Strange Alchemy

Dee crossed the red and gold sand as he approached the throne of Third Horn. This time, as he approached, he held his head high, maintain just a fragment of a sincere smile upon his face. This time, he approached without fear and without hesitation. It had been so long since he been a showpony, but he channeled that long-abandoned self as he approached. Even the most complex of spells, he knew, could be dull and drab without the proper presentation- -something he had regretfully neglected for far too long.

This time, the audience was far larger. Third Horn sat atop his throne where he had once been imprisoned, and as always, Amddiffynnwr stood beside him. Lower and around him, however, sat many more ponies. They were nobles, invited to attend, to see what feat the great Doctor Dee might deliver. Many looked apprehensive, or excited, while others simply looked as stupid and bored as ever.

Among them, farther toward the center, Dee saw Fyr’mond sitting at her father’s side along with several of her elder sisters. They all looked truly similar, if not identical- -except that now Fyr’mond stood higher than them, her graying body and long horn making her look alien against her kin.

On the floor stood several more ponies. Most were black-clad guardians, lining the edges and standing before the nobles, but an equal amount were the robed mare servants of the royal court. Also among them was Ward Kelley, a hideous demonic moth perched on his shoulder, and his black-clad nun assistant beside him.

Dee only smiled to Kelley. This time he would maintain his composure. His motions would be exact, his behavior beyond reproach. Everything in his life was riding on this performance, and he knew that he would succeed. If anything, he found it exhilarating.

At the edge of the sand, Dee bowed deeply. “My lord Third Horn,” said Dee. “I have returned. I approach in humility, and, if I may be so impudent as to beg your forgiveness, I wish to apologize for my behavior at our last meeting.”

Third Horn stared down, his keen and seemingly unblinking eyes not wavering for a moment.

“I accept this apology,” he said at last. “I understand that you were distressed at the time. I do not claim to be a perfect ruler, but I like to think of myself as understanding.”

“Indeed, you are understanding, but in the eyes of us mere morals, you are more than perfect. You are our god.”

“Have you returned with anything more substantial than flattery, Dee?” asked Amddiffynnwr. “Or do you simply desire to waste his majesty’s time?”

“No, of course not,” said Dee, standing. From his side, the yellow cube of his magic approached him, ticking as it moved. “I do indeed bring you a new feat, one that I believe shall rival my rising of the sun and moon.”

“Your teleportation?” said Third Horn, unimpressed.

“That is but one of two parts, my king. I have modified the spell, changing its fundamental nature in ways that even the trihorn may not have conceived! Now, instead of teleporting only me, I can draw any object toward me at any distance, so long as I know where it is- -or move any object to any location.”

“Interesting,” said Third Horn, leaning closer, his white armor glistening in the blue light from the crystals above.

“Indeed,” said Dee. “With this spell, any powerful mage can transport soldiers and weapons into battle in the blink of an eye, past fortifications and walls that would take months of bombardment to break- -or pull away enemy leaders into captivity.”

Dee stepped back, gesturing toward the crowd. “But this is but a minor part of my gift, a byproduct of my research toward my true gift to you, my king. Behold!”

The cube suddenly shifted, expanding outward and folding in response to Dee’s magic, linking itself to a different location in space. The crowd gasped at how quickly it moved. Then, in an instant, it sealed closed, engaging the jump.

From behind and above, near the high sealing, the teleportation spell activated, producing a golden sphere that flooded the room with residual light. Dee saw the crowd’s eyes widen, and heard their gasps.

A shadow was cast over Dee, and with the fluttering of wings, the blue pony he had acquired hovered beside him, and then landed. He was now freshly washed, and his long hair tied back but still visible from beneath his open helm. His body was covered in black and steel armor of Dee’s own design, based on the surface exoskeleton shown on the tablet that had inspired him combined with fanciful armor of modern design. From the pony’s back protruded a pair of large wings, their feathers matching the coat of his body.

“My king,” said Dee, loudly, gesturing toward his creation. “This is what I bring you! A new kind of soldier! Not a horde of mindless, servile demons at the command of one pony, but an independent, lighted warrior to engage Equestria’s enemies from the air above, to descend from the clouds to bring your will across the land! Behold, the modern incarnation of the ancient Aurasi! I present to you this flighted pony: Pegasus!”

