Equestrian Souls: Fires of War

EQUESTRIAN SOULS
Chapter Fourteen: Last Will
Written by TheCrimsonDM

I was hiding behind a wooden table as I watched the door very carefully. I was smaller than the table, I was standing on my hind legs to see over it. I decided to walk underneath the table and peer through the wooden chair instead. I was looking at the trap I had set up. A bucket of water was sitting on the top of the door and was balanced by the door that was only opened a few inches. Whoever opened that door next was in for a surprise. And I knew exactly who was going to open it next.

I stayed quietly hidden for a few more minutes as I watched very carefully feeling giddy as I waited for her to open the door. I was going to get revenge for my mom once and for all. This was going to be totally awesome.

The door finally opened and a tall purple pony walked through the door, she may have been as tall as a stallion but it didn’t mean she was smart. The bucket of water fell down splashing water all over the pony and the bucket landing on her outrageously long horn. I couldn’t help but brake out laughing as I saw the surprised look on her face.

The surprise quickly turned to anger as the purple alicorn saw me laughing from underneath the table. She blew steam out of her nostrils and said, “Why you little, that’s it. Get over here!”

I quickly turned and fled out from the other side of the table and ran through the kitchen. The kitchen had a back door that I ran out of and into the backyard laughing the entire time. I looked back towards the purple alicorn chasing me and teased, “Catch me if you can, egg head.”

Then I stopped suddenly as my entire front exploded into pain. I fell on my rump and looked forward seeing a tree. I probably should’ve been looking where I was going. I tried to stand and fell from how dizzy I felt. The purple alicorn stopped running as she now stood right next to me.

I looked up at her and felt fearful as my perfect plan was now completely destroyed. The towering alicorn was smirking at me with a look that said “serves you right”. She shook her head at me and asked, “why do you do this to me? Every. Single. day.”

I looked away and tried to cross my forelegs only managing to strike an awkward pose. I let out a huff and said, “You were mean to mommy, that’s why I’m going to get even.”

The purple alicorn looked down at me and gave me a little frown. I didn’t like the way she always acted better then everypony, just because she was a princess didn’t mean she could do this to me. She then said, “look here, I never meant to be mean to her. In fact I did everything I could to make up for it. Me and Trixie are good friends now, so why do you keep doing this?”

I looked up at her and said, “because you’re Twilight Sparkle, and that means your evil.”

Twilight Sparkle gave me a hurt looking frown and asked in a soft voice, “do…do you really think I’m evil?”

I stared at her with a hard expression for a few moments but her sad eyes had begun to water up and I felt really bad. I looked down at the ground and said, “well…your best friends with Auntie Pinkie…so you can’t be ‘that’ evil. But that doesn’t mean you’re nice either. You’re always acting better than anypony.”

Twilight sat down next to me and said, “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to act that way, I really don’t feel like I’m any better than anypony else. If I ever made you feel bad, I’m sorry for it.”

I looked up at her and realized that she was telling me the truth…probably. I stood up and said, “alright I forgive you.”

Twilight gave me a questioning look and asked, “does this mean you will stop your pranks?”

I looked at Twilight and winked saying, “nope.”

I turned to run off again when I sneezed. The sudden sneeze made my horn begin to burn in agonizing pain, and suddenly a bright amber colored light lit up the entire area. The pain disappeared as suddenly as it had began and I stood there feeling dumbfounded. The entire backyard surrounding me and Twilight for a good five feet in any direction was now covered in purple roses.

Twilight looked around us and said, “oh that’s so pretty.” She then looked hard at me and asked, “did you do this? All by yourself?”

I looked at her and opened my mouth to tell her that I didn’t know, when suddenly I felt my nose running. Twilight had a horrified expression on her face. I wiped off the snot with a hoof saying, “it’s only boogers. There not that gross. But that doesn’t mean you’re supposed to eat them.” I felt like I needed to add mom’s latest lecture in for extra measure. Then I looked at my hoof and realized that what I thought had been snot was actually blood. I stared in horror for a moment before collapsing.

I didn’t pass out but I felt dizzy and tired, my head was numb feeling. Twilight was looking around nervously for anypony to help her, help me. I heard mom shouting and following that I saw her run over. She quickly picked me up and held me close asking fearfully, “what happened? Twilight what happened to my little filly?”

Twilight said with a confused tone, “I don’t know, she used a magical spell to grow all these flowers. Then she fell over with a nose bleed. I haven’t seen anything like this before, not since you…oh dear.”

I began feeling my strength return to me and the dizzy feeling go away. Mom looked at me her purple eyes were filled with tears and she looked scared. I gave her a smile and said, “I’m okay mom. I ran into a tree is all.”

She brushed my mane softly and said, “oh Amber sweetie, you will be okay. I promise you.”

