Chapters View Online
Minisode 1: The Minotaur, the Myth, the Legend
“Fluttershy, darling, are you at home?” Rarity’s mellifluous voice lilted out as she stuck her head into the door of Fluttershy’s cottage. She had been in the area after work and decided to pop in and see if her marefriend was busy. Typically there was some animal-related matter to consider but there was a chance she was lucky.
“Oh, yes, right in here, Rarity.” Fluttershy’s voice struggled to reach the door from elsewhere in the cottage, soon joined by the mare herself. The yellow Pegasus was dressed in khaki, a most unflattering color for her. A vest, pith helmet, backpack. Most unlike her. “Sorry, I was, um, a little busy.”
“Why yes, I can see that. My word you… you have your own style, do you not? Well, to each their own. Seems a bit… err, let us call it “dressy” for an early dinner in town. I do hope you can manage it.”
“Oh, um… sorry Rarity, but I won’t be able to have dinner with you. I need to be off right away.”
“’Off’, you say? Why darling, off to where?”
“Hoofington. Or, close by there anyhow. Um, I heard that’s where Iron Will is going to be.”
“Iron Will ?” Rarity’s voice was less than a shriek but clearly indicative of some upset passion, to say nothing of the heavy incredulity. “Why would you even bother with that… monster again? You know what happened the last time you saw him?
Fluttershy only said, “Minotaur.”
“Yes, yes darling, I know, your insistent terminology. But, why do you keep calling him that? What does that word even mean?”
“That’s just what he called himself. It’s what he is, so that’s what I call him. It seemed polite.” Fluttershy squeaked as Angel hopped onto her back and pulled hard on a strap. It cinched her backpack to her securely. He hopped down and gave her a thumbs up. “Thank you, Angel bunny.”
“But I ask you again, Fluttershy, why would you turn down a generous offer of a romantic dinner with your sweet marefriend to go traipsing off after some mo- minotaur that did not notably improve your life all that much the last time he was here?”
“Because I realized something after he left. He was putting on an act when he was here. When I was… um… following his advice too closely, I acted tough because I was so scared and lonely. I realized that Iron Will probably CREATED all those things because he’s really lonely and scared.”
“Well, your thought has some note of logic…” Rarity mused, following Fluttershy out of the cottage. “But darling, what concern is that of yours? Surely this mister Will can handle his own troubles.”
“You know me, Rarity. I always have to help everypony I can. And every non-pony I can. Now that I know, I have to offer my help.” She began to trot along, heading down the road that led into town and areas beyond.
“I understand completely, darling. But if you insist on this fo- compassionate errand, I will go with you. NOT that I don’t trust you, dear, but it’s always good to have a friend to go along with you. And what better friend than your marefriend?” Rarity fell into pace beside Fluttershy, smiling lovingly at her.
“Th-thank you, Rarity. You’re always so sweet.” Fluttershy pressed her side against Rarity’s side, a light blush coloring her cheek.
Later on, late into the evening, the two mares came across a small collection of caravans arranged in a loose circle, with a fire in the center mostly surrounded by goats, along with one huge bovine creature. The goats were the first to notice the coming visitors, though Iron Will himself wasn’t too far behind in picking up on the presence. “Well, well, well… Is that Iron Will’s best AND worst student? Iron Will didn’t think he’d be seeing you. Iron Will figured that our business was complete.
Fluttershy trotted up pleasantly, but Rarity lagged a bit, wincing a bit at hearing the minotaur speak. “Yes… mister Iron Will… I know that it is part of your entrepreneurial and thespian charm, but we have had poor relations with ponies that used the third pony tense. Perhaps for this little tête-à-tête we could all just use the first pony tense and be a bit more… reasonable?”
“Iron Will… can certainly see the point in that. Very well then, what can Ir… I do for you cows?” The big bull leaned back casually.
Fluttershy stepped up slowly, as was her way. “Um, mister Iron Will… I realized something after you left; I was acting badly and being super angry and hurtful because I was really scared and alone and wanted to hurt ponies before I got hurt. So I… I thought that might be why you came up with this in the first place. I wanted to see if there was anything I could do to help you.”
Iron Will regarded Fluttershy with a raised eyebrow, then sighed a little, hands folded over his abs. “I suppose you’re not going to believe me if I tell you it’s not true. Honestly, I expected this would happen sooner or later. Someone would start asking questions. I figured I could just shove it aside but, nah, you’re too strong for that, aintcha?” He gave her a little wink.
“Well, I must admit… she IS a bit of a pepper pot when one gets her started. I suppose that passion overlaid with sweetness is what attracted me to her in the first place. That and her natural elegance!” Rarity gushed over Fluttershy, drawing her into a tight hug.
“Oh, my…” Fluttershy nuzzled into Rarity’s embrace, a dark blush standing out on her cheeks. “So… can you tell me what happened?”
“I suppose… See, I’m not from around here, as you can probably tell. I’m actually from a place that ponies have probably never heard of, far away to the west. It’s called the Aegeman sea. There are a lot of islands, some land-based places, and the remnants of what you Equestrians used to call Hipposian culture. The dominant population is…”
“Minotaurs?” Fluttershy offered.
“Diamond Dogs.” Iron Will let the revelation hang in the air for a moment before going on. “But they’re much more cultured than here. I was surprised the first time I saw Equestrian Diamond Dogs. In the Aegeman area they’re urbane and intelligent. I was originally born on the island of Concrete. And the rest, well… it’s all a myth to me. It was all I was ever told about my birth.”