Dee smiled in the crowd’s direction, still motioning at the pony that had landed beside him. Pegasus’s wings flexed slightly, further drawing attention to him. The whole performance had gone flawlessly: Pegasus had entered by Dee’s spell, and looked more glorious than even Dee had imagined as he descended from the air above.

In the faces of the nobles, Dee saw the expressions of surprise. Some ponies reacted with disgust at seeing a chimeric creature formed from a pony and powerful magic. Dee only continued to smile, knowing that he had made an impact on them.

But something was wrong. They did not cheer, nor did the expressions of surprise lead to the nobles smiling. Instead, those expressions of surprise became fear and anger. They began to murmur amongst themselves, and that murmur grew into a roar. It only ceased when Third Horn stood and began to descend the stairs.

They all watched in silence as he approached. When he reached the sand below, the servants as well as Ward Kelley and his assistant bowed to him- -with Dee catching the wide, smug smile on Kelley’s face as he lowered his head.

Third Horn looked to Dee, and then to Pegasus.

“This is indeed an impressive feat,” he said. Then he sighed deeply, his eyes darkening. “I wish only that you had chosen a different pony for this experiment.”

“I can assure you,” said Pegasus, coldly. “I will use these wings to the best of my ability. I have never once waivered in my loyalty to Equestria…unicorn scum!!”

Pegasus leapt forward, charging at Third Horn with a scream, his wings spreading like those of a griffon during an attack. From the stands behind, Amddiffynnwr stepped forward and Fyr’mond stood. Both cast spell simultaneously, and a sphere of white and green magic surrounded Third Horn. Pegasus impacted it, and was thrown back into a heap.

The guards moved quickly, charging their horns and firing several lethal beams of energy toward the momentarily stunned winged pony.

“No!” cried Dee, shrilly. He could not allow his creation, his last chance at preserving his career, to be destroyed. Instinctively, he cast a shield spell. A yellow dome of magical clockwork surrounded him and Pegasus. Dee was no soldier, though; his spell was exceedingly complicated and unwieldly, far different from what the unicorn guards were accustomed to. When their beams struck it, the sudden surge of feedback poured back into them, sending them flying into the walls with sudden explosions.

The entire court silenced as Dee brought his shield down. Pegasus was safe, but Dee knew at that instant that he was finished. He had failed.

“I don’t…I don’t understand,” he said softly.

“That pony you stand beside,” said Amddiffynnwr, descending the stairs, his horn charged with green energy, preparing to attack. “Do you not know of his crimes? Are you that much of a fool, Dee?”

“I assume he has murdered somepony, but- -”

“ ‘Somepony’? That pony you just defended is the leader of earth pony revolution movement! He himself has slain over ninety unicorns- -mares, stallions, children- -and by his orders slain hundreds more!”

Dee looked at the Pegasus, who was now standing. Dee immediately engaged a restraining spell around him, to ensure that he could move but not attack. He did not understand how that was possible- -that there could even be such a thing as an earth pony revolt, or that this stallion had been responsible for it: or how, though his own decision, he had inadvertently destroyed any chance he had of maintaining his position in the court.

“That pony,” said Third Horn, “was to be executed for high treason. And you, Dee…you have given our greatest enemy wings.”

“Please,” said Dee, dropping to his knees. “Please do not destroy my creation! I- -I- -I have to succeed! I will take his mind! I will make him servile to your will, a perfect soldier! Yes! I will redeem myself!”

Third Horn stared down at him. “I give you permission to keep him alive, for now. Indeed, try your experiments. Do what you will to him, to show what becomes of my enemies. But you have failed me. I hereby strip you of the title of Magus, and transfer it to Ward Kelley. Now take that abomination and get out of my sight. You are a disgrace to your race, Dee, and by this treason, you are now my enemy. Should I ever see you in this Citadel again, you shall be slain where you stand. Now go.”

Dee took a deep breath, trying to hold in his sobbing. “Yes…my…king…”

As his tears stained and congealed in the sand below, he engaged the yellow cube near him. Dee and Pegasus were wrapped in a sphere of magic, and with a small explosion, teleported away.