly to go back and save the shadow of that day from ever happening. “The guilds…you weren’t here for their rule I suppose, and Celestia was too busy to care about a seedy port city off in a harsh and vicious desert.” I whispered…I couldn’t tell how quietly I was talking, I couldn’t see the breaking monarch. Her sky sea blue eyes filled with tears, moving closer to hear me better, all I saw was the sun on that deadly desert. “They were the real kings…murderers, thieves, assassins…traders.” I laughed a little remembering the Desert Kings and their rule. “They were the real crime…we children were survivors…we stole what we had to survive or attempt to buy shelter… They stole what they did for the power. Power was something only the newest of foals wanted. Money was power…power was respect. To those poor misguided foals. Power is nothing but fear.” “The young ones never could understand that concept.” I chuckled eyes distant seeing faces I hadn’t seen in decades, faces of ghosts long dead. “We rob from the kings…kill the kings…to become the king. But then what happens? We rule as immortals? No…no we become the targets of those who had the same situation like us.” I whispered running a hoof through my mane. “I knew but look at me…a King!” I scoffed those faces staring back at me, disgusted. “The guild… they were the King’s beyond the king. Untouchables. We could hit the traders… and the merchants. Not the guilds, they were beyond all protection. Till that day.” I said the flames blurring across my sight again, this time…and I don’t know why…but I did not shy away. Maybe deep down within my essence I realized that I had been haunted and repressing horrors that nopony should ever have…and this Princess, this Goddess being the first person to be near me…to stay with me. To be someone I could tear down the walls around my heart and mind. “The war was brutal…One guild killed a king of another, a third attacked the first transgressor while a Fourth in alliance with the first slaughtered the third. A fire…they used fire. In the desert…insult to injury really.” I said, voice uncontrolled…I was unaware of my pitch at this point but still that urgng deep inside of me, that surge demanded my continuance. “I wonder if there was ever a full tally of how many died…over ninety percent of the city burnt to the ground that night…and over half the ships in the harbour. So many dead…” There was a long silence between myself and Luna…it was an awkward silence. Inside of me was a monster begging to be let loose, to be freed of its emotional prison. It howled and tore its vicious path around inside my mind and heart. I saw Ruby-Max again… as I saw him last, that young colt engulfed in flames and for the first time in over forty years I felt the sickening burn of tears down my cheek. “We couldn’t save him you know…Ruby-Max was the first of us to fall that night. We tried to get him to the water…as fast as we could, but all it did was burn us quicker. Nothing we could do would help…he screamed…you know ?!” my voice cracked harshly. “He screamed louder then anypony should ever scream, he was alive when we threw him into the sea… how quickly he died after that I can only guess for that’s when oil carrying ships where met with the blaze. The explosion was devastating…those who weren’t incinerated by the sun like heat were showered with glass and splinters from the nearby houses. We were down to ten then…just ten ponies left from our family of thirty. The explosion hit us so hard we almost forgot where we were. “But then the screams…those screams. I wonder how many ponies can say they’ve listened to a city burn alive…those scream!” I gripped my hair violently, my body was shaking and the tears were flowing. I could taste the acrid vomit at t he back of my throat but I swallowed an carried on. For them…always for them. “We tried to flee, tried to run…Another one of us was trampled by the herd… Which dissolved moments later when an apothecary shop went ablaze, the gases filled the air and distorted our vision. Our lungs weakened and filled with smoke already. We wanted to cry, wanted to scream but there was no air or strength in our bodies… we could only run. The next died rather aprublty, stray bullet…we don’t know where the shot came from but the Pegasus beside me dropped instantly. There was no need to pause, we had all seen ponies drop like that before. It made us run faster, faster faster faster faster…” I panted my words getting tight and sped together, my voice failing. How long had I been talking? Why was the fire of my past so hot that I could feel the smoke clog my lungs, only the tears on my fast clearing away the grime of death. “Two more fell, one from smoke.. A filly, this little Pegasus girl she was only four fell back to help and was crushed by a collapsing building…her death was quiet for once their was no scream. Half of us remained… we ran and ran trying to outrun the death. But we couldn’t see the fire through the smoke… An Earth pony, one of the oldest in our family… I remember his green olive mane and his earthly brown coat as it hit the inferno, a surging fireball erupting from the heart of the chaos… He was no more… We ran and ran and ran, the death all around us…I don’t know when the other died…I don’t know when I lost them all I know is that I ran and cried and bellowed into the night. The desert was so-so cold, so icy…” I shivered and shook violently my body gripped with the vivid memories haunting my reality. “How could this happen!? Why did this happen!? They didn’t deserve to die, not like that! Not like this!” I bellowed, Luna’s presence almost forgotten. I was lost fully then, words spilled from my mouth and my body bashed itself violently against the wall as I choked and suffocated on my own words. “Why was there so much death! Why were we born to die like this!? This can’t have been why we were born! Why did no one stop the fire! Why did no one stop the death?!” I was yelling now, my body strained beyond the point of exhaustion. Luna’s voice rang out, her tears pouring down her cheek though I saw none of it. “Stop! Stop! Thou art injuring yourself! STOP!” she tried to order through her tears at me. “WHY DID NO ONE COME!? WHY WAS NO ONE SAVED!? WHERE WERE YOU! THEY WORSHIPPED YOU! WHY DID YOU NEVER COME TO US IN OUR TIME OF NEED!? THEY DIDN’T DESRERVE TO DIE LIKE THAT! HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?! WHY WERE YOU NOT THERE THE ONE TIME WHEN WE NEEDED TO BE SAVED!? WAS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK?! DID WE SEEM GREEDY TO YOU!” I ignored her desperate pleas for me to stop, my eyes blinded with tears. That voice would not reach my ears, not over the screams those violent screams. “WHY DID THEY LEAVE ONLY ME? WHY WAS I THE ONLY ONE TO SURVIVE!? WHY MUST I BEAR THE BURDEN OF THEIR LEGACY!! WHY WEREN’T YOU THERE!!!” I bellowed, my voice breaking I collapsed, broken beyond all limits. My breath was haggard and my body weak I tossed violently in the throws of my hallucinated death. Again and again my voice called out to the darkness which was encasing my very soul. Again and again my words broke into Luna’s heart as a pick through ice. “Why weren’t you there…” And so a fourth night fell, upon my weak and broken body. As the flames of Calimare ripped through my soul I looked to the same sky I had all those years ago, fleeing from the death and chaos. Up to a barren and unforgiving sky, the stars mocking my very existence. “Why weren’t you there…the one time we needed you…” "Legacy"here This link will take you to the entire legacy story in one large file for easy access. Google Doc link here : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fWXnZbtRjd1ib0-mTw3bQ2kVNetCZSJD7McY1FfC6BI/edit?hl=en_GB
"Legacy" Intro "Legacy" Intro Prologue Princess Celestia stretched her brilliant white wings luxuriously, flexing the muscles to work out the kinks. She had been far too long without a fly through the air, the business of running Equestria weighing heavily on her shoulders. With the rise of Discord and recovery at the hooves of her faithful student Twilight Sparkle and her friends, fixing any chaos that had been left behind by the Element of Harmony had become her major priority. The amazingly white Alicorn looked out of the palace window as she made her way through the Castle in Canterlot. It was approaching twilight, one of two times of the day when both her and her little sister's magic would work in harmony. She stopped her slow walk up the tower, resting her muzzle against cooling glass of a building high pane of glass and allowed her eyes a moment’s rest. It had been almost a year now since the defeat of Nightmare Moon and the release of her beloved sister. Her eyelids lifted slightly revealing her tired pink eyes. The sky had darkened considerably; it was time for her to lower the sun and allow her sister to raise the moon. The power inside of her surged greatly at her command, willed by the right of her blood, ordered by her voice. The tell-tale glow of unicorn magic in use enveloped her entire body and spread out into the air, polluting the nearby scenery with it's viciously sweet glow. Celestia could feel it, the magical essence flowing from her blood out across her entire realm. She felt every heart beat, every life encompassed by her magic as it reached up into the heavens and grabbed hold the sun. The Princess allowed her eyes to close to focus on this feeling as she pushed the sun beneath the rim to the other side of the planet, allowing light to be shared with those of foreign lands, awaiting the telltale magical force of her sister, Luna. The feeling never came… Celestia opened her eyes in confusion to view the starry sky, it darkened by the absence of her sister’s celestial body. Her voice called out in confusion, though no pony was there to hear. “L-Luna?” With her unicorn magic encompassing her form, the eldest sister teleported to her sisters tower, barreling forward through the double wide wooden door into her sister’s room. “Luna!” she cried, but there was no pony to answer. The room was dark and barren, Luna’s things seemed untouched, uncorrupted. Stillness permeated the air of the room that showed the age of a thousand years, the youngest sister still taking a long time to adjust to the cultural shift. A cold, icy wind blew in from an ominously open window, a shadow danced across Celestia’s face. Her eyes darted to the windowsill where a letter, sealed and pressed, was tied; being uplifted by the cold night wind. Using her unicorn powers the Princess lifted the letter to her face, her name was written on it in a beautiful and angelic font. Using her delicate magic she opened the letter and levitated the paper near her eyes, the only illumination cast by her horn, the sky dark without it’s moon. I have done the impossible. The moon has been stolen. To be returned at my leisure. Or kept for my pleasure. -The gray-night.
"Legacy" Day 1 "Legacy" Day 1 Day 1 The World of 1 Becomes 2 . I made my way through the open market slowly. Their eyes were on me. Everypony, Earth, Pegasus or Unicorn could not help but stare. I had moved here years ago, but I suppose for many of them it was the first time they had seen me… not that I hadn’t seen them… when they didn’t know it. I gave a swish of my black and grey tail, the fruits before me enticing my sense of smell so very sweetly. Raising a hoof I prodded and poked my way through apples, oranges, peaches and almost any other food they offered at this market and bought more than one pony’s fair share. I paid everything up front without hesitation, though I admitted only to myself I did this because I was stealing at least twice as much money with my horn or a quick play of the hooves. They never caught on, and never would. I was too quick, too good. To them I looked like nothing more then an old Unicorn far past his prime. My thick grey mane had once been an onyx black, and though my hair kept it’s nightmare shade the lines of greys revealed my true age for all to see. Still my black eyes were sharp, alert at all times. They would leave me alone--my rugged appearance made sure of that. If it didn't, my cutie mark would. No one but me ever understood the cloak and dagger which I wore on my flank, and no one ever would. I chuckled a little, blowing some of my long black hair from my face. No, these ponies where all too easy to control. . “Well, howdy!” a sickening loud voice called out as I entered one of the few store shops along the open market. Ripe Pickens was one of the few ponies in this town who knew me by name, I had been coming to this store fairly often since my arrival for food and he never seemed to get the hint that I wasn’t one for words. “Looking like you have a heavy load, Mr. D’Rouge,” he said waving his hoof at my heavy saddle pack, brimming with food. “Would you like some help?” the yellow earth pony asked, I took a moment to consider him. Out of all the ponies in this town he was the only one that could pose a problem, I had become too comfortable here, spent too much time in his presence. Looking him over I still found it hard to believe that this simple pony with his thick yellow coat, bright orange mane of short groomed hair; a cutie mark of a tropical tree bearing fruit could cause me a problem. That realization sunk in just how deeply I was jeopardizing myself with routine. Had I become soft? I pondered as I politely turned down his offer, my voice coiling from my throat like the finest silk, as my namesake it was. He smiled to me plainly and bought whatever lies I choose to tell him. For this particular day I decided a long trip out of town and the inability to shop would require me to stock up on food. I paid him well, left a generous tip. Donated haplessly from his neighbours and friends, smiling I left the shop looking up to the sky. It had been a moonless night just hours before and the mere thought sent a shiver down my spine. Looking around everypony seemed to be ignorant or accepting to the fact…their faith in their Princesses was not unfounded, but it was too heavily relied upon. XXXXXXXXXX I moved about my kitchen, my home was to say the least on the outskirts of the town where I had spent my day. It was actually connected, underground at least, to an ancient ruin which contained many magics and treasures for an inquisitive mind like myself to play with. I had learned spells that would put Celestia to shame, and they had…presently served their purpose. I allowed my thoughts to linger to the room down beneath three levels of the house. It was truly a marvel of magical ingenuity and dragon forged technology. It was constructed by a stone that literally fed off of unicorn magic draining a pony to beneath the level of a Earth Pony in magic. This magic is then stored within the wall and can be altered, by a powerful unicorn outside of the room to be used to fuel ruins and glyphs of power. I smiled a little finishing the meal I was preparing, looking down my mind went from the room to my current situation. This was the first time in my long life I had made a meal for two…the circumstances felt bizarre but it had an oddly homely feeling. I shook those thoughts violently from my head, it was not the time to think of such things… my weakness was showing and I did not enjoy it. Balancing the plates in my hooves I began to make the long trip down to the under levels of my home, making sure the freshly diced fruits and cooked flowers did not fall to be tainted on the dusty floor bellow. Hopefully my guest would find her meal adequate. XXXXXXXXXX I came to the magically enchanted room, and coughed loudly to clear my throat. Though surprisingly thick it was only soundproof from within (a benefit to the immense magic pulsing through it’s form) my voice would carry through. “Are you calm…?” I asked ominously, my voice was soft and soothing, gently. The voice of someone who knew how to control the emotions of others, for all my rough and tumble appearance my charm and charisma was my greatest tool. I knew no noise would follow, but I also knew that my house guest would have calmed down. I had been hesitant to leave her there for the hours while I was away gathering the necessary food for us given the nature of… her entire being… was something that even the ancient tombs had little information on. I leaned my head forward touching my horn to the stone, it recognized me, it would answer me and the power of that knowledge filled me with confidence. There she was as I pushed the door open and felt the air of it closing behind me. It felt bizarre, the magic being sucked out of me… yet invigorating, like the weight of it had kept these old bones of mine down for years. I felt for certain at that moment I could steal the wheel off a cart and be miles away before the owner realized it had stopped moving. She was laying before me, her eyes opened slightly almost weak. I knew she wasn’t that bad off, I spent a month in this room straight before deciding it would be safe enough to use without harming her. Those sea-blue eyes looked at me begging me to explain, I shrugged them off and set down the food. “Here, eat.” I said pushing her food towards her, not wasting anytime I began to eat and observe. She was hungry, I knew this, her rumbling stomach and dilated eyes. I took this time as I ate my food to observe her. Her magical mane had been disillusioned, her power drained. Her brilliant blue coat looked as if it had never seen a days decent work, I noticed and her massive wings, twice the size of a normal Pegasus’s twitched against her side anxiously. She had now started on her food, it made me smile. Glad that the young one knew enough to eat when given food, enjoying my own. Not to toot my own horn but I had discovered a talent for food preparation during my early travels in life. Her tail swayed happily, the only movement in the room dragging my eyes to it forcibly. It had lost its magical sheen as well and was a faded blue to match her eyes, on her flank was her cutie mark. That black splotch with the white crescent moon… “Is it to your