“Please… can you share with us? I promise we’ll listen carefully.” Fluttershy approached closer to the fire, putting herself and Rarity among the small knot of goats.
“My father was… Minos. King of Concrete. He had some number after his name; I guess all the kings of Concrete name themselves Minos. My mother was a cow. I found out in Equestria that’s something that can happen too. In the Aegeman we don’t have the authority of Princess Celestia, and we don’t have her magic to bend together hybrids like me.
“There are old statues around that some worship. They have some powers in them but only sometimes. They call it Erdisos, the trickster. You can get what you want out of one… but there’s a price. Minos wanted an heir that would be powerful, like Diamond Dogs were supposed to be. According to what I heard, he asked a statue, which made him fall in love with a cow, just long enough to get her pregnant by Erdisos’ power. When I came along he was horrified, because I looked like a bull, and not like him. He had me put on a mainland hillside to die…” Iron Will’s features twitched, his expression fighting to remain hard and neutral.
“Oh you poor thing…” Fluttershy rushed up quickly, to pat a comforting hoof over Iron Will’s hand. “That’s so… so terrible. Your own father.”
“And he even waited. I found out I was almost a year old before he got rid of me. But I was found on the mainland by a goat tender. He had caught word of the rumors about me, and he told me when I got older. That’s why I left. I didn’t want him to find out I was alive. I had been hidden all my life. I took a few of the goats I had grown up with, and went away to Equestria.”
Fluttershy was silent for a long, long while, comfortingly stroking Iron Will’s hand, while Rarity delicately dabbed at her eyes. “Let’s go back.”
“Yes… late as it will be we really should return to Ponyville. My…” Rarity came up to Iron Will and gingerly patted a hand. “My word… well, I want you to know, you have my condolences and compassion, and I mean every word of it. I hope your life proceeds in a much more pleasant direction.”
“No, Rarity.” Fluttershy looked across at her marefriend. “I mean, let’s go back to this Aegeman sea. Let’s go to Concrete and face down that bully of a king.”
“WHAT!?” Rarity and Iron Will both reacted with pure incredulity.
“You taught me to confront my problems and not be afraid to meet bullies head-on. Well he sounds like a big bully. And you deserve do confront him. You’re not afraid of him, are you?”
“No!” Iron Will considered a moment. “Yes. Maybe. I don’t know. I’ve never considered it. I just wanted to get away. It never occurred to me to go back.”
“Fluttershy, darling, this is quite a… spontaneous action. Are you certain?”
“New Old Fluttershy knows it’s the right thing to do. If your father’s a mean guy, ask him why.” She looked up at the minotaur with large, shining eyes.
Iron Will vacillated for a moment, before lowering his head with a sigh. “It’s a long journey. Could take a few weeks. No railroads go there and hardly anyone knows it’s there. But, I’ll go.”
Minisode 2: Westward to the Aegeman Sea
The trip to the Aegeman had been delayed for a week. There were plans made to speed the journey along, but they had been made by Rarity, in absolute secrecy, leaving Iron Will to room at Fluttershy’s cottage as some sort of negotiation was conducted between herself and parties unknown.
“So, um, mister Will, can you tell me something about your life? You said you were raised by a goat herder. How did he protect you from the king if he wanted you… ummm… not alive…”
Iron Will took a dainty sip of tea from a tiny cup, pinky out, nodding his head at the flavor. “At that time, all the islands and the mainland areas that were inhabited had their own rulers that jus left one another alone. So as long as I stayed out of sight and laid completely low, I could be safe. When I left I just covered myself in a cloak and led the goats out into Equestrian territory. I was really lucky I had the guardian I had. He was really good about keeping me out of sight while we worked with the goats.”
“Oh, please, tell me about him.” Fluttershy lifted the teapot and offered it wordlessly.
“Oh yes, thank you.” The minotaur accepted another cup of tea, little more than a proper sized sip for him. “Well, I’ll tell you, he was sure a nice fellow. A Diamond Dog, of course. His name was Actaeon, and he said he had seen the men of Minos leave me on the hill; he knew it was them because they all wore some kind of crest or something that made them really noticeable. He’s actually the one that gave me something to call myself. It’s from the language they speak there which is like Hipposian, but kind of altered by time. Minotaur comes from Minos, and tauros, which meant ‘the bull of Minos.’ That remind me, I’ve gotta thank that dog for teaching me at least a little Equestrian. It helped when I got here, where I could learn a little more. But you can tell I had to rhyme it first. For some reason, that made it easier.”
“Yes, I’ve heard that from another friend of mine.” Fluttershy gingerly sipped her tea and thought to her friend Zecora. What was it about Equestrian that prompted immigrants to rhyme? It was a lovely effect, whatever it was.
“Still, it was an easy transition. I was raised on the edge of a territory controlled by the Atheralitian dominion, a major player in the area. They had a strong learning tradition and it sort of showed everywhere. There were always plenty of leftover books and things, so that Actaeon could teach me about math and science and the world. It really made me want to go out and see it. And here I am.”
“Maybe when we go back we can see this Actaeon. You haven’t seen him since you left, have you?”
“No, I haven’t. Never even sent him a letter; not that it could be delivered. I never intended to go back. But you know, maybe it WOULD be a good idea to go back and see him, just to make sure he’s still alright. He was young when he was raising me, so he must still be around, probably in the same little cottage. Like this, but not quite as nice. This is a lovely home you have here.” Iron Will took a sip of tea and smiled.
