Prologue- The Legend of the Celestial Bearing
Prologue: The Legend of the Celestial Bearing
Before war, strife, and radiation poisoned the once beautiful lands of Equestria, there was another war that had taken place. This war is not spoken of in history books; no testament is left within the physical world. This war has been ongoing since the dawn of creature kind. No one has been left unscarred by the force that has threatened us since the Goddesses Birth.
The Miasma; it is a poison that invades even the strongest of all beings and brings them down to groveling husks. It is a creature of unimaginable power, and it continues to evolve every day.
Long ago the Goddess of the Moon went to her wise Sorcerer and Sorceress and asked them to set up a communing circle so she may seek guidance from the Old Beasts.
The Old Beasts were the ones who fashioned the Races; each and every living creature owes their existence to them, even the Goddesses would not exist without their power. Now most would assume that such powerful beings wouldn’t care about their creations, and if they were any other deity, they would be correct. The Old Beasts though were kind, and loved their creations, so when the Moon sought her guidance from them they gave her council amongst the stars.
The Moon cried and pled for help against the Miasma, a creature that the Old Beasts had made for the purpose of taking away fear from their creations. Alas, the Miasma had started to develop beyond what they had made it for. For all it had known for eons was pain, fear, heartache, and a multitude of other emotions that would drive a lesser being insane.
The Old Beasts, at first, did not believe what the Moon had said. They argued that their creation would never have turned away from its original purpose. The Moon though begged them with tears of stars falling from her eyes to look upon the world of Equiss. Taking pity and still with a slight amount of disbelief they looked down for the first time in millennia, and saw the blackened taint within Equiss. So shocked were they that the heavens roared in fury and Equiss shook with sadness as the Old Beasts wept for the torment their creatures were enduring.
Though the Old Beasts were powerful, they had to abide by the laws of the cosmos. They could give counsel to the Moon, and her sister the Sun, but could no longer interfere directly with the problem. That was the agreement they had made when the cosmos was first designed. So they told the Moon as such, while their own heavenly bodies split apart in their own grief.
Her eyes glowed with the darkness of the void and her hands trembled while she fought to calm herself. Unfortunately even all the patience of her years could not contain her rage. She slammed her hooves of night down with all the fury her body possessed, her coat creating sparks of deep aquamarine magic as she let the rage explode out of her. The stars themselves exploded in light as she unleashed the full might of her power. Her voice roaring out the injustice and torment her people were being subjected to.
The Old Beasts let her work her fury out of herself, not even flinching as the galaxy around them responded to her rage. When she ended, space itself going dark as the stars drained of light, her beautiful aquamarine coat sagging with the weight of her guilt, the Old Beasts turned to themselves to discuss what could be done.
Taurus and Scorpio argued against their brothers and sisters for days about the old laws. Saying that they should have no part in the affairs of mortal creatures. Capricorn, with all her patience managed to calm down her brothers by negotiating a compromise. Taurus and Scorpio though still angered by the idea and gall of their siblings, grudgingly agreed to the compromise so long as none of their siblings interfered directly with the mortals.
Leo stepped forward forming into a mountain of a lion. His mane was the sun’s holy fire; brighter than anything the Moon’s sister could conjure and she was the Sun incarnate; His paws the size of planets. With every step he took he shifted, constantly changing. One moment he was the galaxy, the next a small child, another he was a proud Gryphon. When he came to a stop in front of the Moon she bowed her body, forcefully bent underneath his warm and overpowering gaze.
Leo’s voice shook space and time itself as he gave the Old Beasts’ answer.
"We are not allowed to interfere on behalf of our creatures’ destinies directly. One thing we are allowed to grant. It is but a simple token. We are allowed to grant our mark upon any worthy creature, and they shall have a portion of our power to fight against the beast of fear and its armies.
When you awake, a spell shall be inside of your mind from my sister Capricorn. Give this spell to Starswirl the Bearded and Clover the Clever, have them help you cast this Celestial Spell and a portion of our power will be used for as long as the Miasma lives.
Another piece of advice our beloved Moon. Go to the lands bathed in shadow, past the seas and Gryphon territories. There you will come upon a cave of black crystal; inside you will find an army that will defend your subjects while your sister sleeps."
The Moon trembled as the power of Leo’s voice broke over her. Quivering in an equal amount of fear and respect, she bowed and thanked them for their gratuitous help. They nodded back and with a blink, she awoke.
Panting as her body shot up; pain rocketing her nerves and a throat dryer than the Arabian deserts, the two guards stationed by her bedside forced the weakened deity back down and lifted water to her muzzle. Gulping the succulent sustenance down, she looked over to the stallion and mare of the Solari Guard that stood valiantly by her bedside before rising to her hooves shakily.
The Goddess’s body had survived off nothing but the very aether around her and a mixture of honey and healing potion given to her in small doses. According to the guards, she had been convening with the Old Beasts for almost two weeks trying to gain their help. With a triumphant but shaky smirk, she stood and sent the two Solari guards to fetch Starswirl and Clover.
As she waited, she tested her weak body by forcing her legs to move towards the moonlit veranda on the opposite side of the lavishly furnished room. Taking her first step outside since her unconsciousness two weeks ago, she let the moon’s sweet light bathe her sweat soaked fur in relief. Taking a lungful of cool night air, she felt her strength slowly returning.
The smell of burning ozone and the sound of a small explosion alerted her to the arrival of her most trusted mages in all of Equiss. Rapidly arriving the two powerful mages appeared in a flash of dazzling magic and power.