liking, Princess?” I asked respectfully, sitting back with my plate cleared. Luna choked a little on the food she was currently eating, her eyes moving back from her food to me. She didn’t speak but watched me closely, as if judging my personality and temperament would effect her answer. “Always the royal…” I thought to myself lifting a hoof to my mane giving it a toss and pushing it from my eyes. “Don’t worry, that wasn’t a test. I have done all I needed to do with you and now my only goal is to make sure you are comfortable.” I said, eyes never leaving hers; I could see the shiver down her spine. My black eyes were intimidating, and a great asset. “And what was it you needed to do…?” she squeaked, her voice was so fragile and filly-like that it was almost impossible to take her seriously as a princess, no a deity to the people of Equestria. I gave her my cockiest smile, there was no need to be modest about that question, none at all. “I have stolen you, my Dear Princess. My job has been completed.” I nodded to her food and she turned away from me eyes closing she finished off her food. We sat in silence and I looked up, I had used Luna’s magic to enchant part of the wall to allow her to see the grounds of my home, it was the same thick wall but the magic had made it one way translucent. It would be evening soon on the second moonless night…I couldn’t help but wonder if that was hurting her more then helping…As I sat their and pondered this her voice cut through my thoughts and called me back to reality. “Can I ask why…?” It was a timid whisper, she was afraid to anger me… this Deity was afraid of me. I didn’t know how to feel at that emotion in her voice, to be proud that I had done what nopony would ever believe possible. I had robbed the sky of the moon. I considered her question, and I made sure to show it on my face that I was deep in thought during this moment to keep her quiet, I had never been one for foal-napping and I didn’t feel like I was one now. I had not taken her out of spite, the royal sisters had never been a bothersome to me… no authority had ever been bothersome to me. My motives had seemed clear and they still did not seem muddled or confused by her question. I supposed this is what bothered me the most about the situation. I should have been hesitating, my motives should have felt shaken. I had kidnapped a Princess, a Deity and trapped her deep underground. Still I felt as normal as if I had stolen anything else, if not more so. The rush was something I had expected, but I found that it had forsaken me… like a high that I had become to used too. “Why…I guess if I had to answer you…” I started to say getting up and opening the door, the beaten Alicorn laid there making no attempt to flee, curious to the answer. “It would be…to have a Legacy.”
"Legacy" Day 2 "Legacy" Day 2 Day 2 A Tale of the Thousand Year Stay. I spent the next day at home. It had been a quiet, moonless night. More ponies had been out in the streets staring up at the sky, and I was sure it was not an isolated phenomenon here. All over Equestria there would be ponies looking up to the sky at night lost as to why there was no moon, and on the other side of the world there was a eternal orb floating up in the heavens unable to set down into its normal track. It would take time…I knew that, still impatience is a occupational hazard. Often a thief, such as myself, had merely to reach and grab or quickly magic something away. For a heist or a drawn out plan like this impatience would kill a lesser thief. They would slip up, make a mistake. I was no rookie thief. My day was used down with Luna in the room of no magic with her. No words had been spoken during the time I had spent there. At time she had fallen into a sleep from exhaustion or a lack of anything better to do…and I was sure at one time I also had fallen asleep. It was quiet with the Princess, peaceful…things that in my mind had always been synonymous with solidarity. I’ll admit finding peace with another pony present was something that I had never known. There was…surprisingly so, no malice or anger in the Alicorn. Only curiosity and fear…thankfully not enough to push her over into panic or violence. We had both silently come to terms with that we had not wanted to hurt one another and were content with that for now. Then why did I feel so restless. It bothered me to no end, honestly. That though everything was going far better then I could ever plan that I was irritated, unsatisfied. I wanted something, I didn’t know what and that made me angrier. Sighing I looked at the clock, it was only half past eight at night. The “moon” would be out soon, or lack there of. But it was still far to early to call it time for bed. I fidgeted and twitched around, restless. Nothing I did could stem how badly I wished to move, to do something. As if I was the one being imprisoned, the one held against my will. The thought of this made me freeze completely, a cold nerve tingling shiver running across my entire body. There was no way Luna would have been able to use her magic. No way to interfere with my mind. Still I had this impenetrable feeling and odd twitch. I recalled a time when a Pegasus had once told me when he was unable to fly for a few months due to a broken wing, I felt now much as he did…or how he described it. He had spoken of an insanity inducing need to move to be free of whatever it was that held him down. I decided, quickly and rather foolishly to go to the local pub. It would be open on this moonless night, the ponies in the town would need a place to gossip. Rummaging around I found a cloak, it looked very much like my cutie mark and indeed carried the same unearthly feel about it, grabbing it by the hood my eyes fell upon the small gold lettering beneath the hood’s thick rim. Silk D’Rouge. My name, it seemed odd being on my cloak… I felt it was out of place, something that could get me in serious trouble if it turned up in the wrong place at the wrong time. I shrugged and threw it on. If anything it was a reminder of my current lifestyle. I could afford to have a name, to have a home and objects. The past was the past…My mind drifted to those terrible times for just a moment before I shook them away opening the door. I was about to start down the black path to town when a thought occurred to me. Moving slowly I made my way around the building to the spot where I knew Luna’s window to be. I rapped my hoof against stone and waited a moment to give her time to notice me. “I’m going out.” I called to her, I knew she could hear me, looking up into the sky for a moment I paused to view the star which seemed to sad and foreign without their guiding moon. “Don’t stay up all night looking at a sky you can’t change.” I finished, moving away from her down the road to what I could already hear was a rowdy time. XXXXXXXXX I’m not one to drink, and if on occasion I do choose to drink then I am one to make sure I do not abuse. The past wouldn’t let me, I knew what it meant to be opulent and inebriated by that sweet sickly swill. There was a saying on the streets, well the streets I was from… “Only the man who can afford twice as much as he drinks has a hope of drinking his fill and living to tell about it.” It was sage advice…how little did I know how much of an effect it had to me even to this day. I was no longer that colt, starving on the streets trying to survive, I was a grown stallion with wealth and power if needed. Still however those words echoed within my head as I stumbled out of the bar, the last patron to leave. I had never been so drunk in my life, admittedly…there was something bothering me, it forced me to this. At least that’s how I rationalized it. I made my way loudly through the streets toward the dark path, it was morning now… still the sun was down and the moon was no where to be seen. I groaned a little and stumbled along in the darkness. There was something I wanted to do…I didn’t know what it was in my drunken stupor but I knew home was the way to go. So though a tripped over my cloak on more then one occasion and bumped rather loudly into several rather innocent trees I made it back to my home. XXXXXXXXXX Pressing my horn to the magical door I forced it up, and entered, tipsy falling too my haunches. I could smell the booze on my own breath, it must have been something else all together for my presence was enough to stir the Princess. I wiggled where I sat, getting myself comfortable, midnight eyes staring down Luna, who shied away slightly from me, either my appearance or smell. We sat frozen, silence…nothing but that same silence for a long, long time. I destroyed it, and to my sharp penetrating eyes Luna can not hide how she flinched away from me. “Speak.” it was a command, the silk charisma in my voice hidden behind a drunken will. I levelled her with a cold, debilitating stare. The kind of stare that you either have the will to defeat or the cowardice to run from. Not that the little filly before me had any choice… “Little Filly?” my drunken mind focused for just a second, a Princess yes, and a variable god but this mare before me was half my size, shivering slightly in her fear… “Speak to me.” I said again the deadpan expression on my face doing nothing to warm her up. “Thou art… drunk.” she said in that soft, naïve voice of hers that made my ear twitch and my horn itch. I gave my neck a twist, creaking the sore bones, sharply. “Yes, Princess Obvious. That’s been determined already. Talk to me.” I ordered and she looked up at me. Her brilliant night sky coat shimmered with her little shivers. It was bizarre, for me at least, to be so enthralled by her appearance. Why did I want her to talk to me…why did I feel the need to be near this mare… I didn’t know, maybe that’s why I was here demanding her voice. “What dost thou want from us…?” the Princess asked looking down and to the side, not meeting my cold black eyes. “I want you to talk. Speak to me.” I said, my deep voice resounding and echoing over her tiny squeak. An interesting thought crossed my mind. It was no small secret of the possession of Princess Luna by the Nightmare Moon, nor was it private knowledge that the Princess had spent a thousand years banished to the moon that was now absent over Equestrian skies. I stared her down and felt her waver under my gaze. Lifting a hoof I stroke my small, black and gray goatee considering the idea that had come into my head. Suffice to saya culture gap of one thousand years would provide a fair bit of shock, I was more then aware that she was not entirely caught up on the occurrences of life which happened in her absence. Perhaps she had spent her time this year, learning of the world from her older sister… in another form of isolation. “Am I…I really am the first Stallion you’ve spent any time around in the last thousand years. Aren’t I.” I said in my deep, masculine voice. Accusing the frail Alicorn before me. She refused to meet my eyes, but I could see the darkening of her cheeks to a midnight black from a sky blue. After a minute or two she nodded, still facing away, laying down on all fours. Sighing I leaned back against the magical draining wall. “You really don’t have to worry Princess…” I said with a defeated groan, for some reason the wall was spinning around me and chuckling, mocking me. “If I had intended to harm you I would have done it by now, I’m not one for torture.” my words, in my opinion should have been uplifting. Though I suppose the young Princess would not take them the way I had intended them. My limbs felt heavy and slow, sluggish in my drunken haze…I felt my forelegs collapse limp against the magically warmed floor. Eyes exploring the dull light purple room glowing in spots with out magic. “Just talk to me…okay…?” it was not the same command, this time I did not force her eyes to meet mine…it was a statement if it was anything. “But what wouldst thou have me speak…” She said looking away from me, her voice was thicker now. Perhaps it was the confidence, I understood the feeling. “You hath absconded with me and trapped me here like some rat in a cage. We do not know what more you want from us.” she said, facing me with each word her voice grew louder and deeper, more like I assumed she would have sounded a thousand years ago when the Princess were something to fear and revere. A time long lost. “First, quiet down.” I said looking at her with my sharp black eyes. “I know you have been away for a long, long time Princess but times have changed. You should relax. Second, I merely am asking for you to speak to me…converse…who knows maybe it’ll break your accent up a bit.” I chuckled, her “thee’s and thou’s” having grated on my ears enough. “Lastly, I just want to talk to you.” I said looking at her with the most bored expression my drunken face could manage. In her courage she stood up and approached me, her voice getting louder still. Perhaps the pride of being a noble, a Princess was coming back to her. “And who dost thou think thou art! Imprisoning US!? To make demands of us!?” she was practically yelling now, her hoof pressed against my chest as she yelled, accusingly. It was instinct, honed to perfection by my body which hid its true strength. My left foreleg spun around my back across a blade I kept hidden within my coat, the weapon spinning into place along my leg. The cold metal was against her sky blue neck, biting at her deeper then had I actually cut her. I was much like death, I could only assume, in appearance to her now as I held a dagger to her throat, much like the one that resided on my flank. “Sit down.” I ordered and she followed. I pulled the blade from her neck and slide it back to its concealed sheath. “Now listen here, Princess.” I said, my words calm and collected. “In this room we are nothing but equals. Without your magic you’re nothing but any other pony to me. And I NEVER lose to an equal.” I threatened. Luna, for all her worth, managed to keep some semblance of her composure as she sat down and stared at me. I didn’t blame her, this all must seem very strange to her…thousand year culture gap or not one does not run into many ponies like myself in the palaces of Canterlot. “What…dost thou wish us to talk about…?” she asked looking down and away, worried of a drunken attack I assumed. Though I was hazy, and I’ll admit more tipsy then I’d ever like to be I was not a violent pony by nature. Just a crook. “Tell me about the moon…” I said eyes going dreamy, leaning into the wall for warmth I rested, not noticing her flinch. “What dost thou mean…” she said looking to me. “I want to hear about how you felt when you were up there…What it was like to be alone like that…What could have been going through your head.” I said my voice growing lucid, losing its tangible qualities. She looked away, then walked away from me a bit. Though drunk I could only imagine the inner turmoil going on within the Alicorn before me. Not that I was overly concerned, her feelings were not my responsibility. That baggage, the baggage I could see in her eyes as she looked deep into her heart to find strength would kill her one day, in my mind, I was doing nothing but helping her grow. “It…it was lonely…and cold.” she whispered after a long time of silence, her speaking voice far softer and quieter then the royal voice which she had attempted to enforce just minutes ago. “Like you’d never be whole again.” I said looking away from her down at my self, this old and tired body of mine. There was a small gasp, I looked to her and she was facing me with this incredulous look. I wasn’t too sure if that part was real or the handiwork of the drink which was thick in my veins. “Y-yes…” she stuttered, sitting down looking at me. For all my worth I did not pity those sad and haunted eyes. Pity would lead to guilt, guilt would lead to a mistake. Mistakes lead to death. “I…I didn’t think there would be anypony else who’d understand that feeling…” she whispered, to herself. But my trained ears could pick up any sound within a good mile radius. I couldn’t help but scoff a little at her words. “Times have changed in deed Princess, ponies have lived through isolation to rival your own and much worse to survive.” I whispered sarcastically, not sure if she heard me. Not that I cared. “It was like a darkness…all around us all the time.” she whispered looking out the window the moonless night, the sun’s rays could be seen rising from the east. “We were so sad….we just wanted…we only wanted to be with our people…to be able to share their happiness.” Her eyes trained off on the sun light encroaching on her beautiful stars. I looked at her for a long time, my eyes growing unfocused as the seconds passed. “I bet you were angry too.” I said with a quiet yawn. “At ourselves more then anything…We suppose…” she whispered looking out the window again as the fiery orb of her sister’s graced the sky and burnt away the night. “We were very lost…and now that we have found a way back into the light…the time hast left us behind…” Luna said eyes darkening with an inner sadness that nopony could fully know. “It was so cold and forsaken there, trapped in…in HER form…We never enjoyed what we had become…it haunted our every breath at the monster that hath wrapped itself around us in our jealousy. “ Luna shivered at the feeling of that other self encroaching on her thoughts. I could tell it was bothering her, I was used to the feeling, more then many pony would ever know… I watched her for a long time, eyes tired and spent. I rapped my hoof against the stone floor beneath me to draw her attention. She looked to me, I motioned with my hoof to get her to move near me. Luna hesitated for a moment then approached, hopefully remembering that I had no intention to hurt her. She sat down in front of me and I stifled another yawn with my hoof, bringing it to my lips. I shook myself awake a little leaning forward I touched my Unicorn’s Horn to hers for a moment before leaning back down against the wall, the darkness of sleep encroaching on me. “Well now you have all the time in the world… To catch back up to us all.”