“Oh, thank you. It’s not very fancy but it’s comfortable, and it’s the perfect house for my little animal friends.” She gave an adorable smile to all the little critters around. She was rewarded with may chitters and tweets. And one scowl from a certain bunny, who pointed down at an empty bowl. It was always something…
“I can’t believe we managed to get… this!” Fluttershy looked out in awe as the scenery passed them by in a moderated rush. The clouds bumped the sides of their transport and drifted off, shoved by the motion of a great airship. It was a truly impressive thing, made of finely stained dark wood with metal bracing which was both functional and highly decorative, which had itself been trimmed in precious metals and gems. The great balloon was conical at both ends and secured to the luxurious ship by stout ropes and a covering of shimmering cloth. The name plate on the back read, “Celestial Kindness” and the balloon itself was marked with a giant representation of Celestia’s Cutie Mark.
“Why in the world would you be surprised, darling? I wrote to Princess Celestia about this heretofore unknown group of urbane, intelligent creatures, noted we had a native of the land willing to go with us, and simply added that perhaps it would be a good idea to undertake a kind of goodwill mission, with a touch of diplomacy and an attempt at establishing some understanding between our nations.” Rarity stood with her love, resting her upper body partly on the other mare’s back, head turned so she could press her cheek to the yellow Pegasus’ and look out on the passing scenery.
“So it’s… a formal diplomatic mission. Oh my. I-I think I can handle that. I like making friends and I’m good and getting ponies to get along.” Fluttershy rubbed her cheek against Rarity’s, looking out over the cloudy atmosphere. It was relaxing. Though home had not been pleasant at all times, it was still comforting to recall.
“No need to be concerned, dear. We have a small company of royal guards to keep the peace in case we require them. I will admit to some trepidation at the thought of being among Diamond Dogs once again, but I quickly chastised myself. ‘Rarity,’ I told myself, ‘that is narrow-minded speciesist thinking. You only met a few Diamond Dogs, and not the best examples. Why, if you only knew unicorns like Trixie, or the Flim Flam Brothers or even Jet Set and Upper Crust you would be inclined to start hating yourself because clearly all unicorns must be pushy, insensitive creatures devoid of kindness.’ And with that thought, I made peace with our destination. What IS out first stop in the region? I understand we’re detouring before making for a port to reach Concrete.”
“Yes, at the border with Equestria there’s a secluded cottage where Iron Will grew up. He wants to stop and visit Actaeon, the dog that raised him.”
“It sounds quite pleasant. It will make a wonderful distraction before we must engage in a diplomatic dance with a potentially hostile king. Truth to tell I would almost rather deal with the Griffin High King. At least he recognizes his need for friendly relations with Equestria.”
“I would rather do it because he speaks Equestrian.”
“No need to fear, darling. Those charming necklaces I brought are not merely decorative. They are diplomatic tools, allowing up to understand and be understood. They work best on languages known to the caster of the enchantment, and Princess Celestia knows Hipposian. The changes over time will not affect a thing. Don’t worry. This will be wonderful.”
“I can’t believe it…” Iron Will kneeled down, staring dumbly at the sight before him. It was a small cottage, or what remained of one. The thatched roof was long gone, and the plaster walls were worn down from the top. It looked to have been abandoned for years. “What happened? It looks like no one has been here since I left.”
“Maybe he moved? He didn’t want to have the memories, so he went to a new place. Or he retired. Maybe he moved closer to the coast. There is something to be said for coastal life.” Rarity put on a bright smile, looking at Iron Will with wavering eyes.
“Yes. That might be it. We really should ask in town. We have to go there to get a boat. We can’t just fly an airship over the island; we might scare those poor Diamond Dogs.” Fluttershy gingerly placed a hoof on Iron Will’s shoulder, giving him a slow stroke.
“Yes, as she said. Come, let us go. The ship will take us to the outskirts and we may walk in from there.”
Not long after the three were landbound again, walking down deserted streets. “There does seem to be life in this place. It would appear that the ship has startled the poor souls into their homes.”
Fluttershy was looked over the hiding town herself, but her eye caught something different. “Um, did you notice… all these bull heads?” It was true. All through the town there was a profusion of signs, banners, painted depictions and clay representations of bull heads, ranging from simple silhouette to detailed depictions of a figure of great power.
“Quite unusual. One might believe these Atheralitians would have the face of their king, presumably a Diamond Dog, though perhaps there is a minority rulership here.” Rarity stroked her chin as they all trotted on towards the harbor. “More pressingly, how will we charter a ship if the population has hidden?”
“Doesn’t look like that’s going to be a problem. Look!” Iron Will pointed towards the harbor, where a sail could be seen flapping in the breeze. It was attached to something very like a trireme, though no oars seemed present. On the sail itself was another bull head, standing out clearly. Figures could be seen unloading things from the ship, bipedal creatures that were doubtlessly Diamond Dogs.
“Most convenient. Merchantman though it is I am certain it will suffice to take us to the island. Oh sirs! Please do not be in too much haste to leave!” Rarity galloped down the winding stone paths from the town to the docks, shouting and giving small flashes with her horn.
As they approached the figures grew more and more distinct. They were, indeed, Diamond Dogs, a motley assortment of coat colors in evidence though most were of the tall and broad variety. They were dressed in a mix of clasped wraps or loose trousers, some wearing head coverings. To a dog they looked strong and hearty, hard-working types not known for getting spooked. And yet, as they saw the three approach they let up a collective scream and dashed away, almost in random directions. Some ran along the harbor, some made it back to the ship and some even jumped into the sea.
“Waaaaaaaait!” Fluttershy unleashed one of her infrequent-but-powerful shouts, causing one dog to stumble over a piece of cargo and hit the ground.
