The Magister

Chapters

A Magister without Equal
A Princess and a Doll
The Dreamer and a Seamstress
A Tale of a Proud Griffon (Beginning and Middle-ish)

A Magister without Equal

Chapter 1

“This is gettin’ really old…” I murmur the complaint to myself, taking yet another step forward. I can hear something other than the crunch of my hooves on the dried leaves, sounding almost like a growl. After I took a few more steps I hear it again, a growl emerging from the darkness of the trees. It’s as though it was trying to mask itself within the sound of my own hoofalls. I proceed to stand still for just a moment as everything goes silent. All that can be heard are the natural sounds of the forest around me. Nothing really out of the ordinary, however, I’m not stupid. Amongst the trees, I could sense magic at work. Wooden mechanisms move, timber gears spin, all within an intricate life form, made entirely of wood. Remaining here, I could sense that they are making a steady approach.

“Sigh… well shit, I guess it’s about time ta start runnin’.” I quickly make a calculation in my mind, trying to guesstimate where these timberwolves are and how much time I actually have to think of a plan. However, the numbers that come to mind don’t look very promising. Soooo… I book it. Weaving in, around, and between each tree, trying to throw off my pursuers, but it’s of no use. Just as I can sense the magic resonating off the timberwolves, they do the very same, sensing the magic from me. Worst of all, I could sense that the damned things are gaining on me.

“Fuckin’ Timbers,” I spit out to myself, complaining yet again as I flee from my pursuers. “I don’t need another problem right now.” I take only a few moments to look around, trees flying by as I run. I can see that I’m nowhere near my designated checkpoint. “I’m still in the middle of the Everfree forest...” jumping over a few tree stumps, trying to think of anything to do. “This would be so much easier if it was just one. If it attacked me by itself, I’d be able to take it out, but NOOOOO… judgin’ by how much magical power is behind me, it’s most likely a pack… Wellll shit.” I weave through even more trees and jump over low lying bushes, “that’s just great… whatever, I just need to think of what to do before they get ta me. How ‘bout… shit…” Turning my, head I see one of the timbers have already caught up to me. It lunges off a tree and it makes contact, driving its teeth straight into my right thigh.

Not ready for the impact, I plummet to the ground with the timber still holding tightly to my thigh, crying out from the sudden pain. Quickly I try to recover, but the best I could do is get onto my back. I look down and see that the timber has my thigh in a death grip in between its teeth. So I do what any sensible pony would do in this scenario. I try to break its face… the jaw to be more specific. Unleashing three powerful jabs, I break off a few parts of its face with every hit, but I can’t snap the jaw. I try a few more times until I realize my stupidity. I forgot about the pack that was chasing me from earlier. Thinking about it, I could sense that they’re uncomfortably close now, make that lethally close. Looking around myself frantically, I try to get an idea of where I am.

“I’m at the top of Nosebleed, the steepest hill in the Everfree.” I finally realize. Its nickname was established a long time ago by some adventurous fillies that broke their noses when they tried to get up it and I know exactly where it leads.

“With a bit of luck... I think I could make this work,” I reason. However, the time I took to think allowed the timber to get back on all fours and drag me closer to the pack. With a bit of quick thinking, I use my free hoof to buck one of its front legs inward. This action snaps its fore leg in two and allows me to get to the edge of the hill, dragging the timber's dead weight all on my thigh. Out of breath, I have my shoulders over the decline of the hill. I don’t hesitate to continue on with my plan and throw both our flanks down Nosebleed…

As we roll down the hill, I have no control over what is happening. All I can see is an array of greens and browns spiraling around me along with the pain of the timber wolf’s teeth in my leg. But as moments pass I could feel that I’ve regained some of my bearings and continue further with my plan of attack.

“I have to adjust our rotation speed to make it work,” I think to myself. “But that isn’t a problem. I just got to prepare for the pain.” Falling even faster I could feel the skin on my thigh tear as the timber’s hold gets tighter, trying not be forcibly ripped apart by the centrifugal force generated from the rolling. After about half a minute of thrashing about, trying to inflict as much damage possible to the timber, I can see that I’m leaving this trail of crimson down the side of the hill. Glimpsing at it, all I could think is how much blood I am possibly losing; however, I can’t worry about that because a sudden angle change in the hill’s decline causes the timber and I to shoot forward, off the ground and into a free fall. While in the air I could feel the weight of the timber pull at my thigh even more, ripping the skin entirely, revealing the musclular tissue that lies right beneath the surface. Trying to ignore the pain, I quickly place the timber in between the ground and myself annnnd… SNAP!!! Its jaw shatters as it hits the harder gravel surface that lies below us.

Now separated, I roll over to get some ground in between us and after a few moments of trying to collect ourselves we both manage to get onto our feet, looking at one another, face to face.

“This is what I’m talking about, a good old One V. One.” Sizing up my opponent, I see its face is badly distorted from its natural design and is stained red with my blood. Its body looks feeble, with a wide variety of chippings and cracks. Its foreleg, the most plainly damaged, is missing a part right down the middle. However, the way I feel is like the cool breeze that is whispering past us over this gravel river bed, nice and calm.

“Come on. let’s make this my eight hundredth timber kill.” I taunt. Ignoring its own injuries, the timber wolf quickly lunges at me, like any wild animal would, it’s under belly completely open for a well-timed attack. “Got ya…” I whisper taking only a split second to plunge my horn into its abdomen. It hopelessly struggles, trying to bite me, but I can feel my victory is within reach. I pick out a nearby tree and charge towards it with the timber stuck to my horn, its body in between me and my target. I run, getting closer and closer to the tree. Then I witness the remarkable, the timber starts to crumble from the sheer pressure of the magical energy surrounding me.

“Huh… after a hundred and thirty-two years I really have become quite powerful.” I smirk. Peering past the wolf I see I’m right in front of my target and prepare my body for the impact. I reach the tree and smash the timber straight into it causing this explosion of wood and magic. A sickening crack resonates through the air as I snap the timber’s back open on the tree, its wounds now spilling out its green life magic that lies within it. Nevertheless, amongst all the chaos, I smile. I know the end is near and I could start worrying about the bigger picture again.

I whisper my favorite two words, “I win…” I then concentrate for my grand finale, the most devastating spell I know, a spell that can even destroy magic itself. I’m the only pony who knows of this spell; because, I’m the only pony who hasn’t only studied the application of magic, like Star Swirl the Bearded, but its anatomy and physiology. I know its workings, the ins and outs. How it’s both a wavelength and a particle, like light, and then my greatest achievement, figuring out that everything is held together by it. The Arcane Life theory, I call it. And as a result of this knowledge, I’m the only pony that knows how to extinguish this magic, permanently. With my magic I create an energetic pulse with the opposite properties of my intended target’s life magic. To be more specific, an opposite wavelength to this life magic. This then causes destructive interference, which is the interference of two waves of equal frequency and opposite phase resulting in their cancellation. This causes the magic to lose all energy and form, “killing” the magic and the object and/or creature being held together by it. It’s a dark but very effective procedure.

I slowly apply pressure unto the timber’s chest, forcing my horn ever deeper until I hear the sound of more snapping wood. Then I see it, the core of the timber’s life energy, a dark green sphere of the purest magic known to ponies.

“It’s your time…” I take a moment to focus then… BOOOM!!! A crash of thunder could be heard throughout the forest as I send a pulse throughout the entirety of the timber wolf. The pulse shatters the being into an unrecognizable form. The magic, still resonating in the air, then turns those pieces into dust in this wild spectacle of blood red auras sweeping over the timber wolf’s former green life energy. Looking at it, it reminds me of a ship being overtaken by an enormous wave. The ship, powerless as it sits there watching, succumbing to its grim fate. But as I think over it again, outside the thrill of the moment, it’s actually quite sad. All that power, all that potential for life is now extinguished forever. Never to be truly restored.

"I really got to stop using this spell…”

Quickly, I snap out of this internal affair as I feel several magical energies approaching my location. Coming from behind me, I realize that the residue from the magical blast is attracting the rest of the pack back towards me.

“Shit… I’m actually in a terrible position,” I think to myself. “My flank is pointed towards the timbers.”