"Legacy" Day 4Day 4 Ripe for the Picking. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. The primordial drum shook my otherwise destroyed consciousness. I could feel it echoing through my skull and baring its fangs down my spine. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. It bounced around inside my mind, the light of early morning forcing its way through my eyelids. Light, light had broken through the darkness. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Constant and warming. I felt the sound vibrate through my entire body, meeting and colliding with a resounding bass in my chest. They rocked against each other in asymmetrical harmony. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Swirling light and sound rocked my senses, pulling me to the world of the living once again. Dark black eyes filling with their once lost sentience. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. I placed a hoof strongly beneath me…I had been laying down…But where? On what? Where did this bass come from to intrude so deeply into my soul. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Eyes rolled over to the right, I could see something on my peripheral. Escaping my sight just barely the image teased me. Forcing it, with all my might, I turned my head and looked down upon what I had collapsed. There was Luna, in all her royal glory. I moved my eyes over her brilliant midnight form, her aquamarine mane…its once midnight black magic lost to the draining powers of the room we were encased. I forced myself up and off her, what was now revealed as the beating of her heart leaving my aura as I pushed away. I could feel the loss in that moment, a loss of a kind of purity I would never be able to explain. No words I have can be used to explain the perfect mechanism of that sound, that sound which echoed across all planes of mind body and soul. I stood still looking down at her sleeping form for a long, intermediate time. That heart beat had pushed its way through my core as if the hand of god had, with just the gentlest touch, parted all the walls around my heart. Speak, you want to speak. You want to let her know how that moment feels. I struggled with my body as it fought my mind. The memories of those flames stilling my tongues, muscles held their grudge firm. They recalled those flames, the injuries…the pain of the life they had lived and though my mind and heart begged for me to forgive my body, in all its power forced me still. I looked at her with what I can only believe is the most open expression I have ever worn, however as she stirred to awaken I felt my body return even that to its original state. Luna looked up to me, I turned away unable to bear it at the moment, my heart and mind aghast with myself…I…I had no idea what to do. This was new, different. I felt different. I was different. I. Was. Different. The idea of it almost set me flat, how was I different? What happened…? Her voice broke my thoughts, the royal force had left her. She seemed very much like any other pony at that moment, her voice filly-like. It was as if I had walked into a different world, a different time. So different did everything look and sound. “Art…no..” she corrected herself after a moments pause. “Are…you ok…?” she asked me, I wanted to tell her how I felt, how light I felt at that moment. Body, how it betrays me thus. It refused me word, I could not speak or nod, nor cry in anguish. It was as is the clarity that my mind was now busy working out had caused a befuddlement of my limbs. I turned from her, lost within this new type of fog. A fog I could see through so clearly that it scared me to look. Without a word I walked slowly towards the door, opening it with one hoof I began to leave the unadorned room. There was no sense of danger, she would not try to escape. Instead all that my senses could feel were her brilliant sea coloured eyes boring into my skull. Her voice, so sweet, called out to me. “Do you…do you really hate me…?” I could feel the shivering uncertainty in her words. Sense the balance tipping ever so delicately. It was as if I could feel the horror and the pain etched into her voice, the words I had thrown at her the day before leaving deeper scars on her heart and soul then I had ever thought possible. I wanted to speak to her, I didn’t know what I wanted to say, my body and mind at odds. Nothing…no word would leave my lips. I turned my eyes to her and tried as hard as I could to relay my emotions to her through them but her face showed that I did nothing of the sort. Defeated by my body which would not let me forgive and a heart that would not open up all the way. I turned and left her in cold, unforgiving silence closing her prison behind me. Only much later would it come to me that the chilly indifferent silence I was forced to offer would hurt my Princess the most. XXXXXXXXXX I had been walking…for how long I wasn’t really sure. As stated above I had entered into a paradoxal haze of clarity about myself and my past. Desires had always repressed and disregarded as unnecessary and dangerous seemed to crop back up in that crystalline mud. It was not until I heard that, obnoxiously, loud voice echoing out to me that I came to my senses and realize where I was. “D’rouge? Are you okay…” blinking hard I found myself staring into the brilliant orange eyes of Ripe Pickins, the store owner. I looked around in the early morning sun, I had made my way all the way into town and was now standing inside of the just opened shop ran by my Earth Pony counterpart. “I..ah-yeah, I’m fine.” I stumbled over my words like a preschooler, as if it was all new to me, I began to stumble back turning to leave. “Sorry for intruding, I don’t quite know how I got here.” Now, let it be said… that had this been any other shop, and any other pony in all of this wide world I would have left there in peace, to the solitude of my own mind and the problems I was facing internally. I would like to be able to say that this is how my day would continue. Ripe, for all his salt however, is not just anypony. “Now ya’ll just hold on there Silk.” he ordered and I froze. I FROZE. It may have been because this was the first time Ripe had ever called me by my first name or because he had used that fatherly tone which he used with his children, a tone an orphan like myself had grown old never experiencing. “I know you may not like talking to ponies but I can’t in good consciousness let you just leave her like that, now can I.” I strived as hard as I could to inform him that he very well could, and that it would be far more satisfactory for myself if he did but the shop owner had already walked around the counter and taken off his apron. His strong, fatherly voice rang out. “Dill, take over cash I’ma go talk with out friend Mr. D’Rouge for a bit.” I felt his hoof on my back ushering me out the door when his oldest son yelled back with a responsive ‘Yes, Pa!’ XXXXXXXXXX Ripe dragged me outside against all of my protests, and I did protest. As hard as my addled mind would allow. “Now ya’ll talk to old Ripey here and we’ll solve what’s making that cloud over your head.” he said, with such seriousness I did indeed look up to check above my head for a dark cloud. Confused at his metaphor. “Really, there’s nothing wrong.” I stammered being dragged along the side of the building. “Now we both know that’s nothing but full on bull crap.” Ripe said annoyingly, taking me aback at his forwardness. “Ripe, seriously there’s noth----” he raised a hoof to my mouth jamming my words. We had come to the back of his shop and were now viewing an illustrious garden with beautiful flowers growing to pony height, fruits and vegetables populating row upon row . In the center of this beautiful garden was an equally beautiful and earthly unicorn. She had long hair ranging from moss green to a dirt brown, her coat had a beautiful muddy sheen, eyes half opened just hiding emerald orbs. I heard a sigh from Ripe as he viewed his wife in a moment of peace. Clearing his throat he moved up past me. “Daisy, dear.” he swooned, practically fawned to her. So hard in fact that it summoned a flush to my cheeks, let alone hers and his. “Think you could go inside and help Dill open up, Master D’Rouge and I need some private time.” he hinted none to deeply and she smiled sweetly. Kissed his cheek and walked past me. I wish someone would smile at me like that… ran through my mind before I could suppress the treacherous feelings and emotions. Still I could not deny how I felt, I could however turn my head away so as not be seen starring at another stallion’s wife. Not that it stopped Ripe. “Silk, I have got to be the luckiest slob in the world….” he drooled watching his wife walk away, eyeing me with a wink and pulling me to a nearby bench. “So she’s pregnant again, eh?” I asked sitting down, the surprised gasp from Ripe obviously meant he had not expected me to notice. “How’d you…” he left the question hanging waving a hoof at me. “Oh, pregnant mare’s walk a certain way, there’s a sway to it.” I said shrugging, I had seen enough pregnant mare’s, a glimpse was enough of a hint for me to tell. “Not that I was staring.” I added quickly feeling uncomfortable. “Well, you do have an eye…don’t you.” There was a tone in Ripe’s voice that was hinting that he knew more then he let on. “So I assume it’s Mare trouble?” he asked making me choke on the nothing I had in my mouth. “No it isn’t, and if it was why would I want to talk about it with you?” I said trying to recover myself in my own eyes. “Oh you do…” he chuckled and got this smile. Damn that smile pisses me off. “And how can you be so sure of yourself?” I demanded rather coarsely, the velvety silk in my voice leaving as I let slip that pretence. “Listen to me Silk, out of all the stores in this town, and all the vendors you keep coming to mine. The one store where you know you’ll get agitated the most because I won’t let you leave without exchanging some pleasantries or taking an attempt to get to know you better. Even though that annoys you, you still come back again and again to my shop. Consciously or not you want to have that communication no matter how small and insignificant it is.” Ripe said staring me down. His appearance did a radical shift, he appear much more like a man of power then a shop keep. My eyes traced over his strong muscles, far too honed to be from managing their garden or lifting crates. It made my heart race to feel so uninformed…had I really become so complacent. “Oh, and you’re one to go all Hoofian on me, eh?” I accused, meeting his stare with my black eyes. “Oh I am… you may not know this but before I moved here I was a homicide detective in Mareami.” the Stallion mused leaning back stretching over the edge of the bench. My eyes sharpened immediately as all my defences raised, thief or not the petty crimes would pale in comparison to stealing a goddess and imprisoning her. I looked deep into this stallion like a predator before the prey, eyes sharper then the dagger which adorned my flank. “But that was ages ago…” he mused carrying on as if there had been no change in the atmosphere. “When I met Daisy I decided to settle into something a little less dangerous and became a private detective…” “Then how’d you end up here…?” I asked curious, millions of simulations looping in my head as I predicted every outcome and method of attack or escape. “Well Daisy got pregnant. Not to say I didn’t have a hoof in that.” he teased giving me a nudge on the shoulder his nonchalant manner chipping away at my barriers. “So we decided to leave the city and moved here. Opened a shop. Been happy ever since as well.” he concluded looking deep into me. “I know that you think you don’t want to talk to me but I know some small part of you does.” he finished. I sighed and looked up to the sun, the brilliant orb looked back, mocking me for my transgressions against its divine trajectory. I allowed my body to relax against the bench looking straight up. “I suppose…that I just don’t know what I want… I had always just wanted to find a way to be remembered when I’m gone.” I whispered looking up eyes unfocused. A gentle and fatherly chuckle pulled me back to my reality. Ripe was smiling at me benignly. “Oh, I doubt people will forget you, you do stick out.” I chuckled myself feeling foalish… why had I not done this earlier again? Those fire days and those painful deaths seemed so far away in this pristine moment. “You know, I never in my entire life thought of what I wanted. I had been alone for so long and to be honest I was perfectly content with that…but now…” I said voice growing more and more incalculable as I carried n with my words. Waving a hoof out to Ripe’s house, no, his home. “I find myself wanting this a little in my old age…” “What do you mean this?” Ripe asked looking out at the edge of my hoof. “Can’t you see it man?!” I accused. “A home, a loved one, family…children. A legacy. Something to say you were here.