The Tale: Valley of The Third Eye
(10:43 pm, 5th Lunar Hour)
Rule 1: Always trust yourself
Rule 28: Always doubt yourself
Rule 76: Never trust yourself
Rule 76. 1: Never trust yourself no matter what.
"Is any-pony present?" I called into the suffocating indigo mist that was the night. No-pony responded, which increased my worry.
Nervously, I fumbled for a piece of my tangled green mane to twirl, at least I knew it was green. The darkness of night would make any-pony uncertain. The only light around me was the eerie glow of stars like mocking little eyes.
It would not be hard to imagine a windigo attached to those eyes...
I had one main rule. Only one, yet I just had to go and break it.
Clever am I?
Stubbornly I shook my head. I may be lost but mayhap if I clear my thoughts I could get a hold of my bearings. Only then will I find my way home.
Let me see...I am a unicorn and a well-versed magician as well, should I not try to harness some of my magics? Slowly, my concentration deepened allowing a blossom of praisable light to take life upon my horn.
My settings began to emerge from the murk of unholy darkness like magic from the aether. Sparse wild shrubs of a deciduous variety and various dark gray stones common in these mountains. Minisclue clumps of snow displeasing to the eye dotted the areas still partly shadowed. I still couldn't tell which way I came for the wilds were unmarked. If I go to higher ground, which would pass time, I might be able to see Canterlote and her homely werelights from here upon the upper regions of- oh, what was this mountain's name again?
Canterhorn. Yes that was it, so perhaps that will solve my problem. After all I am poor at all known forms of teleportation.
I shifted my gaze to the upward slope and trotted slowly toward it with the white capped peak firmly imagined in my mind's eye. Deceiving me my tangible pair seemed for it almost looked as if the shimmering rays of my gray aura-their brethren in color- werelight had begun to falter.
Brusquely I changed my thoughts to the sun's light although my mind couldn't help but turn to the subject of rules...
Like the ones I had just broken.
Rule 94: Obey all rules
Rule 264,427: Avoid insanity at all costs
Rule 638, 632, 811: Looking behind you every 10th of every 30th of a second is not insane
...
4 hours earlier... (6:00pm, First Lunar Hour)
I walked gaily down the halls of the Forte, Canterlote's meeting hall. My hooves made a eager clopping noise as they yearned for harder ground to tread despite the late hour. Through the Forte's open windows sun-set was approaching the realm of Equestria, Most Beloved Triarchy. A spring breeze wafted through carrying the faint scent of autumn. From the corner of my pale gray eyes i noticed the sun's last rays of day illuminating the city and its flat-topped deep gray buildings like the dazzling gems buried beneath the rocky flesh. Distant horns signified the beginning of the lunar hours.
"Clover, my dear companion, what are you doing up at his hour?"
I turned to the speaker, immediately recognizing the elegant tone. Lifelong friends are not easily forgotten.
A warm smile spread across my wrinkled face.
"Princess Platinum," I dipped into a slight bow, levitating the hem of my tan linen peasant dress into a curtsy. My bobbed spring green mane, which, like my tail, had never been brushed, fell in my face, obscuring the permanent black bags of worry and trauma life had bestowed me.
A mint green hoof streaked with silver patches of age lifted my chin forcing me out of my bow.
Faint hints of a rare smile were present on the large eyed mare's face. Her long bustle dress and elaborate robes and jewels seemed to make Platinum's figure that of a worshipped idol, rather ironically; most of the pony tribes generations - united or divided - been fiercely atheist, including myself.
"Faithful servant," the aged leader began "I merely inquired what you were doing, not offering you to prostate before me."
I dipped my head back. "My Lady, I was just going for a walk in the mountains."
Her brow creased. "Clover...do your dreams trouble you once more? I can have a physician prescribe a tonic for that-"
"Nay! A tonic I need not for my memories are mine and mine alone to bear! You know as well as I every action done as master and servant is not an experience we share. Parts of my life will always remain private."
Platinim's solemn mask burst into haughty laughter, although I knew she meant no harm in her deed.
"You spicy thing," she punned. A joke between us two. She meant 'stubborn' but used 'spicy' since my own long departed parents named their unexpected daughter-myself-after a favorite spice, cloves.
Another peal of laughter followed making her unable to speak. I stood erectly, a sharp contrast to the vain elegant monarch.
Some would consider it odd for two elderly mares to banter so. Maybe if we were married then it might be inappropriate but unwed we were. My past and passion of learning forbade me while Platinum's lust of power and self-absorbance in areas caused her choice to be the same as mine.
When she finally recovered composure her little 'speech' continued.
"Of course you would still want to take this stroll. But do you not know how dangerous the night is? Even a former Arcane Student such as yourself might have trouble...a monster native to this land might attack you."
I took a deep breath. "Your Highness, I require this walk to quell my hysteria. I ask you to preside over my pupil, Arcane Vision."
Platinum snickered slightly for she still thought it humorous that I considered a babbling colt of three winters my apprentice. I never exactly found this amusing as I was apprenticed by the time I was five winters old.
