The Last Eclipse chapter 1
Morning sweeps across the land and with it a wind. As it blows over the mountains and into the valley of ponyville it passes by a lone brown shop of simple design on the outskirts of town. Some of the wind whips around the lone shop and comes through an open window that is set with heavy curtains. It swirls around many candles in the room until it comes to the center of the room were wooden table with a bowl of starry wax sits ready for the molders hand.
As the wind passes through it swirls past a white pony with orange eyes looks to be setting to work.
"I forgot to close that window again," shaking slightly as Whicker looks around. "Now where's that basket for, Ms. Cheerilee will be here soon."
As if she heard her name he hears a ring come from the front of the shop.
"Hello, Mr. Flame? I've come to pick up the candles for the school." Ms. Cheerilee calls from the front of the shop.
"Give me a minute, Ms. Cheerilee!" Whicker calls out from the rear of the shop."If I can find where I put it," he mumbles under his breath as he continues to search for it.His search leads him to the front of the house he hears a call from Cheerilee.
"Umm, Mr. Flame are these my candles here?"
When Whicker makes it to the front he sees Ms. Cheerilee with the basket that he was searching for in her hooves. Whicker gawks at the basket for a moment before smiling sheepishly, having forgotten that he set it out for her.
"Oh, Yes it is. I forgot all about it." He says with an embarrassed chuckle and heads over to the counter.
"How much do I owe you?" Ms. Cheerilee asks as she opens her purse
."That will be nine bits," he says with a smile as she pulls nine bits out of her purse .
"Hows the children's play coming along?"he asks her out of curiosity
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"Oh just fine, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are coming down to pay them a visit, but keep that between you and me," she says with a little grin
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Leaning over the counter with his hoof raised up as if to impart a secret. "Don't worry your secret is safe with me." With a grin, she turns around to leave .
"See you sometime next month," she says as she walks out the door.
"Alright,"he says as the door closes. "Now then where was I?" He asks as he heads to the back and sets his eyes on the bowl of starry wax in the middle of the table.
"Ah yes, I need to get that done for the princess before Nightmare Night," then with a roll of his eyes to a corner of the room that seems to hold several candles hanging by their wicks on a cooling rack. "As well as all the other orders I have to fill," he says in a drawn tone as he sets down to work on the bowl of wax that sitting on the table.
The wax starts to glow with an orange glow as Whicker starts to work it with his magic. The lump of starry wax slowly turns into a ball. From the ball, a shape of a stallion starts to appear and takes shape from the ball. Whicker starts to sweat from the strain of magic he's pouring into this one candle.
"just a little more," he says in a strained voice but as he looks back at the bowl he finds he used the last of the wax that he had left.
"Aww not again I thought I got enough this time now ill have to get some more," he says as he puts the half done wax stallion on the table next to a small locket with a little hair in it and walks to the front of his shop.
"Well looks like another trip to the everfree," he grabs his red vest off the hook and his saddle bags out of the corner. He heads out of his front door and looks back an odd feeling comes over him.
"I'll be back soon," he tells himself as he sets out, setting a brisk pace not towards Ponyville but towards the forest on the edge of town.
The world seems to get darker as he enters the edge of the Everfree and to Whicker, the forest seems to come alive on the edge his vision.
"Just keep moving Whicker nothing going to hurt this close to Ponyville," he tells himself as he moves through the wild undergrowth. "Almost there then I can go back home", he mutters as he draws closer to a big twisted oak with what appears to have half of a giant beehive made of stars attached to it.When he moves closer to the beehive he finds the other half of the beehive is on the ground be side the massive tree trunk.
"What no. What happen to the hive", he exclaims as he draws closer. "Where are all the bees". He picks a piece of the hive up with his magic and examines the claw marks on it."It looks like an Ursa got to the hive".
"And it looks like it was greedy", he mutters as he looks into the husk of the hive. "Now where am I going to get midnight bees wax this was the last hive mention in the old library". He pushes at the husk that is still in the tree and screams when it falls, crashing to the forest floor.
"Wow, that was a close one", picking himself up off the ground a thought comes to Whicker "The bees must have relocated by now, maybe somepony in Ponyville knows where to find a new hive." With this, he sets off back to Ponyville with a bit faster step than when he came into the forest.
When Whicker enters Ponyville he finds that everyone is getting ready for the upcoming festivities that are to happen at the end of the week.With seeing this he begins his hunt for his quarry. He steps into the Cake's shop he finds Mrs. Cake working on what looks to be a taffy.
"Umm hello, Mrs. Cake have you seen a beehive that looks like stars?"
"No I can't say I have Whicker, but I've been so busy lately making all this candy I've hardly had time to keep an eye on my kids. You should go ask one of the Apples they might have seen it on their orchard," she replies without stopping her work.