I smiled and began to sit up feeling a lot less dizzy now. I looked at Twilight and said, “I’m sorry.” I wasn’t even entirely sure what I was sorry for, maybe for bothering her.

Twilight gave me a smile and looked down at flank. She then smiled wider and said, “well isn’t that a surprise.”

I looked down curious as to what she had meant. On my flank was the picture of a purple rose, with a black stem and black leaves. I could feel eyes growing wider as excitement filled my tiny heart. I looked at mom and said, “Look, mommy I got my cutie mark. I GOT MY CUTIE MARK!”

The two ponies looked at me happily as I stared at my brand new cutie mark. Twilight then said, “Trixie, I would like to help your daughter learn how to control her magic. With your permission of course.”

Mom looked at Twilight, she looked shocked at first, and then she looked happy. Mom said, “I..of course. Does that mean she’s going to be…your pupil?”

Twilight looked down at me, but I could only give them a little attention as I stared at my brand new cutie mark. Twilight said, “I always preferred the term apprentice, it sounds more Starswirl like. But yes I think your daughter would be the perfect pupil, her playful nature aside.”

I looked up at Twilight and smiled. I had never thought about being a pupil or an apprentice of a princess before. I looked at her and asked, “does this mean you will make me a princess too?”

Twilight giggled a little bit before saying, “we will see. But if anypony has a chance to be the next Princess, I think it would be you. After all you are the daughter of the great and powerful Trixie, and of Maud Pie.”

I grinned wildly at her, and said, “awesome. I guess that I will stop playing pranks on you then.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow and said, “Oh I think a playful joke every now and then is okay. Just don’t make a habit of it. You aren’t in line for the next Pinkie Pie…I hope.”

Trixie looked at us with wide eyes and said, “pranks, what pranks. Darn it, what has Pinkie Pie been teaching you.”

Me and Twilight both started laughing. The secret prank war was now found out. After a moment mom joined in the laughter as well. Everything was so happy and peaceful. I was about to start an exciting life under the tutelage of Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight Sparkle then said, “okay Trixie. Take her home and get her some rest.” Twilight then looked at me and said, “and Amber Light, when you feel better come and see me. I have some fun plans for us.”

I nodded and said, “okay, but you have to call me Light. Only mommy can call me Amber.”

***

I opened my eyes feeling the pain come back to my right side. My right foreleg was in the most pain. I tried to move and yelped as I did. I closed my eyes and fought through the pain. I wasn’t feeling depressed however, I finally realized why my name had always felt a little weird. My name isn’t Altar Light. That was just a nick name. I kept my eyes closed and said to myself proudly, “My name is Amber Light.”

The room suddenly became brightly lit and warm. I opened my eyes and felt a warmth wash over my injuries. My injuries began to heal themselves before my eyes and I stared in confusion. The room had disappeared and I now found myself lying at the top of a hill against the base of a willow tree. There was nothing but clear green grass and rolling hills around me. This place felt safe.

A soft voice then spoke from next to me, “Amber sweetie, is that you?”

I looked over and saw the Guardian standing next to me, I flinched back expecting another attack but was surprised when the Guardian removed her hood. She was a blue unicorn, with a blue and silver stripped mane. Her gentle purple eyes looked into mine and she said, “I’m so sorry.”

I was staring at my mom. She was alive. And I just couldn’t believe it. I jumped up and wrapped my hooves around her saying, “Oh my Celestia. I can’t believe it, I thought you were…it doesn’t matter what I thought. You are here now and that means I am not alone anymore.”

She wrapped a leg around me and nuzzled my neck. Tears began to stream down my face. She held me for a few moments before saying, “you were never alone my little pony. I was always there in your heart, but this isn’t exactly what you think it is.”

I pulled away and looked into her eyes. Mom’s eyes were filled with both happiness and sorrow. I didn’t understand why she looked sad. We were finally together again, this was a time to be happy. I asked, “what do you mean?”

She continued to look into my eyes as she explained, “this place is an illusion. You are standing in an illusion I created to keep the things I left for you safe. This is the real me, I am really right here with you right now. But…I can’t follow you out of this illusion.”

I sat down hard. I couldn’t understand. This entire place was only an illusion. “But you said you were real,” I said feeling confused and worried.

Mom brushed my mane out of my eyes a little as she said, “yes I did. The war was harsh, and it hurt me when I lost Maud. It was the most painful thing that I ever felt in my entire life. When Canterlot fell to the demons, I thought I lost you too. But a friend of mine had told me the truth. That you were only sleeping until it was your time to save the world.”

I looked at her and said, “but, but that doesn’t explain anything.”

Mom wrapped me into an embrace and then pulled away. She looked at the tree and said, “he gave me a mask. This mask would allow me to protect the things I wanted to give to you. He told me that it would allow me to be able to meet you when you finally woke up and came to meet me. He didn’t tell me about how it would trap me here, in this illusion world waiting for you to arrive.”