Starswirl stayed bowed before his Goddess awaiting her signal to rise. He was dressed in a flowing midnight blue cape bespattered in the constellations themselves, his coat a thick pure white, with a beard and mane of silvery gray. Starswirl was in his mid fifties, but most would guess his late forties since his eyes still lit up when discussing magic and his body could beat that of most younger stallions. Beside him bowing respectively was his apprentice Clover.
Starswirl had chosen her as his successor to the crowns Supreme Magi of the Royal Court as a result of a spell during the Magi duel. He’d seen her invent a new spell on the fly to dodge another Mage’s lightning bolt spell. Both astonished and excited, he stopped the duel and declared Clover his apprentice. Since then he hadn’t doubted for a moment that she’d be an even better Supreme Magi then even he was.
In hindsight, Clover was the complete opposite of Starswirl. Just barely over 23 years old and fresh out of magi school, she was a young and frankly brash mare. That didn’t mean she wasn’t smart though. Jokingly called Clover the Clever throughout her training by her previous classmates, she was as clever as a cat was curious. Her coat was a light fluffy magenta, clothed in a dark red cloak to offset the deep purple of her eyes that shined with mischievousness. She loved to learn new spells to show the other stallions that a mare could do it better. She too stayed bowed before her Goddess. Although the shiver that ran through her could be attested to the brisk night air, or the excitement of being before a living Deity.
Luna turned to Starswirl and Clover looking them over carefully. Though she had seen countless subjects come and go throughout her lifetime with her Sister Celestia, these two were special to her. It had been ages since she had simply been able to have a conversation on spell formulae without the other party cowering in fear. She hoped that the Old Beasts were right and that they would be able to handle the spell.
“Starswirl and Clover, my dearest friends, you need not bow before me. Arise and I shall tell you why I have summoned thee here this late at night,” she spoke with a soft but commanding tone. Clover shot up and just managed to keep herself from toppling over in her excitement before helping Starswirl up.
“Princess Luna. What may Master and I help you with?” Clover asked, barely reigning in her excitement. The young mare was practically bouncing on her hooves while she kept her hands twisted together beneath her cloak.
Starswirl and Luna shared a look before giving low resounding chuckles at the look of eagerness on Clovers face.
“I have summoned thee here for the matter of saving Equiss,” she paused, focusing her efforts on maintaining her balance. She raised a blue furred hand to stop Starswirl from rushing to her side.
“Fear not my friend for I am just tired, alas the Miasma will not wait much longer. I have finished communing with the Old Beasts and they have granted us two saving graces. One is a new spell called the Celestial Bearing. I will need parchment, quills, and ink to gather the spell together. Second, I will be taking a small excursion of myself and some Solari Guards to a cave of Dark Crystal past the Eastern Seas and Gryphon territories. Starswirl, I will need you to speak with the old Gryphon king and ask for passage through his kingdom.” She took some small sips of water and moved back into her room to lay upon her divan.
Starswirl and Clover followed after having conjured some parchment for themselves to take down notes as the Princess spoke. Taking a seat for themselves across from Luna, Starswirl cleared his throat before crossing his hooves and threading his fingers together to watch Luna carefully.
“Your highness if this old Magi might pose a suggestion?” he asked politely waiting for Luna to give her acquiescence. After receiving an exhausted nod he continued.
“I suggest our first course of action to be getting the Celestial Bearing on parchment and going over the spell to make sure we are able to cast it safely. Whilst Clover and I are going over the spell, you may take your expedition and discover this ‘army’ of yours. When you return the spell will be prepared with all of its components and we may cast it upon your return,” he finished keeping his eyes locked upon those of her highness.
Clover perked up at the mention of the new spell and possible army before settling back down, waiting to be addressed. She kept herself occupied by watching the now silent exchange of glances and looks being passed between her Master and her Princess.
Luna nodded her agreement and Starswirl let out a long breath of relief. Luna turned and gave Clover a small smile.
“Clover if thou might summon parchment, quill, and ink, we must get started.”
Clover jumped to attention eagerly before pulling out her paints. Making sure she had the correct ones, she painted a small circle that’s partner was painted in their supply room. Quickly summoning almost a hundred rolls of parchment, they set about to writing down the Celestial Bearing. After almost three hours of constant scribbling and making sure the others had the spell written exactly right, they looked to their Goddess for further instruction.
Luna was shaking by the time they were done, and her sister’s light was slowly encroaching upon her room. Covering a yawn with the back of her hand she flicked her fingers to close the curtains, before rising to her hooves.
“This is where we shall turn in. I leave the spell in your capable hands Starswirl. I leave at first Moonfall for the Dark Crystal Cave” she forced through a yawn. Starswirl nodded his acceptance and quickly rushed Clover out of the deity’s room.
The Next Night
Luna strode from her room clad in her regalia armor with a purposeful stride. Her hooves struck sharply against the granite floors causing small sparks to fly into existence. She stopped in front of the Throne room doors taking a small shuddering breath before pushing past them.
Sitting upon the Sun emblazoned throne was her elder sister, Celestia. Her face was buried in her hands, shoulders sagging with the weight of their shared kingdom. Luna stopped her face falling out of the mask she had placed upon it. She reverted back to the shy younger sister that she was as she walked up and sat between her sister’s legs. Carefully taking her hands between her own she rubbed them gently.
“Tia? Please I need to do this” Luna plead, her voice cracking as she stared into the pain filled magenta eyes. Tears sprung forth in response in her own as she nudged herself into her Celestia’s arms. Celestia shivered pulling her closer to her chest running her white furred fingers through her sister’s ethereal mane.
“Oh my Lulu I know, but it doesn’t mean I must agree to it. Why can you not send the Captain of the Guard? Or even his lieutenant… Anyone but you sister,” she tearfully whispered into her sister’s ear.
