Chapters [Play]
It was cold. Desolate and void of any natural feeling. Dark, and unknown to the light which circled around this forsaken tomb. The sun was high in the sky and shed it's gentle warmth, yet you did not feel it. The grass beneath you had begun to grow around your heavy shoes, but you did not feel the pull of the Earth. Your eyes were as empty as the expansive ocean. Reflecting light, rather than absorbing it. Your consciousness was locked. Unable to form a single thought. You were a model, a perfect fossil of a proud race that once ruled this earth in absolute. Now you stand here, as an echo of the proud Humans that once walked among the trees and flew among the clouds. But the last you would be no longer. It was time for you to awaken. To expel your prison, and go forth into this new world that has saw eons without you.
For the first time in thousands of years, you saw light beyond the endless dark. For the first time in an epoch, you felt the winds on your face and the air flow into your lungs. The feeling of warmth on your skin and tug of your muscles. And how painful it was. You fell to your knees. Coughing up stone and peeling away at the encasing of granite around your face and body. Rock that filled your insides now returned to working organs and functioning systems. Your mind bombarded by a myriad of sudden thoughts. Thoughts of fire, a falling city, and being sealed in your stone coffin. More thoughts pour in as you began to see clearly. The grass beneath you, the other stone works around you. The towering spires that reach into the sky, ready to claim the heavens as there own. And the many white and gold four-legged creatures that surrounded you, pointing there sharp spears at you and shouting. Oh the shouting, it gave you a splitting headache. You could not stand as they ordered you to. You could not identify yourself as they ordered you to. All you could manage was to look them in the eye and try to comprehend what was transpiring around you.
The creatures close in on you and tug at your sleeves, pulling you through the grassy fields of this strange world. You revel in the sight of the sun. A spectacle you've missed throughout your slumber. But it is robbed from you as you are dragged inside the white structure that towers, waiting to eclipse the sun you've missed so. Can you form a thought now? Are you able to process the last five minutes? Not yet, but you understand that wherever these creatures were taking you, it's to their leader. You pass through two gigantic double doors and they throw you to the floor. Your reflexes too slow to catch yourself. A voice demand you stand, but like before, you cannot obey. Instead, a strange flat limb grabs the tuft of your hair and hold your head up from the shining floor. In front of you are stairs that lead up to what seems like a throne. And atop the throne sits the most beautiful creature you've ever had the privilege of seeing.
She was tall, much taller than the other creatures that had taken you prisoner. Her coat was as white as the driven snow and her mane flowed like the enigmatic Aurora Borealis. She was adorned with the finest gold that gleamed like the gates of Heaven itself. And her eyes, they were both empty and full. Emptiness that told the many sorrows and tragedies that hinted at her long life. And full with the marvel she has seen through the expanse of the universe and it's wonders. Her wings, drawn and imposed on the world, her horn spiraling into a perfect point. She sat, indifferent. As stone-like as the many statues that dot the garden grounds. She was a piece of living art, a piece of divinity which walked among mortals. She opened her mouth to speak, a simple gesture that she managed execute flawlessly. Her voice sounding like the crackling fire and the harmonics of summer.
"State your business here, poor beast." She spoke with calm graces. You could tell that she wasn't angry with you, or felt threatened by your alien presence. These were the first words you understood. And for the first time in thousands of years, you began to speak. Your voice hard and hoarse and chipped away by the stone you once spent shared existence with.
"I....I can't recall my identity. Or... where I come from. All I know is that I, ...have awoken in a strange land with no recollection of my past."
Your face is pushed to the floor by one of the creature's hooves. Your mind having time to register, you can now see that they seem to be horses. "Address the princess as such, beast!" The strong stallion shouts at you, pulling you by the head to once again gaze upon the princess. Her golden plated hoof raised to stay the guards hand and release you. He does so promptly and your head falls to the floor. You make an attempt to stand, still weak and fragile. Your knees quaking and arms shaking as you push yourself to your feet. She speaks again. This time more affectionate and caring. She offers a smile, welcoming and warm.
"Well then, what manner of beast might you be? You look to be human." She asked
In fact, you were. You were a human man. And from what little you can remember, a man of a higher mind. You told her how you awoke from stone, and that you were very weak at the moment. The princess's face widens in shock. Her body shifting from reserved to intrigued. "You came from the stone? Impossible, that statue has stood in the garden for over two-hundred years. How did you come to be encased in stone?" She stands, gracefully descending her throne, almost as if she were gliding. Her guards warn her to not get too close, but you couldn't be a threat, even if you wanted to be.
"So you are human? How can that be, when humans vanished thousands of years ago?" She asks, pure curiosity written about her face. You try to remember, but thinking too hard caused your head to hurt. Only being able to remember little at a time.
"I.. can hardly recall myself. You say humans have not existed for years, and I fear you may be right."
You buckle over, your knees giving out and sending you tumbling into the princess' large wing. "You may leave us. I shall look over him and answer whatever questions he may have." She says to the guards who stay their protests. It's obvious they don't trust you, you see this in the way they cautiously back out of the room, eyeing you for any suspicious movements. "Now then.." the princess leads you over to the base of the stairs, resting you against the first step and taking a seat beside you. "Let's start with your name."
You dig deep into your mind, trying to recall some scrap of information to your identity. But when nothing turns up you hang your head. "I'm afraid I can't remember name nor word that describes me. All I know is the many years I spent trapped inside the stone." Your voice echos around the now empty hall and it feels strange to hear it after so long. "That's alright. It will come to you in time." She said. Then she paused, looking you over once more. You were dressed in strange clothes. Robes they seemed like, but not as long and flowing. More shortened and meant for mobility. Goggles hung around your neck from a thin strip of leather. And a belt with many small holsters lay tightly secure around your waist. "My name is of great importance. I am the ruler of the sovereign nation of Equestria. I am Princess Celestia, Harbinger of the Sun." She strikes a dignified pose, one regal and childish. Almost gloating yet as simple as relaying simple information.
"A princess? Harbinger of the Sun? I see there is much about this world I've yet to understand." You say, staring at her.
"And yet you may understand in due time, human. I will give you time to rest, if you so need it."
You bury your face in your hands. The idea of rest making you antsy. "I've had enough rest for the both of us, Princess. Right now I wish nothing more than to learn. What happened to my people, so long ago?" You ask, both dreading the answer and piqued with unwavering curiosity. The princess turns from you. Trying her hardest to recall the old tales she heard when she was a much younger mare. Ancient stories, older than her.
"Long ago, your people reigned supreme across the globe. Ancient tomes and books tell of the achievements of your civilizations, such feats that we can only hope to obtain. Sadly, there is little to no information about what happened to your kind. But many have theorized. I've heard that there was a great flood. A terrible storm that swept across the planet and demolished every trace of mankind. I've also heard that a great war raged on, ultimately leading in your downfall. That you all left to explored the heavens. There are so many stories. Throughout time, many archaeologists have found remnants of your cities. Fossilized remains and ancient technologies that we can not even begin to understand. But not once did I think I'd actually have the chance to meet a live human."
You try to think. Digging even deeper into your brain, trying to recall even a shred of a memory. But you can't, it frustrates you. Especially when you yourself have questions about your past. "How much time has past since then?" She turns back to you before tipping her nose in the air to ponder. "Countless eons. Not even the very few records we have show any dates or references to any point in time."
"Where did you find me?"
Once again she looks to the ceiling. Tapping the tip of her chin with a hoof, deep in thought.
"Now that was a very long time ago. I was quite young in those days. I acquired you when I accompanied a young unicorn by the name of Starswirl to a dig site in the Badlands. We believed that we had found remains of your civilization, and we were correct. We came across an empty chamber filled with many abstract devices and instruments. You stood there, solitary. Starswirl and I were ecstatic to find such a well preserved human model that we brought you here to Canterlot without a second thought."
"Badlands?" You sit upright, now knowing where to at least start your search. Should you be allowed to leave. A scroll materializes out of thin air. Something you couldn't fathom. Celestia opens it, it revealing to be a map of the strange country you had awakened in. Her hoof points to a patch of desert south of a city known as Appleloosa. "The Badlands are a strange and chaotic place. Mile high sand storms and gigantic worms that leap hundreds of feet into the air. But it's where we've found most human artifacts and such." She levitates the map to you, you taking it from her magical grasp. The idea of magic being too much for you to handle right now. Analyzing the map, you try to make out any mountain range, any forest, or any river that seemed familiar. But you cannot. You're completely blank. "Would it be possible for you to take me to the site in which you found me?" You ask, desperately hoping that she'll agree. But just as the sudden frown on her face starts to give her declination a guard interrupts and she stands.
"Your majesty! We have received word that beasts are emerging from the Everfree attacking nearby homes!" He stands at attention, his eyes seemingly looking at the roof rather than the princess.
"Beasts?" she asks.
"Yes. Giant black beasts with crystals protruding from their backs. They're eyes are as red as fire and teeth as sharp as razors!"
It was a description that sounded familiar. You're sure you knew it from somewhere, but it'd be useless to think on it now. The princess was already on the move. "Princess wait. Allow me to come along. I must see these creatures for myself." you call after her. Celestia stops, looking over her shoulder to view you slowly dragging your feat in an attempt to walk. A moment passes as she stares you down, her demeanor somewhat changed. "Very well, Human. I just ask that you do not get in the way." She continues onwards without you. You follow as best you can, slowly regaining your strength
You stumble after her, the goggles around your neck flopping side to side. Celestia looks back at you occasionally to see if you still follow, her pace slowing so you can catch up. The two of you are accompanied by many guards as you head toward the runway outside. The light outside nearly blinds you as you step out onto the large track. A large, golden chariot sits at one end mounted on four strong stallions ready to fly.
"We'll be flying on that?" you ask
"Well of course. I don't know what wild contraptions you had back in your time, but this is a typical mode of transportation nowadays."
You climb aboard the lavish chariot and take a seat next to the princess. Pegausi fly over head like a swarm of locus heading south. The creaking of the golden wheels and clop-clop of the stallion's hooves on stone signal your departure. The chariot flies down the runway before taking to the air to join the swarm heading for the town known simply as Ponyville. The wind blows violently through your hair and your face. You fasten your goggles to your eyes, now being able to see more clearly. Looking down below at the passing landscape you can't tell if much has changed or if nothing at all had changed . Hopefully your hunch was correct about heading the this 'Everfree' in hopes that you be able to remember something.
"Human, what may I call you? It's hardly fair for you to know my name and for I to not know yours." Celestia asks you, the question difficult to answer. She sees this in your expression and ponders herself. "Hmmm, how about Anonymous?"
"Anonymous?" you repeat
She nods at you smiling, her mane hiding parts of her face. "Yes. You could be anyone from an age long ago. You could even be king and neither of us would even know it. I think it fits perfectly." You lean forward on the chariot's rim and think. You wouldn't want her to just call you human from now on. And as odd as Anonymous is you can't think of anything else to go by.
"How about Anon?" You suggest. She has another smile at that and nods in agreement.
It's not long before you can see a small town come into view, surrounded by forests and mountains. It must be Ponyville. You weren't too high in the sky so you could make out the many creatures that now skulked into the quiet town. It made you uneasy.
"Find a place to land." Celestia commands the four stallions who move in unison. Banking ever which way to find a suitable place to touch ground. As you descend, the air grows thicker, slightly more harder to breath. It's filled with monstrous intent and black, wispy tendrils crawl into the sky. "Anon, I ask you to stay close to me. There's no telling how dangerous these creatures are." She says as you both dismount, searching the area for any movement. You remove your goggles to get a better look. The lush green forests looked like something out of the realm of fantasy. "Don't worry Princess, I leave my life in your capable hands....or hooves, rather." It'll take sometime for you to get used to the terminology. You follow the direction the many pegausi fly overhead beyond the treeline and deeper into the Everfree. The sounds of fighting not too far off. "Be ready for anything Anon. Keep your wits about you and you will be fine." That was funny to you, considering you hardly had any wit at all right now to rely on. But you agreed all the same.
Marching through the many bushes and trees you come to a clearing. Many guards and terrible black beasts clash with one another. The sight of them is enough to throw out your knees. They looked so familiar, but for some infernal reason you couldn't seem to remember! "Anon, do you recognize the creatures?" Celestia asks, perhaps feeling your worry. Around you, some have acknowledge your presence and now moved in for the kill. The princess and her guard would have none of it. She rears up on her hind legs, standing even taller than you thought possible. Her perfect figure cutting that of a Goddess of both War and Protection. Her horn glows a magnificent golden aura and the wind swirls around her, she conducts it as if it were the flow of musical battle. A concentrated beam of pure sunlight expels from the tip of her alabaster horn and destroys one of the creatures on contact. The sound was ear shattering. Like a thousand Solar Flares in your ears. You recover yourself, trying to recognize the beasts that now attempted to claim your life. They were gigantic and black. Though they seemed to be made of shadow rather than actual organic matter. Rough, jagged crystals protruded from their backs like spines. And their eyes were as red as burning hot steel. And giant tendril-like wings. Their wicked, toothy smiles invited you to your own death. Truly these were beings from a child's nightmares. But yet, you could name them. It suddenly clicked in your head. You've seen these creatures before. Long, long ago.
Third Sphere:
"They are the Angels... I know them, and they are the Angels!" You're suddenly overcome with an immeasurable amount of fear. Though you were well protected, you wanted to run and hide away. Away from their snarling fangs and away from their soul piercing gazes. "Angels?" Celestia repeats to herself. Trying to think. Where had she heard that name before. But her concentration elsewhere lowers her guard. Beneath you, a pool of shadow emerges around you. An Angel leaping out and grabbing you in it's mouth and stampeding away. That fear is replaced with desperation and you hit the beast on it's shadowy hide. The Angel carries you through the battle, streaks of sunlight whistling by you in an attempt to rescue you. But all seems to be lost as you disappear behind the foliage.
You shout and curse at the beast. Commanding that it releases you. Suddenly, it throws you from its jaws and onto the hard ground. You find yourself surrounded by the Angels. They circle around you, sniffing the air and eyeing you. They stand in a perfect circle around you. Seemingly too afraid to draw nearer. You don't know what to make of it. All you can do is hope for a way out. The Angels stagger back and forth, antsy and impatient.
"What do you want with me? If you wish to kill me then be done with it! Don't toy with me!"
You try to assert an air of confidence, but you can hardly believe it yourself. Your legs could give out at any moment. They continue to stare. Waiting. Just then, a shooting pain goes through your head. It feels like a butcher driving a cleaver right through your skull.
//You have awaken...?\
A voice? Where was it coming from? It was so loud, and seemed to be coming from everywhere.
"Who's there? Show yourself, don't hide from me!" The voice chuckles, mocking you.
//We will show ourselves in time.....Now that you have awoke, there is no stopping the work of fate. We will meet, in due time.\
The voice was extremely loud, you try to cover your ears. Hoping to at least quiet it down somewhat. The Angels around you watch on in what seems like awe.
"Who are you..?" you ask, dreading the answer, as it will undoubtedly be something of a higher power.
//We? That will also be answered in time. For now, we seek only to help you. And to give you one simple instruction. Make for Ishtar. The gateway to the ancient lands. There you will find your first clue.\
Under your foot a glowing circle expands outward. Runes dancing around it's edges. Inside, you can see an image clearly. A gate, leading into a land that had been barren for eons.
"My first clue?"
You speak into the air, hoping for an answer to be returned. But it doesn't come. The air grows silent and the runic circle disappears beneath you. Around you, the Angels slowly creep away into the ground. Sinking downwards until they become nothing but shadows and disappear. The shooting pain in your head is gone. Returning your shaken mind to it's more or less original state. A strange light emits from a pouch attached to your belt. You do away with the strap and retrieve the item. A circular stone work with a square hole in the center. Runes and other archaic language dot the sides. It gleams slightly, and pulls you towards the south. You think to yourself, what could it possibly mean? But the sudden sound of shattering glass interrupts your thoughts as you see Celestia and her guards approach you.
"Anon, what happened? The beasts suddenly disappeared. There was a barrier and we couldn't reach you. Are you alright?" She looks you over. Searching for any damage to your person.
"Yes. I...I'm fine. Princess, do you have any knowledge of a place called the Ishtar?"
Celestia's ears perk up and she inches closer. "The Ishtar? Why yes, it's the only way to enter the Badlands. Why? Did you remember something?" She says, now noticing the peculiar object you hold in your hands. "No Princess I can't say I do. But while I was held here, I heard a voice. It told me that I was to head to the Ishtar if I wanted to find a clue about who I was." You try to think hard about what it means. But just as before you can't find anything. Placing the stone back in your pouch you make your way back to the chariot with Celestia. Today would give you a lot to think about. The Ishtar. That voice and the angels. And for what reason why you were trapped in stone? You feel your only way to find answers was to journey to the Ishtar like the voice said. Over the ride back you fill Celestia in on every detail. All except the stone. You feel it was to be kept guarded and protected from all others. You both decide it was an issue left for tomorrow. And with that, you both turn in for bed. Waiting for what tomorrow brings.
"Not that I don't appreciate the offer but, why do you wish to come with me to Ishtar?"
You and Celestia sit in the spacious drawing room. The light breeze from the open windows creating a sense of lightheartedness around the both of you.
"Because I simply want to, is that so bad?" She said.
A tiny silver fork finds it's way to a slice of cake and carries itself into the princess' mouth. "This is the perfect opportunity to learn more about your culture and civilization, should you come to remember anything along way. Consider me a tourist, here to explore and witness your world." Another slice of cake waltzes into the greedy princess' mouth.
"But what of your kingdom? What will they do while your away? It could be dangerous to come with me."
"You worry too much Anon. I have a younger sister who rules along side me. And as a safety precaution I'll appoint a regent to help her with the day-to-day tasks. And how did you plan to get to Ishtar? Did you plan to walk?"
You're silent, folding your arms and leaning back in your seat. You hadn't thought about it at all. "I would have thought of something, given time."
The clanking of silverware on porcelain rings out and an attendant collects the dish with practiced ease. Then scurries away.
"No, I don't think you would have." She says, dabbing away the crumbs in the corners of her mouth.
"Then what do you propose Princess?"
Just then she suddenly stands and motions you towards one of the very tall windows that frame the horizon. You join her, looking out into the palace gardens. The same gardens you had awaken to just a week prior. But over the hedge lines you can see huge white sheets that span the sky almost like clouds. Little dots move up and down, carrying what seem like ropes, passing them to and fro. "What is that?" You ask, dumbfounded by the gigantic contraptions.
Celestia chuckles, looking down at you. An excited smile creeping on her face. "Anon, what do you know of air travel?"
"Air travel? I can't say I know anything of the sort."
You turn to her, curious. But she denies any further explanation. "You'll see soon enough. It's always fun to see the look on ponies faces on their first flight." is all she gives you as she turns and makes her way out of the large room.
"I must attend to a few errands before everything is ready for our departure. Meet with me on Air-Dock A4 within the next hour."
The last thing you see is her multicolored tail wisp beyond the threshold of the door. Leaving you alone in the drawing room. You turn back toward the window with a sigh and rest on the sill. It was nice today, the cool autumn air conducted the many birds south and the hushed tones of brown and orange leaves gathered around the trees as children gather for wise words under their elders. You thumb the inside of the pouch secured on your belt, rubbing your thumb and index finger along the sides of the circular stone piece inside. What was it's purpose? You often wondered, trying desperately to recall meaning to it, feeling you would know of it if only you had the slightest clue. And what of the Angels? How by some chance did you recognize them and find their name among the things you did not recall? Pulling the round stone from your pouch you hold it up so that it aligns with the sun. Eclipsing it, but allowing a single beam of light to pass through the center. It pulled you south, just as the wind pulled the birds. You could feel the Ishtar calling to you. You heard it's voice constantly. "I am here. I await you. Come to me. I am here!" You replace the stone back in it's proper place, fastening the buckle so that it stays kept. The answer to your biggest question lay deep within the Badlands. Waiting for you to rediscover yourself and your lost history. Oh the things you could teach this new species. If only you could remember.
You now stood with Celestia on Air-Dock A4. A gigantic dock for seemingly even larger ships. You can't help but marvel at the sight of the particular ship in front of you. The Radiant Dawn. It was tall, it was wide and stretched from end to end of the dock. There where two other ships accompanying this one. The Amalthea and The Heavenly Marigold. Both fantastic ships, but neither as splendid as the former. It takes a pat on the back from Celestia to awaken you from your trance.
"Amazing isn't it? This is only a scrap of what we've been able to gather from Human technology over the centuries." She beams with pride, waving at the sailors aboard the massive ships. They greet her warmly, sailors going "Hi Princess!" or "Hello M'lady!" as they pass by and going about their jobs. Celestia notices five peculiar looking mares approaching your pair and nudges you for attention. A purple horse with wings and a horn that match Celestia's own. Two pegasi, one light blue and the other a very timid yellow. A unicorn who's coat could match the ivory towers of Canterlot. An an earth pony. A comfortable orange shade, with a hay-colored mane. And also another, which you almost failed to notice riding atop the alicorn's back. A small purple reptile with green spines and eyes that mirrored emeralds.
"Princess Twilight, it's wonderful to see you again." Celestia bows, you do the same, acknowledging her royalty.
"It's great to see you too. I'm glad we made it in time to see you off. But, do you really have to go?" Twilight looks worried and rightfully so. From what you've heard, the Badlands was one of the most dangerous locations in the world. Roaming tribes of djinn. Ravenous sand worms. And colossal-
"And you must be Anon!" Princess Twilight derails your train of thought harder than an avalanche and within seconds she's on you. Prodding and trying her best to squeeze information out of you.
"It's an honor to be able to meet someone so old! You're like a well of knowledge just waiting to be be tapped!" Your hand is trapped between her powerful purple hooves as she shakes it rapidly. And did she call you old?
"I get that he's old an' all. But what the hay is he? Some sort of monkey?" the cyan pegasus hovers over you, the beat of her wings blowing your hair back and preventing you from looking up at her.
"I haven't seen any sort of monkey like him, Dash. Maybe he's a magical creature." the yellow pegasus by the name of Fluttershy eyes you shyly, silently asking permission to examine the strange features that accompany your body. Like your many fingers and bipedal legs. Your seemingless hairless body and distinct eyes.
"No, I'm not an ape, nor a magical creature. I am simply human."
Dash recoils back instantly. Shocked for a reason you can't fathom. "It...It can talk!?"
"Of course he can Dash, he's only part of a race known mostly for their wisdom. Hello, I am Twilight Sparkle and I look-"
"ahem -Princess- Twilight Sparkle!"
Twilight shifts her gaze behind her at the white mare, covering her mouth with a hoof and staring off to the side. One large, heavily lashed azure eye finds the princess' own before she adjusts herself, standing tall and proud.
"Well you are a Princess."
"Her title ain't the only thing about 'er Rares." Now the pony in the brown stetson speaks, seemingly rough around the edges but you could tell she was kind and gentle.
"Nor is it anything to be overlooked." The one called Rarity turns her nose up into the air.
"Dang'it Rarity, why can't you treat 'er normal like? She's still the same ol' Twi."
You could tell that these two must lock horns often. You can see Twilight roll hers eyes and attempt to pry them apart, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy watching.
"Princess, are they always like this?" you whisper to Celestia.
Celestia laughs and nods casually. "You'll have to forgive them. They've been friends for a few years but I don't think they've quite figured out how to not step on each others nerves."
The gentle tug of your robes beckons your attention downward and your eyes meet the reptilian gaze of the small purple dragon.
"And who might you be?" you say as you bend your knees to get a closer look at it.
"The names Spike. Spike the Dragon, so you're going to the Badlands with Princess Celestia, huh? You wouldn't happen to need, oh I dunno, a fire breathing mailbox would you?"
His teeth fit perfectly alongside one another in a great big smile. Spike, like many other youthful spirits, yearned for adventure. Exploring the unknown, discovering hidden treasures and becoming known throughout the world. You feel you can very well empathize with him but...
"I'm afraid not Spike." Celestia leans in offering a comforting smile with her decline. "It's very dangerous where we're headed and I'd hate to see you get hurt. Besides," Her eyes wander over his head to see Twilight trying her hardest to control her rowdy bunch of friends. "What would Twilight do without her number one helper?"
"But I can be more than that! Just give me the chance to prove it. You won't even have to pay me, I'll stay out of your way and I won't-"
"Spike?" Twilight approaches him from behind. Spike relents a sigh of defeat then turns to face her.
"Yeah?" he says flatly.
"Have you seen Pinkie? She was just here." You notice the five mare's changes in attitude, more cautious and ready for anything. Even Celestia is now more reserved than usual, carefully looking over her shoulder, the way you check to see if someones behind you in the dark.
"You didn't hear? Said something about a surprise and.....Uh oh.." You can physically see the chill that crawls up Spike's spine as he slowly turns to you, sweat hanging off the tip of his brow.
"Okay, we probably don't have much time left. You never met her so you wouldn't know, but our friend Pinkie has a thing about parties. She may come from anywhere... Listen, just stay calm and you should be-"
The rest of Spike's briefing is buried in the sound of every canon on the Radiant Dawn blasting into the air. Accompanied by loud brass horns and what seems like a million drums. It startles you out of your wits. You're frozen in fear and you feel your body go cold. The collective screams of the ponies around you and the sailors on board add to the chaotic sounds. Atop the ships tallest mass is a hopping pink pony with an eyeglass. Spying for something you can't see. The eyeglass finds you in it's center and you step back. Confetti now drifted from the sky with smoke still rising from the canons.
"Ahoy! Permission to come ashore Princess!" A high pitched voice calls out from the crow's nest. You turn to Celestia who's tired expression makes her look old and completely ready to retire. But it breaks and her familiar smile takes it place. Using her wings to project her voice by circling her mouth like hands, she calls back.
"Permission granted Pinkie!"
Jumping high into the air, Pinkie somersaults her way higher her way higher into the air. A rope clasped tightly in her mouth. Just like a tether ball she spirals down the mass while effortlessly striking daring and bold poses like a stunt man. The pink blur of a pony nears the base of the mass before flinging herself once more into the air, flying over the railing of the ship and landing directly in front of you. She stands on her hind legs, both forelegs raised in the air. The biggest smile you've ever seen plastered right where her mouth should be.
"Bon voyage Mr. Stone Guy~!"
You still haven't recovered. The shock was too great. It's impossible to count how many beats your heart made. But it slows as well as the incredibly loud music playing from God knows where. Once again your hand is shaken with enough force to tear it off.
"My name is Pinkamena D'iane Pie and it's a super duper pleasure to meet you!"
Spike crawls away, too tired to deal with what's been dealt to you.
"And a pleasure to meet you, Miss Pie..." You say that but you're not entirely sure if that's the case.
"Pinkie! Did you have to commandeer an airship like that? What if you broke something?" Twilight says, her magical aura encasing Pinkie's body and lifting her upside down while turning her around.
Pinkie giggles, not knowing the error of her ways. "Lighten up Twilight. It's bad luck for frowny faces before a cruise."
Twilight and her friends give a collective sigh; all now accustomed to this mad pony's flaunts of enthusiasm. Another tug at your tunic draws your attention. Spike is once again below you now on his knees and clasping his hands, begging for you to take him along.
"Take me away from here!"
You look to Celestia for advice, but you're surprised to find that she's no longer standing beside you. You search around for her, your eyes scouting the entire dock but she's nowhere to be found. You have no other options but to look back down at Spike's pleading stare.
"Listen lad. Perhaps when you're a bit older and I fully recover my memories, we can have a little adventure of our own. But for now, you should be patient and hone your skills so that you're of use to me in the future. Can you do that?" You pat him on the head. His fins on his head drooping down in disappointment.
"Yeah, I understand.."
Satisfied with his answer you rise and he sulks over to Twilight and her friends. They stand in a V-formation, looking similar to their stain-glass counterparts in the many halls of Canterlot. The legendary Elements of Harmony.
"Anon! How long are you going to keep me waiting?" Celestia calls to you from the large airship.
"I'll be right there Princess!" You holler back before turning to Twilight. "Well Princess Twilight it's been wonderful meeting you all. But now I must be off to Ishtar."
Twilight nods and her friends say their goodbyes. Though you hardly know them, you could tell that you all have the chance to become great friends someday.
"Take care, and we're all rooting for you." They all nod as you turn away and make way toward the gangplank. An ear piercing whistle sounds on all three ships signaling the time to depart. Celestia waits for you near the helm of the ship and you climb the many stairs to the highest point of the ship excluding the sails.
"Tell me more about air travel. Will we be literally flying through the air?"
Many ponies make their way across the deck carrying rope, charts, and tools to different parts of the ship. Celestia still hasn't answered your question, instead another question occupies her time.
"Your majesty, are you and the human ready for departure?" A brash, hearty stallion lazily leans back on the wheel. Casually twirling a pipe in his mouth. His beard so abrasive it could like matches.
"We are ready when you are Captain." She turns to him, pulling down her newly acquired air goggles that fit her eyes perfectly. "You may want to hang on." She leans down closer to you to give you this one and only piece of advice. You abide her and take a firm hold on the railing. Preparing for whatever this flying machine had in store.
"Weigh anchor! I wanna be up faster than hot air!" The captain shouts over the helm, his pipe threatening to tumble out of his screaming mouth.
Suddenly, you feel a terrible shudder travel along the ships frame. It reverberates throughout your entire body, traveling from your feet and rattling your brain inside your skull. The ship roars to life and picks itself out of the water with a great groan of power. You can hardly stand. Forced to hold the railing as tightly as you can so you don't fall off. At the stern of the ship you could see giant circular tubes that expelled a type of thin, sparkly gas, most likely the work of magic. The force of the ship rapidly rising into the air was enough to press your entire body to the floor. Below, Twilight and her friends wave you all off. Each of them looking like dots of paint as the ships climb higher into the clouds. The pit in your stomach settles as the ships slows its ascent into the high-noon sky. The sun casts a perfect shadow across the dock, giving the impressions of great wales sailing through the sky. You can hardly believe it. But you had been stone a week prior, not to mention the strange creatures that emerged from the Everfree. What else did this world contain?
"Such power.. And you say this is but a fragment of what you've learn from humans?"
"Correct. Though our engines are powered by magic, humans were able to build flying cities without the use of such abilities. Imagine, the flying city of Vimana, a city among the clouds."
"It's hard to imagine. I can hardly believe we're flying. How recent is this technology?" You ask. The wind was starting to dry your eyes so you protect them with your goggles.
"Just about fifty years. It took a rather long time and much trial and error. It used to be done with a team of unicorns casting levitation spells. Only recently have we discovered the automatic engine."
You listen, amazed by their progress. And so intrigued about the inner workings of magic. Was there any logic to it? Or was it as whimsical as simply desiring something and creating it from the mind? And why could only unicorns use it? Was it because of their horns? Did they act as conductors to a certain energy that all ponies had? So many questions.
"Princess, on your order." The captain stands at the helm, eyeing the both of you across his shoulder and his pipe blowing smoke higher into the air. Instead of Celestia issuing the command like everyone aboard anticipated. She comes closer to you, almost a whisper asking "Would you like to give the command?"
You don't give it a second thought and step forward. The glare of the sun reflecting in your lenses and you adjust them to get a better view of the ship. All eyes were on you, waiting to get underway.
"To the Ishtar!"
The Ishtar. The mouth of the Badlands and gateway to your past. Once again you find yourself thumbing the circular stone in your pouch. Feeling it's texture and tracing it's runes with your fingers. The three ships turn in unison, clockwise and steady. The Radiant Dawn's figurehead; two Ipotanes locking hands that now pointed south. Pointing beyond the horizon it seemed. The whirring sound of the magical engines propelled the ships forward, escaping the pull of Canterlot and entering into open sky.
"Come with me inside Anon. We need to talk about our plans." Celestia says as she starts down the stairs. The wind was so harsh that it made you thankful for being petrified with your goggles. As they did well to shield your eyes. You take one last look at the passing clouds and birds that soared just beside the ships and follow Celestia inside. Moving about the ship while in motion felt weird. Like moving in an elevator or walking up and down an escalator.
The inside of the ship was just as extravagant as the outside. After removing your goggles you can see the deep royal blue carpet that stretched along the many corridors inside the deck. Magically lit lanterns hung on the walls and valuable paintings of important ponies kept watch of the hall. Celestia leads you into a quiet room with a long and narrow table with dozens of maps plastered on the back wall. She takes the seat on the far end and you grab the one next to her. The room isn't too brightly lit, giving it the impression of a military briefing room. Perhaps it was, this ship was equipped with eighty cannons.
"It's smooth sailing from her Anon. We will arrive in Ishtar by this time tomorrow. But, what I want to know is this; what do you think is there?" She leans her head on her hooves. Painting the image of a military leader fantasizing about the spoils of war. Her ears stood straight up like towers and she held a contemplative stare.
"I can't say that I know. But I look forward to finding out."
"..Yes, as do I. Now, once we come insight of the Ishtar we will land a few miles off and march into the Badlands."
"Why is that?"
Celestia levitates an old scroll from a basket behind her. It rolls across the length of the table, nearly covering all of it. You can make out rough pencil sketches along it's surface but it was impossible to make out what you were looking at. Before you can inquire about the strange markings you see Celestia's horn start to glow, giving the room a slightly more brighter and warmer feeling. The pencil lines on the scroll began to shimmer and waver on the surface before emitting light into the air. Light forms in a solid construct, hovering above the scroll. You could now make out mountains, landmarks, and different features. It was a holographic topographic map. Sharp jagged mountains encircled the barren desert land like a bowl containing clay. Celestia moved the projection this way and that, trying to find what she was searching for. The hologram came to a stop at the entrance. A tall wall marking the boarder of the Badlands and the rest of the world. It wasn't very detailed but it didn't need to be. It proved the point that the gate was very large and very impressive. You began to feel intimidated by your own fallen ancestors.
"Amazing. Is this magic? Or a machine that imposes the images in the air?"
"A combination of both. The scroll itself is laced with projectors. As you can see the many dots that outlay the scroll. But it takes just a tiny spark of magic to activate and move the projection."
"I grow more impressed the more I see your technologies. Now, why must we march to the Ishtar?"
Celestia nods and her horn glows brighter and on the map a dome descends around the circumference of of the enclosed space.
"For reasons unknown the Badlands negates any and all magic. Our airships will not be able to carry us within several miles of the Ishtar."
"Negates all magic? Then how will we defend ourselves?"
The image of the arid desert collapses into the scroll. Another smaller scroll is placed on top. It is the same as the previous but with different markings and what seem to be pictographs.
"You haven't noticed? Aboard the Amalthea and Merigold are a small army of fifty stallions. We'll have no trouble should the expedition take us deeper into the Badlands."
This time the image of a stallion, aligned with several weapons, float in front of you. A spear, a crossbow made to be wielded by a pony, swords, firebombs, and other various tools and weapons.
"Did you bring this many with you when on your first expedition?" You ask.
"No. Before, nothing was known of the Badlands other than it being barren country. Our first day we were ambushed by Ifrits. We were hardly able to fight them off. It was pure luck that we were able to make friends with them."
Celestia now clears the table and replacing the scrolls in the basket behind her. She reaches for the crown that sits idly upon her head, removing it and turning it face-side to stare into the azure stone that dots the middle.
"I have one more question." She sounds a lot more firm than before. A book materializing in midair before gently settling on the table. She slides it to you, never taking her eyes off her crown.
"Starswirl the Bearded's Grimoire of Orders of the Natural World and Human Dealings. Princess?"
"What we saw in the Everfree. You called them Angels. What else do you know about them?"
"I know nothing, just the name."
Now her eyes finally find yours. Her gaze intimidating, fierce, but yet in a sense, gentle.
"Anon, these creatures may very well pose a threat to the whole of Equestria. Another reason why I am here with you. I need to know what we may be up against. Tonight I want you to research them. Starswirl once traveled throughout the world; collecting fables, rituals, descriptions of any beasts tied to the humans while also recording Equestria history."
"...And you think the Angels are tied to me?" You gingerly take the book. It's hard leather surface sliding along with your fingertips.
"Do you think they aren't? They emerged the very same day you did and only you were able to name them. I've lived a long life, Anon. You learn to never pass anything off as coincidence."
Celestia rests her crown atop her head once more. "I'm not trying to antagonize you. But I will take necessary action if you are found to be a danger to Equestria. Do you understand?" She stands, making you feel small in your seat. Her eyes watch you carefully. For any motion, any kind of body language that may place you under suspicion.
"I...understand."
It was becoming rather hard to breath and you begin to feel a bit sick in the stomach. But just like that it passes as Celestia slowly exhales and smiles. Friendly, without any trace of hostility. It relieves you but also frightens you.
"I will retire for today. Your quarters will be next to mine. Take a look around the ship if you like; it's very beautiful."
She exits without looking back in your direction. Once again she leaves you alone, leaving you lost in your own thoughts. Your fingers run along the spine of the bestiary. Tracing every bump and feeling the rough texture in which binds the tome. It feels ancient and smells like an old library, likely of which it was plucked from the shelves, away from it's neighbors and into your hands. In the middle; between the four embroidered edges is a large seal. A bronze unicorn. You save it for later, tucking it inside your robe.
It's been many hours since you've last seen Celestia. Your nose has been stuck in the heavy tome authored by the great Starswirl. Countless creatures and places, many tales and legends. Your eyes ache from staring into the black and beige pages all day. The only light source in your room was a porthole, which had become void of any light as the sun had set a few hours before, and two lit lanterns, both placed on opposite sides of the comfortable cabin. Occasionally the ship would rock from side to side, swaying and rocking the lanterns, distorting and bending all the shadows in the room.
The book closes with a heavy flop and you move your seat back to stand. Your legs feeling numb after being idle for so long. You now know a decent amount of knowledge even though you doubt you'll retain it come tomorrow. There was hardly any information on the Angels sadly. The closest you came to Angels were conjured shadow beasts. But they hardly fit the description of the monsters you saw.
"Angels.."
It feels strange to speak the word out loud. And even stranger to speak to none but the air. How long had you been alone in here? Exactly how many years had you spent in stone? A million? Perhaps so, but for now you must concentrate on the morrow. Thinking back, you already knew what it looked like thanks to the strange vision you received in the Everfree. Would you be shown another once you reach the gate? Something about a clue....what could that possibly be?
A slow, lazy yawn escapes you and you stretch, popping your rested bones and turn toward the bed. Flopping down like a exhausted work mule. So soft. You sank so deep into the mattress you begin to grow afraid that you may be lost if your sank too deep. Your eyes are becoming heavy now and your mind begins to slip between the cracks of consciousness. One blink, then two more, and another. Just before you shut your eyes for the final time, you see a tall, slim shadowy figure.
You immediately bolt up in your bed. Your heart nearly stopping and the coldest sweat dripping off your brow. What was this feeling? This sense of dread? Did you really see anything? Maybe it was your mind playing tricks on you. You are very tired, after all. But the shape keeps you still, burned into your mind. It seemed familiar but alien and horrifying. Had you seen it somewhere before? If you wanted to sleep at all tonight, you might as well relinquish the thought. Slowly, your bare feet touch the wooden floor of your cabin. Shaking and afraid, the prospect of something grabbing you from under the bed being all too real. The lanterns began to die now causing the shadows to creep up onto the walls. This too seemed familiar, like a darkness enveloping you. You'll be smothered in it if you stay in here any longer. Leave!
Your on your feet like lightning and make for the door. The thump-thump-thump of your feet sounding on the wood floor. But you stop suddenly. The shadows crawling down to the floor as the light slowly perishes. A ringing in your ears grows loud, almost unbearable. You're dizzy, your mind feeling as if it will split open. Your knees give way and you begin to tumble. Your shaking hand trying desperately to grab something and stop your fall. It grabs nothing but your belt, pulling it with you onto the floor. Hitting the floor with a thud you lay motionless. The stone that sat secured in belt pouch rolled out. It possibly being the source to the ringing in your ears. You can see it rolling, sounding like a round marble gliding along the surface of polished wood. It falls. The ringing in your ears louder, so loud you want to scream! The shadows now silently creep around your body, encasing you just like the stone had. Again your eyelids feel heavy. But you resist the urge to close them, too afraid to be defenseless in your current state. You fail, falling into a sleep. The last thing you hear being echos of footsteps.
Sailing Through White Ocean
A distinct smell slowly wafts into your nose. A sweet scent, something like a rich chocolate or sharp spice. Whatever it is it inclines you to open your eyes. Sluggishly your lids open, presenting the ceiling of your cabin to you. It's hard to fall back into your sleep with the rough rocking of this ship and the splitting headache. Your eyes trace along the walls to your side, a metal cart set beside your bed with a tiny saucer, a seemingly tinier teacup, and a card. The bed creaks as you sit up, your hand messaging your temples trying to ease the pain. Your head felt like it was being drilled into. Then came the sudden realization. Last night, it felt like something tried to take hold of you. You saw something, tried to leave your room, and collapsed.. Strange.
Was it nothing? You had been reading all night, was it really just a hallucination? You pull the heavy blankets down past your legs and turn to set your feet on the polished floor. The smell of hot tea calls for you, just as your sleep had called to you the previous night. It's only a short reach away from you and you grab it, bringing it to your dry lips. It was just one sip, a tiny taste to test if it were too hot. But you ended up downing the entire cup without a second thought. Paying for it with the burns that likely coated the inside of your throat. You exhale loudly inside the empty cabin. Your wandering eyes once again notice the neatly placed card by the saucer and another small reach brings it to you.
It had Celestia's name on it. You open it, releasing a hint of perfume. The smell of lilac and Spring , sort of like her mane. Her penmanship was remarkable, the only thing that surpassed it was your surprise that you could read it.
"Good morning Anon, though I suppose you had a rough night. You must have hit the books hard last night, thank you. A guard found you on the floor so we tucked you in, don't worry we were careful. You were so fast asleep that were it not for your breathing I would have taken you for dead. Anyway, when you awake, (in which I hope is soon) I'll be waiting for you on deck. Enjoy the chai; it was made by yours truly. Maybe one day you can join me for my morning tea."
It ended there and you set the card back onto the cart. The taste of rich chai still fresh in your mouth. You wish you had more. Standing up you practically loom over the small cart and you push it to the side, its wheels creaking like an old door. You decide to get dressed, from the look of it, you'd say it was almost high noon. But you can't find your robes, last you remember they hung at the foot of the bed. While you search for them your foot steps on the sharply cut stone resting patiently in the middle of the floor. A yelp escapes your mouth as you hop on one foot, to crash into the wardrobe face first.
You groan, the shock wave causing another card to flutter down from the air to land on your head. You grab it and begin to read, rubbing the bottom of your foot.
"I almost forgot. I took your old robes and burned them. You wouldn't want to be under all that in the desert, would you? You'll find replacements in the wardrobe. They were designed by the unicorn you met before we left Canterlot, Rarity. You'll do well to thank her later. "
"Burned...?"
You say aloud. Almost longingly you stare at the foot of your bed where they had once been, feeling like they were perhaps the only thing tying you to your past. You stand once more on your feet. One sore, one not so sore. The wardrobe opens with a click and you drag the huge doors open. It's so big you could fall into it and be lost for days. Pulling the apparel out of the wooden closet you see that it's mostly light leather and breezy silk. You decide Celestia made a good call, you'd pass out if you journeyed into the Badlands in your robes.
You begin to dress. Easily slipping on the loose silk shirt with brown cotton trousers that fits tightly. Your feet fit snugly in the light leather boots that come shin-high. And finally you wrestle into the leather chest piece, buckling its buckles and tightening its various straps. Standing in the full body mirror built into the back of your wardrobe, you imagine yourself as the leading man to a great Epic. Dashing and charming, unmatched in both intellect and skill. With a few minor adjustments and throwing a cloak over yourself, you turn to leave, once again stepping on the stone that caused your fall earlier. You bend down to pick it up, the slow realization of what happened the night before barreling into the front of your mind.
Then it wasn't a dream. You blacked out last night. Celestia said they found you on the floor. You can only recall a little of what happened. Only a fragment of that shadow you saw that spurred you from your bedside. It was familiar, and as you hold the stone circle closer to you, you feel that feeling intensify. Something lurked in the shadows. Something that was out to get you. You should stay on your toes from now on, who knows what lay in the shadowy corners? You pocket the stone and make your way out of the cabin and into the hall.
Walking from your cabin, you're suddenly reminded that you were indeed on a flying machine. You must have been miles into the air and the ponies that hurried past you didn't seem to care. You looked forward to watching more of the sky today so you quickly make your way through the corridors. You really like the feel of your new boots, especially the clog-clog they make when you step out on deck. They almost sound like hooves.
It was slightly chilly outside, possibly due to how high you were. You make sure to pat yourself on the back for thinking ahead and grabbing a cloak. You search for Celestia, expecting her not to be too hard to miss. She was the tallest pony around after all. Celestia stood alone at the bow of this ship. Motionless and still as dead winter trees. Even her mane lacked the magical flow you were accustomed to. Something seemed strange about her. She seemed, naked, in away. Her regalia was missing. Any kind of gold that once adorned her was now absent. You imagine that it must be extremely rare to see her without her symbols of power. You approach her right side, the clog clog of your boots announcing your approach to her without her needing to turn.
"Good afternoon Anon, did you sleep well?" She says, never taking her eye off the sky that continued into eternity. You join her, tracing the clouds with your eyes, trying to make shapes in the deformed sky ornaments.
"I did in fact. Thank you, for the tea and moving me to the bed. I can't imagine how painful it'd be had I slept on the floor all night."
"It feels terrible in the morning, believe me." For the first time she glances at you, fully noticing you and turning to size you up. "And I see that your new clothes fit properly. I must say you look rather dashing. Were you able to find everything alright last night?" She turns back towards the bow and you turn with her.
"I hardly had time to look into everything. My night was spent reading, my eyes are still somewhat tired..."
You notice her ears perk up at the mention of your eyes and she turns away, nipping at the base of her left wing. Trying your best to peer over her to see what she was up to had no point, you could hardly see anything. She returns to face you, your pair of goggles hanging from her mouth. She presents them to you and you politely take them.
"You'll be needing these. I've replaced your old lenses with shaded ones."
You wrap the skinny leather strip around your head and pull down the black lenses in front of your eyes. Now everything took darker tones. The clouds had become a dark green instead of their alabaster white, so had Celestia's coat.
"Thank you. When will we be arriving?"
You ask as you move your goggles to your forehead, sudden change of lighting heavily impacting your eyes.
"We passed over Dodgetown while you slept, I'd say we have another hour before we land."
It was silent now. From time to time you would steal a glance from her. Her face was writhed with anticipation, the excitement of a child. It looked unnatural for someone of her age. But there was beauty in the unnatural and uncommon. And you looked unnatural staring at her with your mouth slightly hung open. At times, her eye would find yours and stare a moment, before turning back ahead of her. No doubt she knew you were staring, but you don't think she minded.
"Why exactly did you come with me? You said it's to learn, but you could have just sent a team of explorers to accompany me. Why personally?"
You finally bite, the question nagging at you. Celestia says nothing for a bit and continues to eye the passing clouds as their parted by the bow of the ship, a knife cutting through a light cake.
"Because I am selfish." She offers a weak smile, not to you, but to herself. You wonder if she had constantly thought about her decision. And if she wanted to take it back.
"Selfish how?"
She's perfectly still, like a deer in the headlights. Even the flash of her throat as she breaths seems to stop and her ears fall backward.
"Before the stone. How old were you Anon?"
Now there's a question. It's something you didn't remember to think about, or cared to. But as far as you could tell you were in your twenties. You had no defining characteristics that alluded to your age, no long beard, wrinkles, or facial features. When you looked in the mirror, all you saw was you . You may as well be as timeless as her.
"Around twenty years old I suppose, why?" You eye her curiously, watching closely for a reaction of some kind. But her expression doesn't yield to any change.
"I doubt you were conscious during your time as a statue, but I have been awake for a little over one thousand years. I rarely had time to myself you see? My sister and I were always busy, if it wasn't paper work or complaints, it was terrible dangers to Equestria." She chuckles to herself, looking back somewhat fondly on her more youthful days as a princess, then continues. "When you come to live as long as I have, you start to grow bored. You get used to a thousand years of grandeur and service that it becomes hardly noticeable. Often times I've imagined myself free for a day, free do do what I pleased. To go explore, or freely see other places without the need of escorts and ceremonies. Yes, you are just an excuse for me to get away from Canterlot and its duties. I apologize for using you." Now she turns to you, trying to read you. You stare back at her thoughtfully, rubbing the base of your chin in thought.
"I can't say I know how you feel, though I be far older than you in essence. But I think I can understand, and I really do appreciate you being here. To be honest, I don't think I would have done well with just a team of ponies doing what I say."
You laugh to yourself, imagining you trying to give orders like some sort of captain or chief. Well, today you certainly dressed that part, but your personality was far from it, though you feel you'd be up to it if you had the chance.
"But I'm glad I have a friend to accompany me to this dangerous land and help me learn more about myself. I wouldn't have it any other way." You say, offering a smile. You fold your arms, content with what you said. Celestia giant magenta eyes look you over once more before returning ahead. A smile now laid bare across her own face.
"I'm glad you are able to see me as a friend so easily."
"Why would I not? You're were the first pony to greet me warmly when I awoke to this strange world. And for that I thank you." You give a sloppy yet charismatic bow and Celestia giggles, her hoof hiding the upturned corners of her mouth.
"And I owe you thanks for dropping in when I needed a break." She gives you a perfect curtsy, her hooves crossing each other as she brings her head lower. You both now shared a laughter that brought you somewhat closer together. The air had a trace of blooming friendship coursing through it and many crewmen watched on.
"You know, it's been a long while since anypony has called me 'friend'." She says solemnly.
"Oh? Why is that? You have a younger sister, a student, who I can tell really looks up to you, and many others who adore you. Aren't you the one responsible for Princess Twilight learning what she did about friendship?"
Celestias smile doesn't fall from her face as she turns her back on the sky and sits. She looked a lot more approachable without her regalia, more humble, like she was just a very large pony with wings and a horn.
"Princess Twilight, while indeed she does look to me for guidance and counsel, I can hardly say we are friends. If she needs an answer or needs to go wherever her destiny calls her, I'm the one who answers the questions and point her in the right direction. And as for my sister, I'm afraid we're still somewhat recovering from a spout we had a long time ago..."
You fall silent. You knew that this would be a touchy subject. Had you not read about it last night in the Grimoire, you probably would have said something you shouldn't.
"I read about it." You say, taking a seat next to her, you both watching the sailors. "Nightmare Moon she called herself, correct?"
Celestia nods, her body stiffening at the mere mention of the name. Her ears fell downward like leaves weighed down by the rain.
"It must have been terrible. Banishing your own sister to the moon. I doubt I could ever do anything like that." You say, kicking your feet outward to get more comfortable.
You pause, rubbing the back of your neck. You hadn't noticed, but Celestia hadn't looked at you once since you brought up the subject. She was motionless and lifeless like a statue. While you lay lazily beside her.
"You must be strong... It must have taken a lot of courage to seal her away in her own affinity."
A cold, dry laughter that sounds more so like a tired sigh than the light giggle that usually toned her laughter. The smile she wore was now weak. So frail and fragile that if you were to place a coin on it, it would collapse.
"Strong? ...No, far from it." You watch her closely now, observing every small motion that plays on her. "If I was strong I would have found a way to dispel the Nightmare all those years ago. I was weak, and my weakness caused my sister a thousand years of solitude." You're silent for a moment while shifting your weight, no longer leaning on the guard rails behind you.
"But to have the courage, the power to imprison her! You would have been forced to kill her had you not done what you did! You spent years trying to find ways to save her once she returned. You did it to find time, yes?" You stare into the back of her head. She was remarkable. Unmatched in power and wisdom. There's no way she could have lead Equestria for a thousand years if she was weak.
"No. When I sealed my sister in the moon, I knew full well when she'd return, down to the exact moment. But never did find a way to save her. Had I faced her upon her return I'd only be forced to do what I had originally done. In the end, I was lucky that Twilight and her friends were able to restore my sister to her proper self."
"But your majesty-"
"I had no intention on trying to free my sister. It become known to me that it was impossible, and so I gave up. I had forsaken her, and left her to the will of the Nightmare. And I am paying for it now, our relationship is paying for it." She finally looked at you, her head turning to stare you in the eye. Now she studied you, hunting for any sign that you were judging her or looking on her with pity. It's unclear what she found, but she turned away, staring forward once more before she continued.
"But I digress, let's not dwell on the past. It's important to look towards the future. Speaking of which, what have you learned about the Angels?"
You're stunned, she derailed the conversation so easily. So quickly that had you not been paying attention, you wouldn't had noticed. She resumed her former air. Majestic, proud, welcoming, and yearnful.
"Right.. I was unable to find anything note worthy. But what I did find was interesting enough; Heaven's Door." She gazes at you curiously, an eyebrow slightly raised higher than its other. "Heaven's Door? Starswirl never mentioned such a thing."
"It's among the last of his entries. Apparently its connected with the final days of human civilization. Though it spurred no memories from me. I had hoped that you could tell me more." You laugh and push yourself to your feet. Standing wobbly, you give another sloppy bow then raising your head to meet her gaze. "If you'll excuse me Princess. I never did get the chance to look around the ship. I'd like to do so before we land."
She rises, all four of her legs propping her up so that she stands just a few inches taller that you. "A wonderful idea. I'll go and prepare myself for the march. We'll meet here an an hour."
You nod as she begins to trot away towards the cabins. So, with a whole hour of free time and a vast ship that you have yet to conquer, what were you going to do? Two sailors who seem to be arguing draw your attention. They stood on the starboard side, looking annoyed and ready to be at each others throat. You could hear parts of their argument as you drew closer. They seemed to be arguing about a certain rope that had gone missing. One guard was young and more than willing to go toe to toe with the old veteran. Who just seemed to lean back and scratch his scruffy rigid beard. Having patience as endless as an ocean.
"Look lad, I'm just askin' ya ta bring up a new rope." The older sailor said tiredly. But when the younger refused, his tired stare became a mix of anger and exhaustion.
If you didn't stand between these two, you may take a fatality before the adventure even began. Just as the elder was ready to knock that boy into tomorrow you stand between them, each of your palms facing them.
"I'll fetch the rope for you, if that's what you need."
The elder paused for a moment before lowering his hoof of a fist. Rubbing the side of his head, trying to quell the headache that the young sailor inflicted on him.
"I'd appreciate it, sir. These days these kids won't even pay ya the time of day."
The younger sailor swatted dismissively to your direction and wandered off. You lower your hands down to your side and ask for direction to the storage room, the old veteran happy to point you on your way. Your cloak still swayed slightly at the high winds, causing it to dance around you like a drab smoke. But it did it's job of keeping you somewhat warm until you got back inside.
It was so quiet your boots echoed and you could hear the ringing in your ears. If a feather were to drop, you'd hear the soft impact. You searched for the storage room but you kept getting distracted. There were footsteps in halls that weren't yours. They were bipedal by the sound of it which was odd, you being the only creature on two legs her on the ship. You were nearing a corner when you thought you found it's source. Just for a moment, you caught the edge of a pointed purple tail dart past the corner. Now you pursued it, intrigued by the the beast that skulked the underbelly of the Radiant Dawn. Following the pitter-patter of feet, you can only ever catch a fleeting glimpse of it's tail. Before you can round the corner a loud slam resounds through the corridors. Coming around the corner you could see it was a dead-end. You finally had it trapped. Whatever it was.
Slowly, you lean on the door, pressing your ear on it's polished wood frame. Inside you can hear the sound of more footsteps and the rummaging through boxes and crates. Even slower you ease your hand to the brass handle and twist it, gaining passage into the large room on the other side. It was the storage room you've been looking fun. Crates were stacked high atop each other, reaching into the even higher ceiling. Like a jungle of cubic trees looming over you and creating a maze.
One foot at a time you make your way to it's center, now hearing the sound of periodic fire and seeing a green light flash across the crates. You found it strange, having to sneak around like this. Made you feel like the daring adventurer you were dressed as. Now you were just steps away from the center and you peered over to get a look.
It was Spike oddly enough, the little dragon you had met just moments before leaving Canterlot. Why was he here? Then you recall him begging you to take him with you on your journey. Did he really sneak on board and hold himself up in here? You watch him more closely now. He sat atop assorted tarps and cloths, a makeshift bed for the young dragon. Then, as if some powerful magic had possessed him, he open his mouth wide and belted out a green fire that danced in the air for a moment. Then it vanished, disappearing as quickly and spontaneously as it had appeared. What remained was a parchment that stayed in the air and fell into Spike's outstretched hand. Spike's emerald eyes darted from left to right slowly creeping down towards the end of the letter. With a sigh he picked up a loose piece of paper and dipped a a quill into a well of ink placed neatly beside him. He sighed again as he finished and brought it up to his muzzle and his green fire swarmed the fragile paper. He wasn't kidding when he said he was a fire-breathing mailbox.
You dawn the hood of your cloak and step calmly out of the shadows behind the crates where you had been hiding. The sound of your footsteps startled Spike, causing his pupils to shrink to the size of knife edges. He darted behind the nest he had made of drapes and tarps, his eyes peering over to see you stand just a few steps away.
"W-who's there!? My teeth are as sharp as blades and my fire is as hot as the sun!"
You laugh to yourself, more so, to the silent air. Spike rises further to get a better look as you drop your hood and you offer him a smile.
"Anon? How'd you know I was here!?" He doesn't move and you take a few steps closer.
"I saw you running through the halls, 'twas the sound of your feet and flash of your tail that gave you away. What are you doing here Spike? Princess Twilight must be very worried."
He finally crawls out from his hiding place and takes his former seat atop the mound. "No kidding.." He said, handing you a random parchment. "She's been sending these nonstop, I had to leave and get more ink and paper so I could write her back." You take the scroll and unroll it, gigantic, impossibly neat hoofwriting practically screaming at you.
"YOU DID WHAT?!"
"She seems rather upset."
Spike sighs once more and plants his head in his claws. "I thought she'd understand, I'm practically a grown dragon. I should be able to do what I want!" He raises his arms in the air, trying to make himself look larger. But you were sure he was trying to convince himself rather than you.
"Being grown doesn't mean you should just up and run off Spike. You'd be abandoning all responsibilities."
Now you climbed up the mound, sitting next to him on the pile. "I guess.. But I'm here now right? I may as well make the best of it!" Spike hits his chest with his fist, a sounding thud of scales against scales.
"I suppose." You scratch the back of your head and lean back. Spike continues his writing. He was really good at it, a proper scribe. His handwriting was neat and legible. But containing his own style of curving and edging the letters that he practiced for seemingly forever.
"What possessed you to stowaway on this ship? We're you really that hungry for adventure?"
His breath curls around the letter once more and it vanishes. Now Spike also leaned back, thinking on his answer. "It's not the first time I've gone off by myself. Though the first time I did it because I wanted to find myself I guess. In the end I learned a lot about who I was and all that, but I still felt kinda down about it. Twilight keeps me so sheltered from the world, it's not her fault but, whenever she goes off with her friends they have such amazing adventures and stories to tell. I'm either always in the backseat or taking orders. I want to see the world Anon, all of it. There's so much I can learn!" He pauses and belches another scroll. He continues, picking up the scroll and reading it. "I want to be the hero of my own story. Someone they write down in the history books Anon." He picks up another piece of paper and begins to scribble away. "And I feel like it all starts here."
You find yourself sympathizing with Spike. Though you still remembered nothing, you felt you could relate to his plight. Wanting to be someone important, striving to be a legend, a name remembered through out time. Another scroll is produced from the flames and Spike makes to read it.
"Well.." You say with a sigh. "I can't do anything now that you're already here. Though, I don't know how Princess Celestia will feel... What's Princess Twilight saying?"
He doesn't look at you, concentrating on his reading. "Just call her Twilight, she kinda hates when ponies call her Princess. And.." His eyes widen in shock and his jaw drops to the floor. "She said yes! Just as long as Celestia says yes!" He eagerly begins to gather the loose scrolls and paper, taking them all into his tiny arms.
"Are you sure? She really said yes?"
You rise from your seat and begin to follow Spike as he heads for the exit. "Yeah! Twilight said that if Celestia said yes and you 'looked after me' it was fine!"
"I look after you? I'm no one's sitter." You say, folding your arms.
"Don't worry, I'm practically my own man now. I don't need anyone to 'look after me'."
You and Spike now left the storage room and traveled back through the corridors and up the various stairs and up to the final hallway. You and Spike made small talk the way up. But it was mostly about Spike, you having very little to contribute seeing as how you're practically only a week old. Suddenly the ship rocked and began to shift sideways to the left. Sending you and spike crashing into the wall. Outside you heard shouting and running. The Captain being heard above everyone else shouting orders. "What's going on?!" Spike drops everything he was carrying and tries to pick himself up off the wall. You say nothing as you make for the last door and reach for the handle. As soon as you get so much of a crack of the door open it blows away, slamming into the wall. A terrible wind had rolled across the deck in a greedy attempt to take everything on board with it. You grab Spike's hand and pull him out of the corridor with you and onto the deck. The winds were howling with a sharp chime and you could feel your skin begin to crack like the face of a mountain. You lower your shaded goggles, the change between the overbearing presence of wind to none at all being a relief. The wind tossed your cloak about as easily as paper on a breeze.
"Where's the princess!" You call back at Spike who shivers behind you. His eyes dart around the ship, searching for any indication of Celestia. But you spot her first at the helm. Pulling Spike along you slowly and steadily make your way up the stairs, the winds barring your way and trying to push you back down. Celestia stood with the Captain, they both watched the skies, more so the black clouds that had formed over head.
"Princess! What's happen-"
"The sky Anon... This is no ordinary storm. These clouds were conjured out of the air and so was the wind. We are under attack."
You look up finally, seeing the heavy dark clouds that rolled across the sky to dominate the land below. They cast a large heavy shadow over the three ship as the wind rocked them this way and that. They seemed completely foreign. Unnatural. But yet they seemed to be alive. Rather, their shadows were.
"Princess! The clouds!"
She notices the same time as you. Long, dreadful shadows crept along the bottom of the cumulonimbuses. Red piercing eyes stared down from the sky. And then they descended. Their terrible figure slowly revealing itself from the cloud coverage. They were taller, slimmer than the Angels you encountered in Everfree. And they were humanoid, their wings more full and the white crystals on their back more jagged and rough. They carried weapons, spears and halberds
Third Sphere:
"They're are so many.." You say to yourself. Spike has been silent, retreating within himself to find the courage he needed to face the many dangers he knew were waiting for him on this adventure. To him, this was the first test. "Your majesty, orders?" the captain calls over the howling wind. Celestia looked absent minded, and then looked to you. Who also stared at the sky in disbelief.
"Anon, can you name them? What are they to you?" You never turn to look at her, but you can name them. Like in the Everfree, you knew them as soon as you saw them. And then wondered how you could ever forget such terrible sights. You nod finally, pulling your goggles down slightly to check and see if they were real.
"They are the Archangels. A higher form of the beasts you and I saw."
"Your majesty! Orders!?" The captain calls again, pulling Celestia's attention away from you.
"We have no choice but to fight. We are but fifteen minutes away from the Badland's anti-magic field. If we cross that boarder our airships will plummet out of the sky. Cut the engines, and I want all of you to take shelter."
Celestia's wings that had been eager to taste the high winds now sprang open, revealing themselves and once more imposing their grandeur on the world.
"But Princess, allow us to help you! We can fight as well!" The captain said. Celestia had already started for the railing, her wings beating through the wind.
"A weapon that could fight those beasts have not yet been forged. From what I've seen only the princess' magic can destroy them."
The ships slow to a halt and the sails close in on themselves tightly, not letting the wind push them any further.
"Anon, get everypony inside. They'll be in danger if they remain on deck." You have no chance to reply as she is already leaping off the side of the ship.
You and Spike rush to the side to see her rapidly descend before beating her massive wings and coming to a complete stop. Then, as if instilled with the power of the mighty sun itself, she rockets skywards. The wind trailing her as she zoomed past the ship nearly throwing you and Spike backwards. White contrails carve into the sky as she ascends directly into the clouds. The Angels made their counter charge and the battle had begun.
The sky was lit up with a golden aura as she blasted away Angel after Angel. She danced in the air. She was so attuned to the wind, if she did not belong anywhere else, she indeed belonged in the sky. Her curves, swoops, and dives all looked like a crazy waltz. For the first time you could see her power head on. Her skill, unmatched by anyone who would even dare to be her equal. She was so powerful, so graceful. And among the heated dogfight in the sky, among the hundreds of beasts that sought her life, she has never felt so alive. You think back to what she said to you. If she found that you had any ties to the Angels and proved to be a threat to Equestria, she would take action. You couldn't doubt that now, or the fact that you were somehow tied to the beasts that hunted you.
"Anon! We need to get inside!" Spike tugs at your cloak that blew this way and that. You tare your gaze away from the sky and nod.
"Captain!"
"Aye!"
The captain is already down the stairs, barking orders for his sailors to find shelter immediately. You grab Spike, his running speed being a lot slower than yours and make way down the stairs. But it doesn't look good. A few Angels were starting to ignore Celestia and fall onto the ships like a rain of dreadful darkness. Moving across the ships like a dense fog. They barred all the doors into the deck, cutting you, Spike, the captain, and few other sailors off from safety. Celestia was too busy in the air to immediately help you, but she flew by occasionally to try and lessen the danger on deck. A single Angel stepped forth, charging at you before leaping into the air, its spearhead aiming for your heart. You and Spike fell backwards, preparing for the end. You had already resigned yourself. You accepted this as the end, your final moment. But fate saw otherwise. It wasn't on a mere whim that Spike stole his way on board. Rather, it may have been destiny. Just as the spear was inches away from you, a single letter erupted from Spike's mouth along with his fire. It made full contact with the Angel in front of you, destroying it completely. The spear clamored to the floor in front of you and you and Spike stared at each other.
"Woah...I-I didn't know I had that in me..!" He stared at his hands. Seeing the power he now held, and also an untapped potential. He stared a good long while before you called to him.
"Spike! You think you can keep that up!?"
He nods hesitantly still staring down at his purple claws. "I'll...try."
"Good, that's all I need."
You scramble to your feet and take the spear in front of you. It would be a poor decision to try and fight these beasts, but you could at least defend yourself while Spike worked his magic. And you did just that, as soon as you and Spike showed signs that you weren't backing down the Angels charged. They looked like a swarm of insects flocking to the both of you and you steeled yourself for the onslaught. But Spike wasn't about to let you down as he inhaled as deep as he could. His tiny lungs threatening to burst. And when he opened his snout once more, an inferno of emerald blaze exploded outward. The wind conducted his fire. Moving it in circles and odd shapes, all obliterating Angels. It was amazing. You never thought that Spike could be as capable as he is, he would indeed grow to be quite the adventurer some day.
Assault after assault they battered you. There was no sound but the piercing howling wind, their weapons clashing with yours, Celestia's magic sounding like crackling thunder, and Spike's magical dragon-fire. This went on for sometime and you began to think that they were infinite. There was no end in sight you were growing weak. Spike was a trooper but he still showed obvious signs of exhaustion. He could topple over at any given moment. More landed, the deck now being flooded with dark entities. It was likely the end of you now. You grip the shaft of your spear, hoping that something happens besides your death.
And from the sky Celestia comes to answer your prayer. A golden ray of sunshine cuts through the crowed of Angels, disintegrating anything it touched. She slowly landed, he presence immediately giving you relief. The Angels now turned their attention from you and to her. A mass exodus flooding to her to surround her completely. They flocked even above her, creating a dome. They were so thick and dense that they seemed to form a solid wall of blackness. The wind was extremely violent now. It forced you to grab a rope swinging from the mast for threat that you might be blown away. You look on, staring at the wall that encased Celestia completely. But the wall started to crack. It was becoming riven with rays of sunshine. It gave the impression of the Sun rising over clouds at dawn. A whirring sound challenged the wind. Both getting louder and louder than one another. It pained your ears extremely and Spike was becoming dizzy from it. The light that followed would have blinded you had you not been wearing your shaded goggles, closed your eyes, and looked away.
An explosion of pure light had rocked all three ships and expelled all the Angels. They peeled away like paint into the wind. Every trace left of them was now gone completely. Totally and utterly destroyed under the hoof of Princess Celestia of Equestria. Such power she commanded. She was a God, you were sure of it now. The wind died now, slowing to a mere breeze in the matter of seconds. The heavy black clouds now thinned out of existence and the Sun claimed dominance of the sky once more. In the center of the ship, Celestia stood motionless. Her mane was battered and her breath was ragged and labored. He legs and knees trembled and threatened to send her buckling over. But she stood perfectly still. You could hardly see, but you're sure that she wore a smile on her tired face. The air was silent now, silence now rolled across the three decks as everyone came from their hiding places to stare at their princess who saved them all. You finally let go of the rope and take a step. But you're stopped when Celestia takes her own steps forward. They were slow and cautious, like a foal's first steps. Then she began to sway to the side and fall. Spike and you run to her side to catch her. Propping her up as best as you can.
"Take it easy Princess!" Spike said.
She looked down at Spike, bewildered. She was confused about his being here. "Spike? What are you doing here? Twilight must be worried sick!"
"We can discus that later, right now we should get you to your room." You say, leading her to the doors that lead below deck.
"Yes, let's do that. I'm afraid I've over worked myself."
"Your majesty, should we land and prepare for departure?" The captain trots along side you, his pipe dangling out of one side of his mouth. Celestia nods as best she can, too weak or too troubled to form any words. But she finds it within herself to say at least one more thing.
"Somepony draw me a bath.." She says just as you enter the corridors.
Celestia lay in a extravagant golden tub. Her front hooves dangling off the sides and she lulled her head backwards, relaxing as much as she could. The ships had landed a while ago and the halls were now busy with ponies preparing for the march. You and Spike sit nearby, recounting what happened. How Spike's fire was able to destroy the Angels, protecting you both. And reading aloud his string of letters with Twilight, catching Celestia up on his story.
"As long as I say it's alright?" She now looks at Spike, who now tucks the letter under his side.
"Yeah! And don't worry, Anon even said he would look after me!" He tugs on your cloak once again to emphasize his point. You never agreed to 'look after him'. But you better go along with it if you want Spike to stay.
"Spike, you know where we're headed don't you?" Celestia questioned, popping the various soap bubbles that rised into the air casually.
Spike nodded. "I know how dangerous it is, but so was everywhere else I've been. There wasn't a time where Twilight and I were not in danger. Why would the Badlands be any different from where I've been?" A fire burned within him, he was determined to stay. He wouldn't let himself be packed off so easily.
"As true as that may be, I don't think it would be wise-"
"Please!" Spike was now on his knees begging. You watched on silently. Celestia's face began to soften at the sight of how committed he was but still needed the extra push.
"Princess, it'd be a good chance for him to learn more about the world. He proved very useful today, he saved my life in fact. Why not have him stay and assist us? We can even maintain contact with Princess Twilight." Spike nodded profusely and Celestia began to consider it even more. Moments passed before she finally flicked her hoof and agreed.
"Very well... But you are responsible for him Anon." She said, sliding deeper into her golden tub. But Spike's eye lit up like diamonds and he fist pumped the air with joy. You were happy that he had been granted permission to come along, but not too thrilled to be completely responsible for him. Celestia asked to be left alone for now, telling you to go prepare for the march into Ishtar. You and Spike exit her room, Spike thanking her and praising her all the way out.
"I can't believe it! She actually said yes! If it weren't for you she would have sent me back immediately!" He held his fist out toward you. But you just stare at him confused.
"What is this?" You ask.
Now Spike looked as confused as you did. "It's a brofist. An ancient ritual two friends do to become brothers."
"Brothers?"
You curl your right hand into a fist and bring it up in front of you. Hesitantly you move your first closer to his and lightly tap it. Unsure if you did it correctly.
"Was that correct?" You ask.
Spike laughs and lowers his hand beside him. "Man, exactly how old are you? You talk like someone from way back when." You both now walk together down the halls. Now apparently brothers.
"Well, I am from 'way back when'. And what's wrong with the was I speak? I speak just as you do." Spike laughs again, not so much mocking you but still making you feel like he knew something you didn't. "Sure you do." You spend the rest of the day preparing for the march. It wasn't going to be a long journey to the Ishtar itself, but what it lead to would be the the actual journey. The Badlands, supposed domain of the ancient Humans that ruled the world long ago. There you would find the first clue to your identity and hopefully find what happened to your race eons ago.
It had been about an hours after the ships had landed. All around you was thigh high grass that seemed to stretch on for miles on one direction, and died into a rough rocky landscape in the other, which is where you were headed. You sit on a nearby rock, making small talk with Spike who had just finished packing. Beside him was a large rucksack, full of ink, papers, quills, what have you. Around you were many soldiers, armed with all sorts of physical weapons that would help them combat the danger in the Badlands. Celestia had yet to appear. She told you to give her half an hour. But it was now going on an hour and thirty.
"She's certainly taking her time.." You say, staring up at the large airship in front of you.
"I'm sure she just wants to make sure everything is fine before we all get goin'. Can't hurt, can it?" Spike asks. You consider it. She and other unicorns would be without magic once you approached the Ishtar. A lot of preparations would have to be made.