"Why thank you I'll head out that way soon to ask," he says as he turns to leave
"Umm, Whicker if your heading out that way can you ask them if they will bring some more apples? I've got twenty more orders for candy apples to fill and I ran out,"she asks with a smile while still beating the taffy .
"Sure thing Mrs. Cake" Whicker reply before heading out again toward Sweet Apple Acres.
Once he reached the edge of the farm he could see that they too were setting up for Nightmare night with Big Mac and his kin moving hay bales and making up the maze as while as fixing up the old cart for rides.
When he reached the farmhouse he finds Derpy knocking on the door with a worried look on her face.
"What's the matter, Derpy you look worried," he asks with concern in his voice.
"Well I was asked to deliver this letter to, Apple Jack and I've been knocking forEVER and nopony has come to the door," she says in a flustered tone.
"That's because everyponys working ain't nopony in that their house,"Apple Jack says as she comes from the side of the house.
"Oo you scared me, Mrs. Apple," Whicker exclaims as his hoof goes to his chest.
With a grin Apple Jack twangs"well sorry for that, Whicker didn't mean to scare ya like that but yall might want to stand back I came up here to ring the dinner bell, and us apples aren't known for letting our food go cold", with that Apple Jack rings the triangle and as if to fit her words a whirlwind of Apples' stampede across the lawn and into the house with Big Mac in the lead.
After all the Apples' file into the house, Apple Jack asks "So, Derpy you got a message for me?"
"Umm yes, here it is. Twilight wanted me to give it to you before she left," she says as she hands the letter over to Apple Jack.
"Well, why thank you that was mighty kind of ya",as she takes the letter from Derpy and then looks at Whicker. "Now you look like you need some help Whicker what ya come for,"she says with a smile.
"Well, I'm looking for a beehive". With a curious look on her face, he adds "this beehive looks likes the night sky filled with stars". With that Apple Jack looks even more curious.
"now I've seen yellow,red,blue,white and even rainbow beehive after the bees have been at the zap apples but I ain't never heard of a starry beehive".
"I was afraid of that looks like I'll have to keep looking then. The last time I found a nest it was due to a book that was in the old library".he sighs and turns to walk away.
"Wait, Whicker have you tried Twilights library she has like a million books,"Derpy ask excitedly.
"Yeah I bet Twi has just the book ya need their friend,"Apple Jack says with a grin.
With this new knowledge Whicker looks up with excitement in his eye "Thank you I have to hurry if I'm going to get there before dark" and he takes off down the road
"Wait aren't you going to stay for fiddles" Apple Jack yells at the now running Whicker. "He looks like Big Mac after he's been in the field all day and just heard the dinner bell. "Well, Derpy your welcome to join us if ya want".
"No thank you I have too many letters to deliver,"Derpy say as she goes to fly off.
"We got some fresh baked zap apple muffins,"Apple Jack says with a grin.
"On second thought I can stay for a bit," Derpy says as she enters the house.
With the sun straight overhead, Whicker rushes toward Twilight castle feeling every second fly past "I hope I get there before they close",He pants as the castle comes into view
"Wow, there what's the rush friend,"one of a pair of guards at the gate asks as Whicker runs up.
"Am I late? Is the library still open?" Whicker gasps as he comes to a stop.
"Yes. It doesn't close until dark and I would say you still have half the day left,"the guard says while looking at the sun then off towards town a big clock chime twelve.
"O thank goodness I made it in time,"Whicker says with a huff but as he goes to enter the other guard stops him for a second.
"Mind the paint. Thier repainting the halls and if you're not careful well", he shows a hoof that has purple paint on it.
"Thank you for the warning I'll be careful" and with that Whicker walks into Twilight's castle.
As he heads down the massive hall he sees several ponies working on scaffolding repairing what looks to be burn marks on the ceiling and water damage on the walls "what-what happened here" Whicker asks to nopony in particular.
"Well if you really want to know one of Twilight's student lost control of a giant fireball it's just a good thing that the castle is made of crystal or things could have gotten a bit messy," A yellow earth pony says as he's painting.
"Wow," Whicker gasps as he gazes upwards to the ceiling.
"I know right and she won't let me paint anything awesome. She just wants it all one boring color," the painter replies while still working.
"Umm, do you know where the library is,"Whicker asks while still looking at the ceiling with the burn marks on it.
"Ha, sure do but good luck getting there.You see that scaffolding there?" the yellow pony asks while pointing at the scaffolding at the end of the hall.
"Yes?"Whicker says hesitantly.
"Well, that's the only way in that I know for it and their not going to be done for another day of so," he says as he starts painting again.