“A moment, darling. I suspect these will be very helpful.” Rarity levitated a necklace onto herself and then onto Fluttershy. They were golden chains with a sun pedant, whose center was an iridescent jewel. Once the chain had settled the jewel glowed faintly, altering the sounds they had been hearing.
All around came the newly-translated shouts of things such as, “Ghost” and “Spirit!” The downed dog was trembling and clawing his way along the stone dock, crying loudly. “No! No spirit, I beg! Leave me be, specter! I promise I will show more honor and duty to my king! I swear it! Pass me by, shade!”
“Oh please, calm down. Please.” Fluttershy, in nurse mode, attempted to comfort the trembling canine, with limited success as he crawled and thrashed in terror. “What’s the matter? What do you mean ‘spirit’? What spirit?”
The dog pointed up with a shaking finger, directly at Iron Will. “Y-you! You cannot be here. You are a shade from Hades to punish the unfaithful. You must be. Please, spare my life, spirit of my prince! Please release me, prince Asterion!”
Minisode 3: The Minoan Bull
The group of four were stunned into silence for a while, the three from Equestria contemplating the strange thing said to them, while the cowering dog tried to will away what he presumed was an apparition. In the end it was Iron Will himself who reached down and took the dog by his vest. “What are you talking about? My name is Iron Will, not Prince… whatever it was. Just who do you think you are and what kind of game is this?”
The dog visibly cringed, and gave a cry of absolute terror as he was lifted up. “M-my name is Hyperion, good prince! I am only a poor sailor. I do not warrant your wrath! Please…” A hand reached up to grab at the arm, squeezing it a few times before an eye came open. “Is this… true? Do I feel flesh beneath my fingertips? Could you be… alive?”
“Alive and confused and a little angry! No tell me what’s going on here!”
The bull’s threats did nothing to the Diamond Dog. He seemed lost in his own contemplation. “Alive… the prince, alive! This is astounding! A miracle! Where have you been, my prince?”
“I’ve… been… in the east. In Equestria.” Iron Will’s anger slowly melted away. The dog was not intimidated. He seemed… more than excited.
“The land from which she raises the sun… of course! Not in the dark land beneath but in the sun. You are the bull of Minos, son of Pasiphaë. You would not submit to death, you would fight hard and live grandly, to return to us when you had completed some great task! Tell me, noble prince, what greatness have you completed in the land of the sun’s cradle?”
“I… ran a successful self-help seminar series, teaching the ponies how to be strong and confident.”
The dog stared a moment then burst out in a pleased, mirthful laugh. “Ah ha! You wander as a philosopher! You educate the many like an Atheralitian! But you peddle the knowledge of strength, as any good Concretan! You truly are our prince Asterion! Brothers! Fear not! This is no spirit! It is our prince!”
The dogs that had scattered, those capable of hearing the call, slowly emerged from their hiding places, approaching with a trembling step until they could see the newly-risen canine patting Iron Will on the arm. Then they very boldly strode forward, cheering and thrusting fists into the air.
“This was unexpectedly positive. I take it, then, that you will not be attacking us or taking us prisoner?” Rarity shrank back from the Diamond Dogs a touch, but gave her best diplomatic smile.
Hyperion looked down on the ponies, as though noticing them at last. “Of course not! You are retainers to our prince, are you not? Some sort of… scribes or attendants?”
“WHAT!?” The indignant tone in Rarity’s shout of rage was felt among the dogs, while the higher frequencies in her cry screeched through all their ears and made them whimper and cower. “Attendants!? Retainers!? How dare you!?”
“Ummm, Rarity? That might not be the most… diplomatic way of talking to them.” Fluttershy cleared her throat and stepped in front of Rarity. “Um, we’re diplomats from the Principality of Equestria. We came with Iro… with Prince Asterion to bring him back to his father, and to try and establish a dialogue with Minos.”
“Oh… you two are Sapphiric females. And you have been sent as a pair to keep the other focused on your mission of diplomacy. Welcome, servants of the dawn bringer. We will be happy to convey you to Concrete and bring you to his majesty Minos the 27th, lord of the Aegeman.”
“That would be most lovely,” Rarity said, with a sigh as she brought herself back down to a calmer state, “But we also need to bring our own vessel so that we may have all of our equipment and personal guards.”
“Of course. By right as messengers and diplomats you are allowed your train. Do you require a separate ship to bring across your items and attendants, and a guard for your transport?” Hyperion looked curiously at the two ponies, his expression growing more confused as they both began to laugh.
“By his majesty… truly the citizens of the east are astounding.” Hyperion gaped over the railing of the pony-built airship which hovered low, just above the merchant ship crewed by the Concretan dogs, most of whom were looking up in awe at their trailing companion vessel.
“We have little trinkets and things, yes. Oh but I am certain we can have a mutually-enriching cultural exchange once we establish good relations with this King Minos.” Rarity was in fine form, smiling with great warmth at the astonished dog.
“Why is there a bull head on everything? Signs, banners, plaster images, and your sail. I thought Diamond Dogs ruled in the Aegeman.” Iron Will hung back, his arms crossed over his chest.
“It is the Minoan Bull, his majesty’s personal crest and a sign of Concretan control. Where it flies, there he rules.”
“But why a BULL of all things?”
“He did it for you, prince.” Hyperion let the revelation emerge with an offhanded casually ness. He seemed surprise by the stunned reaction of Iron Will. “Why do you seem so surprised? His majesty never abandoned hope that you would return. He believed, always, that you were alive, and wished for you to know he never gave in to the poisonous words of Theseus.”