"I suppose so." You say.
Spike nudges your arm as he offers you an apple and you take it. He had been a great help recently. First saving your life, now helping you take your mind off the attack. Another hour passes and you're just about fed up with waiting. If you had a mind to, you'd march right back onto that airship and tell her to get her ass-
"Hey look! She's coming!" Spike nudges your arm once again and you turn to face the gangplank. Princess Celestia descended gracefully. Not too rushed but not too slow as to keep you waiting. She took her time, but also maintained a sort of haste. She wore an outfit similar to yours. Though with a more solid white shirt that had a very high collar, covering most of her neck. Atop of that was very light leather vest that hugged her. She wore pants oddly enough that hugged her long legs and curved around her flanks, covering the sun she wore so proudly. Her mane was done up in a pony tail, it no longer flowing freely on the magical winds. Beneath her eyes were black lines that curved along the underside of her eyes and stretched out past the corners. Possibly to give her some protection against the overbearing sun. Strapped under her left wing was a very long and narrow a blade. It's hilt shining like solid gold and encrusted with a single azure stone in it's center. She was ready for the trek into the Badlands. Celestia approached the pair of you and you stood. Spike did no such thing as he continued to check his bag for anything he missed for the tenth time.
"Princess, are we ready to depart?" You say so with a very slight irritated tone. If Celestia picked up on it, she did not show it as she only smiled a nodded.
"We will be leaving immediately. Are you ready? You aren't forgetting anything are you?" You shake your head and Spike confirms, placing a keffiyeh over his spined head. Celestia spends a few minutes organizing everyone into a orderly fashion. You three in the front, leading your expedition team behind you. With her order you move out. Leaving the three airships to their respective crews and trudging out into the rocky terrain up ahead. You don't expect for the walk to take long but you look forward to being able to take in your surroundings. So far the grassy fields in which you landed now shifted into hard, dry rock. The entirety of fifty or so ponies now marched through a canyon cast with great cliffs and steep falls into the valley below. Several times your party would have to stop. The walls that towered over you would give way to loose rock and sometimes block your way. A number of times you almost went tumbling over the side due to loose footing. And as always there was always someone their to catch you.
"We've now crossed into the barrier." Celestia says, slowing her pace.
"We have? How can you tell? I could feel no difference." You look around, trying to find the even the slightest change in the area, but you find nothing.
"No, you wouldn't. For those more attuned to magic, unicorns and beings such as myself, it feels like a limb falling to sleep." Celestia demonstrates by illuminating her horn. As you can see, the golden aura that usually encases the entirety of her horn, only stays at base level. And tiny sparks fly off the tip with a low hum of a sound.
"I see. But what about Spike's dragon fire? It's magical, isn't it?"
Before Celestia could give you an answer, the fire in question summons another scroll from Princess Twilight."Woah, I guess not." Spike says as he unravels the parchment.
"Dear Princess Celestia, Anon, and Spike,
By now I'd say you've crossed into the Badlands. If so, this is merely a test letter to see if Spike's fire is indeed magical. I myself never having the opportunity to test it myself. If this letter has made it through, feel free to write me back whenever you need to. "
"Thoughtful." You say, peering over Spike's shoulder to see the very neat writing. "She always has been." Celestia says. Spike continues.
"I don't think I need to remind you but, be safe. Don't take any unnecessary risks. I have complete faith in all of you. And Spike, I hope you find what you're looking for. Same for you, Anon.
Spike rolls the scroll back up and places it in his bag. You notice a slight spring in his step now as he now walks ahead of your pair. He seems determined and dedicated now. Though you hadn't been walking very long, your feet were starting to hurt and you started to look forward to rest. Celestia notices and smiles as you three round a corner that gives a perfect vista of your destination. You three stop in your tracks. A trail led straight down into sand that lead into high jagged mountains. The sun seemed to illuminate all of it, especially the gate that stood almost as tall as those great mountains. The Ishtar. To see it for yourself left you stunned.
"It has been about two hundred years since I last saw the Ishtar. There isn't the slightest change." Her wings pat you on the back as she begins to walk ahead. "Come Anon, we've finally reached our destination." You snap out of your trance and you nod to her. Following the trail downwards into the hot sand you feel you are getting smaller as the gate and mountains loom over you. The entire party is now in shadow as you draw closer to the gate.
"It's massive.." You remark, staring up at the impossibly large masonry.
Spike is just as impressed as you are. Once you're close enough he pulls out a charcoal pencil and paper and begins to sketch the entire body of the mountainside.
"You will see many such wonders such as this Anon. There are things out there that will dwarf the gate entirely." Celestia says. It's quite hard to believe her. How can something so massive be dwarfed by anything else man-made.
You find it even harder to believe as it seems the closer you get the taller it grows. Finally, you all come to a stop. The many stallions branching off to explore a little and marvel at the ginormous gate. You and Spike approach it. It stood on great stone steps that spanned a hundred feet left to right. Symbols and pictographs were carved into the base of the great gate. The thing you can note mostly is the two titanic columns that stand as sentinels. Crumbling and eroded statues stand on a ledge just a tier above you. And as your eyes climb higher you can see even more. They exuded an air of pride and power. Something that your people once knew hand-in-hand. Spike traces the base of the great columns and you watch him as he tries to grasp the full reality of it's composition.
"You're people built something like this out of stone. It must have taken years to make! I don't think that even Canterlot is a match for human buildings."
"You're exactly right Spike." Celestia says as she joins you. You can see Spike slightly shy away, fearing that he may have insulted the princess in some way. "We are infants compared to the majesty of the humans from long ago. Most of their cities were underground or carved out of stone."
Celestia continues. "They understood the rock completely. It's composition. It's properties and values. Even the age of it. You could say it was their element."
Stone. Stone and rocks. In hearing this you feel a connection to the earth around you. Though you couldn't remember a thing, you knew that the ground was what felt right. The truth laid within the gates. Possibly under the earth, deep in the corridors and great halls of the rock.
"I can't wrap my mind around it. This seems like something that only gods could construct."
"And gods you were, Anon. In a sense." Celestia says smiling.
You shrug it off. It's hard to believe that you came from such a race. But if you did, then you'd want to learn anything you could about them. "I suppose. Now that we're here we should start looking for clues." Celestia nods to you and says she'll take the norther side and splits off from you. Leaving you and Spike alone, who was still sketching out the gate looks around. "I can't see anything worth noting. What exactly are we looking for?" He said.
"I don't actually know.." You say to yourself more so than to Spike. All you knew was that you were to come here and some sort of clue would be revealed to you.
"Hey, what about that platform down there. Looks like something important." Spike points at a slightly risen dais at the base of the great stairs. Something you passed in your excitement to see the gate.
You nod to Spike and make your way down the stairs. As you grow closer you find it hard odd that you just simply ignored it. It was like a large mirror, reflecting the sky almost completely. Hesitating before stepping up you note the runes around it's edge. A familiarity to the stone that rested in your pocket. Retrieving it, you examine the runes along it as well. They shared the same basic principles and shapes. The ones on the dais more complex and elegant. Whilst the stone's were crude and simple. Finally you step onto the platform.
Your footsteps sound like they are treading on metal. Looking down you could almost see your face perfectly reflected back at you. As well as the sky, the tall mountains now inverted in the reflection. It made you feel unbalanced. Like you could fall downward into the never ending sky.
[PLAY ]
Now you stood in the middle looking about you. There was nothing worth noting but Spike now observed you from the stairway. You slowly rotate, looking around to see if there was anything that could draw your attention. When there is nothing, you settle your gaze on the gate. Then, your entire body freezes as a incredible chill runs down your spine and your eyes shoot open.
//So you -have- come...\
It was the voice. The voice you heard in the Everfree. The voice that beckoned you here. To the Ishtar. You find yourself without words and your vision begins to obscure. Unable to move at all, you stand still like a statue.
//We thought you would abandon your destiny.\
The voice booms at you from all sides. It was the voice of someone regal. Someone ancient and wise and powerful.
"I am here. What is it that I am supposed to do?" For a moment there is nothing, only the silent air around you and you begin to worry that voice had retreated.
//We know each other. And it pains us that you do not remember yourself or us.\
There is no change in tone with the voice. It still remains indifferent to you. Almost as if it can hardly notice you're there.
//You have come a long way. But this is merely the prelude to your journey. An overture to the song of your heroic deeds.\
"Heroic deeds? I just wish to find out who I am. I have no intentions on being a hero."
//There is no changing fate. For once you walk through that gate, you will fall into the hands of destiny.\
"And what if I did not? What if we ended the quest here and returned to Equestria?" For a moment, you can pick up the slight sound of laughter.
//We know you. You've always been curious. Too inquisitive for your own good. You -will- step through the gate because it fascinates you, no? You wish to see what lies beneath the sand. It literally calls to you, does it not?\
A cold sweat now runs down the back of your neck. The voice was correct. You were bluffing about leaving. In no way would you abandon this opportunity to discover what it was that called out to you so.
"When we spoke in the Everfree....you said that I would find my first clue here."
//Ah yes. We did say that. Didn't we? Very well, a hint to start you off on your journey.\
Ahead of you, you can see a light from beyond the Ishtar. It had always been there, though you did not notice. It prevented you from seeing inside, to seeing the vast desert that ruled over the landscape. The light shined brightly. It called to you. Rather, you called to it to show you the way.
//In the heart of this desolate land is a city. A city that is very familiar to you. Agartha.\
The name hits you like a truck. You instantly recognized it. An ancient city that rested deep beneath the surface. You could almost see it in front of you. The memory of the city as well of others start to clarify within you. "Agartha, a city beneath the sands. Destroyed by Angels. The effect of Heaven's Door... " You mumble.
//You will find what you have been seeking. Yourself. Your past and many other things. They all wait for you, beneath the sand.\
The voice was now starting to fade. Retreating into it's own mysterious realm of which it spoke to you. "Will we speak again?" You call to it. Rather, you call to the silence. It seems like a small eternity before it returns. This time more faint and distant than before.
//Aye. We will speak again. But of our choosing. Now go. We will wait for you in Agartha.\
Now the voice faded completely. Beyond your call and you find your self able to move once more. You fall to your hands and knees, now noticing how exhausted you are. Around you can see the many ponies rushing up to the dais to help you. You can hardly stand without any support; your knees were just short of completely sending you to the ground.
"Anon? Are you not feeling well?" The many ponies make way for Celestia as she approaches.
"I'm fine. I heard it again...The voice that lead us here."
At that, Celestia recoils slightly and takes you away from the crowd, resting you on the stairs and now asking for a full explanation. You tell her without hiding anything. The voice had told you to journey far into the Badlands. And down into the earth. In the sunken halls of Agartha was your identity. It was there beneath that ever shifting sand that blew indifferent to you on the other side of the Ishtar.
"Agartha..? I thought as much..." Celestia stiffens a bit, your words seeming to have turned her to stone.
"You know of it?"
Celestia turns to look at the gate atop the stairs. The light shining from beyond. "Indeed. When Starswirl and I first came to the Badlands, we found you, of course, but we found that the gate was sealed." Spike now joins you two. While you spoke with the voice, he took his time taking notes and sketching out the surrounding areas. In his excitement he had passed through the gate without anyone noticing and peered out over the colossal desert. He found it amazing and rushed back to tell you, only to see you on your knees and breathing heavily. As he approached he heard most of your conversation. "Could that place be the giant pillar way out in the desert? I just saw it, hold on a sec..." Spike flipped through the small leather journal and flipped around until he found the correct page, marking it with a claw. He held it out to you and Celestia, tapping the charcoal black pillar on it's center. "This thing here." You look closely at the black tower. You had no idea Spike was such a talented artist, it looked like it could have been ripped straight from Starswirl's grimoire. It looked somewhat familiar but it isn't until Celestia names it that you can truly recall it.
"The Tower of Babel. It's the gateway into Agartha." Celestia shifts nervously on the stairway. It worries you but you decide to save it for later.
"Tower? The city is a tower? Well, that would make sense as to why it's so huge I guess.." Spike pulls back his journal to eye the drawing himself.
Celestia merely shakes her head, Spike not noticing. "No Spike. Agartha is actually submerged deep below the surface. There was some myth revolving around the tower. Though in this very moment, I cannot recall."
"So we're going underground?" Spike asks.
"Precisely.." Again Celestia looks gives off an air of agitation.
"Will it be a problem getting there?" You finally ask.
Celestia's eyes never find yours. Instead they once again return to the Ishtar. "Indeed. It's very dangerous. On our first- and only- expedition, we lost a number of ponies to the sands alone." She now stands and you stand with her, feeling more at ease now that you had time to catch your breath.
"Really? It's that dangerous? I've read some of Starswirl's notes on the Badlands, but most of it is impossible to believe." Celestia chuckles, seemingly more at ease than she was before. She starts up the stairs and you and Spike follow.
"Just a week ago you awoke to a strange land of talking ponies. And flew through the air on a boat. What else seems impossible to you, Anon?"
"You have a point there."
Spike laughs at you, but it didn't seem like he was laughing at you and more so the idea of you being surprised by anything after you've seen most of the wonders in Equestria. Including flat-out magic. The three of you reach the top of the stairs. As you look into the whiteness, you can hardly see the billion grains of sand on the other side that most likely caused the phenomena with it's reflections.
"How soon are we to move on?" You ask while pulling your shaded lenses up to your eyes.
"We can depart as soon as you are ready." She answered.
You look to Spike who stills scribbles in his note book. "I'm ready when you are." He says. Behind you are the fifty-some ponies who would accompany you on this expedition. They all seemed ready enough and more than willing to move on. The cloak that had idly draped over you now blew gently in the slight valley breeze. Small bits of dust and sand blew across the ground to give you way to walk through the massive gate. For a moment you were hesitant. Somewhat afraid to pursue what you came here for. But the voice reminded you of why you wouldn't break away from the path before you. Why you wouldn't live the rest of your life here without somewhat knowing who you were or what your people were. The voice had indeed known you completely. You were curious. As all humans were. You wanted to see what sat waiting for you beyond this light. And you wanted to discover. Explore, seek out the unknown! It was your adventurous spirit calling for you!
If you stepped through this gate, there would be no turning back. You would fall into the hands of destiny and be carried along to whatever destination it chose for you. You nod to Celestia and she nods back at you. She turns to the ponies who now organized themselves at the base of the stairs. They were just as eager as you to find out what sort of adventure waited for them. With a single command you all move out. The white light enveloping you as you walk into it.
For moments, there is nothing but light. Then, as if an artist had taken his brush and painted his masterpiece in the matter of seconds, the grand desert faded into place. Everything looked different on the other side. More....yellow, and beige, and brown. Sure enough in the distance was the Tower of Babel. It loomed over the horizon, like a great thorn protruding from the skin of the earth. In between there and here was seemingly nothing but sand and the mountains surrounding it. But as you look closer you could make out individual landmarks and shapes. You stood atop a cliff side, had any of you rushed forward, you would have surly fell a length of fifty feet or so. To the side were carved stairways that lazily lead down to the ground and disappeared. Above you, the sun seemed to beam ten times brightly and there was no more of the gentle breeze from before. It was like you were in another world.
"Well then, shall we?" Celestia is the first to move onwards, starting down the stairs. You follow, careful not to walk to closely on the steep incline. You gingerly hug the cliff wall as the stairs wind this way and that, zig-zagging it's way down. Spike nearly fell due to the heavy load he was carrying on his back. And several over times you misplaced a step that could have sent you stumbling forward down the steep stairs. Before long you're down and into the hot sand. Your boots sink into the delicate grains of quartz and it takes a bit more effort to trek across, while Celestia easily trots along top it. The heat had not yet been severe enough for you to complain, the sun now past high noon and settling along the edge of the western mountains.
For hours you all walked on. And though you walked far, the great tower ahead of you seemed to grow no closer. Spike had started to tire so you offered to hold his bag for him. He refused at first, but after a few more paces he reconsidered and relinquished the heavy rucksack to you. There was no talking, there being little to talk about. The entire march had been completely uneventful. Not so much as a single bird flew overhead or a snake made its way across the sands. Then, from what sounded like a distant thunder caused you all to stop and listen. Celestia was stone still, her ears slightly moving back and forth to listen carefully to the sand.
"It sounds...like the sand is shifting.." She said quietly. The soldiers had now enclosed you, their weapons to the ready. Spike stayed close and you stayed closer to Celestia.
"I'll go and see."
You break away slowly, making your way up the steep dune that blocked your view of the tower in the distance. It was hard climbing up, the crumbling sand yielding to your foot steps. Soon your able to peer over, lying on your stomach. What you see is baffling. Bewildering. It instills fear in your very being and for a moment you can't bring your legs to move.
"Anon? What do you see?" Celestia calls to you. The roaring was getting closer and a shadow now extended past the dune.
Immediately you spring up to your feet and run downward, stumbling and rolling until you get back on your feet again. Celestia catches you and asks what's wrong. More urgently this time.
"Sand!" You say, trying to catch your breath. "An entire wall of sand!"
By the time any of you can act, it's already here. A hundred foot high wall of swirling sand. The sound, louder than anything on this earth. Like a great cat, it pounces on you, blotting out the sun and swallowing you whole.
Which way is the tower? Where are Celestia and Spike? Why is it so dark? And it's really loud for some reason. You'd open your mouth to call out to someone, anyone, but it'd just fill with endless amounts of sand like the last few times you tried. Now you were stumbling through the dark. Darkness now walked with you, covering your eyes with his black hands. Many times the sand beneath your feet is blown away before you can plant your weight on it, sending you stumbling forward blindly. At certain times a shred of light would be allowed to pass through the heavy sand ceiling. That was the only time you could try to get some sense of where it was you were stepping. Individual grains of sand scratched the front of your lenses and scraped the side of your cheeks. You'd pull your cloak over your face but you couldn't quite seem to get a hold of it on account that it was blown wildly like a sail.
With more stumbling and desperately searching for another soul, you stumble and fall. The sand on your face was hot and void of any comfort. You lay there for a few moments. Not yet having the energy to pick yourself up and continue on. And so you are motionless. Waiting out the sandstorm while also thinking how far away from the others you must be. None, not a soul appeared in the ever warping sand that jetted past you. You must have been yards away, possibly miles, who knew. The roaring sand is deafening and you cover your ears. You were going to go deaf at the end of all this, weren't you? But among the roars of the terrible sand lay other sounds. Sounds that sounded unnatural and disembodied. Around you were soft murmurs in the storm. An angelic choir of hushed tones and heavenly psalms. The thought disturbed you and you felt your stomach knot a little while you lay in the sand.
But these sounds weren't your imagination. They couldn't be. They were so vivid, so lucid that you're sure they were there. They seemed to charge through the sand, moving against it instead of with it. You risk a glance over your shoulder, but you see nothing besides the beige wall that's been present for a long while. Then, just as you were about to dismiss the thought as the sand playing tricks, you saw something. You don't know what it was, or it's shape, but you're sure you saw something .
You rise to your feet, slowly, careful not to stand up too fast and be blown back down by the harsh winds. It was getting closer. Whatever it was. Through the storm you could see a shifting blackness. Something that was distorted and moved about frantically. Then, the whispers stopped and all seemed quiet save for the raging storm that buffeted you. Then, it was as if your heart stopped. Your breath slowed to a halt and you blood froze despite the blistering heat. There was no thought running through your mind. Only an instinct, an instinct to run and hide. You knew what you saw. It's eyes were the pale milky white-blue of pearls. Terrible teeth sharper than the jagged peaks that surrounded the Badlands. An Angel had come for you.
Third Sphere:
Your legs are lightning. They strike the shifting sand beneath you and do their best to propel you forward, further into the storm and away from the threat that was the Angel. And just like before, you could name it. The very moment you stared into those horrid, sickly pale eyes, you knew.
Principality It rang out in your mind and also drove you further. You dare not look back. It's song crashed through the sand, multiplying into different other voices. Distinct, impossible to mistake for anything else. They pursue you through the storm, ready to murder you. The fact only pushes you to run even more. You trudge through the sand, climbing rising and falling dunes as you try and make your escape.
As you make your way along you notice the storm letting up slightly. The further you went, the less dense it was and you could see a bit ahead of you. But you could also see behind you, catching your first full glance at the Principality. They ran on all four limbs though they were bipedal. They carried large scepters in their mouths and wore jagged crowns of white crystal. These beasts hounded after you, and they were much faster. They'd catch up to you in a matter of seconds if you continued in a straight line. You had no means of self-protection and Spike was nowhere to be found. You were completely alone and useless. Soon you break through the storm, once again being baked in the sun's full power. Behind you they emerged and there were more than you thought you saw.
Now running across open desert, you head in no particular direction as you flee. But one wrong step twists your ankle and you go head first into the hot sand. Desperately you try and pick yourself up before it's too late. But you feel something looming over you. You knew what it was, but you weren't going to acknowledge it, you were only concerned with surviving and you couldn't afford to stop here. As soon as you find your feet, you can't move forward. Only now do you look back to see that the Angel's scepter is plunged deep into the sand, keeping your cloak in place. Seeing them close up was anything but pleasant. It made you want to vomit at the sight of them.
The Principality opens its impossibly wide jaw and you get a full view of the many rows of teeth that sat inside. Your head would have been bitten off had you not ducked and wrestled yourself free from your cloak. Now without the restriction of your cloak, you found that you could move faster. But not being active for eons proved to tire you easily and soon your lungs are burning and coming to a gradual stop like a ill oiled machine. Collapsing, you can go no further. There was no sign of anyone for miles and you were alone. Around you swarmed the Angels. You could do nothing but stare, and then wait for death. You got lucky once on the ship, but now there was absolutely nothing you could work with that gave you the slightest chance of surviving. And so you resign yourself. You stand, exhausted and weary. You watch them closer and they do the same. They circle you, sizing you up before going in for the kill.
Suddenly, there is a slight tremor beneath you. It throws you off and almost sends you falling. Around you, the Principalities' heads dart around, searching for any sign of it's source. You can't help but do the same, but there is nothing but sand in one direction and the passing storm in the other. It took awhile before you noticed, but the tremors were still going, though very slight and subtle. The sand beneath you was beginning to shift and churn. Among you the Angels stirred in their place, clenching their scepters tightly. Without warning they spring into the air, shrieking terribly and pointing their rods at you. They fell towards you, and you had no hope of escape.
Luck must have been synonymous with your name. For you did not die that very moment. Instead a force from beneath the sand came to your aid. All around you the sand leaped into the air. It being a catalyst for the beings who dwelled within it. You catch various shades of brown, red, and black. Great horned beasts sprang from the ground and met the Angels in mid-flight. Tackling them from the sky and tearing them apart with fire.
They stood on hind legs resembling that of dogs. Long, obsidian black horns with fiery manes. Around you there were about seven of them. And even more burst from the sand. They were Djinn. Spirits of the sands and lords of fire. You read about them in Starswirl's book. They could either be a terrific help or a terrible blight. You hope they were the former. They had humanoid bodies, but shared traits with jackals. Their fiery red hair was said to be fire itself, and from what you could see, it certainly looked to be that way. Smoke poured from their snarling mouths as they stared the Angels down. Daring them to move. Anticipating the first sign of violence.
Then it happens. As if commanded by a single mind, the Angels attack. Around you all hell breaks loose. The violence around you would be enough to throw you into shock. Without thinking, you push yourself to move. First a walk that breaks into a jog, and then into a full-on sprint. Your body didn't know when to quit. Around you sand was tossed up and Angels were thrown about. From the sky a Djinn pile-drived an Angel headfirst into the sand right next to you, the impact blowing you away. Rolling down the side of a dune you can't believe how afraid you are. But you persevere and get on your feet.
The sound of fighting and roaring fire is well behind you now. In your sprint you look around desperately and find a small crevice in the ground. You immediately make a B-line for it. The inner workings of your body are about to cave from exhaustion. But your almost there. Just a few more feet. But all seems lost when a single black hand shoots up from the sand and wraps it's terrible black claws around your ankle. You catch yourself with your hands as you fall. Looking back you see a single Principality crawl out from the sand, the heavy scepter clutched tightly in it's other hand. Again you're faced with danger that seems inescapable. But your innate skill of luck protected you thus far, and will continue to do so.
As if on cue, a Djinn lands over you. Standing between you and the Principality. It gives a mighty heave and then unleashes the awesome inferno in it's lungs. The fire seemed to coil around the Principality's body like a snake. Slithering about it until it wrapped around like heavy chains that soon compressed and spread all over its body. The Angel's shrieks of pain could be heard for miles, as well as the Djinn's victorious roars. And just like that, it was seemingly over. You lay motionless, too tired to even move. Above you the Djinn stares at you over his shoulder. It's eyes a golden yellow and fiery red, they burned with the heat of the desert. Others joined you, they crawl out from the sand and inspected you. One grabs you by your leather chest-plate and pulls you up on your feet. It dusts you off, careful not to cut you with it's sharp jet black claws. You would speak, but doubt they'd be able to understand. Instead you opt for silence and observe them. They looked to one another, gesturing and looking about themselves as if communicating with each other.
Eventually the tallest one nods and clasps it's firm grip on your shoulder. What happened next was a feeling that was impossible to replicate. You turned to sand. You could feel as every cell in your body seemingly fell apart and joined the grains of sand below. It wasn't painful, but nowhere near pleasant either. From your feet to your arms you could feel yourself falling apart. Your insides also crumbled away into dust. It reminded you of when you awakened from stone. You no longer had eyes but you could see the vast desert. You no longer had ears, but could hear the slight sounds the wind made against the dunes. And you moved.
You moved on the wind along with the other Djinn. It was like moving at light speed. You had no idea where they were taking you, but you dare not fight back, lest they rip you apart. Then you see ahead of you, a caravan of ponies setting up camp and tending to the wounded. You instantly recognized them and felt relief to see them again. And just like that you were becoming whole again. Piece-by-piece you felt your body build itself back up into that of human shape. Once again, you don't know if it's painful or not. But it was a very terrifying and weird feeling.
"Anon?!" A familiar voice falls on your ears. While you're busy hacking up pieces of sand from your lungs, Spike pats you on the back. Trying to ease the pain. You spy Celestia speaking with the creatures that helped you in your time of need. She seems to know them well. She thanks them, telling them they've been a great help. And that couldn't be further from the truth. They saved your life.
"Where were you? After the storm hit, you just sort of...disappeared!" Spike offers you water and you snatch it from him. Downing the entire thing without stopping.
"gasp ....Our first day and I nearly died!" You fall back on your backside and rest, finally able to take a reprieve.
"Come now Anon. Complaining won't get you anywhere. You knew what this was when you signed on." Celestia says. When you look up, the Djinn are already gone. Celestia now sits beside you, her wings brushing off any loose sand on you. "So what exactly happened?" She asks. To which you give no immediate reply. You don't really know what happened, except for the storm and suddenly being far away from everyone else. Stupid magic desert.
"I can't say. But what is your relation with the Djinn? And what happened here? I see wounded, was there trouble?" Celestia now looks to the camp and Spike retrieves supplies for a fire from his bag.
"After you disappeared we were attack by Angels. They weren't like the ones we faced on the airship or in Everfree. With each new appearrance they seem to evolve... The Djinn say you encountered them too. What were they?"
"They were Principalities."
[PLAY ]
She grows silent. Pondering the beasts that plague your journey. You are also silent, thinking again about what your connection to them might be.
"Everytime they attack, I am able to name them. For why, I cannot say. But I think the answer lies in Agartha."
You look to the south, the tower now visible once more. And to your amazement, it wedged the sky in half. The sun had began to set on the western mountains, painting the sky in heavy oranges, pinks, and reds. While on the eastern side the sky was surrendering to the dark blues and purples of the night sky. It was quiet now. Soon the day will be over and you'll be able to rest. Attacked twice in one day. You were beginning to throw yourself into the habit of running for your life. Spike's breath ignited the fire in the stone circle and sat once more, scribbling in his journal.
"Y'know, despite all that's happened today, I'd say it's kinda peaceful now." Spike says, thumbing through the pages.
And he was right. The daylight had not yet faded, but it was less than half the sky now. Stars marched on across the sky and shinned overhead. You had seen the night before, but never have you seen it so clearly. In Canterlot, there were far too many lights in the city to properly stargaze. And aboard the Radiant Dawn there were many clouds in the sky that night. But this was the desert. There were no such clouds to block your view, no lights to outshine the stars. And so you saw the whole of the heavens. A mix of dark blues and deep purples complimented by fading oranges and pinks.
"Yes, quite peaceful." Celestia said, now shifting her position to lay on the blanket she had laid for herself. "But this is just the beginning. We walked far today, but tomorrow we must walk even further."
You sat with your hands in your lap, your feet spread apart. Calmly watching the fire, observing the flames flicker back and forth. You felt at ease. Sure you had a long way to go, but you made it through the first day and that was an accomplishment in and of itself.
"You guys want to say anything to Twilight before I send it off?" Spike asked. You look to him. You hadn't noticed him scribbling on the scroll until now.
"Tell her goodnight for me. And to not worry too much about us here." Celestia said. She now rested her head on her hooves and watched the individual grains of sand tumble along the surface with the wind. Spike looks to you, silently asking the same question.
"Tell her I also said goodnight."
He nods, writing down your requests before burning it. You watch as the green flame carries the letter into the sky and up to the north. The sky was dark now. The only light coming from the fire and the many stars in the sky. In the distance, the tower was hardly visible. Only an ominous silhouette that patiently waited for you. For that was all stone could do; be patient and wait.
Time passed well into the night and you sat up, resting your arm on your propped up knee. Spike was now asleep. He dug himself into the sand to stay warm. You found it funny how he looked like a fossil of some kind. You weren't sure if Celestia was awake, for she had turned on her side and faced away from you. You wonder to yourself, what would she be thinking if she were awake? For a long while you watch her. For no particular reason you stared, engraving her into your memory. Then her wing twitched and her ears stood on end instead of drooping down the back of her head like before. Slowly she rose up, sighing. Celestia looked about her for a moment, then noticed your staring.
"Watching over me why I slept? I'm flattered." She teased. Her words broke you from the stare and it just now registered that she had spoken.
"Forgive me, I was in thought."
Her eyes are curious now and she raised herself even higher to get more comfortable. "About what? What troubles you?"
You stare at her for a long time. So many thoughts ran through your mind tonight, it would be impossible just to settle on one. But you chose one. A question that's been sitting on your mind ever since you set out.
"We are friends aren't we?"
The question gingerly leaves your lips, somewhat afraid to find the answer. Celestia cranes her head to the side. You could see that she found the question odd and out of place.
"Of course we are. Why wouldn't we be friends?" She smiles. It makes you feel a bit better inside, but..
"If we do discover that I have some sort of connection with the Angels, what will you do?" You choke out the next words, finding yourself afraid and now dreading to know the answer. "Will you kill me?"
You didn't look at her now, instead you stared off into the blackness around you. Celestia became guarded and now sat upright. She was silent, but you were okay with that. You didn't find yourself needing an answer so quickly.
"Originally, I had been prepared to take your life, yes." Now you look at her. Her giant magenta eyes staring back at you apologetically.
"But you are my friend, Anon. You're just as important to me as Twilight, Spike, and everyone else I have come to know. If your death lies at the end of this journey, it will not be my hooves. For I could never kill a friend, it is not in my nature."
You can sense the honesty in her voice. She meant that completely and wholeheartedly. Celestia loved you just as much as she loved anyone else, and you were important to her. It was comforting, very much so.
"And come now, you can't die until we find all the answers, right?" You nod. It almost slipped your mind, the question you wanted answered so desperately. Inside your pocket, you feel the round stone burning a hole in your pocket. It was a main piece to the puzzle, you were sure of it.
"Are you afraid of dying, Anon?" She asks.
Just until now you have never truly thought about 'dying'. Sure you thought that you could die and that it would be highly likely. But you never thought of actually being dead.
"I imagine that it is a sort of sleep, that lasts for a very long time. I've have already experienced something similar, in the stone. But I can hardly remember it now. The memory and feeling fades with each passing day. So, I can't say if I'm afraid or not, it will happen eventually. I'm more concerned with the how rather than the if or when ."
A cool desert night's wind blows through the camp and jostles the flames. Spike buries himself even deeper inside his depression. Looking over to Celestia, you see she isn't there. In a panic you start to search frantically. Darting your eyes around the camp to see where she had gone. Before you can call to her you feel something wrap around your chest and pull you back. It was her wing. A massive white blanket of feathers laying gently cross you. You feel her on your back, her body supporting you comfortably. Looking up, you can see her beautiful smile.
"Rest easy tonight, Anon." She once again rested her chin on her forelegs. When you looked down, her eyes were already closed, the features of her face relaxed and peaceful. You felt awkward, wrapped in her wings. Sort of shy and hesitant to doze off. It was rare that you had the chance to speak with Celestia in the manner of which you did tonight. For you, it had worked a sort of magic and you were at ease. Tonight you could sleep unguarded and peacefully by her side. A happy feeling welled within you as you finally relented and bayed your eyes close. The gentle up and down of her breathing lulled you into a comfortable sleep. And the warmth you felt, even through the leather that she wore, warmed you thoroughly. It would be something to suggest to Spike, you thought to yourself. You ask yourself no more questions as you doze off into a deep sleep.
You were asleep now. Or had you been? A sudden feeling in your stomach, similar to the feeling of falling, shattered your sleep and woke you to a dark void. It was darker than the desert's night. Darker than the deepest recesses of space. And cold like the northern winds. Where were you? How did you come to be here? In this place between nothing and something. Did you have a body? It was too dark to see, the darkness was void of any light. Was this a dream? But you felt wide awake, completely sober and lucid. So why had you come here? You call into the darkness, half-expecting an answer. But to your surprise, you -do- hear an answer. An answer accompanied by a familiar voice.
//Hello again.\
Your eyes shot open wide and your fists immediately clenched. It was the Voice. It somehow called you here within your sleep. But how was such a thing possible?
"Why am I here?"
You ask the darkness. For a time there is nothing. Then the Voice replied, its voice indifferent as always.
//You were attacked today. By Principalities. We saw.\
The name stayed in the air for a few moments before it finally settled in your ears.
"Yes. What of it?"
The fact that the Voice knew of the attack disturbed you to say the least. What else had it known? It even knew their specific names. It knew more than it let on. It would be wise to try and gather all the information you could from it.
//Do you truly not remember? The reason these 'Angels' are so keen to destroy you?\
It's tone was a lot sharper now. Almost spiteful in a way.
"I do not. Why? Is it something I should know?"
//It is something you will discover, given time.\
It annoyed you that your question was avoided. It obviously knew why, but withheld the reason from you.
"Why am I here?"
You ask again. The Voice sounds far off. Like someone shouting from twenty yards off.
//You are here so that we may help you. Serve you as council so that you may reach Agartha without harm.\
Council? That was absurd.
"And why should I trust you? I know absolutely nothing about you or what lies in Agartha, let alone this desert. I've almost died a number of times today!"
The void echoed your voice for miles. And you could hear it boom back at you. After it was gone, the dark fell silent.
//Trust is not an issue. But we know you will take our advice if we gave it to you. Would you not?\
You grit your teeth. Of course you would, but for what reason was that? Ah, but you knew full well why.
//Your hunger for knowledge. Your lust for the answers to all your queries. That is why you would listen to us. For we know you and we know the way!\
"What does that mean? You know me?"
//In time.\
The voice continued on, completely disregarding your question.
//In your world, you are completely defenseless against the onslaught of the Angels. Eventually you will succumb to their attacks and perish in the sand before ever stepping foot in the tower.\
The voice grew silent now, like it was checking to see if you were still listening. You were, and it continued.
//You will come across a native race of the desert. They alone have the weapons to completely destroy an Angel.\
You think on it. It intrigued you to say the least, and once again you found your curiosity piqued.
"Where are they to be found?" You ask. It replies, now sounding tired and weary. You could tell from it's next reply that it was fading into the shadows.
//They will find you. Now we must leave you. The sun has risen in your world. Stay high in both mind and spirit, and you will find your way. 'Anon'\
It emphasizes your name at the end and it sends a chill up your spine. Had it known your true name? It was certainly something you had forgotten about. The thought of your proper name pulled at you. Did it truly know you more then you knew yourself? Only time could tell you that and you felt yourself fall into that dark expanse and into reality. When you woke, you would have much to talk about with Celestia.
The sand was slowly crawling onto your face before you awoke, threatening to bury you alive. It kept you warm, though agitated you as you tried to open your eyes. Around you, everyone had already started to pack and prepare for the march. You sit up and look about you. Spike was sketching down a large scorpion that made its way across the sand, but Celestia was gone. It's awhile before you move to stand, gaining the attention of Spike who greets you good morning.
"Where is the princess? I must speak with her."
Spike shrugs and lazily points a claw towards the sky. "She said something about surveying the land. She'll be back in a bit, she wanted me to tell you to get ready to move out." Spike says, instantly going back to his journal.
"Ah. Then how are you Spike? Did you sleep well?"
"Aside from the sand, I slept pretty good. Best sleep I had in awhile actually. I'm ready for another day of walking."
"I wish I could say the same. I had a dream."
Spike now looks at you curiously, pausing his drawing and glancing at you. "A dream?" he asks.
You nod and move to take a seat next to him. You tell him about the first time you heard the Voice and since then. About the strange images that came to you and about the strange feeling you got when you looked upon an Angel.
"I think it all must have something to do with this.." You retrieve the round stone from your pocket and hold it out to Spike. He looks at it, and then looks to you for answers.
"What is it?" He asks, taking it from your palm to study it closely.
"That's just it, I have no idea."
Spike looks at it more closely now. Trying to make out the strange symbols etched into its surface. "Huh... Well, whatever it is, we'll find out together. Maybe it's some sort of key."
"I imagine so."
He hands the stone back to you and you take it, giving it your own study. At this moment you hear the flapping of giant wings and a shadow is cast over you two. It was Celestia.
"Good morning Princess, did you find anything!?"
You call to her as she soars above you like a gentle desert bird. Celestia lands within five paces of you, the sand yielding to her weight. She greets you and Spike before taking a seat, drinking from her water pouch.
"As a matter of fact I did. An oasis not far from here. About an hour's walk. We'll head there and get out of the sun for a time, then move on." You listen, but can't help but think back to the dream you had the night before. You think of what the Voice said, of its advice .
*//You will come across a native race of the desert. They alone have the weapons to completely destroy an Angel.\*
It edged your nerves and you didn't exactly look forward to what the day would bring.
"Did you happen to see anything else?" You ask.
Celestia shifts her focus to you directly now, frowning. "No. There's nothing but sand for miles.." She was right in that statement. The fact that there was an oasis was amazing in and of itself.
"Anyway, did you have a pleasant sleep Anon?" She asks, smiling, to which you blush surprisingly.
You had completely forgotten that you fell asleep by her side, and that she was the reason for your calm.
"Yes, I did. Although..." She frowns again and cocks her head to the left. Celestia could feel you growing tense as you prepare to repeat what you've just told Spike.
"Last night, I had another dream. the Voice came to me." Celestia was now hushed. She moved closer to you, as if the two of you were exchanging secret information.
"The Voice? Go on.."
She seemed cautious, and rightfully so. You weren't even sure if you could trust it. But it was the only thing you had to go on and you were desperate for answers.
"It said that today, we are to find a people native to the Badlands. They will aide us in our journey, provide us with weapons to fight the Angels."
Celestia remains silent, intent on listening. Spike was also listening, though for a second time. You could tell he was very interested in whatever went on concerning the journey.
"The Voice did not tell me who they are or where... But it apparently wants to help us reach Agartha. It said it witnessed everything that happened yesterday, I was defenseless and it knew that." A heavy silence fell on the three of you. Celestia now spoke up, half surprising you.
"Are we to wait for them? Or go searching?"
"That's just the problem. The Voice said that they will find us."
Celestia was silent for a long while. She thought heavily on what to do, more so on whether or not to trust the 'voice' that spoke to you inside your head. She finally spoke, reaching a decision.
"Then we'll make for the oasis and await them there. We'll give them one day, if they do not make themselves known, we'll move on." She stood, as if the decision was final. It didn't sit right with you so you spoke up, stopping her from turning and leaving.
"I think we should wait however long it takes. Though I find it hard to completely trust the Voice, it has lead me up to this point. I believe what it says and I think we should wait longer than a day. We could really make use of the weapons."
Celestia stopped and turned back to you, the frown never leaving her face. "It's not that I do not believe you. It's the fact that remaining in one spot for too long is sure to attract danger. We'll be attacked eventually and I rather not be easy to find."
"There's nowhere to hide in this desert, Princess. They'll find us as easily as anywhere. But I have to admit there is another reason." Celestia was curious again, her eyes wanting more information.
"The Voice says it knows me. And I think it does, quite so. If it knows the people we'll contact then maybe they have some connection to myself and humans. The fact that they even posses weapons capable of fighting Angels is something worth investigating."
Celestia was silent once more, thinking heavily on the proposal. A moment passes, and a moment more before she relents.
"Very well... But I want you to be cautious. Whoever it may be that we encounter, could very well be dangerous." You nod and watch as Celestia leaves you to attend to the camp.
It's surprising that you got her to agree with you. It's not easy to change the mind of a thousand year old being. Then again, you were much older than her and maybe that equated to your persuasion skill.
"An oasis huh? You think there'll be some kinda of animals there?" Spike approached you, his journal now packed away into the side pocket of his rucksack.
"Maybe. I have to say that I'm curious myself, but what could possibly survive out here in the desolate plain?"
"Who knows? You'd be surprised by what can live in what. Some dragons can swim in lava y'know?"
"You're able to swim in lava?"
Spike shrinks away slightly, his eyes finding the ground.
"Well, I can't. Not yet at least. But maybe one day I'll be able to do things other dragons do."
"I'm sure one day you shall, Spike. By the way, what have you been writing in your journal? I've noticed you've taken quite a liking to it." Spike's eyes once again find yours and he immediately reaches into his rucksack to retrieve to small, quickly becoming full, journal.
"I've been writing down everything that's happened. I want to catalog everything that happens on my first adventure. Maybe one day I'll publish it so other ponies can read it!" He flips the pages in front of you but you can barely make out it's contents.
"I still have a lot left to fill in but I should be able to get it all down."
"Good. We may need your notes along the way." You ruffle the top of his keffiyeh, slightly moving it off center. The both of you speak more, just until Celestia beckons you over to start the march. The sun is almost at it's peak and the desert was just now starting to fully awake.
It was hotter than it was yesterday. While it had been the sort of dry heat you had expected of a desert, today it was humid moist. It made your clothes stick to you in a way that made you feel like a sweaty beast. Everyone else were no different. Progression was slowed as the sun reached it's high perch in the sky above you. It's light bouncing off the sand and into your eye shielded eyes. You'd constantly have to remove your goggles, wipe around the insides and replace them over your eyes. It annoyed you. Spike dragged his feet behind you. Now carrying the large sack behind him as opposed to carrying it on his back.
Celestia on the other hand trotted along merrily as if nothing was the matter, paying little attention to your pitiful state. She knew the sun all her life. As well as its heat. So why would it effect her in the slightest? The spring in her step was enough to push you a bit forward, to catch up with her at least.
"Ugh...how far is it?" Spike groaned from behind you.
"Not far now. In fact, just over this dune." Celestia came to a halt ahead of you, taking refuge in the shade of the large dune that climbed over you.
"Can't we just go around it?" Spike said with a heavy sigh.
"I agree with Spike. I'm not sure I have the energy to make such a climb..."
Celestia's eyes meets yours and she turns to look at the many ponies who trail behind her. Many could be seen collapsing and staggering back and forth. Some rocking side to side, lightly jostled by the desert wind.
"Right. Perhaps it would be great an effort to climb. Around we'll go then." She said with a smile and trotted along the base of the dune.
You sigh and follow her, the herd slowly turning to the right as the follow their leader around the miniature mountain. One thing the dune was good for was that it provided shade and allowed you refuge. Spike's sack now returned upon his shoulders and he reveled in the cool air underneath the upturned sand. And as far as you could tell, so did everyone else. After successfully clearing the roundabout you can make out the hushed tones of green in the hazy heat of the desert and Spike is already charging ahead of you at the first shout of water.
Now every pony in the herd charged, breaking formation and making a b-line straight ahead. You laugh as the sudden rush knocks you off balance and the breeze sending a pleasant chill down the back of your neck. Celestia joins in your laughter as she helps you regain your bearings.
"I didn't think everyone would be so happy at the sight of a little pond."
"Nor did I. But you've all been in the sun for a very long time, must be torture for you all." Celestia says while giving a gentle smile.
"My clothes are practically a second skin now. I think I ought to bathe before we set out again."
Celestia laughs, the corners of her mouth turned up in a fit. Two feathers find their way to your collar and pinch the edge, drawing it back to reveal the droplets of sweat on the back of your neck.
"Yes, you could use a bath." She giggled again. The both of you share a laugh as you approach the small oasis and join the rest.
Tall, almost towering palm trees hung over head, providing plenty of shade. Exotic plant life and strange, reptilian creatures were scattered throughout the vegetation. Spike had plucked a peculiar fruit from one of the smaller palms and held it in his claws. It was round, yet edged and jagged. Like someone had cut it with a knife, compromising it's roundness. It had tiny hairs on it which gave it the appearance of being alive. He bit into it, and his eyes shot open in shock. It's juice flowed freely from Spike's mouth and he made a sound similar to that of a child's delight. He hastily handed you another one of the strange fruits and you took a bite. Curious of the source of his excitement.
The taste was unreal. It was the sweetest thing you've ever tasted. So sweet, you thought yourself a bee tasting nectar for the first time in it's life. You too made a sound of delight and passed one to the princess. Upon tasting the fruit she merely fell over. Taken so far aback by the sensation in her mouth. Once she came out of her hysteria she ate a few more and ordered that ever single one be pluck from their trees and packed away, as well as some the seeds. She even went as far as to name the new fruit after Spike. Calling it 'Spike-Apples'. A cheer erupted from the crowd of ponies as they all partook in the newly dubbed 'Spike-Apples'. Soon after she wandered off, exploring the oasis with a small team of ponies in hope of finding similar eatables.
You sat off to the side, just a few feet away from the pond with Spike. He was showing you more things he drew in his journal. And once again you were impressed by his talent. It wasn't long before a shy-looking stallion wandered over to you. His coat was a mocha brown and his mane a was a deep black which was pulled back tightly into a pony tail, which presented his very defined features and deep auburn eyes. He was taller than most. Around his neck hung a sandy scarf that hung over his chest. You recognized him immediately. He was captain of the company escorting you through the Badlands. His name was unfamiliar to you however and you only knew him by the slender canon held in place by two metal prongs presented on his flanks.
He introduced himself as Howitzer, though he often went by Howl and took a seat next to you and Spike. You hand him a Spike-Apple and he takes it kindly, leaning back on the itchy palm tree behind him.
"Hello Captain Howl, did you need something by chance?" You ask. After taking a bite he spoke, his voice soft, yet authoritative in its tones.
"Good day, Master Anon. I had hoped to speak to you since my briefing in Canterlot." You felt a tinge of embarrassment whenever anyone referred to you with the prefix of master . You always corrected it, claiming it was unfit to call a friend 'master'.
"Anon is just fine, Howl." You say. "You wanted to speak with me?"
No doubt he wished to know more about the strange being that he was to escort to an ancient city deep in the most dangerous place in Equestria.
"Yes. In fact I have many questions. Some that don't need answering right away, but others.."
"Ah, no doubt you want answers to the strange happenings. More so the Angels." Howl stared at you stunned. It wasn't a tough guess. You expected to be approached about it at some point by one of the soldiers.
"You must be a mind reader." He said, laughing to himself.
"Not at all. But I can guess what you may be wondering."
"Ah, so you must have an answer for me then? Of the beasts we fought yesterday?" Howl perked up. Now ready for your answers. But when you admitted that you didn't have any such answers, his expression was confused and his ears fell on their sides. You explained how you had no memory of who you were or where exactly you came from. Or the Angels that sought to destroy you. But that you were able to name them and that was all.
"Name them? Those beasts have names?"
You nod and you ask Spike for his journal. Flipping through the pages you stop at a sketch of an Archangel. You speak the name aloud and Howl echoes it back, letting it's name sink in.
"And you say you have absolutely -no- knowledge of them? Whatsoever?"
"Aye."
If Howl was worried by this, he didn't let it show. He still wore the same smile he had when he first approached you. He sighed, sinking further to the ground and resting his forehooves behind his head.
"We're in for a long journey then." He said chuckling.
For the next hour the three of you sat and exchanged small talk. You got to know a bit more about Howl and where he came from. And in turn he learned what little you knew about yourself and Spike's stories of Princess Twilight and her friends. However, you're interrupted when a soldier hastily approaches Howl. The stallion whispers in his ear, Howl's expression falling from cheery to worried.
"For how long..?" He asks quietly. You and Spike glance at each other, feeling the mood quickly shift into a heavier atmosphere. Moments pass before Howl stands and you can see the focus of the camp shift to the northern end of the oasis.
"Has the princess been informed?" Howl asks.
"Aye sir, just before I came here. She's already made to approach them. She's asked for the hum-" The younger stallion glances at you before continuing. "Master Anon." You made to stand, Spike quickly setting his journal aside to join you. Howl nods and the messenger is away.
"What has happened?" You ask.
"We were followed..." Howl says as he trots away. Now everyone was moving towards the northern edge of the oasis and through the bush you could see Celestia make her way across.
"Followed..?"
You found it odd to say the least. Who'd follow you through such a heat and windy sands. Could it be..? You immediately start off, following the momentum to the edge of the oasis. Once there, you approached Celestia, who stands patiently, eyeing the small mass adjacent to her through small binoculars.
Through the haze of the desert heat, you could somewhat make out their shape. They were four-legged, but had very distinct upper bodies. You've never seen the like before until now.
"Any idea who they may be?" You ask.
Celestia is silent for a long while before handing the binoculars to you. "You're not going to believe this." She says as you take the lenses in your hand. You remove your goggles from your eyes and peer through the dark holes of the binoculars. Through them the light of the desert flashes before your eyes adjust and you move to focus on the mass ahead of you.
"By the Styx..."
What you saw marveled you. You stared in awe at the impossibility of it. Through the lenses and over the many dunes that separated your party and theirs, stood Centaurs. You watched them as they approached. They were stark, towering like giants. They moved in unison and looked uniform. The same colored coat, the same muscle structure, the same chiseled features on their faces. And they all shared the same hazel colored eyes. The centaurs gave off an air of aloofness and look upon you with indifference. They now stood just five feet ahead of you, Celestia, Spike, and Howl. The others all watching from the shade.
No one made to speak first. Not even Celestia, who you could see studied them, never having seen them before. And nor they she, for they stared at her in slight curiosity. The leader, who you assumed, wore a cloak of the deepest red, a golden symbol of a star embroidered on it. He stepped forth, his massive legs crushing the sand beneath his hooves. He was particularly taller than the rest, and his hair trailed down like a mane and connected to his broad back. He spoke.
"You the Thealantro." He said. "Human." He pointed. His finger finding you.
You stood still, daring not to move. It surprised you, his language sounded just a tad bit different from your own. Then it occurred to you. He spoke just as you spoke when you first awakened. Before now, you had trouble completely understanding Equestrian language, which you had discovered was only slightly different from your native tongue. You spoke back, your voice slightly trembling with half excitement and fear.
"Yes. I am human. Do you know me?"
He said nothing at that. Instead his gaze shifted to Celestia, who was just a head shorter than he.
"You are Celestia. The one who moves the sola discus." This time, instead of pointing, he bowed. As well as the others about him. And even as he did, he was still very tall and massive. Celestia was visibly taken aback. Surprised, just as the ponies were around her, that these strange beings threw themselves at her hooves. She in turn, bowed to them out of politeness. And you did the same. The centaur arose and once again stood over you. He placed a hand over his heart before speaking.
"I am Ro'Jetty El'Hadaan, son of Ro'Bahram Delancha. We have seen your coming, and welcome you to The Sand."
The Sand? So this was their home? You thought to yourself. They lived here, in this scorching desert of fiery sand. You wouldn't have believed it if Spike hadn't told you of dragons who bathed in magma.
"I thank you, Ro'Jetty. But, how do you know of us?" Celestia asked.
The centaur looked about you all. Studying the many unique faces of ponies, a dragon, and human. A hint of a smile creased his lips as his hazel eyes found yours.
"The Citarum see many things on the desert winds. When the human awoke, our wise men saw it as a sign. I've been told that I would find you here, and found you I have."
Ro'Jetty smiles gently now. Seemingly more friendly than before. He stretches out his massive hand to you, his palm turned outward in a handshake. You found it funny, how your hand was so tiny in comparison. Celestia looks on, curious. Spike has been so fixated on the strange new happening that he can't take his eyes off of Ro'Jetty.
"We have much to talk about. Come, gather your belongings and let us be on our way." With that, he slowly turned away to join the other centaur. Now you moved closer to Celestia, who had been almost completely silent this entire time.
"What do you make of this, Anon? Centaurs! I've seen many things but never once did I dream of seeing a centaur!" She said, staring at Ro'Jetty as he returned to his party.
"And did you ever think to meet a human?"
"Oh of course not! But humans must be good luck. I've seen so many new things these past two days. Remind me to thank you at a more suitable time." She smiled wholeheartedly as she brushed passed you to relay the news to the soldiers who awaited her on the fringes of the oasis. Now only Spike, Howl, and yourself remained. Howl shifted from right to left in his stance. Eyeing down Ro'Jetty and his party with hostility. It unnerved you
"Captain Howl, is something wrong?" You ask. Wanting to address the matter and be done with it before it caused any trouble. His gaze doesn't leave the centaurs, but he speaks. Very softly, as if conspiring.
"They followed us. For miles, without any of us noticing... Doesn't that bother you?" You think to yourself. Why should it bother you? You had reason to believe they would be a great help. Did it matter if they moved across their homeland unseen to you?
"It does not. But I'm sure it bothers you. I warn you Howl, no good comes of unjust suspicion." He now turns to you. Staring you in the eye as if he was insulted somehow.
"Nor does it pay good will to be ignorant. Hear this: watch them. Everything we've encountered here has been out to kill us. For all we know they could be Angels in disguise." Howl leaves you before you could reply. Now it was just you and Spike who watched the oasis team with life as ponies moved back and forth.
"Wow...a real life centaur. Who would've guessed!?" Spike was scribbling away at a letter, excited to send it to Twilight as fast as he could. "She'll never believe it!" He cried out before setting it aflame.
"I can hardly believe it. A cross between human and horse. It makes you wonder.."
"Makes you wonder what?" Spike asked. But you stared off, your eye trying to find Celestia among the bushes and tall palms. Horses and humans, eh? You thought to yourself once more.
"It is nothing. Come Spike, we must make ready!"
You marched onward, Ro'Jetty leading the way. He said you were to journey to Tzipuur, their home. Supposedly, it was hidden beneath the sand and that only when one speaks the magic words, the gate way appears. You looked forward to see this strange magic. Now you walked along side Celestia who had been quiet for some time now. She was lost in her own excitement. You didn't doubt that she was compiling a list of questions of which to ask the elders upon your arrival. You had questions of your own, naturally. Questions regarding what Ro'Jetty meant by your awakening being a 'sign'. Once again you felt your curiosity cry out to be fed.
"Do you think they are the people the Voice spoke of?" Celestia asks, now breaking the silence that has accompanied for a long while.
"There's no doubt about it. They must be." You recall what your initial purpose was for meeting them. To acquire weapons in order to fend of the Angel attacks, who seemed to grow more powerful with each day. But now, you were filled with the desire to learn more about them than have them lend you weapons.
"And to think, they would be centaurs. They're so huge, much taller than yourself. They must have lived here for ages." Celestia chuckled at that.
"It's highly possible. This is where the tales came from."
"Yes, which makes me wonder. For them to look so human, what relation do they have to me? It could be possible that some survived the downfall."
"Is that what you think?" She asked.
"I can't be sure. But isn't it fascinating?"
The two of you exchange several different theories along the way. Spike was sending various messages to Twilight; which came frequently. It was well passed noon when Ro'Jetty and his men stopped, halting the entire march. Without looking at you, he spoke.
"We welcome you, to Tzipuur."
Ro'Jetty then turned away. And in one single magical instance, an utterance was made. And at first nothing. And then, as if he had raised Moses' staff into the air, the sand parted. It shimmered as it diverged. A long, deep gash dividing it in a schism, revealing ancient stone steps that led down into a dark cavern. Around you, the soldiers looked on in awe. Even Celestia, who in her long life had witnessed many things, but was still marveled by such a display.
You yourself looked on, feeling the sand blow against you, almost burying your feet in sand. You thought you had heard the words he spoke, but if you did, you had forgotten them as soon as you heard them. The sand finally subsided, and the way was clear to you. Ro'Jetty gave a swing of his trunk-like arm, gesturing you to follow as he started down the steps.
"Well? After you Anon." Celestia nudged you with a wing, pushing you forward.
You nodded and took the lead. Following Ro'Jetty down the steps and into the dark cavern. As the last of you spilled into the darkening stairway, the sand over top of you began to glide across the entrance, covering up what lay beneath. It sounded like the roaring tides. For a moment there was complete darkness and everyone halted from fear of causing an accident. You were about to speak and ask what were you to do with no light, but Ro'Jetty had already whispered another utterance. There, in that cold darkness.
"Lumin a Knakt."
You heard him that time. And it felt strange to hear the ancient words. So familiar, yet so distant in your memory. But with the utterance, light began to shine within the now sealed stair way. Hundreds of small stones, the size of fits began to glow in the wall. Some shining pale blue and deep shades of green. The light trail continued down the steps and into the darkness and the centaurs continued. Spike looked about him, eyeing the stones. It reminded him of the Diamond Dog caves in which he explored together with Twilight.
It felt like an eternity before the steps finally came to an end and you, along with your large party came to a halt. Ahead of you was something you'd never imagine. An entire village embedded in the earth. The hard roof of stone was high above you, and the luminescent stones shined even brighter in this large space. There were many buildings, as small as they were. But in towards the back a great house stood. It looking more like it was carved into the rock. It sloped upward into the wall side, giving it the impression it was an indenture of a building. As you looked about, you saw many centaurs, wide eyes observing you.
"There are so many!" Celestia whispered in your ear. She was so excited to see so many of them in one place. An entire new race for her to befriend and learn about.
Now as you walk through the roads towards the great house you could see the centaur people more closely. They all looked nearly identical, yet so much more unique in their own way. And it became apparent that Ro'Jetty wasn't just exceptionally tall, so were all of them. They were practically giants. They watched you, their heads slowly turning as you passed by. Some approached you, only stopping within feet of your convoy. Some attempted to lay hands on some of the stallions, who shied away, not knowing how to handle the sudden attention. Before long you reached the steps to the great house and Ro'Jetty turned to you.
"I will inform the elders of your arrival. I hope to see you again, Human." Ro'Jetty said. With his men, he turned into the great house and disappeared into it's dark halls.
"A city beneath the sand...." You murmur to yourself.
"Hmm?" Celestia stopped gazing at the wide cavern and turned her attention to you. "Is something on your mind?" She asks. You give it a moments thought, thinking to dismiss it, but deciding to tell her.
"I feel, in some way, at home. Agartha, may have been much like Tzipuur. It's like this place is a rendition of the original. Does it make you wonder Princess? The centaurs I mean. Could they be some descendant race of human origin?"
"Perhaps. Tales of centaurs have been around even longer than I have. Though only in mythos. Now to see them in all their splendor. Well, it's quite remarkable."
Another few moments passed before someone ushered you in. Though only you, the princess, and Spike were permitted to enter. The rest would wait patiently in the courtyard for your return. Howl a lot to say about that. The halls of the great house were dimly lit, the occasional luminescent stone lighting the way ever so slightly. There was no sound, save for the loud echoes of your feet on the cold stone floor. As you passed through the corridor you could hear murmurs. Whispers of you, the only human, and that of a 'Kharo', eternal. But they said little of the small dragon who walked along closely with you.
You came to two large, heavy stone doors. They seemed to stretch high into the ceiling until there was darkness. Intricate carvings edged into the masonry. The centaur who led you stood silently, and motioned you to enter. The doors groaned to life and a sliver of light peered out from where they split and gave way to a large fire in the center of a great council room shaped like a drum. All three of you stepped in and as you looked about you, you saw many centaur. Their faces unseen, hidden by the shifting shadows cast by the dancing fire. They sat on seats that rose with each tier along the swooping walls, going up four rows. Many wore thick grey robes, while some were dressed as Ro'Jetty.
It was silent. The only sound being the crackle of the fire and the closing ancient door behind you. The three of you stood, the epicenter of everyone's focused gaze. Finally, a voice called to you among the shadowed elders that sat patiently. A low, grating voice.
"Child of silenced voices. State your business here in The Sand. Why have you come to our home?"
A single centaur stood. His face was ancient, creased with the wrinkles of time and bearded by his experience. His mane was braided on both sides and swooped backwards down his curved back. He stood adjacent to you, behind the fire pit, the fire reflecting in his old grey eyes.
"We come seeking an answer to a question." You reply. You can see every centaur in the room slight raise higher, now interested in what you have to say.
"Ask your question, thealantro."
Everyone leaned in to hear this great question that had been brought before you. Their gaunt faces becoming more and more interested by the second.
"What befell the humans of Agartha, long ago beneath the earth."
Whispers broke out, those of the council exchanged murmurs between one another. The eldest raised a hand and there was silence once more. He stood in silence for a moment, and then a moment more before finally-
"A great tragedy I can assure you, happened, thousands upon thousands of years ago. Before The Sand, -was- the sand. We may be able to help you, human. For you see, you are like us."
You perked up the slightest bit at that. You exhaled deeply as you felt relief wash over you. As well as excitement.
"Like me? In what way?"
"In many ways. But first, approach us. Let me see you."
His ancient hand beckoned you over and you approached. Walking around the great pit of fire and onto the other side. You now stood before four very old centaurs. Identical, yet distinct. For moments you stood awkwardly, being the subject of everyone's interest. The awed at your form. You were what they were not. Human.
"When we saw your awakening, we did not think you'd return to the Sand. For we thought the Kharo had stolen you from your resting place." He pointed a slender finger at Celesta, who now blushed slightly in the dark room. Stolen? It was hardly her fault, she couldn't have known you'd somehow be alive inside the stone. And what was the purpose of addressing her as 'Eternal'.
"If I was stolen, I have been returned." The elder smiled at that and descended the shallow stairs, his long shadow following him.
"Indeed you have. To uncover the truth behind your people's demise. As did we, to an extent. But alas, child of Agartha, the gateway into the city has remained closed for thousands of years. I'm afraid it is impossible to reach the slumbering city now."
He placed a hand on your shoulder to confide you. It hardly worked. Just hearing the words were a huge blow. You've come this far just to learn that it'd be useless to even enter.
"But you know the city well, don't you? The great city of kings."
"Actually, I do not. I have only the slightest memory of it. Which reminds me. We have been pursued by black beasts called Angels. Have you heard of them?"
The room was taken aback by the mention of the beasts. Many cried out that it was absurd that you had saw them and called you a liar.
"Indeed, we have heard. We know. In our ancient books, they dance along the pages. Proclaiming the downfall of the human race. Yes, we know them well."
"Then...you have means to fight them?" The elder grew silent. He stepped back surprised.
"Yes. We do. But how could you have known..?" You wouldn't dare tell them of the Voice that spoke to you. It was something that made you extremely uncomfortable.
"I knew not. I merely assumed."
"Do not lie to me human. You heard the Vox. The Voice."
A ice cold shiver crawled up your spine and all the hairs on your body stood on end. The room was dead silent once more and the elder's eyes stared into you. How? How could they know of the Voice? Were you not the only one it spoke to?
"Yes... The Voice has spoken to me."
A frown slowly fell onto his face and he clasped his hands behind him. He thought to himself, silently, motionless. Celestia and Spike looked on in confusion. Bemused by the strange happening as they looked around and saw that others did the same. It felt like an eternity before he spoke again.
"My name is Talmon. We have much to talk about, thealantro."
"And that's that. We've come seeking answers, and we may have found them, at last."
Talmon sat in his seat atop the highest tier. The room was empty now, save for the four of you. He had listened to your story thus far. Of your awakening, the trip to Ponyville and the airship attack. With the inclusion of the attack here in the Badlands. Talmon seemed surprised by most of your tails. Especially the bit about Spike being able to destroy Angels with his dragon fire alone.
"And you've come to us, seeking weapons?" He asked, stroking his long, bearded face.
"Yes. We are in great need of them." You, Spike, and Celestia stood side by side at the base of the seats, Talmon looking like a king in his own way.
"I see. But tell me of the Vox. Why did it come to you?" He asked, leaning forward. He had been asking various questions about the Voice since you started.
"I cannot say. Other than it made itself known to me by choice. I was hoping you could give me the answer, Master Talmon." He was silent for a long while. Considering, speculating. You knew he was withholding answers from you. But for what reason you could not know.
"The Voice has been a part of us for as long as our recorded histories. In the old days it served as our council. Guiding us through the Sand and providing for us. We have no knowledge of it's origin. But our wise men think it to have something to do with the ancient city." He paused, slightly unnerved, as if something very cold had just passed through him. "Have you felt the trembles? The quakes that erupt from the earth?" He asked.
"Quakes, Master Talmon?" Then he closed his ancient eyes, leaning his head back, listening.
"Listen human. If you are human then listen to the earth. The quakes that shudder through the sands..."
You looked to Celestia, who only gave a shrug, and you were lost. Talmon was silent, expecting you to do the same, and so you did. Closing your eyes, you try to concentrate on ground you stood on. There was nothing.
"Master, I don't underst-"
"You must listen human! Listen!" He silenced you with a frown. And so you listened. Spike and Celestia looked on in confusion as you focused as hard as you could on any sound you could here. And then they came. The tremors. They were like a beast that roared in the earth. A great, powerful monster that pulled at it's chains. Kept prisoner in the depths of Hades.
"Yes. The tremors... I'd say something awaits you in that city of sleeping stone, should you find it..." He now slowly opened his eyes and peered down at you.
"Could it be the Voice? Maybe it's calling me for a reason. Maybe it needs help!" But Talmon only frowned. His eyes were downcast, staring into the fire behind you.
"Whatever its reasons for calling you to Agartha, I cannot say. But I do think ill of it. The tremors, they unnerve many of us. Our wise men fear it. Our children run and hide from it. And you seek to find it's source."
"It could be the source which defines me. I have to go, I am obliged to go."
"Obliged? By whom? Who has contracted you to make your journey here? To the Sand, come to us and ask four -our- weapons? Who bid you find Agartha, other than your own curiosity?" Now you were silent, void of any response.
"With all due respect, Master Talmon." Celestia spoke up. "If you found yourself to be the last of your kind, without any memories of your prior life. Wouldn't you too seek answers? That's just what Anon wants, and as his helpers we must aid him in whatever way we can." She stepped out, taking center stage as Talmon eyed her from his seat.
"The last... Indeed he be the last, but who's to say it wasn't meant to be? After all, he was the only one found in the stone. Perhaps he was chosen to be the last. To be an echo of his people, and perhaps, to bring us the great knowledge of the humans. Journeying into Agartha is nothing short of death wish."
"If that is so, then he cannot teach if he has cannot remember. I beg you, lend us your arms, so that we may fend off our aggressors." Celestia now bowed her head to Talmon, begging him. A sight that not many have seen in her long life. For her to lower her head to another, was a most humble gesture. But alas, Talmon denied you.
"Even so, the weapons you speak of.... They are sealed. Forbidden of use. They are ancient relics you see, of the time where Angels still roamed freely."
"Forbidden? For why?" You ask. But Talmon stiffens, not wanting to give away too much.
"I am sorry. But it is not my decision alone to make. The council and I will discuss it further, but for now... I think you'd better leave." He clapped his hands and the doors behind you immediately opened.
"You may stay here in the great house until a decision has been made. Know this, I do hope that we are able to help you. "
Ro'Jetty entered the hall and approached you. You turn to Talmon, who now folded his arms in thought. There would be no use arguing further. The council will make their decision, and after that, what's done is done.
"Oh, and before you go. I do encourage you to learn about us. We know many things that may help you on your journey." Talmon said.
You thanked him, and with a heavy heart, you departed with Celestia and Spike. Had the Voice lied to you? No... It hadn't lied thus far, so why would it start now? You just had to have faith. Faith that the council would be reasonable in their decision. Ro'Jetty lead the three of you to the courtyard where the others waited. But when you returned, you found that some had wandered off. Exploring the market place and mingling with the curious centaur folk. Perhaps you should do the same, you thought to yourself.
"What ales you, human?" Ro'Jetty asked as you descended the steps to the great house. His face wasn't necessarily worried, more so just curious.
"Well, I had come here in hopes that your people would be of some help. But now things are more complicated than just that."
"Yes. It would be rather difficult to reach the Tower of Babel without a proper way of defending ourselves.." Celestia said. Ro'Jetty stopped mid-step on the stairway. Surprised by the nature of your quest.
"You mean to approach the tower?"
"Yes? It is our reason for being here. Why? Is there a problem?" Ro'Jetty's expression was curious. Like he had heard something that knocked the wits out of him.
"I've never heard of anyone journeying to Babel. It is sacred ground to us."
"Sacred? In what way?" Celestia asked, moving closer so that he didn't have to be too loud. You all came to a stop in the plaza, sitting by a fountain in the square. The water seemed to be filled with diamonds as it sprang into the air, wanting to touch the roof of the cavern.
"It is said that it is the site of the Aliik'ir. The Downfall. I have studied what little we have of human history all my life, and even I don't know much about it. All I know is that we are to never approach it. Our wise men say that it is a cursed place..." Chills ran up Ro'Jetty's spine. It was comical. Centaurs rarely let their emotion show upon there face. To see him so relaxed around you must have meant that he saw you as friends and not strangers.
"The Downfall. So you believe that it has something to do with the extinction? Ro'Jetty, does Heaven's Door mean anything to you?"
He leaned back, his brow furrowing in thought. "It does not. Is it important?" He asked.
"It could be. Though I'm not sure why." Now you all sat in silence. You watched ponies and centaur alike move about the quiet streets of Tzipuur. Captain Howl, was nowhere to be found.
"Oh! Anon! Show him the stone!" Spike immediately perked up upon remembering the stone. You also perked up and reached into your pocket to retrieve it. It felt just like it always did, fitting perfectly into your palm. Handing it to Ro'Jetty, he inspects it, carefully studying it. Turning it and peering around it's edges to see the many symbols carved into it's surface.
"What is this? Do you know?"
"I do not. But when I awoke, I had it on me. Can you read it?" He studied it a moment more, holding it up to his eye.
"Hmmm, I'll have to do some research, but I do believe I can translate it. In fact, I can do it now if you'd like."
"Really? That'd be very kind of you!" You stood, now excited that you'll finally be able to have some answers.
Ro'Jetty smiled and stood, his cloak falling around him. "In the meantime, you three should have a look around. Tzipuur has many secrets just waiting to be discovered." He bowed to you and then turned away. Making his way up the stairs once more and into the great house before disappearing.
"He's very friendly." Celestia says.
"Yes, he is. I considered asking him to come with us. But I think he'd be against it. Where we're going is sacred land to him. It's a shame."
"Indeed it is." Celestia turned to face the road leading into the market and pointed her dainty nose in the air. She inhaled deeply. "Do you smell that?"
She immediately started trotting off in the direction of the heavenly smell. It took all her willpower not to burst into a gallop as she hastily made her way toward the stalls. You and Spike ran after her, the scent now trickling into your noses as well. It was heavenly. Celestia was already weaving through the crowd, trying to find it's source like a bloodhound tracking game.
Making your way through the crowds, you're jostled from left to right in all directions, trying your hardest to keep up with the princess. Eventually you'd escape the sea of centaurs and find yourself out in the open again. Celestia stood in front of a stall with banners of a dark yellow and blue. A cake-like object sat on the sill and Celestia eyed it obsessively.
"Miss, I'll give you whatever you want for this cake!" Celestia leaned in across the counter. The timid centaur behind it shying away.
"Princess?" You join her at the stall.
"Anon! Help me buy this cake!"
The cake stood two layers high and was adorned with the whitest icing that looked like snow. Gold icing traced around it's edges in intricate patterns and had a single blue gem embedded in the top. It's color scheme reminded you of her and you thought that to be funny.
"What kind of cake is it?" She asked, to which the timid centauress smiled once again.
"It's a Selestia cake."
Your's and Spike's jaws dropped and Celestia began to catch tears in her eyes.
"A cake, named for me.." She sniffled and turned away, holding back her tears. "I must have it!" The centauress smiled brighter this time and nodded.
"Oh of course! It isn't every day you meet royalty. Oh you ponies must live such extraordinary lives! Oh how I've dreamed of journeying up to the surface and exploring and blah blah blah blah-" She continued on, none of you listening as she packed the cake away into a box. She handed it over and you took it in your hands. Celestia thanked her as you walked away. The kind centauress waving. It seemed most of them were friendly after all, despite their aloof manner and stoic expressions.