As fast as I can, I turn around, but am met with the jaws of a timber wolf. Immediately it overpowers me taking hold of one of my hooves, but I manage to use that to my advantage. Using the timber wolf’s own momentum against it, I throw it off of me and into a tree. It doesn’t take very long to recover and again it lunges at me again. As it’s in the air, I could sense another approaching from behind. Waiting for the right moment, I hear it, the opportunity to strike. The sound is of that of dried leaves crunching as they are forced between the ground and the timber wolf hind legs.

“Too easy...” I think. The timber is only inches away from me when I grab hold of the timber in front of me and smash it into the one right behind me. When they collide, you could hear the sound of wood snapping and see chunks of their wooden faces fly off. As they both hit the floor, their faces are completely unrecognizable. All that’s left is a mass of wooden bits surrounded by the dirt and remnants of dead plants. Breathing heavily, I see the last remaining members of the pact surround me. They then slowly circle around me, waiting for something.

“I know exactly what they’re doin’. they’re looking for an openin’” I think as I calmly move into a more defensible position. Hours pass and the timbers wolves still don’t make a move. They only stare at me with their bright green eyes. Sitting down I wait for any change in their life magic to indicate an attack, but they are content on what they are doing, just circling around me. “Seriously what are they waitin’ for…?” I take a glance towards what little of the sky I can see and I notice that the day is aging. The bright light from the sun is a dim orange. “They’re waiting for the night.” Looking back down, I notice that I can see less and less that is in front of me. “I’ve got to make a move, I know I’m comfortable in the night but a timber is deadly in one…”

Concentrating, I try to get another pulse started, one that would just temporarily break apart the timbers, but I just don’t feel it. I honestly don’t have the magical reserves to cast another spell.

“Shit…” The problem is, that I am an extremely powerful unicorn but for a price. I’m fond of enchanted items. That’s how I was able to research about magical phenomenon and such. I use these items as a base for my magic studies since they are magic, but in the shape of an object or being, in the case of Alpha, also known as Artificial Life items. But, the problem is that they all come with a price. Like the Alicorn Amulet and how it causes mental filters to dissolve, so the user will eventually become insane in a sense. The ones I use; my piercings, necklace, and goggles, come with the price of equivalent exchange. Say I cast a spell, its power is enhanced thirty times, but its magical energy cost is enhanced fifty times. This is equivalent in the sense that with these items, you’ll never have the reserves to cast more than a few overly powered spells a day. So now I’m stuck, without any magic, against a pack of timber wolves. “Welll…shit.”

I get back on all fours when I feel it. The timberwolves are prepared to strike. The sun sets, and the darkness of the woods approach me. So do those retched green eyes.

“Oh man, this is gonna be one hell of a fight…” I think to myself with a sigh. Now with the darkness right before me, they look for an opening, but there is none to be had. So, they all lunge at me, the timberwolves intent on getting this kill. Quickly, I swing my two forehooves left and right. I Land four solid hits against a few timber wolves, but that’s not enough. You can’t simply break a timber and expect it to stay down. So, they all recover and come after me again and again. Within the hour, after my hooves are bloodied from smashing the timbers, body worn from the struggle to stay alive, one of them finally manages to get a hold of me. Its jaws around my left hoof, the timber starts to flail around savagely, tearing apart my jacket sleeve and the flesh beneath it.

“SHIT!!!” I yell in my head as the pain shoots through the left side of my body. Frantically, I land three blows onto its face, snapping parts of it off and forcing them deep into my right hoof. Completely stricken with pain, I do everything in my power to get free, but it’s no use. All hope dissipates as more and more timbers get a hold of me. Finally, all of them grab hold and smash me into the ground.

“No shit, Shit, SHIT! I can’t die now!” Struggling one last time I feel more of my skin tear open allowing more blood to rush out of my body. “No, COME ON!!!” With every ounce of strength I struggle, but it’s all in vain. As soon as I feel a timber get hold of my throat; I know it’s all over. Within moments I could feel its rigid wooden teeth start to rip open my neck. “Shit…”

BOOOM! Another crack of thunder resonates through the forest, but from a different area of origin. In less than a second, a beam of silver energy makes its way through all of us, blasting the timberwolves off of me and into the air. Relieved, I start to develop a sense of security but as quickly as the timbers are thrown, so am I.

In midair, I see the timberwolves physical form evaporate. Only leaving their basic life magic behind, but that too is quickly extinguished. Completely in a panic, I recognize what kind of magic this is. I only thought of it as theory, impossible to actually cast, but here it is about to rip me to pieces. This magic is very similar to my pulse spell but a lot more potent in the sense that it’s an actual tangible form, more like a particle than a wavelength. However, as I wait for my death yet again, nothing happens. No pain is rushing down my body, and I don’t seem to be tearing apart at a magical level either.

So, as I am blasted away within this silver beam, I am at a complete loss. No other pony could possibly know of this magic, maybe Celestia, but it wouldn’t be to this extent. This spell was purposely targeted towards the timber wolves, leaving my physical and life magic form intact. But then I feel it, a surge of power like no other. No enchanted item, spell boost, or glyph has ever made me feel this kind of rush. The power is completely indescribable. But, this euphoria is quickly ended as this surge becomes painful. It is as though my body wants to rip itself apart to release all this new power. It worsens to an almost unbearable level. The right lens of my goggles starts to chip and then the rest of my enhancements crack open revealing more silver like energy emanating from within.

“SHIT!!! IF IT’S NOT ONE PROBLEM, IT’S ANOTHER!!! FUCK IT! I’M NOT DYING TODAY!!!” With the new found power reserve, I start up another pulse, but the damage it may cause is incalculable. I’ve never created a surge this potent, this refined before and with how much raw magic is behind, it I probably won’t even live to see the damage.

“Ehhh… it’s a calculated risk. I just need to try something.” Ready to release the spell, I could feel excess magic start to spew out of my eyes, shattering the already chipped crystal lenses of my goggles. “Wonder if Twilight feels like this when she uses the Elements…”

BOOM! Everything around me vanishes in an instant, leaving nothing but scorched shadows on the ground. The beam however, when it came in contact with the pulse, released enough magic to create a nocturnal rainbow within the darkening sky.

I crash upon the scorched earth but shortly after recover. I then get up on all fours and look at the sky. A nocturnal rainbow… its one surprise after another, but hopefully they are all done for today.

I smirk as I open my mouth, “Another thing I’ve never seen before, the legendary Nocturnal Rainbow. The greatest symbol of luck to the weary trav…” Suddenly I stop, my body completely frozen in time.

“I think, I think I’m dying…” My heart grows heavy as its pulse lessens, anxiety builds for I could no longer breathe, then my sight blurs into nothingness. “Damn, couldn’t cheat death this time.” Losing all strength I descend unto the earth. The ashes propelled away from me as I fall. “I’m sorry everypony, I couldn’t tell ya I’m not comin’ back this time…”

A Princess and a Doll

Chapter 2

I regain consciousness and feel the soft touch of damp green blades upon my face. Opening my eyes, I find myself in a vaguely familiar environment. It’s dark and my body is surrounded by a chilling breeze, flowing through the surrounding grass. I get up and see that I’m no longer anywhere near the Everfree Forest, or anywhere for a matter of fact. I look up at the night sky, and I still manage to make out the Nocturnal Rainbow from before illuminating the blank sky.

“What the hell happened…?” I ponder, examining myself. I still retain remnants of the injuries I had acquired from earlier, but I am alive.

“Thought I was done for this time,” I chuckle softly to myself as I brush off any loose blades of grass from my body. Then I feel a sudden chill down my spine. At first, I thought it was brought upon by the cold breeze, but I finally realize something. If this were all real, everything would be dead. I don’t feel any magic resonating off any of the nearby greenery, sky, stars, anything. “Okay, this is really throwin’ me off…”

Taking a quick walk around the meadow, I don’t appear to be moving in space. Using my sixth sense I could feel that I am stationary, not moving anywhere, even though all my other senses are telling me otherwise.

“This isn’t real… I’m still layin’ in the Everfree,” I conclude to myself. “So why am I dreamin’ at a time like this, oh wait, never mind…” Taking a glance at the moon, I can feel magic come from that direction.

“Yup, that’s why…” I sit down and see a black entity animate from the middle of the moon. As I remain here, the entity grows larger and larger, until I can clearly see it’s an Alicorn mare, specifically the lovely princess of the night, Luna. “…Well, wonder what she needs that she’s approaching me before our agreed upon checkpoint… then again, I was runnin’ late.”

