Aornos

Chapter 4 ~ Red and Blue

It was four days before they dragged the thing that was Fire Blitz out of the lake.

His mother came round first, knocking on doors and asking if anyone had seen her son. None had, none of his friends knew, none of the classmates, and when asked personally, Sea Storm had given a silent shake of the head. It wasn't too long before the poor mare was forced to alert the local guard captain, a sleepy old stallion whom enjoyed his cider a tad too much, still, he was not one to brush off a missing child. So he roused all six of his stallions-in-uniform to conduct an investigation. The school was searched, Fire Blitz’s locker, his desk, and questions were asked of everyone who knew him. It went on for the better part of those four days and hope was beginning to wane, there was talk of sending news to Vanhoover that a child was missing and possibly had been kidnapped. For the sleepy town that bordered a small lake, an event such as this was unheard of. Terror and paranoia reared their heads as the nights grew darker and as the cold creeped in much faster than was the norm.

It was then he washed up on shore, bloated, half-decayed and eaten by sea life, it was a horrid sight to see. Word spread quickly, horrified whispers, scared children, school was cancelled as the Vanhoover guard was called and the small town saw more activity than it had in years as it played host to a full detachment of guards complete with an investigator, everywhere one word was on everyone's lips: “Murder?”

“I know Fire Blitz was a bully, but he didn't deserve to.. Die,” Red said, she hadn't touched her ice cream. They sat in Silver Whisper’s parlour, the first time their parents had allowed them to leave their homes due to fear of the murderer still being at large, it was only because if the Vanhoover guards marching everywhere that it was deemed to be safe enough to walk around… During the day.

“Blue?”

“Huh?” Sea Storm snapped out of his trance, he had been staring at the table.

“You alright?”

“Sure, yeah.”

“Liar.”

“…Alright, you're right, as always.”

“So what's bothering you? Is it about what happened? There's no reason to worry, there's guards everywhere and if some creep comes for you I'll protect you!” Red giggled.

“No! I'm not scared!” Sea Storm suddenly snapped, why was he so angry all of a sudden? But like a tropical storm the fury had suddenly swelled within him, and then it was gone. “I.. I’m sorry, I shouldn't have yelled.”

“It’s okay, Blue,” it clearly wasn't.

A silence fell between them, a tense and awkward one, wherein Sea Storm stared down again and left himself to the typhoon of emotions and thoughts that fomented his mind. Murder, murder, murder, murderer..

“Hey Blue.”

“Hm?” Sea Storm snapped out of it once again to see that Red was holding his hoof, pulling on it actually.

“Come on,” she said with a soft smile. “Come on now.”

Sea Storm allowed himself to be guided, Red walked backwards somehow not bumping into anything. Her eyes never leave Sea’s, they had this strange look to them that Sea Storm couldn't quite place, it was soft yet very deliberate. She guided him down the hill, onto the beach, and without hesitation into the cool waters of the lake. Eyes unwavering they went deeper and deeper until they were both fired to tread water to keep afloat, smiling Red guided Sea Storm’s hooves to her hips while her own came to rest on his shoulders. Slowly they began to twirl, using their legs to propel themselves; they danced, they twirled, at one point they dived and continued their dance, flowing and spinning with the subtle currents, surfacing only for breath. Sea Storm was entranced, he didn't fully understand what was happening or why, but passively following Red’s movements. The currents pushed them as they danced, guiding them safely back to shore until their hooves touched sand, Sea Storm held Red as she still floated in the deeper water. Sea Storm tried to say something, anything, but his voice wouldn't come, he just looked at Red with what could only be called awe.

Red giggled, that high and clear sound, before leading forward and gently placing her lips against Sea’s in a kiss that lasted half a second before she pulled back, still giggling and blushing a little bit. This act, this simple act, send Sea Storm’s world into anarchy, he couldn't think, he could only rear from the mental hurricane that raged, it wasn't right, it couldn't be right, no, no, no, no, no, no, what? Sea Storm was angry, he was confused. People didn't like him, people weren't friends with him, people certainly didn't kiss him, this wasn't how it was supposed to be, it wasn't how she intended it…

Wait what?