"Who would have thought centaurs named a cake after Celestia?" Spike said as the three of you made your way around the market.
"It is surprising. Considering how they hardly leave Tzipuur."
"Yeah. But then again, Ro'Jetty said something about seeing on desert winds. They even knew when you broke out of the stone."
"That is true. I wonder what method they use to see as far as Equestria. Could it be some form of magic?" Celestia said.
"If it is magic, it must be something very faint so the barrier can't negate it."
"You think it's the same magic that powers their weap-" Spike stopped mid-sentence as he spotted a stall with various jewels and gems. He immediately broke into a sprint and made a b-line for it.
You followed the gem-struck dragon to the stall where a lazy looking centaur hunched over the edge. His eyes were opening and closing as if in a tug-of-war with himself. Spike pulled himself up so that he could look over the counter, him not being tall enough to see over it otherwise.
"Uhm, excuse me, but how much are you selling those gems for?"
The centaur shook awake, surprised to see the giant emerald eyes staring up at him. He smiled and held his palms outward, welcoming Spike to his stall.
"Ooohhh. You're a dragon, aren'tcha?"
Spike nodded.
"Never seen one of ya' before. Not much comes down here. Say, dragons eat gems, yeah? How about it? Care to try one?" The centaur picked a smaller gem from the edge that hung on a golden chain. It was the deepest green and the light seemed to play delightful games on it's surface. Moving this way and that. Spike's eyes grew wider as he extended his claws to receive the gift.
"Wow! For free? I can give you something in return if you'd like!" He said. But the kind centaur merely swatted dismissively.
"Treat ya' guests like ya' family. Take it, go on! I've got much more, but they'll cost ya' next time." Regardless of what he said, Spike reached into his bag and pulled out a 'Spike-Apple' and handed it to the centaur.
"It's not much, but I'd feel bad if I didn't give you anything back."
It surprised you. You heard that dragons were very greedy and didn't give anything up. But here was Spike, attempting to make a fair trade for a gift.
"Oh, thank ya'. Maybe we can do real business again some time." He extended his hand to Spike, and he took it, both of them shaking on it. Spike let go of the ledge and his connected with the ground once again. Now you all turned to leave, Spike waving back at the nice merchant.
"They are most kind." You said, and the others agreed completely.
The three of you continued to explore the ever vast marketplace. Finding odd shops here and there as you venture around. You ran into some of your soldiers, who you saw, had also been given gifts. One such stallion was adorned with so many gems, he appeared to be a king. Time passed quickly, though you did not know it. For there was no sun to judge the time in Tzipuur. Instead, centaurs told time by the dimming of the stones that lined the ceiling of the giant cavern. Now they looked like tiny dim stars. It was awhile before someone found you and informed you there was to be a feast in the great house, to welcome you more properly.
"A feast? Why we'd be honored." Celestia said with a bow.
So far, they had seemed so kind to you. Was it due to the fact that you were the only outsiders to come here in thousands of years? Or were they just very hospitable? You thought to yourself on the walk back to the great house, the bright street lanterns guiding the way. Spike and the princess made small talk as you thought quietly to yourself. When Celestia noticed this, she proclaimed you thought too much. And that this was to be a night of celebration. You once again made the climb up to the great house and a steward was there to meet you. He had very neat hair and wore very little clothing, for a centaur at least. His only attire being a wesekh of jade.
He lead you through the corridors, now lit more brightly. He lead you down a different path, turning left down on of the many halls. You followed him into a large room, which would house you for your entire stay. It was spacious, on the third floor, a balcony looking over the calming streets of Tzipuur. It reminded Celestia a lot of her room in Canterlot and she strangely felt a tinge of home sickness.
"There is much to do before the feast. The springs for one thing. They are open all night for your use. If you need me, or any other stewards, just give a clap and we'll be here as quick as can be." The steward bowed and you all thanked him as he left the room, closing the door.
Celestia groaned as she collapsed onto her bed, feeling the knots in her back melt away. The product of sleeping in the shifting sands.
"It's so wonderful to have a bed again." She said, her voice muffled by the large pillows. You too had missed a bed these past few days, but you were more concerned with bathing.
"The steward said we have plenty of time before the party. I'll go find the spring, I still need a bath.."
You start by pulling off your breastplate and goggles, throwing them unto the bed and removing your boots. Now only dressed in your pants and shirt. You'd also need to wash your clothes as well. Celestia and Spike saw you off as you journeyed into the halls to ask a steward to guide you. Your feet moved across the cold stone floor as you followed the steward named Ymar. He told you how the great house, the Manarat, was built above geothermal vents which heated the water they pumped into the pool. The spring was five stories down in the basement and the closer you approached, the hotter it became.
Ymar lead you inside. The water was clear enough to see the smoothly tiled floor. A mosaic of a star in it's center. Great stones and other small plants were placed around the room, and the ceiling was painted a light shade of blue to simulate the surface sky. You might as well have been on the surface. Ymar left you, taking your clothes with him to wash. None had entered and it was now silent. The only sounds being the ruffling of your close and you finally stepping into the warm water.
It felt as if you melted the very moment your foot touched the water and you slid in perfectly. You could feel the sand and dirt erode away from you as you leaned back on your elbows. Closing your eyes, you could picture heaven perfectly. It must have felt similar to this. Your back was beginning to loosen up and you reclined further into the water, throwing your head back.
You began to doze a little, not caring much if you fell asleep here and woke up a thousand years from now. Your head lulled side to side, only lightly resisting the call of sleep. The suddenly, you heard the doors open and four hoofsteps approach from behind. You're sure your heart skipped a beat and you sat up immediately, distilling the water.
"How lovely! It's like being on the surface." You knew that voice, but you didn't dare turn around to confirm who it was that intruded on you.
"Anon, how's the water?" Now you looked and saw Celestia trotting up to you. Naked and with her mane down so that it blew gentle in the heavy mist in the spring.
"It's fine."
"Oh?" She cocked her head to the side. "Just fine?"
You turned away as she drew closer. You could feel your entire body rise ten degrees as she stood on the edge. Her hoof lightly tapped the surface of the half-bubbling water and she slowly slid in. Celestia let out a long coo of delight as she completely submerged herself in the spring next to you. Your hands find their way to your lap and you cross your legs. Her mane spilled out over top the water, like someone had spilled a rainbow into the sea. It swirled and shifted with the water, giving it an organic look to it.
"Amazing~!" She said. Followed by a long sigh.
You tensed instantly as she relaxed beside you. So much for your own relaxation.
"Isn't this wonderful Anon? An entire spring to ourselves."
"Aye..."
"But it's a shame we wont be staying for long. We should come back here once we're done in Agartha."
"Aye..."
"Speaking of which, do you think Master Talmon and the others will lend us their weapons?"
"Aye..."
You sat awkwardly now, Celestia naive to your discomfort. For you to be nude before a princess... It was too much!
"You know Anon, there's no need to be embarrassed." She said, smiling at you wryly and your body rose ten degrees higher!
"I'm not embarrassed. It's just awkward to share the same bath is all.."
She giggled as you turn away. For her to just instantly point out the reason for your awkwardness was even more embarrassing than being naked with her.
"Honestly, you seem to put too much of an emphasis on clothing. It's alright to be nude, no need to be modest around me. Most ponies don't wear clothes that often, you know."
You sigh and relax just a tad bit. She had a point. In her culture, nudity wasn't as much of an issue as it was with you. But it didn't change the fact you were still put off by it.
"Anyway, where has Spike gone? Did he not come with you?"
Celestia leaned back on the edge of the pool, her chest fluff laid bare to you. "No. He wanted to explore. A steward is showing him around. He's quite adventurous, just like Twilight when she was a filly." She thought back to the old days where Twilight was just starting out as her pupil. It brought a smile to her face. "How about you Anon? Are you adventurous?"
You nearly slipped on your backside and plunged your head into the pool.
"In what way exactly..?"
"Oh you know.." Her wing wrapped around you and pulled you closer to her. You were now side by side and that made nervous.
"Have you ever been with a mare, Anon?"
"E-excuse me..?"
"Well I just thought, you being a rock for millions of years, you'd like to.." She inched closer to your face. Your heart was going a million miles per second and you could hardly breath. She batted her eyelashes and bit her lower lip. If you were any other man, you'd be enthralled by her this vary instant.
"Experiment."
You immediately stand, not caring if you were fully exposed to her. You had to get the hell out of here, fast. Celestia let out a mighty guffaw and fell into the waters. Her legs kicking the air and throwing water out and about. You hastily climbed out, wanting nothing to do with her.
"Wait! C-come back! I was joking!!" She called out to you, laughing all the while. She watched you go and her laughter died a little. She called to you. "Anon, wait.."
You turned back at her. Your face burning a bright red. She looked at you for a moment in silence and you anticipated an apology.
"Nice butt." She again fell back into the pool laughing.
Snatching a towel and throwing it around your waste you left in a hurry. Celestia calling after, apologizing in between her laughing fits. All you wanted was to relax, but it seems that'll have to come at a later date. And out of nowhere too. You groaned loudly as you made your way back to your room, not caring if you were half naked or not. In the latter hours of Tzipuur night, the laughter of a certain could be heard from beneath the Manarat.
The feast was in full swing. Everyone was invited to the grand dining hall on the top floor of the Manarat. The music was loud, it being the fourth form of entertainment you had so far. You sat next to Celestia and Spike, but more closer to Spike. Celestia had teased you all the way here and you wanted nothing more than a distraction. And so you downed the wine that was constantly poured into your chalice.
Many a centaur was present for the feast. Their bland exteriors melted away as the party went on into the night. Many times there was a toast, to something or another. And loud cheering and soaking followed. Spike stuffed his face full of gems that were bought especially for him and he reveled in it. Celestia slowly ate away at the salad in front of her. Master Talmon had yet to attend, the only familiar centaur you knew were some of the stewards.
"And it is said that the man, escaping his doom. Sprang up from the depths to seal to seal that tomb!" A minstrel sang away while others joined in. You payed it no mind as you continued to pilfer your chalice.
"Oh cheer up Anon. It's a party! Have a little fun!" Celestia nudged you with her wing and you drunkenly batted it away.
"I'll have fun when you learn some manners." She feigned hurt feelings as you returned to your drink.
"And all throughout time, his ballad was told, but never did we know, where it is that he rode!"
The minstrel continued, others singing along and Celestia clapping along. Across the room, Master Talmon and made eye-contact with you. He smiled and raised he glass to you, you awkwardly raise it in return, a silent toast between the two of you. Talmon was surrounded by many ancient looking centaurs. All of them wearing the same dark grey robes and wearing their manes in a similar style.
"Anon, I said I was sorry." Celestia nudged you again, causing you to spill your wine over your hand. You simmered in quiet anger over this as you wipes the sticky wine away from your hand.
"I forgive you..." She clapped her hooves together in celebration. Happy to be pardoned for her crimes in the baths.
"But you owe me. I want a piece of that cake you got from the market."
She instantly deflated and a humongous frown drooped down her face. "Fine.."
You nudge her with your elbow, gaining a giggle from her as she tried to swat you away with her wing. Maybe it was the wine that loosened you both up, but you were very friendly with each other tonight. Perhaps you were too uptight. Perhaps you should relax a bit more often and learn to have some fun. Not everything revolves around your journey, does it?
Everyone cheered with the ending of the song and many made their way to the center floor. You watched as they began to dance, a high-paced shuffle of hooves and arms. Clapping along with the beat of the great drum that marked the tempo, you saw how everyone moved in sync with one another. It was amazing really.
"Master Anon." You turned to see Ro'Jetty, his red cloak draping over his shoulders.
"Good evening Ro'Jetty. Have a drink with me."
"I will, but not at the moment. I've come to give you back the stone." He outstretched his hand, revealing the stone circle that was dwarfed in his palm.
"Oh yes, were you able to make anything of it?"
He frowned just a tad bit but then nodded.
"Actually, I was. But it will be up to you to make sense of it." He pointed along it's sides at the runes etched into it.
"Left, Left, right, right, in. That's what it says. Does it mean anything to you?"
"Of course not... But maybe it will someday. Enough talk, friend. Tonight we drink the night away!" You immediately pour him a glass of wine and hand it to him. It was a bit troubling how easy it was for you to down the vintage. Considering it was particularly strong. Were you an alcoholic? Ro'Jetty had made off with some peers not long after he arrived. Spike was off mingling with some of the younger stewards who worked in the Manarat.
You were now devilishly drunk. You swayed side to side, often falling against Celestia. It was impossible to tale how many songs had passed by or how long they were. Suddenly, a particularly faster song picked up and many centaur danced in such a rave, you thought it'd drive you mad. Ro'Jetty now returned, extending his hand to the princess.
"Would you like to dance? It's an easy one, I'll show you."
"Oh, no thank you." She said. "I'm no good at dancing."
"Nonsense! Come! I'll show you."
Suddenly, Ro'Jetty took her by the hoof and pulled her across the table and onto the floor. You watched as they rushed to the center to join the others. They were erratic in their movements and impossible to keep up with. But you could at least see Celestia. Her mane and tail spun about the dance floor. Moving this way and that way, Over and under. She stumbled often over Ro'Jetty's hooves and sloppily tried to regain her balance. The song had gotten faster and you tried your best to clap to the tempo. Everyone cheered and whooped as the dancing became more energetic and spontaneous. Celestia could hardly keep up. It was amusing seeing her have such a hard time out there that you couldn't keep yourself from laughing. And then, as abruptly as the song had began, it stopped.
Celestia was now dizzy, but she was laughing. Harder then she had laughed in such a long, long time. Her mane was a mess, and her legs wobbled. She panted and sweated. But the biggest, most honest smile was now plastered on her face. She was actually having fun. How long was it since the last time she had so much fun? How often was it that she allowed her self to have fun? She caught you staring, a blush on your face. It was either her, or the wine that was responsible for the blood rushing to your face. Regardless, she smiled at you. A smile containing a ray of sunshine that shinned into your heart. ou'd curse the wine, but part of you knew it wasn't at fault. But in that moment, you thought her beautiful. A strange thought. A taboo even!
Ro'Jetty now lead her back over to you. She was staggering and laughing uncontrollably now. "The princess has skill, yes? She fumbled a bit, but with practice, she'll be dancing like a centaur in no time!" Ro'Jetty's booming voice said over the noisy room.
"Indeed! It was amazing to say the least."
"Amazing is an understatement. Move over, I need to sit." Celestia said as she climbed over the table to reach her seat.
She then downed a large amount of wine from a glass far larger than your own. She drank it like water, like she had been out in the sun all day without it. You and Ro'Jetty laugh as she sighs.
"So, what do you think of Tzipuur?" Ro'Jetty asked.
"My friend, I'd have to say it is quite awe inducing. Your people are so unique, nothing quite like anything I've ever seen."
"Ah but you have seen it. You must have. It's very similar to Agartha. You can see it if you look at Babel. It shares many similarities with our own buildings and most things we've come to know, in fact, come from the tower."
"Is that so? Well then, perhaps we are related."
You and Ro'Jetty continued to chat well into the night. When finally, Master Talmon stood and the music died and all talk ceased. All eyes were on him as the other graybeards stood with him. He meant to speak.
"Friends. It has been a wondrous night. But, I'm afraid that in my old age, I must retire. But before I do, one final toast." He reached down to grab the tall glass on the table, filled with wine. Everyone else, including you, did the same. "To our friends from the surface. May they find what they seek. And return with stories!" A cheer broke out as they all clapped and downed their drinks. The music picked up once again as Talmon and his peers filtered out of the room.
"I must be going as well." Ro'Jetty stood.
"Do you have to? Stay, have some more wine!" You attempted to pour him another glass, but he opened his palm to you, a sign of polite declination.
"You can certainly feast, and I would like to stay. But I really do must be going." He gave a apologetic smile. "We can talk again at a later date."
"Sure then. Goodnight friend."
He bowed and turned away. Most had begun to leave, but plenty stayed, still celebrating and dancing. Spike had fell asleep awhile ago and you worried that he may have drank a lot of wine. Was that allowed? He was a dragon, but he was still a child wasn't he? And here you were supposed to be looking after him.
The party carried on into what may have been early morning. You drank an incredible amount of wine, ate as much food as you possibly could and you were only inches away from passing out. Celestia had pulled you out onto the dance floor and attempted to teach you how to dance. Both of you being well over drunk at this point. You stumbled over each other constantly and Celestia insisted you were doing it wrong. Whatever it was.
The feast ended with you two staggering drunkenly to your chambers. Spike in tow, fast asleep. The both of you sang like the best of friends, roaming through the halls. Trying desperately to remember where it was you meant to be going. Soon enough, you found your room and struggled with the key.
The moment you hit the bed you would have instantly fallen asleep. You could have, if Celestia didn't fall on top of you, nearly smothering you as you struggled to roll her off of you. Now she lay parallel to you, facing away on top of the large bed you would share tonight.
"Tomorrow will be terrible..." Celestia said, more so talking into the pillow than talking to you.
"I drank so much.. I'm afraid I may never wake up if I fall asleep now." Both of you laid there for a long while. The only sound being Spike's soft breathing.
"Anon, you had fun, right?"
"I did. A little too much fun."
She laughed and moved a bit closer to you and your backs touched. She was warm, and smelled like wine and fruit.
"Hey Princess-"
"Celestia is just fine Anon." She said, looking over her shoulder. You let that sink in. Not having to call her Princess and being able to be more personal with her. Now you see that she actually considers you a friend.
"...Celestia, you looked great dancing. Though you could use some work."
"Are you saying I have no rhythm?"
"Well, you have enough rhythm for a horse with no legs." You laughed out loud and her massive wing pushed you off of the bed and onto the hard floor.
"So rude."
Attempting to climb back up, you rise to your feet and climb back onto the bed. You attempt to roll her off, but when she doesn't budge, you collapse on top of her.
"You're laying on my wing..."
"Oh."
She sighed and unfurled her giant alabaster wing and wrapped it around you. It reminded you of the previous night you spent in the desert with her. Sleeping by her side underneath her massive wing.
"Sleep well tonight Anon. You'll pay for it in the morning."
You agreed. The hangover will be killer for sure, but that didn't matter now. Now all that mattered was you lazily slouching over Celestia's side, steadily falling asleep. Tomorrow the council will debate the decision to aid you with weapons. And tomorrow you'll likely leave the wondrous town of Tzipuur.
You were fast asleep, dreaming, something you hadn't been able to do in a very long, long time. There was a rumble. A terrible roar of the earth. It shook you awake, as well as Celestia and Spike. A panic in the streets had raised everyone. There was trouble.
"What is it?" Celestia said, now making for the balcony. There were fires and many centaur in the streets.
"What's happening?" Spike said, slightly panicking.
Before you could answer there was a knock at the door. You hurry over to answer and see that it is Ro'Jetty. A long, distraught frown on his face.
"Come! Gather your things! We are being attacked!"
What Burrows Through the Rock
A terrible quake courses through the cavern as the four of you make your way down the halls of the Manarat. Many scattered back and forth in a panic, trying to gain their senses in the chaos. Ro'Jetty was leading you to the great hall to meet with the elders in full counsel. Once there, you'll devise a plan to fend off the aggressors. Ro'Jetty saw what they were. But could hardly describe their terrible form. Though he tried, saying they looked like giant black sandworms. It didn't sound familiar to you, but you knew once you saw them you'd know what they were.
"Many have already escaped, others have died. Are these the angels you spoke of?" Ro'Jetty asked.
"It must be. No one else could have found Tzipuur." You replied.
You continued onward. Often the building shook, the stone rattling like a dangling cage. It was starting to fall apart. Some of the pillars and masonry had already given way and barred some of the path, forcing you to go around. It seemed to get worse by the minute. You could only imagine what it was like outside. It was a long while before you arrived in front of the massive doors that lead into the great hall. When you entered, the fire was doused and many ancient gray centaurs stood in a huddle, arguing. With the sound of the stone doors signalling your arrival, they all look up and turned to you. Immediately they rushed to you for answers.
"Thealantro! What are these beings!? Why have they come to our town!?"
"What do they want with us!?"
"Are they the angels!?"
They surrounded you in a circle, looking down on you. It took all your effort not to shy away at the sudden bombardment.
"I am sorry. I brought this upon you by coming here." You looked up to meet each of their gazes. They were tired, scared, and desperate. "But they are angels. And they have come for me most likely."
"Then you must help us! Help us fend them off!" The younger of the bunch begged you. His hands quivered and he nearly got to his knees. You are silent for a time. He was right after all. You brought the angels here so it was your responsibility. But wait before you could even hope to help them you needed a means to fight. Someone was missing. Someone of great importance.
"Where is Master Talmon? He said that you would discuss the matter of lending us weapons to fight them." You look around, but among the many faces that circled you, Talmon was nowhere. You feared the worse.
"I'm afraid....that during the first signs of the attack, Master Talmon was killed on his way here..." The news hit you like a stone wall. It tugged at your heart and you felt a sharp sense of grief for the old man.
"I see.. Then will you allow me to use your arms in defense of Tzipuur?"
They all nod in unison. The oldest now spoke, his mane and beard disheveled and scraggly.
"Of course we will. But you'll have to talk to Grand-Master Jehuty. He is our wise man and he alone knows how to enter the vault. Ro'Jetty!"
"Yes, Master Eedrus?" Ro'Jetty stepped forward.
"Escort the human to the Reading Room. Jehuty should already be inside trying to make sense of all this."
Ro'Jetty bowed and you turned to thank him. You turn to Celestia and Spike who are ready to follow you wherever you were to go. But you had other plans.
"Spike, I want you to stay here. Help them with anything they may need. Is that alright?"
Spike puffed out his chest, his green belly looking flat. "You can count on me!" He said.
But Celestia looked at you with worry. Her bottom lip poked out slightly and her brows turned upward. It was cute.
"Anon, I don't think it'd be wise to journey off when the Manarat is practically falling apart." She said approaching you.
"Someone has to. And right now I'll need you to gather the stallions here. I'll come back once Ro'Jetty and I have opened the vault."
She moved to protest but you had already started off.
"Anon!" You stopped to look at her. She smiled, the same warm smile you had grown accustomed to. "Be careful."
You nod. The others wished the same and you assured them that you'd return. And with Ro'Jetty as your guide, there wasn't a doubt in your mind.
"Take care of things while I'm gone."
And with that you left. Into the shadowed, crumbling halls.
The halls were a panic as you and Ro'Jetty made your way across the corridors. The tremors had gotten more violent as time went on and you found it hard to keep up with Ro'Jetty as he swiftly made his way around the debris that littered the floor. It didn't help that you were somewhat distracted. Even if you did somehow make it to the Reading Room, who's to say that Grand-Master Jehuty would allow you to enter the vault? Master Talmon had already died because of your being here. What if he held some resentment towards you? But perhaps you should worry about that once you got there. You still had a ways to go before you reached the Reading Room according to Ro'Jetty.
Now you made your way through one of the upper floors of the Manarat. A spacious hall with the left wall carved away and lined with pillars that framed the town. Now aflame and chaotic. You peered out as you hurried across. You thought you could see shifting black lines make their way across the streets before disappearing. They looked huge. Much larger than the Principalities and Archangels. What were they?
"It isn't far now; just up these steps!" Ro'Jetty said as he turned and lead you up a very steep flight of stairs.
They lead into a darkness that seemed ominous and menacing. A door met you atop the long stair way. A great stone-grey slab on hinges. Black lines curved about it in a star shaped pattern with smaller dots surrounding it. Ro'Jetty placed his giant hand in the center and the black markings shined a dim light. At first there was nothing. Then came the sound of the door slowly yielding to his touch. You peered over his flank in the narrow stairway to catch a glimpse of the strange chamber known as the Reading Room. Then Ro'Jetty stepped inside and you followed. What you saw was a strange apparatus in it's center. A strange console that stretched up into a very high ceiling with various prongs hugging along the ceiling. It was strange, very alien-like. What it did was a mystery to you. But you'd very much like to find out. The only light in the room was a single candle among others that had been knocked to the floor. Signs that they had been freshly lit.
"Master Jehuty!" Ro'Jetty called out. But there was no answer. Only the panic outside and chaos of Tzipuur.
It was apparent that he was not here. And it didn't sit right with you that the room held signs of a struggle. Loose papers and other artifacts were scattered across the floor and a few tables and chairs were flipped on their sides.
"Where do you think he might have gone?" You asked.
Ro'Jetty was silent as he made his way around the large room. He was cautious and moved slowly among the equipment. He feared the worse. What if he too had fallen? Then all hope of defense would be lost.
"Master Jehuty never leaves the Antenna on while he is absent..." Ro'Jetty's face fell solemnly. A frown descending on his mouth as he shut down the machine.
"Then something must have happened.." You say to yourself. Looking around for more signs you, see a tiny puddle of blood at the base of the Antenna.
"So there was a struggle.." Ro'Jetty said as he joined you. The blood hugged the base of the machine before trailing away towards the door. Where could he have gone? Was he abducted? Or did he leave on his own accord? Whatever his reason, he was hurt.
"Ro'Jetty, show me where the vault is. He may have gone there."
The centaur considered it for a moment, then nodded and took the lead. Guiding you out of the Reading Room and into the hall once more. The great stone door slowly closing behind you. As you made your way across the hall again, you could see that the town had gotten worse. The fires were even higher and more buildings were toppled over. And on the roof of the cavern, a great terrible gash made it's way from one end of the cavern to the other. And from what you could see, more of the same black lines you saw earlier made their in from the schism. Ro'Jetty saw them too and his stomach churned. You barely noticed it aside from his obvious worry. But he was doing his best to stay whole and not fall apart. He was frightened out of his wits. It made you hope that you really could come out of this in the best way possible.
"I pray that Master Jehuty is within the vault. I can't imagine what we'll do without him." Ro'Jetty said, his mind plagued with terrible possibilities.
"I'm sure he's fine. But now we must try and get there as soon as possible. He could be badly injured."
Now you both slowly made your way to the deepest floor of the Manarat. But your way was barred by debris and toppled masonry. You were only base level with the rest of the town when a sudden tremor sent you both stumbling forward. It was more powerful than ever before. It felt like something was coming towards you. Then you remember what it was you heard the other night. When Master Talmon told you to listen. Listen to the earth and the tremors that came from it. He was right. These quakes were something to be feared. And now, that fear had been realized.
You attempted to stand but then the quake came again. This time producing something that would send you into a spiral of terror. Out from the wall to your left and great black worm exploded out into the hall just a few feet in front of you. It's body being less than physical and made of pure darkness. Tiny jagged white crystals protruded outward from it's body and scraped the walls and floors. The worm quickly made it's way across. Burrowing it's way through the opposite all that lead to the town. The sight nearly stopped your heart and you found it was incredibly hard to breath. You couldn't stand, even if you wanted to. Same with Ro'Jetty as he laid on his side, staring in horror of the black beast that made its way across.
Second Sphere:
"Power."
You say the name out loud and it's like putting a knife in your throat.
"What?" Ro'Jetty snaps his attention to you. "What did you say?!" For a long moment you were silent. Then you ignored him and stood on your feet.
"We must find Master Jehuty. These angels... They are the largest I've ever seen. They must be repelled!"
You're off before Ro'Jetty can even stand. You could feel a sense of dread creep into you as you ran through those crumbling halls. A dread that threatened to take you and pull you under into the depths of despair. What if you weren't able to fend them off? Then what? Tzipuur would be completely destroyed. Everyone in it erased without a trace. All because of you. You couldn't let that happen. There had to be a solution. All you needed to do was find Master Jehuty. Ro'Jetty was once again by your side, the both of you running desperately to find the vault. It was the deepest chamber in the Manarat and required you to descend several long flights of stairs. You would have been exhausted by the time you ran down all those stairs.
Finally you are level with the vault chambers. A single wide hall way lead into the darkness where single source of light glowed within it.
"The vault is open! Master Jehuty must be inside!" Ro'Jetty immediately started towards the light and you followed.
Relief overwhelmed you as you silently jumped for joy that you now stood a chance. The closer you got the easier you could hear things being moved about in the great vault. And the the closer you drew near, the brighter the light became. It illuminated the walls. Displayed the intricate carvings of the halls and expertly crafted pillars that lined them. This place was still intact.
"Hurry! We haven't much time!" You hear a voice call out from the vault. It was a familiar voice. One you've heard recently.
As you approached you saw clearly. Ro'Jetty stopped in his tracks and you slowed to a grinding halt. There lay Grand-Master Jehuty, a great wound upon his head, dark red spilling from the gash. Inside the vault, was Captain Howl and his men. Rambling through the countless relics and riches.
"What...What is the meaning of this!" Ro'Jetty called out. Now galloping up to Jehuty's limp body.
Howl stopped what he was doing and turned to look at the both of you. His face void of any emotion but apathy.
"Master! Master Jehuty! Can you hear me!?" Ro'Jetty tried his best to jar the ancient centaur awake. But it appeared to do no good. He may have already been long dead. Just like with Talmon's death, you felt this hit you sharp in the heart like a dagger. You visibly recoiled and clenched your chest, unable to speak for a moment.
You couldn't believe this. Jehuty was dead and now Howl stared at you uncaring. Standing as if he did nothing wrong. Before you arrived, Howl and his men forced Jehuty to open the vault. And once they were done with him, they tossed him aside. They didn't even try and save him.
"Howl, how dare you!" You start towards the vault, your anger pulling you forward like a locomotive. But before you can even enter, Ro'Jetty stands in your way. His trunk of an arm blocking you. His eyes were puffy and red. Tears falling from them and streaming down the sides of his cheeks.
"I do not know what fate has befallen Tzipuur. But I do know that you killed my master and for that I'll pummel you into the ground!"
Now the other stallions had stopped what they were doing and now looked at the furious centaur that towered above them. Howl was unmoved by his rage. He merely stood there, his eyes empty and barren of any sort of guilt.
"Your world is falling down around you and there's nothing we can do about it. It is my job to see that my soldiers come home safely. I have no time for sentimentality. Either help us or begone." And with that Howl turned towards the vault and started off.
With a stomp of Ro'Jetty's mighty hooves, he charged. The echoes of his hooves meeting stone sounding off against the walls. You stood there, content with what Ro'Jetty had planned. But had you realized, you would have called out to him. Stopped him from making such a reckless error.
For as Howl turned away another stallion went to take his place right as Ro'Jetty began to charge. He wore a strange harness across his back. Two slim cylinders hanging off the sides. They turned automatically toward Ro'Jetty. Had you had known, you could have prevented what followed. Inside the dark barrels was a dim light that grew brighter and brighter until it shot outward. Propelled through the air by an unseen force. It seemed to be pure sunlight as it arched through the air. Ripping through the space between it and the centaur with a loud whistle. If only you had known.
The light pierced Ro'Jetty's chest and left shoulder. He slowly fell from his charged, not even having enough energy to try and catch himself from hitting the ground. There was no blood, only steam rising from his burned, pierced flesh. The sound that came from his mouth was agonizing and filled you with dread. You silently cursed yourself. If only you had known!
"I have no time for 'heroes' " Howl said as he continued into the vault. "Anon, I can't kill you, if that's what you're thinking. You are important to the princess, I wouldn't dream of laying a hoof on you. But if you decide to take the same course as your friend, you'll be bound and gagged."
You stared at Ro'Jetty's nearly lifeless body. He was shivering, as if he had been plunged into a space. He clammed up, trying to regulate his breathing.
"But if you do wish to help, we have found weapons for you and we'll need help carrying them out."
Now he disappeared behind the many relics and stallions returned to their tasks. You immediately rush to Ro'Jetty. His eyes were tightly shut and his hands tried to cover his wounds.
"Ro'Jetty! How do you feel!?" You ask, trying to roll him over to face you.
There is nothing. You doubt he can even hear you through the pain. The wound on his chest didn't seem to be lethal. But then again, you were no doctor. For all you knew, he could have a hole through his right lung.
"The bastard..."
A terrible rumble reverberates through the hall, reminding you that Tzipuur was still in grave danger. You could sit there mourning over you near-death friend. Or try your best to ensure that many do not end up like him. It was a grotesque decision to make and it made your stomach knot thrice. You laid a hand on his shoulder and then stood. Right now Tzipuur came first. Like Captain Howl had said. You couldn't afford sentimentality. Approaching the vault the stallions look to you. Stopping from organizing and gathering to see what you might do.
".....Get me something to fight with."
"Have you found Captain Howl yet?"
"Nay Princess. We've looked everywhere! At this point, one must assume...."
Celestia now waited for you in the great hall. Many of her soldiers were gathered and awaited orders. But without the captain or yourself, all she could do for now was sit and wait. Awhile ago, an angel had burrowed through the walls and tried to devour all in the room. She had seen it in full and it sent everyone into a panic. Had it not been for Spike, they would have all been in worse shape then now. Many of the soldiers, along with Howl, were missing. They had almost no method of defense. They were sitting ducks, waiting to be captured.
The feeling of such powerlessness was enough to overwhelm any lesser pony. But Celestia had been in many difficult situations. Some worse then this. Some where not even a sliver of hope survived. But there was still hope in you and Ro'Jetty.
"Princess! Anon's back!" Spike pulled on her wing and pointed towards the massive double doors.
You emerged with Howl, carrying many strange looking devices. Some long and narrow, others wide and short. They were the same devices that struck Ro'Jetty down and you now carried them. It sickened you. As you made your way across, many of the centaur elders gasped. Never before had they seen the legendary weapons. They stared on, parting to make your passage easier to the princess. With hallowed eyes you greeted her.
"Welcome back Anon. And I see you've found the captain!" She then looked about you. Fourteen ponies and one human. No centaurs. "Did you find Master Jehuty? And where has Ro'Jetty gone?"
You were silent. Doing nothing but shifting your gaze away from her eyes. The air was heavy now and none dared to speak what happened.
"They went off to search for other survivors and bring them here." Howl said. Causing bile to rise up in your stomach.
You yourself dared not to tell Celestia what happened. From fear of causing a schism within the ranks you all didn't need at the moment. Tzipuur came first.
"We have to hurry and arm everyone. We need to make our way into the town to fight them off. Who knows how many are already dead." You say.
You retrieve a scabbard from your side and hand it to Celestia. It was a sword, to which you understood, made of pure light. It was beautifully crafted. Jewels were encrusted on the length of the sheath and a large diamond lay embedded in the bottom of the hilt. Celestia drew the blade with her mouth, it's light exploding into the room. It withdrew with a ringing sound similar to a thousand hammers hitting steel nails. It's blade was a pillar of sunlight. It fitted her perfectly and she stared at it in amazement. The light illuminating her magenta eyes. Many awed at the sight as she took it in her wing and gave the air a few strikes. The light appeared to be more fluid than solid. It lagging behind with each swing she gave it. Satisfied, she slid it back in the scabbard and took it from you. Attaching it next to her own sword.
"Amazing, I've never seen it's like." She said.
"Nor have I. But we must hurry if we are to save as many as we can."
Celestia stared at you now. She stared deep into your empty eyes and you could help but look away. You could tell that she was about to question you but you wouldn't allow it. You took initiative and began to hand out the weapons to anyone willing to fight. You yourself took a long rifle. Lined with many apparatuses and scopes along the barrel.
"Anon, I get something too, right?" Spike tugged at your pants.
Though it was true he had his dragon fire, it didn't have much range. Regardless on how you felt about giving such a dangerous weapon to a child, it was necessary. You handed Spike a weapon befitting his size. A small gun that wouldn't overpower him too much. A handgun that would fit perfectly strapped to his side. Everyone made ready in silence. They now prepared to defend the city with these ancient weapons known only to their ancestors.
The loud roars outside of the Manarat could still be heard. Even through the hole the angel that broke into the great hall produced, you could hear low rumbles. Signs that they still burrowed along the rock. This will be the first time you've actually fought without running for your life. Now you stood a chance and that was enough to give you all the drive you needed. Besides, you stood with your friends. And the fact you left Ro'Jetty deep under the Manarat, most likely dying, reinforced the fact that you had to. This wasn't just about survival. It was about protecting these people who took you in and showed you great kindness. These people that now faced disaster thanks to you. It was your duty.
With the final preparations complete, you all ready yourselves. You stood beside Celestia, her presence providing a lot of comfort. You've noticed that lately. She seemed to radiate calmness, even in the most dire situations. Another roar rippled through the rock and stone. Many quivered at the magnitude, the source sounding much more closer.
"Ro'Jetty still hasn't returned..." Celestia said to herself. Her eyes stayed locked on the doors that lead out into the halls.
You frowned. Not wanting to tell her exactly what happened. Though in that moment you hated Howl, his military experience would be needed if you had any chance of saving Tzipuur. His punishment would have to come at a later date. And if you could help it, it'd be by your hands.
"We can't wait here for him. If he is still alive he'll find us..." You say, drawing your rifle.
"Then let us hope he is." She said solemnly.
At Celestia's command everyone moved towards the great stone doors and spilled out of the great hall like a flood. There was no charge. Only a cautious advancement as you made your way through the split halls. You gripped your rifle tightly in your hands. It'd be your first time actually doing battle with the angels. And for your first fight to be with beings so large as the Powers both excited and terrified you.
All of you came to the great steps that lead down into the burning town. You could see that many were still alive. Galloping through the streets, making their way for the exit in the distance. But that was where the angels gathered. Waiting for anyone who dare approach. That would be your target.
"We must drive them back at all cost. Once the path is clear we must escape as soon as possible. If all goes well, they will follow us. Sorry Anon, but we'll have to use you as bait." Celestia said, drawing her newly acquired sword.
"That's fine with me. After all, that's what our journeys been so far."
You chuckle at that. It help to think of this like any other situation you've been in with angels. They were solely after you. Just as they had been in the Everfree or on the Radiant Dawn. In the streets, the giant black worms moved about with such sloppy movements. Their rows of teeth crushing anything they came in contact with. They seemed to be devouring the town rather than searching it. And then you noticed how odd it was that they moved so sloppy. How the moved almost blindly through the streets and along the walls. Had they been unable to see? It'd explain why you've gone so long without any real pursuit.
"I think they may be blind." You say to Celestia.
She focuses her gaze to one that moved across the courtyard in front of you. Her eyes honed in on it as she studied, not saying a word. Then she raised a hoof and a soldier approached.
"Yes, Princess?"
She merely pointed, her sword blocking her ability to speak. He seemed to understand what it is she was referring to and drew his own weapon. A slender barrel with a silver handle. Celestia nodded and he pointed it towards the Power that now stopped, arching its head into the air. Almost as if it were trying to catch a scent. The stallion shot and the light that you saw pierce Ro'Jetty flew down the stairs at an alarming speed and struct the Power in its place.
The beast's shadowy figure seemed to try and envelop the light, but to no avail. It ripped a hole straight through the blackness and it reeled up, screeching. It desperately searched around. Squirming in whichever direction to try and find the assailant. Everyone held their breaths as it inched it's way up the steps. It was unsure of itself and slowed. Then feeling that its attacker had not been where it thought, turned away. You let your breath escape you. A fatal mistake. For as soon as the air left your lungs, it fell on its ears and it turned and charged up the stairs in a terrifying roar.
You all scattered immediately. Shots started firing left and right. The Power had charged into the gauntlet and was now bombarded with light on both sides. Its entire body was racked with unimaginable pain as your weapons pierced it's body with light almost as bright as the sun. Soon enough, it fell onto the steps with a loud boom. It's body shimmered in the darkness of itself and began to meld with the surrounding shadows.
It worked. These weapons actually worked. If anyone had any doubts in these ancient relics, they were completely gone. Everyone stood around silent. Unsure of what exactly had happened. But when it became apparent that you were victorious, a whoop of excitement erupted from the crowd as everyone began to gain a high sense of morale. Including you.
[PLAY ]
Without any sort of order, many charged down the steps, guns held high and pointed towards their dark enemy.
"Spike, stay close to me! I'm going to need you to watch my rear!" You shout over everyone's battle cries.
"Will do. I'm right behind you!" He replies, his pistol clasped tightly in his claws.
Whatever came over you was unknown to yourself and it possessed you to charge along with everyone else. Celestia galloped along side you and you felt her wing beat blow sand up from behind her and propel her forward. As if she couldn't resist, she took to the air. Her multicolored tail trailing behind her.
As she lead from above, you would lead from below as you and Spike made your way to the front of the charge, being a spear head for the centaurs and stallions behind you. Ahead of you, the group of Powers guarding the exit must have heard your battle cries for they now moved to meet you halfway. You raised your rifle. The constant bobbing of your arms while running making it somewhat difficult to aim. But you knew if you aimed in the general direction, you'd hit something. It occurred to you that you had the advantage of range and that the angels wouldn't be able to lay a finger on you until you came face to face. And so you fired. The kickback being almost non-existent. The light sped across to the other side, hitting a Power square in its face. Assuming it had a face. As soon as your shot was fired, many other shots rang out from behind.
They soared over you like a meteor shower on a deep dark night. A volley of shots bombarding the worm-like angels. But not all the angels were stopped by the volley. Many still charged at you. Their snake-like movements tearing grooves into the stone streets and smashing buildings. From the front, you could see their many rows of white crystal teeth. Anything that stepped a foot in their would be torn apart. You had to make it your motivation not to get close enough for it to be possible.
The distance was closing now and you knew you'd have to break either left or right. These angels weren't about to break their charge. Where you had the advantage of range, they had the advantage of sheer size and muscle. They'd burr right through you all. Many realized this and no broke off to the side to allow the angels to pass through.
"Spike, follow me!" You call behind you, but Spike had already been by your side and knew what you were thinking. Both of you turned left and moved away from the main street and into the alley ways of Tzipuur. "We'll circle around them. If we can move them all away from the exit, we can clear a path for everyone else."
"What will we do after they follow us? We might not get them all before escaping." Spike said running behind you.
"That's the plan, Spike. These angels are our problem, not their's. We have to draw them away as soon as possible."
A rumble threw you both off balance and sent you stumbling forward. And angel had broken through the buildings that formed the alley. It reeled up as high as it could and let you view the inside of it's void-like mouth. You and Spike open fire. You're rounds shooting straight into its mouth and exiting out the roof. It howled and lunged at you. But as you tried to make a run for it, a spiral of white came flying towards you at mach speed. It was Celestia. With her sword secured in her mouth she spun herself into the Power. Burrowing through like a great drill of light. The impact sent the Power falling on its back. Celestia's white whirlwind of light now slowed as her wings halted her spin.
"Anon!" She called down to you, removing her sword from her mouth. In the middle of the dark cavern was the princess, her wings beating with the intensity of battle. "There are three of them over by the exit! Most others are concerned in looking for survivors right now so I want you to meet with Captain Howl and charge!"
You smoldered with quiet anger at the thought of someone like Howl helping you in such a matter. Being on the same side fine and all. But having to work side by side sickened you. Regardless, you relented and nodded.
"And what will you do Celestia!?" You called up to her.
"I will provide you with eyes from above! I'll guide you! The captain is on the main road fighting, you should be able to find him if you make a right turn up ahead!" She pointed her hoof ahead. Through the rubble you could see where the alleyway branched off into multiple directions. The closest branch to you lead to the main roar where Howl fought with the others.
"Aye!" You called to her then turned to Spike, who had surprisingly been doing well under all the pressure. "I hope you're ready to run."
"Of course. You lead the way, partner." He held out his fist and you nudged it with your own. The ancient rituals of blood brothers.
The both of you headed down the alley, guns at the ready for any sort of surprise. In the air Celestia did her best to guide others to wherever they would be most effective. In the streets, centaurs and stallions did battle with the monstrous beings that slithered through the rock. The heavy echos of your boots on the hard rock streets bounce off the walls of the alley as your legs take you closer to the main road. Once out in the open, you did your best to find Howl. He was nowhere in sight and when you looked to the air, Celestia was busy elsewhere.
"Spike, do you see Howl?" You ask.
"Uhhh.." Spike looked around hastily. Like a periscope he turned three-hundred and sixty degrees. Looking for the brown stallion. Eventually he found him, up ahead, already moving towards the exit with a handful of soldiers. "There he is!" Spike said tugging at your pants. He pointed in the right direction and you turned to look.
It was good that he had already started making headway. But he was also marching passed civilians who did their best to hide from the threat of the angels. You immediately start after him. Spike trying his best to match your speed while also carrying his large rucksack. The sound of battle cries and guns being fired still filled the air. It could almost be defining.
Captain Howl lead seven stallions along the main road, slowly pushing past each angel as it tried to halt their advancement. Among the squad you could see the heavyset stallion with two guns hanging off his sides. The same stallion that shot Ro'Jetty. You grip your rifle tightly, the thought never leaving you.
"Captain Howl!" You called out to him.
He stopped to look over his shoulder, his eyes tired and a frown on his face.
"What is it?" He asked, raising his voice over the clamor.
"The princess wishes us to clear a path to the exit. We are going to bait them out of Tzipuur."
"Bait them out? Won't we stand a better chance if we remained here with the centaur?" He asked, his revolver firing off in his hoof towards a group of angels.
"Maybe so, but she doesn't want to put anymore at risk than need be." You say, now slowing to a walk.
"That would put my soldiers at risk. If we're going to stick our necks out for these people, they should fight along side us." He remarked, gritting his teeth.
"It isn't my decision to make. Now, we should get moving."
You didn't give him time to agree as you brushed past him rudely. You took the lead as you stood firm, lining up your shot with a Power that moved towards you a few meters away. The scopes various on your rifle aligned perfectly. You had a clear shot to the Power's mouth. With a slight tug of the trigger, the light erupted from the slender barrel and burned a hole through the angel's shadowy hide. Now the squad of stallions pressed forward. Barreling past you with their weapons in tow. They had all moved ahead of you, it did well for you. You'd rather be behind the front line providing support. And with your long shot rifle it was very possible. There were many scopes that clung to the rifle's barrel, allowing you to see far distances clearly. But it also enabled you to get a closer look at the angels from a safe distance. You didn't like to stare for too long, but you did wonder how it was that they functioned as organic beings, if they could be called organic.
You were drawing closer to the exit now. Celestia did her best to guide to guide you all, but many others were in need of her help so she left you frequently. The angel's defense of the exit was now shifting. Now they opted for an offense, seeing it fit to dispose of you rather than keep you at bay. As you all made your way down the road two Powers sprang out from the left and right. Buildings toppling over and debris being thrown about like paper in a storm. In an instant the reeled up on their backside, their mouths pointed downwards at you all. Before you could stop their attack, jagged crystal-like teeth seemed to break from their positions in the jaw and point outwards towards you. With a shriek from the colossal worms, they shot downwards, a hailstorm of crystals as rough as a mountainside. You had no way of defense. They came at insane speeds. Almost as fast as your guns.
"Anon! Watch out!" Spike called out to you. Before you could even form a thought you felt his small body give you a powerful ram and it sent you flying.
"Spike!" You called to him. but he seemed to not hear you.
"Everyone get down and stay down!"
You watched him as his chest inflated like a balloon. His nostrils flaring and his eyes shut tightly. He was betting everything on this. You saw it by the look on his face. As if one had pulled the heavy chains to open up the gates to the fiery depths of Hell's inferno, brilliant emerald fire came rushing excitedly out of Spike's throat. It held the crystal shower at bay as if a great sheet had been laid over top of you all. The heat was so intense it instantly evaporated the sweat on your brow. It made your mouth dry and stole the moisture from your eyes, forcing them shut. It felt like sitting under a lava flow. The sound could rival a volcanic eruption. Captain Howl, who had took cover along side you now forced himself to look up into the luminescent green fire. The light dancing in his eyes as he stared in wonder.
"Such power.." He muttered under his breath.
He watched longer, but was then forced to shut his eyes, considering he may go blind if he stared to long. In the air, Celestia had stopped to watch as Spike's fire not only protected you, but slowly crawled up, creeping along the body of the angels. They squirmed and shrieked as loud as nails on a chalkboard as they tried to shake the flames away. But it was no use. The flames already had them and slowly encased their terrible forms. Then, as quickly as the flames had been ignited, they were distinguished as easily as one might snuff a candle.
You opened your eyes, feeling the heat let up off your back and saw Spike with his arms pulled backwards and his mouth still agape, smoke rising from within. Then he collapsed.
"Spike!" You scramble to your feet, dropping your rifle and catching him before he hit the hard ground.
"Wow, that really took a lot out of me..." He said through a sharp cough. You thanked the heavens he was still alright.
"You've saved my life twice now. If this keeps up I'll never be able to pay you back."
"You payed me back the moment you let me come along." Spike smiled and opted to stand on his own two feet. His rucksack looked heavier than usual for it caused him to hunch over like an elder with a bad back. "Now let's get out of here."
You nod and retrieve your rifle from where you threw it down. Captain Howl and the others waited for the two of you to recover yourselves before pressing on. But before you could move on, you heard to terrible crashing sounds of a building collapsing in on itself. It was the building ahead of you, a two story.
"There are centaurs in that building!" A stallion cried out. And he was right. In the gaps in of the debris you could make up three or four centaurs trapped under the rubble.
"Howl, we have to-"
"No."
You nearly broke your neck trying to look at him from over your shoulder.
"The hell do you mean no!?" You shout.
"Right now my priority is my stallions. I won't endanger them for the sake of these folk. As I said before, we don't have time for sentimentality."
His words felt like a syringe, prodding and digging into your veins. Filling them with a fire that spread throughout your entire being. The idea of shooting him was only a few thoughts away from your mind.
"Fine, you go and secure the exit with your men. Spike and I will help those trapped in the rubble.." Howl said nothing. He didn't even turn to look. As time went on you found yourself hating him more and more. You felt that you could never be the military type. If this was what it meant to be a commander then you would have no part of it.
"...Come Spike, we have to help them." You motion for the young dragon to follow you and he does so, cautiously trying to regain his barrings. Howl hardly looked your direction before he lead his soldiers in another charge for the exit.
"How did a guy like him ever make it to a boss position....?" Spike asked.
You wondered the same thing. But you said nothing. Now your only focus was to help those trapped in the building. As you drew closer you heard cries for help. The were trapped under the wood and stone of the building's now collapsed ceiling.
"How many of there are you?" You asked, carefully making your way inside.
"Three!" You hear voice call back to you. "My family and I!"
"Alright, we'll do what we can to help!" You call back to him.
The dust in the air was enough to make hold your breath. The air was thick with it. As though small chunks of stone seemed to float in the air.
"Where are you? Give us a sign!" You call out.
"We're near the back! Look for two wooden beams!"
Two wooden beams. You saw plenty of wood, but no beams. You expected the building to be built straight from stone anyway. You and Spike rummage around for awhile before you come to a pile with two wooden beams protruding from the debris. Through the gaps you could see the family of three, huddled together in the dim light.
"Alright, stay where you are!" You speak through one of the gaps, now able to see their frightened faces. It saddened you. It was because of you that they had to suffer through this. "Spike, give me a hand."
"Alright, what do you need?" He asked, putting down his backpack to join you over by the pile of stone and wood.
You take hold of the lowest beam sticking out of the stone and get under it, the beam resting on your shoulder.
"We're going to prop this beam up and create an opening for them to escape."
"Gotcha."
Spike was now behind you. His two claws clasped tightly on the beam.
"Alright, on three."
You count out loud. And on three, you both lift your damndest. The wood creaks as you it's forced upwards by the both of you. The great stone slabs in front of you slowly lift, the outside light flooding into the entrapment. Your knees are already starting to quiver, who knows what can be said for Spike. But he was toughing it out.
"Alright...this should be big enough! Try to crawl through!"
The three of them now made for the exit you and Spike had provided. They let their child through first. A filly...or girl that looked to be about twelve years of age.
"Quickly, I don't think we can hold it much longer!"
She sped through, not caring if she scrapped her legs on the jagged rock around her. She had to be fast enough so that her parents had time to make it out. Once she was out she immediately turned to beckon her parents over. Next was the mare. Because she was larger, you had to lift the beam higher so that she could fit. You weren't built for this type of heavy lifting. Your body could break at any moment. But Spike seemed to only struggle lightly. Maybe a dragon's bones were made of obsidian. Safely, the woman got through and rushed to her child. Now all that was left was the father.
"I beg you hurry! I'm not sure how much longer I can hold!"
"Right! Please hold on a bit longer!" He said as he rushed through. Like a groundhog burrowing through a tunnel, he climbed out with great ease, which was amazing. You'd expect a people with the abdomen of a horse to be very poor at crawling. Regardless, he made it through just in time. As soon as he was clear your arms and back gave out and the stone felled with a loud bang, sending you on your backside.
"Thank you! Thank you for all your help!"
"Aw, don't mention it. We did what we had to." Spike said, panting and trying to recover his breath. You'd agree with him if you weren't momentarily paralyzed.
"Even so, I must thank you..." He stepped away to rummage through the wreckage that was his house. He retrieved a small box that was caked in dust. "This has been in my family for generations. It is supposedly one of the relics locked away in the vault."
You open the ancient box, and inside glows in the dim lighting of Tzipuur day. It was a gauntlet of sorts. Seemingly made out of pure gold and fine leather. It had small holes in the fingertips and different buttons and such around the wrist.
"What is this?" You ask, taking it from its box. It was cold to the touch. Almost as if it didn't belong to this world or time. Which was common with ancient artifacts. It gave off the same air as your rifle did.
"It is an aegis. An item used for protection. And human, where you're going I'd say you'll need it."
The centaur said, closing the box. He helped you stand and pushed you to try on the glove. You had nothing to lose so you slipped your left hand into it and it fit, well, like a glove. It seemed to adjust to your hand, hugging it tightly. It felt ancient, but good as new. It was hardly heavy, but still had enough weight to it that you could feel it resting on your arm.
"How does it work?" You ask. Looking it over for any sort of clue.
"Hold your hand out and think. Think about what you want to protect."
"Is it really that easy? It sounds sort of like magic." Spike said, raising an eyebrow.
"That's exactly what it is. Magic.
"Magic...?" You say to yourself.
Celestia had said magic was nonexistent in the Badlands. Perhaps the centaur did have their own sort of magic. You held out your left hand, stretching out your fingertips. You thought about what you wanted to protect. Rather, who you wanted to protect. You thought to yourself. You'd like to be able to protect Spike, Celestia, and any others that needed it. You wanted to be someone others could rely on. You wanted this power to protect. With it, you would be able to stop tragedies. You would have been able to protect Ro'Jetty. With the thought in your mind you feel something pull at your fingertips and a soft blue light emits from the gauntlet.
A magical shield surrounds the five of you in the collapsed building. But as quickly as it appeared, it dissipated. Magic was a feeling you couldn't say you liked very much.
Aha, you've figured it out!" The father said. His wife and daughter smiling brightly.
"It seems I have.." You pull down your hand to your side and thank him. No doubt it will save you many times in the long run.
"Don't mention it. You were the talk of the town yesterday. Journeying to the tower..." He said, almost worryingly. "Something tells me you'll need it more than anything.."
Your eyes connect with his in a brief moment. He seemed to understand something you did not. As if he could see the future. It was unnerving but you didn't let it show. But soon the silenced in with a heavy rumble in the earth. It jolted you from this moment and you realized what exactly was going on.
"We must be going. You three should find someplace safe until this is over."
"Will do human. And thank you. Once your journey is over, come back here. We're going to need help rebuilding." He said jokingly.
You smiled and waved a goodbye as you turned to leave. Spike joined you after he retrieved his rucksack from the ground and both of you made your way out of the building and onto the main road again.
"This'll come in handy." Spike said, tapping the gauntlet on your wrist.
"That it will. Now where is Howl..."
Just saying the bastard's name was enough to provoke you. It wasn't in your nature to hold a grudge, but you seemed to make an exception for him. You looked ahead and found him by the exit. He and his men were doing well to protect it. It seemed that everyone else had already started to gather, ready to depart. The only ones that weren't there were yourself, Spike, and Celestia.
"Let's go Spike."
Making your way down the road you were joined by others who made for the exit. It became a mad dash to the goal. But it wasn't that easy. As your luck would have it, most of the angels now homed in on your location and the all dashed their way towards you. As you and Spike grew closer you lock eyes with Howl and he orders everyone to move forward up the stairs leading to the surface. You didn't have enough endurance and you began to lag behind. Lifting that beam really took it out of you. Ahead of you, the light of the surface broke through as the sand parted, allowing everyone to erupt out of the ground like someone had tapped oil. You look behind you and see the swarm of Powers that hunted you down. They were now more aggressive. Roaring and slithering their way towards you as fast as they could.
[PLAY ]
Now it became a race to the top. Either make it to open air or be swallowed by the gaping maw behind you.
"Anon! Are you alright!?" Spike called to you. He had already ran past you and was now a few feet away.
"Don't worry about me Spike! Just concentrate on getting to the exit!"
But he had good reason to worry. Your lungs were on fire and your legs felt like someone had taken a hammer to them. You now made your way up the stairs along with everyone brushing past you. At this rate you'll be left behind. In front of you the light shined brightly and nearly burned your eyes. The heat was enough to stop you dead in your tracks. The sudden change from the cool air of Tzipuur to the blazing heat of the desert almost being too much. But you had to press on. They were gaining on you. You had to buy yourself some time. Maybe you could slow them down and also gain your breath. Turning round, you aim your rifle at the pack of Powers. Their unseeing eyes lusting after you. The scopes align themselves and create a window to your target.
You fire off a few shots, hitting some of them but missing most. And it did little to slow their advancement. They just kept coming. It was befitting of their name. The name Power implied a heavy persistence and raw strength. They were tanking damage like it was none's business. They were like locomotives that could only be stopped by a giant. It seemed to be hopeless, you'd never make it to the surface in time. They were already too close for comfort. You were desperate now and you kept firing. Not hoping for much.
Now they were upon you like a pride of lions on a boar. They lunged at you, their jagged teeth waiting to tear you to shreds. Just then, when you were ready to give up and accept your fate, a streak of white made its way towards you. You should have known better. You were far too lucky to to perish here. A smile crept up on your face as you saw Celestia stream towards you. Her hooves outstretched and wings beating at a thousand miles an hour. You exhale as you throw your rifle over your should and hold your hands upward; meeting her hooves. She wisps you away in a heart beat. The angels smacking their faces on the stone steps leading to the surface.
"You're so reckless! If I hadn't been here you would be dead!" Celestia chews you out on your way up. And she was right, you'd be dead this very instant.
"You must forgive me, I'm very tired at the moment!" You laugh to yourself.
Everyone was now out of the cavern, leaving only you two. The sands now began to seal the passage and Celestia flew as fast as she could. It would be bothersome if you were trapped even for a moment. It would be a close call. Suddenly, Celestia held you close to her underside and told you to hold on as if your life depended on it. And it pretty much did at this point. You held on to her and she tucked her legs in. Her wings began to beat ferociously and she spun herself clock-wise. Faster and faster she went round, the world blending into one color.
The churning of your stomach was enough to make you vomit everything in your stomach. The sand was now beginning to completely seal the exit. It now formed a thin wall between you and the surface. But her spinning gave her enough momentum to drill through the heavy, hot sand and blast through to the surface. The two of you shot out of the sand like a rocket heading skywards. She stopped spinning, the sudden stop making you sick to your core.
You went limp, not wanting to even try to balance yourself. You didn't have the energy. You were so tired you could fall asleep right at that moment, but you didn't dare. The battle still wasn't over. Like you had done, the Powers broke through the surface like skyscrapers growing from the sands. You were right, they had followed you. Everyone immediately opened fire. Gaining a preemptive strike against the enemy.
"Celestia, help me to your back." You said lazily.
"My back? What for?" She asked, looking down at you. You were still clung tightly to her underside and you were losing your grip.
"I'm about to fall, and I'd rather not fall from this height.."
"Ah. My mistake." She said with a giggle.
Without warning she shook you off of her, letting you fall to your doom. If you weren't so surprised you would have screamed. Even if you did scream it would be cut short for Celestia flew under you, catching you on her back.
"You're insane!" You yelled into her ear. But she ignored you as she flew closer towards the ground.
"Anon, get your rifle ready!" You blinked. So absorbed in your trauma that you forgot the angels were a problem.
"Right.."
Taking your rifle off of your back, you balance yourself on top of Celestia. She flew surprisingly steady, allowing you to line up your shots with accuracy. From the air you helped those on the ground, your long shot rifle stunning the few Powers that remain and setting them up to be destroyed by the stallion's own guns. The continuation of the battle was short lived as you all were able to maneuver easily in the open sand. Angels starting dropping left and right. Their shadowy figures shimmering before being absorbed in the sand.
[PLAY ]
Now there were none left. Only stallions on the surface. On the ground everyone cheered. Their hooves raised in the air and waving their helmets around. With Celestia, you glided to the ground. Relieved to have won. As soon as her hooves make contact with the sand, you fall off of her. Face planting into the hot quartz. It felt awful but you hardly minded. That and you had almost no energy left to lift yourself up.
"Anon? Are you alright?" Celestia whispered in your ear.
You groaned. She interpreted it as a 'yes' and backed away smiling. Spike had made his way towards you and lifted your face out the sand.
"We did it! We saved Tzipuur!" He shouted, boggling your brain around in your skull.
"Aye. We did.."
You sit up, everyone now crowding around you and the princess. They were all so glad to have survived. This was a wonderful day for everyone. Not only did you make it out of Tzipuur in one piece. But you now had weapons to defend yourselves. And they were quite reliable as well. Many thanked you. They knew it was your reason for coming to Tzipuur. To find weapons that would help you on your journey. Everyone saw it as you thinking of them as a wise leader should. It was a bizarre feeling, one you don't think you could ever get accustomed to. But that was fine. You made it back to the surface and saved Tzipuur. You were all back on track and that's all that mattered. You may not sleep well tonight, but at least you can rest knowing that you were able to help a people who had been very kind to you. In spite of what happened.
"We still have some wine left over from the feast, Anon. Would you like some?" Celestia asked, extending her hoof to you.
Just then you remembered. You did all this with hangover.
"No."
[PLAY ]
The wind blew through the desert like a wave of winter. You forgot how pleasant it was. It was now setting up to be night and everyone made camp. They celebrated, even though they had attended such a grand party the other night. Ponies were a race of party animals.
You sat atop a large dune that was taller than most. You could see most of the desert from up there. The Tower of Babel reminded you fully of your task here. In Tzipuur, you had somewhat forgot. The reason why you were here in the first place. You were on a pilgrimage of sorts. A journey to the past. Many have helped you thus far. Spike, the Voice, Ro'Jetty, Master Talmon, Djinns, and most of all Celestia.
The pillar of your morale. You look over your shoulder to see her merrymaking with the soldiers. She put a smile on everyone's faces. And inadvertently, your face. The gauntlet on your left hand evoked a feeling of duty. If there was anyone you wanted to protect. It was her. Maybe it's because she was the first one you met who showed you any kindness. Maybe it was her gentle nature. Or the way she appeared without her airs and graces. The immortal ruler was very mortal at heart, and she wanted those around her to know it. Yes, she was the first you could actually call friend, and you knew that pleased her greatly. You'd have to do something for her, once this was all over.
"It's been a great day Anon, why don't you join us?"
You look over to see Howl plant himself beside you atop the dune. What gave him a right to be so casual with you now?
"I'll join when I feel I'm ready."
Howl smiled and raised an eyebrow at that.
"Ready? Come now Anon. We're friends, you should always celebrate with your friends!" He said laughing, patting you on the back.
"Let me make this clear Captain."
His laughter stopped and was replaced by a serious gaze. You stood, your peaceful thinking disrupted by his presence.
"We are not friends. I do not like you in the slightest. What you did back there is unforgivable. You killed two centaur. One who was a defenseless elder and another who was my friend. And you left a family to perish underneath the rock of their own home. You disgust me."
A twinge of anger contorted the captain's face. He stood, insulted and puffing out his chest.
"I did what I did to protect my soldiers! You couldn't understand the responsibility a leader has! You're too sentimental! You can't protect everyone Anon. That's just how it is!"
You can't protect everyone? You look down to your left hand. The magic that it calls from you is something stirred in your very being. Your will to protect anyone who needed it. You can't protect everyone he says..
Watch me..
You head down the dune, making towards the camp.
"I wonder if your conscience is clear with that reasoning. Heaven knows mine wouldn't."
You wave him goodbye as you disappear into the celebration. Leaving Howl atop the lonely sand dune that reached into the night sky.
//You have done well. You now have the weapons to defend yourself and Tzipuur is safe from the threat of angels. Well done. You make us proud.\
You're jolted awake to the empty void of the Voice. The familiar icy chill clinging to the back of your neck.
"Then you saw what happened?" You ask.
There is no immediate answer. Instead there is only a crackle of light in the distance. Then light trickled into the void, slowly filling it with luminescence.
//We witnessed it all. We must say, you've gone through many trials and have come away mostly unscathed.\
The light that surrounded you was now slowly colored with darker colors. Brown and beige and other earthly tones. Soon you saw what was happening. The void was taking on the appearance of Tzipuur, that town that resided under the sand.
//Look at them. Look at how they continue to live after such a calamity. How they move forward as if nothing had happened. Rebuilding that which was seemingly utterly destroyed. They have the human spirit.\
You watched as many centaurs moved about the wrecked streets of Tzipuur, thatching fallen roofs and raising crumbled walls.. You saw some rummage through the rubble of their homes, trying to reclaim what they had lost.
"The human spirit?" You ask confused.
It piqued your interest. If there was such a thing, could it define you as a human being? Your way of doing things and questioning things. Your curiosity.
//Yes. The human spirit. The very thing that drives them towards the future. The power that pushes them to survive. To start over and make anew. The force that pulls them towards the inner workings of the universe. Humans seek to discover, to analyze, to dictate, to subjugate, to emancipate, everything within their realm of existence. It is their nature. But most of all. It is human nature to survive.\
The imagery around you starts to shimmer and dissipate, falling off of the invisible walls and the colors being absorbed into the darkness.
"It is human nature to survive? Well if that was so then why are there no humans to this day?" You ask the silent blackness. It was ironic. A kind of irony you were humored by.
For a long time there was nothing. Nothing but a low wind that blew in circles around the void. You waited patiently, knowing that the Voice was late in responses.
//Anon . A name given to you by one of this era. The Kharo. However, you know this is not your true name. You lost your name long ago, when you were encased in stone. You died long ago in Agartha. The only existence you have now is a shadow. An echo of your former self. You ask why there are no humans left to roam the earth. The answer lies in your former life.\
The Voice's tone was slightly hostile and louder than before. It felt like it was holding you for trial and knew you were guilty. But guilty of what? What exactly happened all those years ago? Did you have a direct connection to the Aliik'ir? And if so, how?
"My former life.. Voice, you say you know me. But how is this so? How can you know me and I hardly know myself?" You ask.
You'd point a finger, but in the dark, you wouldn't know where to point. Suddenly, you felt sick in the stomach. Like something had given you a mighty kick. You collapsed, holding your underside.
//You ask how we can know you. We, who are omnipotent. We see all! You question us, when it is you who should question yourself!\
The pain now subsided slowly. Had you angered the voice? It was strange. It seems it liked to do the questioning and not vice versa.
"..Why have you called me here?" You ask. Wanting to get this over with as soon as possible.
Another long pause. It gave you time to think. If you were directly involved with the extinction of humans, what did that make you? Were you a villain unbeknownst to yourself? It was a frightening concept to ponder. And what if you were? Suppose you did kill everyone in your race, would it be possible to start a new life? Was it possible to wipe away such a sin? And in that moment, you asked a question that threatened to break your heart in two. What would she think?
//We have called you here to give you a warning.\
The voice returns, it feeling a bit far away from you.
"A warning? What sort of warning?" You ask, now curious.
//A warning to you, 'Anon'. At the end of this journey. You, the princess, the dragon, the captain. One of you will die.\
Its premonition feels like someone injected you with liquid nitrogen. One of you will die? You immediately feared for the worst. Your brain immediately started trying to process who would be the most likely to die and no matter what, you avoided all thoughts of the princess.
"Explain.."
You now felt like chains were pulling you deeper and deeper into an ocean of absolute zero. It was so cold you could see your crystal white breath in the darkness.
//In Agartha; the slumbering city. On a bridge leading to your final destination. One of you will fall into the fiery depths and be engulfed by flames.\
Great. A death by fire. But if it was only one of you... You already had a candidate in mind.
"And this prophecy is sure to come true?" You ask.
//Certainly. We can say without a doubt.\
Its tone was indifferent as always. But if the Voice didn't care about you, it wouldn't have warned you. Just then you thought to yourself. It could very well be possible that it was using you. But for what? And for why?
"Voice. Why are you helping me?" You ask the silence.
But before you could get an answer, you felt that sickly feeling setting on. You were about to be thrown from this realm and back into your own.
//We will not speak again. Everything you wish to learn waits for you in Agartha. We will meet there, and we will provide you with any answer you need...\
"But wait! I still have questions that must be answered!"
You call out to the Voice as you're dragged under into the ever expansive dark. There is no answer Only the rushing flood of silence pouring into your ears and into your lungs, drowning you. Your consciousness is pulled from your astral body and whisked away through the space between here and there. Suddenly you felt the arid heat on your face and the scrape of sand beneath your face. You were in the desert, traveling to the tower along with your friends. The sunlight creeps in through the crevice of your eyelids and seems to bake your shielded eyes. You didn't dare open them. Opening them would just signify the relinquishment of your sleep and stating that you were ready to face the day, which was untrue.
"Hey Anon. Anon, wake up!"
You stir in your half-sleep, shooing away the purple claw poking you in the side.
"What is it..?" You mumble.
"You're not gonna believe this! You gotta come see!"
Now instead of one claw poking you, ten claws rocked you back and forth, shaking the sand off of you that had accumulated on top of you overnight.
"See what? We're in the middle of a desert. There's nothing to be seen."
You roll over in the sand, refusing to wake up. The day you got out of bed would be the day pigs fly and there were no pigs or catapults around.
"He's right Anon. You must come see!"
You groan. You really didn't want to get up, but the fact that even Celestia sounded surprised convinced you. Reluctantly, you open your eyes to the hot bright orb in the sky. It immediately evaporated the moisture in your eyes and burned your skin. Spike was standing just behind you, shaking you, trying to hurry you to wake.
"I'll be right there.. Give me a moment."
"....You feelin' okay? You're not sick are you?" Spike asked.
"No, no. Just...give me a moment. Long day yesterday."
Spike is silent for a long while, then you feel his claws move away from you.
"Well, okay. But when you get up you gotta come see!"
"Yes yes, fine." You swat a hand in the air. Wanting both of them to begone for the time being.
"Don't sleep too long, Anon." Celestia calls over to you before trotting away with Spike.
And so you lie there, half buried in the sand and almost drenched in sweat. Maybe you were getting sick.
One of you will die.
The Voice echoes in your head, ringing about as if a great bell were hung in your skull. You lay in the sand, counting the grains that reflected the sunlight like an ocean of mirrors. You thought of Ro'Jetty as well as the premonition. Hopefully someone found him and Jehuty. It was a tragedy. Despite what he said about Babel, you really hoped he would travel with you. But that was in the past. The past had already happened, and there was no changing that. But there was a possibility one could change their future. Or was there? The Voice had said that its prediction was absolute. That one of you four would surely die. A chilling thought. You recalled to what the Voice told you before you entered the Badlands, when you stood among the twisted trees of the Everfree.
There is no stopping the work of fate.
If that was so, how could you handle the death of your closest friends. Even Howl, who you hated, didn't deserve to die that way, did he? But at this point, did it matter if he deserved it? You cared a great deal more for Celestia and Spike. Would it really be so bad as to plot Howl's demise? Could you really be so selfish? Condemning another to the inner workings of fate? If you were some dashing hero of legend, it would be you who would cast yourself into the fire to save the others. You think back to the airship, when you received the wardrobe you wore now. It’s funny now that you think about it. You felt like such a hero, the leading man to an epic tale. How wrong you were. A hero wouldn’t lay half buried in the sand, plotting the death of one of his allies.
It is human nature to survive.
Indeed. You rise from the sand, grains and flakes falling out of your matted hair and off your clothes. Your goggles were lined with sand as well and you did your best to empty them before fitting them tightly around your eyes. Looking about you, you can see that the camp is almost deserted, hoof-prints leading up and over a dune behind you. That must be where the thing you must see is. With a sigh you start off, grabbing your rifle just in case something went down. Your boots sunk slightly in the sand as you begin to climb up the large dune. You're thankful you lost your cloak in the sandstorm, it would just get in the way and cause you to sweat even more. Above the sand dune you can make out the light colors of blue and green, shifting and phasing in and out of each other as they blow in the breeze.
It was Celestia, Spike atop her back. They, along with others stared at what lay down below. Her ears perk up at the sound of you stepping harshly through the sand and turns to you. For that instant of eye contact, you felt your entire body quiver delightfully. It was casual, nothing out of the ordinary, and yet. It made you yearn.
"Good morning, Anon. Did you sleep well? No bad dreams I hope." She asks, her smile beckoning you to draw closer.
"No. No bad dreams. And your sleep?" You ask, finally reaching the top.
"It was splendid. You make a great pillow."
"Excuse m-"
"Anon look! It's amazing!" Spike interjected. He hopped up and down on Celestia's back, pointing wide eyed.