“ The earth pony chuckled and ruffled his mane a little. “I suppose that this is something special isn’t it…” he said as if seeing something which to him had been rudimentary and common in an entirely new light. “You have no idea…” I sighed and looked out to that home, Daisy was outside now in the front with one of the young ones hanging up a sign. I felt a twinge in my heart and a distortion crossed my eyes. There instead of Daisy was Luna…the Princess, hanging a sign…I couldn’t make out what was on it… She looked so beautiful there, radiant in the morning sun. A small colt ran up to her, his horn barely visible above his wild mane of the darkest black I had ever seen. He tugged at her wing playfully and pranced around her to a smile that melted my once onyx heart. Then there was myself, an older version…I assumed though I looked much the same, and she graced me with that smile…god that smile. It was no wonder that this mare could coax the moon to dance the skies every night with a smile like that. I felt as if I may melt on that spot, a future before me that I knew not how to handle. And then it was all gone, the illusions and delusions I had made. I shook my head violently rubbing my temple looking over to Ripe who was watching me intently with this all knowing smirk on his face that made me want to buck a tree. “Oh wipe that smirk off your face.” I groaned getting up to leave, Luna had not eaten the day before and must be as hungry as I was… thought deep inside I admitted I just wanted to be in that room again. “ I have somewhere to be.” I excused myself taking a step away. “Oi, Silk.” Ripe’s rich voice called to me, twitching my ear I stopped and allowed him to continue though I did not turn back. “It may shock you to hear this but I have always considered you a friend. Funny as it may seem. I want you to be happy. So if you want to find a life for yourself like this, I’ll be here to help.” he gave me that sickly smile. I didn’t need to see it to know. I just walked away, a foolish colt like smile on my face. Knowing that though in the end I would never have that home… that life. I was happy for the first time. XXXXXXXXX Finishing with the plate of fruit I moved away from the fridge. I had placed some peaches within to ferment in syrup to make a deliciously sweet snack which was soft as clouds. Carrying a bowl of said peaches and a large fruit salad down the stairs to the lower ruins was no mean feat but I did it without complaint. The realization of what my silence had done to Luna hit me hard and I felt that future I envisioned slipping ever further from my hooves. I had yet to fully come to terms with my feelings... struggling through the last few walls I built on that fiery night. It made me more then a little contemptuous at myself for my hesitation. Pressing my horn to the door the magic parted the portal. There she was, sitting there inside… God she looked so beautiful. Her face looked so sad it broke all the onyx that coated my heart and turned my tongue to a jelly like substance. I walked in, the door slamming behind me. Setting down her food I pushed it forward with my muzzle, sitting back and looking down. I could not meet those sad and injured eyes. I had hurt her and the thought was turning my stomach like a butter churn. Nauseous I did the best I could to focus on the ground while she ate soundlessly but my mind saw nothing but that heartbroken Goddess. How long we sat there like that I didn’t know…time had no meaning to us in that room. We were in a world entirely our own…composed of just us. It was a special room…to me at least. It was our place. The one place where the onyx of my heart was gone in all my long life. Courage, find courage in that image. Courage in what you saw, feel it flowing through your body…I demanded of my mind forcing it to my will. So, I spoke. “I…I don’t hate you…Luna.” I whispered… and there was silence, I could feel my cheeks flush beyond a colour of black that any cheek is meant to flush. I couldn’t meet her eyes for fear of the hate or anger in them, and the shame on my cheeks. Was I surprised when a crying Princess threw her legs around my neck in a gripping my in a vice like hug. And, unable to move from that spot I held her tightly. I embraced that hug, my first and what may very well be my last. Burrowing into Luna’s mane I nuzzled her as I rubbed down her back. When I did she eased into me, her sobs slowing gradually. Now…don’t hold it against me but for the first time in my existence I was completely open and void of barriers. It was the first time my heart was free to do as it pleased with my body and the words that left my mouth next left it without my permission or guidance. “Luna…I love you.”
"Legacy" Day 5Day 5 A Walk in the Park. I was awoken by the same primal drum beat…this time conscious of what it was. My legs were around Luna…I remembered that. Shaking my mane and back I forced the sleeping princess off me slowly. I had no desire to wake her now…The throbbing in my chest had left a residual burn I was unused to. It was a heart without barriers, defenceless and open…the thought scared me far more then a little. I pushed my horn against the portcullis, the grinding of its opening causing my nightmare princess to stir. “Morning…” she said in that voice of hers, the quiet one of a filly; a confused voice. Not the booming Royal one she came in on. I preferred this voice to the others, truly. “Good Morning.” I said too embarrassed to face her, I could feel my cheeks redden. “Damnit I’m almost sixty years old!” I thought angrily at myself, urging myself to relax. “I’ll go make some breakfast.” I informed her taking another step outside when she cut me off with her voice. “Can we go outside today…?” I paused for the moment and considered the question for a moment. Was the WE as in her and myself? Of was it a slip into the royal “We” in which she had referred to herself? Either way it was not as if I could be seen outside with the missing Princess… especially now… Equestria had faced its fifth moonless night. No matter how well Celestia attempted to stem public opinion it would have escaped by now. “Don’t get carried away…” I whispered head down sighing, I had a role to play. “But…” I added, not looking to notice her crestfallen expression…I truly had grown too soft hadn’t I? “I’ll see what I can do…” XXXXXXX I sat down and watched Luna eat the small breakfast I had prepared for her…my hoof fiddling with a small device. It was a necklace with a gemstone made from the room…It would allow her to go outside…but rules had to be laid. “You can join me outside today for shopping.” I began slowly, choosing not to notice the food drop from her mouth. Or the surprisingly common expression on her regal face. “There will be rules of course. I’d have no hesitation levelling this whole town if I need to.” I lied…full on. I knew in my freshly open heart there was no way I could hurt Ripe and his family… or anyone else in this town. But I kept up that cruel face from the streets…from the flame. “You will act as one of the normal people. No “we”s. If you can’t do that then we won’t even attempt this.” I said, no one would know, at least here; that Luna had such a way of speech. “W-…I understand…” she said head down. “I’ll put you under a radial spell. Everypony who enters the area will see you as a normal Pegasus. If you get too close they may feel your horn.” I warned seriously. “If they do…game over.” I cracked my neck leaning down and noming on a piece of apple I had sliced for her. “No flying, you will have your wings. But no flight.” I said eyeing her seriously. “And though it should go without saying I’ll say it anyway: Do not tell ponies you are Princess Luna, do not attempt to flee.” I looked at her and she met my stare. God how I hoped I could shield my eyes. Unsure if I had when she smiled to me and nodded. Moving forward with a sigh, I lifted up the necklace in my hooves and wrapped it around her neck. “Just a tidbit…this necklace can only be removed by me. If something is to happen to me while we are out… this stays here forever. No more magic.” I said, seriously this time. I may have gotten soft, but not too soft. “ I understand.” Luna said with an almost school filly like smile. Sighing I pushed my horn to the door and stepped outside. I could feel the magic flood back to me. I turned to her and held out a leg. Luna took it in hers and walked out beside me; my mind, the treacherous organ that it was, imagining a scene of myself and Luna walking down and isle at the end… was nothing. I commanded of myself shaking my head slightly. “Well…?” I asked pulling her free of the room, resealing it with my horn; eyes always on her. “No different then inside.” she said, though she didn’t seem disappointed. “Good now stand still.” I whispered letting my eyes roll. The magic for a spell with such a large radius would require more then what I had at my disposal, I hated to admit it but magic was not my talent. I reached deep within the core of stone behind me and sucked from it Luna’s magic which it had been siphoning for the past five days. Adding it to my own the spell in my mind became much easier to grasp. I could feel it coil around me and embrace me, causing my breath to catch. This was not just any magic, this was Luna’s magic…and though I would admit this to nopony my manipulation of it was nothing short of an extremely intimate experience for myself. Using this foreign, delicious magic I created a sphere which covered miles in every direction and placed the center onto Luna…the was a pause as the magic register and bonded with her being. I don’t remember the words I spoke, being so deep in magic but I’m pretty sure I ordered Luna to move to test the spells capacity to move; for she moved to one side then back in the other direction. The magic dome moved with her. I opened my eyes to view the spoils of my labour; breath coming in deep gasps. I could feel the sweat on my brow. The spell had been no easy feat. Before me now, was not the same regal Alicorn Princess, with her impressive wings and long flowing hair. No, now I was faced with a Pegasus Pony with back length turquoise hair, a coat of midnight blue. Her eyes had darkened to a rich, royal blue… I took a moment to look her over, the spell seemed complete, even the Cutie Mark had changed. Instead of Luna’s regular mark was now a richly coloured dark grey cloud hiding half of a brilliant full moon. “Well… how do I look…?” Luna asked hesitantly, the words seeming to be awkward and stilted. I stared at her for a moment gauging my response, at least that’s what I intended to do. What I actually said was the betrayal of an open heart. “Beautiful in any form…” it was barely above a whisper but I could tell she had heard me for she blushed and looked away unwilling to meet my eyes. Real smooth Silk, class act. I groaned at myself turning away from her I could feel my cheek flushed. “Well lets go, we can visit Ripe and his family then go eat…”I said leading her up through my house…hoping that everything would go okay. XXXXXXX Surprisingly everything went well as the duo made their way through the town towards the Pickin’s store. Some ponies had cast us with rather incredulous looks surprised to see me with another pony. Luna seemed rather content and happy to out in the sun. More then once I caught her stretching her back and wings; a shiver running up her body from the release. I shivered myself, it was a beautiful moment every time she did it. And I hated myself for being so enticed. We came up to the two story home and store of Ripe and Daisy Picken after a good hour of walking through town. Luna seemed enthralled by the life we lived down here in this small rural town. I didn’t blame her…I went from a thriving cesspool of a port city to almost every other town and city Equestria had to offer. I had been to Canterlot, I understood the class difference that would be shocking the princess right now. So I allowed her to enjoy it. Reaching a hoof up I knocked on the thick wooden door, the sound of Dill and the other Picken kids could be heard from outside as the readied the store for another day and gathered there things for school. “I got it, I got it!” Ripe yelled in that jovial voice of his. “I’m powerful sorry but we’re closed at the mome…….” His jaw hit the floor as he took me and Luna in for a long moment, it looked comical to say the least. “Silk, is this…?” he left the words hanging, the question unasked. I nodded chuckling at his appearance. I enjoyed watching ponies squirm but to see Ripe so flabbergasted was pure delight. I wondered if this is what it was like having a friend to tease. “Well man! Introduce me!” the brilliant coloured earth pony demanded. Buck. I’m fairly certain both Luna and I shared this reaction as for some ungodly reason I had not thought of an alias. “Um… This is Fabric Moon, a clothe trader I met on my last trip south…” I lied on the spot, thank you imagination. Luna looked at me for a long moment, impressed or disillusioned I didn’t know but she nodded toward Ripe to confirm. “Pleasure it is my lady.” he drawled deeply lifting her hoof to his mouth giving her a gentle kiss making me chuckle. Old foal that he was. “Ripe, stop embarrassing yourself.” Daisy said in her soft, motherly voice pushing the flustered stallion aside, his orange cheeks burning red. “Come in dear, you can come spend time with me and the kids while the boys chat.” the unicorn said to Fabric smiling in that same way she had looked at her husband the day before. Luna looked to me and I nodded her along, her soft voice gave words of thanks to Daisy as Ripe, leg around my neck pushed me out the door. “You stud you!” he accused viciously, walking me around the house. “Hardly.” I teased chuckling a little to myself, a stupid grin on my face, annoying the muscles there. I walked with him for a few moments before either of us spoke. “It seems to me…Silk, you’re closer to having this then you think.” this wasn’t a tease, the tone was different. Ripe was being very sincere with me and it moved me to know he genuinely cared for me that much. I smiled and though I wanted to live in that moment my plans had been laid. There was no future for me like this, though I enjoyed the illusion. “It’s further away then you realize…” I whispered, to myself more then Ripe but he thought it bed not to reply. Once out of earshot of the girls the two stallions slowed their pace to a crawl enjoying the early morning sun. “Did you see the paper…These moonless nights?” Ripe asked, thinking he was changing the subject. “Mmm? No. I’ve been too busy at night.” I said rolling my shoulders in a noncommittal way. I knew how he would take that and the sly smile on his face. We came to a window looking into the kitchen and I couldn’t help but smile in a way my face had never smiled before. XXXXXXX “Fabric dear could you flip those pancakes?” A flustered Daisy asked the Princess in disguise as she struggled to comb the knots out of her youngest daughter’s hair. The little filly groaned and squirmed around, under the assumption it was a game. Luna stared at the pan on the “oven” a device that Celestia had informed her about when she had been learning about technology. “Fabric” reached forward and hesitantly grabbed the pan. Okay… she thought… You can do this…Just give it a flick. A snap of her neck sent the pancakes into the air. To Luna’s immediate satisfaction two flipped and landed on the proper side… to her immediate dissatisfaction two other flopped