Platinum fixed her gaze once more upon me, face crinkled in worry. For once she most definitely looked her age.
"Please," she whispered, "I will comply with your wishes if dear friend you promise me...you promise me that you will not be injured...or eaten...or killed by monsters."
"Very well m'lady: I most honestly swear by my green tangled hair not to end up within some monster's snare for when it come to my friend the Princess it is deeply I care. Now if you please allow me to breathe of all places...OUT THERE!"
We both fell into cacophonies of giggles as I twirled like a graceful youth once more and Platinum, once an alabaster faced princess fancily twirling her robes...
...
Present (11:20, Sixth Lunar Hour)
Rule 48.7: Never go out after dark.
I glided along as quickly as possible until I came to an area as tangled as my mane. No paths were present. I heard a small stream trickling.
Trotting up to the glistening surface I dipped my muzzle in for a drink. As the liquid flowed down my throat like life itself the light atop my horn grew brighter and reflected of my pale pink coat.
I lifted my head back up, water still trickling down my chin, I noticed that my apron was dirty and smudged. It may be a trivial matter, but I could feel a twitch coming on as I began to ignore...
Rule 37: Always make sure aprons are perfect and clean if possible. Aprons are a major up-grade from hooded homespun cloaks
When I was done scrubbing my apron I picked out the path that most resembled an upward slope. I climbed for what felt to be another few hours, pausing at streams as much as possible. Occasionally strange, almost leathery, flapping could be heard, causing me to duck in the deciduous ferns.
Rule 5,731: Always keep promises
As I cantered lightly further down the 'path', weariness started getting to me, slowing my brisk but cautious movement to a heavy clopping. Small lights began to dance around me, flying around at random or land on trees that no began to recede as I made it farther up.
Tired...
The stars gleamed and silver light not quite of this world began to blend with my aura causing my werelight to falter slightly.
The last thing I saw was one of my knees begin to wobble.This was going to be bad on my arthritis.
...
(3:57 am, 10th Lunar Hour,)
"Where...need to get...high? Mountain?"
Groggily I shifted my aching body upward ignoring all its pops and cracks. I had to...cannot remember why...climb the mountain? Yay, indeed I had to. I began to grow a dim werelight to aide me in sight once more. Snatching up a few bits of fern to give me energy, I plodded along the road. Joints creaking like a tree in autumn, I slowly swung into action.
Left. Right. Left. Other Left. Right. Huh?
With a shake of my head things began to clear slightly the antagonizing fog of night beginning to drift away.
Based on the position of the moon, a disturbing orb of the cosmos resembling a large bone, the Elder Sister, one of the two creatures known as 'Alicorns' - a sort of equine with unfathomable power - would raise her sun. This would force the Younger Sister to end her night by lowering the moon. They lived in an enchanted forest, untouched by time, not far from here. We ponies rarely saw them, it was not as if they lived in one of our Three Citadels: Canterlote, Cloud's Dale, and Hoofing Towne.
But I knew them, somewhat. Celestia and Luna couldn't hide from me.
Rule 76: You can't hide from them.
Rule 472: Your past is like one of the biles within the body it will never go away.
Rule 92: Never means never, Clover.
The air had begun to grow slightly thinner, like breathing through parchment, yet I still could not find the werelights of Canterlote.
Perhaps I merely was not at a proper height to enable me to fixate my eyes upon the city that captivates my essence.
Unable to retrace my steps, my steps continued.
Rule 67: Nopony will help you.
A little while later I had recovered a slither of energy to canter. The air was disappearing fast but I pushed onward. I felt a sudden tug as my skirt caught on my hoof, as I fell face-forward, tumbling in the scree at an alarming rate as I rolled...downward?! My horn caught on a rock but my fall still continued and I felt something like my life, my blood, my passion...my magic, all being torn from me.
All in one powerful crack.
...
( 5:46 am, Twelfth Lunar Hour)
The golden light of dawn gently found its way to my eyes.
Where am I?
Soft green grasses greener than my mane were under me. Occasionally patches of crimson dotted the unearthly pristine nature. All around me night faded away as dawn came to be revealing my mysterious setting: A most fertile mountain valley, with tall lush grasses swaying in what smelled like a summer breeze.
An oasis?
Cool water could be heard in the distance if I worked past the roaring blood in my ears. Flowers dotted the stalks in a pattern I could not comprehend.
At my hooves lay a jagged pink cornucopia of pain.
At its sight tears streaked down my battered face. My horn was broken...
I couldn't get up. My leg was bent...
I promised that I wouldn't get eaten by monsters, and I had kept that promise.
If I die now I will never have to carry my memories...
Rule 86: You are an atheist Clover, that will never change.
It won't.
My last remaining tears, golden in sun-light and ivory in the last moon-light, fell into the soft ground. In the sky a few rouge storm clouds had gathered.
Voices filled the air, singing a song I didn't know. It was beautiful.
My eyes closed, dreaming of paradise.
Farewell.