She lands, her mane glistening in the moon’s light, like a constellation of dim stars and once her hooves finally lay themselves atop the ground, I am greeted with a soft gust from her wings, which causes a wave throughout the sea of smooth green blades.

“Hello… Eli,” she says to me closing the distance between us.

Getting up, I state politely, “Hello Princess.” I then begin to walk closer to her until there is only a foot or so in-between us. “This isn’t how’d I imagine this meetin’ would go, but inside my head would actually be the safest place…”

“You were not at the designated location on the agreed upon time, so I started to worry,” she explained.

“Oh, I was just on my way…”

“Was that you who created the rainbow…” she looks back, her face pointing towards the dreary dark blue rainbow.

“Not entirely, somethin’ else generated all the magic needed to alter your moonlight like that. I just simply dispersed it to avoid my death…”

“Your death…?

“I was attacked… I think, by somepony more powerful than I’ve ever seen.”

“Did you see her!?!”

“Her?” Quickly I take a combative stance ready to defend myself if needed. “You better explain yourself princess! Your one step from bein’ in the same position your sister was…?”

She lifts her fore hoof toward herself, signaling me to try and calm down. “Patience, may I have a second to explain.” She pauses, “Why I beckoned to you was to tell you of a treasure more valuable than Equestria as a whole…”

I calm down, but didn’t fully relax my muscles. I then say, “That’s a bold statement, my princess. Equestria holds many secrets and wonders of its own. It’s also run by the most powerful alicorns ever recorded, but I shouldn’t have to tell you that.”

“Yes, but there is a pony more powerful than my sister and I…”

“Me…” I state with a smirk.

“Even more powerful than you…” she responds solemnly.

“… Okay, you’ve got my attention.”

“She is nameless. Many of us have long forgotten the legends but it has never left my mind. My sister thinks me a fool, living in a filly tale, but not only have I not forgotten, I’ve seen this legend in the flesh. She is a fateless alicorn.”

“Fateless… like a blank flank?”

“Precisely.”

“But how is that possible, born alicorns are conceived with their cutie marks, born with their fates. And if she was just a normal pony at first, she would have had to recognize her destiny fully in order to become an alicorn. Like Celestia’s favorite student, Twilight.”

“There still are many things that are unexplainable, knight. But this is what we need.”

“And you think I’ve already confronted this fateless alicorn?”

“Yes…”

“Hmmm… a fateless Alicorn, I see how that would help us, but I have a few questions.”

“You may ask them.”

“We are doin’ all this for the freedom of every pony and to finally show the world that not only unicorns could use magic, right?” My princess nods in response, remaining silent in the false moonlight. “What of every other race? The griffons, diamond dogs, changelin’s… will they be free to enter our society as well?”

“I am working on that. Many ponies still view all the other inhabitants of Equestria as second class citizens. So, it’s hard to convince everypony in the council, but I am making head way, most pegasi view griffons as their equals. In turn the council is at the very least considering full citizenship for the griffons.”

“Eghh… I see why Celestia prefers a monarchy, elected officials are idiots…”

“It is not a perfect system, Eli. But if given a chance, everypony will surprise you. We are a united species and our ability to help other races is beyond compare.”

“For someone who has lived longer than me, you have a lot of faith invested in the citizens of Equestria.”

“I’ve seen the good in everypony, unlike my sister. I have also experienced what it means to be conquered by your own vices and succumb to weakness. That is why… I believe that when you brought upon me the issue of my sister censoring magic, “for the better of Equestria”, that this action was too extreme. That her belief in “limited rights” has finally gone too far. Ponies can be trusted.” She again pauses, “Do you not believe in our race as trustworthy and noble at heart?”

“… I’ve lived for one hundred thirty two years, and all of them have been outside of your world of privilege and ivory walls. I’ve never lived in a castle, but in the streets linin’ Equestrian cities, the woods that make the Everfree Forest, even the snow lands of the north and I think… I think… Sigh, just to summarize, no I don’t think us as trustworthy and noble…” This statement seems to hurt my princess as the words leave my lips, but I am not finished. “… But I do believe, as a race, we are worthy of a chance to become a trustworthy and noble one…” With this, she smiles and says nothing more. Afterward, we both stand silently in this illusion my mind had imagined. Both of us unable to competently discuss any further ideals. “So is our little meetin’ over…?”

“Yes, it is. I will be taking my leave, Eli. But before I do, may I ask you one question?

“Go for it.”

“Why go by Eli? Being in your mind, I can tell that “Eli” is not your dam given name.”

“Damn…?”

“Are mother’s no longer referred to as such?”

“No. Anyway, history won’t remember my mother, only I will… so the name she had given to me as a filly… belongs only to me.”

“Oh…” Luna closes her eyes. “… It’s locked so tightly in your mind.” I can then see that underneath her eyelids her pupils are moving. “I might even say it’s locked in your heart, seeing how I cannot reach it…”

“That’s enough, princess…”

“If that is what you believe, then I will take my leave…” Suddenly everything vanishes. Luna, the meadow, the sky along with the stars that pepper it so gently, the rainbow, even I vanish into the complete darkness…

I regain consciousness for a second time, and bolt upward. Instinctively I take a breath, however, my gasp for air is strenuous and prolonged making a high pitched wheeze as I breathe in.

“I really was dead, what the hellll!” I hold my chest feeling the need to refill my lungs with air. “Sigh, the magic holdin’ me together is almost at a negligible level… damn, I need to get home.” Struggling to get the lower half of my body off the ground, I stop for a moment and rest.

It’s still dark out here with the only real light coming from the moon itself. The Nocturnal rainbow from before has also faded. It has become nothing more than an aurora of blue and purple lights that sprinkle in the sky. The forest that had once surrounded me has vanished and was replaced by charred dirt with shadows scorched onto the ground.

“Alright… now I just have to awkwardly limp my way home.” I whine to myself. “Ehhhh… if only Luna coulda' teleported me home or something.” Lifting myself off the ground finally, I begin my agonizing journey home. I drag my hooves through the scorched earth and can feel embers producing some comforting warmth. This allows me to stay comfortable in this otherwise cold and dark night.

“What the hell, all my body hurts… I shouldn’t a' left my home so unprepared.” Finally, I reach the rim of the destruction. Life again is becoming apparent, and the blast doesn’t seem to have had any effect here. I stop and take a moment. Being here my heart lightens, I feel less open now surrounded by the remains of the Everfree Forest. I am more at home within these trees, away from both the moonlight and upcoming sunlight. Now, I just have to get home.

Moving for a few more moments, I walk beneath a collection of vines and low lying bushes. Then I stop and take a seat on the ground. I place one hoof on an invisible entity surrounded by trees and take a single breath. A veil then removes itself from before me, exposing a small wooden cabin. Its wall enslaved to vines and moss, the windows fogged by age, and its entrance nothing more than a badly warped and cracked wooden door.

“Finally, I’m home…” I get up and push open the door with my shoulder. Because of the door’s age and poor condition, it lets out a stiff creaking. To anypony else, it would be unsettling, but to me, it just means I am home. As I enter, I limp my way into the center of the small space. I see all the trinkets and small treasures that I had collected over my long life. They glisten in the newly forming sunlight that manages to find its way through the vines and cracks in my home’s walls.

“Welcome home, master…” A small soft voice murmurs from behind me. I turn and see that Alma is hovering right over my shoulder. Alma is an Alpha A.K.A. Artificial life enchanted item. Without the magic animating her, she would just be a small filly figure made of glass with golden crafted wings and an ivory horn. Thinking back, she’s the first enchanted item I had ever found and the most complex. She was also what allowed me to study the theory of magic and how it holds everything together. Not that she’s a prime example of life magic at work, but inside her is this vast library of ancient knowledge. Unfinished magic theories, Magic law, Natural Law, Chaotic Law, documented events before the rise of Celestia and Luna, there’s even a hint that she holds the secret of our origins. But presently she is how I became who I am…

“Alma, please run repair program, ‘ardentem medicum’…” I say as I turn away from her and look straight forward preparing myself.