Down below was something magical. Magical being the only word you could use to describe it. Faeries. The tiny creatures danced about the levitating sand. They conducted it, lead it to form structures and statuettes. From above, it looked like a mini sprawling metropolis. It was beautiful. They moved so elegantly through the sand, as if they were the winds that carried it. The sand sparkled brighter than it did normally, a special gleam to it that made it seem alive with vigor. Your jaw fell. From such a distance the faeries looked to be nothing more than tiny stars in the day. You felt your curiosity begin to push you down the slope and immediately explore this new wonder.
"What are they?" You ask, removing your goggles so that you could see them in all their splendor.
Celestia giggled, leaned over and whispered into your ear.
"Let's go and find out."
Before you could even make a move yourself, you felt her massive wing hit you in the back and you went tumbling forward. Rolling down the dune, you could catch small glimpses of her and Spike laughing at you before starting down on their own. You kept rolling. It seemed you'd roll forever and ever and lose yourself in the sea of sand. But a single sand pillar stood in your way and your back rammed into it like a rock. The impact made you cry out, swearing as you tried to numb the pain. If this kept up, Celestia would be the one to kill you. Even if by accident. Sprawling onto your back, you lay in a t-pose, exposing your face to the bright sun that had yet to reach noon.
"Oh, did I push you too hard? Are you alright?"
Celestia's face eclipsed the sun and gave her a halo of sorts. Her worried expression looking down on you like a child who harmed their friend by mistake.
You'll be the death of me."
Her frown quickly morphed into a smile as if she hadn't frowned at all.
"Well then, you better be on guard. There's no telling when I'll pounce!"
Celestia then jumped over you like a cat and continued onward, Spike bobbing up and down on her back. Standing once again, you dust yourself off and follow them. Rounding the corner you're able to see the faeries much easier than before. They seemed to be human-like, save for some extra qualities. They had impossibly long legs, four bejeweled eyes and wings that fluttered as fast as a hummingbird's. They came in different colors. Very gentle greens, blues, yellows, and other warm hues. They fluttered about, ignoring your presence.
"What are they doing?" Spike asked. He was trying his best to make sketches in his journal, but they were so erratic that he couldn't get a good vantage point.
You wondered the same. What were they doing? They seemed to be building something out of the sand. But it was mostly pillars and walls in random places. Celestia was even more curious, trying her best to get as close as possible. The other soldiers stared and marveled, having never seen their like before. It was like seeing a magic spell for the first time. Which was an odd feeling for them all, considering they lived in a land where magic was abundant. You round a corner with Celestia and Spike and you can see most of them dancing in a circle, interlocking hands and singing in a language that you couldn't even begin to understand. A single faery saw you, but you couldn't see it as it glided along the sand, slowly making its way towards you. It hid behind a wall when you walked passed, innocently peaking at you, studying you as you studied the rest of its kind.
"What strange beings. They seem to be unaware of us."
"There are many creatures that exist on the astral plane that normally, wouldn't be able to interact with our own. But there are certain areas around the world where the two intersect, thus allowing us to peer into their world, as well as allowing them to see into ours. But often times, those of the astral plane pay no heed to us." Celestia said, staring at them in great wonder.
"So, they might be ignoring us?" Spike asked, to which Celestia nodded.
"Then perhaps it's best if we just pass on by. If we mind our own, they'll mind theirs." You say, walking ahead of the rest.
"You mean to tell me you're not the least bit curious as to what they are?" Celestia chased after you, pulling on your collar with the tip of her wing.
"I didn't say that. In fact, I wanted to know all their secrets the moment I first saw them. But for now, I think we should focus on our journey."
Celestia pouted. Something you weren't very used to her doing. If there was ever a being that could refuse her, they'd have a heart forged in magma.
"Though... I suppose we could stay and study them... Only for a few minut-"
"Then we'll be over here." Celestia said interrupting you. She pointed to the circle where the faeries gathered. Spike agreed with her and went along with her, leaving you behind to 'study' by yourself.
You sigh. Curiosity was a curse. It made you stop for every strange thing you happened upon. This desert had far too many oddities in it. You'll never reach Agartha if this kept up. You continue on in your own direction. A pathway lined with random walls and statues of faeries. They were crafted masterfully, especially since they were made out of sand. You couldn't help but test its structure. Poking a finger into the face of the statue to see if it may have been hard as stone, or as soft as sand. As soon as you touched it, the entire statue came crumbling down like a sand castle. It surprised you, forcing you to step back.
It was purely sand. Nothing in it to make it stay upright, not even water. It just stood perfectly, bound by some magic. Again you wonder, what sort of magic could possibly exist here in the Badlands? The Centaurs had it, and now so did these strange beings. You squatted down, trying to mold the sand into your own structure. It worked perfectly, it stood on its own, but was still immensely delicate. You molded it into the shape of a cube, very small, and only about as high as a foot. Once again, you poke it, and it fell back into the sand.
So it is magic. You thought to yourself.
Standing up, you look around. To your surprise, you could see none. Not even a single faery. It disturbed you. Suddenly, you felt alone, but it wasn't the same type of feeling you got when you were the only person in the house. It was a feeling similar to being the only life for miles. You begin to panic a little, quickly walking through the now unfamiliar layout of sand. None. None in sight, only sand walls. They seemed to become more defined, connecting to each other, forming pathways that lead in random directions.
"Celestia! Spike!?" You call out, but no one answers. It was as if the wind had swallowed your call.
Then, as if triggered by your words, the sand began to rumble. You instantly began to run, not wanting to be on the receiving end of whatever was coming for you. You darted around corners and sprinted down paths, but it didn't seem to get you anywhere. Everywhere you turned was just more walls, the open sand gone from you.Then you realized it. The sand walls were growing taller, melding into each other, forming a labyrinth and sealing you in. You begin to pound on the walls, expecting them to fall away like the statue did earlier, but they stood as if they were made of stone. Overhead, the sand began to form a roof, slowly sucking the area dry of any sunlight. The dark crept up on you, slowly moving about the ground, biting at your heels.
You ran, not wanting to be trapped in the dark, running towards the only light source available. But even that was fading, even as you ran to it. You stopped, huffing and puffing. Then the darkness pounced on you and you were swallowed by the black. It was impossible to see. Not a shred of light made its way through the thick sand walls. It was like being in the void, but fully awake. For some reason, that terrified you. It wasn't at all like a dream. The fact that it was real made it possible for you to be exposed to danger.
"Is anyone there!?" You call out to the darkness, feeling on the walls, making your way blindly.
[PLAY ]
Silence was your answer. You were alone. An overwhelming sense of fear began to overtake you. Were you always so afraid of the dark? Then you remembered that night aboard the Radiant Dawn. You’d spent all day reading Starswirl's grimoire. After, you tried to sleep, but were suffocated by an alien darkness. It terrified you then too. Was this the same darkness? Then you saw it, the very thing that made your heart nearly stop. You drew your breath in a sharp intake. Your palms were instantly sweaty and your mouth went as dry as the desert. You collapse onto your rear, moving away, kicking your feet out so that you could move faster. In front of you stood the same figure you saw on the ship. Though you had only seen it for a split second, you could see it in full there in the dark.
What was it? It was human for sure, but at the same time, something completely different, as if it didn't belong to this world. Its alien presence making you sick in the stomach. It didn't move, but the further you got away from it didn't matter. It still seemed to be just a few feet away from you. Was it following you? You were so afraid you couldn't speak. The dark was now creeping into your mind, rubbing your brain with its dark fingers. Were you going insane? Was the dark really that terrifying? You couldn't stand to look at the figure any longer. It made you want to vomit. You held your stomach and turned on your side. Your throat was contracting, cutting off your supply of air at different times. It all comes rushing out of you. Like a virus being thrown out of your body. You vomit in the sand, the smell making you sick. A terrible cough overtakes you and you do your best not to choke on a lung. But you felt a tiny bit better, enough that you were able to calm down just a bit. You risk a glance over your shoulder only to see that the figure had moved closer, right in front of you in fact.
You scream. A scream that bounces off the walls and echo back to you. It filled your ears and the sound exploded within your skull. There was nothing you could do, so you stared at the terrible figure in front of you. In that moment, you were content with falling into insanity. For that was all you could do to escape this terrible dark. Then, as if by miracle, a faery floated gracefully through the air, it illuminating the dark with its body. It flew through the human figure indifferently, dispelling it. The faint blue light continued down the path ahead, unknowing of your presence. As if a powerful magic had washed over you, your frantic hysteria had almost completely vanished and you were sober once more. Your heart began to beat normally, and the drought was ended within your mouth. You could see clearly now, no longer influenced by the dark. But the faery's blue light was diminishing as it continued further down the maze. You didn't want to be trapped in the dark again so you immediately tried to stand, only to find yourself too weak.
Now the light was nearly gone and you panicked. You wouldn't be able to survive without it, but there was no way to catch up to the faery now. Then you remembered the leather gauntlet strapped to your left hand. It emitted a light of its own. You thought fast. What you wanted to protect. Right now, you wanted to protect yourself against the invading darkness that surrounded you. The faery's light was gone now. You were in complete dark. Your concentration was almost broken the second you saw the figure begin to form. But as it materialized, it was blown away by the bright blue light of the aegis. Your breathing stabilized and you were able to stand, the maze now being illuminated. Your eyes adjusted, getting used to the light shining from your hand. Now you began to walk. The only sound being your boots in the sand and the light hum of the aegis.
"Celestia!" You called out again.
And as before, there was no answer. Were you really alone? As you walked aimlessly through the maze, you began to think. The faeries. Surely they had something to do with what happened. Had they noticed your party earlier and saw you as a threat? Or maybe someone provoked them. You thought of Celestia, pestering them about what sort of sweets they enjoyed in their world. Scaring the wits out of them as she tried to uncover the secret behind cakes of the astral plane. It humored you and pushed you forward. Maybe it was something you did. Touching their statue? Or attempting to mold it into your own creation? Regardless of the reason, your curiosity was causing more problems by the day. You began to think on it. Curiosity. Why were you so curious? The Voice said it was human nature, but why? Was it really such a strange concept to you to say no when faced with a mysterious happening? And what about the others? Were they just as curious as you? At times, Celestia would ask more questions than you, some being ones you'd never think of. Sometimes she'd seem more like a scientist than a princess.
That thought lead you astray. What if Celestia wasn't a princess? What occupation would she have? An archaeologist? Historian? Maybe she'd stay in politics. You didn't know much about her personal interests aside from sweets and humans. Then that thought lead to another. What was her fascination with humans? What was your fascination with her? You noticed that you thought about her a lot more recently. It didn't strike you as strange, she was one of your only friends after all, but lately she had been filling your mind completely. Often you'd stray from a single thought and wonder into a thought of her.
Strange. You thought to yourself as you kept walking through the labyrinth.
So far, you hadn't come across anything noteworthy. Just walls and more walls. Then, you came to a stop. You found a strange circular room that connected with other halls. In its center was an odd machine. It hummed like an engine and emitted a bright red light. A light that soaked the walls around it. It was like a fire in the center. Transparent tubes protruded outward from the machine and dug into the sand. You could see sand being pumped into it like liquid through a straw.
"What on earth could this be...?" You ask yourself, getting closer to inspect it.
It had no buttons or levers. Not even a console around its entire body. The machine was a sphere, with holes in it that produced the red light. You put on your shaded goggles and climb onto it. Peering into one of the holes, you try and make out what could be the source of the red light. Whatever it was inside swirled around chaotically. It was like a miniature galaxy, spinning in every direction it could think of. The sand that came from the tubes were drawn in by the small red galaxy, but what happened to that sand was unknown to you. Perhaps this is what made the maze. Using the sand to form the walls. It could continue this for years, the desert having more than enough sand to do so. Then you think to yourself; if this machine kept drawing sand in to construct the labyrinth, the maze could go on for miles. And you'd never find your way out.
The thought filled you with dread. You step down from the machine and remove your goggles. Something had to be done before this maze could grow even larger. You remove your rifle from your shoulder and hold it by the barrel. Going over to one of the tubes of sand, you hold the butt of the gun in the air. The sound of glass shattering bounces off the walls as you smash it with the gun. Now for the others. There were eight of them all together, and you drive your rifle through each of them. Hoping to stop any further growth.
The floor was now littered with shards of broken glass. You'd attempt to destroy the machine too, but there was no telling what could be the outcome. Now you needed to find a way out. Hopefully, it wouldn’t take too long, but at the same time you worried about the others. Where could they be? If they were even here at all. You sling your rifle over your shoulder again and look at the many halls leading out of this room. You've forgotten which way you even came from, now it was down to random selection. You wondered where that faery from before had gone. Then you see a white light move through one of the halls. You immediately hone in on it and follow it through the hall. Whatever it was, someone was carrying it. You could hear steps on the sand and the soft sound of breathing. Your own blue light clashed with the white light, mixing into an azure hue. The source was just around the corner, you felt you had to be stealthy. You were in uncharted territory, there was no telling what could be roaming this incredibly dark maze. You hug the corner, not yet peeking around to see who was there.
"Whoever is following me, I suggest you show yourself before I run you through."
A voice like harp strings. A familiar voice that you've heard countless times. You sigh and step around the corner, relieved to have found someone.
"Anon?"
It was Celestia, very surprised to see you. Her sword was slightly withdrawn from its scabbard, radiating light. You also noticed how the darkness seemed to cling to it.
"Oh thank God. I thought I'd never see you again." You say as you walk towards her with a smile.
She raises an eyebrow at that, a devilish smile turning up the corners of her mouth.
"Oh? If I didn't know better I'd say you missed me."
You stop dead in your tracks. Is that what it sounded like? You could practically feel all the color draining from your face.
"I missed you too." She said, her smile more innocent and genuine.
You now flushed with embarrassment, Celestia giggling to herself as she approached you.
"Anyway, where's Spike? He was with you wasn't he?"
Now the princess frowned.
"He was, but when all this started, we were separated. I was actually looking for him before I ran into you."
Worry filled you. Spike was probably running around like mad, trying to find his way as he stumbled through the dark. No, Spike was resourceful. He'd think of something. You'd find him eventually, you just needed to stay focused.
"By the way, do you have any idea about what may have caused this?" You ask.
You and Celestia began to walk through the maze, side by side.
"No. When you and I separated, Spike and I went to look at the the sprites that danced in a circle. They danced around something, spherical. Then their singing started to grow louder and I sent Spike to find you, but the walls had already started to grow rapidly. The sphere then started to emit a reddish glow, and the sprites scattered in every direction. It was strange to say the least."
So the faeries did this on their own. But why? What was the point of constructing such a large maze? Although, understanding a being from another existence was hard for someone from another.
"I saw the sphere. Actually I just came from it. It seemed to be the source of the maze, drawing sand from the ground and using it to construct the labyrinth."
"Were you able to shut it down?" She asked.
"No, but I did stop it from expanding the maze even further. I didn't want to destroy it, from fear that it could cause the sand to collapse in on us."
"Good call."
"Yes, but we'll need to find the others if we're to find our way out of here."
Celestia agreed and you walked down the dark halls of the maze that surrounded you. The both of you continued on in silence. A comfortable silence had descended over both of you as you made your way through the incredibly dark halls. The princess accompanying you hadn't said a word, but she seemed to enjoy the silence you both shared. It made you wonder what she was thinking about. You stole glances at her every now and then. Her face had only a hint of worry. She looked more or less like her normal self, but she thought hard on something that made you want to ask. Her brow would furrow every now and then and she'd accidentally walk into you from time to time. She seemed aloof, lost in thought, her body moving from muscle memory. It was like she was away from the console and set on auto-pilot. She didn't notice your staring. Neither did you until she blinked and glanced down at you.
"Anon." She says, returning her focus straight ahead.
"Yes?"
"Did something happen back in Tzipuur; between you and the captain? I noticed how you both looked at each other."
You nearly stop. Nothing slipped passed her. You probably wouldn't even be able to lie to her at this point.
"It's alright if you don't want to tell. I just want you to know that I'll listen whenever you need an ear."
She didn't look at you. Her eyes stared straight ahead.
You thought back to the incident down in the vault, and the family trapped under the rubble of their home. There was nothing about Howl that you liked, but would it be a good idea to ruin Celestia's trust in Howl at this point?
One of you will die.
Again the premonition echoed in your head. So what if Howl was the one who died? You already hated him. He'd be getting what he deserved, right? You had a right to condemn him to die.
"When Ro'Jetty and I left to find Master Jehuty, we found that Howl and his men had abducted him and forced him to open the vault, after which they had murdered him."
Celestia was speechless. She stopped, now staring at you, her face stricken with shock. You stopped ahead of her, but you didn't turn to face her.
"Soon after, Ro'Jetty charged him and Howl shot him down. He used the guns we used to fight the angels. Claiming that his men were what came first..."
You remember what happened vividly. The memory was burned into your mind. You could practically see Ro'Jetty fall to the ground, clutching his wounds and shivering.
"Captain Howl, did this?" She asked.
You nod. Not wanting to look at her in the eye.
"Celestia, I don't think it's wise to let him do as he pleases." You finally turn to her. Talking through clenched teeth and balling your fists. "He must be watched. He is a danger to us all."
You knew that Howl was likely not a danger to anyone other than yourself. He already hated you. That morning down in the vault, he spared your life only because you were the only reason they were all in the Badlands in the first place. If the princess found you had been murdered, she would ask questions and eventually discover Howl as the perpetrator. You watch Celestia carefully, her face suddenly looking tired and filled with mixed feelings. She looked down to the ground, sighed, and looked back to you.
"Anon."
There was a long pause. You stepped closer, wanting to hear her rebuttal.
"Captain Howl... he is a stallion of military ranking. As much as I hate to say it, what he did was logical. He was merely thinking of the lives of his men."
You open your mouth to protest but she silences you with her own voice, raising it loudly. The sound bouncing off the dark walls.
"But I agree with you. What he did was wrong. No matter what his reasons were, he murdered two innocents and that is something I cannot ignore."
She walked forward, her eyes holding a sense of grief. Her wings wrapped around you and pulled you close into a hug. Celestia's chin rested softly upon your head and her foreleg wrapped around your back.
"I know it must have been terrible for you. Believe me, I can sympathize with you. But Anon..."
She pulled away slightly, enough so that she could look you in the eye. The bright light reflecting off of the magenta in her eyes.
"You must not seek revenge."
She held her stare. As if she were trying to command your heart to be still and quell any anger you had towards Howl. It was unreasonable.
"Celestia, that's impossible! He killed-"
"Trust me Anon. No good will come of it."
Her voice cracked. The light of her sword dimming, so that you could no longer see all over her face. For all you knew, she was on the verge of tears.
"Promise me Anon. Promise me you won't seek his life."
Her voice resounded off the walls, as if you were receiving a commandment from a god. You thought to yourself. Would it be so easy to forgive and forget? Of course it wouldn't. If you remembered one thing from your previous life; it was that life must be repaid with life. And you wondered, were you always so vengeful?
"I promise..."
That was the first lie you've ever told. You didn't think anything of it at first, but later you would realize that it was what set the events of the Voice's prophecy in motion. A sigh escaped from Celestia's mouth. A sound similar to a soft summer breeze. Her wings furled and she stepped away. She drew her sword a bit further out of its scabbard, further illuminating the tunnels. She smiled, and you returned that smile with your own and followed her as she went on. You now walked behind her, counting out your steps in your head for lack of anything else to do. At this point, nothing much could be done other than wander aimlessly through the labyrinth and hope to come across something that would give you a clue about how to escape. Celestia seemed to not be troubled at all. Once again returning to the comfortable silence. Then you began to focus in on her.
More so her rear. It surprised you, you weren't normally one to stare, but then it felt like you were compelled to. As if something in the back of your mind was egging you on, pushing you towards those thoughts. It was strange and you didn't know what to make of it. Perhaps it was due to the lack of any other females from your own species, and now your body started to look for other, substitutes . Celestia's remark about being adventurous in the baths back in Tzipuur came to the front of your mind. You began to speculate if she were serious. She had played it off as a joke, but you wondered.
These thoughts were now invading every part of your being. Like a hungry wolf, stalking you and nipping at your heels. Why were these sorts of thoughts coming to you now of all times? You never had them before, not to mention about someone like Celestia. Or was it because it was Celestia that prompted these thoughts? You began to question your own feelings. Was this some sort of sign your body was giving you? Or was it purely temptation? You watch still as she makes her way down the halls, sometimes looking back at you to see if you were still following.
"Anon, don't you know it's impolite to stare?"
You stop dead. She found you out. There was no way you'd be able to talk your way out of it. You might as well fess up. But then you heard murmurs. Voices that were neither yours nor hers. Then you realized that the path in front of you now branched off into three different directions, forming a 'Y' shape with a path down the middle. You and Celestia look to each other and you hastily step beside her, sheathing her sword slightly as to dim the light you both shared. The sound of whispers and footsteps traveled back to you, the dark carrying them like a messenger. Then the soft dim light of a torch warmed the sandy walls. Their voices were now distinct, easier to hear, enough to make out words.
"It's hopeless...we'll never find our way out."
"Oi, don't fret 'bout that. As soon as 'e find the princess, errything'll be right fine."
"Even so, that's 'if' we find her majesty... I'm afraid Gig Line is right, we may never find our way out."
"Wha? Yer both jus' lettin' this dark get to ya'. It plays the tricks on ya'."
Celestia immediately started off, wanting to find the source of the voices. You had finally found someone.
"Hold on... do you hear that?" One stallion said, his voice slightly shaky and agitated.
"Eh? I don't hear a thin-"
You stop. Celestia stops. And the air seems to be sucked out of the passage way as all three of the soldiers gasp.The gasps are followed by a series of loud, blood curdling screams. Celestia immediately makes a run for it, making straight for the source of the light. You run after her, not wanting to be alone in the dark, and genuinely curious as to what just happened to the soldiers down the hall. The terrible sound of flesh being ripped from bone and horrifying buzzing hit your ears at full force. It sounded like a swarm of locusts attacking cattle. Celestia rounds the corner and she stops, nearly falling forward. You catch up, turning the corner and looking over her. What you saw was enough to draw the sickness from earlier.
The torches the soldiers had lit were now completely snuffed. And a few paces from them lay three bodies. And faeries. Hundreds of faeries swarmed over the three stallions like insects, gnawing at their bones and plucking out their eyes. They were being devoured by a hundred mouths, all at once. Then the sound of a hundred mouths stopped, and a pair of a hundred eyes now stared at the both of you. In that moment, you knew. These weren't enchanted entities from a realm beyond. They were what hunted you day in and day out. These things were angels.
Second Sphere:
They looked different now. No longer were they mystical and majestic, but horrifying and abominable. Their various colors had now turned as dark as the halls and their eyes were a decaying, sickly green. Tiny crystal-like horns sprang up from the sides of their heads and their wings now resembled ink strokes in the air. You're motionless, paralyzed by fear. Your legs probably wouldn't move even if you tried. Celestia was also still, but she wasn't as afraid. She studied them. Taking in their ghastly presence with full acceptance. She looked her enemy in the eye with an unfaltering stare. They stared back, but they didn't remain idle for long. Like a swarm of flies they seemingly merged into one another, becoming a wave of a thousand teeth. Now was the time to run.
"Run!"
Thinking fast, you hold out your left hand and concentrate. What was the one thing you wanted to protect right now? Both of your lives. A wall of azure light explodes from the aegis and hugs the surface of the walls, floor, and ceiling. It did well to separate you from the angels, but who knew how long the wall would stand. You turn, Celestia turning with you, and sprint down the narrow halls. Behind you, you can hear the terrible muffled shrieks of the angels trapped behind the aegis.
"Any ideas?" Celestia asked, galloping along side you.
Who knew where you were heading now. Your best course of action was to just put distance between yourselves and the danger, but what would you do if they find you? There was no way you'd be able to take them all with just your rifle and Celestia's sword. No, you'd need someone like Spike for that.
"We'll have to find Spike. The best we can do for now is run and hope we lose them."
It wasn't a perfect plan, but it would work for the time being.
"Any idea what they’re called? They don't look like the others." Celestia asked.
You knew what they were called, and like before it puzzled you. Why did their name always reveal itself upon your first sight of them?
"They are Virtue."
An ironic name. You had a suspicion that it was they who were responsible for this strange darkness. It wasn't like any other darkness, you'd be able to handle it. It was like a predator, perverting your most basic emotions, or amplifying them. Then it came to you and you calmed your run and halted. Celestia almost didn't notice as she only stopped when she looked behind her to see if you were followed.
"Anon? What's the matter?"
You didn't say a word as you swung your rifle from around your shoulder and pointed it down the hall behind you. You aimed nowhere in particular. You didn't even have to hit anything, you just needed to test a theory. The aegis was beginning to vibrate. You took it as a sign that the barrier was about to shatter. Which meant you didn't have a lot of time.
"Anon?"
"Celestia, before I found you, did you have any strange experiences with the dark?" You ask.
"What do you mean? Do we really have time for this?" She stepped closer to you, eyeing you curiously.
"Did it feel like someone walked along side you? Whispering in your ear, planting thoughts that normally you yourself wouldn't think?"
Celestia's breath withdrew sharply in a gasp. It confirmed your suspicion. This was no ordinary darkness. It was alive. Part of the Virtue, perhaps its main body. Curious, an angel with two bodies. The light from your rifle illuminates the hall around you and travels down the other end. It looked like a bullet jetting through a pillar of smoke.
"Look! The walls!" Celestia pointed at the sandy walls.
They were coated with shadow as heavy as soot. The dark now clung to the walls like water being evaporated off a sidewalk. Now you could see that the maze was not air tight. There were cracks in the ceilings and walls, allowing small beams of light to shine through. Now you'll be able to navigate without any sort of handicap. But you weren't out of the woods yet. Your left hand started to ache and it felt heavy. You nearly drop your rifle recoiling from the pain. Your barrier just fell, you could feel it. Down the hall, you could hear the hundred cries of murderous pixies.
"Anon, we have to go now!"
Without any sort of warning, Celestia took you by the collar and slung you over her back and broke into full sprint. You bounce uncontrollably on her back. Not yet gaining your bearings. You had to make sure to keep your head down, the ceiling being rather low. Still, it felt nice being able to ride her like this. It felt in a sense, natural?
"Anon, I'll need you to keep firing ahead to give us light."
"Aye."
One hand will have to do. Your other was still recuperating from the spell break. Good thing the kick back on your rifle was hardly noticeable. A toddler would be able to handle it. Balancing the barrel next to Celestia's lowered head, you fire. Each round rippling through the darkness and frying it like a lamp burning insects. Celestia darts around corners and curves around bends like she were water. You could feel her muscles working to keep you both going. Her hind legs kicking off the ground with the force of a locomotive. Every now and then you risk a glance behind you, to see if you were gaining distance between the angels. You weren't; every time you looked over your shoulder, you could see their sickly green eyes hounding after you.
But this time, when you looked back they were gone completely. You figured Celestia simply outran them. It was a reasonable conclusion. You were about to lean down and tell her that she could take it easy for awhile, but as she turned to the right, the path simply dropped into a deep, dark chasm. The both of you went tumbling forward into that void that drained everything. Your stomach began to hit against your lungs as you plummeted, screaming all the while. Celestia's wings unfurled and you felt the air around you brush aside as she dove under you. Catching you in mid air.
"Oh thank god. I thought that was it.."
"You can worry about that later. Here they come!"
Celestia was looking upward into the black sky within the chasm. A thousand green dots made their way towards you. Thinking fast you fire your rifle skyward, evaporating the dark clouds and managing to take down a few Virtues. There seemed to be more of them, like they were growing. Eventually there would be enough to move across the sky like a dark cloud.
"Dive! Celestia, dive!"
You didn't need to tell her twice. So far, you've yet to hit the ground and you could stand to go a bit deeper. It was either that or charge the enemy. It felt more like falling rather than flying as the both of you jetted further into proverbial hell. You donned your goggles to protect your eyes from the air. Behind you, the Virtues were gaining. Celestia was the fastest creature you've seen to date. She could probably out fly one of those airships, but for these tiny angels to remain just a few yards away was amazing. Then you raise your hand, turning your body so you can point it upward. It takes all your concentration not to fall, while also casting the spell.
Once again you focus on the idea of protecting your life. More so Celestia. And like rain, the spell comes forth. The transparent, blue wall stretches the entire length of the cavern. Once again separating you from the threat. You exhale heavily. It took a lot out of you and you hunch over, patting the side of Celestia's neck to signal her it was safe to stop. Her wings beat harder than a drum and she rears up to stop her descent. Almost sending you flying off. The Virtues rammed the barrier, trying to break it as they did the previous time. You gave yourself about five minutes before that happened.
"Anon, shoot downward. I thought I saw something along the walls."
You nod and fire off three shots down into the bottomless pit. You can't even see where they end. But you can see what Celestia was talking about. Along the walls were numerous passage ways. All of them connecting to this chasm. There were so many to chose from. At least one would lead you to your comrades. But which one. Then again, did it really matter? The angels weren't going to wait for you to choose.
"Pick one and fly Celestia!"
You again pat the base of her neck and her wings respond, thrusting you forward into the closest hall. After you reentered the hallways, you felt a pressure build up in your left hand once again. The shield was going to break in a matter of minutes and you couldn't keep this up forever. Celestia will eventually get tired, and they'll eventually find you. Celestia suddenly stopped. The halt almost sending you flying forwards. It was a dead end.
"Tch....Damnation. Anon, you better prepare yourself. We're in for a fight."
Celestia whipped around with the speed of lightning. She planted her hooves in the hard rock beneath you and stared straight ahead. The sound of glass shattering coursed through the cavern, along with the screeching of mad beasts. You heard their wings flutter and beat around in the pit ahead of you. They were searching for you. It wouldn't be long until they found the pair of you and tore you limb from limb.
"We'll charge them."
"What?" She cranes her neck to look at you. She was clearly confused
"As it stands right now, we have nowhere to go. We have almost no choice but to sit and wait for them to find us and kill us. And I'm sure Celestia, the proud princess of Equestria, won't take that sitting down."
She smiled. It was a smile that said "Damn straight."
"Fine. But you better hang on tight. If you fall, I'm not coming back for you."
You laugh, ruffling her multicolored mane as you placed your hand on top of her head. Her ears shot upward at that and she made a motion like she was going to look at you, but then stopped and continued looking ahead. You wondered to yourself then. When did you become this close? Perhaps it was because the both of you were in a life or death situation and it helped calm her nerves, which is why she allowed it. Or rather, she enjoyed it. Heaven knows you did. From the dark beyond you, you can make out the grassy green eyes of Virtue. The lime orbs ever shifting and changing. Celestia stomps the ground with her hoof and lowers her head, her wings slightly unfurled and horn pointed outward.
You draw the sword that waited patiently by her side, the pillar of light eradicating the darkness around you. It felt brilliant in your hands. You knew the moment you found it in the vault that it would be something that made you feel a slight ecstasy if you were to use it. With the sword clasped lightly in your right hand, you focus on your left. You've never tried but now was as good of a time as any. Again you focused on that feeling. Celestia. Blue clashes with the white light as a shield grows around your clenched fist. A circular buckler hugging the side of your forearm. It was small, but it'd do for now.
"Any ideas after we make it through?" Celestia asked.
"Right now, I think we should try to get back to the room with the machine. I doubt we'll find our way out of the labyrinth without destroying it."
"And what of the others?"
"We can always dig them out later." You say, laughing to yourself.
Celestia chuckles and adjusts her weight forward. Her wings now half-way at full mast.
"Hang on!"
Her hind legs kick off with a powerful explosion similar to thunder. The sudden air shift almost throwing you off. Ahead of you, the angels charge, their jagged teeth dripping with saliva. You ready your shield, placing it in front of you and raising the sword in the air. With the size of the Virtues, you hoped it'd work like a specially made fly-swatter.You counted the paces that brought you closer to them with each second. You could see the proverbial 'white of their eyes' and you immediately start swinging.
Celestia works her way through like a drill eating through rock and your right arm never stops swinging. Every now and then an angel would tug at your shield, but ultimately be done in by you bashing your shield and sword together. You did your best for Celestia too. Making sure that none of the angels tried to take a bite out of her. But even without you, she seemed to be doing well. At least three Virtues impaled themselves on her horn and they squirmed, trying to remove the rod out of their chests. As soon as they even came close to you, you'd swing your sword. Evaporating them with great ease. A saber was much more civilized than a gun, you though. Ahead, amidst the swarm that engulfed you, you could see the entrance into the cavern. Celestia had subconsciously tucked her wings in, not wanting to injure them in the charge. But you knew as soon as her hooves left the ground, she'd be off like a rocket.
But you were distracted. While you looked ahead, you didn't notice the Virtue crawling over your shield. It dug its jagged, rock-like teeth into the skin of your arm, tearing the cloth of your shirt and staining it with blood. It felt like someone tried to dig into you with a stalactite. You shout, the noise being involuntary. The Virtue's claws now dug into your upper arm, ripping into the muscle and making you wish you wore full-body armor. Celestia didn't lose focus. Like she said, if you fell, she wasn't coming back. You didn't want to test if she was serious.
As the angel continued to gnaw on your arm, you placed the hilt of the sword into your mouth and wrapped your free hand around the little devil's head. It was like a dog, locking it's jaw in place so that you couldn’t remove it, no matter how hard you pulled. And by god did you pull. Other angels tried to swarm you, but you made use of the shield that still latched to your arm and repelled them. You yanked hard on the Virtue's head. Trying to pry its teeth out of you, which felt like trying to remove rusted razors. Your teeth bit down on the hilt with the force of twenty pounds as you yanked and pulled. Your own blood falling freely from the wound. Up ahead, you were running out of time. You weren't sure if you'd be able to deal with this if you were in mid-flight. You now tried everything, you even tried to pluck out the green marbles that were its eyes. But it was no good. It was like a tick that didn't come out no matter what. If only you had Spike here to burn it.
You let go of it's head, retrieving the sword from your mouth. You didn't feel exactly safe with what you were about to do. After all, the light weapons could tear through organic skin like a heated blade through wax. Not to mention the constant bobbing you had to endure while riding Celestia, and the number of angels that still attacked you as the both of you made your way through the horde. With the precision of a grade A scientist, you lower the blade near your arm. You can see the Virtue start to stare at it through it's mossy green eyes, it only makes it's grip tighter. You bounce, almost cutting off your own arm.
"Celestia! Try and keep steady will you!?" You shout.
"Forgive me if I'm running for my life!"
"Well run slower!"
Once again you lower the blade onto your arm. You were just inches away. One slight bump, or jostle and your arm would be gone completely. Then, as if ill fate decided to play with you, Celestia ran out of walk space. And you were now slightly falling downward. Your hand slipped. You cursed as your shaking hand collided with the Virtue's head. It shrieked and disintegrated. By some miracle, you were able to pull the sunlight blade away just before it met skin. Although you probably burned a few arm hairs and instantly evaporated the blood.
"Are you alright!?" Celestia asked, trying to shout over the loud angels that gave chase to you.
"I'm fine! I've just been bitten is all!"
"Aww, would you like me to kiss and make it better!?" She teased you, looking over her shoulder and batting her eye lashes.
The thought of Celestia trying to kiss your wound, which at the moment was trickling with blood, didn't amuse you in the slightest.
"Focus! Get us back to the round room with the machine! I'll block their path!"
With that, Celestia's speed doubled and you sprang up through the chasm like a weed in summer. You sheath the sword and dispel your aegis buckler and cast it outward behind you. Creating a new shield that would hold them for a while. You were getting good at this. You were going so fast that you were afraid Celestia wouldn't be able to stop herself and you'd both smash into the ceiling. You held on tight just in case, bracing for impact. But just like that she turned, almost a right-angle and your neck cracks in three places as it jerks to the side.
Now you were flying down the halls, making erratic turns and advanced flying techniques. Celestia seemed to know where she was going. How good was her memory? Was she like an elephant? Her rear sure did fit the bill. You surprise yourself with that last thought. You'd have to save it for when she teased you again. You resembled a jockey, hunched over and legs tucked in tight around Celestia's sides, careful not to disrupt her wing beat. Before, you had heard that Rainbow Dash, that blue mare with the multicolored mane, was the fastest flier in Equestria. Being here, zipping through these halls busted that myth completely.
The halls were starting to feel familiar. The directions and twists and bends now recognizable. This is where you found Celestia, and up ahead you could see the red light peeking at you from around the corner. You were home free. But the turn was an immediate right. Celestia was going so fast there was no way she'd be able to turn like that fast, and with such precision.
"Celestia! Slow down, you'll run us into the wall!"
"Nonsense! We'll make it, trust me!"
And so you trusted her. Something you wish you could do without a sense of dread in your gut. Before you knew it, the wall was right there in front of you. You were going to crash. Or were you? Celestia's wings had stopped completely and you seemed to glide along the hall. Then, with a peculiar stroke of her right wing. You both barreled to the right. It wasn't like that time in Tzipuur where she burrowed through the rock in a spiral. It was akin to becoming like water bending around a corner.
The maneuver was so fluent. There was hardly a way for you to believe it actually happened. For as soon as it happened, it abruptly ended with the both of you flying into the red room and falling to the sandy ground. You instinctively held out your arms to catch yourself, but the wound on your left arm being too much to bare and you immediately face plant into the sand. Gasps fill the room as you both crash in. Celestia slowly stood, looking around the red room. She smiled and nudged you in the side. You look up to see that everyone had appeared to have found this room. All of the soldiers you were looking for were already found.
"Anon!" Spike cried out, making his way towards you. "Where were you!? I thought you were a goner!"
You chuckle and raise yourself upward.
"Kept you waitin', huh?"
"Anon, we don't have much time!" Celestia snapped back to attention and made her way over to the machine. The orb now hissed loudly, the spiral inside spinning at unfathomable speed.
You scramble to your feet, careful not to knock Spike over in your haste.
"Do you have any ideas on how to destroy it?" You ask Celestia, who circled the machine, trying to find any clue to its structure.
"Not at the moment, no. What if you try hitting it?"
"Hitting it?"
"Yes. Sometimes the best solution is usually the easiest one."
"True, but how do we know it won't-"
The familiar pressure starts to build in your left hand. It felt like someone was giving you the firmest handshake of a lifetime.
"Alright."
Just like with the glass tubes, you sling your rifle off of your shoulder and grip it by the barrel. The others looked to you, wide-eyed and cautious. You swung as hard as you could with your injured arm. The impact sending a terrible vibration through your entire body. Then, a red sort of lightning arced over the sphere, throwing you back.
"Anon! What are you doing?" Spike caught you as you stumbled backward.
"We need to destroy this machine. The creatures we saw earlier were angels. Celestia and I are being pursued."
The intensity of the danger hits you and you feel your heart start to pump faster and faster. Maybe it was the adrenaline. Around you, you heard whispering and murmurs. The stallions were shifting in their places, on edge for the impending attack. You swing the butt of the rifle again. A metallic 'thume' ringing out and bouncing off the sandy walls. Again, a red arc of lighting hits you and staggers you. The light was shining brighter than before, trying to ward you off by putting on a display of power. Arrogant machine. Your left hand was now starting to feel like it weighed twenty pounds. The barrier should have shattered by now, but you did your best to hold it as long as possible. But at this rate, the barrier would shatter and you'd all be trapped. And you were making no progress in taking down this machine. You needed someway to buy more time while you worked. You'd need someone to guard the entrance and hold them off as long as possible.
"Spike!" You shout.
"Uh, yeah?"
With your left hand you point at the hall you and Celestia came from.
"I'll need your fire for this one. I want you to stand over there, and at the first sign of the angels, I want you to fill the hall with fire. You think you'll be able to do it?" You ask.
Spike now shied away slightly, kicking his tiny foot in the sand.
"I don't know Anon, what if I can't? I'm not sure I have it in me for something like that."
"Nonsense. You saved my life twice with your fire, Spike. And now I ask you to do it again."
You hold out your fist to him. Half-dried blood coating it. Spike looked at you, his eyes growing slightly wider than they usually were. You smiled, reassuring him. This was a job only for Spike. Your guns wouldn't be able to keep them all at bay and you doubt you could conjure another shield. Your spirit was wearing thin and you needed to rest. Spike was still for a moment. And then with a puff of his chest, he snorted out two small pillars of smoke and smiled. His scaly fists brushed against yours and he turned and made his way towards the hall the angels were expected to appear.
"You two..." You pointed at two stallions who carried very large shields from Canterlot. They appeared to be made of solid gold and weighed a ton. "...I need you to support Spike. Make sure nothing gets past him."
"Yes, sir!" They said in unison and hurried over to join Spike, almost dragging their shields.
"Since when did you start giving orders?"
Celestia was beside you now. She smiled wryly and you shrugged. You didn't see it as giving orders. You were merely asking a favor. The aegis now started to let off a slight stream of steam. At this rate, it'd probably brake if you held the shield any longer.
"Celestia, give me a hand."
"I would, but I'm afraid I'm lacking in the 'hand' department." She said, waving her hooves in front of your face.
You brushed her aside and went back to work. This was definitely not a time for games. You climbed onto the machine. Staring into the holes that dotted its surface. Staring down into the light, you can see that the spiral at its center was now rapid. No longer staying center and practically bouncing off the walls.
"Celestia, give it a buck."
She nodded and turned her back on the machine. With all her might she shot out her back legs with the force of a lightning strike. The impact made the machine shudder and you felt as if thunder had exploded right next to you. You take a look inside again, but nothing appeared to change.
"Again."
Around you, the stallions covered their ears as Celestia bucked and bucked on your command. The ringing was enough to rattle the entire maze. It was like she were her own little earthquake. She gave it one final kick, by far her strongest one. It caused you to fall on your rear from how hard the vibrations were, but it still didn't seem to do anything. Celestia was now getting frustrated. She grit her teeth and flared her nostrils. It made the other stallions step back a little when she starting kicking up sand and muttering under her breath.
A shooting pain went through your hand like a knife plunging into your palm. It was the aegis. It now burned like heated metal and scarred your skin. You cry out in surprise and remove it without thinking. Without the aegis equipped, the barrier would instantly fall. The Virtue's roar could be heard from the hall as testimony to that.
"Spike! I suggest you prepare yourself!"
He nodded. The two soldiers on both sides of him planting their stone-like shields into the sand. You stand, hurrying to the machine. It was now burning with an incredibly bright fire. Once again you look inside. The spiral was gone, only a condensed orb of magic levitated in its center. Like a miniature star. Then you got an idea.
"Celestia, hand me my rifle."
You stretch out your hand, not taking your eyes off the orb inside. Around you, the sound of fluttering wings and sharp whaling could be heard. Everyone now prepared to stand at the Alamo.
"Quickly!" You shout.
The rifle finds its way into your hand and you look back. To your surprise, it was Howl. Celestia was with Spike. She had her own gun, and laid on her stomach next to him, aiming down the dark hall.
"Is there anything you need help with?" Howl asked.
There was no hint of hostility on his face. Only deep concern for his fellow soldiers. You frowned, but then turn your attention back to the machine. It now coursed with red lightning, but it shot outward instead of hovering around the sphere.
"I want you and your men to climb on. Have them aim their guns at the orb in the center. And be quick about it."
Howl immediately was off, relaying the instructions to everyone who was present. Within seconds they all piled on, aiming their guns through the many holes that punctured the sphere. You really hoped this'll work.
"Anon! They’re here!"
Spike shouted over his shoulder. The two stallions and Celestia made ready. You could see Spike start to freeze in place as he watched the Virtues slowly creep around the corner. Their decaying green eyes staring through him.
"Don't falter Spike! Don't let fear control you, instead use it as fuel!"
Spike then looked at you. He remembered how scared he was back in Tzipuur, and how afraid he was of dying. He used that fear to overpower the angels and save all of your lives in the process.
"Don't worry if you don't get all of them Spike. That's what we're here for." Celestia said.
The other two stallions looked down to him, smiling. Spike nodded, and with his new conviction he inhaled. The air in the room seemed to thin largely as Spike puffed out his chest, taking in as much as he could. The Virtues were right in front of them now. As if Spike pulled a trigger in his lungs, incandescent flames crawled from his gaping mouth and charged the angels. It was like a demon of fire, greedily swallowing up anything it came in contact with. You watch for only a moment before turning to your own task. It was Spike's job to buy you time, it was your job to get you all out of the labyrinth.
"Alright, all of you see that red orb in the center? My guess is that if it's anything like the angels, our weapons should be able to destroy it."
"Destroy it? How do you know the sand wont come crashing down on top of us? We'll be buried alive!"
Howl was beside you, looking at you with ill trust. You stared back at him, slightly turning your nose up in the air.
"Well I hope you ponies are good at digging."
Shots already sprang out behind you as Celestia and the others fended off the angels. This was your only chance. You all agree that on three, you'll concentrate your fire on the orb. The red light was now pulsating, and crimson lightning shot outward. The machine flailed about like a child as you held the pillow over its mouth. You count aloud. Each second feeling like a minute. On three, you all pull the triggers and fill the sphere with the white light of the rifles. Another pulse sends most of you flying off. But you keep shooting. The walls and the ceilings were starting to rumble, sand being kicked up in the commotion. The lightning was now more aggressive. It arced like a thunder god's fury, all the while Spike's flames acted as your shield. Again you all fire, attacking the condensed red orb in the center. You had no way to look inside, but you'd say it was working, for large slabs of sandstone started falling from the ceiling almost crushing a few ponies.
"Hurry Anon! I don't think Spike can keep this up much longer!"
Celestia called to you. She was now on her hooves, juggling her sword in between her mouth and her hooves. Spike's eyes were shut so tightly, they probably wouldn't be able to open again. His tiny lungs felt like a wooden bridge trying to support three elephants. You kept shooting for his sake. The sphere began to crack, the red light peeking through, the inside being even brighter. You stopped firing and began to tear at the chipping casing. With your hands you pulled off the shell of the machine. The others helped you as you rushed to pry open the machine. Celestia, along with the other two stallions were giving it their all, keeping the angels from getting too far.
You tore and tore away at the casing, the red orb now visible. It was within arms reach, but as soon as you reached for it, your hand was burned. It was hot. It was like sticking your hand into an oven. The sand was drawn into the core and pressurized to form the hard sandstone around you. Behind you, you could hear Spike's flames give out. He collapsed in the sand. The few angels left trying to make their way into the room.
"Howl! Your gun!" You shout over the chaos.
Howl passes you the gun without hesitation and you grip it by the barrel and hold it over your head like a club. The heat was now pouring into the room. It was like standing over a volcano. Without much thought for what could happen, you brought the butt of the rifle down and rammed the orb, sending it flying and shattering over a wall. Now the sand around you began to falter and the red light faded. The ceiling was the biggest danger. Howl was right, there was too much sand and you'd be buried alive.
You jump down from the now destroyed machine and retrieve the aegis you’d thrown down earlier. There was no time to put your hand in so you held it in both. Around you everyone was in a panic. Many held their shields over their heads, trying to avoid being crushed by the falling sand. There were so many. Maybe you could shield them all from the sand, but there was no time for everyone to huddle. Looking at Celestia and Spike, you immediately wanted to chose them. They were the easy choice, but what would she think if you let these soldiers die? You concentrate. A single thought being shoved to the front of your mind. Howl said you couldn't protect everyone. Maybe not, but you'll sure as hell try.
You fall on your knees, straining your mind. You focused as hard as you could. Your breath stopped and your hands clinched around the glove. Protecting everyone was your goal, and it would be a goal well met. The magic in you answered your call and sprang forth from the aegis, the azure light illuminating the crumbling room. It created a massive dome that stretched over all of you, the sand sliding off it's sides. Celestia watched as you lay hunched over, almost screaming at the top of your lungs. Day was breaking, expelling the dark that held you prisoner. It was like being born again and many cheered at the sight of it.
Meanwhile you struggled to maintain the spell. There was still a great deal of sand left, and you doubt you'd be able to keep this up for more than a few more seconds. Then you felt a goddess' touch upon your back. You open one eye to see Celestia sitting beside you, her wing draping over you like a great quilt of comfort. You stared into her eyes, and they stared back. They pushed you, encouraged you. You felt at ease and found it easier to control the spell. Soon the sand would fall away completely, and you'll be in the shining sun once more.
Soon after the collapse of the labyrinth, you immediately collapsed. It was like all the energy in your body had been sucked away by the aegis in your hands. You entered a deep sleep, one well deserved as Celestia had put it. Spike had came to a little after you fainted and now he looked over you as you slept. There would be no march today, everyone was too tired. Who knows what they all experienced in the dark. What thoughts that came to mind in that black burrow. Celestia was standing a little ways away from the camp. She watched as you lay on the blanket she placed you on.
"I should have listened to you. Now you can't even move because of my mistake. I should have known better."
She spoke to you, but hardly expected you to answer. She was more speaking to herself, quietly blaming herself for everything that had happened. She put everyone in danger so she could satisfy her own curiosity. It was incredibly selfish. Something that she hadn't been guilty of for a very long time. She was faultless, never making any sort of mistake or committing any wrongdoings, but now she found herself making all kinds of mistakes. Why was that? She turned away and sat in the sand. Her gaze shifted to the stoic tower that seemed closer than it was before.
"I've changed.."
She said to herself. The only thing offering a reply being the soft wind that blew through her mane.
"What is it that's changed me so?"
She thought to herself, but when nothing came to mind, she frowned. So she thought harder, shutting her eyes and twitching her ear, swishing her tail in the sand like a frustrated cat.
"Ugh! What's wrong with me? I can't even think of what ales me. I must be getting old. When did I start making mistakes? At what time did I start acting so selfish?"
She continued to ponder in frustration. She asked herself. Am I really here for Anon...
"...Or to satisfy my own curiosity?"
Her tail stopped swaying and she opened her eyes. She thought about how strange it was to be here in the Badlands, this boundless desert. Out here, there was no way she could use her magic. She didn't feel 'one' with the world as she usually did. She couldn't even feel the sun within her. She looked to the sky, the sun taking center in her pupils. She stared, its light never being anything to turn her away. In all Equestria, she was the only one who could truly gaze into the heart of the gold star and not be blinded by it's incredible light. But it seemed so far away. With her out here in this desert, it felt terrible, almost agonizing. So why did she willingly come along this journey knowing full well that she'd feel like this? She was curious, yes, but that couldn't be all there was, could it? Why was she so interested in a forgotten old city anyway?
"What on earth compels me to be here?" She grumbled.
"Do you always talk to yourself when you're alone?"
Her head darted around to look at you. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was slightly hanging open. She blushed, embarrassed that you were able to surprise her and catch her talking to nothing but sand.
"A-anon! You should be asleep. You must rest, magic fatigue is very serious, you could fall into a coma!"
She stood, sand falling off of her as she stepped towards you.
"I'll have to sleep later. We're still marching today, aren't we? I don't want to lose time."
You say as you slowly make your way forward. Celestia watched you, worry written all over her face
"We're almost there. It'll take a day's march at best now. We shouldn't...."
You fell over. Asleep and motionless. Celestia caught you, wrapping her foreleg around you as she tucked you into her chest. For a moment, she stood there stunned. She mused to herself how peaceful you look while sleeping. Then, she gently sat with you still held closely to her breast.
"Oh. I see now." She said.
She listened to the soft tones of your breathing and took joy in it. Her wings wrapped around you once again, providing you a blanket.
"I came because I wanted to see what became of you..."
....My little human....
The sound of shifting sand falls on your ears, as well as the soft spoken conversations that surround you. It didn't feel like you were at all stationary, more like you were being pulled. You'd be panicking a little if you weren't so tired. You thought about dismissing it as nothing and falling back to sleep, but you knew that'd just be reckless. You could at least open an eye to get the gist of what was going on. Terrible idea. You just so happened to stare directly into the sun. The bright ball of luminescence hits you dead in the eye like it was yelling at you for sleeping so late.
You quickly cover your eyes with your hand, trying to shield them before they could melt into your skull. Thinking back on the events that happened a day prior, you slowly recall everything. The labyrinth. The angels. Your arm nearly getting gnawed off. You glance at an arm you can hardly feel. It was bandaged and motionless. There was little to no sensation in it, like all the nerves had been burned away. Looking around, you can see that you definitely were moving. You were on your back, being pulled along a blanket through the sand.
You crane your neck to look behind you, the sudden movement causing you to feel groggy. Celestia had been pulling you along with a harness strapped to her. Spike was once again riding atop her back and from down below, you were a tad bit jealous.
"..I doubt it. How do we even know we can get into the city if the gate’s locked?" Spike asked.
"We'll find a way. It's imperative to stay optimistic Spike. Besides, we have Anon and that peculiar stone he carries." Celestia replied.
"You mean that stone we know nothing about?" He said flatly.
Celestia laughed as she began to make her way around a dune. You must not have weighed much, for she pulled you along as if you were merely a toy wagon.
"Considering he had it on him when I found him, I'd say it's a pretty important key. But who knows, I could be wrong. Maybe we've been wasting our time."
"What happened to being optimistic?" you say, peacefully resting on your makeshift carriage.
"Anon, you're awake!" Spike maked a full body rotation as he turned to you.
Celestia peers at you over her shoulder, her high risen collar hiding her smile.
"How are you feeling?" she asks, turning her attention forward again.
You try and prop yourself up with your arms, but feel a shooting pain spring up in your left arm. It felt like someone was cutting upward into your veins and freezing the blood. This was pain that was otherworldly. It made you want to immediately give up on this adventure and sleep for eternity. You cry out as you hunch over clutching your forearm, somehow thinking that'd make it better. Touching it only intensified the pain so you let go, regretting ever getting up in the first place.
"Anon! Don't move too fast, you're still going through magic fatigue."
Celestia now stopped. Spike unlatched the straps to her harness and helped her remove it. She made her way around to you, sighing.
"Magic fatigue?"
And then you remembered. After you destroyed the machine that created the labyrinth, the walls and ceilings came down and threatened to bury you all alive. You can still remember the immense pain your entire body went through.
"Yes fool, fatigue. It'd be best if you didn't move too much."
"Fool? If I recall correctly, it was your fault we were caught up in that whole ordeal."
Fresh bandages fly into your face like they were fired from a cannon. You were so weak that they could almost knock you down.
"Well, if you have enough energy to play the blame game, you can change your own bandages."
Celestia then turned her nose up and left you to go check on the herd. You hated to admit that you absolutely didn't want to tend to your wounds yourself. Touching the area was enough to make you swear like a maniac.
"She was worried about you, y'know?"
You turn to Spike who stood beside you, arms folded and rocking back and forth. You looked at him curiously. Celestia worrying about you was a nice sentiment. It made you feel somewhat bashful in a way.
"She stayed up practically all night watching over you. You really scared us back there man. Anyway, thanks."
Spike smiled and formed a fist with his claws. Like always, you nudge it with your own. Now that you think about it, you did sort of save everyone's life. And you were now closer to repaying your debt to Spike, maybe you could put his life in danger and save him. That would even the score.
"All night, eh?"
Spike nodded.
"She's the one who tied your bandages. You would have bled out overnight if it weren't for her."
You could tell Spike was trying to urge you to get off your backside and go thank her. And you'd do just that. Just as soon as you found your strength. Thinking about it now, it probably wasn't the best idea to blame her after she took care of you all night. She obviously paid for it.
"Right then. Spike, help me to my feet."
He stretched out his small arm and you grabbed it, letting him carefully pull you to your feet. It felt like all the blood now rushed down to your toes as you stood. A throbbing headache pounding in your head and terrible pain stabbing into your joints. You almost buckle over, but thanks to Spike you're able to steady yourself. It didn't help that you stood in the half solid sand. But standing was the easy part. You knew that once you took that first step, it'd be a challenge to keep walking. It'd probably just be better to sit and wait for her to come back. You could kiss your days of marching goodbye.
"Say Spike, how long have you been marching?" You say, struggling to take the first step.
"Uhh, nearly all morning."
He helped you along as you make the painful trek to the herd.
"All morning? How close are we?" You ask.
"Well, we're practically already there."
Your knees buckle and you fall. That came to be quite the surprise.
"Already?"
Looking behind you, you can make out the stone structure that towers over the large dune. Just behind that mound of sand was the gate into that subterranean city. Finally.
"Didn't I say not to move?"
Celestia is now making her way back with a canteen of water, the biggest frown planted on her face. Spike nearly lets you drop as you try to stand once more, not wanting to be on the receiving end of Celestia's anger. She looks you over fully now. There didn't seem to be anything wrong with you save for your arm and fatigue. She sighed and passed you the canteen, the tin canister hanging by a thin strip of leather held in place by her muzzle. You were somewhat afraid to reach for it. For some reason you thought she'd bite. Gingerly, you reach out for the canteen with your right hand and take it from her mouth. She eyes you curiously, probably put off by the caution you were taking.
"Are you feeling alright? Do you need more time to rest?" She asked, lowering herself to eye level with you.
She was mere inches away from your face and you could see yourself mirrored perfectly in her magenta eyes. You try and focus your vision on something else, her stare being too much for you.
"No, I've rested enough." You carefully unscrew the canteen with your left hand. There was only a slight pain as you twisted the top. You weren't completely hopeless.
"Spike tells me we're nearly there." You say, downing nearly the entire canister of water.
"Just as you said yesterday, we had to make up for lost time. And I'd hate to make you walk through much more of this desert in your condition."
Wow, she was really looking out for you.
"Thank you. But I'll be fine."
You try to stand on your own to make a point. You prop yourself up with one knee to stand. Slowly you rise, Celestia trying to talk you out of moving too soon.
"Relax. I'm perfectly... fine."
Eventually you're standing on your own two feet. No Spike to prop you up and no Celestia to keep you down. Yes, the perfect image of vigor and strength.
"You see? N-nothing can keep me down."
Celestia and Spike stared at you in silence. Their faces tired and irritated. Though you were standing alone, your knees were shaking and it felt like your legs were steel beams that were melting fast.
"I give him a couple of minutes." Spike said flatly. He didn't stick around to see what became of you as he went off towards the herd that now buzzed with small talk.
Now it was just you, shaking and trying your damnedest to stay upright with Celestia frowning and fretting over your well-being.
"What does Spike know?"
You attempt to swat the air dismissively, but find that in doing so you were throwing yourself off balance. At that moment, you could see the thousand years of age falling onto Celestia's comically worry filled face.
"Sit down before you hurt yourself. If you die out here, I'm not taking any responsibility." She said as she brushed passed you.
She made for the dune, wanting to get a good view of the tower before you approached it. You didn't have enough energy to turn, so you quickly crane your neck to the side and call to her before she got too far. She stopped, looking back at you with an annoyed expression.
"Thank you. For taking care of me, I mean." Just then you saw her face shift from tired and annoyed to joyful. She nodded as she continued up the slope.
"Try not to work yourself too hard Anon." She said.
"Aye."
You watched her go until you she faded from your peripheral and out of sight. Now you were alone. You were getting hungry, perhaps a small meal would take care of that. Lifting a foot, you take a step and then fall.
You now rode on Celestia's back, hunched over and embarrassed. She made such a fuss about you collapsing in the sand that she forced you to ride her all the way to the tower even though you had eaten and felt so much better than before. You were sure you could make it a mile before giving out. But that was completely out of the question. That day you learned that there was no arguing with a princess. Rounding the dune, you could see the tower clearly for the first time.
"Amazing. How could something like this stand?" You ask, nearly falling backwards trying to observe its height.
Spike could hardly believe it. He was thoroughly impressed with the Ishtar, but Babel seemed to blow all his expectations out of the water. Even Celestia, who had laid eyes on the wonder two hundred years ago, stared on in awe. Behind you, the soldiers approached slack jawed and wide-eyed. Many would look to you, questioning if you too were capable of such feats. All of you made your way to the tower, its shadow being cast over you like a great cloud of shade. It completely blotted out the sun, almost like Fenrir swallowing the giant ball of gas.
It was elevated, risen above the sand by a large stone platform. The only way to access it was through giant stairways that led into the magnificent spire. The stone spire reached lazily into the sky. It was so immense that it could very well be carved from a mountain, and perhaps it was. Humans were a very remarkable species. The tower seemed to escalate with tiers. The base being the widest and with each tier it grew smaller and more narrow until eventually the peak was only the size of a bed room.
The Tower of Babel. After days of marching through burning sand and surviving the onslaught of the angels, you were were finally here. What lay inside was the gateway to your former life, all the answers to the many questions. Especially the first question, the question that had yet to be answered.
[PLAY ]
What befell the humans of Agartha? That question alone echoed through your mind like waves crashing on the shore. As you approached, you felt eerily familiar with your surroundings. Like you had gone home for the first time after moving away long ago. It gave off a sense of timelessness. Even though it was partially destroyed, it remained untouched by time and ignored by history. Even Starswirl, the wise magician who dabbled the most in human dealings, did not know what the tower was. You can say that looking upon it for the first time did stir something within you. It made you excited, fearful, nostalgic, and slightly unwilling to journey inside.
Your muscles stiffen as you drew closer. Now, instead of feeling the slight pain through your entire body, you feel a sickness. Were you scared? Now you were moving up the stairs. Each step taking you closer to the inside. This was a moment you'll remember forever. Never will you forget this feeling. Everyone was silent as they made their way up the steps. Each had their own thoughts about what they'd find. What mysteries they'll encounter in this ancient tomb.
Looking down, you could somewhat see the excitement in Celestia's face. Maybe after so long, she'll finally be able to see the ancient city she was denied long ago. You found yourself wanting to show it to her. Let her take in the majesty and uniqueness of a completely different race. You lean down and pat the base of her neck. She smiles, trying to keep herself from making a full dash up the stairs. As you continue up the stairs, you can see the many statues that lined the first tier. Just like the Ishtar, there seemed to be statues on every tier. Each one depicting a human seemingly of great importance. Etched in the walls were animals that had long been dead and symbols that had lost their meaning ages ago.
Finally you reach the top. Now you stood a good hundred feet from the desert base. You could now see over the vast desert and look how far you've come in just five days. From your vantage point, you can see the Ishtar far off in the distance and hardly visible. Thinking back on it, your journey had been quite dangerous, filled with constant peril and strife. But through it all, you've managed to walk away mostly unharmed. But you did owe a lot to the ones who died getting you here. Looking out across the sand, you can't help but think of the centaurs. Your cousins that shared the human spirit. Perhaps one day, you'll be able to show them the place you came from. Everyone had their own special thoughts as they stared at the trail they had taken. Some regretted while some were thankful to have survived. Others were filled with excitement for what would happen next.
"Well then.." Celestia turned away from the desert and made her way towards two massive stone doors that reached high into the air. The doors we slightly open, revealing a small crevice wide enough for many of you to fit through.
"..Shall we go inside?"
She looked at you and you looked at her. A silent exchange of words taking place before you nod and she continues on. You pass through the gates similar to when you passed through the Ishtar. Like before, you were entering into another reality. First you passed into an empty desert, void of any life. Then you passed into Tzipuur, a town bustling with life. Now you were passing into a world beneath the rock, a world completely sealed away by a forgotten disaster.
//Everything you wish to learn waits for you in Agartha. We will meet there, and we will provide you with any answer you need.\
You could practically hear its voice as if it were standing beside you. It gave you a drive, a motivation to seek out what had been buried under time.
[PLAY ]
The inside was marvelous. The walls seemed to be lined with gold and wonderful murals painted with skill never before seen in Equestria. Everyone awed at the interior of the ancient tower. Many scattered as soon as they got inside, branching off into different groups as they explored the giant tower. It was like stepping into an arena of sorts. The tower was completely hollow and it made you wonder how on earth it stood.
You look up, curious as to what you'd find on the inside of this monolith. The sunlight filtered down from the small hole high above you. It was like you stepped into another land and that light at the top was its sun, illuminating everything. The inside was also lined with statues, but these statues were significantly different from the others you saw before. Like the others, they were human, except they all had massive wings springing from their backs and gave off an air of divinity.
Angels.. You thought to yourself, but with no real reason. The thought surprised you. What on earth made you think of those beasts? They looked nothing like the statues, but were they somehow linked? You, Celestia, and Spike wander around the tower not really looking for anything, just simply exploring. Eventually, you came to a wall lined with very complicated looking machinery. It was a bank of rusted levers and broken buttons. Most of it was black from the soot of a fire.
"This is where I found you, all those years ago." Celestia said.
"Woah.. So Anon was here? What a weird place for a statue." Spike said.
He was right of course. For you to be found next to a bank of consoles was strange indeed. You hunch over, resting your chin on Celestia's head. She didn't seem to mind all that much. You rested as you thought. Why were you found here? Of all places, you were found in the tower and not down in the city. The gateway into the city had been locked from what Celestia told you, and you were found next to the biggest machine in the room. Was it possible that you sealed it? The Voice said to question yourself. Had he been right in the fact that you were directly responsible for what happened? You feel your muscles tense as you pursue the thought. It wasn't pleasant at all. It made you feel sick to your stomach and want to keel over from disgust.
"Anon? Are you alright?" Celestia asked, lowering herself to the ground. She looked over you, but didn't seem to notice anything severely wrong. Maybe you were still recovering from the fatigue.
"I'm fine. But I think I better walk on my own for now." You say, trying to dismount.
"Are you sure? I can still carry you if you need-"
"I'm fine Celestia."
Celestia then quieted down. Watching you as you slightly struggled to dismount. It was obvious that you were agitated, but she couldn't fathom why and it peeved her.
"I'd like to be alone right now, if that's alright with you two."
You don't look at them as you struggle to walk. Though your strength was returning to you, you were still a ways away from being completely healthy.
"....Very well. This may be a lot for you to take in."
She raises onto all four of her legs, her face void of any emotion. She felt distant all of a sudden.
"Come along Spike."
Celestia now trotted away in the opposite direction. Spike was silent for a long while and staring at the back of your head. In the short time he had known you, he was able to tell when something ate away at you, but now he got the feeling that it would be best not to pry and reluctantly walked away. You were now alone in the place where you first met Celestia, though you suppose you weren't quite all there. What was it like in the stone?
[PLAY ]
It was similar to being asleep, except there were no dreams. You didn't feel anything or hear anything. You might as well have been dead. And who’s to say you weren't dead? Could you have died all that time ago? But then, how would you have come to reawaken? Why did you reawaken at all? So many questions and for once, you feared your curiosity. The answers implied a sense of dread and regret that you didn't want any part of. You stare at the console, charred black and rusted. It looked so familiar. You were only a memory away from knowing exactly how to work the contraption.
Looking about you, you search for any sort of sign of a gate, but there were no doors or stairways that led down into the slumbering city. How were you supposed to get into Agartha if there was no physical way down? Then you look to the wide floor in the center of the tower. The pillar of light from above focused on the symbol that was etched into the floor. It had to be the floor. An elevator of sorts, it certainly sounded familiar. Turning back to the console behind you, you study it. There was nothing particularly eye catching about it, yet you were drawn to a certain spot. In the center, a single rod jutted out from the bank. It made a right angle and formed a stubbed knob. It was square and had groves that moved along the surface. You thought hard. It was familiar to you, but in what way? Then you remember. The stone you had on you the day you awoke.
It called to you, even now. It was practically burning a hole through your pocket. Your hand plunges into your pocket and grips the stone tightly. Slowly, you pull it out. It felt weightless now, no longer slightly heavy. You hold it up to your eye and you stare at the simple carvings around its surface.
"Left, Left, right, right, in."
Ro'Jetty seemed to stand beside you, reminding you of what he thought of the stone. Were these directions?
What does it mean..? You ask yourself.
But there was only one way to find out. Stretching out your hand, you hover the stone over the beam, the square nub aligning perfectly with the hole in the stone’s center. It was a perfect fit as you placed it on the node. You look about you. No one was paying attention to you. Celestia and Spike were off exploring the cave-like interior of the tower. In that moment, you felt alone. Isolated in a place between time. You felt out of it, like something was throwing you off severely. The past was creeping into you, trying to barge its way into your mind where it belonged. But for some reason you were fighting the memories back.
Left.
You twist the stone to the left and a loud click sounds. It startled you, you only half expected the stone to move. Carefully, you place your hand back on the 'key' and twist.
Left .
It clicks again.
Right, right.
Two clicks and pressure is released from the pipes that protrude out of the console. They were loud releases and everyone turned to look at you at the far side from them. Celestia and Spike rushed over to you. There was only one more direction. In? You place both hands atop the stone, despite the pain in your left arm. You were no longer reluctant. In fact, you were impatient. You wanted to sate your curiosity more than anything. You could hear Celestia and Spike call to you. Now everyone made their way across the floor to approach you, but there was no stopping you. With all your might you put all your weight onto the stone and the protruding strut acts as a lever, lowering down and locking in place. The ancient machine roars to life after various millennia of inactivity. The ground beneath you begins to shake violently and many of the soldiers began to panic.
"Anon! What have you done!?" Celestia was now in full gallop, making her way towards you.
"Tell everyone to get in the center!" You shout excitedly. You were going home after all.
You snatch the stone off of the lever and run. Your nerves no longer ached as you ran across the floor to stand in the center. The sound of gigantic gears and cogs began to ring throughout the tower, funneling up and out of the spire like a cannon. Celestia was stationary for a moment, unable to fully process what was happening. But she did as she was told, telling everyone to gather in the middle. Your body no longer felt a shock wave of pain with each step. It no longer felt tired or strained. Maybe you were finally coming around. A defining clang rang out and you stumbled as the ground beneath you seemed to unbuckle and loosen. Now you could see that a very large portion of the ground was a platform. The large circle in the center with the symbol carved into it began to rise, revealing a pillar that shot out a lever from the side. Steam was pouring out from the broken pipes along the walls, shrouding the floor in a mist.
"Anon? What has happened? What's going on?" Celestia now joined you. Spike was relaying the news to the other bewildered stallions, trying to herd them all into the center.
"The stone! It was the stone that was the key!"
You shout over the loud clanking of the gears. Celestia was now looking around frantically. Listening to the loud grinding of the gears that echoed throughout the tower. It was happening. She would finally be able to lay her eyes on humanity's most prized city. You watched her as she began to laugh uncontrollably. She began shouting "We did it!" over and over. Others watched as you playfully danced with her around the pillar that had risen from the floor. For a moment you began to wonder if either of you had gone insane.
"Did you figure out how to get to the city?" Spike asked. He was hunched over and huffing for breath.
"Yes Spike. Are you ready to see where I come from?"
You smiled brightly. You weren't plagued by the dread from before. Instead you were looking forward to regaining your memories. You didn't care what they were anymore. Now that you were so close to finally knowing, the feeling of accomplishment was overtaking you. It felt like you had won in a way. Spike stared at you wide-eyed. You saw that gleam in his eye that you often got whenever you were moments away from discovery. All three of you were equally curious as to what lay below, and today you'd find out.
You grab hold of the lever that protruded from the small pillar. Everyone had gathered on the platform and now stared at the three of you, awaiting for what happened next. Silently, you thank everyone for getting you this far, but most of all, you thanked Celestia. She was the sole purpose all of this was possible. You owed her a great debt.
"You all may want to hang on!"
From what you remember, it was a long way down and nearly as fast as free falling. And so you pulled the lever with all your strength, it clicking loudly over the giant gears beneath the platform.
[PLAY ]
The platform seems to drop at the blink of an eye. It felt like gravity was pushing you down into the earth's core. There was no telling how deep you were going. From above, the light from the tower began to fade and place you all in darkness. The pit in your stomach began to rise up to your chest as you fell deeper and deeper into the ground. Celestia and Spike were cheering loudly along with the others as you rode down.
It was loud, more overpowering than the gears that sent you down. Soon, when the light had completely faded, green lights shot by as you descended. The lights created a still shot of everyone as each light passed. You held tightly onto the lever as you willed yourself through the descent. The wind was blowing intensely and you could nearly choke on it. Then you all fell into darkness again, but it was short lived as a large glass pane revealed itself, stretching down the width of the elevator shaft and in turn revealing the city. All the screams and cheering were hushed as you rapidly descended into Agartha. Everyone was awestruck. Gazing at the humongous city that lay in the center of a lake of lava. The walls maintained a reddish glow and the air began to stink of sulfur. It was a sight all too familiar to you. The smell brought you back a million years. This was Argatha. Your home.
The platform began to gradually slow. The glass pane being hidden by the rock once again. The gears began to stop. Their incessant clanking slowing and grinding to a halt until there was nothing but the wind flowing into the titanic chasm that housed the great city. The elevator came to a stop, a grand gate towering over you all accompanied by two gigantic statues which stood as protectors. You let go of the lever, it being nearly crushed from how tightly you were holding it. Many began to cough, the air being laced with harmful substances. Even from here, the scent of sulfur was already strong.
Ripping off your right sleeve, you tie it over your mouth. Now your undershirt was sleeveless and you could feel the heat on your arms. Many others did the same, some using spare bandages or random articles of cloth to cover their mouths. Spike however, was immune to the scent. No doubt because he was a dragon.
"Is the smell really getting to you that badly?" He asked.
You and Celestia nod, speaking would have to be something you'd only be able to do with practice. Each time you opened your mouths your lungs began to feel a slight fire set in. You wondered how exactly you lived down here.