Yes, she never wanted me to have friends.

Who? What..

You’re right I didn't.

I don't understand.

You are my instrument, my pawn upon the board, my child and no one shall come between us.

Red doesn't mean any harm.

She is harm, she cannot have you, cast her adrift.

But I…

I command you.

But..

Now.

No.

Do it!

No!

Your will is mine! You will!

N-no…

The Sea has no lover, do it, now.

Sea Storm blinked and without warning gripped Red and pushed, he pushed her under the water and held her there. Her expression didn't change initially, she was still giggling, and even when she drew in a breath to continue and got water she still thought it was a prank and smiled through the spluttering for air. It was when she tried to surface and was denied by Sea Storm firm hoof that her expression change, disbelief, panic, fear it flooded her eyes and face which was completely visible under the water. Her eyes locked with Sea Storm’s, pleading, begging, but they were met with a gaze as cold as the Arctic Ocean, Red’s legs kicked, she struggled and convulsed to no avail. Sea Storm grit his teeth as her movements became weaker and weaker and weaker until… Stillness.

Sea Storm released his hold on her and Red floated into the damp sands, her eyes open and staring without sight. Sea stood over her, breathing, eyes wide, the sound of the water filling his mind as a feeling of tranquility washed over him, his mind gone to another place he didn't know nor care about anything now.

Yelling, there was yelling and he was taken back into realty as he was shoved roughly to the ground and the point of a spear pointed inches from his face, the steely gaze of a guard behind it.

“Put that down you idiot! You’ll scare the boy.”

“But sir he just-”

“I saw it too, now do as I say and be quiet I need to concentrate.”

The guard pulled back his spear giving Sea Storm room to see what was going on, the investigator, the one from Vanhoover, a unicorn with a faded blue coat and a light grey mane who was dressed as a noble. He leaned over Red with magic flared and a brow furrowed in concentration and he poured energy into the small filly, suddenly she spluttered and took a deep gasp of breath as the life returned to her eyes.

“B-blue…”

“Shh, sweetheart, breath, you're alright now… Take her to the healers, I've got this one.”

“Yessir,”

Sea Storm looked up at the face of the investigator, his expression was mixed, half concerned the rest stony and unreadable.

“That thing you just did, did you do it to a colt named Fire Blitz?” He asked.

Sea Storm nodded.

“Who are you?”

“The Sea.”

Things got dark after that, disjointed, Sea Storm didn't really know where he was. He only had the occasional sensation of movement that broke through the trance. He was moved, several times, garbled voices asked questions of him with no avail, moved again into the darkness, it shook and rattled. Sea Storm didn't see the light for what felt like days, the only sign of a world was the food given to him that sat untouched in the corner of his small prison. When they finally arrived he was let out, the sun above blinded him and he hide from it, circling into a ball on the stone ground. They tried to move him but no one wanted to touch him apparently, arguing voices debated what to do while Sea Storm hid himself from the judgmental light, his head held in his hooves.

“We can't just leave him there.”

“Well he's certainly not moving by himself, and you heard the orders, no forcing him..”

“Which I don't get at all, kid or not he's a murde-“

“Can't say that either.”

“Dangit, I know he's a kid but I don't agree with being this light with him, how’re we supposed to get justice?”

“Leave that to me, sir.”

Warmth, comfort, tranquility, these things washed over Sea Storm’s body and he stopped the shivering that he hadn't even noticed. The guards left, their metal-encased hooves fading away as the warmth approached him, knelt by him.

“Look at me,” the voice was calm, comforting, and authoritative. Sea did look up and saw the face of the sun, she glowed, she radiated power, her magenta eyes spoke of eons uncomprehending and Sea Storm felt small compared to that eternity.

“Do you know who I am?” She asked.

Of course he did.

“Princess Celestia,” despite everything, Sea Storm’s voice came out calm and even.

“And your name, child?”

“Sea Storm.”

“Well, Sea Storm, do you like tea?”

Sea titled his head, Celestia’s stern yet neutral expression hadn't changed but he could've sworn she had just asked that question with an air of levity.

“I've never had any before.”