“Yes, master Eli.” She says before she stops talking. I can then feel heat start to accumulate behind me. Letting out a horrid sizzling noise, I am blasted with a skin boiling blast. Within moments, I scream in pain as my skin quickly forces itself together in the heat, closing off any openings that led to the inside of my body. “Procedure complete master.”

Breathing heavily in the pain, I whisper under my breathe, “Alma… run repair program 'mulcebris lumen'…”

“Understood…” As quickly as she had brought me pain, she brings me relief, showering my body in a sprinkle of lights and removing all visible scars and skin level damage. After a long period of time, possibly an hour or two, I can even feel my magic return to me.

“That hit the spot…” I say as I sit down and rotate my shoulder. “Oh, you can stop now Alma and thank you very much for the healin’.”

“It is always a pleasure to assist my master in any way possible,” she gleefully replies as she clings onto my shoulder, looking at my cracked earrings and necklace. “Should I mark your present enhancements as unserviceable master?”

“Yes, and while you’re doin’ that, please open inventory folder: Echo India and run power calculation program for any withdrawn items from this folder. Oh and do we have any spell weave left?”

“All present enhancements have been marked as unserviceable. Now opening inventory file: Echo India… please wait…” Immediately her eyes start to glow and then a magic aura accumulates around her horn. After a few moments of waiting, a thin beam shoots off from the tip of her horn and onto the tip of mine. “Connection achieved, now sending visual representation of inventory folder: Echo India.”

Soon, my home tears itself open. The walls replaced by shelves upon shelves of enchanted items I had found throughout my journeys, the floor no longer a mossy mess covered in trinkets but marble slates lined with gold, and the dim sunlight substituted with a hollow white light coming from nowhere that supplies no warmth. Walking around, Alma still on my shoulder, I look through all the trinkets and jewelry. Finally, I find something I like and levitate it off the shelf towards Alma.

“Alright, power calculation for the eleventh and twelfth star earrings and the thirteen star necklace, please.”

“Yes master…” She pauses and then opens her mouth stating, “With the eleventh and twelfth star earrings and the thirteen star necklace your power will be enhanced by… thirty times. However, all spells higher than basic level will consume fifty times more magic. Do you approve withdrawal of these items?”

“Meh, works for me. I approve of the withdrawal, Alma. Please mark each item as withdrawn.”

“Yes master… all items previously stated are now marked as withdrawn. Now searching all inventory files for… “spell weave”… Two items found. One is currently withdrawn…”

Interrupting her, I look at my destroyed jacket and sigh, “Please mark that withdrawn item as unserviceable…”

“Yes master, restarting search… one item found. It is currently under the file name, LAST SPELL WEAVE ROLL LEFT IN ALL OF EQUESTRIA, USE ONLY IN EMERGENCY!!! Do you wish to withdraw?”

“Yes.”

“Please state confirmation password…”

I Pause and take a second to remember what I had told her for the password. “Ehhh, oh I know. The confirmation password for all emergency withdraw files is 'Faedes'.”

“Password correct, unlocking compartment in bottomless box to access emergency withdraws. LAST SPELL WEAVE ROLL LEFT IN ALL OF EQUESTRIA, USE ONLY IN EMERGENCY!!! Is now marked as withdrawn.”

“Alright, end session.”

“Yes master. Ending session…” I only have enough time to blink when I am again in my home. “Master your visual enhancements appear damaged…” Alma states pointing her hoof at the shattered lenses of my goggles. “No files indicate the possession of any other visual enhancers.”

“It’s no problem. I’ll just buy a new pair. How many bits do I have?”

“Four.”

“Really, just four bits?

“Yes master,” she nods. “The last withdraw was last week amounting to nine thousand and eighty six bits. It was marked as essential. The last deposit, however, was thirteen years ago amounting to one hundred eighty four thousand nine hundred and ninety two bits.”

“Geez, I haven’t done a job for profit in a while. Alright… Alma, clear my calendar for the upcomin’ week and wait for new entries mostly consistin’ of ‘for profit jobs’.”

“Calendar cleared, waiting for new entries marked ‘for profit jobs’. Do you need anything else master?”

“Where is the bottomless box currently located, if it isn’t too much trouble?”

“It never is too much trouble and the Bottomless Box is located just beneath the tiny shrub I have been attending to in the corner of your home.”

“Thank you,” I say walking toward the shrub, hinting for Alma to please vacate my shoulder. Finally at the shrub, Alma hovers off my shoulder as I dive my upper body in to it. “And please refer to current location as 'our home'.” I say as I finally manage to get the box free and lift myself out of the shrub looking at Alma. “Okay?”

“Yes master… please wait…” she stops, staring blankly into nothing as her eyes go from having so much life to a hallow shell of what they just were. “… But this isn’t my home…” This statement appeared to have actual emotion to it, a deep sadness that I had never heard her express before. “This isn’t…” She then looks around frantically buzzing by everywhere in a panic then falls.

“ALMA!!!” As swiftly as I can I go to catch her glass body. I jump forward and she lands into my two hooves making a soft clink noise. Bringing her closer I can hear her mumbling something. “ALMA?!? What’s happening?!? ALMA?!?”

“System failure, initiating emergency restart… unable to complete restart, unknown program still running. Intervention needed."

“Conduct Intervention!” I yell not knowing what’ll happen.

“Please wait…” She looks at me, as if she were suffering but with a new sort of life in her eyes. Not artificial but that of a real pony. “Intervention not needed, system restarting.” And like that, her little body becomes limp then jolts back to life saying, “Hello master,” like nothing even happened.

“WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!!!” I blare at Alma. “WHAT THE FUCK!!!! Alma, please run a diagnostic sweep of all systems and for the love of Luna... TELL ME WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED!!!"

"Nothing did master..."

"What...?" I am very confused at her response, especially since a system sweep usually takes days. "Run diagnostic sweep, NOW!"

"Running diagnostic system sweep. Completion time estimated at four hundred eighty two days. Do you wish to run sweep in background."

"Yes Alma." I then think to myself, 'Something musta really fucked her over... I'm happy she is still functioning though...' I then take a second and collect my thoughts. "Alma, for the next four hundred and eighty two days, you must accompany me, your being must be no further than twenty feet away from me. Is that understood?"

"Yes master."

"Alright... fuck it, I'm done for today..." I look at Alma and lay on the mossy floor. "Love you Alma, sleep with the angels."

"Yes master. Commencing sleep mode."

"I'm happy to be home..."

"I'm happy you're home too..." I am astonished at her response, but it makes me happy. Doesn't really matter though I'm too tired to respond anyway.

The Dreamer and a Seamstress

Chapter 3 – The Dreamer and a Seamstress

Below my eyelids I can see no light. Not even the darkness of the moonlight. Below my eyelids lies true darkness. The darkness of the mind, of the soul that is weary with age…

I watch as the darkness is lifted away. My eyes now open I make out nothing that is around me. To my senses I appear to be standing within some sort of void, inside an area of space that is surrounded by nothing, consisting of nothing. I take a moment, then begin my journey from here, not knowing of what lies ahead but knowing of what I wish to see, peace. The journey is long, consuming eons as if they were days. But I continue on and witness many things, but never my sought out peace.

Am I not to know peace…? I think as I grow tired and collapse to my knees. Am I forever damned in perpetual chaos!?! I pause hoping for a response but nothing is all that is heard. Somepony please answer me… I fall forward and repeat myself. Somepony, please answer me…

“You are not damned, sweet child.” I hear a voice from within the darkness state. “This is life…” Suddenly the nothingness is peeled away revealing a meadow of soft green blades. I look up and spot a mare in the distance with a glowing sprite on her shoulder.

“This is what it means to be alive,” she explains. “Struggle, fear, happiness, hope… all these things and many others make up life… and peace.” She pauses. “Peace is only experienced by the few and it is rarely experienced before life’s end I’m afraid.”

In an uncontrollable urge I begin to weep, years of suffering to only be answered with an unmistakable truth. Life knows no peace. My vision clouds with tears and I can no longer see; however, the mare appears to me as clear as day. Her steps close the distance between us. She is now in front of me. Softly she places her hoof beneath my chin and speaks.

“Dear child, life may not bring you peace, but do not cry. Life is much too short to weep, and if you do cry, let them be tears of joy not sorrow. For tears of sorrow may never let you experience peace once your life comes to a close.”

“But why must I continue to smile if peace is not guaranteed!?!” I scream at her.