“Um, excuse me mister Hyperion. But, who is Theseus?” Fluttershy came up slowly, trying to be disarmingly cute.
“His majesty’s advisor, quite the unpleasant dog. He is still young enough to be ambitious. He was the one sent to find you. He returned many years ago after a long journey. He found not a trace of you. From that moment forward he tried to convince your father you were dead. But he failed. And now how happy your father will be, to see he was right! He will not have to give his throne to Theseus.”
“He never had another child? I would have thought… well… he’d just try again.” Fluttershy came up closer, growing more and more fascinated by the new explanations.
“Oh no! Never. Her majesty queen Pasiphaë suggested it, gently, many times. But he always refused. He always feared if he had another child he would receive only sorrow, as had happened before. He could not bear losing another child.”
“He cared… that much?” Iron Will was no longer looking at Hyperion. He only looked off into space.
“His majesty’s sorrow was deep as the Aegeman itself; his rage more so. He did what was required. He would move sea, sky and stone to find you again. But I will let his majesty tell the tale. Behold, we arrive.” Hyperion pointed out over the ocean, to an approaching island. It looked suitably grand.
The shoreline was golden, lined with stone jetties and quays, bustling with activity as ships left and arrived. Work ceased when the airship came into view, the figures on the ground staring at the arrival. Inland, the island was rolling and green, but also jabbed through with mountainous areas, looking to be cut through with active mines. It all led to the center of the island, to a high palace built into the style of the ancient Hipposian culture.
The ship came to a halt before the palace, and descended. An area opened in the bottom and let down a platform. A small group of gold-barded ponies formed a horseshoe around Iron Will, Fluttershy, Rarity and Hyperion.
There to meet them was a group of Diamond Dog guards in classical helmets and ancient-styled armor. All were carrying stout spears, and all were staring hard at the new arrivals. Hyperion stepped forward, through the pony guards, holding up a hand. “Hold! Hold! Let us through! I come with his majesty Prince Asterion and his companions, diplomats of the eastern lands! Let us see the king! He must see this for himself!”
At the grand palace of Gneissos, seat of Minos of Concrete, the arrivals from Equestria watched in modest confusion as the guard dogs of Concrete dropped to the floor, pressing their faces to the dirt and holding their spears out in front of them. “Hail Asterion! Hail Asterion of Concrete! Welcome to your home!”
“Uh… thank you? It’s great to be here?” Iron Will had experienced quite a lot of confusion over the course of the day. His usual gruff theatricality had been replaced by a near-constant confused coasting through the situations presented.
“Bring him and these diplomats to their majesties! They will be greatly pleased!” Hyperion strode forward with the Equestrian guard and the rest. The dogs rose instantly, turned on their heels and began marching into the palace.
The interior of the palace did not fulfill the promise of the grand exterior. It was dark, with windows covered and lamp sconces empty. The interior was barely visible. Yet the guards navigated through the interior flawlessly. Rooms branched off in may ways, down into the earth and up to higher floors, as well as on the same plane. In the darkness, and with so many rooms, the place looked like a maze. What could be seen of the décor was comprised of carved statues and gem-encrusted frescoes. The statues depicted various large, powerful Diamond Dogs engaged in a variety of warlike activities; the frescoes recorded more prosaic scenes of festivals and feasting, showing both Diamond Dogs and bovines.
The group moved generally up, through many turns and double-backs on similar paths on different floors. Each time they met a new guard they joined the procession, with great cheers. Most surprisingly, the guards inside of the palace were bovine, bulls with sharpened horns and darkly colored barding.
The throne room was breached long before any reason for the processional could be seen. “What is the meaning of this?” A voice boomed, huge and regal, ringing around the all-stone chamber. It was a bare, funereal place, stygian and dour. A single, high throne was barely visible in the light which seeped in from cracks and incidental openings. Upon it was a huge, stooped figure. Beside him, a large, silent presence.
“Majesty! Happiness has returned! Lights! Bring lights!” There was a sudden flood of blinding light as a large window was opened, flooding the room with the sun’s glare.
“Fools! Imbeciles! Who gave you permission to interrupt the sanctity of my mourning chamber with this accursed light!? What are you-” As eyes adjusted to the sting of light, a hazy outline came into view. The booming indignation turned to a whispering disbelief that resonated through the room. “A shade. A shade. He comes from Elysium to haunt my visions once more…”
“No, Minos… it IS him. It is our son. He lives. He lives!” The second figure dashed forward into the crowd of guards, right towards Iron Will. It was a cow, white from head to tail, looking somewhat aged but not too old. She lowed pleasantly when she reached the minotaur, rubbing her head against his stomach and weeping softly. “My son…”
Iron Will resisted the urge to take a step back, though he did have his hands up and out, looking down on the cow with some hint of familiarity flashing in the back of his mind. “Mom?”
“Pasiphaë.” The one on the throne spoke the name with an air of stony command. He rose up from the throne, tall and proud. He was an old dog, gnarled and grizzled, his coat a gray tone that still showed some traces of the cobalt blue of Iron Will. He sported a grand beard, the gray fighting the dark blue that was atop Iron Will’s head. “Step away. I do not believe.” He strode forward, holding himself up despite his advanced age making it appear he should by rights be stooped nearly in half. He followed in the wake of the cow, who had moved to the side as he approached. He regarded the minotaur with his hard, yellow eyes. All of a sudden his fist was in the air, impacting Iron Will’s stomach with a huge, echoing thud that caught the room off guard.