Luna shook her head in disagreement.
“I must be the one to do this Tia. You have your Solari, it is time that the night have a fighting chance. Your guards are weak to the magicks that fill the void. I must go to this Dark Cavern and find what lies in wait there… I would like it if you would grant me thine blessing upon this journey,” Luna whispered back before pulling away. Celestia moved forward trying to pull Luna back into her arms before biting her bottom lip in reluctance as she turned her face away.
“I.... May the Sun guide your steps and light your path. Know that you are always welcome beneath my light,” she murmured. Luna smiled softly before walking back to the doors of the Throne room. Keeping her back turned she spoke her reply.
“Thank you Tia… I will be home before thine knows of it,” she said confidently. The door slowly closed behind her, before she collapsed against it. Wrapping her arms around herself, she heard her sister’s cries through the door.
“I will return Tia; with an Army of vengeance against this beast,” she promised to the winds before heading for the entrance to the castle. Once she exited the doors she met up with the few guards that would be joining her on this journey. The Solari guards were situated in two lines of nine. Decked out in light leather armor, they were emblazoned with her sister’s symbol of power. One of them broke off to deliver the Goddess of the Moon her lance. Luna accepted the weighted weapon giving it a few test thrusts before being satisfied. She turned to face the stallions and mares who stood before her.
“Guards! Tonight we journey forth in search of the Dark Cavern foretold to me by the Old Beasts. There you will meet your new brother and sisters in arms. I ask that you keep your minds and hearts open and extend to whomever or whatever we find there friendship and companionship!” Luna let the guards cheer before signaling for silence.
“I will not lie. This journey is given to us at a most inopportune time. This war has been ongoing for a century. I will not fault any stallion or mare who wishes to stay behind and help guard Equestria and their families.” She looked around and while some of their looks turned to sadness they stayed, hooves planted firmly and fire burning in their eyes. She gave the smallest of smiles in pride at her Guards.
“That was your last chance to turn back. Henceforth we ride upon the winds my Pegasi Brethren. To the Eastern Seas and past the Gryphon kingdom!” her wings flared open and she took to the skies, eighteen pegasi warriors joining her in flight as she headed toward the Eastern Seas. A small glance back and she saw her sister bathed in her moonlight, her white fur bare for only her eyes to see as she shed tears watching her leave.
‘I will find my army, I will cast the Celestial Bearing and I will end the Miasma. This I swear as the Goddess of the Moon,’ Luna thought as she turned back, face set in rabid determination.
…………………………………………………………………………….
“And that is where we will end the story today young fillies and colts,” our school teacher said as she closed the leather wrapped book. A chorus of groans rose up from our class as we tried our best to get Miss Legendia to continue with the story.
I smiled softly, as I kept my head propped up with my hand.
Now that I look back upon that time, I suppose you could say that it all started with that book. A book that most ponies in Vault 69 considered legend. The book that no one would think was actually real, or that the Celestial Bearing would become reality. If only we had paid closer attention to the rest of that book, maybe we wouldn’t have missed the signs… Maybe we would’ve been more prepared for the tragedy that would soon wreck our little vault built into Neighagra Falls.
Perhaps I would have been more prepared to face my destiny...
Chapter 1: Welcome to the Family
“And that is where we will end the story today young fillies and colts,” our school teacher said while closing the leather wrapped book. A chorus of groans rose up from the class as they tried their best to get Miss Legendia to continue with the story.
I smile softly, my hand keeping my head up away from the desk. My other gray furred fingers toying with my braided mane, twisting it around them as I await the call for Miss Legendia to dismiss class.
Today is ancient history, which is always a favorite of mine, and that means the Book of the Goddess is removed from the safe at the back of the room.
That book told the beginning of our races; and how the Nocturnal Guard came into existence over 1,200 years ago. It even went into detail of the fall of the Goddess and her return thanks to the Warriors of Harmony.
It is also one of the only copies, aside from the original one, and that one is currently locked away in the Commander’s safe inside of her office.
“Now I know that all of you enthusiastic colts and fillies are itching for me to dismiss you, but before I do, let me remind you all of two things. First, don’t forget that tomorrow is your graduation ceremony to your secondary schools. Second, I want all of you dressed in your uniforms tomorrow. Anyone caught outside of their Secondary School Uniforms will be sent back to their floor until they come back in proper dress,” she spoke over the din of hushed whispers and giggling school fillies.
I tune most of the speech about being on our best behavior out and let my eyes wander the School-Room. The room is lined with the usual triple plated, radiation resistant, steel walls that line the rest of our Vault.
Depictions of what the outside world would look like are painted on the steel. It is a tradition that every graduating class would add to the paintings. According to Miss Legendia, the purpose is to keep us connected to the past while continuing towards the future.
A smile starts to make its way across my muzzle at that thought. I always love imagining what the outside world looks like. There is even a picture that is the very core of what I picture it to be like, and I turn my head towards it.
My eyes trace my favorite one, its paint old and barely held together with a permanent sticking charm. Tucked away in a corner, like a child that has been yelled at by its parent. The sky is made up of faded, cracked, cerulean blue paint. The clouds painted in that faded sky have started to crack and yellow with age.
Within those clouds are what are apparently known as Pegasi. I've never seen one in real life, only in picture books and the old war posters lining the wall of the School-Room and the Flight Academy. The smiles are wide and happy, their flitting to and fro through the air and it makes my own leather wings shuffle with ecstatic anticipation.
Tracing down the wall, I find the flowing, peeling, waves of precious golden wheat being blown by the wind. There, the depictions of our Earth bound brethren are found, lugging giant barrels of dull brown apples. I can picture them, bright and juicy red, just like in the photo reels the science teachers show us, ripe and sweet, ready to sink my fangs in and drain it dry. I swallow the saliva pooling at the base of my tongue with a quiet gulp.