"Celestia, I'm ready when you are." You say, your voice muffled through your makeshift mask.
She nods and stomps her hoof on the stone floor to gain everyone's attention. They all face her, but instead of locking eyes on their princess, everyone looks to you. They awaited your command like rightful soldiers and it humored you. You were far from a commander, yet they looked to you as if they trusted you with their lives.
"I'd say we're quite ready." Celestia said. You pat the back of her neck with your hand, smiling under your mask.
"Well then. Let's be on our way."
You took the lead, being the center of attention as you're the first to step off the platform and into the gate. The gate lead into a large cavern-like structure of rock. It had twists and turns that carried you up and down steps. Along the walls were carvings and patterns, some of which told stories. The smell of sulfur was increasing as you made your way through the tunnel. Before long, you came to the final stretch. Ahead of you was the orange glow of the magma lake that sat far below you. The light intensified as you stepped out of the tunnel, revealing the mile long bridge that lead into one of the gates of Agartha. This was Charon Bridge. You all spill out onto the ledge like water from a leak. Spike was writing in his journal as many stopped to look around. You stared at the solitary city in the center of the lake. Even from that far a distance, you could make out the layout of the city. You also had a vague memory.
Agartha was divided by five districts, each being separated by a canal of magma. And though the main city was located at the heart of the lake, the city also included everything surrounding it. A ring around the cavern held many buildings and homes built into the wall. Four great bridges lead to the city gates from the north, south, east, and west. But the south bridge, which you had been facing, had been destroyed half way. You'd have to journey around in order to get into the city. Celestia was staring off into the distance just as you were. She beamed with excitement and that in turn filled you with the same emotion. You point to the subterranean horizon, Celestia following it.
"You see the large structure that looms in the distance?" You ask, to which she nodded.
"That's the royal palace. If I remember correctly, I spent a lot of time there." Celestia's gaze now shifted to you. She raised an eyebrow and a smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.
"Oh Anon. You didn't tell me you were royalty!" You laugh. It was a nice thought.
"Perhaps I was. Who knows?"
You point around, naming the different locations that you only had a vague memory of. Celestia took great interest in what you had to say. She couldn't believe she was actually learning.
"How much do you remember?" She asked.
"Not a significant amount. But now I have a vague idea of this city. Everything's starting to come back. I just need to give it time."
"You think we'll find anything about the angels?" Spike asked. He had taken off his keffiyeh and his spines seemed to stretch a bit. The question had reminded you that you were being pursued and half the reason why you were here. Angels emerged in Equestria the moment you had awakened and hunted you down when you decided to journey to the Badlands. Here you'll find not only yourself, but discover your connection with those devilish beasts.
"I should hope so Spike."
You didn't want to think of the possibility of the answer not being here. That was too grim.
"In the mean time, we should focus on getting into the city. We'll have to take a different bridge however, with this one being destroyed."
Each bridge measured just over a mile long so it didn't matter which bridge you took. Your best bet would be to take either the west or east bridges to get into the city.
"We'll take the east bridge."
Celestia turned to look at the bridge that was far into the distance. It looked to be nothing other than a black strip stretching over the lava bed. You hurry along. The heat was just as bad as it was on the surface. At times a random burst of hot air would blow around you and you could feel your body temperature raise a degree higher. How did you live down here with those thick robes? Who could possibly stand this terrible heat? Humans, apparently.
You lead the company through the outer ring of Agartha. The cavern walls were lined with houses and buildings that seemed to jut out from the various ledges and cliffs along the walls. The path was ever winding, like a snake climbing up the rock. Traveling up the various steps and down the many ramps reminded you of when you first entered the Badlands. This place loved steps. They were everywhere. Why couldn't everything work with the use of platforms? Celestia didn't seem to mind though. She trotted happily through the ring without complaining. She must not have felt the heat. Along the way, Celestia and Spike asked you many questions and you tried your best to answer. But often times you were unable and so they'd simply move to a new topic.
"How does breathable air get all the way down here?"
"I don't know."
"Do you think they used great big vents?"
"It's a possibility."
"Did humans always live underground?"
You sigh, exhausted from the constant interrogation. The path was becoming more and more obscure and crooked. Certain steps crumbled away at your approach and chunks of loose rock scattered down the rock face from your light stampede of a march. Down here, in this great chasm, it was quite difficult to tell the time. For all you and others knew it had already been nightfall. Now you were nearly halfway there, the small settlement of houses climbing up the sloping cavern walls being a marker.
"I think it's best if we rest here for now. This heat must be terrible for most."
"Perhaps so. The sulfur is staring to encase my nose in a cloud..." Celestia said, brushing her leg against her muzzle, trying to get the powdery sulfur away from her nose.
"Aw it's not so bad." Spike said, offering her a handkerchief from his sack. "It kinda gives you a sense of nostalgia."
You considered Spike's use of the word 'nostalgia'. As you had come to know, Spike was raised around ponies his entire life. Never knowing of his dragon kin that slumbered in mountains and swam in the deepest molten rock. So what such nostalgia could he feel for the sulfur that hung in the air like rotten eggs?
"Maybe for a dragon, Spike. But our noses can hardly stand its smell."
"Well if that's true, then how did humans live down here?"
You sigh, not quite knowing the answer yourself.
"That, I'm afraid, I have no idea of."
You climb the steep steps that led to the housing atop the cliffside. You were higher in the cavern, which gave an excuse for the heat to surround you and wrap its steaming fingers around your necks. The company grumbled with most complaining about the heat and desperately fanning themselves and wiping their brows with sweat covered cloths. Being so high allowed you to get a more clear viewing of the city. Most of it still lay in shadow in the middle of the lake of pyroclastic rock. It resounded the same call the tower gave you.
Soon after the company had made camp, you strayed away. You feared that it'd become a habit now. Often times you found yourself rather liking your solitude. You sat on a secluded rock that jutted out over the path far down below. The hot air from the lava bed glided up the curved rock and blew on you like a warm oven. It was pleasant at first but soon became unbearable, forcing you to remove your leather armor. It also helped that your sleeves had been ripped. Had you been wearing the light silk-like shirt you set out in, it'd be completely plastered to your arms in sweat. You must smell horrid, stumbling around in this sulfur filled fissure of bubbling magma and smoothed rock.
"I see you've become the lone mysterious type."
Celestia approached you, her armor also stripped away and her mane let down from the pony tail she sported before. The cuffs of her shirt were lightly singed with fire and various cuts and gashes trailed up her long sleeves. But though her apparel was scuffed and mangled, her person maintained that signature glow she was so accustomed to. You thought back to the day you awoke in Canterlot and were brought to your knees before her in her throne room. She was so kind, yet distant, and just out of arm’s reach. Now she was close to you, ever present like the conscience.
"I find myself becoming more of a recluse as time goes on. Perhaps I was a hermit back when I was alive."
"Alive..?"
Yes, alive. It was a thought you entertained lately. It was planted in your mind the moment the Voice suggested that you were merely an echo, an epilogue to the legacy of the human race. And without any memories of your prior life before the stone, you may have well been nothing but dead.
"Imagine if you knew nothing at all about who you were, Celestia. Imagine that your life and those who knew of it only existed in days long gone bye. You'd be merely a footprint on the sand."
Celestia raised her eyebrow, curious. As she approached you felt the air heat up. You noticed it a long while ago. The air around you would rise a degree or so, perhaps an effect of harboring the sun in her heart. She sat to your side, her slender back revealed to you as her mane flowed mistily down her side.
"I can hardly imagine. Not a day has gone by where a single moment of my life has strayed from my memory. I remember them as clear as crystal. Though, many times I have tried to forget but found that I could not. A curse the immortal suffer."
She smiled, though it was empty. Her eyes were half lidded, her vision replaying the lesser majesty of her grand life. You both were very old. Ancient beyond anyone's memory. Fortunately, you didn't suffer the curse of immortality. You were still mortal, susceptible to the iron clutches of death which none had ever escaped. But Celestia was a different story. For the first time you wondered what transpired in the last thousand years. The things she must have seen and the impossible choices she must have made. Her sister, who was also like her, seemed very cold and distant. You met her once.
She was as blue as the deepest night and glowed with twinkling stars that danced in her nebulous mane. Princess Luna never said a word to you. Hardly glanced in your direction as you were introduced. Her stare was so cold, it burned into your chest, prying open your rib cage to stare into your heart. In many ways, she was the exact opposite of her elder sister. But Celestia had said often times that they were much alike. You wondered how it was so. Could Celestia be capable of such terrifying glares and chilling atmosphere? Perhaps not, for she was the day, the spring before summer.
"Do...do you sometimes regret your immortality?”
Celestia was now dead silent, as hushed as a butterfly's wing beat. The light from her eyes had seem to fade and she merely stared out at the lake of fire. There would be no answer. There was a long silence as you both watched the fluctuating flames that danced like fireflies on swaying blades of summer grass.
"Tell me Anon, if you don't mind my prodding. Where do you wish to go after this little journey of ours?"
She now looked at you, the light returning to her eyes and reflecting you perfectly in the red glow of the cavern. It was something you didn't dare think about. Thinking about what came after this adventure would mean that the adventure was over. You had become trapped in the story you were coursing through.
"The thought never crossed my mind." You wipe the sweat from the back of your neck. "I suppose it depends on what we find. I have no idea who I was before the stone. For all I know, I am the reason mankind had vanished."
"And if you are?"
Your eyes meet hers and they stare back questioningly. The two orbs of ocean-like blue ask a question that you never thought to ask yourself. If you did learn that you threw the gavel down on humanity's judgement, then so what? Did it define who you were now?
"What will you do if that theory were proven true? Would you run from it?"
Run from it? Could you even gain any distance from a beast that large and cruel?
"No, I think not. I'd sooner cast myself into the fire. But if I do come to find that I am some sort of 'angel of death', I don't know what I'd do. How do you cope with such a loss? Especially if it were your own doing."
Celestia didn't look away, but she said nothing. She seemed to be peering into you. Diving down into your soul, id, and ego, roaming about, searching for nothing in particular.
"You simply do. It's painful at first sure, and you mourn. But time is the world's greatest healer. With enough time you are able to cope with the loss. But you can never forget what was lost, and you can never forget the pain."
Celestia. What was it in her name that suggested such majesty? This mare who had lived countless lifetimes knew what it was to feel pain, how to mend it and turn it into something that drove you. She had flaws, contradictions that lay under her soft fur. Behind the intense gleam of her beautiful eyes hid a mare who was the same as anyone else. Celestia was a goddess. Yet she walked the same ground, breathed the same air, saw the same sky as mortals did. She was your friend.
You smile. The most earnest smile to play across your face. You began to laugh wholeheartedly, holding your sides and gasping for air. She stared, confused with your random fit of laughter. Celestia wasn't any sort of divine goddess, at least not in her heart. Perhaps once upon a time she had been mortal, and part of her is mortal yet. It did you great wonders to know this. For the first time in a very long while, you were immensely happy. She truly was your friend. Your closest friend. And who knew, with time, this friendship could blossom into something unique and beautiful. Time was indeed the world's greatest healer, but it was also the greatest force that drew people together.
Perhaps time was the same as what others called fate or destiny. It was patient, never wavering, constant. Nothing other than time would have waited countless millennia to bring an ancient man and an ageless paragon together. Your fit of laughter subsides. Fate truly did work in mysterious ways, for it was fate that brought the two of you together. Before now, you had feared what fate had in store for you, what destiny would fall upon you once you discovered the truth in Agartha. But now you looked forward to it, embraced it.
"Thank you. Celestia."
Though she didn't know the meaning of the sudden gratitude, she took it with a smile. You reach out and scratch behind her ears, making her brush against your palm. The two of you were silhouettes as you sat on the protruding rock. The crimson glow of the cavern wrapping around you in a halo.
The air changed from the dreaded scent of fire and sulfur, to a stagnant of dry heat. The sound of great lungs drawing breath swirled around the cavern. You stood, still out on the protrusion of rock with Celestia. Looking back at the camp, you could see many of the stallions scattering and readying their rifles and guns. Other than that there was hardly anything noteworthy. It confused you. There was no immediate threat, yet you felt as though there was something hunting you. Readying its claws to dig into you and pick you apart. It was like a sickness that knotted your stomach several times. Your skin began to crawl and the heat seemed to increase ten fold.
"We should head back.."
Celestia had already started off, not waiting for you to make the first move. And so you followed her as best you could. With each step you felt the sickness in your stomach slowly rise upward and into your throat. Celestia could feel it too, for she periodically wavered in her step and stopped often to regain her barrings. This was troubling.
"Anon, be on your guard."
"Aye. The air, its changed. I think you know what we can expect next."
It was routine at this point. There was a dealing with angels everyday, they pursued you like thirsty bloodhounds, never losing your scent.
"On the left! I-I saw something move!"
A middle aged stallion nervously aimed his gun at a random corner between the buildings. But others were present in the corner, he was aiming has gun straight at his comrades that ceased to move and were immobile like stone. The stallion was shaking, his rifle constantly wavering off target. His eyes nearly bulged out of his skull and his teeth applied ten pounds of pressure on one another.
"Listen Picket, put the gun down. There's nothing over there."
Another stallion slowly approached him cautiously. Picket hardly even glanced at him as he made his way closer. His gun stayed on the group of stallions against the wall.
"What's going on here?" You asked.
You and Celestia made your way to the center of the gathering where Picket was holding a rifle to his comrades' faces.
"It's Picket! He's gone mad!" One soldier shouted from the crowd.
You looked to the shaking stallion whose gun shook violently. His fur stood on end. The breath leaving his mouth was harsh and pained and he could barely keep his balance.
"Princess be careful!" A soldier shouted out.
You hadn't noticed but Celestia had slowly begun to draw closer, approaching him from the side so that he could keep her in his field of vision.
"Soldier, what is the matter?" She asked. Celestia stopped a good seven feet away from him. He hardly glanced at her.
"I've caught them Princess! You need not worry. E-everyone here can't see it! B-but they can't fool me haha!"
"What have you caught?" Celestia asked, not stepping any closer.
You looked around you and saw Spike approach with something in his claws. It was your rifle and gauntlet.
"Spike, what's happening."
You crouched down next to Spike as you took the items from his hands.
"I don't know. All of a sudden, he started yelling and threatening the others. Then he suddenly picked up his gun and started aiming it at the others. I thought it'd be a good idea to bring you your things before anything more happened."
"Thank you Spike. But I wonder what's causing this. If it is an angel, we'll have to be on guard. We've never faced one that could hold such a power over us."
You stood and turned back to Celestia and Picket. She was closer now, only a arm's reach away. Picket shot nervous glances from her and the others pinned against the wall.
"Lower your weapon. Come with me, and we'll get this all squared away nicely."
"Sorry Princess. Y-you can't take your eyes off them. Not for a second! I have to watch them, make sure they don't go anywhere, see?"
One of the stallions moved an inch, possibly thinking of making a run for it. But as soon as he did Picket snapped to attention and drew his aim with the speed of lightning.
"Don't try it! I'll blow a hole in your skull!" Picket screamed.
The crowd was now getting restless. A few more moments of this and someone would be killed. Celestia then began to reach for Picket but as soon as she did, Picket swerved to the side and as if all the devils of the underworld possessed him, he drew his rifle on the princess herself. Everyone in the crowd gasped and started to shift in their stances.
"Soldier. Are you aware that you're pointing a weapon at me?" Celestia said calmly. She tensed up a great amount as she stared down the barrel.
"I get it now.... You're the one controlling them! I see it! It has to be you!"
Pickets rifle was now inches away from Celestia's muzzle and the crowd now started to stomp. Shouting at Picket and calling him mad, delusional, and also cursing him. But Celestia remained unmoved. She merely stared at him.
"Do you wish to persist this mindless behavior?" Celestia said with the upturn of her nose. She was looking down on him and from the look of Picket's face, he knew and hated it.
"You're the one who dragged us out here! A lot of my friends have died fighting you monsters! I-I'll avenge their deaths right here and now!" Picket was now barking madness.
"He thinks the princess is one of those monsters!"
"That's impossible!"
"Then he really has gone mad!"
"Princess! Don't let him have his way! Take him down!"
The soldiers around you began the shout. Looking around you could see that they were all shaking and had their eyes locket on the duo in the center.
"This isn't looking good.." Spike said.
From the look of things, Picket was more than prepared to shoot. And Celestia showed no sign of moving. If she were taken down here... You plunged your hand into the aegis, not caring for the consequences that would come from using this magic too soon. But before you could form the next thought, Celestia's booming voice shot through everyone.
"Captain!"
A single word rang out from her mouth and fell on everyone's ears harshly. A single word ordered the death of Picket. None had noticed but Captain Howl had drew his own gun on Picket. Celestia had saw this and they both had silently agreed that if the situation worsened, he would take the shot. And he did. Everyone watched as Picket's skull was blown apart but the large burst of light that rushed through his head and exited between his eyes. The shot missing Celestia by a few inches. Picket's body fell to the ground in a lifeless plummet. Around you, everyone cheered as Howl approached.
"What on earth..." The words leave your shocked face like wind flowing through a hallowed tree.
Spike saw the entire thing go down in horror. He turned away as soon as he saw the soldier's body hit the ground. Celestia still looked down on Picket's absent minded body. The look in her eyes was something you had never seen before. And something you thought her to not be capable of. Disdain.
"What's happening to everyone..?"
The sickness from before worsened in your stomach and you tried to fight it off. You quickly approached Celestia before Howl could. You shot him a glare as you passed in front of him. He only stared back nonchalantly. The cheering continued as Celestia was consoling the soldiers who were hostages in that short time. You watched as the thanked her profusely and went off to rejoin the camp. She watched them go with a pleased smile.
"Celestia." You speak her name with such intensity it cause her to jump out of surprise.
"Oh Anon, I didn't see you there. Looks like the crisis has been avoided." She said with a smile.
"What the hell was that?"
You tried not to raise your voice too loudly, but the constant cheering made you strain your voice a little. Celestia looked at you confused, cocking her head to the side and raising and eyebrow.
"Whatever do you mean?" She asked.
"You killed him." You pointed at Picket's body.
"Correction. We saved the stallions being held hostage."
She said this pleasantly. As if what just happened was all in your imagination. She saw it as something you had overblown and treated it like an adult treats a child's misinterpretation of an event.
"Celestia, it was obvious that something was influencing him! He was under some sort of spell, this wasn't his own doing."
"Precisely. In addition to saving the hostages, we managed to save him as well."
Celestia then turned to walk away. But you followed her. It'd be a thousand years before you dropped this matter so easily.
"We are under attack Celestia. Don't you feel that aura around the camp? That sickness in the stomach? This is the work of an angel."
"Nonsense. I'm sure you're just imagining things. Now, I suggest you rest Anon. Perhaps the heat is getting to you."
She turned to you, smiling warmly. Then you saw it. Her eyes were no longer the smooth gentle color they were before. They held no light to them. Her eyes were lifeless and dull like rocks. Celestia then trotted away. Leaving you to soak in the realization. Something had to be done, and quickly. There was a poisonous miasma spreading through the camp, invading everyone's minds and draining them of reason. You'll be damned if you let this spread any further than it already has. They touched Celestia and that was something you couldn't forgive. You were very vengeful after all.
"Spike!" You called his name and wait. Soon enough he walking up to you with his pistol holstered to his side.
"Yeah? What is it?"
You squat in front of him and pull upward on his eyelid to reveal his shinning emerald eyes. No sign of any taint.
"Hey! What's with you?" He said, snapping your hand away.
"Listen to me Spike. You know how serious this is, right?"
He nodded, thinking back to the incident moments before.
"This is no doubt the work of angels. They are effecting everyone here. Look around."
You and Spike both trail the camp with your eyes. Sure enough, everyone seemed on edge. Ready to pop at a moment's notice. Two soldiers were already at each other's throats with the others cheering them on.
"They've gotten to the princess too. You're the only one I know of who hasn't been turned yet."
His eyes lit up at that. You saw that he was excited. Being the only one's capable of saving everyone and all.
"Oh, well what about Captain Howl? He doesn't look-"
"No. I'm sure they've gotten him as well. He shot a soldier, I don't know him well but that's one thing I know he'd never do."
Besides, you didn't like him the least bit. It'd be another million years before you worked with him willingly.
"Are you sure it's not because you just don't like him?" Spike asked.
You stood, folding your arms. And putting up a defensive front.
"Well...yes. But that's besides the point. We need to focus on-"
"Because it sounds like you're just being petty."
"What? Of course not. Now let's get moving."
"....If you say so. Where do we start?"
That was the problem though. You had absolutely no idea where to start. If this was the work of angels, you wagered that they had to be close by. But where? You had absolutely no way of finding them. You and Spike start off in a random direction and looking for any oddities in your surroundings. Everything still looked the same. The same dark high reaching cavern walls, and the same bubbling lake of magma.
"So, do you have any idea on what were looking for?" Spike asked.
Naturally you had no idea. But you figured that if you kept looking around you'd eventually find something. And by the looks of things, it won't belong until the next stallion is killed.
"No, I do not. If only we had a way of detecting them. I dislike how they lurk in the shadows.."
"Shadows... You think that's why we have to use light to fight them?"
"That is most likely the case. From what we've seen so far, they are beings of complete darkness. Which is strange to me, the word angel has something to do with holiness if I recall correctly."
"Holiness? Pfft, so much for that."
The both of you were now on the edges of the camp, facing the stairs you had to climb to reach this plateau. You look down the winding stairs, your eyes tracing every shadow and every nook and cranny. You waited for a very short time, trying to detect any movement in the darkness down below. There was nothing. You stared longer into the dark, but found your patience wearing thin. You sighed and turned back toward the camp once you grew tired of staring.
"Maybe we can check the buildings. What about that one up there?" Spike pointed a claw to a platform just above you along the cavern wall.
There was a single building with extremely steep stairs leading up to it. It seemed to overlook the outer ring of the city, almost like an observatory of sorts.
"I suppose that's a place to start."
And so you both made your way through the camp, extremely careful not to tick anyone off. It was the last thing you needed. This entire journey was causing a great deal of stress for you, but it was exciting. The trials you endured each day were enough to give you a slight sense of accomplishment and keep going. But who knew what it was like for the others. Especially Spike. You look back at the dragon to see him still following you. He looked different somehow from the day you first met him. Which was only a few days before. He seemed...older. He probably aged a few years from the stress.
"Say Spike. Do you regret coming on this journey?"
You ask the young dragon. Initially you shot the question for small talk without thinking. But as you waited for him to reply, you grew curious.
"Regret? Why should I? It was my choice to come along. I knew what I was up for."
You never looked back at him, but Spike wore a proud smile on his face. He was proud to be there by your side, helping you in anyway he could. And he was proud of himself.
"I made it this far. So why not go even further? I was thinking, that maybe after this.... I could go out and have my own adventures you know?"
"Oh? What kind of adventures?"
You began to climb the stairs, finding it harder and harder to progress due to the steepness. It felt as if you were climbing a ladder.
"I don't know actually. Maybe just go out and see all of Equestria. Sure I sometimes get to go with Twilight and the others to far away places. But never on my own you know?"
"I like the sound of that. But I doubt Princess Twilight would allow it. Considering how she threw such a bit fit when she found you stowed away."
"Well, that was because I didn't tell her. Believe me, if it's one thing Twilight hates, it's things she didn't plan for."
"Isn't there a saying about expecting the unexpected? In her line of work I'd imagine she'd be used to it."
You laugh to yourself and Spike laughs with you. He couldn't count the times something out of the ordinary or unplanned had caused them all to go on their own wild adventures.
"What about you Anon? What are you going to do?" He ask.
You almost stopped your ascent, the question hanging over you like a cloud. The prior conversation you had with Celestia on the rock played out in your head.
"Who knows. I'd like to say that I'd stay here in Agartha. But there is nothing for me here now. Staying in Equestria doesn't sound so bad though. But I am unsure. The idea of adventuring sounds far more appealing."
Spike's eye grew to the size of plates after that.
"Really? Well, I think I'd have an easier time convincing Twilight if you were with me!" He said excitedly.
"Sorry Spike. As nice as that sounds, I'm afraid I'd just be getting in your way. We are on different paths, Spike. Paths that must not intersect."
The path you were on was very obscure to you. You had no idea where it'd lead you in the end. But in the back of your mind, you knew you were headed someplace dark and cold and you wouldn't want to drag anyone else along with you. You'd like to stay in Equestria. Maybe teach ponies new technologies and different ideas once you regained your memories like Talmon said. But you'd much rather see the world than settle down, get a job and stay stationary long enough for time to catch up with you and age you fifty or so years. It sounded like a boring life. At least it would be without her.
You and Spike reach the top of the stairs, slightly out of breath and hunched over. The building was larger than it looked from the bottom. It stood on a platform, the walls not reaching very high and almost no windows. Atop the building was a very large domed window however. It reflected the light given off by the lava below, creating colorful patterns of light on the cave wall.
"Come Spike, let's look around."
He followed you as you approached the building, walking up the small steps and pushing on the iron door. At first it didn't give in inch, but as you pounded your shoulder into it, it began to give way little by little. With one final push the door flew open revealing the dark space inside. Spike stepped in first, noticing the shifting light patterns on the floor. Above him was the glass dome, the light outside being magnified through the lenses. It was dark and it took a moment for your eyes to adjust. But even then, it was still a great effort to see. Glancing down at your left hand you can make out the bulky outline of the aegis. It was as good of a time as ever to test how much you've recovered in the past hour. Spike continued to gaze at the floor before he noticed a very dim blue light radiate from behind him. You stood in the doorway with your hand outstretched, your face was illuminated by a faint azure glow that made you look as if you were made of a sort of crystal.
"You sure you should be using that so soon?" Spike asked as he walked over to you.
"It's fine. There's only a slight pain. It'll subside eventually."
Spike stared at you. You stared back, cocking an eyebrow. The both of you stood there petrified as you competed in a staring contest. Eventually he sighed and shook his head.
"Just be careful. We don't want a repeat of last time."
"Noted."
You began to search the strange building up on the plateau. The room you had stepped into was circular, complimenting the dome shape above. Tables were scattered everywhere, some flipped over and bookshelves toppled over each other. There were other doors that lead into various rooms, but this room seemed to hold the main purpose of the building. What that purpose was however was unknown to you. But you found yourself growing more and more curious. As you look along the many tables you can spot various strange instruments and devices. Towards to walls of the room you catch something out of the corner of you eye. You raise your hand and hit it directly with the light. It was a statue. You gasped and stepped back slightly. Drawing Spike's attention.
"What? Did you find something?" He said as he ran over to you.
He stopped half-way when his eyes found what you were staring at. The statue stood on two legs, just as you did. It stood upright and in its cold stone hands clutched tightly a strange orb and a magnificent sword. The statue appeared to be of a man. But of an impossibly beautiful man. You would have thought it to be a work of art sculpted by master of masters. But then you noticed the small crystal-like horns that protruded from its forehead. You noticed how its eyes seemed to follow you, though they were unmoving. You notice the strange marking on its chest and leaned in closer to try and decipher it. It looked to be a capital 'M' with a bar hovering over it. You didn't know what to make of it.
"Hey Anon, is this an angel?" Spike tugged at your waist.
"I'm almost certain. Though I don't know its name. This is the first time that's happened.."
"Maybe its just a statue then?" Spike said, moving closer to study it more.
"It would appear to be.."
You stood, once again looking the statue in the eyes. It unnerved you, its stoic face staring forward into oblivion. Its eyes seemed to burrow through you and stare infinitely into the distance.
"We should keep searching."
Spike nodded and went off in a different direction.
"Spike? Are you going to be alright without any light?"
"Yeah, it's fine."
You look over your shoulder and could here Spike exhale deeply. The corners of his mouth began to glow with a green light. Then you saw small flames spring up from the corners of his snout, lighting the room slightly. Resourceful. You continued to the center of the room where a smaller table sat under the dome. There was a strange apparatus that sat idly on the table. It looked...like a gun of sorts. And now that you notice it, it was facing the same way the statue of the angel stood. You look for Spike, who had already started into the back rooms, leaving you alone.
The gun didn't seem to be portable. Either it was too heavy to lift or it was bolted to the table. You tried to lift it and found that it was indeed very heavy and you could only hold it for a few seconds before gently placing it back down. You looked it over once more. Looking for any kind of trigger. The barrel was very large and wide, giving it the resemblance of a small cannon. As you went along the hilt you saw odd vials injected into the chamber, two on each side. Finally you found what seemed to be the trigger. The handle was placed on top. The trigger, rather, what seemed to be the trigger was on the same handle. There was still something in the four vials. Liquids of different colors. You then looked to the angel statue. It watched you, you could feel its gaze. It felt very much alive and it forced you to think. If it was alive, why was it in stone? Who put it there? And did this device have something to do with it?
"Spike, come here for a moment."
You call to Spike and here rustling in the back room. Soon you see the glow of green fire fill the hall as he approaches.
"What is it?"
"Spike, did you notice anything strange about that statue?"
You ask, never taking your eyes off it. Spike only stared at you a bit, and then turned to the statue.
"No? Should I?"
"I don't know. But I have an idea Spike."
"Really? What kind?"
"You'll see, come. We don't have much time."
You immediately start off towards the door leading out of the room and into the blazing heat. Spike followed you, eager to know your plan but waited patiently for the answer. The both of you made the steep climb back down the stairs and headed back into the camp. Everyone's conditions seemed to be getting worse and now many more of the soldiers were fighting. For a moment you searched for Celestia, but she was nowhere to be found. It was worrying, but you knew better than to worry about someone like her.
"So whats the plan Anon?" Spike asked.
You stopped, reaching your destination. You leaned down and began to hoist Picket's lifeless body over your shoulder.
"Spike, grab the other end."
Spike only stood there with his mouth wide open.
"What are you doing!?"
"Be calm. I'm going to need his body for what I have in mind."
"But...but that's-"
"Will you help me or not?"
You stood with Picket's blown open head hanging over your shoulder. He wasn't too heavy so you may not need his help after all.
"At least tell me what you have in mind! You don't just go a take someone's dead body you know?" Spike said.
"I'll explain on the way."
You began to walk away, dragging Picket's hind hooves on the ground. Spike trailed behind you, watching you in case his body began to slip from your grasp. Once again you made the struggling climb up the steep stairs to the domed building.
"Now if I am correct. That device we found, along with the angel are related to each other. And in extension, so am I."
You begin to explain to Spike exactly what you had in mind and he listened intently.
"What do you mean? You think the gun has something to do with you turning to stone?"
"Exactly. You may not have noticed, but that statue is definitely alive.."
"Alive? How?"
"I don't know. But I think the statue is whats influencing this strange behavior in everyone."
"Well, if you know that. Why do you need Picket's body?"
"I want to know if the stone and that device are related. I'm going to test it with Picket's body."
Spike was then quiet. You looked back to see if he was still following. He had stopped on one of the steps, looking down with his thumbs rubbing each other.
"Spike?" You call to him.
"Anon, don't you think this is a little....disrespectful?" He said without looking you in the eye.
"Disrespectful? In what way?"
Spike was again silent. You set Picket's body aside and sit on the steps, facing Spike.
"Spike? What do you mean?"
He then looked to you, a mixture of sadness and conflict on his face.
"He just died, Anon. And you're treating him like a science experiment. Not....not even Twilight would do something like this. Even in her most desperate times."
Now it was your turn to keep quiet. You hardly had a response to begin with.
"I've never really been around death before...but, aren't you supposed to treat the dead with respect?"
You rub the back of your neck as you try to think a response. Spike was just a kid, but he was already venturing into dark territory. At this point, ethics weren't really a concern for you. What mattered is defeating the current problem and saving everyone. And it was not like you were doing anything unforgivable.
"Listen Spike. Sometimes, you must take certain actions that many may not agree with in times of need. Captain Howl, as much as I hate to say it, knows this. Celestia knows it. And in time you will grow to understand. Many of our soldiers have already died Spike. They all knew how dangerous this journey would be, yet the came along anyway. Do you think they'd care what happens to the body they leave behind?"
Spike broke eye contact and stared at the steps again.
"If I die, will you leave my body here?" Spike asked. His voice was very hushed and it was hard to hear.
The question rattled you on the inside and you felt the tug of sadness on your heart. So you pretended not to hear him, avoiding giving him an answer.
"Come Spike, we have to hurry."
You stood and hoisted Picket over your shoulder and continued. Spike following slower than before. Before long you reached the top of the steps again and you hauled Picket's body inside. Spike's breath lit the room in a green glow as he followed you to the center of the dome. Gently you lower the soldier's body to the floor. His head still open from the executing shot. You thought about what Spike said. About how this whole idea disrespected him in someway. For a moment you began to understand how he felt. But you brushed it aside for now. You needed answers.
You then moved to the gun that sat on the table. Picket's body was just below the table so you would have to lift it slightly in order to make a direct hit. You told Spike to stand back as you carefully took the device by the handle and lifted it, putting your hand on the trigger. It was heavy. Seemingly heavier than that beam you had to lift back in Tzipuur. Within moments you lift it high enough to properly aim at the body laying on the floor. You sigh, struggling to steady yourself. There was no telling how much power this thin had. It could probably throw you back a good few yards.
Your finger then pulls the trigger and you hear the sound equivalent to a hundred man chorus humming softly. Spike looked away as the sound grew louder and louder. You began to feel it shutter, the vibrations traveling into your hands and throughout your body. A light began to glow at the operational end of the device. It was a strange light the glowed a mixture of colors. A combination of the four vials that stuck out from the chamber. Then the humming stopped suddenly. But just before you began to think that the device was broken, a beam of light shot from its barrel with the power of a charging bull elephant.
The sound sent out a shock wave and made the entire building shake. You fell, the device falling with you and crashing on the stone floor beside you. Spike rushed over to you to help you up, but you stood without taking his hand. Instead you rushed around to table over to Picket's body. There was no change. Not even the slightest. You were sure that you hit his body. There was no mistaking it. Was the device not what you thought it was? You sighed and began to turn away.
"Look!" Spike shouted. His claw pointing at Picket.
You turned round again and saw what looked like stone beginning to form at his hooves. You stepped closer, watching as his fur began to harden and turn gray. You felt your heart leap for joy. You were right. There was a connection. You continued to watch closely as the stone rapidly grew around Picket's body. Eventually it spread to his chest, then all the way to his tail and then up his neck to his head. Soon after, he was completely covered in stone. Then a light began to shine on his chest. You then got on your hands and knees to look under his body to view his chest. The light subsided and you could see the same marking that was on the angel. The letter 'M' with a bar hovering over it.
"It worked!" Spike said in disbelief.
"It did! This gives me a lot to think about. But for now, I know that the statue over there, is alive."
You stood, almost stumbling from how fast you had moved. The statue on the far side of the room was now 'looking' at you. You stared back, confident that you had figured everything out.
"Spike, we have to destroy this statue. We can't let it-"
A single shot rang out from down below. It sounded like a crack of lightning streaking through the sky with rolling thunder. Silence followed. You stood motionless, along with Spike who only looked at you. The both of you exchange brief glances before more shots began to fill the air along with screaming. You didn't have control of your feet as they rushed out the building and outside to stop just a few feet away from the edge. Down below, a battle had broke out. A miniature civil war. Streaks of light arched through the air like streamers.
"Damnation!" You curse aloud, stomping your feet.
They had already started to kill each other. All thanks to that monster in the stone. Through the thunderous fighting down below, you march back inside. Brushing past Spike and heading straight for the statue.
"Spike! I need this statue outside, help me!"
The young dragon is still for a long while. In shock at the sudden turn of events.
"Hurry!" You shouted.
That seemed to snap him out of it and he rushed over to you, taking his place on the other side of the statue. Placing both hands on the statue, you push and topple it over. It fell on the stone floor with a loud crash but you ignored it. The fighting outside was already ten times as loud. You round the statue and join Spike, reaching down and pulling at the statue's head.
"Let's go Spike!"
"Right.."
With all your collected strength the both of you pull. At first, the large piece of stone doesn't budge. Then, with a bit more effort it begins to slowly slide against the floor. The sound resembling chalk on concrete.
"What's going on outside?" Spike asked.
"They've begun to fight amongst themselves. We have to destroy this statue as soon as possible. We'll through it over the edge."
You tugged harder, your arms feeling like they'll tear from you at any moment. Spike pulled with all his weight, but you were still only able to move it so fast. The shouting outside was beginning to grow more erratic and loudly. It was practically a war-zone. All because of this one statue. How powerful were these beings you wondered. Lately, their power had become so absurd and impossible to comprehend. You think back to the darkness you were trapped in. The Virtue could only play on certain emotions an individual was already feeling. But this new breed....it could directly influence the mind. It was like mind control.
You and Spike inch closer and closer to the door. Once you break the threshold, you feel the familiar and stifling heat on your neck as you pull the lump of stone outside. Your right hand began to chafe on the stone as you pulled. The stone was jagged and rough, digging into your palm and cutting it slightly. But you could hardly focus on the pain. Pain was secondary. What mattered was the many lives that were in danger down below. You had to save them, no matter what.
"Anon!"
Spike's cry snapped you out of your attention. Had you been looking you would have noticed that the angel's eyes now moved rapidly in circles. It was waking up. Its eyes shinned the reddest ruby red and the orb it held in it's hand began to shine white. Very quickly, as if it were a bull bursting from its pin, the angel began to shatter the stone around its limbs and flailed intensely. Throwing you both off of it and falling to the ground. Very quickly it began to stand on its legs, hunched over and gasping for air. It coughed up chunks of stone from its insides and began to rip the remaining stone off of its body. Then it looked at you, and you felt that familiar feeling sink into your chest. Fear.
Second Sphere:
"Anon! Get up!" Spike tugged at your collar.
But you continued to stare at the angel's crimson eyes. Then it met your gaze and it was like a fire being poured into your eyes.
"Dominion."
The name came without you knowing you had spoken it. At the utterance of its name, the angel began to shriek, clutching the orb and the sword in both hands. Spike continued to tug on your collar as he reached for the pistol strapped to his waist.
"Get up! We have to fight it!" Spike cried.
His shaking hand drew the small pistol on the angel and without warning, he fired. Missing the Dominion by a few feet. Spike was now in a slight panic. You sling your rifle off of your shoulder and immediately begin to take aim at the Dominion. It stood perfectly still, patiently waiting for you to draw your weapon. And once you did, it accepted the challenge and vanished. You blink, not sure what just happened. Now you began to panic. Your head darted from left to right like a frightened animal searching for it's predator. This was new. None of them had ever teleported before.
"Spike, stay on your guard! There's no telling where it might have gone."
You lower your rifle, clutching it tightly. You really didn't have time for this. The longer this took the more ponies would die down below. It was imperative that you finished this as quickly as possible. You look to the left. Then to the right. Looking back, you see nothing but Spike, clutching his pistol and smoke rising from his nostrils, ready to light up the Dominion whenever it appeared again. You turn back in front of you. But this time, you're met with the terrifying realization that the Dominion was now charging at you. The sight stole your breath away and for a moment you froze in place. It wasn't until Spike pushed you out of the way that you snapped out of it.
Before you could gain your barrings, the Dominion had already disappeared again. This was by far the most dangerous foe you've faced. At any moment it could do you in as easy as braking a twig. You listened to the quiet air for any signs of its location. But then you realized something. The air had been quiet all of a sudden. Rushing over to the ledge, you peer down into the small village below. And as you do, a single streak of light shoots past your cheek. Everyone below was staring up at you, guns pointed upward at you. Then as if by command, they all opened fire. The shots rang out throughout the entire cavern as they all break from the barrels of their guns and rocket towards the ledge.
You quickly move back, the streaks of lightning streaking past you like fireflies at bullet speed. Then you see the Dominion plummeting towards you from above, its sword pointing directly at your skull. You manage to dodge to the side just in time as its sword impales the ground on your left. You ready your rifle, but your speed is outmatched. With the swift stroke of its other hand, the Dominion knocks you away with its other hand. Sending you flying a good ten feet. At the point, Spike opened fire, his bullets hitting nothing as the angel vanished yet again.
"You alright!? Nothing broke, did it?" Spike asked.
"No. At least not yet.."
Not only was this angel able to teleport at will, but it was also insanely fast and powerful. You did your best to stand, using the butt of your rifle as a crutch. Right now you needed a plan. From the look of things, the soldiers down below would be making their way up the stairs at this very moment to come and kill you. A way to see through the Dominion's power. For some reason, its mind control failed to work on you and Spike. Or at least it seemed that way. But luck had been with you thus far, maybe it would carry you a bit further. You started off toward Spike. He watched the area around you, guarding you from afar.
"Any ideas?" He asked.
"Not the slightest.."
The air around the both of you was now beginning to thin. But was it just your imagination? You exhale, but feel the carbon be forced back into you as you inhale. You cough. Your body fighting the poison that had reentered your system.
"Spike...do you feel that?"
"Yeah. Almost like, the air around us had been cut short...It's like we're standing on top of a mountain."
The Dominion then appeared before you in a crackle of thunder. Before you could even lift your rifle, it lunged at you, its claws reaching for your neck. The feeling of its shadowy claws around your neck was so cold , it burned. You could feel your throat begin to turn to ice. Staring into its eyes, you could see your reflection. You were tugging at its arm and gasping for air. Then Spike shot a round directly into the Dominions chest and it dropped you. You fell on your backside as the angel began to shriek and clutch its chest.
"Spike! Another shot!"
But before Spike could even line his shot up, the Dominion vanished again in an instant. From the stairs, you could hear the many stallions climbing closer and closer. With in a few moments they would be there. You had to finish this the next time it appeared. There would be no way you would be able to fight all of them at once. Especially Celestia, assuming she too was among them.
"Hey Anon..." Spike said.
"What is it?"
"Did you notice the air where it disappeared?"
What? The air? What about the air? As far as you could tell, there was nothing. What was Spike getting at? He was losing it. The angel had gotten to him too. That must be it.
"What are you on about? I don't see-"
You stopped. There was something. The air was distilled. It swirled slightly, like it was wrapping around something. A body. You're speechless. Without saying a word you slowly rise to your feet, again using your rifle as a crutch. Your eyes never leave the space the Dominion disappeared from. It wasn't teleporting at all. Rather, it was wrapping the air around itself and using it as a sort of camouflage. Then it began to move. Slowly, almost like it was gliding. Spike began to take aim but you stopped him by lowering his gun. If it saw that you knew where it was, it would probably make a mad dash somewhere and you'd loose track of it for sure. It probably wouldn't get close to you once it moved to attack. So far it relied on lunge attacks, meaning that there was a gimmick to its power. Perhaps it couldn't dispel the wind too close to the enemy, for it'd be detected. Your next move would be to shoot it the moment it moved to attack.
"Spike.." You whispered. "We're going to have to wait. Don't let it know that you see it. We'll have take it down the moment it lunges at us so I want you to be on guard."
"Attack when it attacks us? Then it's really just a game of who can draw faster, right?" He whispered back. "It's like a western."
"A western?"
"Never mind. "
You left Spike's comment alone for now and continued to focus on the angel. The distortion in the air moved about the ground, searching for a good spot to attack from. Using your rifle, you stood up straight. It acted like a cane now. You watched it, but keeping your eyes slightly off, so that you weren't staring directly at it. Then you felt it. An instinct in your gut that told you to get ready. It was as if the air around you had changed. You found it easier to breath, the air no longer being influenced in its domain. The air around the Dominion then dropped and it lunged at you with its sword. Now was the time. You wouldn't get another chance like this. With speed you never thought yourself capable of, you kick the butt of your rifle and give it a twirl, tucking the butt into your shoulder as you aim down the sights.
The Dominion's face was placed neatly in your crosshairs. Its sword was only a few inches away from your heart when you pulled the trigger. Sending the bullet of light spiraling through the small space between you both and blasting a clean hole between its eyes. Another shriek erupted from its mouth as it flew backwards, dropping its sword. You did it! But the soldiers had now begun to spill out onto the platform. Quickly they surrounded you and began to take aim. Their eyes lifeless and absent. The Dominion squirmed around on the floor, holding its hands up to its face and howling. Kicking its feet in any random direction. Spike immediately fired the second shot, hitting it somewhere in side. That seemed to do it for the angel began to melt into a shadow, tendrils of black smoke rising from its expired body.
Just to be safe you fired off another shot, hitting it in the chest. Then it stopped squirming as it completely melted into the rock. Around you, the sound of a dozen ponies coming to their senses multiplied. They all responded with "Where am I?" or "What just happened?" It pissed you off a bit, how they didn't have any recollection on what had just transpired. But on the bright side, you saved everyone. Eventually, they all settled their curiosity and began to head back down the stairs confused and tired.
"Anon, we should probably find Celestia. She'll want to know about this."
You sigh. After what just happened you wanted nothing more than to just sleep the entire ordeal off. But your curiosity was getting the better of you. You had to know what Celestia thought of what she did, now that she was no longer influenced by the Dominion.
"I expect a full thank you." You mutter as you start towards the stairs, falling en route with the stallions as they made their way back down.
"And you say it was the Dominion who caused all of this?"
"I am certain. You may ask Spike as well, he saw the entire thing."
The three of you sat in one of the many houses in the village. You all were alone and gathered around a small wooden table. You told Celestia everything. About Picket, about how he died, about how you used his body in an experiment, and your encounter with the Dominion. She had been mostly quiet through it all. Most likely severely unnerved by the incident with Picket. Celestia looked tired, almost like she regretted ever coming on this journey. Then she sighed, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples with her hooves.
"Poor Picket.. He was a very good friend of Shinning Armor.."
"Who?" You ask.
Celestia then look at you surprised, like she had forgotten you were even in the room.
"Never mind that. You said you used his body in an experiment. You turned his body to stone, correct?"
"Yes. And I believe that's how I originally became stone. Through a similar device."
"Oh, and there was a marking on both the angel's and Picket's chest once they were in stone."
Spike said, grabbing a sheet of paper from his bag and a quill. He placed the paper on the table and began to draw the symbol. The letter 'M' with a line over it. This reminded you of a question you wanted to ask.
"Celestia, do you remember this symbol? Did you ever notice it on my chest when you found me?" You ask, circling a finger around your chest for emphasis.
Celestia silent for a moment, turning her head down in thought.
"Now that you mention it, yes. It is a number. But I had assumed it was nothing in particular. But I did find it interesting that it was an older form of the Equestrian number system that is no longer in use."
"A number?" You ask suddenly.
She looks at you curiously, like you knew something she didn't.
"Yes?"
"What is the number?" You asked, leaning in.
She raised an eyebrow, not seeing where you were going.
"Well, precisely, it is the number one million. Why? Is it important?" She asked.
One million. One million what? Years? Was it possible that the stone had a timer? Was yours a million years? The angel had the same date so it was viable that it was sealed the same time you were. And that would mean Picket's body would remain stone for a million years.
"It's a date. A timer. It means that I was turned to stone and it was known that I'd awake in the far future. And it also makes me...a million years old.."
You say this as you lean back in your chair, exhaling. You were older than the oldest being on the planet. She was pushing what? Two? Three thousand years? But here you were, a million years and some change.
"So you were turned to stone with a purpose. But what for?" Celestia asked.
"I do not know. But we'll find our answers eventually. There are still a lot more questions I need answered before I can give a sound explanation."
You knew who would give you answers. The Voice. It was waiting in the city. It said it would meet you there and it would tell you all you wanted to know. But it was up to you to survive the journey.
"We have a long walk tomorrow. I suggest we get plenty of rest. Besides, my back is extremely sore."
You stand, but not too quickly. You didn't want to cause yourself any more pain. Celestia and Spike also stood, the meeting being adjourned for now. The three of you exited the house and headed off towards the rest of the camp where you would spend the Agarthan night. As you readied your sleeping bag, you wondered if you'd even be able to sleep in this sort of heat. You guessed you'd find out when you tried. The last thought you had was the conversation you had with Celestia. Where would you go after this was all over? Who knew. It was a question that didn't need an answer. And so you drifted off to sleep, Celestia's gentle breathing rocking you asleep as she lay beside you.
The intense heat had subsided for the time being. Maybe all the hot air now flowed out of the cavern and up the shaft leading to the surface. Whatever the reason was, the chasm was now as cool as the desert up top, which was hardly saying much. You had no way of knowing what time it was. Not having any watches or clocks to tell surface time made you wonder how the humans of your day told time. The march was en route to the East bridge. You all were over half-way there and thankful for it. Nothing much was said along the way, everyone still unnerved by the previous happening, Celestia and Spike the most.
You worried for Spike mostly, he was still a child after all, and just the other day he saw someone gunned down mercilessly. You hope he never mentions it to Princess Twilight. She seemed like the type that would sit you down and give you a long lecture on what you did wrong, and an even longer lecture on how to do it better. Celestia had removed her leather breastplate this morning, claiming that the heat was beginning to get to her. So she wasn't impervious to heat after all. She had long since let her mane down, it shifting and merging into itself like a magical enigma. She unbuttoned the two topmost buttons on her shirt so that the collar wouldn't be so constricting around her neck. You'd also occasionally catch her cute chest fluff poking out from the gap in her shirt. Spike had lost his keffiyeh earlier and was sort of down about it. He now looked as he normally did, save for the large rucksack on his back and the pistol strapped to his waist.
As far as wardrobe changes, you weren't any exception. You lost your cloak within the first hour of you arriving in the Badlands. Both sleeves to your silk shirt were torn off for different reasons. You considered also removing your breastplate, but when you thought about it, you'd feel unprotected without it. You didn't wear your goggles as much either, the cavern not being as bright as the surface and the sulfur would always stick to the lenses like dust.
Your journey had taken you far. Along the way you saw many wondrous things, as well as horrid sights that would make children quiver and shake in their beds at night. Each day you faced a trial that put your life, as well as many others’ lives in danger. It cost much to get this far. Lives. Something that could never be paid for in any amount of wealth, no matter how vast and expansive the riches were. You found yourself developing a guilt that weighed you down like a ball and chain. Recently, you thought of turning back, ending this crusade before any more lives were lost, but in doing so, you'd be throwing all the lives that helped you along down into damnation. It was at that realization that you found strength. You would find out the answers not only for you, but for them. You would carry the weight of their souls on your back and into the city. At the very least, you owed it to Ro'Jetty and his people. Their town was destroyed in your pursuit of knowledge.
But as you thought on that, your mind strayed from them and into the present, more so the future as you looked in front of you. Celestia walking ahead, head held high and eyes kept forward, locked on the bridge that would ferry you into the city. Mostly, it became less about your own curiosity and more about hers. She wanted to see the city with her own eyes, have the opportunity to learn more about a civilization long since past and withered away. You would be the one to show her, you just hoped that what she saw was pleasant. After all, you didn't know what awaited you. What sort of histories walked along side humanity? Who knew? Certainly you didn't. After a few hours of marching, you had arrived at the bridge, it's broad frame imposing on the surroundings. It was almost a complete copy of the Charron, wide and stretching over the vast lake of fire to disappear in the dark looming shadow of the city.
//One of you will die.\
You stop. A sudden fear spreading throughout your body like vines up a wall. These vines of fear wrapped around you and encased you like a dozen constricting snakes. The prophecy. You had nearly forgotten all about it. One of you were fated to die, to fall into that bubbling undulating mass of molten rock. Celestia had stopped, looking back at you. She knew better than to ignore signs such as these, and so she approached.
"Anon? Are you alright?" She asked
You steady yourself, not wanting to fall over from the oppressive weight of the memory.
"Yes yes. I'm fine. Just the air, it's getting to me is all." You say, waving your hand dismissively.
Celestia continued to stare. It wasn't until you looked up at her that you saw she knew you were lying. You could see it in her eyes.
"You're simple to figure out Anon. Now tell me, what's the matter? If you need to rest, we can-"
"No! .....It would be best if we continued."
There would be no point in stalling; you had to face this head on. It felt like standing on the eve of a great event, the familiar feeling of your feet being seeded to the ground. Your legs feel like plants, rather than actual limbs. Celestia said nothing, but she continued to stare. You couldn't hide anything from her, but before she could ask again, her attention was drawn away.
"Princess, is everything alright?"
Captain Howl had approached from behind and drew closer, his scarf wrapped around his muzzle to protect against the foul air. He only looked at you briefly, if at all. Same for you, for you currently disliked the sight of him. You looked back at Celestia who looked worried and almost desperately trying to pry an answer out of you, so you straightened up and cleared your throat, trying your best to appear as if you’d gotten over your fit of hesitation.
"Yes.. everything is fine Captain. Prepare everypony to make the crossing, once we're on the bridge we cannot stop until we reach the other side."
Now she turned to the captain. You took it as your cue to leave them. This was it, it had to be. Agartha was after all, your final destination. This was the end of your journey and this must be the bridge the Voice mentioned. What else could it be? You take a seat on a small rock and rest your elbows on your knees, clasping your hands together in thought.
"Anon? You alright? You look a little pale." Spike asked.
You hadn't seen him approach. Spike looked at you, his bright emerald eyes trying to find yours. You hid from them, avoiding his gaze for you wouldn't want to think about what could happen later.
"I'm fine Spike. Don't you worry. Are you ready to see the city?" You asked.
"Of course! We all finally get to see where you come from. Aren't you excited?"
Spike was rocking back and forth on his heels and pulling on the straps of his backpack. Now you looked at him; he was so excited and full of curiosity. You force a smile as you stand, brushing the top of his head with the face of your palm.
"Of course I am. I'm going home after all."
Looking back, you can see that Howl had left Celestia's side and she now stared at the city. Her tail was swaying erratically from side to side and she occasionally stomped her hooves in frustration. She peeked at you from over her shoulder. Now that you had locked eyes, you had to approach.
"Wait here Spike. Have you written a letter to Princess Twilight lately? I'll wager she's waiting to hear from you."
"Oh yeah!"
Spike immediately started digging in his bag, his attention diverted and distracted for now. And so you went to the princess who waited for you on the rim of the outer ring. The fire below made her glow like a being of heat, which she was, considering her affinity. You stopped half a foot away from her. She turned her neck to face you and look you over. Celestia knew something was wrong, but before she could act on it, you spoke first.
"This is it, eh?"
You wipe the sweat trickling down your brow as you chuckle slightly. Celestia only stared at you, and once again turned back towards the city.
"I'm waiting." She said impatiently.
"For...?"
She sighed then turned completely to face you. Her muzzle was inches away from your face now. In moments like this, you realized just how tall she was. A few good inches well above your head.
"You're not too difficult to figure out you know? When somethings wrong you get all sulky like a foal."
She waved her hoof in front of your face, poking your nose.
"What? I do not!" You swat her hoof away.
"What's wrong Anon?"
She was much more earnest now, her eyes almost pleading for an answer from you. Despite the foal analogy, she really could tell when something was eating you. You take a deep breath, preparing yourself, and in someways, preparing her for the information you would pass to her.
"Celestia...what do you know of prophecies?"
And so you told her. You repeated what the Voice had said to you the night after you escaped Tzipuur. How either you, Spike, Howl, or she would die. As you went on she didn't take her eyes off of you. She listened intently, hanging on every word as you retold the premonition. Finally you had finished. Repeating the words out loud made you go a bit weak in the knees. You almost wanted to swallow the words back into your mouth, but then you'd likely vomit from the terrible phrases. You waited for Celestia to reply. You stared at her desperately, wanting at least some comfort. You wanted her to tell you she had a plan, that she had some way of combating fate, but you knew that was impossible. For no matter how powerful she was, she couldn't combat something as omnipotent as destiny. Then finally, she opened her mouth to speak.
"Anon....what you just told me.. Have you told anypony else?"
"No. I hadn't even planned on telling you."
"So Spike and the captain do not know, correct?"
"Aye.."
The princess then made past you, slow and almost wearily. She stopped halfway, her muzzle against your ear.
"Do not fear what's to come. Destiny is something that even beings like myself must abide by. Believe me when I tell you Anon. You do not want to fight this. Whatever happens, happens. You can't protect everyone, sometimes, you just have to let things be."
Your eyes shot open wide and your mouth ran as dry as the desert sand. Both your feet turn round with the speed of a bullet.
"But Celestia-"
"Anon!"
She stomped her hoof. Now she reminded you of her old self, back before you both were so close, back before you were even friends. She reminded you of when you spoke on the Radiant Dawn in the briefing room, how she said she wouldn't hesitate to put you down should you become a threat to Equestria. She seemed cold then, and at this moment you felt a chill run down your spine, despite you standing just a few notches above Hell.
"We can't turn back now Anon. Should we leave, you would spend the rest of your days hunted by the angels. Should we journey onwards, we may find a solution. Look at the soldiers, Anon."
You look as she tells you. Her hoof outstretched and motioning over them like a wave.
"These stallions have put their lives at risk for you. You can't say that risk was for nothing. And Spike...he was never supposed to be here, but seeing how he's saved your life more than anypony, I'd say he deserves to see the city. No matter the risk."
"But he's just a child! I'd be putting his life at risk if I allowed-" You started.
"And as for myself... I know I've been selfish, but I'll make no exception now. I want to see this city, so by the stars I will!"
Celestia raised her hoof in the air, shouting and drawing looks from the others. Then she turned on a dime and with the powerful tug of her wings, she pulled you to her in a hug.
"Anon. You can't fight the inevitable. We can't escape this now. Remember what I told you yesterday? Time is the world's greatest healer. No matter what happens Anon, you will get through it. Whether it be Spike, Howl, or I who take this fall, you will live on. You will live on." Your heart dropped from your chest at that moment. Slowly, very carefully, you pushed away from her. You could feel her wings try to keep you bound, but you wouldn't have it. Your arms now rested at the base of her neck and her wings fell to your sides. Looking up, you can see the bright magenta eyes that stare down at you. A frown falls on your face. She knew. It made her sad to know that you would not, rather, could not heed her warnings. It was not your way. Perhaps one could say you didn't believe in fate and such. The idea of predestiny shook you violently.
"Anon...promise me."
Her voice was a lot softer now, almost intimate in a way. It was like a private little song that fell only on your ears.
"Promise me you will not try to fight this."
You stared into her eyes, wanting to be lost in them forever. It would be a relief to not have to worry about any of this. You could become lost in the ocean of her wine-colored eyes, out of reach of any worry, but that was too naive. You pulled away even more, your arms now falling to your sides. You didn't have to say a word. She knew. Funny, now that you think about it. You've only known each other for about two weeks, yet she understood you like no other; almost better than you understood yourself.
"It is simply not my way." You say.
Celestia was silent for a long while, her eyes flashing between anger, pity, and sorrow.
"Your majesty, we are ready." Howl said as he approached again.
Celestia didn't seem to notice him as she sighed.
"Then you are a fool, Anon. Interfere if you wish, but I hope you are prepared for what may come..."
She then turned to Howl, who stood just a few feet away. He looked to both of you curiously, but knew better not to ask.
"Captain. You, Anon, Spike, and I will travel ahead of everypony else. Organize the troops. We depart immediately."
"Ma'am." Howl saluted with practiced ease as he trotted off in the same direction as the princess, leaving you alone with your thoughts
Was it really right to try and fight this? Even if you just shot Howl on the spot, that wouldn't stop the prophecy would it? Could it? You were half considering taking a shot at him right now. Had it not been for the immediate consequences, you may have done it. Like a truckload of bricks, the realization hit you. You were actually thinking of doing it. It surprised and sickened you to think that you were capable of such a thing. Were you just desperate? Maybe it was the heat that was getting to you. No matter what kind of stress you fell under, you would have to make sure it never came to anything like that. Then again. You had been meaning to pay him back for what he did in Tzipuur. Who knew what other devilish things he'd done in his career? Maybe he deserved to die after all.
"Anon! We're leaving!"
Spike called over to you, waving his hand in the air to catch your attention. You instantly snapped out of your thoughts and looked up. Celestia and Howl were already on the bridge. For a moment, she peered over at you, but only for an instant. It was almost physically painful. You wave to Spike and he nods, turning away to go and join Celestia and Howl. You take a deep breath. You had decided. You would make sure Howl was the one who died today. Securing your rifle over your shoulder and tightening the leather straps on your aegis, you make for the bridge.
Stepping onto the bridge, the surrounding landscape went from the darker color of rock and stone, to the roaring, blinding light of bright reds and oranges. The hot air rushed up towards you and over the sides of the large bridge from behind to push you forward. Ahead of you, the three others who would accompany you through fate's castle. You rushed to catch up to them, not wanting to be left behind. Celestia had instructed the soldiers to wait awhile before progressing with you four. This was her way of making sure none of them would be caught in what was about to go down. As you walked, your mind fell into the deep void of thought of which it was accustomed to. You liked to think a lot, and there was no better time as your legs carried you forward without you being at the wheel.
You could have very well been walking to your death, same for Spike, Howl, and Celestia. You thought about Spike, how strange the concept of death was to him. The other day, when you carried Picket's lifeless body up the stairs, he felt an emotion he never knew he could feel. Did he even understand death at all? What about Celestia? Clearly, she knew what death was. If you didn't know any better, you'd think she wrestled with death itself and drove him off. She was eternal. The days must have melded into one another often, her loved ones and friends fading. For her, everything was temporary. And Howl? Who knew what he thought. Still, he was dutiful and loyal to his men and princess. Perhaps he would sacrifice himself for her had he known of the prophecy, perhaps not. You can't truly know another's thoughts.
Eventually, you catch up to the three ahead of you. Spike was sitting on Celestia's back, trying to make out the shadowy towers of the city. Howl constantly looked back at the stallions, worrying that something would happen if he wasn't there with them. Celestia said nothing. She didn't even look at you when you stepped beside her. The air was tense. Hushed whispers rose from the magma below and upward to circle around in the massive cavern. It was like being in a great concert hall. The magma undulating over itself created air bubbles that, when popped, unleashed a loud thunderous roar.
You were nearing the halfway mark of the bridge when the air began to stir. The four of you stop, shooting glances around the cavern. The air seemed to blow towards the city, as if the city were a great beast, inhaling all the air. The wind wasn't violent, it was a rather nice breeze. The way it curved and bent around your bodies was relaxing and soothing. Suddenly, a sharp vibration rippled through the ancient stone, knocking you slightly off balance. Celestia bid Spike to climb down and get behind her. Howl began to draw his gun.
"Princess, why are we so far from the party? We're trapped here on this bridge and if they come at us, it'd be difficult to repel them." Howl said, moving forward just a tad bit.
Celestia continued on, but slowly, placing her hoofsteps more carefully.
"The foe we are facing is a smart one. By now they've figured out who the leaders are. They'll be coming for us first, if we were to remain with the others, we'd putting them all in immense danger. This bridge isn't very ideal for a battle, it'd be best to keep the center of confrontation as small as possible. Your soldiers will have to play a more supportive role now."
"Where do you think they'll come from?" Spike asked.
Celestia didn't have an answer, but you did.
"They'll most likely come from the city."
They all turned to you. They wanted an explanation but you didn't really have one to give. Your memories weren't all there yet, but you had a feeling that you were correct in assuming they'd spawn from the city.
"How would you know that?" Howl asked. His tone was a bit low and inquisitive.
"I don't rightfully know. Call it a hunch."
"Then we'll take your word for it." Celestia spoke up and carried on.
Clutching the strap of your gun, you can feel the nervousness overtaking you. Your steps were slower, more paced and cautious. It was like teetering on a tightrope. Ahead of you, the four of you could see the attack was already close at hand. In the distance, in the dark of the towering city were slight fluctuations in the dark. As you all continued on, you saw the dark shift and churn in on itself, looking like oil that tossed and turned over the shadowed city.
"I trust that you are all ready?" Celestia asked.
Howl and Spike both spoke up. They were ready to face the day's onslaught with full force. Meanwhile, you walked carefully behind them, slightly unwilling to continue on. The shadow over the city seemed to pulsate and send shocks that traveled across the bridge, shaking your footing. Then, at the far side of the bridge, near the entrance to the city, you saw the glow of rusty copper. The collective shine of their eyes. As if the force containing the angels had burst and shattered like a balloon, the angels began to rocket outward onto the bridge, some taking to the air in a mad display. It looked like the city had opened its mouth of shadow and now sought to draw you all in like a hungry beast.
Celestia immediately drew her sword from the brilliant scabbard holstered to her side. She lowered her horn so that it pointed sharply at ahead of her. She was ready, as well as Spike and Howl. The battle was beginning. They were too far away to be able to tell what sort of form or body these angels possessed, but it was obvious that they could take to the sky with ease, as well as glide along the bridge like dark ravens. Like a flood of umbra, they rushed towards you, closing the distance in a matter of minutes. You would have to fight them on this bridge, defeat them all. As they drew closer you could make out very small details. They were avian, their wings stretching outward like a sickly oil that flowed from their bodies. Like a torrent of black water rushing outward, they were upon you in minutes. Shots then started to ring out, streams of light rushing past the four of you from behind.
"Spike! Your fire!" Howl called over to Spike, who had jumped down from Celestia's back and moved toward the front of the party.
Like before, Spike took a very deep breath, his chest inflating like a bird’s, and exhaled. His breath carrying the emerald fire that spiraled out from his lungs, creating a wall of shimmering green flame. The angels’ charge was broken as they rammed into the flames, bursting into shadow. Now they poured off of the sides and came down from the air. Celestia's mighty wings beat once and she is off the ground in an instant, meeting their aerial assault with her own. Howl now followed Spike as they began to drive through the horde, their guns never went a moment without casting the lightning from their barrels.
It was all happening so fast that you fell behind. You hadn't even drawn your weapon and the fight was already well underway. In that moment you hesitated and you didn't see the angel as it dove downward. In a startling impact, the angel tackled you from the air, pinning you down on the hard stone bridge. Here you were able to see the terrible monster in full: one gigantic eye in the center of its head, a jagged, distorted beak that leaked a shadowy substance, a large wheel in the center of its body, a wheel that turned with a speed that blew air onto your face, but the most appalling feature the angel had was the seemingly infinite amount of eyes that dotted its body like stars in the night sky. They all were the color of rusted copper and stared at you, or rather stared into you.
Third Sphere:
Throne. The name came to you in an instant, just as it had always come. Without another thought, you wrapped your hands around its neck and rolled with all your weight. The angel hissed as you brought yourself on top of it, your hands clutching its neck. The Throne tried desperately to claw away at your underside, but with little space to make a decent swiping motion, and your armor protecting you mostly, its talons were caught in the leather.
Everyone around you was busy taking on an entire horde while you grappled with only one. Then you found the strength you needed. That slight push you needed to escape from the depression. You needed to help everyone. The Throne beneath you kicked and hissed as you channeled the magic to your left hand and encased its head in a blue sphere of magical energy. Focusing, you made the sphere smaller and smaller. Each second the sphere would compress and crush the angel's head until the orb was but the size of a coin and its head was gone. You rushed to your feet. The angel's body still kicking and slashing at the air with its talons. You readied your rifle and aimed for the wheel in the center of its body. Taking the shot, you hit the axis, sending a shock wave of light that traveled throughout the Throne's body and erupted in a small light show.
You turned toward Spike and Howl who were a little ways down the bridge. Celestia was still in the air, leading them all in a circle to take the pressure off of you three. The soldiers from behind provided support as they shot into the air, lessening the number of angels. Rushing to the center of the fray, you can see that the angels were having a difficult time surmounting Spike's walls of flame. He was using it as a way to advance. Like a locomotive plowing through snow, he blew through the angels while Howl guarded his rear. Everything was going well, well enough for you to gain confidence in the situation. You caught up with Spike, he was giving it his all. One by one you shot angels out of the air with your rifle. Howl taking care of the angels who tried to flank you in order to surpass Spike’s flames.
The Thrones fell like practice targets. You were doing so well that you figured that what they lacked in skill, they made up for in number. Were they planning to take you down with force in numbers alone? In the midst of fighting, you thought to yourself. Angels had never appeared in vastly large numbers, save for the Virtues. Most of the time, there would only be about fifty, but when you saw the eruption of angels charge toward you, you figured there were maybe a hundred or so more. They planned to drown you in a sea of darkness. Soon enough, you'll tire. One of you would let your guard down and like dominoes, the rest of you would fall, and among you four, one of you would die. It fit together perfectly.
You would have to constantly keep your guard up, never falter and never underestimate them. Though they were dropping like flies, there were only three of you on the ground, and the rest of the company was a little far. You can see that the Angels had begun to target them as well so the support would become infrequent. This was a battle of endurance. Sooner or later, their numbers would thin and you'll have the advantage. You just had to hold out for that long. But who knew how long Spike could keep it up? Sooner or later he'd run out of fuel and topple over. You looked to him. Smoke was rising from the corners of his mouth and his nose. He huffed and puffed, his little lungs probably ready to burst.
"Anon, look out!" The captain called out to you.
You didn't notice the Throne land just a few feet away from you and as you turned, you saw the wheel in its chest spin rapidly, catching flame and whistling. In an instant the flame traveled from the wheel up into its neck and it opened its beak to reveal a red glow in its throat. Instinctively you brought your hand up and used the aegis to create another bubble around the angel's head. But you weren't quick enough. Just as the bubble had closed, a very small amount of fire left its beak, escaping from the sphere and clashed with your armor. The rest of the flame stayed inside the sphere and charred the angel's head, sending it into a fit of pain.
The flame on your chest began to spread and you panicked. You tried to clap it out, but the flames were growing too quickly. Within seconds they would spread all over your body. Dropping your rifle, you hastily began to unbuckle the straps and belts holding the breastplate in place. Within moments, the breastplate fell onto the ground and began to burn away. Now you only had one form of armor, and that was the aegis. You would need to be more cautious now. Already you made a mistake and it almost cost you your life. You picked up your rifle and began to fire away once again. You didn't have time to stop and adjust. You had to keep fighting if there was any chance of you coming out of this alive.
Celestia was still in the sky, slowly carving through the numbers of angels that followed her. She showed no sign of getting tired, but it seemed that with each Throne she destroyed, two more replaced them. She couldn't fly forever. They knew that and so did she. Soon enough she would tire and for a second, just a small opportunity, they would envelop her and she would be lost. Soon she would have to land and link up with the rest of you, bringing the fight and all their numbers to the ground.
"This would be so much easier with magic." She thought to herself.
Now all of you were a bit over the halfway mark and progressing rapidly, but Spike was showing signs of tiring out. His flames were weaker and more delayed. As the three of you worked your way forward, the rest of the company maintained a good enough distance to not overcrowd the bridge, but most were already clinging to the edges, trying desperately not to fall into the lake of fire below. As you shot away, you didn't think. You were a machine now, shooting the targets you had been assigned. But then, in the heat of battle, you felt something crawl up your spine. It was fear.
Sure you were winning, rather, you weren't doing bad, but it was starting to look bad. The Throne's tactics may be successful after all, but that wasn't all. You hadn't noticed until you looked back up into the air, but some angels had stayed their attack and now only hovered in the air, watching. At the same time, the angels were no longer in front of your charge and Spike was able to break for awhile. Most of the Thrones seemed to scurry off of the bridge and cling to the air. Celestia had also noticed. The pack of angels following her was not only thinning because she was fighting, but most were breaking off to join the others.
They gathered in patches, looking like dark clouds. You shot at these patches, but they hardly seemed to avoid the shots, purposefully letting themselves be hit and destroyed. You stopped your charge, Spike needing a break. Soon after, the angels began to calm their attack, drawing back and gathering in the air. Celestia had landed on the bridge, sheathing her sword and asking what was happening. You couldn't possibly know, same for everyone else. This was odd even by what you've seen so far.
"They...they're leaving!" Spike shouted.
"No.." Your grip on your rifle doubled as you began to get nervous again.
"They're planning something."
"What do you think that is?" Celestia asked.
"I have no idea, but I hardly want to find out. We should keep firing. I don't want to see what they have planned." You say.
You aim your rifle towards one of the larger cluster of angels and fire away, not caring which one you hit. The light left your gun like a bull out of its pen and rocketed towards the gathering of Thrones. It hit one in the face, a perfect shot. The angel lulled backwards as if it was about to fall out of the sky, but instead it only rocked backwards, like it was suspended. Then it began to glow a crimson red. It looked like a firefly, blinking on and off, until finally, on the fifth blink, the body of the angel seemed to unleash a powerful explosion. This explosion triggered a chain reaction with the other angels and they too began to flicker on and off. Exploding and sending a terrible tremor through the cavern.
Rocks and stone began to fall from the cavern ceiling. Some very large, the size of small buildings. They fell downward, missing the bridge and crashing into the lava below. You watched as the terribly loud explosion ruptured through the air. It was like being right next to a lighting strike. You felt the shock hit your body and you felt like you had been melded into the ground. You couldn't move. Such power. The angels all began to hiss and flap their wings erratically. Now they began to gather and charge. This time, keen on self-destructing to take you all into your graves. Like dive bombers they hurled themselves from the air, hissing like mad snakes.
"Fire!"
Celestia's voice was loud enough to reach all ears. It was commanding and frightening, but they all followed orders and opened fire as quick as they could. Celestia took to the air once more, this time with her rifle instead of her sword. As soon as she left the ground, most of the Thrones branched off and pursued her into the air. The underground sky was now lit up with golden light and fiery explosions. The sight could drive a man mad. You too took up your gun once more and fired away. There were so many. They all dived towards the bridge, some missing it only by a few feet and exploding, taking out small chunks of the stone. This was bad.