“Because smiling is the only way to truly live, to face every new obstacle with a smile, a sense of purpose, and the curiosity that will lead you to new knowledge. Smiling allows you to be more today than you were yesterday. It will allow you to continue on. Is all this not enough of a reason to smile?”

“Sigh… fine.” I snap my face away from her and clear my eyes. “I will continue on.” I take a moment to collect myself. I look back at her direction, but she is gone. “What the hell mother…”

“And stop with that damned cursing!” I hear her yell.

“Ya still wonder where I get it from! ALSO, I WASN’T FINISHED YET!!!” I shout in the direction of her voice. I sit around doing nothing afterward, letting my mind wander away from my mother’s words. After a few moments pass, my mind turns its attention to a faint warmth on my shoulder. When I look towards it, I spot Alma.

“And YOU!!!” I glare at her. “You still haven’t told me what the fuck happened!”

“Master? I do not understand the meaning of your current command?” She states tilting her head as she looks at me.

“Eghh... fuck you.” I pause and look at her again then smile. “Sigh… Love ya Alma.” I get up and turn towards her. I then hug her as tightly as I can. “Don’t fuckin’ freak me out like that again…”

“I still do not…” She looks away while I am still hugging her. “I will not “freak” out my master again. I do apologize.”

“Thank you. Soooo, what’s up with this dream? Anything useful?” I let her go and gesture her to take a quick glance around.

“There are no indications of knowledge or premonitions detected in this ‘dream,’ master.” Her eyes begin to glow. “One moment, please wit. Searching… Just as previously stated, no useful data can be collected from this ‘dream.”

“Alright, I’m content with that." I stop again and relax. "Let me lay down for a sec then.”

“Yes, master.”I throw myself on the grass staring at the empty sky as I cherish this moment of temporary serenity before I am forced to continue on in the chaos known as "life".

“Sigh, it’s always nice when I can do nothing for a change. Hey Alma, so we’re broke then, huh? As in we have no bits to purchase anything we need?”

“Yes master you are ‘broke.’ The largest purchase possible with current funds is as stated: four apples from a Ponyville apple vendor.”

I scratch at my head trying to put the simple concept of not having enough currency for food through my thick head. After a bit of frustration I feel a discomfort arise from my stomach and place my free hoof near the area. “This is annoyin’. Sigh… has anythin' interestin' popped up on your communicator?”

“Everything has been silent, master. Connecting... connected, no other users found. It appears nopony else uses the currently assigned frequency.”

“Eghh, fuck it then. Wake me up.”

“Yes, master.” I close my eyes and wait. A feeling of energy quickly surges through me as all other senses go dark. I am again in a void the darkness of my mind, but am accompanied with a sense of relief, for I know my stay is a short one.

“Alright Alma, let’s get goin’ with this.”

“Yes, master. You are clear to exit the ‘Dream Space.’ Conducting safe removal process… program has been successfully executed. Removing ‘Eli’ from ‘Dream Space.’” Alma goes silent, leaving me in that damned silence again. “We are out of the ‘Dream Space.’ Welcome home, master.”

“Sigh, ya ya ya… seriously that lecture made no sense.” I open my eyes. The darkness now replaced by reality this time around. I get off my mossy bed stretching as I do so. “Alma, where’s the bottomless box again?”

“It is right beside you, master.” I hear her say as she is out of my site.

“Thanks,” I say as I turn my eyes toward my side. Then I levitate the small wooden box to my hooves. “Alright, I’m hopin’ I don’t need to spend too much time goin’ through this. Alma, which items and/or files did I clear for withdrawal yesterday?”

"All items indicated for withdrawal 'yesterday' could be found within the file 'Echo India'. The first items shown as 'cleared for withdrawal' are as stated: ‘eleventh and twelfth star earrings, and the thirteen star necklace’. Another item that was 'cleared for withdrawal is under the sub-file ‘LAST SPELL WEAVE ROLL LEFT IN ALL OF EQUESTRIA, USE ONLY IN EMERGENCY!!!’, one roll of spellweave."

“Thank you, Alma.” I open the box with one hoof and visualize the exact items I specified from yesterday. After a moment or two of finding myself within my own illusory maze, I stumble upon the earrings and necklace. Concentrating further, I see the earrings and necklace animate from the depths of the box. Both items being lifted toward me by the red aura of my levitation spell. “Took long enough…” I complain and bring the items even closer to me. I place the box beside me with one hoof and then start to take off my current accessories with with the other.

“May I assist with that master?” Alma asks pointing toward my necklace.

“Please and thank you.” I answer. She speedily hovers behind my head and I can feel her undo my necklace.

“Shall I get the earrings as well?”

“NO. I mean... I still have the scars from your previous attempt of assistin’ me with my earrin’s…”

“Very well...”

Finishing up, I take the earrings off then replace them and the necklace with the current accessories I had just withdrawn. I take a second to stare off into space; however, I realize I need to get the spellweave out also.

“Alma, I need you ta do a quick thing for me, please.”

“Yes, master?”

“I’ma head out front, can you jump into the box real quick and get the spellweave?”

“I’d be pleased to!” She zooms off as I finish. I head towards the doorway when I look over my ragged cloth jacket. It was flimsy and self-stitched to begin with but after yesterday I might as well just wrap pieces of cotton around me , I think to myself.

“Alright Alma, I’ma be out front!” No response. “I’ma assume you’re already in the box!” I trot slowly to the warped old door and then shove myself through it. “I’ma also cast the invisibility spell on the house again!” Again no response. So I just proceed to cover up my home as I always do. I move some vegetation here and there, but most importantly cast the light bending spell to get that invisible look going. “Perfect. Hey, Alma ya done yet!?!”

“Yes master, I have completed my task.” I hear her yell faintly, almost resembling an excited attitude in my opinion. Zooming through the door, spellweave in hoof, she quickly hovers in front of me. “Do you need anymore from me, Master?”

“Yes, please retain travel protocols established yesterday.” I state solemnly.

“Yes master, I will be no further than twenty feet away for the next four-hundred and eighty one days and counting.”

“Thank you, alright we are heading to Ponyville to replace my spellweave jacket. Is that clear?”

“Running language interpretation program. Yes Master, I understand our current objective. However, with our current funds how are we to purchase the labor required for the said replacements?”

“Oh, you’re learnin’... huh. Interestin', but to answer your question what I’m plannin’ to do is barter, which means I’ll trade goods for services. Do you understand?”

“Yes, master. I understand sir”

“Alright, let’s be on our way.” I turn away from her and take my first steps, moving away from my sanctuary and into a world outside my understanding. A place even my wildest dreams or horrific nightmares will never recreate.

“We’re here,” I sigh as I observe the hustle and bustle of ponies in this moon forsaken town. “My Luna, how I despise this place… we’ll just find this place and go, alright? Alma, look for the location of Rarity, the owner of Carousel Boutique.”

“Yes, master…” She looks into the distance as her eyes glow turquoise for a moment. “She is currently working at the boutique.”

“Thank you, Alma. Another question: Is it currently open to customers as of this moment?”

“Yesit is. The boutique located just east of you. Towards your left master.” Her eyes return to their faint color as she finishes and looks back at me.

“Good I want to keep our time here to a minimum.” I tell her. I turn to my left and immediately notice it. A building completely out of place amongst the homes of these rural earth ponies. It is… decorative to say the least. Looking at it further I can feel it emitting this aura of excess and vanity. “Eghhh, unicorns.”

“Master?” Alma looks at me, puzzlement in her eyes as they brighten. “You seemed stressed as you expressed the word ‘unicorn’.”

“I don’t like’em. Their influence is everywhere and unnecessary.” Silence temporarily ensues as I feel like Alma is think or processing a proper response.

“What about master, are you then everywhere and unnecessary?”

“Heheh, especially me, I am literally everywhere most of the time and I stick my nose into everythin’.” I stop talking and think for a brief moment. I then start a new thought. “Just put it like this. If I wasn't a unicorn I wouldn't be where I am now. Tryin’ to change the world, only unicorns could do such things… until the day I change that. Then any pony can. After that’s settled, I’ll deal with the alicorns.”

“Why?” She asks as if she is really looking for information from me. I trot forward a bit, nearing the shop before answering, allowing myself to think some more.