I am about to continue my casual observation of the rest of the pictures when a ruler is smacked down upon my metallic desk making me jump.
“Miss Zodiac! Care to tell the rest of the class as to why you have not been listening to the instructions for tomorrow?” Miss Legendia asks; my vision soon becoming full of a slightly miffed old Monokeros.
Miss Legendia is what is known as a Nox Monokeros, or translated in old Equestrian, as a Night Unicorn. They live on the Second Level of Vault 69, which is the level dedicated to studying medicine and science.
I am not quite so talented when it comes to medicines and sciences, but my best friend Blood Vial, who is also a Nox Monokeros, is in training to become the Vaults next head physician, just like her dad Doctor GoodHeart.
I quickly shake the the derailed train of thought from my head and look back into Miss Legendia’s waiting face. A small apologetic smile crosses my gray muzzle and I form a finger bridge by crossing my hands before me and placing my head on top of them, before I begin to reply to her.
“My apologies Ma’am, but I was distracted by thoughts of my soon to be little brother or sister. They’re about to be born, and my Mom is in the Birthing Hall right now. I just can’t wait to fly down to the first level!” I said in an eager tone while I swing my legs beneath my steel desk, hooves just narrowly avoiding kicking my teachers shins.
While it wasn’t a lie exactly, everyone in the Vault is informed of new birthings, it also wasn’t what had been on my mind. I keep my fingers crossed together in front of me, while I pray to Capricorn and the Goddess that I’d be able to talk my way out of detention.
Just when I thought I hadn’t been persuasive enough the door to the School-Room bursts open and my older brother barges in. He’s huffing and puffing and quite a sight with his pitch black fur drenched in sweat. He’s wearing the light leather armor meant for new guard training, and it made me curious why he was barging into the classroom. Turns out, I am about to receive my answer.
“Capricorn! Hurry Mom’s going into labor!” Leo shouts, barely managing to stay standing. His hand is clutching the wall with an iron grip. I blink, shell shocked before my hands slip from holding my head up and I just barely avoid smacking my muzzle against the desk.
“SHE’S WHAT?!” I shout in shock as I jump out of my seat, my leather wings flaring out and toppling my desk neighbors to the floor. I give them an apologetic smile before darting towards the door.
“Sorry Miss Legendia but I have to go. I promise to be on time tomorrow and I’ll bring a basket of my Mom’s orange snickerdoodles!” I call over my shoulder. I head straight for Leo and barrel into my brother giving him a shove with my shoulder. I am not going to bother waiting to hear Miss Legendia's reply. Plus, total bonus points, I don’t have to worry about detention!
“Come on, come on! We have to get to the first level Leo!” I whine while we start for the Railway Bridge ledge.
The entire Vault is connected through an intricate work of steel bridges, wires, and tunnels called the Railway. It’s how everyone who wasn’t a Noctus Desmodus, also translated to Night Glider in Old Equestrian, got around to the other two floors. Our Vault is built inside of Neighagra Falls, and has three levels dedicated to the three types of Noctus who live here.
The First Level is dedicated to the Nocte Emissarius, the Night Stallions, cousins to the Earth Ponies of the Old Equestrian days. On that floor, lays the Birthing Hall, Market-Place, and Orange Orchard. It also holds the Cavern Rooms and Connector Tunnel One.
After one ventures through Connector Tunnel One, they come out to the beginning of the Railway Bridge. The Railway Bridge is made up of steel walkways, and held up by the steel cables that connects the entire system to the roof and sides of the mountain.
Each room on the other two levels are connected to the Railway Bridge, which is where I am currently pushing my brother towards… Correction, attempting to push the giant wall of stubborn and unmoving horse flesh towards.
“If you don’t move, I swear I’ll leave you alone up here and go there myself!” I grunt, exerting the muscles in my legs trying to get him to budge.
Him, being my older brother of course, just tries to make it harder.
“Oh I’m so exhausted from fetching my charming little sister. I think I need to rest on this lovely gray stool that’s propping me up,” and proceeds to collapse most of his extensive weight of muscle on top of me. I just barely manage to get my legs spread wider to take the weight of almost 200 pounds of raw muscle on top of my measly 100 pounds.
“Leo.. if.. you don’t move… You’re going to squish me,” I gasp struggling to keep that from happening. While my body is preoccupied with my brother on top of me, my mind is frantically running in circles reminding me that every minute we waste here was a minute that we weren’t with Mom and father.
Finally after what feels like an eternity of holding up a brick building, it seems that my brother took pity on me and hefts his weight off. He turns around and gives a ruffle of my mane and a small tug on my braid.
“Calm down Spazz. Mom is going to be fine. Now how about a race to the Birthing Hall? Last one there buys Granny Orange’s rare jar of Marinated Orange Marmalade!” he shouts before leaping over the ledge of the Railway. His midnight wings flicking open without a sound as he takes off to the Orchard.
I stand there for a moment dumbfounded at my brothers change from comedic to serious, then back to joking. Shaking it off I chase after him with a loud protestation of him getting a head start.
“Not Fair Big Brother!” I cry out pumping my smaller wings to try and catch up to him. Give a mare some credit; where my brother is 18 moon cycles old, I’m only at the ripe age of 13 moon cycles. I still have a lot of growing to do before I even reach half of his wingspan!
During the flight down, I dodge and weave around the steel cables and other Desmodus flying through the spaces. I call out an apology as I narrowly avoid colliding with Mr. Blade’s packages that he is lugging to the armory.