“Well, never better a time as they say, come,” Celestia stood and beckoned to Sea Storm whom really didn't have much choice in the matter, so he stood and followed. This was the first time he had actually observed where he was, in Canterlot obviously, he got a quick glance at the shining city before he entered the place behind the princess. Here the marble floors were so polished, Sea Storm could see himself. Lavish decorations brought life to the hall they walked, paintings of heroic deeds and fabled battles of old, they walked a short way before the Princess passed through a set of doors and into a relatively simple room. It had a small table in the middle and was surrounded by sitting cushions, upon the table was a small golden bell. Celestia sat herself on the far side of the table and Sea Storm took the other, with a wisp of magic the Princess rang the bell and almost instantly a servant appears carrying a tray with a teapot, two cups, a pitcher of cream, and a bowl of sugar, the servant placed the tray, bowed, and left. Wordless Celestia poured the steaming brown liquid into both cups, she poured cream into her own and began piling a generous amount of sugar as well. Sea Storm tried his tea as it was and had to hide his disgust, it was bitter and not much else, he wanted sugar but it didn't seem like the right place to ask for such things.

“So…” Celestia said, she gently blew on her cup before taking a small sip. “Do you understand what you've done?”

“I..” Sea Storm took a moment to actually be terrified of where he was, and what he’ve done, for a brief fleeting moment sanity was regained and he wanted to run and cry at the same time. Yet before he could act on such feelings he was hit by that overwhelming feeling of tranquility, one that promised all would be well, and one that made him speak with disturbing frankness, “I killed two people.”

“Technically you killed one,” Celestia said with equal frankness. “The other was revived by the good detective, but I suppose the grander question is do you know why you did these things?”

“Because she told me to,” came Sea Storm’s automatic response, what? It was if his mouth had not been his own, as if instinct had known the answer, but… Why was “she”? What did that mean? No matter how little sense it made Sea Storm felt like he had just told the complete truth, and Celestia seemed to agree.

“Yes, I suppose she would’ve done that, she's the jealous type Lyr.”

Lyr.

Lyr

The name echoed within Sea Storm’s mind and he felt a strange energy build within him, like he had just eaten lots of sweets, it filled him to his core and arced along his spine. Suddenly he saw not Celestia but the endless waters of what could only be the ocean, the majesty in it, the life it heme and sustained, it was overwhelming and infinite yet all contained within that name Lyr.

“What… Am I?” The first words that were truly Sea Storm’s.

“In simple terms? A container, for a goddess,” Celestia explained simply, sipping her tea. “You will have a part to play, however, your patron has made things quite difficult for me with her… Well, unpredictable nature.”

“That is, I cannot very well overlook what you've done or what more accurately she has made you do, to all the world you have murdered one colt and attempted to do the same to a young filly,” Celestia continued. “So, Sea Storm, I'm going to put you in a place that takes care of special ponies such as yourself, you will be well treated I assure you but I am going to ask you to not to try and leave.”

“Why… Should I agree to that?”

“Because if you don't, I will have to force you, and that will include me doing something I very much would not like to do which is harm a child,” Celestia’s gaze was unforgiving. “You won't make me do that, will you Sea Storm?”

That tranquility left, the calmness left, it was out of the bag now and Sea Storm completely broke down, all semblance of understanding gone, his world shattered, his rules demolished. He cried, he shook, he wanted to puke and he almost did, he wanted to die, so young to actually wish for death and yet in all his grief and anguish Sea Storm prayed for it.

“I… W-won't,” Sea stuttered. “I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to..”

“Hush now, my child,” Celestia said, kindness entering her voice for the first time. “And sleep..”

Sleep he did, dreaming of the ocean he had never seen. He dreamt of Red and her smile, laughing and inviting him to ice cream, he dreamt of his mother and her warmth, of Silver Whisper and his silent kindness, of school and how it bored him, of his classmates whom judged him, and of the lake that soothed him. Gone, all of it gone, washed away by this Goddess called Lyr.

“Sleep, my child, for the sea must stand with earth, sky, and fire, sleep until she comes, sleep until it is time, sleep Child of the Sea…”