onto her head while a fifth splatted on the floor. Gasping in shock Luna fell to her haunches, her wings twitching. It took a totally of three point two seconds for everyone to realize what had happened. Another two point five seconds of silence before the room was filled by vicious laughter and chuckling from outside the window. At first Luna felt horribly embarrassed if not a little angry. Who were these ponies to laugh at their Princess. It took only a moment for her to realize how ridiculous she looked and started to chuckle along. A deep laugh reached out from her in a way that she had not laughed in over a thousand years. They weren’t laughing at her, she determined; but with her. Flipping her head a little to get the pancakes off of her; only to rise more laughter: the children on the floor, Daisy practically bursting at the seems with laughter. It was then that Fabric heard the deeper laughter of men and turned her head to look out the window pouting for a moment at what she saw. There was Ripe pounding his hoof against the side of the building to help release some of the laughter before he collapsed and next to him was a chuckling Silk. Silk had a smile on his face that Luna had never seen before, on anypony…It was a majestic smile that she knew was just for her. That smile caused a pause for Luna, it was as it time itself froze for that moment as their eyes met. There was a love for her in those eyes beyond anything she had seen in the eyes of any pony…and it made her heart jump a beat; a flush to her cheeks. But that moment would not last for time moved on. XXXXXXXX “So did you enjoy the time with the kids?” I asked Fabric as we walked down the path towards the restaurant I had chosen for us to have our lunch. It was a small building but had an out door section…I didn’t feel Luna would want me to keep her crammed indoors on her day out. There was a paused as I waited for a response…I looked at her, she seemed very lost in thought. “Fabric, dear…” I teased and she gave a surprised squeak…Did I see her blush? “Y-yes what is it?” Luna asked me flustered, her eyes reaching everywhere but me… “I asked how you enjoyed the time with the kids.” I repeated the question to her, happy that she smiled at me in response. “Yes it was quite fun…even if I made a fool of myself.” she mused her wings doing a little flicker, unable to hide her feelings. “That’s good.” I said turning and pushing open the fence gate to the restaurant. She went in first and chose a place to sit. I was sure that this kind of restaurant would be out of the norm for her, having spent the last year cooped up in Canterlot and the thousand before that on the moon. A shift from princess to pauper was all too sudden I feared at times. Lifting the menu off the table as I sat to join her. A waitress pony, with deep bubblegum coloured coat and a thick lavender mane came to serve us. It was obvious that I was being treated differently then the other customers, I noticed that Luna noticed this as well. There was no light hearted conversation and laughs shared between a regular and a employee. “How can I take your order, sir?” Sir… I chuckled, enjoying the forced respect while it would last. “I believe I’ll have myself a fried daisy and tulip sandwich…” I requested looking at the menu. “With some OJ, on the rocks… You dear?” I asked Luna, keeping up the façade and cover we had designed with Ripe. “Oh um….” I had startled her out of thought again. “I’ll have a grilled carrot salad with this deep fried strawberry donut.” she said offering a distracted smile. I wondered what was bothering her. The waitress nodded and left us alone, giving us a moment of silence. “Silk…would it be okay if I took a walk in the park…?” Luna asked me, I observed her for a moment. She was deep in thought and distracted…perhaps a walk would do her good. “Of course…I’ll be here.” I said with emphasis and she nodded to me getting up and walking away. I turned to watch her leave. XXXXXXXX “Why can’t I get him out of my head…” Luna asked herself walking into the small forest which was the town’s square. It had a luscious fountain and flower beds, a good number of trees and a small clearing in the center for picnics and a play area for families. The Princess found her mind fixated on one thing and it bothered her to know end. Why couldn’t she get Silk out of her head…? He had kidnapped her, held her prisoner…showed up in the middle of the night drunk forcing her to relive parts of her past that she wanted to forget so badly…Then inform her so cruelly of the world she had missed…the subjects she let down. Then to treat her kindly…to say he loved her. The Princess shook her head violently trying to clear her head of all thought but instead that old stallion with his grizzled features was there. Sighing Luna let her eyes close for a moment, only to be startled back to the world when she bumped into a small colt. “Sister! Sister! Can you help us? Our ball when up in da tree!” the tiny little colt said pointing past his other earth pony friends to a multi-coloured ball which was a good twenty feet up in the air nestled in the branches of the tree. She looked back down to the small child with his bright yellow coat and dirty blonde hair. “Of cour-…” she began to say flexing her wings before Silk’s words came back to her violently. She was not allowed to fly… There was a moment of hesitation when she considered what to do next…just a moment. Before resolutely the princess took off into the air and returned seconds later to deliver the children their ball. “There you go young one.” she said with a smile, words slipping a bit into the archaic. “Thanks sister!” the little boy yelled giving her as big a hug as he could manage before running off to join his friends with the ball. Luna was transfixed watching him and how happy he was. This is what being a Princess meant…being there for her subjects… to make them happy. A shiver jumped up her spine and she turned…as she feared there he was. Watching. XXXXXXXX I smiled and stretched my neck as she trotted over to me looking crestfallen. “Food’s ready…” I said acting as if I had seen nothing. We shared a wordless meal and continued to walk back to the house. Luna followed me with out complaint or comment down into the same chamber. I pushed it open with the magic and before issuing her inside dispelled the spell around her; being graced with Luna’s true form again… I must say I preferred this form. Once we were inside and the door was closed I raised my hooves and undid her necklace, enjoying the moment of closeness with her. Laying down once I had removed it from her I stretched my leg as she sat down on her haunches. “You know…I’m a little disappointed.” I said seriously, eyes on her; my powerful dark orbs boring into her. “You shouldn’t have hesitated.” I clarified smiling, rolling onto my back. Luna stared at me for along time before words left her lips. “You had told me not to…” she said hesitantly. Smiling I put my hoofs behind my head to keep myself awake. “Did you mean what you said last night…?” she asked me, more timid then before…I stared at the ceiling, searching through my feelings. “Yes…I really did.” I said honestly, looking anywhere but near her keeping my eyes away from her. There was a warm pressure pressed against me. I looked over and there she was, leaning into me. “Would it be wrong…” Luna said not meeting my eyes, or anything apparently. “If I felt the same way towards…you?” she asked me hesitantly. I don’t know what I was thinking, at that moment but I leaned into her; ran my muzzle up her neck slowly. Forcing shivers down both out spines. I found my lips near hers and I pressed them together, tentatively; with all the hesitation my war torn body could muster. To my infinite delight she pushed back against me…. We spent that night together, laying there in utter bliss. The happiest day I would ever come to know.
"Legacy" Day 6Day 6 Legacy. I moved quietly, away from Luna. The Princess was fast asleep when I had awoken and I wanted to keep I that way for a while longer. My mind was a flurry of activity, I confess, there was barely a moment for my body to breath. Exiting the cell, my magic flooding back, I allow myself a pause of meditation. This didn’t change anything, the plan needed to be complete. If not more now that the situation had changed. I considered myself, moving calmly up the stairs to the house proper. I was an old stallion, no where near as old as Luna…but then again I’m not a god. Or whatever she was…maybe one day I’d ask. “One day…” my mind latched to the phrase considering the implications. I had been resolved since the start that this journey may, on a low chance, be a one way trip. Lifting a hoof I brush the hair out of my eyes leaning against the door I had just passed through. There was no panic, or nervousness…there never was when a job was near completion. Not for me. Not for a long time. I rationalized that it was experience, the sense inside me that a job would be flawless. It was that: cold, rational and cutthroat part of me, that’s what I wanted to believe. There was doubt though, not in the plan…but in my sense of confidence. It was a taint, a disease I hadn’t felt before, this… “elation”. The mission would be successful because my gut told me it would be. My gut is a stupid, stupid organ. One does not think with the gut, not if one wants to survive a life like the one I had lived. I shook my head violently, making my way through my mini-mansion towards the, now, well stocked kitchen. Those thoughts would dull the knife, slow the reflex. If it wasn’t today then it would be tomorrow. It had been enough time, my calculation wouldn’t be wrong. I must remember the plan. I must follow through, no hesitation, no consideration… I looked out the kitchen’s double wide window, a apple resting on my hoof, a large bite out of it. The sun was just pushing the darkness of a moonless night out of the sky, gracing the village with it’s warmth. I considered everypony down in that village, and everypony all over Equestria who had lived this week in the harsh darkness of the night. Shrugging I finished my apple. “Why does it need to end…?” that little, traitorous voice inside my head asked. It haunted me with images of Luna and I together, a family…a family… It was not something I hadn’t considered over the last two days and nights. I always had an answer for that voice, my Legacy must be emplaced…I must leave this mark so the world won’t forget. That had always been my answer…but today…? Today the answer was different, and I felt the voice inside me die off. It must be satisfied…finally. Looking towards the table… my black eyes fell upon a stack of papers and a quill. Pulling out a chair with my teeth and sitting upon it (though awkwardly). I stared down at the blank paper for almost an hour… in deep thought. Magic coloured my horn and encircled the quill, lifting it off the table to my will. The most basic and primal of magic that made each Unicorn so unique from every other pony. I dipped the quill in the ink eyes focused on the paper before me. The words, at my command began to appear on the page, the quill a flurry of activity. This is the last will and testament… XXXXXXX Three hours later I was done with the papers. They were folded into a now grossly full envelope. Taking the quill between my teeth I sign the envelope with Luna’s name. She wouldn’t be happy…I knew that. But it was irrelevant at this time… I steeled myself for the inevitable long ago. I paused, where was I? My hoof was on the door handle to the main entrance…why? What the hell was I doing here? It hit me, slowly. My mind must be sowing my age… I had done this almost every day for over a decade. I would eat my food, do what I needed to do then go outside…to do what? The paper…the news, of course. Everyday… A routine… I had truly fallen from those days in the desert. The only routine should be breathing…never take that for granted either…. Sighing, a deep sigh, it reflected the years on my shoulders as much as my greying tail did. Still, I opened the door, giving in to the muscle’s memory. It had saved me too much for me to believe it would betray me now. When you live a dangerous life, filled with risk one learns to respect the body. It was instinct, reflex that allowed me to survive this long. The same basic concept urged me to open the door before me. So I did. There it was, the same paper that was always there. The local paper delivered above the call of duty every time. I paused leaning down to pick it up…Must have been hard to deliver these in the dark… I thought to myself, chuckling as I lifted the paper up with my hooves. Magic coiled around it, opening the paper and lifting them away from my hooves. The headline was not as surprising as I had hoped it would be. “Moonless Nights cause Panic.” A shadow passed over my face and my entire body tensed. Like a spring ready to release a deadly blade. Above a platoon of Pegasi flew past my house oblivious to my presence in the shadow of the building. My dark eyes combed the sky, counting quickly. Twenty five Imperial Guard flew overhead and descended down into the village. I estimated all factors I could predict as quickly as I could… three hours, tops before they come here for me. Turning I go, to make the most of my time with Luna… XXXXXXXX I watched her eat in a awed silence…How could someone be so regal and commonplace all at the same time? It truly baffled me. I’ll admit I was staring more then what was called for, and thankfully, for all her worth Luna never let on that she noticed it beyond a soft blush in her cheeks. I sighed deeply. This was not going to be easy… “They’ll be here soon…” I said absently, eyes away from hers…Looking at everything but her, my hoof playing with the floor. I growled at myself trying to get myself through this. It was odd…disappointing someone. I never had anyone to disappoint before. “Who?” She asked me, that naïve voice…she’s been out of this world for far too long. “The Imperial Guard.” I explained, curious now…how would she react? Her hooves hit the ground hard and she was suddenly arching over me primed and ready. “Thou must let me go! I can explain everything to Celestia. They’ll be sent home and you