With each explosion, the shock wave shook you around like a ragdoll, making it very difficult to maintain your footing and shoot. The company began to move towards you three and Howl suggested that you regroup. You denied him. You didn't want to go against Celestia's advice of staying separate from them, and with the prophecy still a possibility, you'd be putting their lives in danger if you allowed Howl and Spike to regroup with the others. One by one the angels dived from above, their explosions rocking the great cavern and causing the magma to surge and move about with its own life.
The sight was maddening, but you couldn't afford to lose your focus here. At that moment, every shot counted. You fired before the scopes on your rifle could even align properly, but you never missed a shot, your proficiency was increasing greatly. As you made your way across the bridge, you saw that the angels were mostly aiming for you. They meant to take the three of you down with a single barrage, which was proving difficult for them. If you managed to keep this up for just a while longer, the four of you might just scrape by. Celestia was unmatched in the air; her powerful wings propelled her in any direction she willed. She practically flew circles around the angels now, but the more that flocked to her, the more she would have to watch herself. She could no longer fly in cloudless sky, she had to watch her sides and sometimes ahead of her.
Watching them chase her was like watching a dreadful shadow pursue a single white light, a flock of ravens hounding after a dove. They came at her from all sides now, their blinking still apparent. You could catch glimpses of her as she flew past you. She was starting to have trouble. There were just so many. Even if it was just slightly, you had to help her or else she'd go under. But as soon as your attention wavered a single angel was able to get close enough. Hearing the hiss of the avian, you turn your eyes forward to meet its countless eyes. Just before it could completely burst into flame, Howl's saving shot rang past you and blew a hole through the wheel in the Throne's chest.
The explosion was negated mostly, but it was still severe enough to blow you back on your backside. It felt like being hit with a cannon of air and you couldn't quite make out your surroundings. Everything was blurry and your hearing was shot. You looked to Howl who looked to be screaming at you. Spike was busy pumping light into an angel's face. Celestia was merely a blur in the sky as she wisped around like a blot of white paint being smeared on a dark brown canvas. Trying to stand, you feel that your senses have been stolen from you. You could hardly hear, feel, or see, but you still perceived the situation around you in a manner of speaking. Whether you understood it or not was a different matter.
"Master Anon, are you well!?" Howl asked, but it sounded more like an echo rather than a proper utterance.
Regardless, you nod and he helps you to your feet. The black dots flashing red were now coming at you again like a storm. You held the strange device in your hand up to them and pulled the trigger, unleashing a bolt of lightning. You remembered that much.
"I don't know how much longer we can keep this up! The princess is already starting to-"
Howl's voice was cut short. You hadn't seen why until your vision caught up with the recent events. He had been tackled by one of the black monsters. You moved to help, but found that you were too slow, rather, your legs weren't listening at all to your brain. Then you heard loud hoofsteps land on the bridge. They sounded like the crackling thunder in the sky, crashing on the stone with sparks.
A whirlwind of white rushed past you and tackled the monster. Rearing up on her hind legs, the white pony pressed the barrel of her gun to the monster's mouth and fired, charring its face into the stone walkway. The pony then took to the air, followed by a swarm of black. Howl lay on the ground, struggling to stand. You looked past him to all the other ponies who were still shooting into the air, protecting you from the diving Thrones. You look up to see the white pony. Celestia; you remembered her name. It was all slowly coming back to you. You were regaining your senses and the sense of urgency was rushing back into your body like water into a bucket.
Celestia was trapped, the angels were flanking her and surrounding her. Like a circle, they planned to enclose her within a space and over time close in on her to finish her off. You shake your head rapidly, desperately trying to shake the shell shock off. You raise your rifle, a dark pit beginning to set into your stomach. You tried your best to think about anything other than that one possibility. This could be it for her. Your rifle shoots away, but you did little to lessen their numbers. Soon, Celestia is reduced to hovering in the sky and fending them off just barely. She was in very deep trouble now. Howl was still struggling to stand and Spike did his best to assist you. The company was still pretty far and dealing with their own problems so they would be little help.
You wanted to call to her, but you were afraid that if you did you would distract her and that would really be bad. At that moment you felt useless. Panic began to wash over you and you could feel your feet becoming seeded into the ground. Like a weight, your panic was pushing you down, eventually it'd be enough to push you under the bridge. Without thinking, you hold your left hand out into the air. You concentrate, concentrate harder than ever before. She needed to be protected; she was what you wanted to protect in this vast strange new world. In that moment, you may have been her only hope. You feel the flow of the magic course from your heart and through your left arm. The aegis began to glow its azure light and you felt the magic be pulled away from you.
In the center of the mass of angels, Celestia watched as she was surrounded by the crystal like power of the aegis. Through the mass of black shadow she could see you on the bridge, your palm outstretched and glowing the same shade. She called out to you, but you couldn't hear her. You could only hear the sound of the aegis as it began to howl. The magic you were feeding it was causing it to moan, but you knew that you'd need to muster all of your will if you were going to do this. Your head began to spin as you continued to pump magic into the aegis. The Thrones all watched, cautious of the strange orb that was encasing their target, but soon enough they relented to their mission and began to fly towards it.
Bracing for the impact, you plant your feet squarely and drop your rifle, holding your left arm with your right hand. The initial impact felt like someone had thrown a hammer down on your arm, and the sound that came from it was equal to seventy buildings collapsing all at once. Your shield immediately shattered, but Celestia had remained unscathed. Again you surround her with your magic. She was now staring in horror as you struggled to keep the magic alive. She was shouting at you, but you could hardly hear her. Again the angels crashed against the shield and again it shattered. The shock of the rupturing forced you back. Like a great wind, you were pushed away, but you stood resolute. Again you cast the spell.
Your vision was nearly fading now, then you felt hopeless. Who knew how many more angels there were? There could be countless. You knew you couldn't keep this up for much longer. You'd be lucky to come out of this alive, period. Now a sharp pain began to set in at all your joints, prodding and prickling them and forcing your knees to quiver, but you persevered. The sound of the shattering aegis was like diamonds being crushed by the gravity of two stars. It was the kind of sound that escaped the sense of hearing and into the sense of feeling. You could feel your insides rattle as the shattering sound moved about the cavern like a wave of howling spirits.
You fell to your knees. Spike was now shouting at you, most likely telling you to stop, but you wouldn't. You mustn't. Casting the spell again, you found a hidden strength within you and you stood once more. Your sight returned and you could see Celestia there in that sphere. She was far away, but now you could hear her. Her voice was sad, cracked and on the edge of breaking. You smiled; She really did worry for you, she didn't want this. She didn't want you to go through this much pain, just for her. But you desperately did not want her to die. For the first time since you'd met Princess Celestia, you thought of love.
Perhaps love was what pushed you to do this. A driving force, holding you and shoving you forward, giving you the courage to defy fate itself! Maybe so. Who knew? In that moment, all you knew was that you had to protect her, even if it costed you an arm or a leg. To Hell with the prophecy, you refused to be ruled by a non-sentient force of nature. You were a human, a man! From what you saw, what you remembered them to be, mankind was a race that dared to fight nature. Mankind dared to conquer objects such as fate and destiny. It was not the human way to be ruled by something that was intangible.
Celestia told you not to fight this, but you were too arrogant for that. You were a human, and you'd fight destiny like the Devil himself! You prepare for the final barrage. It would be the last one you could withstand. You knew this, but still you were going to try and keep going. The magic fatigue was already setting in and your body was failing you. With a collective hiss, the Thrones all dived for the sphere of magic, crashing against it and setting off a chain reaction that encased the blue orb with flames of orange, yellow, and red. The aegis failed and the spell became undone for the final time. You couldn't withstand the entire attack and it shattered just after the initial explosion.
Celestia was now falling out of the air, a trail of smoke tailing her. She was limp, hardly moving. As she fell, you felt your heart sink into oblivion. Had you failed? She was still alive, but for how much longer? She was falling rapidly and showed no signs of recovering. You were running on fumes now, but you outstretched your hand once more. Despite your bones feeling like broken glass, you managed to form a soft shield beneath where she would land. Gently, she fell onto it, the fall still hurting her but softening the landing enough for her to survive. Spike rushed to her. Howl was still behind you, still trying to stand. You looked into the air. There was all but one angel. A single Throne hovering and blinking red.
You took a step forward, but that was enough to nearly make you collapse from the pain. You needed to get to her, it was only a matter of time. The Throne hissed loudly and with the stretch of its massive wings, it swooped down towards Celestia. There was no way you could save her. It was too fast, much faster than the others. Spike was distracted tending to Celestia, the stallions were too far away and Howl was indisposed.
//One of you will die.\
The Voice rang in your head like a funeral bell.
//She, will die.\
It was Celestia. She truly was the one to die. But wait. You could still save her. You could save her from the mark death had placed on her. You shoot a glance behind you at the stallion collapsed on the bridge, the rest of the company rushing towards you. If he died, the prophecy would be fulfilled would it not? And so you thought to yourself. All you had to do was kill him right there, it would be easy. Celestia had ruled for one thousand years; she was important. She was loved and cherished in the hearts of all her subjects. Who was Captain Howl? A murderer given a license to kill. He deserved to die before, but now he needed to die. He was no one in the grand scheme of things, another grain of sand at the bottom of the dark ocean we call life. The Throne was now even closer, its body an impossible hue of crimson. You felt no guilt in what you were about to do. It was not murder. Besides, Howl said so himself. "You can't protect everyone."
Someone had to die, it might as well be him. With the last of your strength, you catch the angel mere feet above Celestia and Spike. It was caught mid-flight in the wavering power of the aegis. You gave it no time to register what was happening. With all your might you tugged and pulled it, turning your body so that you faced Howl. You could feel every muscle in your arm as you pulled the Throne across, using your arm as a catalyst that would send it forward. Your arm curved and bent with perfect precision as you flung the angel overhead and towards Howl, but all was not well.
The moment you completed your pitch, your footing was off and with the combined stress of your body, your legs gave out and the aegis was dismissed. The angel was now flung off target and instead of colliding with Howl, it flew past him. You watched in horror as the Throne shot through the air like a blinking rocket towards the company. They halted, not expecting the new development. They were too slow to react and nothing could be done.
The angel blinked one last time before smashing into the crowd of stallions. The explosion rocked the bridge as the section on which they stood began to collapse and break away. You watched as they screamed in horror, some being blown off the sides and most trying to scramble their way to the other side, but the bridge was giving way too quickly, it was impossible to escape. They tumbled down into the lake of fire. Their screams filling the air and cursing the end in which they suffered. The chaos was too much for you. In that moment time stood still and you felt their collective grief fall upon you and weigh you down. This was your fault.
You fall to your knees, now you were completely numb. You could no longer see, but you could hear. They were the only thing you could hear. This was the cost of you fighting fate. Fifty stallions had perished because of your arrogance. You collapse completely, your cheek hugging the stone. Was it worth it? You ask yourself over and over again. Was the life of one more important than fifty others? How mad would you be if you were to accept that as truth? Celestia would be fine though, so maybe it wasn't that terrible. They weren't human, they couldn't have understood how you felt. As you lay there, you try to reason with yourself on why you were in the right.
"They all knew how dangerous this journey would be, yet they came along anyway."
Your own words echo around in your skull. They knew their lives were on the line. In fact, the chance that most of them would die had to be extremely high. You just saved them the trouble of waiting, right? Then, as if reality had slammed a gavel onto your back, it all hit you. You were a murderer, and you tried to rationalize it! You were mad. Or were you just desperate?
Their lives, for the one you 'loved'. What could be such a love? You thought to yourself. Eventually, all thoughts ceased as you lost consciousness, stricken with grief and shame.
"Anon...Do you remember what you said to me? Aboard the Radiant Dawn?"
Your limp body sat snuggled into the underside of Princess Celestia. She held you close, like she often did, but now it seemed like she was trying to pull you into her very being. The last thing she could remember was you standing on the bridge, your body wracked with stress and magical energy. She saw as each of your shields shattered, only to be replaced in an instant. What happened after was unknown to anyone. She remembered then waking to Spike at her side, then to Howl's limping body as he called for help. Shortly after, they found you collapsed. The bridge beyond you broken.
None of them knew what happened. Spike said he heard a loud crash, but was too panicked to even look for the source. Howl was hardly breathing and battered. Now the four of you, the only survivors, sat at a very large gate. It lead into the city, the place she had wanted to see so badly. Now she felt she had seen enough. It wasn't worth this, all of you nearly dying.
"You said I was strong."
Celestia's voice was hushed and reserved. In the past hour she did nothing but mumble to herself and you as you laid wrapped in her wings. She laughed to herself an empty, hollow laugh that barely left her mouth.
"I'm not strong at all. Truth is, Anon, I was terrified. I was afraid, not of my own death, but of yours. Believe it or not."
Celestia had lived a very long life. A life full of such destinies and fates even she could not hope to change. It came with the package of eternal life, knowing how the universe worked, knowing that you couldn't change the past, or what had been set in stone for the future. Oh sure, numerous times she had tried to fight it, conquer destiny, but each time she failed and ended up causing a lot more trouble for everyone around her. She had finally learned her lesson, but that didn't change the fact that the idea of destiny frightened her. She tried to warn you. Caution you not to fight against a being higher than herself, but she failed and you fought anyway.
"But I imagine you didn't listen, and now you're paying for it. As for the others...."
She trailed off, not wanting to think about the demise of fifty stallions all at once. Howl was heart broken. This past hour he did nothing but stare out into the orange lake below.
"How afraid were you, Anon? You must have been shaken to the core. I saw the look in your eyes... You were so determined, yet fear plagued you like a sickness."
Celestia's grip grew tighter as she closed in on herself. She was beginning to fear you would never wake up. For some reason, she found it terrifying to never hear your voice again, or to watch you light up with excitement when you would find something interesting or odd to you. Would you ever remember yourself, and tell her all there was to know about you? She wanted to know everything, everything you were, and if possible, show you everything that was hers.
"......I've changed."
She looked down at your face that was half buried in her chest. She watched you as you worked your way through the fever that you inflicted upon yourself. Periodically, she would wipe the sweat from your brow and stare some more. You were such an oddity to her, something that she couldn't comprehend so easily as most other things. She thought back to the look in your eyes, right before the last spell was cast. You were smiling.
"What are you? Even when you could hardly stand and all seemed to be lost, you smiled.."
She pulled you away slightly so that she may see all of you. To her surprise, the faintest of smiles played across your face. It shook her violently. If you could still smile, after everything that had happened, it meant you hadn't given up. She took that as a sign that she shouldn't give up. Celestia said she'd help you recover your past, and that was exactly what she'd do. The idea of a human was incomprehensible to her. She couldn't begin to try and work you out by herself, which is why she needed you. If she wanted any hope of completely knowing, she would need you in her life; this was her resolve.
"Even asleep, you're quite a mystery. Oh the things we could show each other. Perhaps, when this is all over, you could come with me to Canterlot.."
Celestia then went silent. She concentrated as countless thoughts flew through her mind. Then, an emotion started to rise up within her, one that she had been avoiding for awhile. But as she held you so close to herself, it became more violent, more eager to be known to her. Yes...that would be nice, she thought to herself. But alas, you were something of a complete mystery to her. Yet, with time..who knew? Perhaps a relationship of a sort could work out between the both of you.
But it was too early for that. The both of you still had an adventure to complete. Such things like 'romance' should've been in the back of her mind. Still, she supposed she'd allow the fantasy for now. She figured she deserved a break, and so she settled down next to you and pretended. Feigning ignorance of current events, she lived in a sort of fantasy where she ruled alongside a strange human from a time long forgotten.
She dreamed of sunny days, full of laughter and happiness, none of the heavy sorrow and loss that followed her down into the depths of the Devil's dominion. For in her dreams, Celestia was happy. For now, they were only dreams and that was fine. Perhaps it'd be better if it were just a dream and never took form in reality. Who knew? She didn't, and at that moment, she found herself not wanting to know. So she laid there with you tucked under her foreleg. When you awoke, the remaining four of you would have to journey through this colossal city alone. They all waited for you, Spike, Howl, and Celestia. They waited for you to awake, and lead them into your world.
[PLAY ]
You came to in a daze, the last few hours being void and empty of any memory. As you took your breaths, you began to assess the situation. First of all, you were alive. You think. You felt pain in every area of your body so that must mean something. In your head, you try to recount the day before. Slowly, it all came back to you. You were in Agartha, but a conflict halted you and the others on the East bridge. There was an accident and the entire company of fifty soldiers fell into the magma below.
Wait.. there was more, wasn't there? You thought hard, making an effort to scrounge up any missing information. You were currently immobilized because of the accident, and if you remembered correctly, you had poured every ounce of your strength into your aegis. Your left hand shot sharp pains through your body as you tried to move it. In addition, Howl was unconscious, as well as Celestia. You groan as you try to sit up, but to no avail. You had to make sure she survived. If anything, you would need to see her well and know she was alive, but you were in too much pain to even move a muscle, so you laid there and continued to think about current events.
It didn't take long for the memories to come back in full, especially the most painful. You were now a murderer. A laugh of sorts escapes you as you lay on the cold, stone ground. Then the laughter became quiet wails of pain. You cursed yourself, wishing you had taken the fall, if it meant the survival of the fifty. You open your eyes finally. At least, you're sure you had. You blink, and then once more. Confused, you begin to struggle. You were blind. There was nothing but dark. Nothing but a darkness that stretched on for miles and miles. You began to call out, but found that your voice had been stolen from you. Each time you tried to form the words in your throat, it felt like trying to expel sharp pricks from your mouth.
Now you tested each of your senses. Sight was out by default. You could still hear and feel, the various sounds of the cavern and countless rocks and pebbles prodding your skin confirming that. You had no way to test for taste however, and there was no way you were going to lick the ground. You could still smell the sulfur in the air, so that made two out of five senses absent, including speech of course. But you couldn't stay on the ground forever, you needed to find the others as soon as possible. Prepping for the pain, you position your arms so that you may lift yourself up. The pain comes as quick as ever and you collapse near instantly. A few gross groans leave your throat as you work through the pain and prop yourself up. You don't get very far though. Half way through, you're forced to fall onto your back before you fall back on your stomach. Just then, you heard someone call out to you.
"Anon? Princess! He woke up!"
Spike hurried over to you, the sound of his small footsteps being all you had to go on. Soon after you heard more steps and you counted them out. Two other ponies. That meant both the princess and Howl were alive. You feel Spike's hand slip under your back and begin to lift. You lift with him and groan as you both work to prop you up. Gasping for air, you shiver from the pain. This was a lot worse than before. You may be immobile for an entire day or two, or at least you hoped.
"Anon, how are you feeling...?"
That was Celestia's voice. She sounded....sad? The three of them waited for your reply, which was a poor low groan. It was as if your throat were a desert. You tried harder to produce words, keeping it simple. The others gathered around you curiously. They watched as you desperately tried to choke out whatever it was you were trying to say.
"Bl-in.....Blind."
The word finally comes out, but your voice sounded like a raspy old man's.
"He cannot see? Perfect, he's useless now!" Howl scoffed.
You would have asked politely for him to shut the hell up, but seeing as how uttering even a word was a heavy task, you opted to remain silent.
"Enough Captain. Still, this is troublesome. We'll have to wait until he regains his sight. If he even can." Celestia said.
"You want us to just sit here? Wait for those monsters to come and pick us off!?" Howl's voice climbed an octave as he said this.
"Captain, need I remind you who it is you are addressing? I encourage you to not raise your voice with me."
Now Celestia's tone was commanding and stern. A moment's silence passed until Howl finally relented.
"...My apologies, Princess."
"So how long will it take for Anon to be able to see again?" Spike asked.
You also wondered this and awaited the answer.
"Usually, a day. But who knows? He used so much magic, its a miracle that he's still alive." Celestia replied.
A whole day without your sight. Who knew how long you had already been out. You struggle to get out another word.
"Wh-where?"
"Where? Oh yes, we're just outside the east gate. Beyond here is Agartha, Anon. We've made it." Celestia's voice changed again.
She sounded excited, yet...the slightest bit regretful. And who wouldn't be? No doubt they had thought about the loss you all just took. You shudder. It was hard to gather your surroundings, not being able to see and all, but you knew where the three of them stood, more or less. It was like a memory game. Celestia's hoofsteps suddenly approached you, echoes resounding into your ear. She stopped beside you, sitting.
"Would the both of you leave us? I would like to speak to Anon in private."
Then you felt Spike's hand leave your back and his footsteps travel over to where you think Howl was standing.
"...Alright then. I suppose Spike and I will have a slight look around. We won't be far."
Howl said as he began to trot away with Spike in tow. You listened to their hoofsteps as they faded away, growing quieter and fainter. You imagine Celestia did the same as she watched them go. At first you were relieved to not be crowded and to be alone with Celestia, but then you realized just exactly what this was about. She wanted to know what happened. You tensed up as you felt her brush up against you from behind. Without your sight, every sensation was something to be instinctively cautious of.
"Anon. I'm only going to ask you this once. What happened?"
ou could hear how serious she was. You would have to tread carefully. This time when you spoke, it came a bit easier.
"Angels....destroyed...the brid-ge."
The pain in your throat lessened with each word. Your speech would be the first thing to return.
"Is that all that happened? What happened exactly after I fell?"
You could sense that she was right in your ear, prodding you, trying to get the truth, but you couldn't tell her. You couldn't tell anyone. If you did, she'd probably kill you herself.
"You fell. They came...for me. The company, fought with me. The angels...then flew into the crowd tog-...together. I fainted after."
You choke out the lie like the words were knives. Each word was a shard of glass grating on your vocal chords. Celestia remained silent. Her silence was like torture. Without your sight, you couldn't read her expression. You couldn’t see what emotion she was wearing, and that frightened you. What was she thinking?
"You know Anon, it could have been prevented."
She surprised you. It made the guilt from before pile on all at once, almost stealing all the strength from you.
"A-ye.."
"You should have let me die, but instead, you chose to fight."
She sighed heavily, and then, as if being wrapped in velvet, her wing surrounded you.
"A lot has happened today, things that both of us will regret, but if there is anything I have learned in my long life, it's that you can never changing the past and hoping to do so is foolish." You felt her chin rest itself atop your head. It was always nice to be so close to her.
"We've lost so much today. I hope you are ready for this kind of guilt Anon. It will pile on over time. At times, it will grow to be too much for you to bare, and you may succumb to it."
You listened intently, each word jabbing you in the chest. The guilt will surely pile on, that much was true. Even now you wanted to do very little. You'd rather lay back down and sleep and forget you were the cause of something so grotesque.
"But I won't let that happen Anon. I'll be your support, just as you were mine today. No matter what the cost was, you saved my life and I will never forget that. Thank you."
You felt a heavy sadness sweep across your heart like a tsunami of grief. Then to your surprise, you felt a kiss plant itself on your cheek. You would have reached out to her, but your arms were still wracked with pain. You wanted to hold her, right then and there. You wanted to be someone who would be able to comfort her everyday. Someone to calm her fears. But she soon arose, her wing pulling away from you, as well as her touch. She stood over you now and you turned your head upwards to find her, your open eyelids searching blindly.
"I have something to ask you when this is all over. Try not to die before then, alright?" Celestia joked.
Your eyes locked on her instantly. She stared into them, shocked. It was as if you could really see her, in spite of your blindness. Still, she couldn't help but stare.
"Aye."
You had no way of knowing, but the biggest smile graced her face, almost ear to ear. As she turned away to find the others, she thought to herself. She thought about how your eyes were the same as before, on the bridge, full of fear, but determined. You heard Celestia begin to trot away, saying she was going to go find Howl and Spike, but you didn't want that. Right now you wanted nothing more than to just sit with her.
"Celestia."
She stopped, you heard the intake of her breath and her hesitant hoofsteps as she stepped a bit closer.
"Stay with me."
The words come out on their own. You had no control over your speech anymore. Your body was on autopilot now, going off of instinct and acting accordingly to your emotions. Right now you were unguarded, unable to filter what you said or did. Celestia saw this. She saw how vulnerable you were, not only physically, but emotionally. You didn't want her to leave you. Your sight was gone, you could hardly speak and most of all, you were frightened. What could you do now other than beg for her to stay with you? It would be torture to be left alone.
Almost in an instant, you felt Celestia by your side once more. Subconsciously, you leaned into her, your head resting at the base of her neck. You could hear her heartbeat as you sat together. It was strange to you. Now that you no longer had your sight, you payed special attention to any sounds that were made near you; they all sounded much more vibrant. You could hear nearly every aspect of the sound and they were alien to you, but none of them could compare to the monotone heartbeat in Celestia's chest.
As you listened, you heard it evolve. It was no longer a simple two-beat drum, but an array of sound. It was more akin to the heart of a star now. It was impossible to describe. The beat increased as you leaned in closer and you felt her body warm considerably. It was like listening to another world. You chuckle to yourself as you listen to the complicated sounds being produced within her. It fit her perfectly. She was such a strange being to you. For all you knew, there was an entire world within her, a world that was relatively peaceful, but as time went on, began to liven up and become more chaotic.
Celestia's heart was like a powerful citadel under siege. At first the walls stood tall, but over time, the invader had chipped away little by little. Before long, the stone walls of her heart were nothing but the walls of a sand castle. Her heart had been infiltrated, toppled by the strange invader that was your own heart. She felt it as well, though she didn't say anything. She calmly placed a hoof on your chest. With your armor gone, you could feel the bottom of her hoof as she placed it over your heart. You felt as your own heartbeat increased, pumping the blood all over your body. She listened and felt it, every tremor, every quiver as she touched you. Celestia slowly began to understand you, as well as realize her own feelings. It was an emotion you both shared.
There was no need for words. While you stared into the dark, you could see nothing but two hearts begin to meld into each other. The sight was akin to watching two binary stars slowly spiral into each other to create an even bigger star, one that shined brighter and burned more intensely. But it was still delicate. Too much power from either side, and the star would collapse in on itself. Too little power and it would slowly die over time and be only an ember in the darkness.
It was just right, perfect beyond your belief. You both were now apart of each other's worlds and knew this completely. You wonder when you started to feel this way. You've only known her for about two weeks. When did she start to feel this way about you? As you thought about it, you began to make a variety of theories, but all of them boiled down to one concept. It had been present between you two the entire time.
Curiosity. You wanted to know everything about each other. Down the line, perhaps it underwent a change within both of you. That curiosity became more of a desire for each other, a desire to know each other in every sense, including intimately. Was this okay? You thought to yourself. She was royalty after all, and an entirely different species at that, but those boundaries were already crossed.
You both sat together under the massive gate that loomed over you. Agartha was waiting for you, and in a way, so was your former self, but you hardly could find it in yourself to care. Right now you were absorbed in another world. You found that you no longer had any more fears, all your doubts were washed away in an instant. Just as they had been when you spoke with Celestia on the rock. Now that you both had come to this point of mutual understanding, you owed it to her to finish this. No matter what, you had to press on.
You decided that the fifty you killed were going to give you strength rather than burden you. It was sick in a way, but you would immortalize them as a testament to your foolishness. If not for anyone else's sake, surely you'd finish this for theirs. You were beginning to accept their deaths, though it was painful, but as Celestia said, there was no changing the past, and only a fool would try and do so. You had enough of being a fool. From this point on you would work to understand this world a lot more, as well as things like fate and destiny.
Celestia had shown you that there were limits, lines that shaped the world and boundaries that couldn't be broken. It was her world you were in now. Humans had long since vanished, their world destroyed along with them. This meant you would have to adopt a new way of thinking. No longer did you fear your loss of sight. The darkness was just temporary, and like the night, it would end and the sun would rise. You decided that she would be a beacon for you, something to hope for, something to believe in in your times of strife.
It was quiet now. Celestia's heart had steadied and and had finally submitted to the siege. You found enough strength to lift your arm and clasp Celestia's hoof. She stayed silent, watching you as you slowly tightened your grip. You could feel her heart pulse through her hoof and into your hand. Then you realized, your hearts were synced completely. It seemed like you pushed yourself to the limit with just that motion. The pain had faded away long ago, now you were just numb. The only feeling you had was Celestia's warmth and that was fine.
You allowed it to lull you back to sleep. You still needed your rest and staying awake would only prolong your healing. She'd want you to rest, to save your strength as much as possible. You assumed it was night by now on the surface, Equestria was probably getting into bed right now. For the first time in a long while you thought of the others. Mostly of Princess Twilight and her strange friends. Twilight was probably very lonely without Spike, and Princess Luna probably paced around the castle in worry for her sister.
It was a cute thought. The surface was a completely different world outside of the Badlands now. It continued turning, unknowing of the bizarre happenings that you went through everyday, but soon you'd return with Celestia, and all of Equestria would know the things you both had seen and the knowledge you had gained. It was only a matter of time. And so you fell out of the waking world and into another. However, Celestia did not come with you. She continued to hold you for awhile longer. She watched as your blind eyes closed and rocked away.
That night you had a dream. You stood on a ship, rocking in the ocean. Looking out to sea, you smiled happily. Where you were heading was unknown, but you looked forward to your destination. The sun hugged the horizon and you looked to it. The dream concluded with you turning the ship to starboard, towards the sun that lay waiting on the horizon.
You wake again. It was a mystery how much time had past since you were last awake. For all you knew, it was an entire day. The pain from before was now fading, though slowly. Still, you felt considerably better than before. You could now bare to move your arms and even stand. You feel around, your hands gliding over the smooth stone beneath you. Celestia was no longer nearby. You start to call out, but find that it was still a bit difficult to speak and you choke on your words.
"Woah there. Easy now, we wouldn't want you to strain yourself."
Your head snaps to the origin of the voice. Howl sat a few feet away, watching over you while Spike showed Celestia inside for a while.
"Morning." He said.
But you remain silent, feigning muteness. Howl stood and stepped closer, his hooves echoing off the stone. You sat upright, crossing your legs and opening your eyelids out of habit. Howl stops when he sees your eyes fall upon him. He glared into them, but saw no reflection. Your eyes were a murky swirl of sickly black umbra, but it looked as though you could perceive him through the effects of the aegis.
"Can you see?" He asked.
You shake your head, your eyes never leaving him. You trained your gaze on the spot you assumed he was and continued to stare. It unnerved him and he tried to avoid it by stepping around you, but you followed the sound and shift your stare to wherever he moved.
"Can you speak then?"
The question takes you by surprise as he reminds you that language was something you were indeed capable of. You trace the length of your neck with your fingertips, messaging the throat. Opening your mouth, you begin to make an effort.
"It's easier now. But still a bit painful, you see?"
Your voice sounded like an elderly man who just got out of bed at six in the morning.
"That's good. Little by little, you'll get your strength back, but don't strain yourself."
"I'll try not to."
The two of you exchanged an awkward silence. The both of you were on bad terms with each other at the moment. Rather, he was on bad terms with you. You weren't sure how Howl felt about you. You were probably strange to him, alien in fact.
"Where are Spike and the princess?" You ask, breaking the delicate silence.
Howl looks up at you, realizing you had just asked a question.
"They went on ahead. Yesterday, Spike and I found some interesting things, something that seemed like a library. The books are almost impossible to read." He laughed to himself.
You imagined that your language was very difficult to read for them, but with your help, they'll be able to master it in no time. Just as you had begun to understand Equestrian text and speech, they would be able to comprehend human text. After all, the two languages were both very similar. You join in with his laughter after thinking about Celestia hunched over her desk and rubbing her temples, trying to comprehend the phrases and sentences within the million year old books. To think, you tried to kill him the day before. You laughed at the irony of that.
But soon the laughter between you two died all too quickly and you both returned to silence. You shifted in your seat uncomfortably, wishing you could leave and go find the others. Then Howl spoke, stopping any movements of your own.
"Is this all worth it for you?" Howl asked.
His tone was suddenly bitter and slightly hostile. You imagined the look on his face was morbid and filled with sorrow. You remained silent. For now, you would only listen to what he had to say to you. He deserved at least that.
"They died for you, human. Fifty -good- stallions died yesterday, and even before that. Picket, Beagle, Willy Peter, Stripes, Redleg, the list goes on! Soldiers that I knew personally are dead. Dying so that you could reach this damn city, and you walk with your head held high, so proud, so arrogant, looking as if nothing happened."
Howl’s voice raised higher and higher with each word. You did nothing to argue with him. As he spoke, you found yourself agreeing with him. Before now, you hadn't cared for their lives at all, they were just escorts to you, Spike, and the princess. And why should you have cared? You weren't responsible for any deaths other than the fifty that perished the day before. Those deaths, even now, meant very little to you, but it didn't make your disregard for their lives justified.
"You're right. I didn't care."
You could hear Howl stand, his hooves stomping the ground as he stood over your sitting person. You raised a hand, calming him as you stared at him blindly.
"But now... now I understand the sacrifices that have been made. I can't say I am proud to carry the lives of so many brave soldiers, but I'll say this: they were soldiers Howl. Nothing but statistics. Are their lives really that important to you right now? Look around for me Howl. See what I cannot. Look where you are!"
You stood, your knees wobbling and aching. Still you worked through the stress and outstretched your arms.
"You are among those who will discover an entire civilization! You will be making history! They will live on in your achievements. After all, they took orders from you, not from me. You were their leader. How do you think they'd feel if they heard you speaking this way? I've made up my mind to carry on in their memory. I owe it to them to see this through to the end. You insult their sacrifice by questioning its worthiness!"
For a long while, Howl was silent. He merely stared at you as you stood before him. Arms outstretched as wide as an eagle's wings. Then he finally spoke, a low growl of a voice seeping from his mouth.
"How dare you..? Will this discovery bring them back then? Because if you ask me, their deaths weren't worth this. This whole ordeal is nothing but a waste of lives."
"And that's your way of seeing things? How grim."
Howl was now seething with a smoldering rage. He stepped closer to you, inches away.
"They looked up to you, you know? They saw you as some wise man, leading them on an adventure across unexplored territory. You were their leader, as well as I was. Don't pretend you are not responsible for their deaths!"
You saw what Howl was doing. Though you were blind, you saw through his hostility as well as gazing through glass. He was trying to hurt you, make you feel guiltier than you already did. He wanted you to be crushed by the grief and blame yourself. He wanted to 'take you down a peg' as it were. Perhaps he wanted someone to share the blame with him, but you wouldn't have it. Two could play the game after all.
"Leader? Oh no, to tell you the truth, the military field is something I have very little interest in. I'm no leader, I know nothing on how to lead or issue commands. No, I'm just a simple man. Besides, you said so yourself: I can't protect everyone. Isn't that right, Howl? And judging by the way things turned out, neither could you."
That got him. The insult practically stabbed him in the heart. It hurt him to feel his own words turned on him and he began to shiver. Captain Howl was nothing but a hypocrite in your eyes now, and there was nothing worse in the world than hypocrisy. You smiled politely at him, wishing you could see his face. You would have continued, but you were knocked to the ground by a hard and heavy hoof smashing into your jaw.
The blow near instantly rendered you unconscious as you hit the ground. You laughed, sending Howl into a rage. It felt good to win. It felt fantastic to be able to show someone how wrong they were. As you lay on the ground, you began to think to yourself. Were you a terrible person? Who knew? Perhaps you were living up to the legacy humanity left behind. He was right of course, you were too proud and arrogant, but you couldn't change this about yourself.
"Hear me, human. I want nothing more to do with you. The sooner you regain your sight, the sooner we can move on. You are a danger to us all and quite frankly, I'd rather you had died yesterday."
Then you felt a wetness land on your face as Howl spat at you. Though you lay on the ground, now unable to move, it felt nice knowing Howl wished you were dead. It made it so you felt very little guilt over the fact you wanted him dead as well.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Captain. Just make sure you don't die first."
You shot him a blind glare with one eye. Again it unnerved him how you could tell exactly where he was standing. It made him want to go as far as to stomp out your eyes. But in that moment, your words sparked a fire within him. He vowed to himself that he would not die here. He was determined to live on, for the fifty's sake. This was his resolve and it burned within him as brightly as his growing hatred of you. You didn't notice as he trotted away in a fit of anger and spite. The blow to your head really did a number on you and you found it'd be easier to just return to sleep. With a little bit of luck, perhaps your sight would return the next time you opened your eyes.
For the third time you awake. You were sitting up against a wall and a cool rag soaked in water lay on your brow. You open your eyes, hoping that the blackness would be replaced with light, but the dark was still there. But it wasn’t just the suffocating darkness, there was something else, a being. You immediately get sick. It was the same being you saw in the labyrinth and the airship. Panic began to overtake you as you scrambled blindly. You couldn't tear your eyes away from it, and from what you could see, it had no intention of escaping your vision either. It wanted you to see it, to behold all of its being. The terrible figure then drew closer ever so slowly. It was in human form, its arm outstretched so that it may touch you. You began to scream, trying desperately to avoid its touch.
Your throat felt like it began to swell and the fever within you began to burn like Hell's fire. Your chest was pounding and there was a terrible ringing in your head. You close your eyes, hoping that the figure would disappear and leave you, but even as you tried to escape the darkness, it took shape in the darkness of your mind. It burned itself into your brain like a parasite. In your mind it drew closer, its 'hand' reaching out for you.
"What do you want from me!? What are you!?"
Your frantic screaming draws the attention of the others and they rush towards you. To them you looked mad, crawling around on the ground, trying your damnedest to escape an invisible enemy. You began to feel noxious, the acid in your stomach rising into your throat. No matter how hard you tried, you couldn't shut it out of your thoughts. It was a being that lived within you. You couldn't hear the others as they called to you. Either your screaming was too loud or their voices simply couldn’t reach your ears. Suddenly, you felt someone grab you and in a panic you shoved them away.
The ringing in your head intensified as the man in your head continued its advancement towards you. You had to run, despite your blindness you had to escape. Even if you had to throw yourself over the edge, you would do it. You rise to your feet, a struggle as your body resisted your will. Now you felt multiple beings grab you, beings you could not see or comprehend. The man in your mind was the center of your focus now and you had to avoid it at all costs. It was like Death's hand reaching out for you.
Shoving the other beings aside you struggle to move away from the man. You start into a light run, but soon find yourself tripping over yourself and falling to the hard ground. Then you felt something trying to restrain you. You crawled away, the man right on your tail, but you were weighed down by the physical strength of three bodies. It was coming. You could hear the footsteps echo in your skull. It was coming, it was drawing nearer and nearer. You had to leave. Run. Escape!
You needed to protect yourself from it, do whatever was in your ability to escape from the monster that pursued you, for it was worse than any danger you faced, worse than any angel that hunted you. This was a sickness that sought to absorb you and ultimately imprison you. The thought evoked a lot of power within you, and though you could not see it, the aegis reacted and encased your body in light. The light then expanded, throwing off the beings who were holding you down. Quickly you rise to your feet again and stumble forward. Now you could hear the others as they called out to you, but by some strange fluke, you couldn't connect the voices to their owners. They were telling you to stop, to turn around and to be calm, but that was impossible.
You had no idea where you were or what your surroundings looked like, but the fear of falling off the cliff and into the sea of fire below was almost completely absent. No fear was as great as this man. You turn, some form of instinct commanding you to turn and look upon the man once more. It was terrible, vomit inducing. It was a sick being that only -seemed- human. You knew now that it was following you. It had been following you this entire time. It wanted something from you, but it was impossible to know. It induced an irrational fear that eventually would have drove you to the same madness you were experiencing at the moment.
Each step it took towards you, you took a step back. You no longer heard the voices from the others, you could only hear your own screams and curses as you shouted at the threat they were unable to see. The distance between the two of you was considerable and you found the further away you were from it, the better you felt. You thought of turning and running, never looking back, but you were blind, you didn't know which way was right. But then to your ungodly surprise, the distance between you collapsed in on itself and the man stood towering over you. Your blind eyes shoot open as you cry out in terror, its hand approaching you slowly. You couldn't move now, your limbs were unresponsive.
You could no longer feel anything but the pounding of your own heart and the sickness spreading to every corner of your person. Watching in terror, you stare at the man's hand as a single, slender finger reaches out to you. Fear controlled you now. You had no hope to escape, but as you stood paralyzed, you found an urge, an incredible will to command your feet to move, and so you did, making a single step backwards. Just as you had stepped backwards, the man's finger touched you and your body felt like it was the host of all the magical energy in the world, and then suddenly, to your surprise, you could see.
The man disappeared as your sight returned to you. Around you was the rough walls of the cavern and the mammoth gate ahead of you, but these sights were fleeting as you began to fall backwards. The pit in your stomach began to rise as you fell backwards, that single step spelling your doom. You could no longer scream, too surprised and bewildered to even form a thought. You were done for. But as you prepared to fall into the fire below, you felt something grab you by the ankles. The interruption of your rapid descent shook you awake and you could feel your senses rushing back to you. Now all you saw was the swirling inferno below you as you hung upside down. Looking up, you could see Celestia hanging onto you for dear life.
"What the hell is wrong with you!?" She shouted.
To say you were dazed was an understatement, but as you stared at the fire below, you thanked your lucky stars.
"P-Pull me up!" You shout back.
Celestia then pulled and tugged and you could feel yourself being dragged up the face of the cliff. Then with a sudden jolt, you were lifted seemingly effortlessly into the air and caught by her front hooves, sending the both of you falling backwards. What you saw was almost equally as frightening as the whole ordeal, Celestia's angry, horrified, and stressed filled eyes. You had no choice but to stare at her as you laid on top of her. Then Celestia shoved you off of her, hard. Though the pain from your fatigue was gone mysteriously, it was replaced by this new pain as you hit the ground.
"You have a lot of explaining to do." She said as she laid sprawled out on her back and catching her breath.
"Aye.."
You sat up, rubbing your hip. Howl and Spike closed in on the both of you, their faces looking stressed. Spike rushed over to you, burying his face in your chest and clutching the collar of your shirt tightly. He was crying, his tears soaking into your shirt. Now that you think of it, that probably was enough to scare the demons out of someone so young. Someone as old as a thousand years however... You looked to Celestia who still stared at you. She was sitting upright and her forelegs were crossed, her expression unchanging.
"I'm waiting." She said impatiently
You look down to Spike and saw that he was also staring at you, his emerald eyes glistening with tears.
"Right.."
And so you began to tell them all exactly what just happened, at least, what you saw. You recounted the time you were in your cabin on the airship. There you only saw it for a split second, but you collapsed soon after. Celestia then recalled finding you on the floor the same night. You told them of the second encounter in the Virtue's labyrinth. That time you saw it completely, you could remember how sick it made you feel and how it stole all your senses from you.
The last time, just now, you told them what you saw. How you ran from it amidst the blindness and how every instinct told you to run. You told them of how it reached out to you and seemingly cured you of your fatigue. It was something you feared greatly, but at the same time, it helped you.
"I don't know what the being is or what it has to do with me. Actually, I think it has something to do with the Voice." You theorize.
"The Voice? Didn't it say the next time you would speak was when we've reached Agartha?" Celestia asked.
You nodded, rubbing your chin between your fingers.
"That is so, but I doubt it'd try to communicate with me this way."
"Then maybe it has nothing to do with the Voice after all?" Spike suggested.
It was a sound theory, but you couldn't be sure. You were sure of few things lately. But if it had no relation to the Voice, then what was it? And why did you keep seeing it?
"I don't think we'll get anywhere with this anytime soon. We don't have enough pieces to the puzzle yet." Celestia added.
She was probably right, you figured. You had very little to go on, but the Voice did say the next time you speak, it would give you all the answers.
"Right. The important thing now is that I am well enough to continue on. The answers are within Agartha's walls. If we keep searching, we will find them eventually." You say as you stand.
"Oh yeah, the princess and I found a lot of books yesterday. It's a long shot, but maybe we can find something in the books about it." Spike said, tugging at your shirt.
It was a long shot, but worth a try. Anything was worth a shot now. Now that you were in Agartha, you had no idea what to do next. For the first time, you found yourself without any direction or focus.
"Then that's where we'll start." You said with the clap of your hands.
"Right then, are we moving on?" Howl asked, not even trying to look in your direction. He faced straight ahead toward the massive gate.
"Yes. Gather your things everyone. We have a lot of work to do."
Spike then cheered up considerably at the thought of finally being able to go inside completely. He rushed away to collect his things in his rucksack and Howl followed him, leaving you to stand by Celestia who still sat on the ground. She stood, bringing herself to your height. You looked at her and she did the same. For a moment the both of you stood there, locked in each other's gazes. She no longer saw the murky blackness that swam in your eyes, but her reflection. The both of you thought back to the day before, when you laid with her and listened to her heartbeat.
She then smiled warmly, a sight you had missed recently. You had almost forgotten what such a simple expression could do. It warmed your heart considerably. Without any exchange of words, the both of you went to join the others as they prepared to move on. After everything that happened, this was the only pleasantry for you. Moments like these were scarce and lasted for only short amounts of time, but that was fine. The fact that they happened regardless meant that there was at least something to keep fighting for.
You look to the gigantic gate that towered above you all. It lead to the oldest city in the world. Millions of years of secrets awaited you inside, and you would share them all, with her.
Agartha. An archadia of the natural beauty of the Earth's subterranean world. The paragon of the human spirit. Agartha claimed host to the world's most delicate arts. Schools lead by the greatest minds, said to have unlocked nearly every secret of nature. Artists who seemed to walk among the heavens. Writers who could inject the every expanding beauty of the universe into the mind. This city once stood as the pride of an almighty civilization. Now it lay in ruins at the center of the earth, forgotten and crumbling.
As you made your way through its streets and explored its walls, you became nostalgic. However, you had nowhere to place the emotion; you were stuck yearning for something that was still far from your grasp. The streets were silent. Empty. The tall buildings cast shadows that seemed to devour everything. Every now and then you could see what you thought were ghosts, lurking around the shadows.
"And this word here. It means wizard, yes?"
Celestia leaned over, her voice echoing in the vast library. She was having a bit of trouble deciphering the strange markings and symbols that made up a lot of your native language. So far, she had managed to learn that the book was a story book. It sounded familiar to you, a story about a young man who pulls a sword from a rock.
"Yes, wizard. Very good. You're learning faster than I thought."
You scratch the top of her head and she smiles. She was having fun learning more about the strange language that was so similar to her own. She tried not to ask too many questions, as you were reading as well. It was a heavy book. A large, finely bound leather tome. The title: "Cults and Superstitions" drew your fancy when you saw it lying on the ground near the many shelves that trailed along the back of the dark and empty library.
Spike had gone off to search for other books that might help your research and Howl stood close by, scanning the shelves for anything he found interesting. You had hoped in coming here, that you would find something relevant to your situation. A hint, a key, any information about the angels or what caused them to appear. So far you have found nothing. Only accounts of different religions and fairy tales. Maybe you should have expected it. This seemed to be a very common library, after all.
"Anon, do you know this story?" Celestia asked.
She once again leaned over and slid the book in front of you. There was a picture of a man in blue robes with a pointy hat and another man wielding a great sword, but you couldn't recall what it was.
"No, sorry. But I'd love to hear it once you've finished."
"Then I'll read as fast as I can." She said enthusiastically.
You returned to reading. You cycled through the many pages, searching for any sort of clue. The quiet library was soon filled with the sound of turning pages and sighs of frustration. Eventually you resign and close the book, leaning back in your chair. Your arms fall to your sides as you stare up into the dark ceiling. Maybe you weren't searching in the right places. Maybe you weren't reading the right books.
"So did you find anything?" Spike asked.
He returned with five heavy looking books in his arms. He brought them to you, placing them on the large table you and Celestia sat at.
"No, I'm afraid not. I'm starting to feel like we're not even close." You answer with a sigh.
Spike looked discouraged at that as he took a seat next to you.
"Well, we just started. You can't give up so soon. Here, I'll help you out."
Spike then grabbed the book closest to him. It was a thin, staple magazine. The title gave it away to be some well known science tabloid so you immediately had doubts that it'd help. Opening the magazine, Spike began to read aloud the first article.
"The grand.....reveal? .....Of P-...Pr-....Prrrrr-"
Spike fumbled over the words, unsure but determined to read them. You thought you'd save him the stress and reached for the magazine. Celestia had put down her story book then, taking interest in the tabloid. Spike leaned in as you found where he left off and continued to read.
"The grand reveal of King Judea and Lord Khalifa's newest project, 'Heaven's Gate', has left us all astonished...."
You pause, trailing off into thought. Heaven's Gate. It was mentioned in Starswirls grimoire.
"Anon, do you think it's the same device Starswirl mentioned?" Celestia asked.
You remained silent. Grabbing the lantern you found just outside the library, you move it closer to the pages so you could read them better.
"Neither His Majesty or Lord Khalifa have given any explanation on what the new machine's purpose is. However, many have speculated that it is connected with the newly constructed Tower of Babel that now serves as the city's entrance."
You stand, almost bursting with excitement. You recognized three things. One being the King. His name sounded familiar, though you figured it was nothing. He was royalty after all and everyone knew the names of the royal family. The other being this Lord Khalifa. The name sounded familiar, but you wrote that off to him just being famous as well. What really took you by surprise was Heaven's Gate.
"I never thought it'd be mentioned in something like this."
"Is that our first lead then?" Celestia asked, sounding almost as excited as you were.
"It may be." You reply.
You picked up the magazine, trying to find out more. The article was very short, only speaking on the topic briefly before going on about another invention made by the same lord. Then you saw a picture, a building. Five men stood in the front, shaking hands with a very important looking individual. The article accompanying it suggested that the building was fairly new and built to house the king's scientific works.
"There. We search for this building."
You point to the building, a large stone construct. The archway in which all the individuals stood under read "Knowledge is Power". Above the arch was a large owl that was stretching its wings.
"You think it is there?"
Celestia asked, resting her head on your shoulder. Spike had to climb onto the table to see the picture. He stared at it, mostly looking at the man dressed in very fancy robes.
"Who knows. Our greatest chance of finding answers would be in that lab."
"You recognize anyone?" Spike asked.
You look over the picture once more. But sadly, none caught you attention save for the man in the center. He looked familiar, you figured he must have been the king that was mentioned before. It felt like you knew him in some way, although you supposed everyone had knew him.
"I can't say I do. But if I remember correctly, capitol buildings besides the palace tended to be in the second district, which is a few districts over. We'll start there."
You close the magazine, slipping it into one of your pockets. Everyone then made ready to leave. Howl had been distant lately, no doubt still sore about your confrontation, but you hardly took notice. But you did notice Celestia hand Spike the book she had been reading. She said she wanted to finish it and asked Spike to hold on to it for her. With everything gathered the four of you set out, once again stepping out into the shadowed city. You raise the lantern up high to light the way. There was a long walk ahead of you but you were now determined to find answers.
The four of you stood close in the dark. As you traversed the dark streets and alleys of Agartha, you started to remember small things about the city. Insignificant things, but all held the same importance to you. These small memories were your connection to the past. Currently you were passing under a bridge that ascended to your left. It loomed over you like a a giant's arm. It wasn't any sort of special bridge; it was crumbling and cracked, but you felt connected to it. You stopped, Celestia and the others taking notice and stopping with you. Your eyes trace along the length of the bridge and you raise the lantern higher to see further into the dark. Though the city was surrounded by the bright fires of inner earth, it was hard for the light to illuminate the inner city. You stare in silence as you mentally travel up the bridge. It lead into the palace, a great black monolith that stood high in the center of the city.
The center of Agartha was elevated by natural rock that was once an underground volcano. But the chaotic force of nature was now dormant. A palace built atop a volcano. Humans were very arrogant in their ways. You chuckle to yourself as you thought about the subject. Recalling what Celestia told you in your first week in Equestria, humans seemed larger than life. You hoped you could do them justice in the end. Celestia studied you as you stared off into the distance. To her you looked nostalgic, yet pained. It was a very difficult emotion for her to pinpoint.
"Would you like to see the palace someday?" You ask suddenly.
You weren't really addressing anyone around you, more so directing the question to yourself. Your answer was a mixed feeling of yes and no. You wanted to see it, for you felt you had ties to it. But, for the same reason you never wanted to lay eyes on it again.
"Of course. I want to see how it compares to Canterlot." Celestia said jokingly.
Having enough gazing, you turned from the palace and continued your way under the bridge. The walk was mostly accompanied with silence. There was very little to talk about and that made the air around you stagnate in melancholy. There was nothing wrong with that though. It gave you a chance to reflect. You had finally reached your destination. A place that before now, many doubted to have existed. You've been through so much in your time here. Besides the countless angels and hardships, you had to admit to yourself that it was fun. You enjoyed traveling with the princess and Spike. They were in a way, your family now. Equestria had taken you in as if you were one of its own. Here you saw things that seemed to be pulled from fantasy. Ships that sailed the skies. Vast technologies that made you giddy with excitement. An entire race of centaur folk. But most of all, the thing that had captivated you since your awakening was magic.
Magic was very strange to you, yet familiar. The aegis, which rested on your left hand once more, was also magical. The centaurs themselves used magic. But as far as you knew, the Badlands restricted any such magic known in Equestria. It opened up an entire novel of questions about the supernatural phenomena. You had spoken with Celestia regarding the topic just once. Not even she knew what sort of magic the centaurs used and how it bypassed the anti-magic field around the Badlands. Magic was completely gone from her. She once described it as a feeling of immense emptiness, as if she wasn't whole. She could no longer feel the warmth of the sun within her. It felt like she was cut off from the cosmos, and that was a terrible feeling for her. The same must have been for all the unicorns that had been among the company.
But there were so many devices that aided you with the power of magic. The weapons that you acquired from Tzipuur were magical, which meant that humans may have been capable of magic. Perhaps they drew their power from a different source. There were so many questions you had. Each day you found yourself wanting to know more and more. You wanted to know everything. Eventually you'd no longer be satisfied with this quest of self-discovery. You would want to keep learning. Keep seeking answers that have never been found. But that was greedy. There was no way for a single man to hold every ounce of knowledge in his palm. Not even Starswirl the Bearded was that wise. Although, Equestria was full of great minds. Princess Twilight Sparkle, for one. She was brilliant. Perhaps one day she would hold the answers. She indeed had the potential and it was easy to see why Celestia loved her so.
Your gaze shifts from the black streets ahead of you and to the mare traveling beside you. What did she know, if she didn't know everything already? At least a thousand years of knowledge swelled within her. She was a great library, waiting to be explored.
"It's very quiet here." said Celestia, breaking your thoughts.
"Aye. It's been that way for a very long time. We're probably the only life to set foot in here since the fall."
".....You think there could be ghosts here?" Spike asked.
He sounded slightly scared, but genuinely curious. You had never considered that before, and now that you did, it stirred something within you. Perhaps the spirits of the long dead did reside here. Maybe they watched you as you traveled through the once lively streets and roads. After a million years of absence, the last son of Agartha had returned home.
"Who knows. If there are spirits who walk beside us, let's hope they are friendly."
You place your palm over Spike's head, ruffling the spines that trailed down to his tail.
"Friendly or not, I'd rather not see them." Celestia said with a grimace.
"What? Are you afraid of ghosts?"
You tease her lightly over the childish fear. Though you suppose it was a very valid fear.
"No... I just would rather not see the dead after they've passed. It's sad, in a way. Don't you think? Not being able to die happily, clinging to life because you are unable to move on. It must be torture."
Celestia frowned. She sounded like she spoke from experience. Perhaps someone very close to her had died and had trouble moving on . Whoever it was, they were someone very close to her and it hurt to remember them like that.
"I see. Though I suppose if someone were there to help the one trapped in limbo, then the spirit would be grateful to that someone. Such a thing would bind the two together in a friendship that could never be severed. The dead may never live again, but they'll live as long as someone remembers them."
You thought aloud and the others listened. Even Howl, who had remained silent, listened completely. You caught Celestia staring at you as you walked on. You stared back at her, raising an eyebrow.
"What is it?" You ask.
"When did you become so wise?" She asked playfully, giving you a slight shove.
Actually, you weren't very wise, not yet at least. You were just saying what you thought and it just happened to sound good. But you took the bonus points anyway.
"Speaking with someone like you makes a man think a lot. I guess you're starting to rub off on me."
She laughed, thinking to herself how cute the idea was. Then she was silent again. A small gap of time passed before anything more was said.
"Actually, you're right." said Celestia.
You look over, curious to what she had to say. And you just liked being told you were right.
"About?" You ask.
"I once had a friend. You've all heard of him. The magnificent unicorn, Starswirl the Bearded."
Celestia then began to recount her memories of the ancient unicorn as if they were still new. She told you all about how he was a brilliant magician, but never in life knew the importance of friendship. He was never one for social gatherings. Sure he liked the novelty of friends and mingling, but never did he go out of his way to strengthen those bonds. He was was always alone, especially when he grew older. Once he had left Canterlot, to travel the world and complete his magnum opus, he had died alone in a tavern. There were hardly any ponies at his funeral. Save for the princess, a few nobles who were as close as he'd allow them to be, and admires. But no true 'friends'. A hermit to the end.
But one night, he appeared before Celestia. He was trapped between this world and the next. Only in death did he see the importance of friendship. He regretted his way of life, he even tried to beg Celestia to try and bring him back so that he could start over. But such a thing was impossible. His spirit began to grow more and more chaotic over time. He wanted his life back, but could in no way obtain it. It was then that Celestia offered him a deal. A deal to become her friend. Starswirl, who had never known genuine friend in his life, began to value it in death. Her friendship opened his eyes to one of the world's greatest experiences. Eventually, Celestia would wake, and find that he was no longer there. His spirit had moved on, and do to circumstances, they were now tied for eternity.
"That was two hundred years ago. Friendship does indeed transcend life; it is a staple of life and death. Your friends live on in you once they have passed, and vice versa. For this, you should not mourn the dead. So long as you remember them and keep them alive in your heart, they will live forever." Celestia said as she finished her story.
No one said anything. You were all pondering the idea she proposed. It was very similar to what you had concluded the previous day. In the end, all a person came to be was a memory. If you wanted immortality, all you needed were friends to carry on your memory. A very simple concept. You thought of Ro'Jetty, the kind centaur from Tzipuur. Though he was dead, you would keep him alive in your memory. Howl found that the more he thought about it, the more you and Celestia were right. The fifty would live on so long as Howl cherished them. They were immortal.
"This, is the only true form of immortality. Even beings such as myself and my sister. We, are not truly immortal. We are simply undying, thus we cannot live on in the hearts of others." She continued.
You look to Celestia, who you expected to be saddened. But she was not. She held a look of pride on her face. And for a moment you thought you understood why. She and her sister worked hard to create a world where many, if not all, beings could create strong friendships. Friendships that would never break. They guided the world into a utopia based on the grounds that immortality was in the heart of another.
"Of course, this is just an opinion of an old mare. Ponies are free to think what they like about the subject."
She dispelled the atmosphere quickly before it could evolve into a heavy depression. Celestia wanted this journey to be as happy as possible. There would be no frowns, no crying, and no somber thinking. At least, she hoped so. You marveled at the mare that walked beside you. She was a giant among you all. So much more than you all were. Yet, she made you all feel as if you were her closest friends. You only could hope that you could one day become as wise and thoughtful as she. It didn't matter if such a thing were impossible or not. You simply wanted to try, and trying was enough.
By now, a calm silence had descended over you all. A comfortable silence that neither stifled or suffocated you. It was content. Soon, you came to a gate, it lead into the third district. It was much smaller than the gates that lead into the city, but still very large to be impressive. A slab of stone that separated the two districts like a small mountain.
Two statues stood as forgotten protectors that now crumbled away. The massive doors were open, revealing the canal of magma that flowed through the city. Three large capital 'I's were etched into the great doors. The ancient number for three. As you approach the gate, your foot bumps into a large rod resting on the ground. Naturally curious, you hand the lantern to Spike and bend down to pick it up. It was covered in dust and slightly rusted. You held it in your hands and the others leaned in. It was.....a gun, of sorts. It was very large, too large for one to carry in their arms. There was an inscription on the barrel.
"Eden Laboratories..."
You say the name aloud, it sounding like a something of great relevance. Immediately you fish out the rolled up magazine in your pocket and thumb through to find the page with the picture. You stop, searching for any sort of name to put two and two together.
"Is it something you recognize?" Spike asked.
He was held the lantern over you so that you could read better. The light was very helpful and you were now able to read more clearly.
"It sounds familiar. It may be the place we're heading to."
You read the passages surrounding the picture. Eventually you came to a stop when you read that the picture was indeed, Eden. This meant that there was a direct connection with what went down between this lab and humanity's last days. Once again, you roll up the magazine and slip it into your pocket. Taking the lantern from Spike, you lead everyone on.
"Eden was built to house the king's scientific studies. Which means that King Judea constructed Heaven's Gate, and these weapons. I wager that the angels are tied to the gate, and when the king realized this, he constructed these weapons to fight."
Pieces were starting to fall into place. Eden was the source of the problem and most likely the epicenter of the fall.
"So you think this was brought on by humans?" Celestia asked. She was curious as to what the origins of the angels were, but never considered they were a direct link to human science.
"Who knows? It is possible that they found something completely by accident, or they completely knew what they were looking for, and their plan backfired."
A multitude of theories were bursting through your head but you had no time to stop and think on them. You wanted to get to Eden as soon as possible. As you all passed under the gate, you began to feel the familiar heat of the magma down below. A short bridge connected the fourth district to the third, which lead to the second, which lead to the first and so on and so forth all the way back to the fifth. Now that you think about it, the city was almost an exact pentagon in shape, divided into five sectors.
The sudden change in temperature and return of the thick smell of sulfur nearly stopped your advancement. You had to adjust once more to the strong smell and stifling heat, but soon you were able to bring yourself to move and continue. It honestly baffled you that there was an entire civilization that lived in this terrible pit next to Hell. Then again, it was probably human arrogance that made them strive to survive in such a harsh place. Just to be able to say "We can".
Below you the magma bubbled and undulated over itself like waves of rock and lead. It illuminated the canal between districts four and five so well that the lantern in your hand was hardly noticeable. The light bounced off each of you. Flickering off of you all like two-dimensional fireflies that flew across your skin. The light especially took joy in dancing in Celestia's mane. It gave her a more fiery color that suited her well. You hurried along, the heat being something you no longer wanted anything to deal with.
The bridge was very large. Built so that things like carriages and large crowds of people could travel between districts easily. It was difficult for you all to imagine Agartha being as lively as the towering buildings made it out to believe. You look around, noticing the many different aspects of the architecture. It was very similar to the Tower and Tzipuur. All three had the same engravings, same gates and statues. The arches and pillars that lined the outside of the gates were a perfect match to the Ishtar and other human masonry.
The canal of magma cut through the boarders of the districts perfectly, singeing the bottom stone black like obsidian. Once you made it through the large gate leading into the third district, the heat began to fade and the light shrank to the simple illumination of the lantern. The four of you exit into a very large square. An intricate fountain silently collecting dust in the center. Many different winding streets sprouted from the square, all going different directions and some climbing up hills of rock. There were many buildings, small residential housing that dotted the sides of roads and streets. Fallen lamp posts and split trees were scattered around the square like they had been strewn around by a great storm.
"Trees?" Spike said aloud.
He was examining a very large trunk that was close by. He questioned how any plant life, let alone trees could survive so far beneath the surface. But all you had were theories.
"It may be possible that trees were a source for oxygen. Though I do share your confusion. How could trees grow so far down?" You reply.
It was indeed a great mystery. But many human workings were strange and seemingly unscientific. Perhaps this too was a form of magic. There would be no use in wasting time trying to figure out the answers, so you moved on. Passing through the square, your party fall onto the main road that lead to district two. Or so you hoped.
The plan was to keep heading counter clockwise, so eventually you'd run into district two one way or another. The residential area of the city was once crowding with people during the 'day'. Now it was quiet, the only sounds being four sets of steps on the cracked roads. Around you, buildings had fallen into themselves. Some split entirely in half and others reduced to a pile of rubble. In some areas, the stone was singed black and ash could still be kicked up if you ran your foot across it. There were probably many fires during the fall. An entire city in a panic and engulfed in flame. It was a hellish thought.
"So what is it like?"
The question surprised you. Considering who it was coming from. You looked back to see Howl avoiding eye contact. For why, you did not know.
"What is what like?"
You ask, returning your attention ahead of you. Celestia and Spike noticed how distant the two of you had been lately and found in odd that Howl was the first to break the silence between you.
"Returning to all of this. I'm sure it must eating you up inside."
The captain wasn't wrong. But he wasn't spot on either. You had an infinite amount of mixed feelings about this place.
"Yes and no. What I feel is...indescribable. I'd like to say that I simply feel nothing, but that wouldn't entirely be the truth. I have very little memory of this place, so I think I am unable to completely feel for what is lost. It is too early to know what I feel, but in time, as I remember, i suppose I will feel sadness."
You frowned, frustrated that you couldn't quite get across what you wanted to say. Being unable to express yourself was a taxing thing. You wanted to be sad, to at least feel a shred a grief for the city, but you hardly felt anything other than nostalgia. That feeling of being here once upon a time.
"What about you, Captain? What do you feel?" You asked.
"Tired."
His simple answer evokes a light chuckle from you and you politely agree. You had been walking for about five hours, though you hardly noticed. Time was easy to lose track of in the dark. That and you had been thinking a lot since you had awoke.
"Yes. Maybe it would be best if we took a short break." Celestia said.
She expelled a lady-like yawn after that. She was already looking around for a suitable place to rest. Before you could say anything, she was already wondering off with Spike.
"You shouldn't wander off, you know," you called after her.
"We aren't wondering off. It's your fault for dragging your feet. Keep up."
She blew you off with the wave of her tail as the both of you grew further apart. You sigh, rubbing the ridge of your nose between your fingers. Celestia was so free willed sometimes, you feared that you wouldn't be able to keep up with her. You turn to Howl and noticed the bags under his eyes. His mane was disheveled and a beard was starting to grow in thick, which was a funny thought. A horse with a beard. But besides that, he really needed rest and you figured it couldn't hurt too much to take a quick break. But you were so anxious to get moving again. You wanted to get to Eden as soon as possible, and you didn't like the possibility of an angel attack while you weren't on guard.
You motion Howl to follow as you chase after Celestia who was a few yards away by now. She wasn't really leading you anywhere specific. She was actually just looking for a place that looked nice. Eventually she would settle on a quite large home that seemed to be mostly intact. It was a simple house. The square build with subtle details in the stone. Spike was the first to step inside, immediately tripping in the dark and falling on his face. You sigh again as you step inside, raising the lantern to light the way.
There was what looked to be furniture and other antiquities. Dust hugged the floor and walls like cloud of smoke had blew in through the doors. This room had remained untouched for a million years at least. It was a wonder nothing down here crumbled away long ago. Along the dust covered walls were dust covered torches. Spike now went around the house, lighting each torch so that they would burn with new life. His fire burned on in each torch, giving the house a green tint.
Howl nearly collapsed onto what seemed like a couch, sending dust flying into the air. He exhaled deeply, filling the entire room with a sleepiness. You sat in a stone chair by a wall that seemed to grow from the ground. In front of the immobile chair was a table that sprang from the wall. Dusty relics and artifacts rested on the table, no longer having a purpose. You take your eyes off the table and study Celestia. The princess was taking her time exploring. Observing every piece, every inch of the house. She came to a stop in front of a wooden construct. You watched as she leaned in curiously. She began to prod and examine the wooden frame until she found a console of buttons beneath a layer of dust.
Curious, she pressed one, leaning in to see if it changed anything noticeable. With the press of the button, a spring loaded stick shot out of the wooden frame, hitting Celestia in the head with a loud 'snap'! You laugh out loud, much to the embarrassment of the princess. She looked at you, rubbing her head and poking her tongue out at you. With her attention shifted on you, she didn't notice the other developments taking place in the box. Another protrusion stuck out of the box, like a flatbed.
You stand, hearing the clicking of tiny gears behind the walls and approach Celetia. She turns to see that a large, black disc rested on a device built into the flat bed. You cock your head to the side, not knowing what to make of it. The both of you look to each other and shrug. At this point you figured it wouldn't hurt to press one more button. With a click, you watch the stick that shot out of the box turn into a right angle, an axis placed in the center of its length. On the tip of the stick was a sharp needle of sorts and it lowered onto the black disc. You watch intently as the disc begins rotating. Slowly at first, but eventually picking up speed. You both lean in close, the rotation being slightly hypnotic.
[PLAY ]
Then without warning, sound begins to fill the room, catching the attention of Spike and the half asleep captain.
"Oh. It's a record player." Celestia said, backing off.
"A record player?" You ask, turning to her.
She smiled, happy that she could be the one to teach you something again.
"It plays music. You see the many lines circumferencing the disc? They are a series of grooves that when met with the needle, produce sound."
You leaned back in, studying the disc as it went round and round, the needle bobbing up and down as it traced over the grooves. It was a very exciting thing to witness. As for the music, it was strange to you. It seemed to be about a journey. One that meant a great deal to the one on the pilgrimage. It was something that spoke to you like the way one spoke to their diary as the song spoke of the pilgrim's journey through hardship.
Celestia seemed to be enjoying the song, however. She was lulling her head side to side with the melody. Spike and the captain listened to the song as well, reflecting in on themselves. You return to your seat by the wall, thought swallowing you whole. The answers, the conclusion of your journey lay waiting in Eden. You had stopped caring how the answers would affect you, you just wanted to know. The curiosity, the desire to know was becoming so much more unbearable with each passing day. Man's road was a road that you had paved with loss, fond memories, conflicts, and other such things. It was all leading to this.
"Listen, all of you."
You speak, gaining everyone's attention. They all looked to you, weariness in their eyes, but still eager to press on.
"No matter what may come tomorrow, we must get through it without faltering. We've lost so many friends already that I'd rather not lose any others. Over time we have become close to one another, each of us cogs in a great machine. You are my friends, and you mean the world to me. We are a team. Just thought I'd let you know that."
You look each of them in the eye. Spike was beaming with pride. He was ready to get on with the adventure and finish this. He clutched his fist, a fist you had nudged with your own many times. Howl merely huffed and turned over, facing away from you, but he couldn't hide the fact that you were right. You were a team now, and a team needed to set aside differences for the greater cause. Celestia was staring now, the biggest smile you've ever seen plastered on her face. Neither of you needed to say anything. She understood your feelings and accepted them.
Tomorrow you would reach Eden. You, Celestia, and Spike had stayed up a few more hours to listen to the many songs on the disc. Eventually, the three of you would tire and drift off to sleep. That night, all of you had pleasant dreams.
There was no morning light to wake you from the immersion of unguarded sleep; there hadn't been for quite some time. No, what awoke you was the slight pain of hunger and thirst. The kind which would make an infant sound its gripe. As you opened your eyes, you recounted the previous day, as you often did each day you revived yourself from slumber. You recounted everything from the happening at the gates, to the long walk through the hallowed and barren streets of Agartha. Finally your thoughts rested here in this small house. You remember sitting by the record player, listening to ancient songs before finding the bedroom in which you slept. Celestia rested with her head on your chest, your heart playing a gentle lullaby.
Spike, who had decided to stand guard, was slumped over against a wall. The captain still slept in what you assumed was the living room. You could hear his snores bounce off the smooth stone walls. A yawn escapes you. Your body shudders with the large breath and wakes Celestia from her own sleep. Her ears were the first to perk up, taking in the sounds of your loud yawn and nothing else for you were the only thing to make sound. You watched as her head lifted from your chest. A motion that was groggy and so lazy that you thought it'd take a few minutes to complete the action. Finally she looked at you, your eyes meeting hers in a wonderful exchange of morning greetings.
"Good morning."
She said with a smile. You couldn't help but smile yourself. Even if you fought the urge, you would lose.
"Good morning to you too. Did you sleep well?"
With a single motion your hand finds the back of her ear, scratching in a way that made her curl her head to the side and shut her eyes tightly in bliss.
"I slept wonderfully. Though the mattress is a little hard."
Of course it was. It was made of stone after all. Though bizarrely soft stone, but stone nonetheless. You sit up, out stretching your arms and yawning once more. Surprisingly, you had slept very well and were beginning to think you'd never know a more pleasant sleep. And though the room was still dark, the only light being the torches lit by Spike, you still had a sense of morning. Turning on your rear, you place your feet on the ground. Last night you had removed your boots, leaving you to feel the dusty floor beneath your toes. Celestia did the same, placing all four hooves on the floor before moving towards the dragon who slept with a slight snore.
"Spike, it's time to get up."
She said in a very soft voice.
Spike stirred in his sleep and then went still, ignoring her. You watched as she placed a hoof under his nostrils, cutting off the air during his inhale. You count the seconds it took for him to start squirming and panic before shooting his eyes open and gasping through his mouth. Seven seconds. Celestia and you both laugh, much to Spike's expense. He sighs, standing and giving you both an unamused look.
"Yeah yeah. Morning to you guys too."
He grumbled. He waddled over to his rucksack lazily, still coming out of the morning dizziness. He ruffled through the bag, unzipping the many zippers and unbuckling the various belts that held its innards. Finally he withdrew a Spike-Apple, the abnormal fruit held carefully in his claws. He looked to you.
"You two guys hungry? All we really have left are these and water. We'll have to make it last."