There was a general scramble of activity. Fluttershy squeaked out loudly, Rarity stepping before her and blocking her from Minos. The unicorns in the Equestrian contingent lit their horns and lowered their heads threateningly, the Diamond Dog and bull guards raising spears or lowering heads as appropriate, facing down the ponies. Pasiphaë was unmoving, and unsurprised. Iron Will didn’t flinch at all. Something clicked for him. He stood tall as Minos, looking down at him with a solid gaze. “Don’t feel a thing.”
Minos’ hard features slowly softened, like melting wax. His fist fell from the abdomen and tears fell at the same time. He drew Iron Will into a tremendous, powerful embrace, trembling from the strength of his crushing hug. “My son! My Asterion! You return you me, whole and mighty! You returned…”
The unicorns stood down, and the Concretan guards lowered their weapons, some of them sniffing as they watched the reunion. Queen Pasiphaë strolled in grandly and pressed her body against both, sniffing loudly. Rarity smiled and lightly dabbed at her eyes with a small cloth, while Fluttershy pressed against her marefriend and sighed. “I knew this was a good idea. You got your father back. And he wasn’t anything like you thought.”
“This was… I didn’t even think this was possible. I thought I’d be standing here demanding your respect. I was raised to believe you hated me. You left me to die on some rock on the mainland.” Iron Will embraced his father tightly and wiped his eyes a little bit.
“What?” Minos staggered back with a stagger, subtly supported from the side by Pasiphaë’s body. “Left you to die? Impossible. I was devastated when you vanished from this palace. I dispatched guards to seek you out; my closest advisor was out for years upon years to locate you. I never knew what happened. I suspected our enemies had taken you. I never…” Minos stumbled a bit, nearly going to his knees as the old sorrow returned. Only Pasiphaë’s presence kept him upright.
“But… when I was a calf I was told that you left me to die because I looked like this, that you had refused to speak of me or think of me ever.” Iron Will strode over to the throne, supporting his father with the help of his mother.
“I did no such thing! Your captor lied to you, in the most foul manner possible. After my sorrow faded, my rage was all I had left. I held such hate for all those I believed had taken you. Sardonyxia, Feldsparta, Sapphirios, Atheralite. I thought their denials were all lies. So I crushed them all in retribution for what I believed to be kidnapping. I broke the peace in my hate. And now your form flies over all the Aegeman.”
“But I was taught about all the lands in the Aegeman. It seemed impossible to take them all on. How did you destroy the Feldspartans? They were the most feared warriors in the region.”
“I was angry, and thought they had taken you.” Minos reached to the side of this throne and tossed down two pieces of a broken spear. The leaf-shaped blade and feldspar-braced haft showed it was of Feldspartan make. “They were utterly destroyed, subjugated and made omegas to Concrete. Even now they are little more than a whimpering vassal state never daring even to bark. They were so badly beaten they will never think of standing tall again. The other kingdoms fell even more readily.”
Iron Will stood by the throne, deep in thought. “What else was a lie? Did you really get cursed to fall in love with a cow when you wanted a powerful heir?”
“What dross. I fell in love with Pasiphaë at first sight. The curve of her form, the milk of her coat, the fine structure of her. Like a statue come to life. I had to have her. The courtship was short. She found my flustered, fumbled attempts at ode-smithery charming. But then came the issue of succession. In my desperation, I sought out a statue of Erdisos, and prayed continually, begging for some hint of the power that sometimes came through. I knew the risk. But I never imagined the cost…”
The queen stepped forward and gently nudged Minos on the stomach. “He was very charming. Older than I was, a mature king. How could I say no? It was the most flattering thing in the world. A handsome, powerful, stable dog. I didn’t think it would happen. Having a child would be impossible, or close to it. But it happened. I became pregnant after he prayed to Erdisos. And soon you were born.”
“There is a price…” Minos seethed darkly, stooped on his throne and gripping the arms harshly. “The Trickster always demands a price somehow. I thought he would take my kingdom; I would have accepted it. I thought he would take my life; I would have accepted it. But no. After letting your mother and I fall utterly in love with you, the fee he took was you.”
Silence reigned in the room, thick and meaningful. Iron Will, after a nervous shuffle, asked, “What did you do to that statue?”
Minos nodded to the guards, who scampered out of the room. “It was my fault for daring to ask such a creature. But he did the evil to an innocent creature. So I issued the only punishment possible. When I invaded the rest of the Aegeman I had all of them destroyed, crushed into worthless powder. Except the one to which I had prayed.” The guards returned toting a box. “I saved the accursed head of that horrid thing. Because I intended, always, for you to crush it underhoof, punishment for whatever it did to you.”
The guards opened the box and lifted out the stone head, drawing a powerful, shocked gasp from the Equestrians. They knew it immediately, but only Rarity said anything, “Discord…”
The smugly-smiling head on the ground was indeed that of the imprisoned draconequus, looking almost like the original state of the statue, before he had escaped. Minos looked up curiously. “What a strange name. But I see you also treat him with careful hands.”
“He is the spirit of chaos. He escaped and did… terrible things. My friends and I were under his spell until we banded together, and locked him away again.” Rarity spoke with a halting tremble, looking on the stone head with a trace of fear.
“He must have invested these with power long ago. But now there are none any longer, except for this.” Minos pointed at his son, then down at the head of Discord. “Destroy it. But wait for the great naysayer. Somedog! Fetch Theseus. How he shall seethe when he sees how wrong he was.”