can get away! I can get to her with my magic once I’m out of the room, it can give you enough time to get away while I explain things to her!” She ordered all in one deep, royal, booming breath. I raised a hoof and pushed he back down to her haunches with me, staying as calm as I could. I had to keep the aura of the seasoned criminal, I had to be myself or she wouldn’t be able to handle this. “Now listen here Princess…” I said deeply, that silky tone in my voice thick and rich. Don’t let her see the weakness, don’t let anyone see the weakness. You have your plans…they will not go wrong, they never do. This will all go as expected…I must believe this, I must. Or else how will I face her in the end. “ Everything is going according to my initial plan and that isn’t about to change.” I said and was about to explain more to her when I was cut off. “But things have changed! You don’t need to do this anymore! You have me. I can explain this all to Sister it will be okay I promise!” Luna said, the “younger” part of her showing as she struggled against my hoof a little. To no success, in a battle of equals I would always win. Things hadn’t changed. “Luna, please. Be still.” I ordered as she fought against me. It would do her no good to fight the inevitable. It took another moment before she stilled under my hooves. Good… she’s relaxing a little. “Things haven’t changed…My plan must go through to completion now more then ever.” I said emphasizing it with my voice’s tone, making that silk texture contort perfectly. If anyone was a master of rhetoric it was I. “Now I’m going to go out there…and things are going to go down. No matter what. I will be waiting for you Luna.” I said, honestly. Was hiding the full truth a lie? I hoped not. “S-silk…” she said looking at me…her eyes were scared. She didn’t want to be left alone again. “Listen Luna, all of my life I’ve done what I could to just survive. Stealing as I pleased. No matter who or what got in my way. I wanted to leave something behind!” I said getting into my emotions, letting them fill me. “I wanted to be remembered, like those children in Calimare who exist in me. I too wanted to have someone remember me, to tell others of me. I wanted to be know, Luna…I wanted that small little piece of immortality.” I explained as best I could the feelings inside me. “That, that hasn’t changed. I want to be remembered and carried on in the lives of ponies everywhere. I finally found the right way to do it!” Luna looked at me for a long, silent moment. I’m sure she was able to see into the very recesses of my soul in that moment. “What way…” she whispered to me, she was nervous…worried for me. Smiling I leaned in and kissed her. Lovingly, a kiss unlike any other I had known could exist. “You! Luna! You!” I exclaimed looking into her eyes. “You are my Legacy darling, you always will be. I will always be with you.” I said, calming down a little putting my hoof over her heart for a moment. Pulling back I lifted the envelope up to her with my teeth. I could hear the hammering on my door and the sounds of hooves clopping the cobblestone outside. They were here. “Don’t open this until it’s over.” I instructed turning to walk away, I felt her hoof brush past my coat as if she was about to stop me on reflex but fought it back. The internal struggle eating her up. She took one look at the envelope and I felt fairly sure, given the strength should would have knocked me unconscious then and there. “Silk!” I had already turned away. There was no sense of danger. I paused for one long, deep look…fearing it would be the last I would see of her for a long time. “Don’t look outside.” I ordered, in that cold voice. The emotions kept out of that statement though once I had left the room and the magic forced its way back into my body it was hard to control. I didn’t her to see me like this. I wanted her to remember me the way I was last night. The way I wanted to be. XXXXXXXX I walked up those stairs again…I wondered absently if this would be the last time. NO! I ordered my mind to force those thoughts away, it was going to go as I had planned. I was in control. This world was mine to manipulate. The hammering at my door grew louder, their was a deep throated order. I paid it no heed. Whatever little threat the Guardsman was bellowing would not affect me in anyway. I opened my closest and drew out my heavy cloak, a clone of the one on my flank. It was weighted to catch incoming projectiles, and weighted still by the knives I kept stored within. This would be a most delicately performed play. I tossed the hood over my horn with magic and prepared myself. Hoping my spell would not deal too much damage to my home. Opening the door I was met with at least half the platoon of guardsmen that had flown overhead hours ago. They were all white Pegasi in their steal plated armour. It was ornamental. Offered no protection to the parts I would strike. They should have sent soldiers. “We have reason to believe you have a hostage within this residence.” The main Pegasus said, stepping up to me. “Under the orders of Princess Celestia of Equestria we are here to place you under arrest and check the premises.” He ordered. A sergeant probably. Someone used to training the noobs. Someone not used to being disappointed. Closing the door behind me I pointedly locked the door, tossing the key away. “I think not good sir.” I said turning towards them, covered in the cloak. They couldn’t see me…what one can not see, one must inevitably grow to fear. The inexperienced ones were swallowing hard. “I’m afraid I won’t let you take the Princess from me.” I continued coolly. The Sergeant gave me a once over, a soldier’s stare. He would be my mark then. I wondered how long he could last…I really didn’t want to be a murderer after a night like last night. His wings twitched out at his side. Not a subtle signal. Three of the Pegasus at the rear of the platoon took off into the air immediately. First second, they spread their wings and kicked. Magic swirled from my horn and wrapped around my body and mansion. Next second, two are in the air. Wings bent awkwardly as they take off into flight. My house’s front explodes in splinters and shattered glass. Third second, all three were a good four feet into the air. A wall of steel broke free from my mansion, the sky darkened by my daggers. Fourth second. Red lines of blood ruined white coats as four daggers slashed the nearest. I cut along his hind leg muscles, and the muscles just under the wing. He fell down the six feet to the ground with a thud. A dagger lodged into the next’s back, missing anything vital. The stallion flinched in pain, another blade sinking just under his front right shoulder; causing him to barrel roll to the ground. The third, I allowed to escape, blades falling short of any real damage. It wouldn’t hurt to have them underestimating my reach. Fifth second, my countless blades became a hurricane of steel at my will. Cutting myself and the Sergeant off from his support. Within the next five seconds while his mind caught up to the events that had occurred I saw a cocky smile grow on his face. He thought he had the upper hand. His scout would get word to Celestia. I had been beaten…Ha. I leaned forward tossing my hood back revealing my weathered face and steel cold eyes of onyx. The smile left his face. Taking up an offensive stance he stared me down. The rain of blades all around us, biting at his support keeping them at bay; blocking them access to the house as well. I’ll admit this magic was strenuous to use and very distracting to maintain. Especially in a combat situation. I chuckled, this was fun, taxing. A little strain to remind me that I was alive. Flexing my forelegs my muscles hit the needed triggers; a blade on each leg. They were kept stored inside straps, the mechanisms keeping them sheathed until I needed them. Reaching just down to my hooves they wouldn’t prevent me using all four legs for movement in a clutch and could be used for slashing. If I needed I could bend a certain way and use them for stabbing but that was for assassination. That was not my goal this day. No, today was all about delaying. Not that it was entirely in my hooves. The Sergeant gave me a rather vicious buck, well attempted to. I swerved beneath his foreword hooves, right leg lashing out as I jumped past him. Blade clanged with armour, flesh parted to cool steel as I drew a paper thin scratch along his side. He jumped back, hind leg lifting to cover the wound reflexively. Blue eyes stared into mine now, he had tasted the sting of my blade and did not enjoy it. We circled each other slowly, two soldiers locked in one on one combat. My magic keeping the others at bay, a few succumbing to their small wounds, air a buzz of steel on steel. I stared him down, mind separated to control the daggers spinning all through out the air. It had been years since a fight like this, decades since I was put all out in combat. I hated to admit it but the rush felt good. Adrenaline pumped through my muscles bringing them to life in a way they haven’t done in a long, long time. I licked my lips letting that familiar rush take control. My body moving of its own will, we clashed once more. XXXXXXXX Celestia’s arrival interrupted my magic and sent my flurry of blades scattering (dealing more damage to her men then they did under my control I’m sure). The white Alicorn was looking quite the rage at that moment when she blinked into existence, efficiently breaking the fight between myself and the Sergeant. He stumbled away from me, looking far the worse for ware. Sadly, it pained me to admit, I had not been taking it easy on him. Age had finally begun to trump my talent, though I did the best I could to still my panting as I stared the princess-goddess down. Blood was running down my hooves, not my own…I had managed to escape the duel unscathed, but the run off from my blades was staining my coat. “Do you have anything to say for yourself…?” Celestia asked in all her rage; brilliant white wings tossed out making the massive pony look even bigger. I wasn’t intimidated, this was all part of the plan. “She’s mine.” I said defiantly staring her down, unfazed by her size; building up all the ambient magic from Luna into my horn. “The grey-night will not be defeated. I stole the moon. This will not be forgotten.” I teased and predictably the glow of magic wrapped itself around her horn. Our energies clashed as we attacked and defended. I forced my magic to block and repel hers as she pushed back against me. “I sentence you to exist within a prison for 500 years until such a time when your sentence will be decided!” Celestia said as she started to over power me. Perfect. There it was. Confirmation. Five hundred years encased in stone…preserved…. Time for Luna to grow and become acquainted with her people, time for myself to transcend into something worthy of being by her side. I would be the stuff of folk tales, a thief who had stolen the moon, I felt her magic overtake me completely. I forced myself into neatness, my cloak tossed to one side revealing my cutie mark. My back straight, body held high. I wanted to be worthy of my story. I stared her down, not worried as I lost the feeling in my legs. Ponies would tell their children about the stallion who had stolen the moon, ponies all over will tell stories at night to one another about my exploits. In this moment I had achieved the immortality I required… The transcendence to something beyond the norm…Someone worthy of a princess…Worthy of Luna. Shame I have to wait five hundred years…. I thought sarcastically, it was working its way up my body Celestia staring at me. My mind filled with Luna I stared her down. “She’s down in the basement…You’re horn will open the door.” I said calmly, hesitation crossed her face at my tone. My voice dropped for just a moment. “If she’s not there when I wake up. I. Will. Kill. You.” I promised and pushing the white Alicorn from my mind to her sister. Then…I knew nothing as the world around me dissolved. XXXXXXXX Celestia pushed her horn to the bizarre stone, it was baffling to her. It’s properties eluded and mystified her, almost enticing her to enter though she knew that she mustn’t. Out of the door came Luna, her little sister. Looking much as she had before disappearing…Except more sad. There was a haunted look in her beautiful sea coloured eyes which confused Celestia. She tried calling to her younger sister but the mare walked past her; ignoring her voice. The midnight blue princess walked through the house seeing the shattered wood and glass from Silk’s spell. Curious as too how much power the unicorn had truly had. Stepping outside into the dim light of dusk she saw him for the first time in over the two hours since he left her in the room alone. There was Silk. Frozen in stone. A statue. She walked around him slowly taking in the frozen detail. The “grey-night” did not show his age as he was now, immortalized in his stone prison. Luna ran a hoof over his form as she turned to face him, her breath caught in her throat. Luna, Princess of Equestria, felt her cheeks become wet as tears carved their paths down her face. His face…it was that smile. That cocky, loving smile he had shown her the night before, that smile that took her for all she was. All her envy and sins… all of her fears… That smile that loved her. Celestia watched her sister crying in front of the statue for a long time, wondering if she had done the right thing. Either way the spell was cast…it was beyond her power to undo it. Looking to the sky she decided it was time to allow the sun to set. “Luna…little sister.” Celestia said in that big sister voice of hers, lovingly. Luna used her magic to push away her tears, the magical aura returning to her hair. “It’s time to raise the moon.” “No.” Luna said, leaning into the statue’s base, laying on the ground before a surprised Princess Celestia. “B-but Luna…” “Not tonight, Big Sister. Tonight is the seventh night.” Luna looked up to the darkening sky. “There will be no moon tonight…” she said resting her head against the statue, closing her eyes. Wishing deep within her heart to feel Silk’s warmth flow into her, but there was nothing but cold and lifeless stone.