Your stomach growled. A low bellow that sifted through the air and into everyone's ears. Celestia giggled, turning around to take the fruit from Spike's hand with her mouth. He gave it to her, thinking nothing as she gingerly stepped closer to you and presented the apple to you within her muzzle. You look at her for a long while, perplexed by the strange notion that it was. She bade you take it, silently of course.
"Thank you. Though Spike is right, we'll have to make these last. I doubt we'll come by any food down here."
You take the fruit from her, subconsciously checking for saliva out of habit rather than necessity. Biting into the fruit, you enjoy the small breakfast. It'd be a while before you could come by some real food. The others take one as well, enjoying the sweet tastes that danced happily across their tongues. Looking into the other room you could see that Howl was beginning to stir awake. Soon he'd return from the land of dreams and be with you. And the sooner he awoke, ate, and readied himself, the sooner you four could be on your way. You would continue down Man's road until you reached Eden. And what lay waiting for you, was unknown.
After breakfast, you all gathered in the main room, preparing yourselves to continue the journey once again. Celestia had gone through the house one last time to look for something that may be useful. When she returned, she found nothing but trinkets that when given a proper dusting, gleamed as if they were good as new. She rested them on the table. A single golden hoop earring, encrusted with tiny azurite stones. A large gold pendant in the shape of a star that hung from a strong chain. Two rings, one crowned with the purist of green peridot and the other a black, mystic onyx. Lastly, a silver bangle, engraved with stars and moons and other such heavenly objects.
"What are these?"
You ask upon close inspection. Celestia only took the necklace in her mouth and quickly placed it over your head so that it fell to your shoulders. The sudden weight takes you by surprise. The pendent was indeed heavy and would take some time to get used to properly. Though it was very nice and no man anywhere could resist gold.
"Think of them as souvenirs. A sign of the journey we'll keep to ensure we never forget."
She said warmly. You could feel the sincerity of her words. They tugged at you and made themselves quite clear to you. You'd never want to forget this odyssey, you doubt mere trinkets would ensure such a thing, but it was a nice gesture.
"Can I have the rings?"
Spike asked. He was eyeing the peridot and onyx stones like a hawk and would be loathed to give them up, assuming they were already his.
"Well, considering Anon is the only other with fingers, they're of no use to the captain and myself."
Celestia said, brushing the rings across the table to him with a hoof. Spike then took them, eyeing the gems as if they were crystal balls. At some point you wondered if he'd eat them then and there. But after a slight pause, he slipped each ring onto a different finger. Celestia then looked to Howl expectantly. It'd be rude to refuse to take part in the memory, so without much effort, he lazily chose the bangle and slid it up his right foreleg. Though he wouldn't admit it out loud, he was rather pleased with it. The earring was all that was left. Celestia looked at you again, giving a soft laughter of embarrassment.
"Anon, would you mind helping me?"
It hadn't occurred to you how she'd put it on. Considering that she, like most unicorns in the Badlands, was without magic. And with only hooves, it'd be a quite difficult task to accomplish. Taking the simple hoop in one hand, you draw closer to her, fiddling with the clasp so that the needle came loose. Celestia lowered her head and tilted to the side, her ear flapping. Before, you hadn't noticed the three or four dots that lined the outside of her left ear. They were piercings, deep and seemingly painful to acquire.
With the care of a doctor and steadiness of a deer you pushed the needle through the piercing closest to the base of her ear. Closing the clasp, you back away. It suited her perfectly. It wasn't too big to be a hassle and not too small to go unnoticed. And something told you that the princess loved her jewelry.
"Well? How does it look?"
She asked. Though you had already came to a conclusion, it was difficult to outright say your approval.
"It's wonderful. An excellent fit. As for the others, I think they suit us all quite well. Wouldn't you agree Spike?"
"Yeah! The peridot one may be my favorite. And Captain Howl's bracelet is nice too."
"Yes, I especially like the many stars on it."
Now Howl looked down to his leg, just now noticing the intricate carvings that cut into the silver. It made him more pleased with it. Satisfied, Celestia gave the place another once-over. When she found nothing, she moved to leave. With her swords holstered and her rifle hanging from her back, she stepped out into the open streets of district three without you all. She wanted to waste no time. Tucking the pendant into your shirt, you ready to join her. You pass the small lantern you found in the library to Spike and take a torch from the walls. You figured having more than one light source would come in handy.
Spike slung his rucksack across his back, now lighter than it had been before the various happenings. You waited for him as Howl walked past you and out the door. The torches flickered and danced, the brilliant green fire shining brightly. It'd bother you if you left without dowsing them, though it would hardly matter. Even so, you rounded the house, plunging each torch into a vat of sand in the corner of the main room. With Spike now ready to depart, you joined him as you all left the house and continued onward to district two, and Eden.
The streets were as empty as you had left them. By now you had grown accustomed to the peaceful silence and darkness that seemed to wrap around the eyes. Countless rows and tiers of houses lined the streets like people observing a parade. These houses were all very vast in likeness, some being large and imposing with others being meek and modest. You found yourself wondering if social classes were a thing back in those times. Where a large manor would stand, there was a tiny hut right next door. Were the people separate? Or did they all live in the same community and abstain from the idea of social class? Whatever the case was, you'd love to find out.
The road on which the four of you traveled was hard and rocky. Split in most areas and uneven to the point where it became somewhat of a hike. This was no problem for Celestia and Howl, whose hooves and long legs allowed them to step over misplaced stones with ease. As for you and Spike, you were stuck with watching the ground so that neither of you would trip and fall. Often the road would climb hills, making the trek even more similar to a morning hike. The buildings along the sides of the road climbed with you as you steadily made your way uphill.
Soon after reaching the top of the hill and walking for just a few minutes, the road began to dip at first very lazily and steadily, then falling into a rather steep incline. The four of you came to a stop, just before treading down the swooping road. You looked out. From your vantage point, you could see the lake of fire that churned around the city, and far into the distance, the tiny buildings that dotted the walls of the great cavern. Looking down into the shadowed city, you could see the walls that separated districts three and two. Beyond those walls, you looked at the dark structures, foolishly looking for Eden, though it'd be impossible to find.
"It must have taken ages to build such a place."
You say aloud.
"Hey Princess, how long did it take to build Canterlot?"
Spike turned to Celestia, who now turned her nose upward in thought. The exact number of years must have escaped her for she scratched the underside of her chin to provoke the memory.
"Hmmm, I can't say I rightfully remember. But if given an estimate, I'd say the castle alone took around twelve years. However the city itself is still growing even today."
"Then this place must have taken hundreds of years. It's much larger than Canterlot."
Howl added.
"Granted, mostly everything here is made out of stone, so it'd be relatively easy to find building supplies. Though there are other such wonders here that baffle me. For instance.."
"The trees?"
Spike interjected.
You all continue on the downward path, talking as you walk.
"Precisely. Not only that, but the continuous air flow. Building great bridges over a lake of molten rock. The Ishtar and Babel are one thing, but Agartha is a marvel on its own."
"Yes yes, we all know how great it is. No need to rub it in our faces."
Celestia nudged you playfully in the side, causing you to lose your footing and stumble just a bit. It made Spike laugh and surprisingly brought a smile to Howl's face. You didn't mind her playful nature, but lately it had been proven that she played a little too rough. You'd shove her right back, but that'd only cause a battle of shoves and pushes of which you wanted no part of. You decided to appease her nature and be bullied some more.
"Mind you we are on a very steep incline. Would you like me to fall and break my neck?"
You straighten your collar and erect yourself, regaining your balance. Celestia then gazed at the long road down and considered. You looked worried then. Predicting Celestia's movements and decisions was becoming much more difficult with correct guesses being scarce. For all you knew, she was completely willing to see you go tumbling and that frightened you.
"Say...if you encased us in the aegis. Would it be possible for us to simply roll downhill?"
Celestia said curiously. The suggestion was outright mad. It was reckless and most of all life-threatening. Though....it would close the distance rather quickly.
"No. That's insane."
You pulled ahead of them, not wanting to be apart of the idea any longer. You didn't see her lean down next to Spike and whisper something in his ear. Whatever it was, it didn't bode well.
"Well, now that you mention it, my feet have been a little sore from all this walking."
You ignored Spike. It was quite possible that all the sulfur and carbon dioxide was getting to everyone's heads. For all you knew, you were the last sane one. Then without warning, Celestia collapsed on the stone floor with a loud thud. Her rear in the air and her wings spilled lazily to her sides. Now you turned back. Howl was shying away, distancing himself from the toppled princess. Spike was sitting next to her, rubbing the soles of his feet and when you locked eyes with Celestia, no power on earth or heaven could pull you away.
Through her mane you could see the giant orbs of azurite stare back at you, helpless and pleading. She pouted with the expertise of a spoiled girl who was denied something she wanted. You liked to think that you were a unmovable rock, stubborn and not one to be willed easily, but that was before you stared into the heart of the sun and became its prisoner. You looked to Spike and he looked at you. Then you turned to Howl who had nothing to say but was equally as worried. Finally you looked back to her and her expression hadn't changed. Reluctantly, you sighed and walked back to them with your head hung low in defeat.
"Fine. But if anything happens, I'm holding you responsible.."
She immediately perked up, her face suggesting that what just transpired, never happened on your plane of reality. You envied how easily it was done. You suddenly felt the weight of the aegis on your left hand, possibly due to its relevance to the current situation.
"You worry too much, Anon. Learn to take risks."
She said happily.
"You don't worry enough..."
You bade everyone stand close to one another and they did just that. At the current moment, you weren't sure if practicing magic after the incident a few days ago was such a bright idea, but it was as good a time as any. Focusing on the magic that coursed into the aegis, you begin to focus on what you sought to protect. In this case, you wanted to protect the four of you from possibly dying from this stunt. Sure enough the magic springs forth. The azure light pours out from your feet, slowly spreading until it circled the four of you. Then it began to grow upwards in a spherical shape, encasing you all in a translucent bubble of magic. You then put out the torch and lantern.
"Princess, are you sure about this?"
Howl said, trying not to accidentally tip the sphere.
"Positive. My sister and I would roll off the side of Canterlot Mountain in great balls of magic. It's relatively safe."
"Relatively?"
You ask. But there was no answer. Instead Celestia began to teeter on one hoof, shifting her weight this way and that, causing the sphere to wobble.
"Yes. Providing the caster knows what he's doing. How about it, Anon? Having second thoughts?"
You concentrated, grounding the shield to the stone beneath you to stop the wobbling.
"Everything with you requires a second thought. Do you really think at all?"
"We could have been at the bottom by now."
Spike said impatiently.
"Well you heard him. Let us be on our way!"
Celestia leaned in close, her muzzle just inches away from your face.
"If you need someone to hold your hand, I'm right here."
You gave her the blandest look anyone had ever dared give her. She had a laugh at that. She truly did love laughing at your expense.
"Honestly, how do you stay so damn positive all the time...?"
You turn away, staring down the road as it dipped into the darkness at the bottom.
"Everyone brace yourselves.."
You warn everyone before you detach the sphere from the ground, slowly leaning forward to start the descent. Slowly, the sphere starts to turn and you quickly lose your balance, along with everyone else. You fall forward, hitting your cheek against the surprisingly soft wall of magic. Celestia and Spike began to shout like children on a joy ride and Howl merely closed in on himself, clutching his stomach as he coped with the pit in his stomach rising.
The four of you rotated like the contents of a marble, glued to the walls as it plummeted downhill. Pretty soon the four of you became a mess of limbs, wings, and hooves. Your colors blended into one another, becoming a indecipherable shade of white, purple, and gray. There was nothing pleasant about the entire situation. You felt like your stomach was going to leap out from your throat, and the blood was making its way to your brain in double time. That and Celestia managed to kick you in the back a couple of times.
The outside world became a spiral that could not be observed. It was more like staring into a swirling pool of dark shades and trying to figure out what was what. All you knew was that the four of you were rolling down hill. It being the 'faster' route of action. You wonder what possessed you to go along with the absurd ideals of Princess Celestia. As you spun, you began to feel the road level itself, but you showed no sign of slowing down. This was bad. You hadn't thought of how you'd stop yourself. Supposedly, you could just deactivate the shield, but who knows where you'd all fly off to. Maybe you could ground the shield like before, but who knew of the whiplash you could suffer. Maybe you could-
Before the thought could successfully register, you felt the sphere go 'bump' and spring into the air. You were now vertical. Slowly ascending, causing you to lose concentration. However it wasn't long before you began to fall back down, the impact shattering the shield and sending you all tumbling out like a spilled barrel of monkeys. You tossed and tumbled until you came to a stop on the old stone road on your back. Your back screaming at you and your head hosting a great song of bells and whistles. This entire ordeal did you no favors.
Amidst the splitting headache and bodily pain, you were however relatively okay. Spike and Celestia were laughing like school children and struggled to stand from their dizziness. Howl was quiet, clutching his tail and staring up into the ceiling of the cavern. It was amazing how not a single sound escaped his mouth. His heart must have been the equivalent to a locomotive chugging uphill. Struggling, you prop yourself up on your elbows, trying to drive out the dizziness and steady your vision.
Celestia seemed to be okay. She attempted to walk over to you, though wobbly and stumbling like a dunk. Your current vision made her seem like a blurry specter that danced with the elegance of a donkey. She had to work to break her fit of laughter and adrenaline before speaking.
"You see...A-A-An-.............learn to take risks."
She finally said before sputtering back into laughter.
"I prefer...to take risks that won't potentially kill me, thank you."
You move to stand, surprisingly easy for you considering how far off your bearings were. But not two seconds of standing on your own feet, you trip on your first step and collide with Celestia. She didn't fall, instead she was a rock of soft fur and feathers. You hooked your arm around her neck and used her for balance. She got you into this so she might as well be your crutch.
"Spike! Captain! Are you both alright?"
You call for a headcount to see who was still with you. Spike and the Captain both were counted present with a laugh and a groan. You hold the aegis up and use it for light as you try to find both Spike and Howl. Spike propped up by the large rucksack, leaving him facing up in the air rather than on the ground. It was still relatively dark without the torches, though you were close to the gates which housed magma canals. Both of them began to try and stand, staggering and nearly toppling over like toddlers learning how to walk. Soon enough, the dizziness wears off and you're able to rightly stand on your own.
"I suggest we never do that again. I felt like my heart was going to explode."
Howl said as he inched over to you. Spike however disagreed, stating that it was the most fun he had in a while. Celestia agreed. It seemed opinions were split evenly among the four of you. You crouch down and retrieve the lantern that surprisingly didn't break on impact. Same for your weapons and other gear. You really pulled through with the shield. Handing the torch to Spike, you light the lantern using the tinderbox compartment in the base. Before long, light returns to your party. Holding the lantern up high, you begin to look around. Around you was what seemed to be another park, but this one was littered with toppled statues.
Few statues remained intact. Those statues were of very important looking individuals. Strong and imposing, possibly great kings of old, and they seemed to watch you. Besides the statues, there were many trees and dry fountains. Broken carriages and toppled street lamps dotted the edges of the roads. Finally, you turn to the large gate leading into district two. It was relatively the same as the previous, but this time with a large 'II' to indicate the number two. The gate was open completely, allowing you to see across the bridge.
"We're almost there. Let's be on our way."
You motion for all of them to follow as you lead the way. As you made your way through the garden of toppled stone, you began to wonder why your people were so keen on statues. Even you were a statue at some point, but at least you could see the humor in that. Still, it was relatively quiet. You've gone at least three days without an attack, which meant you were overdue. It had been much too quiet and that worried you. There were only four of you now. Your odds against staying the angels' attacks were very slim; you'd have to be extremely careful.
Your grip tightens around the lantern and your eyes began to peer into the countless shadows that surrounded you. Then paranoia started to set in and you found yourself hearing sounds that weren't actually there. The other three had been talking among themselves and hardly noticed you. It was probably a good thing now that you thought about it. It would just put everyone on edge and none of you needed that, even though everyone had a reason to be. You then passed under the archway of the gate, leading out onto the bridge that spanned at least fifty yards.
Once again the heat rushed up to you, blowing your hair upward and jostling your loose shirt around. You didn't think you'd ever quite get used to the heat. Eventually, the nervousness within you subsided. You were nearly there. Eden, your final destination, was just beyond the last gate. All that remained was for you to find out what happened, and if you were lucky, find a way to dispel the curse that was the angels.
"In a few more hours, this journey may be over."
You spoke aloud, stopping any previous conversation between the three.
"Yeah, hard to believe with everything we've been through."
Spike added.
"Indeed, it's only been about nine days, yet so much has happened."
Celestia said.
And she was right. You'd hardly been awake and yet you've seen so many things both amazing and dreadful. It made you wonder what her first trip to the Badlands was like. Though she had warned you about the many dangers of the desert, you hardly encountered any of them save for the angels. Which meant that the last time Celestia was there, it had been a completely different world. Though you suppose you were glad you only had to deal with one party hunting you, and thankfully one at a time.
"Have you decided what to do after this, Anon?"
Spike asked. You had given it some thought, but still had yet to come to a decision.
"No, not at the moment. As I told the princess, it depends on what I find. That will ultimately determine what I do next. What about you, Captain? What are your plans?"
You turn to the gray stallion who brooded quietly behind you. He looked at you in surprise, confused by the question entirely.
"What else would I do? Continue to serve in the military. You want me to write a book or something?"
He said jokingly.
"Actually, a book sounds perfect. Spike already plans to write down everything in his journal and publish it. Perhaps you two could work together."
You offered.
"I don't know, Anon. Spike and the captain may have very different views on the various events."
Said Celestia.
"Maybe so. Still, I would like us all to remain friends after this. And who knows Captain, maybe we could-"
You stop yourself from speaking as you freeze in place. You were being careless and you were about to pay for it. Your foot had tugged at a very thin wire beneath you, triggering an explosion. You had tried to shield you all, but the reaction was too fast and you were all launched forward by the explosion behind you. The stone and rock was lifted from the bridge and flew everywhere, stray stone barreling towards you at insane speeds. You couldn't observe anything in the confusion, other than the sharp scream of pain coming from Celestia.
Immediately you try and get your bearings, blood dripping from your mouth. When you came to, you saw that Celestia had shielded you with her left wing, but the stone had shot toward her like bullets and she was wounded. Rushing to your feet, you unsling your rifle from your back and ready yourself for a fight. Your eyes darted everywhere, piercing every shadow, every crevice for your attacker. Then you saw them, sickly black creatures with silver eyes. They stood on the opposite side of the gap in the bridge, allowing you to behold them completely. And you knew what they were.
First Sphere:
They stood over eight feet tall with four crooked wings sprouting from their arched backs. Four heads sprang from the same neck, eight eyes staring at you. They each housed the head of a man, ox, lion, and eagle all with open, screaming mouths with jagged crystalline teeth. Each had the body of a lion and the hooves of bison. You were no longer afraid. More so angry, teetering on the edge of sanity more like. The past few days had been so peaceful, only to end with this.
"Howl! Spike! I need you with me!"
Shaking off the shock, Howl managed to slowly stand, readying his gun and standing to your left side. Spike however was having trouble coming to. He must have gotten the worst of the shock. Celestia was now making her way over to him, despite her broken wing.
"Celestia, are you alright?"
You call back to her.
"It's fine, nothing I can't handle. I'll look after Spike, you two concentrate on staying alive!"
You and Howl then readied yourselves for the onslaught. It was hard to figure how many there were. There could have been more hiding in the shadows, waiting for you both to slip up. After an intense moment of stillness lasting roughly five more seconds, the Cherubim sprang into the air, leaping over the gap in the bridge.
You and Howl instantly open fire, your rounds blowing holes in the black figures. Some managed to slip by the barrage of bullets, sifting their way past the disintegrating bodies of their comrades and charge you. Both of you continued to fire until they came too close, turning the battle into an all out brawl. It was a terrible idea to try and take the beasts head on; you needed to keep your distance and eliminate them one at a time. You duck under a Cherub's wide swing, his claws aiming to dig into the side of your skull. The butt of your rifle slams into its abdomen and sends it reeling on its heels. Howl then took care of it by landing a shot to its head.
Celestia was guarding over Spike. Despite her broken wing, she still readied her gun in case any angels made it past you both. Slowly, Spike was coming to. The battle stirring him from the sleep. There was blood dripping from his head and pooling on the ground beside him. Celestia provided you both with support as she waited for Spike to fully recover from the shock. The battle was becoming a melee fight between you and the angels. A multitude of times you came close to having your eyes gouged out or having a fist punch a hole through your torso.
They had you on the defensive and were slowly pushing you back towards a wounded Celestia and immobile Spike. One of them managed to overpower you and pull you up by your arms, forcing you to drop your gun. You stared into its shrieking mouth and beheld the many rows of teeth in its human jaws. But before you could be counted out, Howl saved you again with another shot. The angel dropped you to your feet and you immediately retrieved your rifle. Howl was currently being overrun by the beasts and you rushed over to him.
With a mighty swing you brought the gun down on a Cherub's head, crushing its skull. You repeated this, sending a shock wave of pain into the other Cherubim. One suddenly leaped over your head, bound for Celestia who was distracted by the others. You chase after it, leaving Howl to deal with the others temporarily. One-handing your rifle, you try and take the shot while chasing after it. Your vision was still slightly obscured from the explosion and you found yourself missing every shot. The angel was already well ahead of you and there would be no way to reach her in time.
"Celestia!"
You call to her, but she was too late. Just when you thought she'd be tackled off the side of the bridge, a single shot rang out from behind her. It was Spike who stood on his own two feet, clutching the side of his head and pointing his pistol at the angel.
"Anon! Howl is being overrun!"
Celestia shouted. You looked behind you to see Howl no longer making any attempt to attack. He was nearly on his knees, using his gun as a way to keep the Cherub leering over him from biting his face off. If only you had some way to push them back, otherwise this whole ordeal would be impossible. Then you remembered. You still had the power of the aegis. Not only was it a shield, but a mobile barrier. You could push them back and regain your bearings.
"Celestia, get to the other side and wait for us. Spike, if you can stand then you're with me."
Spike nodded, probably unable to say anything. He waddled over to you. You locked eyes with Celestia momentarily. You knew she'd try to protest, but you wouldn't have it. Her wing was broken and she was probably in a lot of pain. It'd make you feel better to know she was away from the fighting. In those brief seconds you stared at her, you managed to get your point across with a single gaze. She understood, though reluctant.
"Be safe!"
She shouted as she began to trot away to the gate, dragging her broken wing on the across the bridge. Nodding to Spike, you go and rejoin Howl, who was now back on his feet and fairing better than before.
"Is the princess safe!?"
Howl called out. You replied with a yes as you charged in. Now that the three of you were together, it was much easier to hold your own.
"We need to distance ourselves. I will create a shield to separate them from us!"
Howl and Spike nodded and began to back away while firing, trying to create as much distance as possible. Soon there was enough of a gap for you to divide both sides across the width of the bridge. The aegis began to glow and a magical blue line shot across the bridge before springing up in a thick wall of magic. Concentrating on the barrier, you will it to move and push it away from you three. The wall pushed the angels back, many of them pounding on it or trying to escape from the crowd to fly around.
Howl and Spike watched the sides for any stray Cherubs that tried to attack you. You stood ahead of them, your hand held in front of you. It didn't take much concentration to hold and move the shield, but one distraction could prove deadly, so you gave it your all. Once they were far enough away, you deactivated the spell. Spike and Howl then rushed to your side. Their roars could be heard for miles as the Cherubim sprang forth once more, but this time taking to the air. That was always a bad sign.
All three of you simultaneously shoot into the air. One by one they begin to drop like flies, but they did little to avoid your attacks. It wasn't until you saw a flash in their throats that you realized they were about bombard you with something. Almost as if on instinct, you shield the three of you with the aegis. Staring up at the angels, you see them unload heavy balls of fire on top of you. Each exploding on impact, forcing you on your knees and concentrating with all your might.
From far behind, Celestia watched as the three of you were pelted with explosives. It made her stricken with worry. Even though her broken wing was becoming more and more painful, it didn't stop her from laying on her belly and lining up her shot. She continued to give you support even from so far away. You watched as the golden rounds shot through the air and tore apart the angels that bombarded you. It did nothing but turn their attention towards her. They all proceeded to shoot their explosives at her. The balls of fire arching through the air and to the other side of the bridge. They all collided with the gate, causing it to collapse completely with Celestia on the other side. Now she was completely separated from the battle.
You took that chance to dispel the shield and return fire, catching them by surprise. There were fewer of them now, a result of the constant conflict. Each time they rained down fire from above, you shielded yourself, then attacked. The three of you moved in a phalanx, only attacking between bombardments. Soon you were able to get their forces down to around twenty or so, which made the battle immensely easier. But you didn't notice the Cherubim climbing up the sides of the bridge.
"They're on the sides!"
Spike called out and you turned to face them. They were already on you. Thinking fast, you slam the barrel of your rifle into the mouth of the closest angel, pulling the trigger. Howl and Spike follow up, eliminating the ground forces before the next barrage. You were growing tired, there was no telling how long you'd be able to keep this up. Then you heard the roar of the angels above you. Flames once again spewed from their mouths. You turn to face them, hatching a plan in those few seconds.
As the fiery grenades fell towards you, you grabbed them all with the aegis in a swiping motion. Enveloping them all in a single shield, you spin to gain momentum and send the explosives back into the air and dispelling the barrier. They grenades explode, taking the angels with them in a fiery heap. Around you they dropped out of the air, falling lifelessly before disintegrating. But one angel was still alive in its plummet. With its remaining strength, it shot one last fireball at your feet. It was too quick of an action to deflect. The explosion lifted you all into the air, sending you flying over the edge of the bridge.
You all ended up hanging on for dear life on the side of the stone bridge. Howl was clutched tightly to the edge, with you hanging from his back leg and Spike's hand clutched tightly in your own. Spike couldn't stop himself from screaming as he looked down into the lake of fire below. He could see the Cherubim fall and be enveloped by the undulating fire and closed his eyes.
"Don't let me fall!" He shouted.
Howl was having trouble holding on. If the situation remained as it was, his grip would give out and all three of you would fall. You looked up to see him staring down at you. There was an indescribable look in his eye. The look of someone who was all out of options. You would have questioned it if you hadn't felt Spike's tiny hand begin to slip from your own.
"Spike! Hold on! Can you climb up my arm!?"
You call down to him. But he shook his head, tears spilling from his eyes.
"No! I think......I think my arm's broken!"
You tried to pull him up with your arm, but you too were beginning to grow weaker. He was rather heavy.
"Howl! Do you think you could pull us up!?"
It was a foolish question, but you were desperate. You needed at least one chance of survival. Howl was strangely silent. He only continued to stare. His gaze shifting between you and the terrified dragon. Slowly, Spike's hand began to slide out from under yours. You watched as his emerald eyes shrank to the size of needles. You tried to tighten your grip, but it hardly helped. Gravity was pulling him away from you and there was nothing you could do. Spike was going to fall. He was terrified beyond all belief, but despite that, he managed to smile. He was scared sure, but that didn't change the fact that he had the time of his life with you. These past days had meant the world to him and in his last moments, he was content with trading his life for it. Spike now understood what it was like to stare death in the face, and though he was scared, he wouldn't regret it.
"Hey Anon......remember when I said I couldn't swim in lava...?"
You didn't say anything. You were hardly listening as you tried to think of a way out of this.
"Well, truth is I never tried. I guess now I'll find out."
Spike then gave a weak laugh. A laugh that was genuine and wholehearted. His smile became brighter and wider and when he looked down into the pool of magma, he no longer felt such an immense fear.
"Thanks for looking after me."
Your heart sank as you felt Spike's hand completely slip from yours. The distance between you grew all too quickly as you watched Spike plummet down into the fire. You call out to him, his name echoing off the walls of Agartha. Spike was practically your best friend and you had just lost him. You wonder if you could have saved him. Playing out the scenario over and over in your head. But there was no time to mourn. Just after Spike had fell, you felt something kick your other hand away. Looking up, you saw Howl was slowly sliding off the edge. And in that moment, he tried to kick you off of him. He was trying to throw you down so that he could lift himself up.
"What the hell are you doing!?"
You shouted. The rage was nearly blinding and you felt as though you'd pop a blood vessel. Howl stopped and looked at you, with the same look in his eyes.
"It's nothing personal. Merely survival. And don't tell me you wouldn't do the same. Now let go of me! There's no reason we both have to die!"
He kicked again, this time his back hoof striking you on the side of the head. That nearly kicked you loose. Not only did you just lose a very dear friend, but you were also being betrayed. You then tried to drag Howl off of the edge. If you were going to die, he was sure as hell coming with you! You pulled at him, digging your nails into his back side and tugging. Howl yelped and began to kick more frantically. With one last buck, he hit you in the nose and your grip slackened and you began to fall. Quickly, you catch yourself on a grove in the bridge by reflex. You watched as Howl climbed up over the edge thinking you had fallen.
The surge of emotion you felt right then was enough to nearly drive you mad. Instead you used it to push you upwards as you began to climb, using the many grooves and ledges of the bridge to assist you. Your arms were growing weak and you weren't sure if you could make it, but you still had to try. There was no way you were going to die without trying. You thought about letting go, ultimately giving in to the hardship. You were so done with it all. In that moment you found it hard to care about anything. Soon enough, your hand reaches the top of the bridge and you pull yourself up with all the strength you had.
[PLAY ]
You crawl over on your stomach, gasping for air. Turning your head, you could see Howl running for the gate. Slowly you stand. Walking over to the rifle you dropped before you were sent over the edge, you hardly cared for morality anymore. He tried to murder you, so it was only fair that you try and kill him wasn't it? Those kicks finally knocked some sense into you. You were naive. You were so stuck in your morals that you failed to see the big picture.
You wanted everything to be perfect, everything to be fine, so when things took a turn for the worst, you were unable to cope with it. But now you understood that it was impossible to try and preserve everything. Some had to die in order to further the gain of others. Right now, Howl's death wouldn't bring you closer to Eden, but you'd be able to sleep better at night knowing he was dead. Without any thought you brought your rifle up to aim. The various scopes aligned themselves as you took aim at the back of Howl's fleeing head. You felt no remorse about shooting him from behind. Cowardice no longer existed in your mind. And after all, he tried to kill you to save himself.
The scopes finished aligning and you could see the crosshairs encompass his head. Without any sort of hesitation you fire away. The shot rang out with a loud whistle as it coursed through the air. Howl hardly stopped as the shot flew through the air. The light burrowed through the back of his head, spinning and pushing through his skull and exiting between his eyes. It was a clean shot. His body fell limp onto the stone. No cry, groan, or scream. He simply fell forward without a word.
You lower the rifle, slinging it over your shoulder. Looking about you, you see the rucksack Spike had been carrying and approach it. Picking it up, it wasn't as heavy as you thought it'd be and you hook your arms through the straps and carry it towards the gate. As you walk, you grab the lantern. You'd still need a light source. Within a few moments, you approach Howl's body and you stop. With your boot, you roll him over.
His eyes were wide with lifeless shock and his mouth hung open. You could see through the hole in his head completely. His death was instantaneous at least. You bend down and take him by the hooves, dragging him to the edge of the bridge. With a kick you sent his body lazily careening off the bridge and into the magma below. After this whole ordeal, you considered bridges to be bad luck. You continued on, Celestia was probably worried sick about you.
When you came to the collapsed gate, you called out to her, and asking if she was alright. There was no answer. She probably couldn't hear you. You take a step back and observe the rubble. Only the front of the gate had been destroyed, the debris falling in a fan shape. You could easily climb it, but you'd have to be careful. Gingerly stepping over the loose stone, you begin to climb. Thankfully, not too many stones were loose, making it easier to lift yourself up and ascend safely. You soon reached the top and called down to Celestia.
"Celestia! Are you alright?"
Instantly you hear her voice from down below.
"Don't worry about me! Are you alright!?"
She asked. You had already started to climb down, being more careful than you were with the ascent.
"For the most part!"
Eventually, your feet touch ground and you rejoin her. You felt her pull you in a tight hug with her good wing and foreleg, nuzzling your cheek with her head. You return the hug by wrapping your arms around her neck. For a while you remain this way until she remembers the others. She quickly pulls away, slightly embarrassed. But when she looks behind you and sees nothing, she begins to worry.
"Where are Spike and the Captain?"
You ignored her and instead lit the lantern so that you two could have more light.
"How's your wing? Does it still hurt?"
You set the lantern down on the ground and move to her left side to study it. She was dragging it on the ground and at the base were spots of blood. Her feathers were matted and almost falling out. It didn't look good at all.
"We'll have to bandage it."
Moving to the rucksack, you felt her eyes upon you and you stop. But you didn't dare turn your head and look at her.
"....What happened Anon?"
Now you turned to her, tears cascading down your cheeks. Celestia then rushed to you, catching you as you fell to your knees and sitting with you. Her hug was even tighter than before, pulling you close into her, your tears staining her fur. She understood what happened. Rather, she understood that Spike and Howl were dead. An immense sadness welled up within her as well and she began to cry with you. You two were the only ones left. Everyone else was dead, leaving you both alone. Celestia knew this as well as you.
She silently cursed herself for agreeing to let Spike accompany you. He was her responsibility, and due to her own mistakes, he was dead. She thought of how she'd explain his death to Twilight. She'd probably hate her forever. And Celestia thought she'd deserve it. She had made so many mistakes, mainly by coming here in the first place. The both of you began to share thoughts. Thinking of what you both could have done in hindsight to save everyone. Maybe she should have just killed you on day one. That'd save the lives of the Master Talmon, Master Jehuty, Ro'Jetty, Picket, the Fifty, Spike, and Howl.
Wherever you went, you brought disaster, and as you sat there, nuzzled into Celestia's chest, you began to realize this. Neither of you said anything for a long while. There was no need to. What was there to possibly be said? Instead you both opted to think about each other, vowing from that point on, you would let no harm come to one another. Now she was all you had. And there would be no telling what you'd do should you lose her. You didn't care whether or not she felt the same. You just wanted to take comfort in her.
Eventually, the tears stopped and you both sat there for what felt like years. You were so close. Eden was just around the corner, but there was no reason to continue just yet. And so you both sat there, taking comfort in each other as you both mourned.
You walked. You could do nothing but walk. After that brief period of mourning, you both pressed on. Celestia's wing was then bandaged to the best of your abilities. You doubted she'd be flying any time soon. As for yourself, you had long since wiped the blood away from your mouth which left it with a metallic taste. As the both of you continued to make your way through the streets, not once did you open your mouth to speak. There was nothing to be said. The both of you were too busy thinking. Over and over, the last hour surged through your mind. You kept thinking "Could I have done something to prevent it?"
You began to pick apart everything that happened, to think on every possibility. If you had saw the trip wire, had you made the shield bigger. If you held on to Spike just a little tighter. All these things were variables that taunted you and made you feel like you were on the edge of madness. Celestia was no better. She no longer smiled. It wasn't so much a surprise, considering what had happened. She mostly kept her gleeful nature even in the most dire situations. Now she remained silent with her eyes slowly rocking back and forth, apathetically taking in the sights of the ancient city.
District Two was a lot smaller than the others. Rather, the very large buildings dotting the area took up a lot of space, which made it seem that way. All around you were giant stone walls and impressive gateways. Roads and streets split off from the main path to continue towards other buildings. Retrieving the magazine from your back pocket, you once again find the page with the picture of Eden. Though you couldn't very much see the building itself, you could very clearly see the gate. A large archway crowned with an owl. That was what the both of you kept an eye out for. Holding the lantern aloft, you scan the sides of the roads, the many towers and turrets still looming in shadow.
No owl found. Eden was becoming very difficult to find. With the stifling silence between you and the princess, the search was becoming uneventful and boring. You wanted a distraction; something to bar your mind from your thoughts. Unfortunately, there was nothing. Only silence that plunged your mind into a vast well of regrets and sorrow. You found yourself wanting to stop thinking all together. Thankfully, Celestia's presence alone was enough to stop you from delving into thought. The sound of her hooves walking on the stone roads was a metronome that kept you aloft. Her calm and weary breaths sounded in your ears, letting you know that she, at least, was still alive.
As the both of you continued to walk, you noticed how the large buildings were decreasing as you progressed. They were no longer clustered and cramped together, but now more spaced out. You came to a stop at a crossroad, unsure where to go next. Ahead of you were walls that spanned both left and right with the road continuing down the middle. For a moment, you considered taking a left, that was until Celestia casually stepped forward to continue across the street. She stepped off the curb, leaving you. She seemed distracted. Droning on forward as if she no longer were searching and merely wandering.
You follow her, picking up your pace to rejoin her side. As you looked around, you saw that the walls continued down the road along side you. Celestia hadn't seemed to notice for she merely continued without giving them any thought. You take note of the walls, realizing that the further down you went, the more the walls fell into disrepair. They became cracked and crumbled, some segments completely destroyed and creating large holes. Whatever compound was behind these walls must have seen great damage over the years. It was also quite big. What was behind these walls must have been very important. Then it occurred to you that you may have found the place.
You slightly walk faster, only drawing ahead of Celestia a tad bit. You wanted to feel excited, but found that you could not. You were having a hard time feeling anything. The walls were coming to a stop, connecting with an archway that spanned over the street. Lifting the lantern higher, you try and get a look of the crowning figure atop the arch. Celestia had noticed, now hurrying to match your stride. She looked up, trying her best to make out the large statue. As you got closer, the statue came into light. A large metal owl, its two mighty wings spread beautifully, the words "Knowledge is Power" written boldly below. This was Eden. The heavy wooden doors leading inside were toppled and split, welcoming you inside its walls. You stopped, staring at the gate and the owl that lured down at you with its lifeless brass eyes.
"Are you ready?"
Celestia asked, breaking her long silence. For a moment, you were hesitant. What laid ahead could very well endanger the both of you. With each milestone towards Eden, someone had died. Who was to say she, or you, wouldn't die if you stepped inside? Alas, you had already come too far. It wasn't all or nothing. Whatever came at you, you would protect her. You knew she'd do the same for you. You nodded at her, patting the base of her neck with your right hand as you moved on. Stepping over the fallen doors, you entered the compound that was riven with large cracks and fallen debris.
Eden was particularly ravaged by the Aliik'ir. Large buildings had been toppled, and the area was singed with black ash. Walls were destroyed and rubble dotted the surrounding complex. It was a complete ruin. You and Celestia continue on, moving about the ruin like mice through a maze. You didn't specifically know what you were looking for; only 'Heaven's Gate'. Whatever that was. It could be a literal gate. Or something completely different. A small device or ideology. Regardless, you pressed on. Eager to find answers, but still apprehensive.
"Are you afraid?"
She asked. You were tempted to ignore her. You didn't like having distractions from the goal. Being afraid would mean you would be hesitant. To be hesitant in a world like this would mean death. You had to be fearless. Unfeeling. You had to be strong, for your sake and hers. But that didn't stop the fear from slithering into you, suggesting dreadful thoughts and wonders into your mind.
"I am.....anxious."
Your reply came with a slight tremble of the voice. Celestia then moved closer to you, walking within inches from you as you explored Eden.
"As am I. There's no telling what we'll find here...."
She trailed off, the silence once again walking beside you two, instilling a moment's hush. Then she spoke again, softly. Ever so softly in the darkness that was a ruined Agartha.
"Regardless of what we find, no matter what we may face, I will be here with you. Even if your fear consumes you and drives you into a panic, I will be there to calm you."
As she said this, you felt the hairs on your arms and neck stand on end. And your heart began to race rapidly as a well of emotion swirled within you like a dragon's core.
"Celestia.... Thank you."
Looking to her, you could see the fierce determination on her face. She was committed to you, bound by threads of affection and reverence. You were hers, and she wouldn't let anything harm you.
"You have been a tremendous help to me, both physically and emotionally. I trust that you'll continue to be, long after this. Even if I falter, and fall into despair, you will be all I need. In the darkness, there will always be your light. A beacon that calls to me. All I need is for you to love me, and I will be well."
Then, with a single motion, you stopped and brought her into a tight hug, slinging your arms around her neck and bringing her close. It always felt nice to confide in her. She truly was amazing. To have her to yourself was a little less than a dream. You then parted, staring into her as she stared into you. A bridge between your hearts spanned the gaps. She was yours.
"Now and forever. Don't you ever forget that." She said
She meant it. By coming here and sticking with you, she had sacrificed her magic, her peace of mind, and even her wing. Smiling, she brushed you aside with her good wing.
"Towards the back is a large building. If we follow the main path, we'll find it." she said as she started off. You looked ahead of you, confused. A very large pillar had fallen on the road. It much too large to see over. How could she know where she was headed?
"How do you know?"
With her good wing, she pointed to a fallen sign a few feet from you. The archaic words read "Tree of Knowledge, straight ahead." You chuckle to yourself as you join her. The both of you would have to round the large pillar to continue on. Once you did, the complex became barren, the only landmark being the large building in the background.
It looked very large, even from far way. Two long wings spanned left and right, and in the center, a gigantic slab of smoothed stone stretched up into the submerged sky, coming to a sharp tip. Rows upon rows of of buttresses aligned the walls. Arches and lunettes lining the large doors and halls. It was an elegant cathedral, as marvelous as the palace. But that wasn't all that snagged your awe. In the midpoint, between you and the cathedral was a great big tree. The biggest tree you had ever seen. It was at least twenty bodies wide and as tall as the cathedral. Its canopy cast a thick shade. As you approached, you could see the many details that came with the massive tree.
Ledges were carved into its trunk. No, not ledges, but shelves. On them rested many artifacts. Mostly books. Valuable and holy books. Jewels and gems were embedded into the tree, each row spanning up the tree and into its thick branches. Leafs still fell from its branches, each leaf the size of a head. They twinkled like stars as they floated down gently on an absent breeze. A plaque was nailed to it. A plaque of platinum that read:
"Dedicated to His Majesty Judea and his life long friend, Solomon Khalifa; whose friendship, like a tree's branches, spiraled out into the sky that was the universe and bore the fruits of knowledge."
You read it aloud, Celestia peeking over your shoulder and attempting to read as well.
"This is quite the dedication. They must have been very good friends." you said.
"A marvelous gift. Not many could compare to something like this."
Celestia spoke as she rounded the tree. She took in the many relics that had fallen and still remained on the tree's face.
"I wouldn't say that. I think I'd rather something much more tangible than a tree."
You approach the tree, climbing atop its large roots. Reaching onto a shelf, you grab something that had fallen face down. You turned it towards you as you retrieved it, studying it. It was a portrait small enough to place on a desk. It seemed to be of a child King Judea on the left and another beside him. The right side was faded completely. You could only see the other child's legs. You presumed the other child to be this Solomon Khalifa. The young king smiled brightly. Happy, yet sickly. He was frail and looked rickety. You wondered if he looked similar in the picture in the magazine.
"Anon?" Celestia called back to you.
She was already halfway to the Cathedral.
"I'm right behind you!"
Placing the picture back on its stand, you stepped down from the tree. The picture of the young king sticking with you in the back of your mind. After catching up to Celestia, you both came to the doors of the cathedral. They hung open, just like the gates of Eden. Taking a deep breath, you nodded to Celestia. Both of you stepped forward, taking your first steps into the ghostly lab.
It was dark. A darkness blacker than black, emptier than a chasm. Your lantern could hardly climb the walls, the great hall being too expansive to allow such a thing. The floors were a dusty ivory, still smooth and untouched for eons. Your own breathing seemed to echo off the walls and your steps were as loud as firecrackers as you moved through the hall. You felt a presence other than you both in the darl as if it bustled with live people. Scientists going this way and that, carrying things to various labs. Working, working, working. Loud conversations carrying up the hall. She felt it too. It made her uneasy and she was closer than before. It was like stepping into a haunted house.
It was cool, a breeze grabbing at your ankles and sending slight shivers up your spine. In the cold, you could feel Celestia's body heat flow to you. Having her close really did wonders. For what felt like hours you both wander through the many halls of the cathedral, passing through countess doorways and even numerous arches. So far, all you managed to find were small labs littered with broken class and other destroyed instruments. Soon you had returned to the main hall. You had passed through it a number of times on your way through the left and right wings, each time discovering something new, like statues, shelves of books, and artifacts that had long since lost their purpose. If you had time, you would study them. They captured your curiosity, but that was out of the question. As time passed, you were even more eager to find Heaven's Gate.
Finally, after crossing the hall so many times and working your way through many corridors, you reached the back of the cathedral. There was a door. Not the first, but very unique. It was completely made of stone. Smooth granite that barred you entry. In its center was a circle. A dial with ancient runes carved into it. A very dim light shined and reminded you of the door to the Reading Room back in Tzipuur. It emitted a magic. It had maintained power for so long, but there was no guarantee it would open for you. Still, you opted to try. You didn't quite know what you were expecting as you lifted your right hand, placing your palm against the runic circle.
Celestia watched in curiosity as you waited. For a moment, there was nothing. And then, as if conducting lightning, something shot into you, sifting around before returning to the glyph on the door. And then, the light became bright, a pale green shining brighter than your lantern. The door began to give way. A loud rumble echoed throughout the hall as it began to lift upward. You expected darkness on the other side, but instead were hit by bright red fire. It clashed with your eyes, forcing you to look away for a moment. When you looked back, you could see that the entire back wall had given way, revealing the lake of fire surrounding the city. Eden was on the very edge of District Two.
You and Celestia then stepped inside, cautiously. It was hot again; almost stiflingly so as you entered the large room. It was filled to the brim with various devices. All looking very advanced, even by what you've seen so far. Some apparatuses you couldn't make heads or tails of. As you scanned the floor and walls of the chamber, your eyes rested on one thing. A door.
But not just any door. This door was large, as all things in the human world were, but also very unique. It was framed by gold and lined with platinum. Diamonds were etched into its face as well as delicate engravings. From the frame were tubes and wires, trailing off and connecting with various consoles and terminals. You felt it in your gut that this was what you had been looking for; your final destination within Eden. You had found Heaven's Gate. You nearly drop the lantern as you hurry over to it, your feet almost not being able to carry you fast enough. The gate stood like a silent beast. An ocean of potential radiated from it. You could feel it.
"We've found it!" you shout, balling your fists in excitement.
Celestia looked at the door with wide eyes, awed by its decor. It seemed otherworldly and holy. It was much different from anything she had ever seen.
"It's so......large." She said, approaching it carefully.
She searched around it, not looking for anything in particular, and also marvelling at it. You did the same, looking for anything; any sort of clue that would give any context as to what exactly it was. Looking closely, you had noticed that the door was slightly open. Cracked, the gap only being an inch in width. As you stared into it, you got a sick feeling that made you feel anxious. You ignored it, knowing better than to let it get to you.
"Where should we start?" You ask.
Celestia then looked around, the lake of fire providing enough light to see the room clearly now.
"Maybe there is something in those devices? They seem to be connected to the gate."
She pointed at the consoles. It was a start. You place the lantern down and rush over to the banks of buttons and levers. Flat panes of glass jutted out from the top of the banks, almost like windows. You try a few buttons and levers. At first yielding no results. You didn't let that stop you. You were too eager! As you kept trying to bring the machine to life, Celestia wandered around some more, taking in the sight of it all. No doubt this room held the height of human technology. It was almost sacred in a way. There were so many things she could learn. About humans, about the world. She would know far more than anyone, pony or man.
In the back, you had resorted to pounding on the console in frustration. You were so close. Literally standing in the epicenter of the fall, yet you could do nothing. It was infuriating. You slam your fist into the bank one last time, hitting a button. With that, the machines around you stuttered, and then roared to life, lighting up and humming quietly. Celestia then looked at you, curious as to what had happened. You simply shrug as you return to the bank. On the panes of glass, you noticed that words began to flash across it. It was a screen.
[Linking to Paradiso....]
The phrase flashed across the screen, blinking. You call Celestia over and she comes quickly, leaning over your shoulder to look at the screen. A few seconds past. Each second a machine roaring loudly and gears turning.
[Link established. Confirming location of Metatron.....]
Dials on the console began to spin. Bouncing between left and right and lights began to blink on and off.
[Heaven achieved. Awaiting G.E.L.N.D Testament....]
You read the statement, now lost. You didn't know at all what it meant. A compartment opened and a rod protruded out from it. A stubbed knob was attached to the end, facing straight up. It was just like the device that granted you access into Agartha from the Tower of Babel.
"The key. You still have it don't you?" Celestia asked.
You stumbled into your pocket, surprised that the peculiar stone would be of any use to you now. Withdrawing it from your pocket, you brought it up to your eye, the hole in the center aligning with the gate ahead of you.
"Alright. Let's see what befell mankind..."
You place the stone on the knob. You remember the combination. Left, left, right, right, in. You do just that, turning it two clicks to the left, two to the right, before finally pushing down on the lever. At first, all noise stopped. And then the floor began to rumble. You and Celestia stumble back and forth and you fall on the bank, looking up at the screen.
[G.E.L.N.D key accepted. Resuming rapture.]
You then looked to the gate that was now pulsating with power, leaking into your world from a plane beyond. The gate was opening. The pulses began to send shock waves of energy into the room. So powerful, they were almost visible. You and Celestia watched as the door slowly groaned to life.
[PLAY ]
A light spilled into the room, flooding it like a sea of gold. Around you the machines began to roar, almost chanting in a sense as the gate began to slowly open. The cathedral was beginning to give way. Parts of the ceiling now came crashing down from above, smashing anything under them. You and Celestia then moved to the back wall for safety.The floor stretched out from under the roof, putting you completely outside as you watched the chaos flow through the lab. Then, as if by powerful command, the gate flew open. Light burst into the room, flying in streams as it bounced off the walls.
The room filled with actual chanting of gospels. A choir. And then from Heaven's Gate came marching angels. Tall, beautiful angels with six massive wings, fire encasing them as if they were torches. Great beacons of God. But they were only a fanfare. A preamble for what was to come. They hadn't seemed to have noticed you as they formed a gauntlet. Then lastly, stepping from the gate was something, rather, someone you couldn't believe was there.
It was a man, more beautiful than these angels and much more elegant as he seemed to glide out from the light beyond the gate. He was naked, curled into the fetal position as he glided through the air to stop at the center. His hair was like the golden rays of the sun as it cascaded down his back. Two wings sprouted from behind him, wrapping him in a ball. And then his sphere became undone. Uncurling himself, he stepped onto the floor, his feet delicately placing themselves on the ground. His movements were slow. Carefree.
You and Celestia both stood speechless as you watched the scene unfold. You especially. You were wracked to the core with nerve. Emotions went berserk within you as you tried to process exactly what you were seeing. It was impossible. Slowly, the man in the center of the room began to raise his head. His hair covering his face as he stood up. You were shaking. In that moment. Every memory. Every thought you once had was rushing back into you. You were remembering. It was a flood of information that took you like a tidal wave. You watched as the man then turned to you. He knew you were there. He had known ever since the gate had opened. But only now did he actually turn to you. His eyes were golden. Two stars embedded in his pupils as his stare shot through you. You knew him. And he knew you. Celestia had been trying to calm you this entire time. She kept asking what was wrong and why you were so shaken. But you couldn't give her an answer. The moment you locked eyes with him, you snapped.
".........Judea!"
The name leaves your mouth like a great ghastly howl. The man then smiled, clashing with your immense frown. Instantly you stepped forward and drew your rifle. That man had to die.
"Anon! What are you doing!?"
Celestia shouted, she tried to calm you, but you shrugged her away. You wouldn't be swayed by anything now. Instantly, you took the shot. The light coursed through the air faster than a blink. It crashed into Judea's palm, blocking it. Judea said nothing as his angels then surrounded him. Chaos then followed. Without any effort, they ripped apart the console, compacting them and melding them into three great big rods. Before you knew it, these rods were flying at you at an insane speed. You could only stand there as they propelled towards you.
You didn't feel anything as one hit you directly in the side. Another grazing your head, drawing blood. The final one beaming directly for your heart. But as your luck would have it, it slammed against the thick golden medallion Celestia had given you with a tremendous clang. The impact still rocked you off your feet, making you spew blood from your mouth as you flew backwards off of the cliff and downward, spiraling towards death. You screamed in agony as you plummeted and began to faint. It occurred to you that you had just possibly unleashed Hell. The last thing you could see was a pillar of light rocketing through the cavern ceiling, Judea, his angels and the gate all ascending to the surface, leaving you to drown in fire.
Below earth, far deeper than any mine or well, were pained howls of a man who had finally awakened. All that he had remembered flooded back into him after a long absence. Nothing was as painful as the memories his identity carried. To your horror, this man was you. Your eyes were tightly shut, straining the muscles around your sockets. A long metal bar jutted out from your side, blood leaking out of the insertion point. But it was nothing compared to the pain you felt when you looked Judea in the eye. You yelped again, reflexively turning over, away from Celestia as she tried to remove the rod. Your strained voice could be heard cursing away in the low air of the cavern. It had been this way for a good fifteen minutes.
When your were sent careening off the cliff of the lab, Celestia immediately dove after you. Though her wing was bad, she managed to snag you out of the air and glide down to a patch of rock at the base of the city's edge. You both rested there and struggled to think of a game plan. But all you could think of was Judea. Your former king and dear friend. He didn't look a day older, much like yourself. Though there was something other worldly about him. His shimmering golden hair and perfect reflecting eyes. He was no longer the man you knew. You had no idea how you even recognized him. You finish recoiling from the pain in your abdomen and turn over on your back again, facing the cavern ceiling. The cavern now had a great big hole in it. About five meters wide. The light from the surface trickled inward, giving the cavern a new life. Though it had been dead for numerous millennia. For the first time, Agartha saw the light of the surface. You inhale, nodding to Celestia. She took the rod in her mouth and you prepared yourself. Biting a bundle of cloth she had torn from her shirt. She pulls. And as she does so you could feel the rust and metal rip out of you. Blood spurted outward, staining her white coat as you cried out in agony.
She then moves quickly. Rummaging through Spike's bag for bandages. You move your hand over your wound in an attempt to at least lessen the bleeding.
"Celestia. I'm sorry. For everything. I should have stayed in Canterlot. I should have never dragged you out here with me. I put your life in danger countless times! And now I may had doomed all of Equestria!"
Tears don't get a chance to form in your eyes before they are evaporated away. You were down by the magma lake. Merely a few meters off from the slushing pool of molten rock. Celestia seemed to not hear you. She only propped you up against the cliff wall and began to bandage you. It did little to deaden the pain. But at least it stopped the bleeding.
"You've come too far to regret, Anon. All we can do is try and make it out of here." she said with her voice low and tired.
She then sat next to you and wrapped her good wing around you, pulling you close. It was unclear what she was thinking. When you looked at her all you saw was a heavy veil. Her eyes glued to the hole in the subterranean sky. Then you felt her shudder and shake. She suddenly felt cold, despite the heat that engulfed you.
"Anon. Who was that?" she asked.
Her voice was suddenly aged and absent. So quiet that you would have mistaken it for small mouse, had you been anywhere else. You look down instead of up. Where would you even start? And what all should you even tell her? There was no way you could tell her all the things you did. But she had the right to know. The right to hear your story. You owed her that much. So you began to recite your Epic. You watched her. Stealing glances from time to time. Watching her face and body for hints to how she felt.
"Back, when I was.... Before, all this. Back when I was 'alive' and not some wandering ghost. ...Back when I was known as Solomon Khalifa. I took part in a project that created you and your sister. The Alicorn Project."
Celestia's eyes quickly found yours, her expression one of bewilderment and dreadful curiosity.
"It was to be a grand revolution in human science and magic. Unparalleled by any finding before it. I was apart of a team of elite minds. A team that participated in an experiment thirty years prior: The Unicorn Project."
"The Unicorn Project?" Celestia repeated.
"I was not the first man to meddle in God's domain. I was merely apart of the next generation, chosen to carry on the will of its predecessors. You see, unicorns were created as a species of servants for man. We used their power to raise and lower the sun. For the last million years, the sun has actually been in the final stage of its life cycle. It was expanding. We hoped to prolong its death, if not out right halt it. But, as useful as unicorns were. They were flawed. Imperfect. They were rendered sterile and stripped of their magic eventually. The magic used to move an entire celestial body, was extremely taxing. So the king, Judea's father, asked me to head a new, more ambitious project."
"And you accepted?" Celestia asked.
She had been listening quietly. Very careful to not interrupt you. You prop yourself up even further with a groan. The pain was starting to subside but still remained present. The motion quickly tired you, causing you to hunch over and catch your breath. Once stable, you sat back and caught your breath.
"At first I was apprehensive. But, as a scientist, I felt my curiosity pull at me. I simply couldn't resist. So I accepted. Originally, it felt amazing to be tasked with such a grand project. But.."
"But?"
Your eyelids felt heavy as you remembered. The single most thing that set the wheels in motion.
"There was a plague. A sickness that swept across the globe, killing millions. The king had contracted it. And soon after, Prince Judea. There have been very few pains in my life that stand up to that moment I learned of his condition. He was scared Celestia. So terrified of death and the disease that plagued the populace. Seeing him like that....it was utter misery. And so I vowed. I vowed that I would find a way to save him. Months later, I would come across a concept that would allow me to do just that. Immortality."
Celestia now snapped her attention towards you. You were somewhat surprised to see her so startled. And then you felt a twinge of pain in your heart. Celestia knew full well what immortality was. And it occurred to you that there may have been times when she cursed her longevity. For a moment, you wondered what she thought of you. But decided to kill the wonder. So you continued.
"There was a queen. Queen of the unicorns. I was good friends with her you could say... When I was appointed to lead the project, I set up a lab in the unicorn city of Empyrea-Larsa. Her name was Amalthea."
You fell silent. Regret tearing you apart. As you went deeper into your memories and relayed them back to Celestia, you felt the crushing weight of your guilt.
"Queen Amalthea- in a way- was your mother."
You heard Celestia's breath hitch in her throat but you dared not face her. Now that you had recovered your memory. It became very obvious just how similar she and her mother were. Gentle, mysterious, and inheriting humanity's dangerous curiosity.
"My mother...? My sister and I never held any idea of parents."
"You wouldn't have. The both of you were born of your affinities. Amalthea also died long before."
"What happened to her.....Anon? Tell me more."
You pause again for a long while. This was where the story got almost unbearably painful.
"Your mother assisted me in my lab. One day, I happened to form a theory. The idea of tying one's life force together with something else. This would insure that both beings would create an infinite loop of energy, assuring that neither would die out. Back then, Amalthea was hesitant. She felt it was a great risk and that it could bring terrible consequences. And she had been right."
You struggle to rise to your feet. The lower half of your body was practically screaming at you and Celestia rushed up to help you. You point to the cliff, noticing that the edges were jagged and protruded outward in certain areas. It would be difficult to climb, but you both needed to get back to the city if you had any hope of leaving. You wrap your arm around Celestia's neck and begin to limp forward with her. As you walk, you can feel the vibration in your feet travel up your legs and rattle your entire body. You've felt weakness before, but never like this. Celestia climbed up onto a high risen slab of stone and turned to you to help you up. As she did so, you continued your story.
"You and your sister. You are the daughters of two unicorns. Both apart of the original ten created thirty years prior to the Alicorn project. Your father, Bucephalus, would help me around the lab as well, often asking about your mother. As a young man, I was mostly blind to things like romance and the like. But even I could tell he somewhat fancied her. In fact, I was the one to push your mother to take interest in him."
"So you set my parents up? Well, I suppose I should thank you." Celestia said jokingly.
You both made slow progress up the cliff but were starting to get higher and higher.
"You know, I really wish I hadn't...."
You give a dry laugh that drags its way out of your throat.
"I returned to Agartha after the formulation of my theory to find Judea bedridden, sickly and near death. As I saw him in his bed, I began to feel an immense dread for the friend I was about to lose. And so I resolved to do any means necessary to find him immortality. That was when it became less about alicorns, and more about becoming God. I suppose ultimately, that was the moment I allowed everything that followed to happen. That was the moment I sealed humanity's fate."
"What do you mean?"
"I unleashed Judea's ambition. Over time, Judea became more and more obsessed with his longevity. It became the one thing he thought of most. Many prices were paid in our pursuit. Mainly his own father's life. To Judea, the king was merely a road block on his way to godhood. And so, we murdered him."
Celestia was still silent. You wondered what was going through her mind, and what she though of it all. But at the same time, you didn't want to know from fear of her hating you.
"A year later, after we had finally assembled a team to really work towards our goal, we chose our test subjects. Judea was already more than half magic and machine by that point. Measures taken to extend his life. He was already wearing thin. But even then, we couldn't just throw him into the experiments. We needed a test subject. And in some cruel twist of fate, Judea had insisted we take the offspring of Amalthea and Bucephalus.... Of course, this made little sense to me, for they were both sterile, thus unable to reproduced. But as fate would have it, Judea found a way to overcome this."
"What were his means? Magic?"
"I suspected. But I never got a definitive answer."
You and Celestia were nearly halfway up the cliff. But you were low on energy. Along the way, your knees gave out and you collapsed. Heaving and sweating. Your wound still wasn't healed and with each step you took you felt the hole shoot pain into your body. Celestia then rushed to you, sitting you up and placing you against her chest.
"Did you attempt to stop him?" Celestia asked.
The entire time she had been carefully listening to your story. Making a mental note of every detail. Filing each chapter away in the cabinet that was the story of a simple inventor.
"Of course, I had been hesitant. At the time, Judea had convinced me. 'It would only be proper for the first alicorn to be born of the first unicorns.' He liked to dramatize things like that."
"So you proceeded with the experiments then? Did you at all suspect what would happen?"
".....I was aware of the means we'd have to use in order to make the experiment successful. I wasn't allowed to tell your mother and father. It was to be kept a secret from them. As time went on, we watched your mother and father play out their romance while we worked behind the scenes. Setting up what would be the depressing end of their lives together.. And then....we heard news that Judea's experiment was successful. Amalthea was pregnant. Twins."
You couldn't help but smile. Amidst the grief, it was a happy time for you. Amalthea had been a very close friend in the short time you knew each other. For those couple of months, you were genuinely happy for her. Happy that Amalthea got to experience the joy of a family. Even if it was short lived.
"You say you both were close. You and my mother."
"Aye. You see, when I first met her, I was immediately captivated by her otherworldly nature. She seemed to exist in between the dimensions that were our own world and the world of higher beings. She instilled wonder, happiness, and fear within me all at the same time. And she was very curious. Much like myself. Your mother wanted to know everything about the world she had been born into. About humans and nature, the laws of magic and life. As a scientist, she reminded me so much of myself. I taught her many things. And she taught me just the same."
Celestia smiled. You had happened to be looking at the time and saw just what kind of smile it was. It was sad. But with a hint of happiness. Princess Celestia would be considered by most to be the master of hiding her emotions. But you were beginning to be able to see through her veil and read what she truly felt. Celestia was happy that her mother and father were able to live peacefully until the end. And she was happy that they got to know you. But she was also filled with regret. Regret that she and her sister would never get to meet them. As well as the pain that was knowing how their lives ended. And there she was, sitting with one of the men responsible for it all.
Celestia found herself wanting to hate you. But felt it wouldn't be right. She wanted to distance herself from you; but felt that if she did, she'd lose the only tie she had to her past. She stayed silent before completely turning to you. Her giant azure eyes gazing into yours. It pained you. Because for the first time since awaking from the stone, you knew why Celestia's image dominated your mind so much. Why in the beginning you were so fixated on her and captivated by her visage. She looked exactly like Amalthea.
"Go on. I want to hear more. You were saying she was pregnant."
You stir a bit uncomfortably and recount your thoughts.
"Amalthea was pregnant. And with the news reaching our ears, Judea moved to act immediately. I can remember him rushing to our labs, moving as fast as his lame body could carry him. Eden, we called it."
"The lab where Heaven's Door is located."
"Aye. Eden was built almost immediately after Judea ascended the throne. And it is where we conducted most of our research. We brought Amalthea there. To room 101. Amalthea was under the impression she and your father were to be the first unicorns to see Agartha. But in reality, we had prepared for something far more sinister."
You take a pause as you remember Amalthea's excited face when you lead her into Eden. She asked so many questions. Much like a child.
"I met with them. Alone. I can remember her commenting on my dishevelled hair. I then led them into Eden. There was no conversation. Only a constant silence that stalked us. Bucephalus was taken off somewhere, I can't remember exactly when. But I soon found myself moving through the labs alone with her. Then we met with Judea. He, along with the other members of our team welcomed her. As if everything were normal. Then I moved aside......and Amalthea was forcibly taken by the guard. Amalthea called to me. Asking what was happening. But I only stood there in silence. Judea then told her what exactly it was that we were doing."
"....And that was?"
Celestia's tone was different. Most wouldn't be able to catch it, but it was trembling. As well as your own. You began to shake as that scene a million years ago played out in your head. You remembered everything. Every detail. Right down to the pitch of Amalthea's cries.
"Anon. What happened?"
"I betrayed her. I allowed Amalthea to be strapped down to a table and practically ripped open.... Celestia, I had never known greater grief than that moment. Judea forced me to remove Amalthea's unborn daughters... You and and your sister. She stared into my eyes, and I was overcome with an immense fear. I wanted to die when I looked into her eyes."
Your eyes began to tear up and your shaking had spread all throughout your body. You wrapped your arms around yourself, digging your nails into your skin. You buckled over, suffering the tidal wave of remorse that threw you against the rocks of regret and sorrow.
"She......she cursed me! I-I stood there....and robbed her of both her children! My friend! Before I had known otherwise, your father had charged into the room, hearing Amalthea's screams. But he was shot down in an instant. I was shell-shocked. I couldn't believe what I had been made to do..... and yet. I allowed it to happen! Before, I had told myself I was willing to do anything! Anything for my friend Judea's immortality! But as I stood there, with you in my hands.......I.....I felt so guilty! Sick to my stomach! Disgusted with what I had been participating in! And yet, through all of that......I never spoke out in protest..."
Tears flowed freely from your eyes and you were hunched over on all fours. Celestia said nothing. Her mouth opened, but she couldn't find words. She trembled, hit with the full force of her own emotions and recoiled away from you. But then she came closer, hesitantly placing a hoof on your back.
"It wasn't your fault.....Like you said, it was Judea who forced you. You couldn't-"
"But I caused it Celestia! It was me! I could have stopped Judea! Now.....now I wish I had just let him die all those years ago. It all wasn't worth it.. I enabled his evil. I unleashed his malice upon the world. I allowed myself to be swallowed by his ambition and in doing so, I became a monster for him! I kept telling myself, it was a means to an end! But I never came to terms with it. And Amalthea never forgave me... She would live the rest of her life despising her creators. And most of all, harboring a deep seeded hatred for me."
Celestia was silent again. She couldn't think of anything to say. Not a sound escaped her. She didn't know what to think. She loved you, but in her eyes, you were somewhat of a monster. Still, she could do nothing but grab you and bring you close to her. Hoping that she could at least dry your tears. Moments later, you passed out from crying.
"We so desperately wanted to play God. To be gods ourselves. We were willing to throw away our humanity, all for the notion of immortality. Service to our king. Service to our friend. Celestia.....have you ever known such regret? Please tell me you have...I don't want to suffer this alone. The pain from my wound is miniscule compared to this mountain of guilt. Celestia. Tell me I am not alone!"
You wanted her to provide solace for you. Even if you didn't feel you deserved it. You at least wanted something to hold on to. Something from this new world to take you and free you of the guilt. But what you wanted was the same as the damned. But there is no place in heaven for a sinner. Celestia turned from you. She stood, pacing. Her heart was racing and she was becoming lightheaded from thinking so fast. Very complex emotions swelled within her. She had wanted to know everything about you. But now that she knew you were directly responsible for what had happened, she felt lost. It was true that she loved you. Through that long and troubling journey, she formed a bond with you. The times you shared and what you experienced with her was etched into her being. Despite that, she found that she wanted to hate you. That she -should- hate you. But alas, hate was an emotion Princess Celestia could never truly grasp.
She stopped her pacing. Her mane covered her eyes as she turned to you. But you could see tears fall from her cheek. She tried to think of her guilt. What made you and her alike. Celestia, being a thousand years old, of course harbored some guilt. It was natural for anyone who lived that long. But, her guilt was only a hill formed at the base of the mountain that was your own. Even still, she could relate to you. Celestia then came close, each step reverberated through the rock on which you sat and shot through your body. She then loomed over you, her eyes swirling stardust. Then she spoke in her signature soft tone.
"Anon..or Solomon. Your sins are very great indeed. Even mine pale in comparison. But, you are not alone. We've all had our struggles. Things that we're not quite yet comfortable living with. Even so, we press on despite our guilty pasts. But, you cannot look to me for judgement. I'm not your judge. You yourself, will have to weigh your sins over your virtues. Personally, I don't think I could condemn you. You mean so much to me. You are my friend. My love.. May the stars forgive me, but I have to admit I'm a bit biased."
Celestia gave a laugh. It sounded much like her usual, beautiful song. Akin to a bird's happy melody in the early summer mornings.
"Which is why I've resolved. I am still committed to learn everything I can about humanity, and you. Despite how dark the lore is. I've never been one to overlook someone just because of their crimes. It is simply not my way. I believe there is hope for everyone. Solomon. A few days ago, when we sat on a ledge in K'veer. You told me you had died millions of years ago. And maybe that is true. Solomon Khalifa died all that time ago. That man is dead, and yet here you are. A completely different entity from him. You just happen to share his memories. You were given a chance to start over- to redeem yourself! You have the opportunity to right your wrongs. And so I will help you. For I, Princess Celestia of Equestria, will not abandon you."
Celestia extended her hoof. The light from the cavern ceiling spilled out around her, enveloping her in the golden light of the high-noon sun. She looked peaceful. Committed and determined. You felt her heart call out to yours. It was as if the bridge between you was being crossed. In that moment, you no longer felt pain. The guilt and hole in your side didn't bother you. Instead that pain was replaced with determination. You took her hoof and stood. Every man has to carry the weight of their sins. But what they often forget is that there is always a path to redemption.
You found a new resolve, there beneath the earth with Celestia. You would cast away your old identity, and adopt a new persona. A man who awoke from stone a few weeks ago. A man who traveled to the Badlands with a princess. A man who braved dangers and fought tooth and nail in hopes of discovery. Solomon Khalifa was dead. But his echo- his phantom- lived on. You were his second coming. His will manifested to do the right thing and end his suffering. You were reborn.
"Celestia.... thank you." you say weakly.
Your tears had stopped falling, as well as hers. Instead they were replaced with bright, glimmering eyes that reflected one another.
"Don't let your past rule you. That is rule number one of life. Instead, learn from it. Reflect on your mistakes and instead of thinking what you could have done differently; think of what you can do in the future. We've come so far, Solomon. Many have died for us. For you and I's selfish desire to uncover the truth. We owe it to them, and to ourselves to press on. No matter how hard things become. We have to persevere. You said so yourself."
With her good wing, Celestia pulled you in close. You weren't trembling any more and your heart calmed. You promised to yourself that you would do all you could to right your wrongs. Do right by yourself, Celestia, and Amalthea. You would honor humanity's existence by dispelling the evil that was Judea. The two of you parted and exchanged smiles. You both acknowledged how hard it'd be from then on.
It would be hard emotionally, as well as physically. Especially for you. Judea was your best friend. A man you had admired back in your youth. It was likely that he would stand in your way from then on. You both were intertwined. Not to mention the angels he brought with him through Heaven's Door. They were....different. More powerful than any angel you had previously faced. And there was no doubt you had Hell waiting for you on the surface.
"Celestia. We should go."
"Right away, Solomon." she said confidently.
You wrapped your arm around her neck and held her close, fearing that if you let go you'd fall into the abyss.
"Call me Anon."
Celestia responded with a nod and you both resumed your climb.
An hour had past. You were nearly back onto the platform you fell from. Along the way you continued your story.
"Heaven's Door was constructed by myself and Master Ro'Dahni, a man who worked on the unicorn project. We designed it to link to Paradiso- Heaven. Hence the name. My ultimate plan, was to link Judea's soul to God. We constructed a bridge from our world to Paradiso. By that time, Judea was hardly mobile. His eyes were gone and he no longer breathed automatically. He was rotting. A walking corpse. Which pushed me to hasten my progress. Initially, once the bridge to Paradiso had been established, we couldn't simply just open the door. It was a process, with steps. The door was bound by a force on the other side. A multitude of magical seals and barriers. It took our best magic to peel away each seal that bound it. Each time, the door opening just a tad bit more. By the second seal however, we encountered problem."
"And what was that?"
"An Angel. Without our knowing, malevolent forces started leaking out of the gate. All over the world there were reports of black monsters attacking the people and causing chaos. But Judea refused to pay it any mind. He set it aside as a problem he'd deal with after he gained his immortality. And I did the same. I thought that I couldn't afford to be distracted. And so we pressed on. But with each seal broken, more and more angels spilled into our world. Within a month, these monsters ravaged the globe. Killing millions. While we were unknowingly bringing them into our world."
"How did you eventually discover you were the cause?"