Mom walked to the tree and placed a hoof on it. She then let out a sigh and said, “or how many intruders would try and steal from me over the years. I kept this place safe for you. I knew what you would need in there. So I kept it all safe from harm.”

I felt myself trembling. Three hundred years of being mentally trapped inside of an illusion. I don’t even know how she was still sane. But she was here with me, and I could save her. I had to be able to somehow.

I stood up shaking from fear and said, “how do I save you then. How do I get you out of here?”

Mom looked at me sadly and said, “Amber Light, honey. I’m beyond saving. The only thing you can do is free me from this curse. You can take the mask off and destroy it.”

I looked at her the fear was becoming unreal. How could I come so far, finally meet my mom again, and then lose her all over again. This wasn’t in the least bit fair. I closed my eyes and said, “no, there has to be something else.”

Mom wrapped her hooves around me and said, “listen Sweetie, I don’t have a lot of time. I need to tell you a few things first. You need to take the mask of my…body, and you need to destroy it. You also need to grab everything I put in the locker for you. The cloths I left you are magically enchanted, they will keep you safe. The sword I left isn’t complete but if you can find the handle then you will have the most powerful weapon I have ever seen. The sword is my father, your grandpa’s sword, the Tricksters Blade.

“Last but not least there is a red amulet that I left you. I had to rebuild it since it was destroyed, but it will give you unimaginable power. It might break after you use it though, and it is an evil artifact so use it with caution, and use it sparingly. If you ever need to use it wear it only as long as you have to and take it off as soon as possible.”

I nodded and nuzzled into her neck. Mom then said, “don’t be sad for me. I will always be in your heart, so will Maud, and Pinkie Pie. My life was always so hard, even after I met Maud at the rock farm. I nearly screwed up our relationship so many times. When we finally had Twilight help us with making you…well it was wonderful. When you were born I could see that Amber aura of yours. It was so beautiful. Amber you are the light of my life, the thing that pushed away all the darkness. There is a reason I named you Amber Light.”

I held her as long as I could. Tears were streaming down my face now. I couldn’t stop them, even if I wanted too. My vision began to brighten and it was like I woke up from a long dream.

***

I woke up and opened my eyes. Tears had been running down my face and I had a perfect recollection of my dream…or whatever it was. I looked around and noticed the skeletons in the basement, there were at least five of them. I stood up and looked at the door next to me. I sucked up a breath and braved myself to open it.

Inside the dark room I saw an ancient unicorn skeleton sitting in a chair with a blue mask on its face. The dream had been real, and I knew exactly what I needed to do. I took the mask off with my telekinesis and saw a dull blue glow from behind it for a second. After the mask was gone the glow disappeared. I then set the mask on the hard stone floor and stomped on it, smashing it into tiny pieces. A small orb of blue light appeared from the mask and floated off through the ceiling. That must have been mom’s soul, now it was finally free.

I also saw a locker in the back of the room. I walked to the locker and opened it. Inside I saw a thick blue sweater, a pair of blue socks, a purple cloak with golden six point stars and a gray diamond shaped clasp, a small metal box, and a sword sheath. There was a blade in the sheath but there was no sign of the handle. The sword’s sheath was blue with a jagged red stripe in the middle. The blade seemed to be similar in color. I quickly grabbed everything I could and left the basement.

Upstairs I got dressed into my new cloths, everything fit me fairly well. That was rare considering my size. I was a little too big for most dresses but these fit like a glove. It would be just like mom for her to make me clothing that fit me perfectly. The new cloak I felt was much nicer then the last one. And if these were really magically enchanted they should offer more protection than the old stuff.

I grabbed an old blanket from the closet and went down to the basement. There was one last thing I had to do before leaving. I carefully moved mom’s skeleton into the blanket and took the bundle outside. I ignored the looks I got from Lamont and began digging a hole in the backyard. After a few minutes Lamont came over and used his magic to help me dig the hole. After only a few minutes with his help we were able to bury mom properly.

I stood there crying silently to myself for a few minutes before I finally forced myself to go back to the wagon. We had spent enough time here for the moment. There was still one more place to venture to before I was done with this little quest. Now that I knew this blade was a family sword I had a good reason to fix it.

The others all looked intrigued by my new costume but I gave them a stern look that kept them from asking. The chariots were not going to take us to the asylum so I asked one of them to leave a chariot for us. I had two flyers willing to take us to Asylum. Everypony seemed to know that I discovered something sad, but no pony asked. Storm Feather was the kindest as he gave me a hug. We needed to leave though, while we still had daylight.

Storm Feather and Rainfall were saddled up and ready to fly us to Asylum. This was going to be a long trip, but it would at the very least be a prosperous one. We took off into the sky and I watched Lamont staring at me as we left. We were off to asylum and any questions about my past could either be found there, or left unanswered for now.