“Watch where you’re flying lass!” he calls back to me; a belligerent grin crossing his muzzle before he continues to take the new weapons shipment to the Third Level.
I wave back happy that he isn’t angry. When I turn around I see that Leo has already landed. I huff and make my down to land beside him. I cross my scrawny arms against my chest glaring at him as I tap my right hoof on the newly planted grass.
“Go ahead, say it. I know you’re going to and I do not want to start an argument in front of Mom and Father again,” I keep my eyes focused sharply on one of the Orange trees here in the Orchard.
Our Vault has a fully operational Orange Orchard on the First Level. When the Vault was first designed, they wanted a way to feed the residents without worrying if the food supplies would disappear. It was one of the reasons they chose to build it inside of the Neighagra Falls.
The First Level has enough water to keep the Orchard healthy thanks to the Irrigation System that runs throughout the entire Vault. The Basement Level is below the First level, and there it connects to the outside world. Mainly the pipework pulls in the power and water from the Falls and then it runs through the Hyrdromagielectric Generators.
These Generators are a unique system, installed as a prototype in only a few Vaults; or so they say anyway. All I know is that the Hydromagielectric Generators help with purifying and detoxifying the water, keeping the Orchard healthy, and allowing us clean drinking and bathing water.
Leo gives me a silly smirk before turning around and making his way towards the Birthing Hall on the opposite end of the Orchard. I stand still waiting for the inevitable gloating, but it never comes. I roll my eyes and run to catch up to him.
I manage to catch up to his longer strides just as he passes Granny Orange’s Marmalade Booth. Granny Orange is one of the oldest living members of Vault 69. Her memory tends to waver a lot, but if you ever need to know what’s going on in the Vault there is no better Equine to talk to then the old Emissarius.
Leo raises an eyebrow at me before tilting his head in the direction of the booth. I roll my eyes muttering about him being unfair while I make my way to the booth. I thank the Goddess that I am the only one there. Today must be my lucky day; usually Granny’s booth is so packed with a line of customers it takes an hour to even get through the line!
“Good Evening little Zodiac. How is your Mother doing tonight?” Granny Orange says to me when I approach the booth. She is always in the same spot everyday. Right in the middle of the Orchard with her little booth made out of spare supplies. The legs are made from spare broken school chairs and gun barrels, the booth itself is made out of an old warped metal bed frame. The top is filled by an old table and on top of the table is an old patchwork quilt. On top of the quilt are Nuka Cola bottles filled with her famous Orange Marmalade.
I smile brightly at her in return. Despite her being a little scatterbrained due to age, she always makes everyone in the Vault feel special. I heave an inward sigh as I felt the little allowance I had saved up cry while I pull it out.
“Good Evening to you to Granny Orange. Mom is doing fine I hope. I’m here to pick up one of your Marinated Orange Marmalade bottles and one of your Original Orange Marmalade bottles. I also hope that the Goddess has blessed you this fine day,” I respond counting out enough moonstones to pay for one of her jars of Marinated Orange Marmalade and Original Orange Marmalade.
She gives a cocky grin as she fishes out the brilliant orange bottles made of crushed glass. Mr. Blades being the blacksmith of the Vault helps make the little orange shaped bottles in his workshop on the basement level. They are always a marvel to behold. Shaped in the likeness of a ripe orange, it’s round with a flat bottom. The colors are made by a type of dye used from the orange trees themselves giving the glass a beautiful array of colors. It is a perfect way to light up the Vault with color.
“That’ll be twenty moonstones little Zodiac. I’ll even add in one of my Orange Juice bottles just for your Father. You know how he likes my Orange Juice. He’s always loved it ever since he was a young little thing. Why I remember when he was about your age. He’d come down every day for one of my bottles. Drink so much I thought he’d turn into an orange himself!” Granny tends to ramble when she gets in one of her moods.
I smile and nod while I wait for her to finish wrapping up the delicate glass bottles in the bits of old blankets that she uses. I hold onto the odd bits and ends of information that she says, just for future jokes with Father. I snicker at the idea of dying his fur orange for next Nightmare Night. After getting the packages tied together with a bit of braided cable, I hand over the moonstones with a little extra.
“Thank you for this Granny. I’m sure Father and Mom will love it as usual. I can’t wait to see you at the graduation tomorrow. May the Goddess keep you whole and hale.” I say the customary greeting before leaning over the booth best I can, the booth being about full adult Equine waist height, to place a light kiss upon her leathery cheek. I get a shooing motion for my efforts and a cackle of joy as she replies back.
“And may the Goddess and Virgo give you a healthy little sibling!” I hear as I dart back to my brother careful to keep the bottles from smashing together with the motion.
Leo is practically salivating when I return with the treats. I roll my eyes and continue walking towards the Birthing Hall; my brother trailing behind me while he tries to get at the jars. I can feel his eyes practically boring holes in the back of my head as I don’t stop to let him sample the treats. A giggle bursts from my throat at the thought of me appearing the more mature one for once.
Just when I am about to turn around to offer him the normal Orange Marmalade I bump into something hard that almost topples me over. Thankfully Leo is there to catch me or at least catch the treats before they break. I rub my muzzle feeling for a bruise and turn towards the rude person. A retort dies on my tongue as I look up and up and up until my eyes meet those of our fathers.
“Father!” I shout in happiness. I abruptly place the treats in my brothers arms and hop up into father’s. I hear the deep chuckle resounding from his chest before he spins me around. I squeal in delight laughing along with him. He places me back down on the ground and ruffles my mane.
“Are you two ready to wait with me while we wait for your new sibling?” father asks us. Knight Rider is his name and he is one of the biggest Monokeros living in Vault 69, and he is also the Captain of the guard. His cutie mark is a two-handed great-ax, signifying that he is meant to be a warrior. Mom jokes that it means he should be a lumberjack.