"One day, I was alone in the lab. Judea had gone somewhere, I forget. But I was deciphering one of the seals when I heard something pound on the other side of the door. I was startled, for it was unknown exactly 'what' was behind it. And so I approached the door. I can still feel the sweat rolling down my brow as I placed a hand on it and listened. Then I heard it again. It was like a metallic clank. Followed by a laugh. I heard a voice. A voice that isn't typically heard with the ears. But a mind's voice. It sounded like me. Yet I could tell that it was very different and alien. It said "You all are really making a mess of things." I backed away, startled at the sudden happening. Then went closer and replied. I asked who the voice was, for the identity would be a very interesting finding."
You'd never forget that chilling experience. It was something that frightened you, yet filled you with wonder.
"The voice took a very long time to reply. But when he did, it was only laughter. Then he spoke again. Introducing himself as Sandalphon, a creature of disharmony. That would be my only clue to his identity. As I continued to question him I realized that he was linked to angels. In fact, he was one. And from what I gathered, he had been a very high ranking angel. "Second only to Mettatron." he said. Of course back then, I hadn't known what that meant. He then began to provide me with the answers I sought. Like a snake he slithered his way into my ear and into my mind. It was like I could feel him digging into the earth of my brain and planting seeds. I found myself instantly 'knowing' how the seals worked. Sandalphon was the very one who gave the name of the one who would host Judea's immortality. King of the angels: Mettatron. Essentially....God."
"Disharmony." Celestia repeated.
"You know it?"
Celestia shook her head. But she was still deep in thought.
"Not really. Though, the name is very similar to someone else I know. But continue. I want to hear more."
You nodded and picked back up on your story.
"Sandalphon would then guide me through the process of shattering the seals that barred us passage into Paradiso. He bade me to never tell anyone of his presence. Not even Judea. And so I kept his existence a secret. Judea and the others never to know. Time was almost running out by the time we came to the last seal. Judea was completely immobile. Falling in and out of comas. Sandalphon guided me so far that the project had eventually become his entirely."
"And you trusted him?"
Celestia was now walking closer to you. Ever since the mention of the angel behind the door, she had been on edge. You shake your head to her question. You didn't trust the angel completely, but you felt it was necessary for the project.
"No. But I was willing to risk that for the sake of Judea. But I never did once question why Sandalphon was helping me. I had no knowledge of his motives or ideas. I simply followed his directions. I suppose that was a colossal error in judgement on my part. But by that time I had already been clouded by my own desperation. I simply couldn't afford to trouble myself with something like that. But then he asked me if I'd like to know why angels were invading our world. I had been curious, but never gave it any thought. And so I asked him of their origin. Then I knew. Angels, like himself, were spilling into our world because we were weakening the barrier. He explained to me that Mettatron saw that as a threat. A display of mankind's arrogance. And so he was calling for a rapture. Each time we broke a seal, a new breed of angel would manifest in the world and prey on humans. The fact froze my blood white. Once again, I was bringing harm to others by my own selfish desires. Sandalphon laughed, feeling my grief. But he continued. He once again started planting ideas into my head. He calmed my fear, assuring that I was doing the right thing and to question it would be selfish. He told me he admired me for the sacrifices I was willing to make for my friend. That I was finding salvation in chaos."
Back then, you had already resolved to go as far as needed in order to create the first immortal man. Your fortitude couldn't afford to be shaken. Not when you had went so far.
"I let Sandalphon convince me that what I was doing, was truly the right thing to do. And on the last day of the project, the final seal was broken."
Celestia pulled you up over the final ledge and you collapsed outside of the lab. It had been a long climb and you needed rest. Celestia turned you on your back to look over your wound. The blood was dry. You could no longer feel the hole in your side, but you knew it was there. You knew by the numbness that had over taken your body. Despite that, you stood. Leaning on Celestia once again. You looked into the lab, observing. Heaven's Door was wide open, revealing a swirl of stars and blackness. Some of the consoles were ripped apart. And the floor was singed where the angels had stood. The both of you slowly started walking, making your way about the lab.
"Judea had been present on that day. He was practically dead. His skin had mostly decayed and his face was shrouded by a veil. He sat in a wheelchair close by me as I made the final preparations. He was seemingly the avatar of death himself. None of us could bare to look at him for more than a second. Especially me. He spoke using telepathy. No longer being capable of speech. He told me that I had pleased him. That I had been an amazing friend to him. Judea could hardly move, but I knew if he could, he would have tried to embrace me. I moved to touched him, but he was so frail I was afraid that I'd somehow break him."
You laugh a bit as you make your way over to the large door that contributed to humanity's downfall. It filled you with dread the closer you got. And staring into the swirling vortex of creation and destruction, you began to feel as you did all those years ago.
"Sandalphon was present shortly before I broke the final seal. He told me, "I'll be seeing you again sometime." and that was that. His voice retreated with a sharp laughter that sounded like a volcanic eruption. But I payed it no mind. After all, I was only using him for information. Then came the time to completely open the door. Once I did, all hell broke loose."
Celestia stands next to you as you stare further into the abyss. It made you question if what you saw was really heaven. Or some sort of abstract form of the mythology. Just like long ago you found yourself unable to tear your gaze away from the infinite.
"I broke the seal. And with the last barrier between us and Paradiso gone, Earth was consumed by angels in almost an instant. But what happened here in Eden. This was ground zero."
You motion your arms about you, remembering the panic that flooded the lab. You could still hear the screams....and the demonic laughter of Sandalphon.
"The room was black in an instant. There was no light save for the door. I stared into it, another mistake I wish I could correct. I saw everything. Every interpretation of life. The construct of our beings. Everything that swelled within us. Our origins, our final destination. I saw the beginning and the end, genesis and the revelation of armageddon. It is...difficult for me to describe exactly what I experienced that day. I wasn't scared. More so...I was uncomfortable? Only slightly on edge. I felt as if everything was somewhat peaceful, yet at the back of my mind, something was prodding me. Trying to tell me that what we had done, was very, very wrong."
You looked to the back of the room. Where you and Judea stood over a million years ago.
"I could tell that everyone who was present felt the same way. As if we all shared a collective consciousness. It was then that I saw Sandalphon, along with other angels come marching out of the door. Sandalphon, was like a dragon. But made of other forms, all melded into one another. He had two horns, both foreign to each other. Two crooked fangs that jutted far from his mouth. Rotten, yellow sclera with blood red irises. He instantly found me and before I knew it, I was staring into his hypnotic gaze. He said nothing; he merely smiled and patted me on the back. And was gone. Then, a suffocating black wave came spewing out of the gate. Crashing through my entire being. Breaking my bones as if they were glass and stealing my air from me. It was excruciating and it all felt like I was trapped in a loop, made to experience it over and over again. But then I realized that it had all happened in an instant, for no one had saw him or the flood that followed. They all continued to stare into the vortex beyond the door. I began to tremble, my knees suddenly felt like ice melting in a volcano and I fell over. Then a pulse shot out from the door, crushing the heads of all those who were stood. It was horrific. I watched as their heads slowly burst into pieces and levitated in the air, before being drawn in by the door. Judea and I were spared such a fate, we were too low when the pulse was released."
Celestia was now very close to you. Taking in every word. She was entranced by the climatic turn your story had taken. And you were enthralled by your own voice as you heard yourself recount the horror that happened in the very place you stood.
"I heard Judea call to me, in the mind. He told me to proceed. To begin the process of melding his body with Mettatron. He began to calmly move towards the door as if he was being drawn in. I watched him, while on the floor I saw how he moved. Judea shouldn't have been able to move on his own, I had no idea what was causing it. Then I heard explosions, followed by screams and cries. I willed myself to stand and rushed over to a window. What I saw filled me with crippling terror. My eyes ached from the sight and I was forced to turn away. My people were being torn apart in the streets! Slain, mutilated, massacred, and dishonored. All because of that damned project!"
You find yourself pounding on the door. You strike it as hard as your body would allow. Countless souls were taken that day. All because you didn't have the sense to end it. Celestia watched as you struck the door's frame over and over, drawing blood from your fist.
"Never again." you muttered. "I'm going to correct my mistakes."
"Anon, you'll get your chance. But for now we have to keep a leveled head. We still aren't safe. We don't have time to lose ourselves. Now we must be stronger than ever." Celestia took your hand with her hoof and examined it. She smiled. Like she had just remembered something funny.
"So reckless. I can't keep bandaging you up if you purposefully harm yourself. Try and take it easy for the time we have left."
She gave you back your hand after giving you another bandage.
"You're right. I have to stay calm. Think rationally."
You put on your best act of confidence. But the truth was, you weren't so sure if you'd even make it out of Agartha. More than anything you wanted to rest after the climb. Yet something told you that you had to move on. There was no time to rest. Not to mention you wondered what Judea had been doing with his new found freedom. Speaking of..
"Judea used to say the same thing. Whenever I became too excited or angered, he always tried to calm me. I can remember how much it frustrated me. He always saw the bright side."
You wouldn't say it, but Celestia was not only like her mother. She was very similar to Judea. Before he became obsessed. A slave to his own selfishness. He was kind, generous, always thinking of others. He never put himself before one who needed him. You suppose that's why you felt such an attraction to the princess. She reminded you of two of your closest friends.
"I don't suppose you're finished with your story? Keep going. What happened after Judea told you to continue?" Celestia's tone was patient and caring. She helped jog your memory as she bandaged your hand.
"Alright. I can't exactly remember what happened after that. I was too caught up in my own emotions. But I remember Judea suddenly standing, though his legs had no muscle in them. He began to walk towards the door, with a smile. That was when I stepped in front of him. I wasn't thinking rationally. My entire mind was blank, save for one thought. Stop Judea. And so I barred his way to immortality. There were no words exchanged between us. But we knew how the other felt. Even still, he progressed and I went to meet him halfway. It was then that it became apparent that one of us, if not both, would die. I had accepted it and for the first time, I put my foot down. I was adamant and I would not let Judea pass through. Even if it meant killing him. But Judea showed no signs of stopping. The next thing I knew, I found myself tumbling on the floor with this man who was barely a few pounds. Yet his strength was overwhelming. It was like he was becoming stronger with each moment. At the height of our conflict, I was left with no choice."
"What did you do? You couldn't have killed him." Celestia interjected.
You nod. She was right. If you had killed Judea then and there, he wouldn't have come waltzing out with the angels at present day. No. What you did was something you didn't like to think about.
"I hurled him into the void. That deep blackness of spiraling dark. A place where creation stemmed from pure chaos. The last I saw of him, he was ripped apart. But he wasn't dead. I was still able to feel him- feel his existence rather."
"Feel his existence? Like a presence?"
"I don't know how to describe it. It was like knowing someone else was in the room, without turning to them. Or.....loosing an arm and still feeling your fingers."
"I think....I can sympathize with you on that."
"Oh?" you say curiously.
"After Luna and I's final confrontation a thousand years ago. For the next few weeks I felt as though it never happened. As if she still walk beside me every day and was always close by."
"It isn't a pleasant feeling."
With your hand bandaged, you both move outside the lab and begin to walk out of Eden.
"This is where my story ends. Afterwards, I fled. Amidst all the chaos and terror that we had brought to Agartha, I fled to my home. K'veer. I knew that it was the end of the world, at least for humanity. But I had to protect the future for other races. Mainly the unicorns. That would be my final service to Amalthea. My attempt to repent. I began to prepare Agartha's sealing. During the course of the project, Judea had constructed the Tower of Babel. The tower that was built around the elevator leading down here. It was built in an attempt to get closer to the sky. Back when we hypothesized we could simply "climb" into Paradiso. I had planned to destroy the tower, collapsing it over the only entrance into the city. But, during my preparations I encountered an angel in K'veer. The Dominion we encountered."
"That was your home?" Celestia remarked with a gasp.
You found it funny that you had been walking through your own home and not realizing it.
"Aye. It is where I did most of my work. Including the device that turned living things into stone. Originally, the device was very large. But, it just so happened that I had worked on a smaller, more portable version. I took that and escaped through the surface. But not before I was wounded by the Dominion. I was nearly dead as I struggled my way through the city's outer rim and onto the lift, but not before sealing the Dominion in stone."
You reached into your pocket and retrieved the one thing you had on your person besides your old robes and goggles when you awoke. The round stone key.
"This key was an all purposed key. A literal key to the city. Using this, I locked the gate into Agartha. But I was still wounded. I wouldn't have time to completely destroy the tower. And I must admit, I didn't want to die. I used my own invention to petrify myself. I set the timer for as long as possible. A million years. Around the globe, mankind was hunted to extinction. Only humans faced the wrath of God, and justly so. But I ran. I thought I could outsmart them by locking myself away in stone. But it cost me my memory, self identity. and sanity. I was still conscious for the first few years. I was driven mad by my own prison. And so I willed myself to forget. I threw away everything I was in life and stopped thinking. The next thing I knew, I awoke a million years later. In a strange place called Equestria and in the court of Princess Celestia. The rest, well... you can imagine."
You both had just stepped into the open compound of Eden as you finished your story. You could see the hole in the rocky sky more clearly. As you walk, you reflected on the past even more. You took this same path as you fled from the horror you released that day. You took this path in order to run away from everything and deny everything that had happened. But as you walked with Celestia, through that ruined city, you began to build confidence. You were going to correct things. You were going to finally make amends for your weakness a million years prior. You had made that long journey home for answers. And now that you had them, you sought to instill those truths into your core and accept them. Your weakness wouldn't rule you any longer. You were going to own up to your mistakes and confront Judea once and for all. This you swore to yourself.
You and Celestia moved along the outer ring of Agartha, slowly recuperating from your injuries. In the span of your march Celestia's wing had begun to rectify itself, no doubt thanks to enhanced biological nature of alicorns. You yourself however were still struggling to move on your own two feet. Human's aren't as lucky. It'd take a while yet longer for you to finally be able to jump back into action. Several times you passed out from the heat radiating from the magma pool below, forcing Celestia to carry you a good bit of the way. Not that she minded, as she would constantly reassure.
"Here. Drink." she said, offering you the last ration of water from the large backpack you carried.
You politely declined, insisting that she should have it for herself. This did nothing but result in a frivolous back and forth between you two until finally you relented. It's almost sickening, the warm water trickling down your already heated throat. But it does you well, keeping you from passing out again at least. Eventually the two of you come to the entrance of the great cavernous city. The great lift that would hurtle mankind from Agartha to the surface in seemingly no time at all. The both of you step onto the dais and take refuge from the sweltering heat. All light had vanished, save for the soft yellowish-orange glow of the magma peeking in through the cave-like entrance, as well as the red lamps which dimly lit the great shaft all the way to the surface. In the darkness you couldn't see anything, naught but Celestia herself as she wrapped her wings around you in a small reprieve from the marching. Even now she cares for you. Despite her wounds and state of mind.
"How are you feeling?" you ask.
Her muzzle finds its way to your cheek as she softly prods. "Better. Within a few hours I should be good as new, you have my blood to thank for that. But you? I doubt you plan to face Judea in your current state. You need care and time to recover."
"Yes, I've thought of that. But we may not have that much time. It is anyone's guess what Judea is planning presently. We don't even know if he's moved beyond the Badlands yet, he may even be bringing Hell to all Equestria at this very moment.."
You retrieved the circular stone key from your pocket and move to carefully place it on the central mechanism.
"Do you really think him capable of something like that? From what you told me, he doesn't seem the kind."
"Normally I would have agreed with you. But as he emerged from Heaven's Door... I felt a murderous intent to him. He is no longer the man I knew back then. He has become something other, a hideous amalgamation of humanity and something beyond. My guess is that he was successful in tethering himself to Mettatron, and if so, that could be cause for him to act in ways he wouldn't have. Whereas Judea simply wanted to escape death, Mettatron wants to level the entire world. I wouldn't say it impossible that what we saw is some sort of hybrid of the both of them."
Celestia then was overcome with a pensive gaze upward.
"Should he move against Equestria as you say, we still have a little time before the situation worsens considerably."
"Is that so?"
Celestia nodded and stood, moving to help you with the lever.
"Equestria isn't defenseless. I've taken great measures to ensure its safety, even with my absence. Evil won't claim victory so easily."
You smiled at that. Then the lever suddenly gave way and the gears and cogs were set in motion, sending the lift in an eager bid upward. The sudden momentum sent you to the floor, as did it Celestia. On your back, you could see the slight glow of daylight approach rapidly and fill the dark shaft. And as you moved closer to the surface a newfound energy revived your bones. It was like an immense weight had been lifted from you. All about you was a brilliant glow and when you peered at Celestia, you understood.
The magical barrier had been lifted. Celestia stood as the dais rocketed towards the surface, her body aflame with a golden glow. She inhaled, taking in the world's magic and with a refreshed satisfying exhale, became one with the sun once again. Her natural glow returned, as well as the brilliant ethereal nature of her mane. Her eyes could once again see infinity and the boundless nature of life. You stared at her as the lift quickly came to a stop in the center of Babel. She looked as though she had been reborn, a new being cut from diamond. The princess began to look about herself, looking over her wounds. To your surprise, they were gone. Completely healed in just a fraction of a magical second. You stand, as best you can on your own two feet, and approach her. She had remained silent in a confusion. She would not speak nor look to you as she stood ever still, eyes shut tightly. You moved to touch her and as your fingertips brush the electrifying hairs of her coat. You could then once again feel the raw power that emanated from Princess Celestia.
"Celest-"
"Anon, behind me!" Without a second to lose she instantly brushed you behind her with her massive wing and lowered her horn. You weren't able to see what suddenly riled her, but as you began to inquire, you felt an overwhelming presence overhead.
From above he descended, bathed in golden radiant wings which hid his form. Hair alight with golden glory and two great horns protruding out from his head. His feet stopped just above the ground, yet the stone beneath him cracked from his weight. In a single moment you were filled with what overcame you the instant you both locked eyes after so long. Without your say-so, your legs begin to stagger forward. However Celestia's wing holds you back as she glares at the nude man across from you both. A thick silence hangs above you, swirling about the great hollow tower. There's nothing but the sounds of anticipation.
His eyes are cold, empty of any warmth. Pure apathy danced across his face in a jubilant display of mockery. Those eyes then locked with you, and in those eyes you could feel those million years locked away in the void. You turned away, fearing you'd crumble from the pressure. He then opened his mouth to speak the first words from his new body.
"Have you found the answers you sought within that ancient city?"
His voice bellowed and caused the air around you to cower in fear. You failed to reply, as did Celestia.
"I had given up hope of ever seeing your face again, Khalifa. But when you awoke from the stone that day, so too did my desire to face you once more.
He moved through the place, examining the statues of diefic angels and superb architecture of humans long gone.
"This place... Do you remember when it was we constructed it? We attempted to climb into Paradiso and take eternity in our own hands. But in the end, we'd be sent spiraling back down to Earth in a hellfire. And as those flames took root in our very bodies, it molded us into vastly different people. Burning away our past and igniting a future that'd lead us here. After a million years of suffering and torture within our purgatories, the two of us are able to stand before one another as new men."
Judea then turned to you, his eyes still apathetic and cold. But his voice, while oppressive, quivered with sentimentality. But you held nothing of the sort.
"What do you want? What happened to the magical barrier?" you barked.
Judea stared in silence for a long while before finally replying.
"The barrier was preventing my ability to leave this place, and so I destroyed it. Now that my body has been able to fully manifest in this world, I am hardly content to remain confined to yet another prison. And so I shall go forth into this new world."
You then pulled yourself from Celestia and staggered forward, eyes blurred from fatigue.
"And then what? What is it you're after?"
"I will bring this world to an end."
As he says this, you sense no empathy from him. Only a cold confirmation of his intentions. The complete and utter destruction of the world and all its people.
"Why... Why go through all that?" you say as you begin to move forward. "You've already gotten what you wanted! You are cured! What's more, Judea, you are immortal! And yet you say you'll bring calamity to this new world? A world which has nothing to do with either you or I! For why, Judea? What would bring you to such a conclusion?!"
Your voice cracked as you stumbled. You were suddenly driven to grief upon hearing those words. Though Judea was obsessed with his own longevity, he was still your friend. He was something you had sworn to always stand beside. And now he says he wishes to extend a hand of destruction across all the world. Judea moved forward to meet you, his wings falling away to reveal himself in his nudeness. Then for the first time he walked upon the earth, his feet meeting ground.
"Long ago when I was but a man, I sought to obtain infinity with my decaying and dying hands. My fear for death drove me to ask of you the impossible. In my selfishness I commanded the erasure of our entire existence, under the guise that it was all necessary to save mankind. But above all, myself. For this, I am indeed guilty.
He then went on to slowly form immaculate white and gold robes which flowed from his form like holy water. The cloth began to slowly cover his body, sewing into itself as if it were a sentient being performing a task.
"And then came time for me to claim my ambition. Only to be thwarted and betrayed by the man I thought to be the only thing left of worth in the world. The friend I saw in you. The day you flung me into that spiraling madness, my body was torn asunder, rendering me to be consciousness and that alone. All that I was began to fade yet remained scattered throughout a plane incomprehensible by man. Then in the darkness came to me a voice. An angel of salvation. Mettatron.
A crown now formed above his head. A circlet of hardy gold adorned with the ever seeing eyes of eternity.
"I took him into myself in my desperation to avoid the fate you had dealt me. In order to secure my desires, I hastily accepted his being into my own. And so I was reborn. In that darkness I was refashioned into the undying. I became that which I had sought for so long. An immortal being who would one day deliver mankind from the brink of plague. But as time passed, my own individuality would come into question. I would begin to lose myself in a mind that was ever expansive. Soon after, any trace of my original being would be engulfed by this new hybrid. Judea Zar Ayatollah ceased to exist in that very moment. And what succeeded him was a new being. One who carried the will of both he and God. I am the definitive form of Judea. With me, I carry the will of divinity itself.
"My inheritance is the will of those who have formed me. In Mettatron's vengeance against mankind, and in Judea's hatred for the one who betrayed him, I will pass judgment onto you and this world you've come to love. Solomon Khalifa, though you hide behind the facade of a fabricated new identity, your heart shalt adhere to this grand new dogma which I will set in place. In place of mankind, and in the vengeance of Judea, you will be tormented. All will be stricken from you until finally you decay and wither within the sand which covers our homeland. And from the heavens, I shall call a great tempest and bring about a great revolution where life will bow to God once more."
Judea then threw his arms out wide, his wings ever massive and erect. You struggled with your own words. What you were hearing was nearly enough to shatter all the motivation that had welled with you. But as you stumbled backwards, you felt the assuring presence of Celestia, who evermore looked determined and steadfast. Judea hovered in the air again, light cascading down around him as he refused to experience any pity for you or this world.
"You would go that far... just to spite me? You'll be killing innocents Judea! Many have already died to get me here, pointless deaths that I've had to carry on my shoulders. And what of our kin? Would you add to the death toll just to see me in despair?!"
He then folded his arms as he hovered above you, his eyes now vengeful.
"I would." he said without hesitation. The rage within you started to bubble and burst, rising up within you and resounding through your bones.
"Then I will stop you! There's no way in Hell I'm going to let you leave here! I've gotten this far with the help of those who now inhabit this world. And I will go further still. You will be the first step in my atonement."
"Hmph. Such faith in others will only serve to undermine you. Especially when you would have never gotten this far had it not been for my intervention."
"What..?"
"I thought you a man of great intelligence, Solomon. I predicted for sure you would have pieced it together by now. The Voice in your head. The voice that guided you all through your adventure, was merely but mine own whispers. Patiently prodding you in the right direction. Leading you like a horse to water. All to ensure you would find your way to Agartha, and to Eden. To me. You were very pivotal in my bid for my physicality. For ages I shepherded the centaurs, cultivating their society and way of life in preparation for the day you would one day awake and return here. As well as the djinn. Yet another tool to ensure your survival and bring you home. But I shall give credit where credit is due. You survived against all odds against the angels. Primal beings who're slaved to one single command, it was fascinating to see you strive. But now that I have returned, I am finally able to take control, and awaken their true nature. I owe this all to you."
The realization hits you hard; it nearly knocks the balance from you. Everything you had done up until now had been to some degree predestined. All of your struggle, the lives that have been lost, all playing into Judea's hand.
"So you've been waiting.. all this time...?" you mumble as a laugh escapes you.
Celestia then leaned down to your ear to calm you.
"Do not let him get to you, Anon. Regardless of the past, you are here now. You are able to do something. To correct your wrongs and stop him in his tracks."
You nod and then move forward again, staring up at Judea as he returned his melancholic stare.
"Aye, it is thanks to you that I was able to get this far. But as I see it, destiny has fated us to meet here so that we may settle the past. Judea, I should have never pushed you to this. I just couldn't bare to see you wither away... For my weakness, I threw aside all morality. I hurt friends and family alike. I even hurt the parents of someone very dear to me. But for them, I will commit myself to saving this world, and I'll settle the matter of our tethered souls. Bask in your freedom now, Judea. For I will cast you down back into Hell."
Judea had a laugh at that and craned his head in amusement.
"Aho? And what is to stop me from ending you right now in this very moment, Solomon? The only reason you yet live is due to my want to see you look upon this world in despair. I want to see the exact moment everything is taken from you, as you did to me."
"I am what would stop you." Celestia moved in front of you, standing tall and wings spread far and wide.
"How fitting. The daughter of Amalthea, the alicorn in full realization. Of course it'd be you who'd stand against me as well. But no matter. You will fall all the same."
"You are wrong." Celestia retorted. "Through this journey I have seen to power of a single man face with impossible odds. And all throughout my life I have seen the power of those who remain fierce in their beliefs. There is a unity between Anon and I. A bond that cannot be broken, bound by a promise. That unity will foster a collective will for all those who inhabit this world. As a vessel, this spirit will carry on our will and with sword in hand it will fight you to the ends of the Earth. We've felled gods before, you are not the first to come knocking on our doorstep.
Celestia then drew the radiant sword from its scabbard, it's blade still bursting with the light of a thousand suns.
"Even if everything were to all fall away, and you stood on a mountain so impossibly high... we would persist. Your fight is not only with him, but when you drew your sword at Anon you warred on all the world. And in doing so, you threatened me. For his sake and for Equestria, I will see this age old rivalry be done."
She then brandished her sword at the fallen prince, fierce commitment in her eyes. A sound like a hiss came from Judea as he beat his massive wings.
"Very well. I will answer this challenge. Go from this place and draw on your forces. Call upon the will of those who reside in this world, those who'd dare oppose me, a God! I will annihilate you on equal terms.
Judea began to ascend upward, the beat of his wings smashing into the ancient walls of the tower, causing it to rumble and become unstable.
"Solomon Khalifa. You say it is I who should bask in my freedom. I will. But you, you would do well to cherish the life you have left. Next we meet, this world's fate will hang in the balance."
And with that, the King of Angels departed, leaving the two of you in a crumbling tower.
The wind bellowed. Powerful gales summoned by Judea's mighty wings raged through the hollow tower, the structure giving way to the violent winds. One by one pillars and columns fell. Statues shattered upon the hard stone floor, scattering the angel statues like lost timeless words. You felt heavy in your steps. All around you was a chaos that shook you madly, a violence so severe it moved you to senselessness.
"Anon, we have to move! A moment more and we'll be trapped here!"
Celestia rolled her side into you, lifting you onto her winged back.
"The barrier! Your magic has returned, yes?! Teleport us out of here!"
A great big boulder plummeted toward you both, a rock the size of a small house. On reaction you lifted your left hand, the aegis twinkling its sapphire glow. Above you, a shield is erected. As the boulder smashes into the barrier, the shock rockets through your body, causing a deep pained moan to bellow out of you. Celestia instantly reared up, her horn a magnificent gold. In an ears-shattering moment, the boulder flew apart.
"Are you mad?! You've not yet completely healed!"
You said nothing as you slowly moved upright on her back and locked your hands in her mane. With your heels, you gently prod her sides and she bolts forward without hesitation. Shielding your eyes from the brilliant light of her horn, you look away. The familiar sense of weightless overtook you in a briefness that's gone like that passing breeze and the sun's relentless heat beats down on you. Sand is tossed fiercely in all directions, catching you both in a chaos of sharp grains and rocks. Your goggles find their way to your closed eyes, muting the world of its color. Neither of you could hardly speak so you let your actions speak for you. Giving the slightest tug of her mane, you shift her focus upwards. Before you could prod her with your heels her wings threw off the swirling sands, granting you brief reprieve from the storm.
Like a stream of pure light you both shoot upwards, slicing through the sand storm with great ease. In a dizzying spiral of madness, you break free from the high walls of sand and come to a hover above the Badlands. In all directions, there was a thrashing chaos of sand and stone. The mountains themselves seemed to bow to the storm, creaking and groaning from the force thrown against them.
"This storm... I've never seen its like before."
The worry in Celestia's voice was subtle. She was doing her best to keep herself from unraveling. You lean down, patting the base of her neck.
"It's just a storm. Worse have I seen..."
In truth, never have you witnessed a storm so violent and vast. In the distance, the colossal tower had begun to give way. Succumbing to the howling sand and vanishing beneath the dunes. The way home closed yet again to the world. And who knew how long until another would walk Agartha's halls.
"Anon, farther south. There is a moving mass." Celestia said, turning her you both south.
From behind the goggles, your eyes squint, training on the shadowy cloud beneath the ever churning sand.
"Judea's angels no doubt. Sickening.. that he'd use those damnable beasts."
"If he's raising an army then we best do the same. We will return to the Radiant Dawn and send word to my forces. It may take time to properly mobilize but it's time we'll have to afford. Now that the magical barrier has been lifted from this desert, communication and our mobility has increased. It would be wise to enlist the help of the centaurs, for they have the weapons to fight these creatures. And dragons... they're always such trouble to reason with, but I suppose all routes must be exhausted. Anon? What say you?"
You weren't listening. You were too busy gazing over yonder, at the black pool beneath the sand cloud. The world around you silenced and your mind lost in a world of thought. She craned her head back and noticed your staring. Celestia frowned and returned her attention forward. She allowed you to think in peace for awhile. Her own mind was filled to the brim with thoughts and worries. And among them, there was the deep concern for you.
"Do you hate him?" she asked softly.
Your focus is severed as her voice brings you back to the bleak reality.
"What?"
"Do you hate him, Anon?"
The fistfuls you have of Celestia's mane open, letting her mane flow freely once more. Folding your arms, you continue to stare off past the horizon. As if trying to catch a glimpse of a time long gone, weathered away by the insistence of time.
"I don't hate the man, no..." you admit finally.
"But...?"
"....But I regret." Lightly you brush the large medallion around your neck which saved you from a mortal blow. "I can't hate the man I once called a brother. Instead, I lament and pity he and I. For all our struggles and hardships, we ended up here. At the end of a road where one of us will die. Most of all, I feel a great sorrow for what he has become. That man is no longer the friend I once knew. And I'm no longer the man he staked his entire life on. He and I have walked down different paths and changed irreversibly. It feels as though neither one of us has a direct link to our past." You sigh solemnly, looking north to the Ishtar gate. "Perhaps it's a path best forgotten."
You motion for Celestia to turn round and head for the gate. As high as you are above the storm, there's nothing but the sound of a light rushing wind that flows past you.
"We may never forget the past, Anon. Nor who we were. In order to commit ourselves to our values, we must keep the past ever in mind. If after all this, all you've seen and experienced, you can still call that man your friend, pray you do him just service and finish them. For sake of the past."
You thought about her words long and hard as you flew over the storm and towards to mouth of the Badlands. Looking down below, you recall your journey through the desert. The long marches in the desert sun. The encounter with centaurs, the djinn. That sprawling labyrinth and its maddening darkness. Though it been only a few short weeks, it feels like you've spent the entirety of your life in this vast desert. You held a connection to the land, one that went beyond time. Killing Judea would be to sever this tie. The last thing linking you to your old self. But in loss there is gain. A new life, one no longer bound by the past. A life that had been molded by the time you spent with Celestia, Spike, and the other soldiers. From these experiences, the man you are now was born. And that man was free to live without limitation. Travel freely and witness a vast new world. And to love.
You peer down at the mare beneath you and sigh with contentedness. Celestia soars over the gate and leaves the desert behind you for now. In the distance, the Radiant Dawn sat anchored in the foothills, just where you all had left it. Everyone aboard gathers as you touch down. A worriness moves through the air as all eyes fall to the both of you. All questions are withheld as Celestia calls for medics and doctors. You're soon helped down from her back and placed on a gurney. You take off your goggles as you lie back, bringing the sky into view. It was still peaceful. But your cloud watching is interrupted by Celestia peering over you.
"Do you best and focus on recovering. Your wounds are not only physical. Foreign magics still move through your body and it will take a bit of time to adjust you. Be patient and put your faith in our doctors and sages. I'll be with you as soon as I can but for now, we must part."
You prop yourself up on your elbows, meeting her eyes.
"We should talk. Before we're too caught up in the fighting. I want to properly say what needs to be said. I want to formally make it official."
She smiled at that, hiding her face in her great big wing as she turned away. Then she parted the feathers, framing her bejeweled eyes as she looked at you.
"Well, aren't you bold. We don't have to wait, you know? We can make it official right here, in front of everyone."
It was then you felt all the eyes on you and the awkwardness that wrapped around you.
"Somethings are more appropriate in private, wouldn't you agree?" she giggled.
You clear your throat, trying your best to dispel the awkwardness that overtook you.
"Aye. I can stand to wait just a while longer."
"Rest easy."
You're then carted off below deck. As you move through the halls a fatigue besets you and you fall into a sleep.
You find yourself in Agartha, more specifically, K'veer. No longer a city of ruin, but a city brimming with life. Down below into the town people go about their business. Ferries and fisher boats move calmly along the peaceful lake which surrounds the island city. You're dressed in robes that swathe you like an infant, a familiarness you can't quite recall. You turn back towards the large house which sits on a protrusion of rock and move toward it in a slow stride. It was already apparent that this all was a dream. Brought on by the sudden recollection of your past life. You enter your home, expecting to find it as you had left it a million years ago. Only it is empty, save for the table and chair in the center. Then you noticed movement, a blur of pale whiteness that moved through the empty house. Then it stopped, the whiteness looking at you dead on. Those eyes told everything. You knew this creature. Out from the light stepped Amalthea, the first unicorn, and mother to Celestia and Luna.
She was tall, much larger than her descendants. She walked with the care and stillness of a deer and it wasn't clear if her hooves exactly touched the floor beneath her. Her ears were thin, sticking up like needles. Her tail that of a lion's; long and trailing behind her with silver hair sprouting at the tip. She was a white mare. Whiter than white and as pure as Christ. Her mane was molded from snow and her eyes the largest blue diamonds. Her fetlocks were long, trailing down her cloven hooves. And in the center of her head, a single shimmering horn that came to a point sharper than the sting of love she instilled within longing hearts. She was Amalthea.
A dread over came you. As you saw her, she appeared to be a specter of your own guilt come to torment you. You had hoped you'd never have to look upon her again, for the grief was too much. The unicorn then motioned for you to sit, the small chair moving back to accept you. You had no choice but pull yourself forward and sit at the small table between you two. She sat, still managing to be taller than by a few heads. Neither of your eyes meet each other's as you contemplate what to say to her. You feared she still hated you, that she had called you to this world of dreams in order to torment you.
Then she spoke.
"You have grown very thin, Solomon.
You don't reply. Her voice is too much of a shock to you. Long had you forgotten the sound of her voice, which sounded like crystals.
"Last we saw each other, you looked rather sickly."
She continued to stare at you with an indifferent gaze. Studying every aspect about you. Comparing you to your past self, noting each change in your appearance. And of course, she herself hadn't changed at all.
"Why did you call me here? More importantly, how were you able? Amalthea, you're dead..."
The unicorn nodded.
"Yes. I am. But death is not the end of all things, Solomon. Life beyond death was the core belief in human teachings, was it not?"
You slowly nod.
"But how can you be here now?"
"When you opened Heaven's Door, Judea was not the only being to escape. The souls of the dead wandered back into the world of the living. And I came to see you."
"..I see."
Silence moves between you two again, forcing her to start again.
"It's been a very long time, hasn't it, Solomon?"
Hearing that name does little to calm you. Instead, it fills you with anxiety and worry.
"That's a name I've left behind. No more am I Solomon Khalifa. Now I am only Anon."
She tilted her head in confusion and leaned in close to you. Her eyes were even larger before, prodding your mind and digging into your soul.
"A strange name you have taken. Given to you by the princess, yes?"
Your eyes snap to hers and they stare back unblinking.
"Yes. When I awoke from the stone, I had no memory of the past or who I was. And so she gave me a new identity, one I've carried thus far."
"I see." she said leaning back. "Tell me about her. Celestia." Her voice was mournful and sad, yet her expression remained unchanged. She remained a stark image of poise and composure.
"She is.... a lot like you in many ways. Her optimism, calm and collected nature, the way she'll speak about certain things. You both even have the same body language. Most of all she shares your curiosity. There's no doubt that she is your daughter."
A hint of a smile crept across her face.
"And the other? Luna?"
You gave a shy chuckle as you looked down at your balled hands on the table.
"Sadly I've not spent much time with her. But she resembles her father a great deal. Dark and brooding. But also surprisingly friendly and kind.. from what I heard. I'm told she has a power over dreams, much like you."
Amalthea took her time to reply. Absorbing all she heard.
"I'm glad...."
Tears began to well up in her eyes and you instantly jumped to your feet. Quickly you round the table to console her.
"No, no, no, don't cry. There's no need for tears."
With her hoof she moved you away and smiled.
"These are tears of joy, Solomon. I am happy... That day when this mess started, I feared. I feared my death long before ever seeing the both of them. I wouldn't be able to see them grow, see what they'd be like in their adulthood. It was terrifying feeling, one I didn't know what to do with. But, now I see that the both of them have gotten along fine. Protected the world for more over a full thousand years. What's more is they've brought peace to what otherwise was a very chaotic world. My children have grown to be such great individuals."
It lightened your heart to see her so happy, despite the history between you.
"Celestia has saved my life numerous times. We wouldn't be talking right now if it weren't for her. A lot of things would not be possible had I not awoke in her garden."
"Yes, I'm aware of your long journey. You've been through so much to make it home. And for her to see it with you, I'm glad for that too. I see that she learns from you constantly, and there is an eagerness about her. And in return, she teaches you of this strange world with its magic, beasts, and colorful history. Much different from the world we originate from."
"Indeed it is. There's so much that has changed it seems impossible to see it all. But I plan to try nevertheless, with her."
"With her?"
Amalthea raised an eyebrow and you panic slightly.
"Ah, yes. I've been meaning to inquire about that. Solomon, what is your relationship with Celestia?"
Her tone had suddenly shifted to a low and intimidating hum.
"Do you love her?" she asked harshly.
You say nothing as your hands begin to tremble. But your answer is clear all the same.
"Hmph. Yet another thing you'd take from me... And she loves you?"
"I would hope so, yes."
Amalthea's expression sinks. An anger comes over her as she looks away from you. But you refused to be intimidated. Not this time. You wouldn't be shamed for something like this. Regardless of how she felt.
"What would you have me say? Would you have me deny myself? Deny what she and I share? I have no control over how I feel about someone, no one can control that. It isn't as though I planned this from the start; it just happened to end up this way. And maybe... maybe I thought I could be there for her. Succeed where I failed you those years ago."
She then shot you a sideways glance, her eyes still smoldering with a bubbling anger. One that flared up within her.
"And I am to accept this? Am I to be content with my betrayer and my own daughter together? Have you no shame? How cruel can you be? After what you've done, how dare you..."
"I understand what I did can never be excused, I have no intention of avoiding any blame. But that is why I am trying to make things right now! Judea is out there plotting the destruction of the world your daughters inhabit. As well as so many of their own loved ones and subjects. What I feel for her is trivial compared to what's at stake here. But I'm willing to risk my life in order to save what I can. I'm trying to stop another tragedy from happening. Give me some credit, Amalthea. At least see give me that. Celestia is someone I care deeply about, regardless of our romantic feelings or not. I have a duty to her. For her, I'd throw myself into Hell if need be."
"Do not think you can mend all this with just words, Solomon. What you did isn't something I can so easily forgive just because you want to correct your mistakes. I lost everything that day. Reality crushed every bit of dreamlike wonder I had for the world. And when my soul is unable to rest, when it seethes with anger and regret, I see you. I see you, Judea, all the others, my very creators who brought me into this world, only to use and abuse me."
"There's nothing that can be done about that now. I can't change the past, if I could I would in an instant. The only hope there is now is to stop Judea before he gets what he wants. I know I have no right to ask for your forgiveness, and your contempt for mankind isn't something that can just be washed away. I can't promise that this'll all salve your wounds. But for the future, I am willing to risk everything. For her future. There's a chance she could be happy after all this, and I want to make it so. I cannot change what you feel for me, but it would mean everything to me to have your blessing."
You bow, lowering your head to the massive unicorn before you. Amalthea took a very long time to gather herself and her thoughts. Half of her wanted to run you through, the other half recalled your friendship. Thinking back on those years you spent together as close friends. She'd be lying to herself if she said there was nothing left of that friendship inside her. Her contempt for you may have wrapped its claws around her heart, but there was no denying the friendship you two shared. Even now. She threw her head to the side in frustration and frowned.
"Raise your head. You look pathetic."
On command you stood straight up. Surprised by her softer tone, you began to wonder if you had gotten through.
"Even now I remain connected to my children. A mother's bond to her child can never be severed, even in death. And so I too feel her heart. A brilliant light that burns brighter than the sun. It is near shameful.
Amalthea then stood, towering above you.
"But I cannot deny that what you both feel for each other is real. And so.... with a fearful heart, I bequeath unto you my blessing."
Your eyes go wide and you step forward in your eagerness.
"Really? You mean you-"
"I do not do this for you." she interrupted. "But for her. This will be my one service to her. I will put my faith in you, as she'd want me to."
"As she'd want you to?" you ask.
But Amalthea only turned away.
"You once told me that love was one of life's many gifts. And I was shown how right you were thanks to Bucephalus. Even if our lives together were short-lived and tragic, those years were still the most wondrous of my life. I want her to be able to experience that. And you... One who's never loved anything outside of your curiosity and attachment to science should also experience it. 'Before your life passes you by'. You won't live forever, Solomon. You may even die this coming battle, and I wouldn't wish your death before you two are united. So I will relent and place my faith in you now.
She began to move away from you, a blinding light covering her form.
"I also do this out of our friendship. Prove to me and all the world you aren't the monster I think you to be. Be ever kind to her, Solomon. That is all I ask."
As her body slowly began to fade she looked back at you, her eyes no longer empty and cold. You started to go after her but a sudden sluggishness stopped your movements. You were waking.
"I will! If not for your sake then no one's. I'll do all I can for her, don't worry."
The world around you began to collapse into the dark. Consciousness flooded into you, pulling you from sleep and enveloping you. There was nothing to keep you grounded in that city of dreams. When you awoke, there was a commotion.
Your eyes fluttered open to your former cabin on the Radiant Dawn. You felt as though your body no longer weighed as much as a castle. The medical team did their job well. It was quiet in the small cabin, as well as drafty. Mainly due to the fact your only clothing were your pants. You sit up and look yourself over. Scars riddled your body up and down. But the biggest marker was the large scar on your lower abdomen. Where you to a rod through the side. As you brushed your fingers over the scar lightly, you could feel the rough patch of skin that been sewn shut and covered in some sort of ointment. The wood floor beneath you warmed your feet as you stand. A slight dizziness hit you as you stood, causing your vision to blacken for a moment. You may have been still recovering.
When you looked around your room, you found nothing in regards to clothing, not even in the wardrobe. The only article of your clothing you find is the pair of tinted goggles hanging on the door handle and the aegis on the desk. Equipping both the aegis and goggles, you ready yourself to venture out of the cabin. You hadn't forgotten the dream from last night. That talk with Amalthea in an Agartha constructed from your own memory. It warmed your heart to know that end the end, she had faith in you. If people could overcome their own grudges for the sake of the happiness of others, then your world may have been a very different place back in the day.
Reflecting on your past actions, you begin to feel your grudges and anger simmer down. It had only been a few days, Howl's death still bothered you. Even if at the time you felt he deserved it, it still made you a murderer. Howl's death, Spike's, and the fifty were all on your hands. Soon the truth would have to come out to Celestia. One could only hope she finds it in herself to forgive you. Finally opening the door, you move out into the carpeted hall.
The hall was empty. You expected to see everyone running back and forth in preparation for the coming fight. Yet there was no one. Could it be they had all gathered somewhere? Celestia said she'd be gathering all Equestria had, maybe there was some kind of meeting? You continued down the hall, slowly getting your barrings. Then as you the end, a presence fills the air. You turn on a dime, looking behind you. But no one is there, the hall remains empty. Could it have been nothing? A hallucination? Turning back ahead you press on, only to be stopped once more. This time by a voice.
"Looks like you've really made a mess of things, haven't you?"
A low, mocking voice besets your ears. One that was unpleasantly familiar to you.
"I had wondered if you'd even get this far, human. But here you are, good as new, and ready to take on the world! Bravo."
A distant clap then filled the hall, then followed by even more applauds.
"Show yourself to me! I'm not in the mood for games," you demanded. Though you were unarmed you didn't hesitate to throw your fists at whoever was taunting you.
"So impolite. Is that how you would greet your old friend after so long?"
"I apologize. But all my old friends have been dead for a very long time. I ask again, show yourself."
A crow then fluttered past you, cawing madly. It stopped at the top of the stairs leading out onto the deck, it's tiny black eyes staring at you. In its eye, you could sense a familiarity. A dreadful feeling that made you sluggish. The crow cawed once more before vanishing in a puff of black smoke which moved through the cracks of the door. You certainly weren't in the mood for any of this. Whoever was toying with you at least showed no sign of ill intent. So you follow the crow up the stairs and move through the big double doors and onto the open air deck.
You found Celestia engaged in conversation with a few important looking ponies. Everyone was yet to notice you emerge from the cabins, all but one. Next to Celestia stood an amalgamation of many beasts. A madman's living menagerie. Two horns, one from a deer, the other a goat's. A long black mane ran from its horse-like head, down its feathered weasel-like body, and ended at its scaled reptilian tail. Two tiny wings latched onto its back, one bird's the other's bat. The beast's left arm was that of an eagle, dried and chaffing. The right arm, a lion's, clawed and ravenous. And the beast stood on two legs, both as chaotic as the rest of it. One's horse, the other's lizard. A grotesque display of forbidden magic. A proper chimera.
It lazily leaned on Celestia, yawning as it peered over its shoulder at you. Its eyes were a sickly yellow and red, much like that of angels. A single sharp tooth protruded down from its lopsided smile. A smile directed at you in some sort of greeting. It waved its paw at you then turned back towards Celestia to whisper something. Celestia herself then looked at you, flashing a warm and genuine smile. You couldn't help but not return it. Deeply troubled by the thing next to her, you reflexively will the aegis to life.
"As rude as ever I see." the voice whispers in your ear.
The voice now came from behind you, and without any observable explanation, the beast is behind you. You dart away, whirling on your feet to face its hunched figure. Arms held neatly behind its back.
"After all we've been through, you treat me like some sort of beast. A monster!"
It wiped an acidic tear from its eye and continued to pout. You continued to back away, eventually bumping into Celestia who took you in her wings.
"Celestia, who might that be? I've never seen its like before... at least nothing as extreme."
Celestia sighed as she looked up at the beast in question, it standing proudly with a smile.
"This is Discord, Lord of Chaos."
The beast, now named Discord, glided over to you.
"After so long we finally meet Solomon. It's been too long, really."
You step out from Celestia's wings and approach the creature.
"You talk as if you know me. Who are you?"
A large frown then drooped down its face, followed by a cheerful grin. Discord disappeared again, this time appearing next to Celestia, resting his elbow on her back.
"You know, Queen Sunshine here and I go waaay back. A thousand years or so ago." He then prodded Celestia in the side. "Go on then. Tell him about your old pal, Discord."
Celestia rolled her eyes at him, pushing him away. You stood still, waiting for an explanation. Given that the two knew each other, it was safe to assume Discord at least meant no harm to any of you.
Celestia then stepped forward.
"A thousand years ago, when all Equestria was ruled by chaos, Discord reigned supreme."
"That is until Sunny Flanks over here gave your boy the long, stone sleep. Oh! Much like you!" Discord interrupted.
Celestia sighed and continued.
"Since then, Discord has been, more or less, reformed. Though he be a being of great disharmony, I believe his help will be needed now."
"Disharmony..." you echo back to yourself. "Then, you're..."
You look at Discord again, his eyes instantly honing in on yours. At that moment, he knew you understood. Discord bowed deeply, an act without any sort of sarcasm.
"Sandalphon, at your service. After so long, we finally meet face to face."
Celestia then looked to Discord in surprise. Her suspicions had been proven completely. You fold yours tightly in an attempt to keep them from striking the beast then and there.
"You're the one who guided me in breaking the seals on Heaven's Door."
"That is correct." Discord replied lazily, inspecting his claws.
"Why? You knew what was happening. Why didn't you stop us?"
All eyes were on the both of you now, including Celestia's. Though you were near ready to pummel the beast, he remained calm.
"Come now, Solomon. Empathize with me a little. Had you been stuck in a never ending void, surely you would have done any means necessary to escape such an extreme and ultimate boredom. I'm a being who must have something happening at all times. Something to influence. Most of all I need entertainment. I don't take well to being trapped."
"You were bored? That's your reason!?"
"Nothing but the truth, my good man. Besides, you got what you wanted in the end, right? Your 'brother' fused with mine, just like you wanted. Though I never expected everything would come to a head like this. I'm glad I'll be around to see it."
You began to march towards him. But before you can get your hands around his neck, Celestia pulls you back.
"Fighting amongst each other now will only set us back. What's done is done." she said softly.
Discord agreed and materialized a lounge chair with the snap of his fingers.
"The most important thing is that I'm here now. Thank me that I give enough of a damn to offer aid." he said, kicking back in his chair. It didn't sit right with you. Working with someone like him. But if Celestia could trust him, then there must be some use for him. You relent and calm yourself. After all, your energy would have to be saved for the battle to come.
"I want you to know that everything hinges on our victory. Judea mustn't be allowed to win, do you understand?"
"Crystal clear! Consider me your greatest ally in this Armageddon."
A pair of large dark shades droop down Discord's face to cover his eyes as he reclines. Celestia then pulls you aside.
"Despite our history together, I believe Discord can be trusted. To an extent. This is his world as well as ours, and there is someone he cares for here. He fights for the same reason we do. I understand that he can be... troublesome, but try and tolerate him for now."
"I will do my best. But only because of how grim our situation is."
Celestia then smiled and nodded, nuzzling you before you parted.
"I'm glad to hear it. Twilight and the others will arrive soon, I'd like to have you here with me when briefing them on the situation."
"Of course. Has there been any word about Judea's activity?"
Celestia nods as she leads you away from the many ponies gathered on the deck.
"Several hours ago scouts returned with an estimate approximating a hundred-thousand and growing rapidly."
"And how many of our own will be with us?"
"As it stands, Equestria's military is that of a sum five hundred-thousand. As well as forces drawing in from neighboring kingdoms. The word traveled quickly and I'm thankful I was able to draw in a few favors. But it will still take time for all our forces to properly amass. Which is why I had to solicit Discord's help. If Judea's army attacks before we can properly counter his forces, we all are the first line of defense."
"Can we really withstand an attack with just the numbers we have now?"
"I have faith in our abilities. It may be a trying struggle, but our main goal would be to hold them off until the arrival of our main forces."
"And how long do you wager that'll be."
"About twelve hours."
"Only twelve? An entire nation's military massed in just half a day?"
"Do not underestimate Equestria's capabilities. There's a reason we've seen peace for over a thousand years."
You nod along, still baffled by the speed of mobilization.
"And how much time has passed since we've returned?"
"It's been nearly four hours. How are you feeling?"
Celestia then turned to you, looking over your body. She frowned as she lamented each scar on your half naked body. Her wing then brushed up against you, the tips of her feathers gliding lightly over the scar on your side.
"Does it still hurt?" she asks quietly.
Your fingers find themselves interlocking with her feathers. There seemed to be no end to Celestia's worry for you. Not that it was unappreciated.
"Only slightly. Equestrian medicine is something to be admired."
You stare into each other's eyes for awhile. The silence between you was mutually appreciated. The both of you were beyond any sort of trivial words now. Your hearts were known to each other, there was hardly any need for any sort of declarations. And yet...
"I spoke with Amalthea. In a dream."
Celestia suddenly stood closer to you, her eyes wide and desperate. It was a rare sight, one not so easily seen by anyone other than those closest to Celestia. Gently you touch the palm of your hand to her cheek, feeling the intense warmth that swelled within her.
"She gave us her blessing," you say with a delicate chuckle. "Though it took a hell of a lot of convincing. She said she wanted what was best for your happiness, and put her faith in our victory."
Celestia nuzzled into your palm with a shaky giggle. Her heart was near close to bursting with a joy she didn't think possible. In an instant you found yourself covered in her massive wings, her forehead pressed to yours.
"How old fashioned of you. Running to my mother for her blessing." she said softly.
"It isn't as though I intended to. The opportunity just presented itself."
Celestia then laughed a birdsong giggle that lifted your spirits.
"You said you wanted to formalize our relationship."
With a serious nod you steel yourself for what you were about to say. There'd be no going back from this moment forward. There could be no regrets.
"Celestia, there is a lot I wish to tell you. Things I am not proud of and things I may never forgive myself for. I am a very flawed man, and this mess I've involved you in is part of my own selfish desire to redeem myself. But in spite of that, if you could look past all my troublesome misfortunes... I'd like to be with you. From this moment onwards. You have become someone very special to me, and to be apart from you would be unbearable. So I'd like to have a place in your heart, for as long as I may live."
As you spoke these words, you felt the bridge between your hearts connect once more. Celestia's eyes were closed as she held you in her wings, taking in your words like water to roots. You waited for her response, though it hardly needed to be said. But soon Celestia opened her eyes to stare into yours with a smile that spread wildly across her face.
"Nothing would please me greater than to share a life with you. There's so much I want to show you, things that make this world worth protecting. In spite of all the misfortune this little adventure has brought, I want to be with you for as long as possible."
Love had sprung between you both, and in the name of love you pledged yourself to one another. A bond so strong that nothing dared rise against it. A mighty and just power that banishes evil and sweeps away the dark. For this, this awesome power found in the hearts of all living things, this power claimed by the most wondrous of people, would spur you forward. In this chaotic whirlwind of affection, you both would rise above all adversity. If not for the world around you, then simply for each other. On that deck, surrounded by nothing, heard by no one, obscure to the peering hateful eyes of malice, you united.
A kiss bridged you both together. A war of compassion fought between your lips and crushing all worry that festered in the deepest recesses of your hearts. All was swept away from you in that moment of pure bliss, pure heavenly solitude. The world around you, so vast, so beautiful, made for you so that you may share. A kingdom ruled by the purity of hearts undivided. Destiny brought you forth, a son of man so that the past would not be swept away. So that present and past could come together and forge a future. A future won from the trials of one man's hate and contempt. A future bought with the currency of hearts. Your lips part, but your souls remain interlaced. Just as Judea was reborn as a vessel of hate, what was birth from you was a vessel of love.
"Look! The sun!"
A frightening voice called out, pulling you both from your dreamy embrace. Everyone on deck lifted their heads skywards. A black evil had begun to devour the sun. Steadily yet assuredly, the moon crept over the sun. Below the ground, a dark invasion of shadow marched along soil, swallowing up everything. From the lowest valleys of Equestria to the highest mountains, all subjugated in that umbra. You watched as the eclipse came closer and closer to totality, the black sun burning furiously with a halo of golden misery.
Celestia watched on in horror as her affinity was swallowed whole by an omen most foul. A panic swept across the deck, putting everyone on edge. Even Discord, who mused to himself about the dire nature of such an omen. The sky became a sickly dark golden brown with nuances of blood red horror. It became that of smoldering embers, all sparking across the heavens in an overture to the battle to come. Clouds darkened, becoming scorched clouds of soot matted on the canvas of the blackened sky, all stretched thin like emaciated ghouls. And resting in the center of the dark sun was the gate leading to all of God's 'wonders'. Heaven's Door.
Judea was setting the stage. Displaying a preview of the new world he would create in his dominance of Earth. The hellish Kingdom of Heaven.
"This is it. Our moment of truth. Are you frightened?" Celestia asked.
It would do no favors to say you weren't. No man alive would be empty of any fear. But even so, for all your fear, all your apprehensions, you would persist.
"Aye. But fear only means I am still sane. I'll need my wits about me in the Hell to come. And to quiet that fear, I would have you beside me. Your presence is very assuring."
Celestia smiled, comforted in your confidence.
Twelve hours until the world's forces are gathered. As you stand at the end of the world, you feel the seconds crawl along your skin.
Howling Wind on the Eve of Chaos
Like the watchful eye of God, the black sun hovered above, swallowing the world in a darkness that lusted for light. From your cabin window you could see the oil painting of an ashen sky. As you dressed, fear and anxiety took root within you. Starting at your feet and slowly creeping up the length of your legs. Soon you would be petrified should you allow your fear to overtake you. But as you adorn the large golden sun medallion which saved your life, you sense fear cower away. Stepping in front of the mirror, you examine yourself. Turning your body side-to-side to see yourself at different angles. Your new attire fits well, especially considering it was fashioned and modified on such short notice.
White loose fitting pants held down by hardened leather grieves that started at the upwardly pointed shoes and traveled up your legs to end at the leather harness which wrapped tightly around your waist. Set about the harness were various pouches, sleeves, and holsters for many a weapon. In its center, a lightly colored sapphire, glowing dimly. Said to be a catalyst of sorts, meant to heighten one's magical capabilities. A thick and heavy white shirt, long with its sleeves and high on the collar. Lined traces of silver, all interlacing with one another in a web. On top of that was a leather breastplate, hard as bone and unrelenting. Your arms were encased in leather gauntlets, bracers, and rerebraces. On your left hand, you still carried the aegis, the inlaid gold still shining as good as new. You adorned the long sand scarf, white and peppered with black spots, hanging loosely by the neck. And finally, you took your old goggles, one of the only things tying to the past, and pull them over your head.
You look into the full body mirror, staring at the stranger who looked back at you. An unfamiliarity accompanied you now. You were no longer the man who woke up in Celestia's statue garden. You were the hybrid of a dead man and one who was born again. You open the door from your cabin and step out into the hall, only to find Discord lounging in the air, his tooth grin ever splayed across his face.
"My, my, you sure cut a dashing figure in that getup. You look like you think you stand a chance." he said mockingly.
"And you think we don't?"
Discord then planted his feet on the ground, his lanky figure towering above you.
"You might. I can't say with any certainty though. But it'll be fun nonetheless to watch you both trade fists out there."
"Watch? You're not going out to fight?"
You look on in confusion at the draconequus, who only folded his hands behind his back.
"It's an incredibly heavy favor to ask of me. The one your fighting is my brother, after all. I wouldn't dare raise a claw against him directly."
"What? Then what would you do? What was even the point of your being here? Are you just here to-"
Discord silenced you by covering your mouth with your scarf. He then floated back, retaking his seat in the air.
"What I said is I will not face him directly. I never said anything about not supplying his enemy with a means to combat him for me. This world is also precious to me. It is the land of my freedom, the world you helped me escape to. It is for that reason I help you now. Let it never be said that Sandalphon is one to never pay his debts. I owe you. And believe it or not, there are things here that I too wish to protect."
Discord's smile fell from his face and for the first time, he seemed deathly serious. There was no hint of sarcasm, deception, or his usual mocking tone. The thought that something was at stake for him never once crossed your mind.
"I see. Then... I'll be sure to fight as hard as I can. For everyone's sake, even yours. But, this does not make us friends. I haven't forgotten what happened. You're incredibly selfish, manipulative, and despicable. But even so... even monsters deserve second chances."
Discord's smile then returned and he reclined, satisfied.
"Spoken like a true wise man. These colorful ponies must be rubbing off on you. Before you know it they'll have you singing and dancing, raving about the magic of friendship and all that. Enough to make the songbirds hurl."
You were amused by this. From what you've met of them thus far, you could say that their kind was especially cheery. Even if faced with the end of the world, they still maintained their boisterous spirit. Mostly Celestia, who seemed to always keep her calm and temper in the face of absolute devastation. It was remarkable. You smile to yourself, happy that this was the world you found yourself in.
Maybe so. But I don't see myself complaining. But besides all that, why are you here? Were you waiting for me?"
The draconequus turned over to his back, sipping from a tall glass of sparkling white wine.
"I nearly forgot. The big girl upstairs sent me on a delivery." he answered.
With the snap of his fingers you were tackled by a weightless light. It bursting around you in all directions in a typhoon until vanishing just as quickly as it appeared. What it left behind were gifts, conjured by the beyond. A sword, holstered on the left side of your waist. Curved like a wicked cat's smile, inlaid with jewels on its golden hilt. Like a bending ray of sunlight, it shimmers with splendor. Strewn over your back is a long rifle, similar in fashion the guns the centaur gave you. But this was made of ivory and gold, splendid in its craft and truly befitting of something holy. Holstered on your right hip, a long barreled revolver, engraved with a language lost to the human tongue. In your right hand, you clasped a weightless and warm lance, spiraling along its length. You could feel it tethered to you, as its master you could summon it at will. Even worlds apart from one another, should you call it forth, it will obey. These weapons clung to you now, devoted to their god slaying purpose. With these tools, you shalt do wonders.
You marveled at the items bestowed on you and it was then you remembered Discord to be of the divine. The chimera moved back to behold you, stroking his long goat's beard in consideration. Raising one bushy eyebrow, he smiled.
"I have to say, you look like you can actually get this done." he says enthusiastically.
You don't reply, still looking about yourself at the weapons you've been given.
"Oh! And one more thing." he said while outstretching his paw. With the tip of his claw, he tapped your forehead. What followed was a light burning sensation that soon spread down to your shoulder blades. A distinct familiarity accompanied it. It felt like Celestia's magic. A golden circle of runes slowly turned clockwise on your forehead before vanishing beneath the skin. Discord then blew onto his claw like it was a smoking gun.
"What is all this?" you ask in a pitch of excitement.
"Gifts." he replied. "As I said, I have things precious to me in this world. I'm not sending you to meet his armies without the proper equipment. You can thank Celestia, she's the one who suggested these pieces."
He then snapped his claws again and the light from before rushed past you like a hurried breeze, blowing all throughout the ship. From above you could hear sounds of bewilderment and surprise, followed by awes. Discord folded his arms, content with himself. A demon who'd side with those weaker than he, in hopes of preserving the world he had grown to love. You began thinking that he wasn't so bad, albeit mostly annoying and overbearing. He shared your goal and wanted to see one more day under the peaceful blue sky. You smiled at him. The first ever time you've done so. He was on his way to fashioning a friendship between you two. Should both of you make it back in one piece.
"Firstly, I should give thanks to you. I misjudged you, but I see now you're helping us in your own way. Thank you."
Discord scoffed and began slithering through the air down the hall.
"Save your thanks."
You chuckle and follow after him, the spear sparkling away, waiting to be recalled at any time. You step out onto the deck, a harsh heated breeze knocking into you, tossing your hair. Immediately you spy Celestia, surrounded by Twilight's friends. All of them done up in the same gear you were, and with similar weapons. Then you notice Twilight, sitting away from them all, looking out towards the Ishtar gate. You suspected the reason and felt your heart sink. As you approach Celestia she turns to you, smiling in tired silence. You nod in quiet greeting, doing little to hide the frown on your face.
"I take it you've told her?" you ask.
Celestia only nodded as she turned her head towards the solitary alicorn fledgling. A dark grim cloud hung above all of you as you took a few moments of silence.
"I should go talk to her," you say as you started off. But you're held in place by the mare with the blonde hair, tugging at your harness.
"Woah there. There's not much you can say that'll break'er from this funk. Juss... give'er awhile."
"I'd say we all need a little time to digest the news. It's not easy, but we'll manage. Spike was someone very near and dear to our hearts... such a loss isn't easily taken." Rarity added.
And so you stopped. Perhaps it was better to leave her to mourn. After all, no one was closer to Spike than she.
You turn away from Twilight and back to the group.
"Alright then. I'll leave her be for now. But soon one of us will have to go over there."
"Mayhaps." Celestia started. "But not now. Twilight is immensely strong hearted, as well much as she is sharp minded. She'll be with us shortly."
"Is she upset with us?"
"More so herself. She blames herself for not being sterner in her disposition of having him stay aboard the ship."
"I see. Well, regretting the past won't help all that much. The best thing she can accomplish now is ensuring he didn't die in vain."
"That's exactly what I'll do."
Twilight's sudden outburst turns each of your heads. She stood on the edge of the gathering, her figure more resolute and hardy. Moving into the center, she held her head high, a fierce flame burning in her eyes.
"Spike went on this journey because he wanted to find himself and discover what he was made of. And I'd say he did a great job of that. He marched through that desert knowing full well of its dangers and that he may not come back. I'm sure there were countless times in which he came close to dying out there. But that didn't stop him, he wanted to prove to himself and us that he was indeed capable of being an adventurer. And for that, I'm proud. For someone to press on in the face of life and death situations on the daily isn't easy. How many times have we gone up against evil and nearly died? I count six. And Spike has done so a hell of a lot more times, and in that desert, I'm sure he found what he was looking for. Frankly, I should be blaming Anon for Spike's death, but he wouldn't want that. Instead, I'm going to fight these angels so I can go home and make a proper grave for him. At least that way, we'll have a way to pay our respects."
Twilight looked each of her friends in the eye. In the silence that followed, you could almost hear the quiet conversations that rested on their gazes. Each of them nodded in turn, smiling and vowing to each other to make it back in one piece. It brought you unexpected joy to see such strong commitment between friends. Such ferocious loyalty and love for one another brought forth both memories of the past and now. As if sensing this, Celestia brushed you with her wing.
"She's quite the motivator, hmm?" she whispers.
"Aye. They all get along so well, it's no wonder you entrusted them with such great power. Seeing their friendship gives me some hope of my own."
"As it should. Twilight is a very special mare, as well as her friends. In time, I had hoped to name her my successor."
"And have you done so yet?"
"In time I will. With each trial she proves herself to be more and more capable. I had been thinking to retire one day after I had assured Equestria's well-being in her hooves. But such a time has not yet come. I don't know how long it'll be, but I know one day she will eventually grow to be even wiser and kinder than I. Maybe then Luna and I can finally take a break from all this."
She sighed, rubbing her temples with her wings.
"...You once asked me what I planned to do after this was over, and I told you I may travel. One could always use company on those empty roads."
"Are you asking me to?"
"I am. There's no one I'd rather more than-"
You're cut off by a monstrous crackle of lightning, striking all around the ship. The deafening thunder soon followed by the commanding roar of Judea.
"Solomon Khalifa! Sandalphon! I would have words with you both!"
You furrow your brow, clenching your fists as you slowly part from Celestia. Discord appeared beside you, stroking his beard and raising one bushy brow. A light came down from the ashen sky, calling to you both, a light originating from the eclipse.
"Well, we better go see what our guy wants." Discord said with a sigh.
You look back to Celestia, her face just as troubled as yours. But she nods, entrusting you to Discord's hands for now. With a tentative smile, you wave at her as Discord lifts you into the air. You watch the ship shrink smaller and smaller below you as you climb higher into the sky. From so high, you can see the land for miles in all directions. Darkness devouring the entire world. Before you know it, you're standing face-to-face with Judea, Heaven's Door behind him and the dark sun above your heads. You let go of Discord and walk forward, folding your arms in discontent.
"We're here now. Say what you must and be done with it. I mislike meeting with you so far from others."
Judea slouched in his throne, resting his head on a solid mighty fist. His golden eyes moved between you and the draconequus, taking in every detail. Finally, he spoke, his voice much calmer.
"I was unaware one of my own was helping you. Had I known, I would have given you less time. But how fitting is this? Just as I had lost a brother back then, I lose another now. The universe is toying with me. It amuses itself by making enemies of those who I would seek to cherish."
"You made enemies of us the moment you sought to dominate this world. Do you not see what you are doing, Judea? You're raising an army just to beat this world into submission. Do you think they will worship you once you have destroyed their homes? Trampled their fathers, mothers, even children? What you're doing is turning the world against you without even lifting a finger. You've become the enemy of an entire world!"
You stare him deep in the eye, trying to judge if there was any trace of the humanity he evoked so often. But upon meeting his cold, empty stare, you find nothing.
"Be that as it may, I will not allow these creatures to go on living in such a chaotic world. They lack order, a clearly defined way of life. They have become just as free and disgusting as humans. They need a being to shepherd them, and if not I then who? They've already given themselves to gods, incompetent ones at that. Ones who condone their sinful lifestyles. They make a mockery of the gift of existence."
Judea looked past you and out into the world he sought to rule. In his contemplation, he had become disgusted with it. Whether or not that was due to the addition of Mettatron's soul, or his own personal feelings, no one could say. He and Mettatron were one in the same. He looked to Discord, who still maintained his somewhat carefree and aloof nature.
"Why do you assist the enemy, Sandalphon? Have you been so corrupted that you would raise arms against your own brother? Have you given yourself to the empty idea of freedom, and spoiled yourself with the unpredictable? Such shamefulness, that you of all would sink so low."
Discord began filing his claws, kicking back on a small stool.
"I won't pretend I'm doing this for some selfless and grand reason such as 'the magic of friendship' or 'the sake of all that's good'. That's never been who I was, really. To put it simply, I'm doing this because a world under your rule would be an intolerable boredom in which I would be likely to end my own life. All those years ago, I helped Solomon and Judea break those seals so that I may finally escape from you and the trite Kingdom of Paradiso. And what I found here was chaos unending. Even now unpredictability courses through this world, without my influence. I for one could never give that up simply because you want to move in. So I suppose I'll give these little god-killers the tools they need to send you packing."
Judea then closed his eyes, his wings slowly waving back and forth. The silence was occupied by the harsh storming winds that blew around you in all directions. A storm at the center of world's end, ever ravenous, always churning. In the storm, images appeared. Entire armies of dragons, yak, griffins, changelings, cyclopes, diamond dogs, gargoyles, hippogriff, all converging on one single location. The armies of this world uniting for the first time in history in order to defend their world from one godly man who thinks himself their ruler.
"Do you think these creatures will help you, Khalifa?" Judea started. His eyes were once again open, glowing harshly as you peered into the storm. "This world's armies gather at the end of the world, just to meet their deaths. And you'll let them. Just as you allowed me to wither away into nothingness. That moment you stood between me and Paradiso, you condemned me!"
"Nay. It's not that I condemned you. It's that I saw what your lust for immortality was doing to both you and our world. They are coming here to fight the very thing I tried to prevent! I wanted to stop all this, stop that damned door from ever opening, stop you from becoming the monster I see before me now!"
"Then you would hide behind your fodder and sacrifice lives to prolong your own? I have noticed you are armed. Why, any one of those weapons could mortally wound me. So why is it you've yet to attack me? After all, we are alone up here. You could finish me off, ending this war before it even begins. I'll tell you the reason, Khalifa. It is because you don't have what it takes to kill me, to end the life of the one who wears this face. So you would hide behind others, hoping they would kill me and spare you the grief. After all, you're used to sacrificing lives for your own selfish intentions, hm? Have you told that alicorn of fifty soldiers you killed, just to save her? Of that captain you so kindly shot in the back of the head, all because of revenge?"
Your hand finds its way to your revolver and approach him. Discord takes notice and sits up, eyes widening. Judea remains motionless as he watches you approach and draw the gun. Before long your standing before Judea, his cold golden eyes looking up at you.
"I've accepted what I am. I've made my peace with all my sins, and I'll eventually confess them to her. But even now, I have no shame for what I did. I feel sorrow for the lives that were lost because of me, but I cannot regret. Regretting would only prove my resolve to be weak. And if I have to add your life to the death toll, then I have no apprehensions."
"Hmph. Such bold words. But I know your heart. There is nothing about you that I cannot see. Your heart lays bare before me."
He continues to stare up at you as you place the barrel of the gun against his forehead. Judea calls your bluff with a tiny smirk. What follows is a loud bang. In that moment time slowed, or at least, it appeared to as Judea quickly moved his head to the side to avoid the shot. The stream of light grazed him, drawing immortal blood from the side of his head. His eyes were wide in horror and disbelief and for the first time, his calm and collected demeanor evaporated into nothingness. This time, it was your own cold eyes that stared down at him. A gaze so frigid and piercing, it could send him into madness.
The god bared his teeth, jagged fangs grinding into each other. A forceful gale then slammed into you, knocking you off your feet and sending you through the air and off the platform. Judea's furious howls of great malice pierced the hearts of all that heard. Discord flew down after you, catching you in his arms as the sky became riven with bolts of lightning.
As you land back onto the Radiant Dawn, Celestia rushes to you. Nothing needed to be said, for your body language said it all. The war was on. She stamped her hoof, turning wildly to address the crew, her wings at full mast.
"Weigh anchor! We take to the sky to meet the opposition!"
With a single unified cheer, the ship roars to life and begins its climb into the black heavens. The battle to decide the fate of the world would be fought in the skies above the cradle of Equestrian life.