She may use my answer for future programs, records, or something. I need to put some real thought into how I reply, I reason with myself.

“Because there was a time before them. I saw it, deep within your libraries.” I pause and close my eyes remembering the glimpse I had of paradise. “A time before the sun and moon, before gods existed alongside mortals, a time even before unicorns ruled over all. This place was characterized with its unlimited progress and prosperity for all, where magic was for everypony and innovations like yourself were commonplace.”

“But are you not a God then, master?” she asks looking into my eyes. Her own eyes a piercing brightness now. I don’t know how to answer maybe I just can't. My chest tightens realizing that, if I wanted to, I could shape the world as I pleased. I could gather all my trinkets and reshape everything as I see fit, but I don’t. Am I being like Celestia… imposing my beliefs on others? Saying my beliefs are better than that of the majority of ponies. That my glimpse of something that could be, is more significant than this current world. I stop trotting as I reach the symbol of vanity that is our destination and look at Alma.

Do I just seek allies like Luna, so I can justify imposing my beliefs on others… I need to answer. I’ve got to be real with myself.

“I am,” I answer sternly. “That is how I could change the world, why I could deem when needed, to be changed.”

“But does that not come with the ability to retain what you deem is the ‘norm’. If somepony in your paradise were to want to change it, would you not resist because of your beliefs in your world.”

"Yes, I would bu....”

“Then are you not like ‘Celestia’?” A dagger runs through me as she finishes.

“… Yes. I am like her," I answer her slowly, the words and thoughts of the reasoning behind my answer shoving the dagger deeper into my soul. "But that’s the only way I know how to change the world.” There is a sudden a period of silence, as if the world around us had just vanished.

“Thank you, master. I've 'learned' much from this.”

“Like what?” She looks at me directly, into my humiliated eyes as I finish.

“Belief is… a paradox. They don’t seem to help anypony.” Her eyes darken immediately returning to their normal color.

“That isn't really saying anything, Alma. Eghh… fuck you. Anyway, we’re here I’ll show you how to barter…” I turn away from her, ashamed, and open the door to the store. We are met with a small bell and a smile from a white unicorn…

“Welcome to the Carousel Boutique. How may I he… Oh my dear Celestia what are you wearing!?!” She bolts toward me pulling at my jacket with her hooves tearing it even more. “Were you attacked by timberwolves? That could be the only reasonable explanation for such an attire.”

“I was actually.” I reply.

“Oh…” She is annoying me. Her over reaction to such a petty thing isn't helping that Alma just called me a hypocrite and a “Celestia” but I got to keep it cool. I need this new jacket.

“So I have a proposition for you.”

“Yes?” She’s says still tugging at me popping her face in and out of vision.

“As you can see I need a new set of clothing.”

“Plainly.” I breathe in frustrated at this unicorn’s constant remarks.

“I have no bits but I am willing to trade your services for somethin’ greater than any amount of bits.”

“I’d do it for free, if I wasn't trying to run a business of course.”

“Let me finish…”

“Are you alright? You seem angry?”

“I am fine, I’d just like to finish explaining my position on how to pay for my new jacket.”

“I am listening.”

I hover the spellweave off my back and place it at my fore hooves. “I am willing to trade the service for a new jacket, for use and traded ownership of this roll of spellweave.”

“SPELLWEAVE!!!” She shouts in my ear causing me to flinch and, honestly, make me want to hit a mare for the first time in my life. “I ummm… how much of the roll are you willing to offer?”

“Oh, right now? Hmm, all I am offering is the weave required to make me a new jacket.” I see her calm down as she regains her bearing, ready to barter.

“No darling, that simply will not due. I've dealt with this material before and it takes real artisan skill to manipulate it to the shape and feel you want. I am at least going to want the entire roll.”

“Add a leather exterior to the jacket with a plain shirt underneath and I’ll offer twenty additional square feet of cloth.”

“One hundred.”

Really… I think to myself. “Add some additional padding of spellweave inside the jacket for forty. Plus another lighter jacket made of weave and polyester.”

“Absolutely not, for that I need the entire roll.”

“Then I could take my materials elsewhere, you know I've been told this may be the last roll of spellweave in Equestria.” She pauses hesitant to answer. I see her pride waning as I turn toward the door taking the weave with me. I could feel her magic, she’s about to come to an ultimatum. Let’s see how this goes, I grin while my body reaches the door.

“I’ll do what you want but I am also offering a lifetime free repair and alteration policy for you for the entire roll.”

I turn to her. “Make it free tailorin’ in general for a lifetime and we have a deal.”

“Yes of course… umm, free tailoring and your current request for the roll of spellweave.”

I turn away from her again and levitate the spellweave into her hooves. “It was pleasant doin’ business. I’ll be waitin’ to hear from you later this week.” Suddenly I feel an aggressive tug at my shoulder.

“Sir, where are you going? I need your measurements.”

“What?” In a single moment I am surrounded by scissors, needles, cloth, and measuring tape. The white unicorn flying in and out of view.

Fuck I forgot… This is going to be a while. At least I don’t feel as shitty now.

“Master, are you in distress?” I hear Alma speak up. I had almost forgot she was here, she'd been silent this entire time coming to think about it.

“What was that?!” The unicorn losses her concentration as Alma floats to my face.

“Are you in distress?”

“I am alright, Alma. This unicorn is just doin’ her job.”

“Ummm, what is that sir?” the unicorn asks.

“This is Alma. Just don’t mind her she isn't doin’ you any harm.”

“Okay.” She then peers over at Alma. “Sweetie, can you please give me some space to work?” Alma looks at me and I just nod slightly.

“Yes, ‘Rarity’.” She replies.

“Thank you. Now you wanted a jacket?”

“Yes. Two actually and a shirt to go underneath.”

“I remember, now let me get your measurements…. Oh what do I call you?”

“Eli, will be fine.”

“Very well, Eli. After I take the needed measurements, I’ll let you go sweetheart.”

“Seems like a good enough plan.” I state making myself stiff so this can go quickly. As she lines the tape up next to my hooves and chest, I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror. Hmmm, I haven’t actually ever payed attention to how I look.

Looking back at the mirror, I first take notice of my coat. It is very rough with no significantly bright color to it, a light grayish tan color really. My mane is just as unkempt and rough. However, its black with red highlights streaking across it.

Medium length for a stallion, I think. Meh, I don’t look too bad. Could be worse. My view into the mirror is obstructed by a purple mane. Not really expecting that I jump a bit and then I look down and see the mare looking me in the eye.

“I am done. Expect your order to be done within a month or two... maybe three....”

“WHY?” I almost yell.

“Shoosh, shoosh, shoosh, you can’t rush perfection, especially when it is within the making.” She starts to shove me out the door with Alma following close behind. “If you don’t have any other business, I am closing early today. Thank you and feel free to come again.” She hurries me out the door, causing me to lose balance and almost bust my shit. After recovering I look back and see Alma rushing towards me when the door swings shut, about to hit her.

“ALMA!!!” I react teleporting to the door, throwing my left fore hoof in between the door and its frame. Alma continuies to fly forward, not noticing my sudden movement. The door immediately slams into my hoof afterward. CRASH! “FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!” I yell.

Alma looks back at me. “Master, when did you get there?” I withdraw my hoof from the doorway and see the white unicorn in there not caring for what she almost did. “Master?”

My eye twitches. If I wasn’t under Celestia’s light, I’d consider killing this one…. No PONY ever puts Alma in harms way. I could feel magic begin to spill out of my eyes like tears. Why am I so upset? No, I have a right to be upset. This fucking unicorn almost took everything from me by slamming that door carelessly!

“Master?” I hear Alma whimper, as if she were in the distance and not beside me on my shoulder.

“Yes, Alma?”

“Are you ‘okay’?”

“I’m fine.” I wipe my eyes and take a deep breath feeling the magic recede. “I’m fine.” What is with Alma? I think. She’s never asked if I was “okay” before, just what I needed or at the most if I was experiencing “distress”. I don’t know. It just might be that I’ve never noticed because this is the first time I am traveling with her. “We are leavin’, now.”

“Yes, master.” She states as I snap away from the door and the sight of that fucking unicorn. Quickly I start to storm out of the shit hole.

“Master?”

“Yes, Alma?”

“It’s going to be alright.”