Father stands at roughly six hooves tall, and his magic helps him adjust his strength and muscles. Kind of like a drug that the doctors use on sick Equines called a steroid, just without any of the negative kickbacks. His fur is similar to Leo’s; pitch black and his eyes are a haunting yellow. I used to get scared when I was younger and I’d see him come back to the cave late at night. Instead of Leo’s light leather guard armor, Father wears thick heavy steel armor. The symbol of the Goddess is emblazoned on the chest piece. It’s a pitch black background with the holy Crescent Moon.
On his back is the cloak that the Captain of the Nocturnal Guard wears. The cape has been passed down for generations, and it’s been through at least two remakes before Father got it. Now the cloak is made out of a material called velvet, and it’s been dyed pure blood red. The symbol on the cloak is the symbol of the Nocturnal Guard, a Vampire Bat. The wings wrapped around a moonstone in the shape of a heart, and its fangs sunk into it making it drip black ichor down the gem. Its meaning is that while we protect the people from the Miasma we also seek out the darkness lying in creatures hearts.
All in all, my Father is a rather fearsome looking Monokeros when Equines first met him. A grin crosses my muzzle when he turns around to lead us through the steel archway leading to the Birthing Hall. Any Equines who think my Father is scary were crazy. Father would never want to harm anyone. He always says that its his duty to protect not harm, and that is why if anyone wants to say something Leo and I will be there to give them a stern talking to.
I grab Leo’s arm and snatch the treats away from him.
“Oh no you don’t. These are for Mom, not your greedy belly,” I smirk nudging his stomach while we begin walking down the hallway. Lined on either side of us is the same steel walls. There are doors placed at various intervals along the wall that lead into the Patient Rooms. Unlike the Birthing Hall which is further down, the Patient Rooms are where others can come to get appointments and be seen by the doctors. Doctor Goodheart leads the whole team of medical specialists from the Medical Office on the Second Level.
We take a right at the end of the hallway and enter the open area of the Waiting Room. Here we various Equines of the night wait for word from the team of Doctors. There are hardback steel chairs lining the whitewashed walls. The room itself is square-shaped, and makes me think that this must be what the old world asylums must have looked like.
I shiver as we walk up to the center receptionist desk. The twins Tai and Chi and are manning it today and they never fail to creep me out.
Tai is the darker of the two, and when I say dark I mean practically as dark as the Vault gets during lights out. Even her eyes are a brown so dark they seem as black as the rest of her. She also never speaks, and when she does speak it’s always when Chi is speaking.
Chi is almost the complete opposite of her sister. She and I share the rare trait of gray almost white coats of fur. The doctors call it a recessive trait from too much inbreeding within the Vault.
Which, I suppose, is true. Mom and Father are third time cousins on Mom’s side from Great-Great-Great-Grandma Orange Blossom, and Tai and Chi are my fifth generation cousins descended from my Father’s Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandpa Bloody High’s side.
The law in place of Vault 69 is that first and second generation cousins or siblings can’t mate. The Commander from about 100 years ago put that rule into place to try and keep the population from inbreeding far too much. I don’t know how well it has worked, but from what Blood Vial’s told me, is that its been relatively successful. Aside from Chi and I, there are two others who have the recessive trait of gray/white fur. It hasn’t been proven that we are weaker or anything, we just tend to stand out more versus the others at night.
Aside from the same fur as me, Chi is hyperactive and tends to ramble. Which gets offset by the fact that you have Tai in the background repeating everything she says at the exact same time. I haven’t seen the two of them apart at all, another creepy thing in my opinion.
Father walks up to the twins and writes our names down before turning around and leading us to the seats. I start to tap and swing my hooves on the linoleum floor as time continues to tick on by. I huff and keep pulling Father’s arm down to check the time on his Magicast causing a chuckle to erupt from his chest each time.
The Magicast is basically what it sounds like. It is worn on the dominant arm just around the wrist area. The Magicast does a number of handy little tricks. It measures an Equines heart, blood, and bodily health. It keeps track of all your earthly possessions on your person. It also helps to keep a running update on the quality of those items. It also has a handy little map feature to help guide an Equine around the Vault. The Magicast takes up a fraction of the forearm space and comes in one of two colors. White for Mares, and Black for Stallions. Rather simple I know; also the only way that one can get a Magicast is when they graduate from their secondary school and become a full fledged member of the Vault.
For Desmodus we go to the Third Level and Train at the Flight Academy. Monokeros go to apprentice in either the Maintenance, Science or Medical divisions. As for the Emissarius, they have their choice of the Smithery, repairing weapons and armor, or they get slated to work the orchard. Of course all races have their choice of the Nocturnal Guard.
There are a few of us who have a romantic and flighty fancy of being the one rare Noctus who gets a Talent Mark from the Old Beasts. The Book of the Goddess tells us that back in the time before the war with the Miasma and a creature of discord, that all races had a chance of being seen in the light of the Old Beasts. If one of the Old Beasts found you worthy of their mark then the old emissary of that Beast would lose their Talent Mark and the power would then be transferred to the new bearer in some new way.
When a new Zodiac Member or Zodiac Guard would be chosen, that Talent Mark is taken from the old and placed upon the new. It is a continuous cycle of power so long as the Miasma Existed. Sometimes a Warrior of Leo would become the teacher of say an Ambassador of Leo. The Talent of the Old Beast would change to suit the new bearer and it would continue.