“I shall seethe, my king? Why is that? And where are the guards? It is most unu-” A Diamond Dog, younger than Minos but still up in years, casually entered the room with a smile on his face. That smile died when he looked on the assembled, especially the cobalt-blue presence before the throne.
Only one word was audible in the heavy stillness that followed, Iron Will disbelievingly asking, “Actaeon?”
Minisode 5: Alpha and Omega
“Actaeon? Wasn’t he, um, the dog that raised you?” Fluttershy broke the silence, drawing all eyes to her then quickly to Theseus.
“What? ‘Actaeon’? Such a strange name. I can assure you it is wholly unfamiliar to me. I have not a single bit of understanding of this appellation.” Theseus offered a charming, disarming smile, slowly strolling into the room with confidence.
“That’s exactly how Actaeon used to talk! He sounded very… fancy.” Iron Will squinted his eyes, suddenly seeing even more similarities in the dog, seeing through the passage of years into the face of one familiar to him.
“I can assure you, I have never heard of this name! I am only Theseus, loyal advisor to his majesty, lord of the Aegeman. And who might you be, coming here with strange accusations?”
“What? Theseus! This is my son, Asterion, prince of this domain! He has returned! How can you even ask such a question? Do you lack eyes to see the relationship?” Minos growled out at his advisor, barely turning his head to look at him.
“Ha! How can you even be sure of that? Any dog and bovine could made something like that. And what’s this? Equestrians? Of course they could make one. My lord, can’t you see this is a fake meant to deceive you?” Theseus pointed at the Equestrian group, teeth bared.
“How do you know what an Equestrian is?” Rarity looked up at Theseus, one eyebrow perked. “I was under the impression that Equestria was largely unknown here. After all, your dear Prince was confused by the lack of sophistication in Equestrian Diamond Dogs. Just what gave you knowledge of us?”
“Quite simple, deceptive pony thing. I was on a quest to find the prince. In my travels I went to Equestria and learned things.”
“I did not send you to the lands of the sun’s cradle. I sent you to spy on our enemies! You sent reports! I attacked based on those reports. Are you telling me you were simply lying?” Minos rose suddenly from his throne, snarling loudly.
“My king…” Theseus bowed down deeply. “I knew none of our enemies would be a match for you. I simply told you what was known, and knew you would be victorious. Was I incorrect? No. I thus sought the Prince and brought you victory. I should be congratulated, not excoriated! Such ungratefulness. You have always resented me, because I tried to tell you your son was not returning.”
“And yet, he did. I don’t care about your lies. You were lying then and you are lying now. This is my son. I wonder what he can tell me about this “Actaeon” creature. Perhaps I will hear more indications of you…”
Theseus held his ground, bowing low and looking properly submissive. Then he quickly dashed for the door from which he had come. He did not get far, however. A yellow-and-pink blur shot from across the room and impacted heavily into his back. “You! Big! MEANIE!” They tumbled around on the floor, Fluttershy eventually sitting atop Theseus, fixing him with a hard, piercing stare.
The Concretan guards had Theseus bound up and set before Minos, who glared with concentrated hate. “I should have suspected when you sent me on so many excursions. War that constant… foolishness, despite how it came out. I should have known when you returned after many years, telling me to believe he was dead. But now, to call my son an impostor, to refer to him as “that”, as though her were just an object, that was the most egregious action of all. What have you to say for yourself?”
“You disgust me, Minos of Concrete.” The phrase was spit out with hate, not a trace of the slippery submissiveness remaining. “You betrayed your own kind. A thousand beautiful bitches from every island and mainland colony in the Aegeman were brought to you in glory, promising plenty from every noble lord and fine family. And what did you do? You saw a white cow bathing in the shore and fell to your knees, groveling and stammering like the fool you are, pledging undying love. I did all I could to keep shame from this throne. I thought you would burn out your unnatural lust, but you persisted. I thought you would realize an heir would never come of such a union, but you had to get a statue that worked. I told you to give up hope that he was alive. But no, you refused!”
“I was in love, Theseus! And I still am! You would do well to hold your tongue. She is still my wife and she is still your queen!”
“QUEEN!?” Maniacal laughter rang out through the throne room, causing several of the assembled to shrink back in disquietude. “A queen? She is but a COW! You may lie unnaturally with her in your bed and make believe she is something but a lesser being but she will never be a queen!”
Minos surged forward, striking Theseus across the face and making him slam into the stone ground. “Miserable wretch! The sick venom from your lips…”
More laughter rose up from the ground, where Theseus writhed, blood dripping from his lip. “’Sick’, am I? And you as well, Minos! AND! YOU! AS! WELL!”
Iron Will came forward, looking on Theseus with a mix of pity and contempt. “Then why did you raise me? Why did you make me hate my father and leave the country rather than just kill me?”
“I was going to. I hated you. Disgusting and unnatural. I bided my time, I took you, and I left Concrete. I thought if I was far enough away I could escape justice. But as well, I was visited by the Trickster. How I prayed to him, begged, supplicated myself, that I might take the throne and have power. Right as I was to kill you, he appeared in a vision. I was promised the might and majesty of Concrete, and rule of the Aegeman for he that would sit on the throne, if I would only educate you, and send you to the lands beyond. I was given a home, a collection of materials for teaching you things, and a subtle magic that made all ignore us. It was supposed to be me. You were never meant to return.”
There was stillness for a long moment. Then Minos dropped back onto his throne. “Crush the statue’s head. End this whole, sad chapter once and for all.”