What??? Just, ugh... nevermind. I’m done with this place. “Let’s just go. NOW.” I glare at her.

“Yes…” I look away from Alma and continue my march out of here.

I fuckin’ hate this place…..

A Tale of a Proud Griffon (Beginning and Middle-ish)

Chapter Four - A Tale of a Proud Griffon

“Almost there…” I utter softly. With some effort I look up, pressing a fore-hoof firmly into a vast field of untouched snow. “Come on, Alma! Let's get a move on!” As I finish my words attempt to leave the my frozen lips, but quickly die within the rushing of wind.

“Yes, master!” I hear her respond, somehow noting my command. I notice Alma struggles to press forward against the wind and as soon as she could grab onto my cloak she does. With her small size and lack of power in her metal wings, she is unable to compete against the harsh mountain wind. “You need shelter, master.”

She’s right, I reason to myself. With the temperature and winds as they are I have, at most, several more hours before my body can’t support the stress of metabolizing magic to maintain my body heat. I pause and gather my thoughts to do some quick math. After this, if I can quickly reach my target, I might be able to cast one more spell above novice level without killing myself. Dammit, whatever when I get there I should at least be out of the wind. Keeping a steady pace I walk forward and then lower my gaze. Snow starts to pile onto my mane, but at least I keep is out of my face. After a few moments, I glance upward again and see the large shadow of our destination. It’s within a hundred meters, give or take. “Alma, you still here?!?”

“Yes, Master!”

Alright, I'm almost there, just let me get in there body.. I continue to push through the snow and wind the best I can with my cloak doing nothing more than adding drag to my body. This thing is useless, dammit I should’ah just waited for my jacket… why the hell did I get so ticked back in Ponyville anyway? I redirect my eyes and peek over my shoulder at Alma. … I remember, who am I kidding. Come on, just let me get there.

The wind continues to hiss at me doing everything in its natural power to deter me. As for the snow, it cuts into my fur coat leaving no physical markings, but the feeling of miniature blades gliding over my skin. However, with a deep breath I look forward and smile. The pain is somehow reassuring. I am out and about again, outside politics and other ponies business, just adventuring against the natural and unknown forces. I got this, I smile. Again I place a forehoof slowly in front of me and… BOOM! I blast off running, leaving a puff of snow behind me.

“ALMA, YOU STILL THERE?”

“YES. MASTER!!!” I hear Alma respond. Bolting forward to the fortress my smile widens. I can see the fort's body grow larger as I press on, the details of its exterior becoming clearer and clearer. The wind and snow no longer feel like an obstacle, but an opportunity to feel what it means to be alive, without a responsibility to anypony else but yourself, without a predetermined purpose. The guiding light is curiosity and basic need.

“ALMA, IF I WERE TO TELEPORT WOULD YOU BE TELEPORTED WITH ME?!” I yell not looking at her but at the stone wall rushing toward me.

“YES, I WOULD BE TELEPORTED WITH YOU, MASTER!”

“GOOD!” I reply. The wall is now a few feet from my snout when my charge reaches max speed, my smile now an arrogant smirk. Come on let’s see if I can still do this. Taking a blink I dematerialize into magic and, instantaneously, re-emerge beyond the wall in a spectacle of crimson lights. “WHOA! Dear Luna, how I've missed that!” Quickly I shake off the snow from my hooves and cloak. After clearing all the snow off of myself I roll my shoulders slightly, implying to Alma to please get off of me. She does so almost immediately and floats in front of my snout, “That worked, surprisin'ly, perfectly. Alma, where are we and what are we lookin’ for?” I bounce side to side a bit to loosen myself up.

“We are in Fort Alaric,” she explains with a glow to her eyes. “The last stronghold of the Griffon Northern Land Forces during the Dragon-Equestrian Wars.”

“Hmm, anything else interestin' Alma?”

“An 'interesting' fact that may please my master is that, after the dragons were finally pushed back and defeated, griffons were no longer allowed to reclaim their provinces and forts on Equestrian soil; however, any skyward territories were still theirs. This was a negotiated agreement in the Treaty of All Earths by Celestia and dragon ruler, Amita.”

“Okay, any recorded reason for this action?”

“These areas were to be used as breeding grounds for newer dragon races. Races that could more easily coexist with Equestrian residents, especially the Equines.”

“How did the griffons respond?”

“Any rebels were slaughtered, including General Alaric himself, the griffon this fort was named after. These events were then erased from all Equine and/or griffon archives.”

“What was Luna’s position on all this???” I quickly ask, directing my attention to Alma. I personally prefer hearing any new information on my allies, especially if it pertains to my alicorn ally.

“She was already banished to the moon at this point master.”

“...Oh okay." Kind of disappointed but I continue my questioning. "So we are after an artifact of Alaric’s then?”Alma’s focuses on me, her eyes dimming, and she simply nods as a reply. “Alright. Hey, did the griffons win or what happened?”

“It is recorded that Alaric himself attacked the dragons killing thousands but was pushed back to this fort. He then defended this fort against several hundred dragons invaders before falling. It is stated he retreated; however, griffon history, within my library, states that Celestia pulled him from his “glorious” death. Afterward General Alaric returned to the fort with Celestia and the Equine armies behind him and reclaimed the fort from its new dragon occupants.”

“Hmmm, that is interestin'. Should I expect any traps here?”

“No, master. Griffons highly emphasized honor in their pre-War culture. According to historical records, they would even prefer to overpower their enemies in full frontal offences, attacking invading forces until they reach a checkpoint. They then fight to the death to hold their position, but this tradition was ended after Alaric.”

“Why?”

“Celestia wiped out the entire Griffon armed forces, then immediately after rewrote Griffon history and tactics using Equine methods as a model for their new strategies.”

“Really? That's hard to believe. I defeated her and, for Luna’s sake, a love-powered bug kicked Celestia's flank.”

“According to records of the time, the era was referred to as the “Year of No Light” by the griffon race. The moon and sun did not rise nor set over griffon skies. The griffons described it as being “within an endless void.” Famine and mass hysteria followed suite. Many griffons then slaughtered each other out of fear and necessity, leaving the strong but reducing the intelligent and creative populations.”

“Uhh... That’s effective to say the least. Hey Alma, thanks for the history lesson. I’ll be sure to remember this next time I confront Celestia.”

“I am always happy to assist master.”

“Now, time to get on with this hunt.” I straighten my posture and stretch my back crack. “I missed this.” Swiftly I rush into the stone depths.The sound of my hooves echo through the darkness. It’s really warm in here. I take note. I don’t like it, but I don’t outright feel any magic from anything animate. So it could be heat trapped within the mountain. I keep glancing back and forth looking for anything obvious. After going down a few hall and corridors, I spot an empty archway and emanating from it a flickering light. That’s not right… I think as I change the direction of my charge towards this lit tunnel. The place is uninhabited from the impression I am getting. Hmmm, this may actually be an interesting hunt. I keep my charge unyielding during my approach my muscles burn from overuse and a smile arises again. It is a beautiful feeling really, and I love it. It’s a welcome and familiar pain. As the light grows nearer I glance at Alma. Her eyes appear to be glowing. I forgot of my new asset for these hunts. “Alma! What's up?”

“Sensors within my core systems are picking up large amounts of possibly dangerous energies.”

“Like what Alma? Magic?”

“No, I cannot accurately process it, please master, exercise caution.”

“Alright." I state solemnly. "Run right into it then.” Excited at the new development my legs carry me faster. I make it into the lit archway and I notice a turn approaching me. Quickly I smash a hoof into the stone floor, pivoting into the turn as sharply as possible. What I see is unable to be explained. There, before me, was a hollow griffon standing against a obsidian dragon. The only sources of light, the torches, begin to flicker even more wildly as I am in awe of this situation. No way…A fucking black Dragon. I think. But I snap back to my senses as I realize the potential danger of this scenario. Shooting back towards the turn of the archway I glance back towards the dragon. It's mouth is open.

The beast promptly starts to breath out its black fire. First over taking the griffon. Then approaches me. I try my hardest to reach the hallway, but I know I can't reach it in time. Then I see Alma zoom into room maintaining the twenty feet rule I established earlier.