Of course that is how it is supposed to go, but for the past 200 years no Noctus in the vault had ever gotten a Talent Mark representing any of the Old Beasts. I’d once overheard my Father and Big Brother talking about it during their training while I was bringing them their lunch. Father had a theory and was asking my brother if he wanted to join him in testing that theory. Leo being Leo jumped to it but before he could say anything Father spotted me and I gave them their lunch. After that day the topic was never brought up again as far as I know.
I am pulling down Father’s arm again when the doors to the Birthing Hall are opened and out strides Dr. GoodHeart. Dr. GoodHeart is currently wearing the white Head Physician coat with the Olive Branch and the symbol of the Old Beast Pisces the healer on his back. His blue rubber gloves are splattered with drops of red. A somber expression is covering his face right now while he makes his way towards us.
My Father stiffens up and I’m wondering what it is that has made him do so. My brother stands up and walks around Father to pull me to him. I am completely at a loss right now and I open my mouth to ask what in the world is going on.
“What is going on Father? Can we go see Mom now?” I ask, curiosity pulling at me while I fight to try to get out of Leo’s arms. Leo isn’t budging though and his grip is tightening to the point of pain as he squishes my rib cage against his chest. My wings are straining against his grip as they’re squished and a sharp cry pulls at my throat as one of them twists wrong while I struggle.
“Leo let her go! She’s to come with us,” Father says with a finality to his words that makes the both of us stop straining against each other. I look up, tears in my eyes, to stare at Father. Dr. GoodHeart comes over just when Leo lets go of me and he places his now bare hands on my shoulders.
“Now Miss Zodiac… I need you to be brave please. Your new sibling awaits you,” Dr. GoodHeart tells me and I cock my head to the side making my braid of midnight black hair spill over my right shoulder. I am about to open my mouth to ask why I should be brave before Father comes over and places his hand on my head.
“She’ll be fine. She is a Zodiac and we do not waiver,” Father says sounding strong and confident just like always. I give a cocky grin in Dr. GoodHeart’s direction.
“Right! Don’t worry Dr. GoodHeart I’ll be perfectly fine! Besides I brought Mom her favorite Orange Marmalade, and I even have Father’s Orange Juice so we can celebrate,” I finish off placing my hand to my chest.
“I bought it with my own Moonstones that I saved up. I’m almost an adult soon anyway.” I add just to show that I am indeed a mature Desmodus.
“Very well then. Let’s go see your new sibling shall we?” he says and starts towards the double doors. Father takes a deep breath and nudges me along with him to the double steel doors. Leo is behind us with the bottles wrapped in the blanket bits and together we open the doors and step forward.
Once we step through the first thing that hits me is the smell of antibiotics. I know the smell due to spending so much time hanging around with Blood Vial in the Medical Wing, and watching her learn the numerous medicines and chemicals in there.
The second thing that registers is my Mom lying still on the operating table. I quickly run over to her, my hooves making loud echoing clicking sounds in the open room on the polished linoleum floors. Panting and slightly out of breath from running from the doors to the middle of the room where she was, I clutch onto the side of the bed to look at her.
Lying in the bed is Mom and she is paler than normal, her russet fur chest is barely lifting. I stare owlishly at her trying to make out what is wrong with her. A sickening feeling clutching tight to my own heart. When I’d last seen Mom last night she looked just like normal. Her fur wasn’t this sickish lackluster brown; her wonderful hazel eyes weren’t closed. Her stomach is the biggest change. Where was this big round lump of flesh, it had sort of flattened now, though it is still a large lump of stretchy russet flesh.
I am reaching my hand out ready to try and shake her to see if she is awake, but Father’s hand appears and stops me inches from her arm. He pulls me away from the bed and places me to the side.
“Hey there sweetie. I brought the kids… Come on honey open your eyes for me,” Father whispers while leaning down to brush Mom’s bangs out of her face. For a moment I wonder why he’s talking to her so softly and I turn to look at Leo questioningly. Hoping that maybe I’m imagining things and that he knows whats wrong. I’d heard pregnancy and birthing were exhausting but I didn’t know they made you look like this. Leo shakes his head and raises a single black finger to his lips and sits down on the floor. He places the bottles to the side and pulls me onto his lap. I take the unspoken cue and sit there quietly waiting to see my new sibling and talk to Mom.
It feels like forever sitting on my brother's lap and listening to the soft beeping of the heart monitor. The beeping slowly starts to seep its way into my head.
“Beep, Beep, Beep,” the pulses are steady, a constant source of noise and soon my head is bobbing along with the rhythm. Father hasn’t moved in what feels like hours. He just keeps murmuring to Mom and stroking her hand. When I feel like I’m about to start falling asleep, Dr. GoodHeart comes back from the other end of the Birthing Hall with a cart and Blood Vial in tow. I hop up out of my brother’s lap and run over to them.
Just when I pull up to them I see Blood Vial has tears in her eyes, and her father also has redness around his own sky blue eyes. He passes me with a sad look and pats my head gently before continuing to push the cart towards Father and Leo. I turn, a nervous shaky grin crosses my muzzle when I look at Vial. Instead of the warm caring half smiles I usually get, she is shaking and takes my hand to lead me to my family.
“Vial?” I whisper my hand shaking in hers. She shakes her head and continues to pull me to Father and Leo. Vial isn’t usually this quite. I mean yea she’s a heck of a lot quieter than I am but she still speaks to me dammit! I want answers, and I only hope that the answer I get isn’t what I’m thinking it is. When we arrive, I catch the tail end of the conversation Vial’s dad is having with my Father and brother.
“Not sure if she’ll come out of it. It could be a few hours, or a few days, months, even years… I can’t make any promises Rider of when she’s going to come out of the coma.” Dr. GoodHeart finishes his head bent forward, his voice wracked with what I think is guilt.