"Legacy" Day 7Day 7 Eulogy. Luna paced the stadium that her Sister had constructed in the town square at her request. She had made a promise to Silk… silent or otherwise. The sun had yet to rise on this moonless night… the seventh. “One full week…” She thought looking up to the lonely stars, they cried to her pleading for their moon to return. Luna felt a pang of inherent guilt. The Stars had aided in her escape from imprisonment, but now she was for the first night of her own will disallowing them their moon. Her brilliant aqua eyes turned to view the statue frozen Silk… the dim star light made the marble encasing him glow slightly… casting her body in an eerie light. The dawn would be upon her soon enough. The Princess knew this all to well. Luna looked to the statue again and moved forward her hoofs touching the wooden platform lightly… she didn’t want to break the silence of this night. Looking down at the envelope that she had yet to open… His Will… His Testament… What He had left for her… The Princess fought off the tears, the pain. She had been alone for a long time, another time of loneliness was something she could handle. At least this time the future prospects were more in her favour. The wait would be long and painful… but it was her wait, and his choice. The morning would come soon… and it would be time to open that letter. Read Silk’s writing to the people… read his words… Luna looked at that piece of paper for a hard moment. It was the enemy, another tie to him that would twist the knife in her heart; she knew this. But it was his wish and she would do this much for him… or it would have all been for not. She dragged her eyes away and looked him in the face. She would make sure that his price had been worth it. XXXXXXXXX Ripe rolled himself out of bed with a violent crash. Sadly the aging stallion found this was the only way to truly wake himself up for a long hard day at the store. No one would ever accuse him of being a morning pony. Ex-detective be damned. Stretching his bright body slowly he felt his muscles stretching over bone with a delightful pain that only one who is exceptionally lazy could understand. Ripe yawned and licked his lips a bit pushing himself up and taking a whiff in the air; the delicious scent of grilling strawberries assaulting him. “Mmm She’s too good for me.” He said absently to himself as he hobbled his way to the bathroom to wash his face and clean up his beard. After he felt he was tidy enough to deal with traffic all day he made his way down to the kitchen. The kids were about making a racket but by this time in his life he had come to terms with the ability to only pick up on sounds that meant the hustle and bustle of their everyday life was about to shift. He passed the window that he and Silk had looked into just two days before at his new filly-friend attempting to help in the kitchen. Silk. A shiver ran down his spine, cold and sobering. For a moment he was no long Ripe Pickins a friendly, smiley merchant with a large family in a small rural village… he was that detective again, hardened and cold to a city filled with death and violence. It was a part of himself he thought long dead, and it filled him with instinctual dread. A feeling like that didn’t come along for no reason. Ripe did the best he could to push it out of his face, Daisy hated that face… it scared her. And he knew his kids wouldn’t know how to react to seeing him that way. But today… today would be a different day for sure. He kissed his wife and snuck a strawberry into his mouth before prancing away from her swings and echoing words of “waiting till the food was ready”. It was a daily game, Ripe knew that she put some just out of her reflexive reach for him to nab every morning but it was part of what made their relationship work so he had no complaints. Opening the shop door he took in the clear air… it was invigorating… he remembered a time when this air would have been a godsend to his younger self… foreign. “I’m just full of nostalgia today aren’t I…?” He asked the air ominously. Shaking his shoulders he leaned down to grab the paper which was at his feet… but there was a paper on it… a town address. “There will be a public announcement to be made By Princess Luna of Equestria this morning At 10 a.m.” Ripe looked at that address for a long time before walking back into the house to get Daisy, leaving behind the paper. “Kids, no school today stay home and help Dill run the store.” He said in that tone of authority an alpha had over his pack. “Daisy come with me.” Ripe very rarely used this tone, and his kids took it not as a day off school but a day of hard work. Dill looked like he was going to question but Ripe and Daisy had left before he had a chance to. Ripe was practically dragging Daisy who still had an apron on from cooking as she scrambled to stay upright and with him. “What’s going on dear? Is everything okay…?” she breathed hard keeping pace with her husband; a much faster pony then she ever was. “I don’t know… but I think not…” he said… it was his old voice. A voice that spoke volumes with every word. XXXXXXXXX 10 a.m. Could not have come soon enough. Luna was still pacing, though now behind a drawn red curtain. The stadium her sister had constructed was impressive… essentially just a stadium for her to do her business but with a wide enough stage and a curtain hung about it. Her aqua eyes looked out to the crowd and she was certain that almost everypony in the town was gathered there…. And there…. Was that Ripe and Daisy? Luna had a moment of panic… she knew those two they were not the same as strangers. It would be so much harder to break this to them… did they already know? Had they always known…? Taking a deep breath she remembered Silk, remembered his instructions on how to talk…how to act as best as she could. Magic, feel the magic. There was safety in magic…it was a part of her that was static… constant. It was a warm, homely feeling of peace. It flooded itself out from her horn, coalescing through her shimmering midnight hair and up along the curtain. Magic pulled it aside to reveal her and a tarp covered statue. They did not need to see him yet. “We have called you here today!” No, quiet… we can’t yell at them. We were Nightmare Moon not that long ago… they fear us. “I- I mean… I have called you here today… for the public reading of…” Hesitation, the ponies before her had seemed to recover from her shouting they looked less afraid now. “Of the Last Will and Testament of Silk D’Rouge.” There was a general murmor through the crowd… did Daisy gasp? Luna couldn’t tell, she was busy forcing the couple from her mind and sight. Focus on the will, open the will, read the will. It was levitated before her eyes and with her magic she opened the sealed vessel. The thick papers lifted from within and opened themselves before her. It was his writing… Luna felt a part of herself break as she read the first part silently. “The Last Will and Testament of Silk D’Rouge, the Gray-Night” Choking back her tears she started to speak as he would have spoken… That silk edge to his voice seeming impossible to replicate at the moment. The first line was to her, she chose it best not to read it out loud. “This may be hard Luna… but do your best. Do not forget these are your people, you are their Princess. You command them and demand their attention. They’re listening to you.” She closed her eyes hard for a second, found her voice. “I Silk D’Rouge, the infamous Gray-Night of the burning desert city of Calomere leave this to be my last words and wishes to be carried out upon my death…” Luna paused where the letter paused, he seemed to had added the next part as an after thought. “Or become unable to manage my own estate. I would like to first apologize… To all of you here. ” Another of his deep pauses… Luna tried to swallow and wet her dry throat. It had been so long since she was before her people… would it always be this hard after her isolation… Would she be ready for Silk. “I have been stealing from you all for years now… I’m sure many of you know this. And I’m sure you know I meant you no malice. I stole out of habit… Which probably worsen my crimes in your eyes. For I stole not of need… not for a long time now. Which brings us to the first matter of my recompense.” There was a long pause now and Luna took it as a moment to breath, in brackets was a line to her… just for her. “You’re doing excellent… they’re enthralled by now aren’t they? Hanging on your every word.” They were… she couldn’t help but smile sadly. He truly was a pony of a class all his own. The pause passed and the words began to move of their own accord. “I can never return the rarities I’ve taken… The heirlooms and precious gems handed down through the families that you believed to be… “misplaced” but I will try my hardest to make up for them. Included with this will is a map of my mansion and grounds. For each family I have stolen from is a plot, a piece of treasure and unique gifts that will help to recover some of which I had taken.” Luna paused and gauged the reaction, some were surprised and others seemed relieved as if all their fussing over a lost item suddenly made sense to them. “Ah my mansion now… That needs to be taken care of…of course. My Mansion I leave to Ripe and his family…” That got a gasp, from Daisy… Luna was sure though she didn’t look over to them… unsure of how to handle it. “You had been a friend to me Ripe before I was willing to accept that fact and after I had come to terms with it you were there in a way nopony else ever was. Now I’m sure you’ll complain to yourself about the commute to work… and Daisy I know it’ll be hard waking up to a home without a garden for a while but I want to make sure you all are taken care of. So I have left a rather large sum of money for you all to help take care and raise your children…” Luna couldn’t help but look now. Daisy was crying her face borrowed into her husband’s neck trying to hide it. Ripe himself looked on the verge of tears. “You will occasionally get letters from all over the world… I have let a book on how to reply to them in your new bed. Sorry for the added maintenance but it’s crucial. The letters will explain how and why.” There was a moment of pause… The first page was almost over. “To all here, you may be curious for what crimes was I punished…I have stolen the moon from the sky… and my Legacy will live on. The Grey-Night.” As the line was finished the tarp over his statue was removed by Luna’s forceful magic revealing the body of the frozen thief. There were more then a few gasps in that moment… “This Statue… will rest in Canterlot.” Luna said and walked towards it. Pressing her horn to him…to Silk the magic coalesced around him; writhing in its entirety. A second statue formed from the magic a perfect clone of the first. “And this statue shall remain here a token for the land which the Gray-night lived the last of his days.” Then the group eventually dispersed…the statue was emplaced there in the town square; the makeshift theatre removed, and the Princess teleported the statue and herself away… without another word to the people there. XXXXXXXXX The next night… Luna lay in her bed, alone… the moon had just been risen into the sky by her command. In the dull moonlight she read the last page of the will over and over again… the page that was hers alone. She had done little but read that letter over and over again, sitting not far now from where Silk’s statue rested. “To you my dear…dear Luna. I leave my body and my most heartfelt apologies. I hope by now you understand why I needed to be captured and punished… I proved that it was possible to steal the moon from the sky. I had to prove that one could not GET AWAY with it… I hope I have cut any other attempts at your person cold now… As was always my intention. In however many years I have been stoned for I will awaken to find you, my Princess. My Legacy will have lived on for me, grown larger for me. The Gray-Night will be a name of awe and fear, the type of name that the new foals are taught when their parents wish to teach them good behaviour. I will be a better stallion…the best stallion for you. I will be a man you can look over to and know you are with a Stallion who is there for you. When I wake up…I will be…” Luna stopped reading and looked over to the statue. She pressed her lips to the stone and whispered into the ear. A soft whisper that was for those ears only…before she lay beneath it’s protective form. An act that would become all too commonplace to the Alicorn. XXXXXXX Deep within a plane of unconsciousness, disembodied and asleep. A bestial version of myself, the instinct and animal part of my subconscious was stirred. A voice reached through cold space and through the walls of magic to reach my ears. Distant yet clear. The voice spoke to me but a simple sentence and it renewed my sense…my sense of self. I existed. I would exist again among that world. And till then the memories of that week would always be with me. Every moment with Luna would be there with me. I listened to the sentence and let it play over and over in my mind. It spoke to the core of my soul on a level like no other word could It reminded me the reason I was here. The reason I had to live. My voice reached out within the empty plane, for my own senses to detect; though they felt separate to me. “Yes.. When I wake up more… I will be more. When I awaken. I will… I will be… Legend.”
"Legend" - Prologue "Legend" - Prologue “Legend” Prologue. I felt a radiating sense of weight forming deep within what could only be described as my chest. I felt. To feel. “How long had it been?” I was unaware... the part of my mind that had thought, consciousness... it had been asleep for so very long. “What does it mean to feel again?” It feels important. I stirred... there was an “I” again, that was this weight coalescing my soul. A body. A shape. Existence. “How long had I been trapped within my subconscious?” I remembered images of my past; a body of my own, strong and powerful. I saw a week of time... Luna. Princess. “Are you waiting for me?” It was clearer now, my name returned. I was Silk...yes...Silk. How much of myself had been lost in the years... how many years? It forced its way before my soul, my mind; all that I had lost. Movement; “Remember?” I asked myself. Do I remember what it feels to move... to breath. Slowly, try it out. Remember what it felt like to order a limb to move and have it respond. Force movement to that which is static. Nothing. No movement. Try harder. Pain. That feeling is pain, yes... pain. I recall pain now. It hurts to force it, my body does not wish to move. Or it can’t? The darkness has not lifted on my soul; there is still nothing but the black. “Luna!?” I cried, through a mouth trapped within my mind. I wanted out, wanted to be freed so greatly; struggling with all my might to move limbs that had not existed for so long that I had forgotten their existence. Luna was waiting for me...I knew she would be. I have to get out, get to Luna. I have made her wait for far to long as it is. Again I tried to push out, tried to open my eyes. As the time spent with the Princess whirled inside my mind. A long life played out in front of me, so much seemed to be foreign to me now that I look back upon it: A sea, burning cities, daggers filling the air, a land of mountains and beasts the size of which no scale can be set, and of a sky locked in stasis. A sky with no moon or sun to illuminate. Then came the light. My eyes, yes they were my eyes... they had opened; the stone which had been my prison since Celestia arrived in the small town which had become my home was retreating. Cold. The air was cold. Air. Breathe, remember to breathe. I gasped hard in the air that had magically been void to me. Move, break from the stone. My limbs remained trapped against all my struggling. Eyes of the newborn haunted me; I found myself unable to see beyond the painful light of existence. “How did I use to move!? Why is it so hard? When I couldn’t move what would I do?” Magic, it came to me suddenly. When all else failed I had my magic. I had power. Focusing inward I reached into my blood, the source of my magic. There was a dull throb; not the rush of power that was once there. As if my powers too had been trapped in Celestia’s hex. It was there though, the magic that had always been inside of me; it would answer my call. I felt the power surge up through my horn and encompass the wilting stone around me. Using it’s weight to push in as I struggled to push out I crushed it all to dust, falling down to what I presumed to be the dirt bellow. Haggard and spent I tried to put my feet under myself to push up. They were so weak that I was hardly able to force a stand. Darkness broke through the endless night, I turned my head up to the sky. It must be summer, for though the air was cold the specific scents of flowers which dotted Canterlot all summer long could be felt. To smell. How much did I appreciate it now over when I had it before. Every sense seemed to be heightened acutely. Darkness, focus on the darkness. The night broke into my light and barren world; pulling my eyes through the spectrum of pain. A shadow crossed my eyes and the star lit world I had awoken into. The shadow of a unicorn with massive wings on its back. Luna. I forced all the light from my eyes in that moment, the moon was behind the figure and the light was hidden from its front as it stood before me. So tall and elegant. I moved to speak but my words caught in my throat sharply. The Alicorn before me was on a pedestal much like the one I had fallen off of, vines...plant life. Now that I could see it, there were vines crawling up its legs. The moon moved through the sky, just as it always had, the new position putting new light on the situation. And the statue of Luna. I felt my heart clutch; voice in my head begging for my body to relax and consider all possibilities. I turned my head side to side, and all I could see were overgrown trees and overgrown hedges. Statues lined the path I sat upon on both sides and the vines and plant-life was eminent in all of them. My fresh born breath was caught in my throat as I forced my old body to stumble towards the statue. There was nopony in sight, nopony around. I raised a hoof to try and caress the statues face, wondering to myself where my Princess could be, but I was too weak. The hoof fell down out of my control and sharply slid down some of the vines on the statue’s base. Revealing what looked, in the dim moonlight, to be words. Frantic I leaned down and with hoof and teeth bit at the vines till a full phrase was revealed to my charcoal eyes. “Here lies Luna, Princess of Equestria.” The world I knew faded away, and Silk D’Rouge knew nothing but pain.