"You've got to be kidding me I've been all over Equestria all day and I'm still no closer to finding the midnight bees then I was when I left my house!"Whicker vent's in frustration.
"Wow, did you say you're looking for a midnight beehive?"The yellow pony asks as he puts the paint brush down.
In a wary tone, Whicker answers "yes why?".
"Well they make some wicked cool paint from there wax and I know where to get some but..." The yellow pony says starting strong but now seem hesitant as Whicker spirit picks up as he asks.
"Where is it I need it to finish a candle for the princess!"
"Wow, there before you get too excited I need to tell you why I haven't gone to get some myself. it's in the Everfree in the middle of an old village." He says in a low tone "I'll take you there but you've got to get some of the wax."
"If you've known were it's at why haven't you've gotten some yourself?" Whicker asks curiously.
"Well I'm allergic to bees,"the yellow pony says while rubbing the back of his head.
"Oo ok you have yourself a deal but one more thing whats your name if you don't mind me asking?"Whicker ask
"O me, friends call me Pastel and what's your name?"Pastel asks right back.
"Whicker flame but most just call me Whicker," Whicker says while smiling.
"Well, Flame we best get heading out if you want to be back in Ponyville before nightfall,"Pastel says with a grin and grabs a saccule with paint stains from the corner "got to have my sketch pad, you never know when inspiration hits ya know."
As they head outside Whicker can't control the smile that blazed across his face setting out for the everfree once again.
"So if you don't mind me asking where are you from,"Whicker asks his new companion.
"O me I'm not from anywhere special just old manehatten,"Pastel says with a grin as they head toward the everfree.
"Really your from Manehatten what do you do for a living do you just paint houses or is that just a side job?"Whicker asks now curious.
"Nah man I normally just street paint. The world's my canvas and art just flow through me. No, I normally just help ponies move and stuff you know odd jobs"Pastel says with a little laugh.
"Then how did you come to paint the castle for the princess?"Whicker asks with a quizzical look on his face.
"O that I helped redo the bouquet for Rarity after she saw some of my work around town so when Twilight had her little miss hap Rarity called me up but I've got to say I preferred painting for Rarity she knows what art means" he say with a shrug of his shoulders, "And anyways once I get some of this midnight beeswax the world's going to know my name."
They enter the forest and walk for about an hour with Pastel looking at everything as if he's never been in the Everfree before. After a little bit, Whicker breaks the silence.
"We've been walking for awhile if we keep walking in this direction well come across the castle of the two sisters."
"Really I've always wanted to see the castle and to look at all the old tapestries that are in there and the artistry that went into it. I hear it's a maze inside as well built just for luna over 1000 years ago"Pastel says excitedly as a castle starts to come into view from the rest of the forest.
"I don't know about all that I don't go near it I hear that it is haunted," Whicker says while walking wide of the old castle that now dominates the land in front of them.
"Well haunted or not I'm going to see it"but as Pastel turns to head for the castle. Whicker grabs his saccule and asks.
"what about the midnight bees"?
"O them, if you keep heading down that broken road you should find the old village that's all overgrown. The beehive should be in the middle."Pastel says as he points toward what seems to be an old road all overgrown. "I'll be here if ya need me k,"and with that, he heads toward the broken down castle.
"Well ok then." As Whicker turns to go down the old road he starts to feel the weight of the forest bearing down on him and, with a gulp "come on Whicker the faster you get this done the faster you can get out of here."With that Whicker starts down the broken road and into the darkening forest.
As Whicker walks on he can't help but feel eyes on him as he travels down the road. "Nothings out there just like every time you come into these woods there's nothing out there,"he keeps telling himself but even talking to himself he can't help the quivering undertone in his voice.
After about ten minutes walking down the road, Whicker starts seeing large mounds that look strange. "What are these?"Whicker says to himself as he takes a closer look the mounds resolve into houses that have been reclaimed by the forest.
"Wow, I must be in the village. I wonder who use to live here?"He says as he travels further into the ruined village as a shadow unbeknownst to him follows in the darkness of the trees nearby.
As Whicker looks into a busted window a question slips from his lips"what happen here?" And from the trees, something answered as a crash of branches hits the forest floor along with a pegasus that cloaked in shadow.
"Your kind happened here!"
Whicker spins around clutching his chest but seeing that it's just another pony Whicker sighs in relief "can you please give somepony a little warning before you just fall out of the sky like that? I nearly had a heart atta-" stopping in mid-sentence seeing the other pony lifting up a quarterstaff "W-Wait, what are you doing with tha-"with this the strange pony hits Whicker over the head with his staff and Whicker collapse to the ground as his vision fades to black.