Father is shaking right now and Leo is practically vibrating with the need to do something, but what that something is I don’t know. All I know is that I’m scared. I’d heard Vial and her dad talking occasionally about what to do should a patient slip into a coma. Apparently the best thing to do is to keep them on life support, and pray to the Goddess and the Old Beasts that their brain patterns stay active. I don’t quite know what most of the medical jargon means, which I am now regretting that I never paid much attention to it. I pull myself away from Vial and step forward to tug on Dr. GoodHeart’s sleeve.
“You can do something right? Please, I brought Mom’s favorite treat and what are we going to do about our sibling, where are they?” I’m spouting questions as quick as they enter my head and tears are starting to sting the edges of my eyes. Panic is creeping on the edges of my voice. I don’t want to lose my mother.
“PLEASE! You, you’re the best doctor the vault’s ever had! You have freaking MAGIC! You can do anything!” I shout, closing my eyes and I start to cough as I fight back the tears. Father isn’t moving, his eyes are blank while he stares down at Mom. Leo isn’t doing much better and if I’m not mistaken I think I see a hint of his fangs elongating and pierce his bottom part of his lip. I turn my tear ridden eyes back to Vial’s dad and find him shaking his head.
“Magic can’t solve everything Miss Zodiac. Especially when it comes to matters of the brain… I’m sorry,” he says to me while he bends down to get to my level. Suddenly I’m wrapped up in a hug from him and a second set of spindly arms wraps around me from behind. I know that Vial is holding me tightly, her muzzle pressed between my wings. She is offering me comfort like the best friend she is, even if she doesn’t want to speak. I bury my muzzle into his shoulder, breaking down and crying my heart out.
It’s a couple minutes later before I pull away, though I don’t want to and I look around to find my Father and brother. I find them not by Mom’s bedside but instead they're looking down into the cart. I make my way over to them and peer into the cart. My movement startles Leo and he unclenches his fists to look down at me before turning back to look into the cart.
Inside is a little bundle of fur wrapped safely inside of a bright blue blanket that I recognize as the one Mom’s spent the past eleven months making with the help of Granny Orange. Tears spring to my eyes again before I take the courage to move the blanket enough to get a look at the face. There, lying in front of me and my family is a little ball of russet fur and a tiny, nubby little horn poking from a fringe of our family’s trademark midnight black hair. A smile springs forth as suddenly a little hand no bigger than my pinkie finger clutches to my index finger.
“Is it a Colt or a Filly?” I ask to Dr. GoodHeart when I manage to tear my watery gaze away from the little ball of fur.
“It is a Filly, Miss Zodiac. A healthy little Filly,” he responds and I grin. I have a little sister! For the first time in what feels like hours a genuine smile crosses my muzzle and I look back down into the cart. I’m so preoccupied with my little sister that I don’t even notice that Father isn’t by the cart anymore. It isn’t until I look up to ask what we should name her that I notice he is once again by Mom’s side.
I look up at Leo and find him in awe of our little sister as well. The signs of anger and shaking he was exhibiting a few moments ago are completely gone. He reaches forward to cover both of our hands with his own large calloused hand. He grunts in amusement while his hand engulfs ours.
Reluctantly I pull my hand free from the entanglement and take a few breaths to gather my courage and steady my raw nerves.. I cross the small distance to Father, each hoof step echoing once again in the quiet room. The closer I get the more I hear the steady beeping of the heart monitor and shivers cross up and down my spine. Now that I think about it, this is the only thing I am ever going to hear from my Mom now... Aside from the few audio files on Leo’s and Father’s Magicasts of course.
I stop a few paces from Father and am about to call up to him when I hear the sound of sobbing. Looking up I see Father’s large hand covering his face while his other one has a tight grip on Mom’s, the one with their wedding ring. Tears come unbidden to me again and I move to wrap my arms around Father.
“It’s going to be ok Father. Mom will wake up soon, I’m sure of it. She wouldn’t want to leave us,” I say trying to force as much sureness and confidence in my words as possible. Father stiffens under my hands and suddenly I’m pushed away from him.
“Go with the Doctor My little Zodiac. Take your… Sister with you. I… Can’t be with you all right now,” he finishes, speech broken with chokes and tears before turning back to Mom’s and I see him bend over her. I step back completely in shock while I watch my father wail in sadness over Mom’s bed. During my whole life I have never once seen Father look so broken. For a moment my brain refuses to make the connection between the sight in front of me and that word. Yet it continues to cycle through my thoughts. ‘Broken. Father. Father’s broken.’ It continues to repeat in my thoughts, like a broken audio file.
I’m brought out from my endless thoughts from the hand on my shoulder. I turn around to find Vial standing behind me and I shiver, letting her pull me along back to my little sister and big brother.
“Corny, come on… You have to help us pick out her name,” Vial finally says to me, and for a moment it takes time to sort out the words she’s saying. Once I manage to get the words to form a coherent sentence I nod and let her lead me to the other side of the room and through another set of doors. Inside I see Leo sitting with our little sister held in his arms while he rocks her gently. I force a smile to my face and make my way over to them.
The moment I get to them the name I want to give my sister pops in my head. I remember what Mom would tell us about the outside world and of the Goddess of the Moon, and Goddess of the Sun.
“Radiant. Radiant Dreams. Do you think we can call her that?” I ask to the quiet room. Leo lifts his head from our sister and smiles a sad but genuine smile.
“I think that sounds perfect Spazz,” he responds and turns his gaze back down to her right when I get to them.
“Welcome to the family Radiant Dreams.” We speak together and grin when she opens her eyes and a pair of bright amber eyes gaze up in wonderment to us.