“Alma!” I blare out at the top of my lungs. All she does is look at me plainly while she progresses towards me. I glance again at the dragon and assure myself I have enough magic for a shielding spell. I've got to protect Alma... Without a second thought I cast the spell around Alma and stop running. The blackness of the fire covers my vision. Alma is the last thing I see. This is gonna hurt like a bitch… I just know it.

“Master?” I hear Alma say from a distance. Confused I open my eyes. The first thing I am greeted with is Alma trapped in her protective bubble. I am then met with the realization that I am in my previous location, unharmed. Hastily I turn back towards the location of the griffon and the dragon and, to my astonishment, they’re gone,

“Alma did you catch what happened???” I almost yell as I turn back towards her to release the bubble.

“Yes master,” she answers while she hovers closer to me, her movement is no longer restricted by the shielding spell.

“What exactly happened?”

“As I passed a corner to remain twenty feet from my master, master started to run towards Alma. He yelled for me, then master cast a protective bubble around Alma.”

“I mean the fuckin’ dragon, Alma. And also the griffon that was just here.” I tell her. Taking a glance around I start to notice that there are no lit torches around here. Catching another look around me, there is no actual evidence that there were torches ever here or at least recently. “Alma...? What happened to those ‘dangerous energies’ you were talkin' about earlier?”

“They had dispersed…” Her eyes again glow. “My sensors are still picking up high concentrations of this energy forming nearby, however.”

“Where?”

“Beneath us, master.”

“Alright. Alma can you please grab onto my shoulder?”

“Yes, master,” she affirms and then without delay hovers next to my head and lands onto my shoulder. “Awaiting your next command, master.”

“That’s all for now, just stay there.”

“Yes, master.”

With a deep breath I concentrate. Magical auras begin to form around my horn as I start to slowly dissipate into magic for a teleportation. As the spell progresses, I can feel my chest increase in weight while my thoughts cloud. I clench my teeth and keep the spell going, but my magic reserves are depleted. My body is trying to instantaneously metabolize what fats and other organic fuel I have to power the spell. Giving up I relax, and stop my attempt before I fuck something up.

“Hmmm, well Alma I think we need to do this like Earth ponies and walk.” The grey darkness of the old fort looks at me,depositing a sense of eeriness and anxiety into my soul. Not wanting to get too antsy in my mind I try to figure out where I might be in the fort. I see a lot pillars and this room is kinda big. With a casual trot I start my investigation to my position in space. I look for details as I pass: remnants of several archways, a destroyed staircase leading upward to possibly another corridor, and a iron clad door at the very end of the room. Jackpot, I think. This looks dungeon-y, I know this’ll lead downstairs. “Alma, how old is this place?”

“Six hundred and ninety-two years as of today.”

That should be old enough. The iron should be rusted to the point of breaking. Continuing my trot I reach the door. Examining the door more closely, I realize the possibility of fucking up my shoulder if its still too sturdy. Either the old iron gives way or the wooden door frame snaps. I'm confident I got this.

“Alma, can you please withdraw from my shoulder? I’ma try somethin’.” She nods as a reply and hovers off of me. Walking backward, away from the door, I ready myself loosening my muscles up with a few hops side to side. I then stretch my back and take one small step forward with one forehoof. Off the bat my body tightens as I blast off towards my target gaining speed with every stride. “COME ON!” I yell. I know I need more speed to bust open this door but my body doesn't want to comply. I grind my teeth together in a struggle to move faster. My breaths become more erratic. Finally, my legs carry me to the speed necessary to breech this door. SNAP!My shoulder collides onto the door shattering its frame. Fuck yes, I think to myself; however, this victory is short lived.

Da fuck... My entire body is in midair as I realize my mistake. The door led directly to the staircase with no space before the first step to let me recover. As I fall the first thing to hit the hard granite stairs is a forehoof, but it quickly loses traction and slips off the stair leaving my chest as the next object to fall. That quickly hits the corner of a step, then my body follow immediately after.

After what seemed like an unusually long fall and with a countless number of attempted recoveries and fumbles. I finally manage to stop myself with a hoof.

“Ow, fuck… Hey, Alma you still behind me?!” I manage to cough out as I recover my breathes.

“... Master.” I hear her as if she were a whisper.

“Can you get a bit closer, Alma. I can barely hear ya.”My recovery is a little sluggish but I get up off my back and onto my hooves again. Continuing my pattern of slowness, I steadily balance myself on the stairs and look up towards the top of the staircase. I only spot a small bulb of light. From what I can tell it appears to be approaching me. “Alma, you comin’ here or what is that?” No answer. “Alma?”

“Master…” The bulb answers slowly. It sounds so close, but I can plainly tell Alma isn't hear yet.

“Okay, you’re bein’ really creepy. Just get over here so I can see you.” The bulb complies and approaches at a hasted rate, getting larger and larger as I stand ideally by. Silence then seems to drop around me as the light gets closer. “Alma, come on stop bein’ weird, really.” This doesn't phase the light as it finally reaches me. Something is off all I see is light, no tangible form within.

“ALMA!!!” I yell as I grab for the light. My hoof flies through it, making contact with nothing. “ALMA!!!!!” Continually I yell as I desperately reach into the light grabbing for anything. With repeated failure to even touch something that feels like Alma. My panic switches to a frenzy as I realize the light may not be her. “WHAT ARE YOU!?! WHERE”S ALMA!!!?”

No answer.

“I WILL DESTROY YOU IF YOU DON'T ANSWER ME!” I threaten to no effect. My rage grows as the light appears to “look at me", mocking my concern for Alma. “I AM GOIN’ TO KILL YOU!!!!!!” I yell as my body stiffens up in fear and rage. Crimson magic starts to illuminate around me and the essence in front of me. I can feel I am killing myself doing this. My body is devouring itself to give me the volume of magical energy I need to pwer this spell. I don't care though. I need Alma and this thing took her. She couldn't have just vanished.

“GIVE ME BACK ALMA!!!” The crimson auras starts to invade the configuration of the orb. “GIVE HER BACK!!!" BOOM!I release a destructive pulse in front of me. Everything vibrates uncontrollably. The stairs above me then collapse, blocking my only way out of here. With the foundation suddenly disappearing into dust the stones above me fall. Chaos everywhere I am beaten by the falling bricks...

My vision clouded I can see a light pale emanate from within the chaos. As everything clears there is now longer an orb before me but a pale mare. “Tell… me, where is Alma.” I weakly breathe out looking up at her.

She approaches my fallen body.

“Tell. Me.” Only a step above me she looks into my eyes with her own. They are a piercing pale blue. Within them there is an unwavering storm. I feel uneasy as I look into them. They are a prison, a prison for...

The mare snaps her mouth open and lets out a sickening sound.

“Master…?” I hear Alma whisper again. Everything is pitch black and I can’t seem to understand why. I feel my body on an even surface, cold to the touch but I can’t feel anything else. As my senses play catch up I move my face a bit to speed up the process. I then realize the reason for the darkness, my eye are closed. “Master…?” I hear Alma whisper again.

I feel something else now. Its wet, beneath my head. It's warm. After a second I feel the warmth creep towards my shoulders. Dammit, that’s blood. Dammit. Dammit. Dammit, I fell down the entire flight of stairs and now I am laying in pull of my own blood. Dammit…

“Master?” Alma repeats. With a laborious effort, I finally manage to open my eyes and see Alma above me. Specks of light accompany her. These lights appear to be slowly shower me. As they make contact I can feel them being absorbed into my being.

This is “mulcebris lumen”, how did she know to run this repair program without my command. She hasn’t shown any sign of sentience at all before… none I can recall to be more accurate, or maybe I just can't rightly define what is a sentient action or not. I don't know.

“Master. Are you okay?”

Again she’s using that phrase. 'Are you okay?' Alpha’s can’t evolve, they are stagnant personalities with no morals or real emotions.They learn processes but only to an extent, it must be formulaic in nature. Alma’s worried, compassionate and caring even. She cast a repair program without an order too, this isn’t enough to prove anything but I’ve never seen her do this before. She's never shown evidence that she knew that if I sustain bodily injury she should activate “mulcebris lumen”, but I can see how she could put two plus two together though. So, maybe it is a formulaic response.

“Hey Alma…” I state slowly and smile.

"Yes?"

“It’s goin’ to be alright.”

Author's Note

I'm really bad at keeping this going. So I will update when I can, I do apologize for being really slow at this.