Iron Will did not need to be told twice. He went over to the piece of stone and lifted his hoof. He brought it down with a cry, but hit only the ground. The stone head dissolved into floating pile of dust that resolved itself into a hazy image of Discord. “Oh the chaos!” The image cried, with a faded quality to its voice. “The shock and confusion! You, whoever listened to me, don’t you know never to take an oracle at face value? I wish I knew what I let loose. This is just a recording, pre-set for making an interspecies heir for a ruler.” The Discord-image looked all around, as though not sure how big of an audience it had. “What? A spirit of chaos leaving behind little booby traps can’t be obsessively prepared for any situation? Hahaha! Well, that’s a bit more power floating off. It’s been wonderfully chaotic! This has been a recording!” With a flash, the image vanished.
When the scene was visible again, Theseus was gone, and in his place there was only a glass of chocolate milk. “My word, does Discord ever change his drolleries?” All eyes turned on her, and she bounced her hair nervously. “Well… he does seem to return to these odd images.” She was rescued from awkwardness by a small titter from Fluttershy that allowed the rest the permission to laugh.
A few days later, after all the emotions had been sorted and settled, and there had been time enough for the tears to pass, there came a party. It was a party worthy of Pinkie Pie herself, with raucous music (in the traditional Aegeman style) treats composed mainly of honey and nuts, and plenty of wine and licorice-flavored liquor. All the parties involved were into it. The Concretan citizens celebrated the happiness of their king, the Equestrians celebrated doing a good thing than cancelled a plan of Discord’s, and the royal family was happy to be whole once more.
“I can’t believe how this turned out. I can’t thank you enough!” Asterion shouted to Fluttershy over the music, while she danced with Rarity. “I’m not just back with my family but I’m a prince! Over the most powerful state in this region! This is amazing!”
“I’m so glad I could help you. And even happier that it worked out so well.” Fluttershy smiled beautifully to Asterion, while leaning up against Rarity.
“Yes indeed mister Will… or should I say, Prince Asterion? How fortunate and how exciting it is. To think, swept up from wandering obscurity to the life of royalty! It’s like a pony tale! Oh you must be so excited.”
“It’s pretty nice. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up.” Asterion looked over to the throne where his parents were. His mother was watching it all with a smile, but his father had slipped into slumber with a smile on his face. “Looks like it was a bit too much for him. I’d better wake him up so he doesn’t miss it.
“Yes, that would be for the best. Ahh, parents. Where would we be if not for their occasional moments of embarrassment? The stories I could tell…” Rarity let out a pleasant laugh as Asterion walked towards the throne.
“Hey dad. You’re missing a great party. Dad?” Asterion shook Minos lightly, receiving nothing but a further slump of the old dog. He look up his father’s head and opened one eye. The pupils were fixed, and only the dullness of death stared out from behind the lid. “Dad!”
The shout bellowed out with such urgency and power that it halted everything. The music silenced, the tipsy revelry paused, and all heads turned to look upon the minotaur and cow looking on the figure on the throne. Pasiphaë gingerly lifted a hoof and touched her husband, shuddering when she felt him unresponsive. “Minos…”
“How..? How could this happen? I just got here, I found him. And now he’s gone. Erdisos! You did this! You chaos-loving monster!” Asterion howled his pain and hate to the heavens, practically shaking the room in his anger.
“I don’t think the Trickster did this.” Pasiphaë pressed her head against her husband’s stomach, rubbing him with all the love a wife could offer. “He was an old dog. He was mature when I met him, he was old when you vanished. I often thought that he would not die until you came back to him. He was only waiting for one last chance to see you. He got his wish. See h-ho… how…” The old cow smiled sadly, tears pouring down her cheeks. “See how he smiles. He was happy at last. He knew you were alive. What he had always wanted. A strong heir to his throne.”
The Concretans vocalized as one. The dogs howled mournfully, the bovines issuing haunting lows that blended with their canine compatriots. Queen Pasiphaë alternately sobbed and lower, while her son released a sound that was a blend of low and howl, his head thrown back and hands balled into fists. The outpouring of his grief was great, almost drowning out all the other vocal tributes.
“This is a sad way to end something that started out so happy.” Fluttershy sniffled lightly, her eyes red and raw from crying. She and Rarity were kneeling before Asterion, who was sitting on the throne of his father.
“Fate is too often unkind. It was most unfortunate. But you arrived before this happened. You made him happy. There is some small comfort to be had in that, no?” Rarity looked up to Asterion, a hopeful smile on her made-up face. She disguised the effects of tears with makeup and propriety.
“I… I guess so. I wished I had had more time with him. But at least I found out he loved me all that time. I suppose it’s all for the best.” Asterion bowed his head as a circlet was placed down on his head. The gold band was set with several stones across the front: Feldspar, sardonyx, sapphire, theralite, olivine, lazulite, and a large diamond in the center. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
“The Aegeman needs a king. As beaten as the vassal states are, they would not hesitate to undo all the unity your father brought. It is better as one nation and not a squabbling pack of nation-states.” Dowager Queen Pasiphaë strode to the throne and bowed to her son. “Now… what shall your name be?”
“My name?” Asterion tilted his head curiously.
“Your father was not born Minos. He assumed the name when he took the throne, as all kings of Concrete have. But you can keep your name. Asterion the first. Or Iron Will the first. You grew up with that name after all.”
Asterion touched the circlet on his head. His father had worn it infrequently after it came to be, but he had worn it. It was one way to honor him. But not the only way. “I will follow my father’s tradition and take the name he always wanted me to have.”
Pasiphaë smiled and stood proudly beside her son. “Let the kingdom ring! All the Aegeman hail King Minos the 28th! Hail King Minos!”