"Legacy" Day 3Day 3 It’s always Sunny in Calimare I stirred slowly, the sleep lifting from my body much like the early morning frost upon the grass would as the sun reached ever higher in the sky. I opened my dark, black eyes. The coal like pupils lined in blood trimmed vessels. Hooves lifting from the warm floor I rubbed the sleep and nausea from my eyes, trying to bring the world to focus. Thankfully, though the drink may have taken me, I remain the master of my own domain. Coal’s turned to Luna, she had fallen asleep in the center of the room, her large Alicorn wings wrapped around herself much like a blanket. Stirring slightly the blue coated goddess opened one tired and weary eye to me. It was a questioning stare and I offered it no response, choosing to spread my forelegs and stretch every kink along my vertebrae. She gave a deep throated whiny and stretched out on the floor rolling away from me. It was understandable, I had barged into a lady’s room during the middle of the night and demanded she inform me of her emotional state when she had been imprisoned on the moon for a millennia… at least in my head that made sense. I’m sure looking in on the situation a prisoner being interrupted by the warden would not be too bizarre. She was my captive and I her master…Laughing inwardly I push that thought from my mind. I was no sadist... last night had been something different. The urge to talk to her had come from the alcohol, I’m sure…no, maybe it was from my lack of pony contact… How long had it been since I lived with another pony…not that this situation was ideal. I pondered this thought eyes on her, taking in her form. It had been so many long years since I had been this close to another pony…never a mare. Not that I’m no into that kind of thing, or that it was wrong, just spending time with a pony mare or stallion had never really been the option for me. Contact with myself and other ponies had always been…an inconvenience…since back then at least. Why…why did back then come to mind now, I pondered leaning back against the wall pulling on my arms. It had been what…twenty years, thirty? Those old faces coming to mind having been so lost… I looked at Luna for a long moment her wings twitching, she was awake and could feel my eyes on her back. I had an urge, to talk to her…to make her understand. Why? This ‘Princess’ was a means to an end, a legacy to be had. I had stolen the moon, so why did I feel the urge to converse…to open up. Open up… I blinked hard and laughed, audibly for Luna raised her head and looked at me. The fear from the last two days had seemingly left her, good. She knew I had no intentions of hurting her or damaging her unless she forced my hand. This as a good lesson. I couldn’t stop a coltish grin at how quickly she had learned that lesson. Deeply I hated myself for these trains of thoughts, this prisoner of mine attacking me on a level I was not use to defending without the awareness of her vicious assault. It as my voice that broke that cold chilling silence first. “I was born in Calimare.” I said titling my head to the side, why did I want to talk…this, this tale was not for her ears. Anypony’s ears for that matter. But I craved to tell her, I could feel my heart flutter against my aged chest as if I was teasing it with a key. Forcing my body to be relaxed I spoke again the once silk tone of my voice returned now that my drunken husk had been absolved. “Well, maybe born there. I don’t really know to be honest.” My eyes drifted to the morning sun pouring in from the magical window. “I don’t remember much before waking up in that dumpster…Rather lucky that I had waken up then I assume, Celestia knows when they may have taken it away and crushed my body in it…” “No name… no idea where I was, what I was doing… it was a miracle that I could survive the first day.” I said rolling my hoof along the ground distracted by it. “I know you don’t know what it’s like in that city…and I’m sure your Sister does not. Do you know how many newborns die in Calimare each day? Upwards of fifty…fifty new foals brought into this world only to die. I wonder if you know how many survive…?” I mused looking at her, her face was pained. A monarch seeing a part of her people and world that she did not want to see… a world that she had never had to see. Well I had to see it…I had to live it. “One. On a good day when all the celestial bodies align… one out of fifty children survive.” I laughed hard not angrily…bitterly not at the situation, at myself. “I hit the fucking jackpot.” “I wasn’t entirely alone…after a while, I suppose. After time all us vermant and survivors collect in small groups. We’d split the city you know…Like we were kings.” I laughed and lifted a hoof to my hair pulling it away from my eyes. “Kings…they ruled the city, the goal and the end…but I digress. Where was I…the children… We got together to form surrogate families, of thieves and cut-saddles.” I was interrupted for a moment by a laugh from Luna and I looked at her my eyes taking her in. “Oh we stole Princess, money, goods. Life.” the smile faded from her lips, I was common. Common was survival, I would not allow myself to be mocked for being beneath Royalty. “We stole to survive, to live. Many of us died…many faces without names…Ha!” I laughed sharply, laced with bitterness. “Most of us before we found our cutie marks if you’d believe it. Not many people now adays can imagine the funerals held by little fillies and colts for their brothers and sister’s who died simply because they were not strong enough…fast enough…smart enough….” “The Pegasi had it the best, begrudgingly. In that hot, blazing desert where the only solice from the sun was a cold and biting night. They were the ones who could flee the easiest…most of them at least. Then the earth ponies, they controlled the middle class of us rugged survivors. Hard to think of a creature so unwilling to die when there was nothing left to live for…” Again my eyes drifted to the upper corner of the room into the light. “Then the unicorns, ponies like me. Hard to imagine, I know.” I scoffed, waving a hoof at her. “In your society the unicorns are a sign of power and nobility. Well on those streets it meant weakness and inevitable death. There was no way for us to harness our magic…to learn how to wield it properly. Assuming it didn’t go wild…the horror’s I’d heard of the one’s who went wild….” “There was another unicorn in our family, only one. They were often abandoned by the groups. A wild magic eruption could kill far more then just the caster… The screams she cried the night she died still keep me up at night.” I shivered, spine tingling with the pain. “There really wasn’t enough left of her for the traditional burial at sea…” I stopped and wiped a tear from my eye…what was wrong with me! I pleaded with my mind and heart to stop talking. It hurt, it hurt so much. Every nightmare I had ever lived for being replayed again and again. I could feel my chest heaving as if it had no greater desire then self-destruction. Stop…its all I wanted to do…stop, but the pain wouldn’t let me. Like pulling off a magical-aid strip, quick and painful in one sharp pull. “You know that’s how I got my name? We named each other, I supposed it helped us cement what we had…helped us have something worth fighting for. Dying for. Ha, this stallion before you was named by a Pegasus and Earth pony from the streets… no one would think that, looking at me would they. A venerable member of society and all that.” “Her name was Clips…” I said rolling my shoulders, eyes lost on that once image. I could see here there in the room, my ghosts come to haunt me. I could see her dirty orange and yellow mane on a sand brown coat… her small seeming misshapen wings…body beaten by the desert, but will not crushed. A will to survive. “She was the first one I named you know…clever isn’t it? Her wings had been clipped at birth…to help keep the population down.” I scoffed harshly at the image of Clips moving around, little wings twitching. “I guess its another way I was lucky, my mother had something like a heart.” I raised a hoof up and caressed the filthy and ruined mane of the hallucination before me.. My eyes lost on her image. “Clips was the first one in our family to die after I joined.” I could feel the pain in my heart, the twitch. I had never spoken of clips. “Then Ruby-max…he was one of the strongest Earth Ponies running those mean streets…He was caught in the street war with the guilds…as did everyone else…” I paused for a long moment…that war…I could feel the heat of it’s flames swirling around, flames of danger. Suppress, neglect, fight the flames. “I had gotten lucky once…”I whispered now my limbs shaking a little at the raging flames underneath. “I had managed to get my hand on some silk…nothing too unique or impressive that I could be signalled out for it…to steal something unique was a taboo of the street. If it was traceable it was a risk. Well the silk I fashioned into a cloak for protection from the sun… Not surprising they named me Silk is it? A very basic view of things I suppose, but then again I was one of the only ones alive with an education and the ability to talk and read properly.” I pushed my hoof through the images of Clips and now Ruby-max, the blood red earth pony with rough brown hair. His eyes of brilliant ruby haunting my own, looking to me pleadingly to go back and save the shadow of that day from ever happening. “The guilds…you weren’t here for their rule I suppose, and Celestia was too busy to care about a seedy port city off in a harsh and vicious desert.” I whispered…I couldn’t tell how quietly I was talking, I couldn’t see the breaking monarch. Her sky sea blue eyes filled with tears, moving closer to hear me better, all I saw was the sun on that deadly desert. “They were the real kings…murderers, thieves, assassins…traders.” I laughed a little remembering the Desert Kings and their rule. “They were the real crime…we children were survivors…we stole what we had to survive or attempt to buy shelter… They stole what they did for the power. Power was something only the newest of foals wanted. Money was power…power was respect. To those poor misguided foals. Power is nothing but fear.” “The young ones never could understand that concept.” I chuckled eyes distant seeing faces I hadn’t seen in decades, faces of ghosts long dead. “We rob from the kings…kill the kings…to become the king. But then what happens? We rule as immortals? No…no we become the targets of those who had the same situation like us.” I whispered running a hoof through my mane. “I knew but look at me…a King!” I scoffed those faces staring back at me, disgusted. “The guild… they were the King’s beyond the king. Untouchables. We could hit the traders… and the merchants. Not the guilds, they were beyond all protection. Till that day.” I said the flames blurring across my sight again, this time…and I don’t know why…but I did not shy away. Maybe deep down within my essence I realized that I had been haunted and repressing horrors that nopony should ever have…and this Princess, this Goddess being the first person to be near me…to stay with me. To be someone I could tear down the walls around my heart and mind. “The war was brutal…One guild killed a king of another, a third attacked the first transgressor while a Fourth in alliance with the first slaughtered the third. A fire…they used fire. In the desert…insult to injury really.” I said, voice uncontrolled…I was unaware of my pitch at this point but still that urgng deep inside of me, that surge demanded my continuance. “I wonder if there was ever a full tally of how many died…over ninety percent of the city burnt to the ground that night…and over half the ships in the harbour. So many dead…” There was a long silence between myself and Luna…it was an awkward silence. Inside of me was a monster begging to be let loose, to be freed of its emotional prison. It howled and tore its vicious path around inside my mind and heart. I saw Ruby-Max again… as I saw him last, that young colt engulfed in flames and for the first time in over forty years I felt the sickening burn of tears down my cheek. “We couldn’t save him you know…Ruby-Max was the first of us to fall that night. We tried to get him to the water…as fast as we could, but all it did was burn us quicker. Nothing we could do would help…he screamed…you know ?!” my voice cracked harshly. “He screamed louder then anypony should ever scream, he was alive when we threw him into the sea… how quickly he died after that I can only guess for that’s when oil carrying ships where met with the blaze. The explosion was devastating…those who weren’t incinerated by the sun like heat were showered with glass and splinters from the nearby houses. We were down to ten then…just ten ponies left from our family of thirty. The explosion hit us so hard we almost forgot where we were. “But then the screams…those screams. I wonder how many ponies can say they’ve listened to a city burn alive…those scream!” I gripped my hair violently, my body was shaking and the tears were flowing. I could taste the acrid vomit at t he back of my throat but I swallowed an carried on. For them…always for them. “We tried to flee, tried to run…Another one of us was trampled by the herd… Which dissolved moments later when an apothecary shop went ablaze, the gases filled the air and distorted our vision. Our lungs weakened and filled with smoke already. We wanted to cry, wanted to scream but there was no air or strength in our bodies… we could only run. The next died rather aprublty, stray bullet…we don’t know where the shot came from but the Pegasus beside me dropped instantly. There was no need to pause, we had all seen ponies drop like that before. It made us run faster, faster faster faster faster…” I panted my words getting tight and sped together, my voice failing. How long had I been talking? Why was the fire of my past so hot that I could feel the smoke clog my lungs, only the tears on my fast clearing away the grime of death. “Two more fell, one from smoke.. A filly, this little Pegasus girl she was only four fell back to help and was crushed by a collapsing building…her death was quiet for once their was no scream. Half of us remained… we ran and ran trying to outrun the death. But we couldn’t see the fire through the smoke… An Earth pony, one of the oldest in our family… I remember his green olive mane and his earthly brown coat as it hit the inferno, a surging fireball erupting from the heart of the chaos… He was no more… We ran and ran and ran, the death all around us…I don’t know when the other died…I don’t know when I lost them all I know is that I ran and cried and bellowed into the night. The desert was so-so cold, so icy…” I shivered and shook violently my body gripped with the vivid memories haunting my reality. “How could this happen!? Why did this happen!? They didn’t deserve to die, not like that! Not like this!” I bellowed, Luna’s presence almost forgotten. I was lost fully then, words spilled from my mouth and my body bashed itself violently against the wall as I choked and suffocated on my own words. “Why was there so much death! Why were we born to die like this!? This can’t have been why we were born! Why did no one stop the fire! Why did no one stop the death?!” I was yelling now, my body strained beyond the point of exhaustion. Luna’s voice rang out, her tears pouring down her cheek though I saw none of it. “Stop! Stop! Thou art injuring yourself! STOP!” she tried to order through her tears at me. “WHY DID NO ONE COME!? WHY WAS NO ONE SAVED!? WHERE WERE YOU! THEY WORSHIPPED YOU! WHY DID YOU NEVER COME TO US IN OUR TIME OF NEED!? THEY DIDN’T DESRERVE TO DIE LIKE THAT! HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?! WHY WERE YOU NOT THERE THE ONE TIME WHEN WE NEEDED TO BE SAVED!? WAS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK?! DID WE SEEM GREEDY TO YOU!” I ignored her desperate pleas for me to stop, my eyes blinded with tears. That voice would not reach my ears, not over the screams those violent screams. “WHY DID THEY LEAVE ONLY ME? WHY WAS I THE ONLY ONE TO SURVIVE!? WHY MUST I BEAR THE BURDEN OF THEIR LEGACY!! WHY WEREN’T YOU THERE!!!” I bellowed, my voice breaking I collapsed, broken beyond all limits. My breath was haggard and my body weak I tossed violently in the throws of my hallucinated death. Again and again my voice called out to the darkness which was encasing my very soul. Again and again my words broke into Luna’s heart as a pick through ice. “Why weren’t you there…” And so a fourth night fell, upon my weak and broken body. As the flames of Calimare ripped through my soul I looked to the same sky I had all those years ago, fleeing from the death and chaos. Up to a barren and unforgiving sky, the stars mocking my very existence. “Why weren’t you there…the one time we needed you…”
"Legacy"here This link will take you to the entire legacy story in one large file for easy access. Google Doc link here : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fWXnZbtRjd1ib0-mTw3bQ2kVNetCZSJD7McY1FfC6BI/edit?hl=en_GB
