Sebastian was unsure of where he was. This seemed all so familiar, the cave, the roots, the statue on the pedestal, it was foreign and Sebastian was unsure why but it all seemed like a memory. As he glared at the statue the room begin to spin and everything melted together into one dull gray blob swarming around him. The room was ice cold then the statue glowed with a white hot intensity as if it were a small sun and the room felt as if it were on fire. The statue got brighter and brighter, glowing whiter and whiter, and the room hotter and hotter. He couldn't take this intense brightness and he covered his eyes but the glow was still there as if it were phasing through his.......hoof?
He awoke with a gasp and realized he was lying on his back in an unfamiliar place. He instantly sat up to observe his surroundings. He was in a field of sorts, a flat plain that extended as far as he could see. The field was littered with white flowers and in the distance he saw a small town. He realized there was a heavy weight on his stomach and he looked down to see a small statue of what appeared to be a pony hunched over and covering their eyes with their hooves. The mare that was the statue was very beautiful and looked almost familiar but he couldn't remember for the life of him. He stood up and stretched feeling as if he had been asleep for years. His joints popped and he his muscles scream in protest of the sudden movements. The pain was nothing compared to what he had felt in the dream. He picked up the small statue and decided to go investigate the town.
The town, while it looked small from a distance, was actually quite large and ponies were crowded in the town square walking between tents and talking to vendors. He walked down the dirt road catching snippets of conversations here and there. Bartering was being made as eager ponies tried talking bored vendors to lower their prices to which some agreed. Sebastian was walking past a tent when an older gentlecolt's voice caught his attention, " Hey pal, fancy trinket ya got there, looks to be worth a pretty penny, I'll buy it from ya if you're interested. " Sebastian faced the pony, a maroon stallion with salt and pepper mane and tail and yellow eyes that scared Sebastian. He looked at the statue in his grasp and considered the offer, but something about the trinket made letting it go seem impossible and he refused the stallion's offer. The older stallion looked disappointed and Sebastian felt anger welling inside the older stallion. " 300 bits, " the stallion offered and this trinket seemed less important, but Sebastian wasn't interested in selling this strange relic and politely refused. " 600, " the stallion said with a fierce determination. Sebastian was starting to consider the offer, after all this statue was worth quite a fortune and he could use the money. Alas Sebastian wasn't interested and shook his head firmly. " 1,000, highest I'll go, take it or leave it. " This caught the attention of several on lookers who and a dreadful silence filled the air of the farmer's market.
" I'm sorry but no means no, " he said with annoyance in his voice. He was tired of this stallion's shenanigans. " I don't wish to sell this item as of now, perhaps another time? " The angered stallion huffed, " Fine, that's o.k., we can discuss this another time, here's my card, " he said giving Sebastian a business card. He grabbed the card, thanked the gentlecolt, and walked off without a second glance. Something about that stallion didn't sit right with him and he really wanted to know more about this strange architect.
He made his way across the market until he found open roads that led to many different buildings, most of which were houses. A house, Sebastian needed to find one to stay in but first he needed to know where he was. He wandered around and started having the sinking feeling he was being followed and trotted faster. He turned many corners and zig-zagged between many ponies in a desperate effort to shake the feeling. He didn't dare glance over his shoulder, something told him to keep going and he looked for a place he could get lost in. Who ever was following him must have gotten lost because he didn't feel that spine-chilling fear from earlier. He spotted what looked to be a giant gingerbread house to which he assumed was a bakery of sorts. His stomach growled and he realized just how hungry and tired he was. He decided to skip lunch and look for a hotel or an inn but then something hit him, he had zero money.
He regretted not selling the stone figurine at the market realizing how heavy it was. Despite it's half-foot size, it was quite heavy and he didn't know how he had been able to carry it this far. he wiped some sweat from his brow and continued his search fora place to rest. Fortunately, nopony was really interested in him and didn't speak to him which was fine in his opinion. After what felt like an hour of aimless walking, he found a shady tree in which he could sit under and rest a moment. He sat down against the rough bark of the tree and watched the ponies walk past, he never noticed it but he was rather tired and he drifted off to sleep. He must have slept for a few hours when a voice woke him up. " Excuse me sir, are you all right? It's late and you should be heading home. " he sat up and faced the stranger.
The pony in question was a beige colored mare with a honey colored mane that was curled and a matching tail. She had the bluest pair of eyes he had ever seen and a smile that warmed his heart. He didn't answer her right away and continued to observe her. She was wearing a gorgeous silver necklace with a red, heart-shaped gemstone in the center. He looked back up at her
" Beautiful isn't it? Just like that pretty statue of yours, " she said as if she had known he was interested in her necklace. He simply nodded and she asked him again, " It's late, shouldn't you be getting home? Or do you not have one? " He simply shook his head. " I have an extra room in my house you could stay in for the night. " her offer was very tempting and a bed seemed more comfortable than the ground. " Also, you look half starved, " she continued pointing out how skinny he really was. He hated to admit it but she was right, he was tired, hungry, and needed a bath. " I'm Honey Suckle, " she said holding out a hoof to help him up. He grabbed hold and she helped pull him up.
" I'm Sebastian, " he replied.
" Nice to meet you, let's get going, it's late. " He agreed and she escorted him down the road.
" So Sebastian, where you from? "
" I...uhh, I don't know, " he admitted.
" Ohh, umm, well, how long have you been here? "
" It's my first day, i woke up in the fields outside the town and ended up here. "
" Ohh I see, what do you remember before that? "
He thought hard on that question. " I can't remember.....it's all a blur. " She looked concerned. " I can't remember anything....only my name and this statue, " he said holding up the valuable object.
" Oh, we should take you to the doctor, " she replied. Something told him that wasn't going to help and he shook his head.
" No please, you've already been this kind, I'm sure I'll figure this out on my own. " She said nothing and nodded, agreeing with him but he could feel her uncertainty. The rest of the walk was quiet and he wanted to say something, but feared breaking the silence. When they arrived at her house, he didn't even take time to look for it, he asked that she show him to his room and he went straight to bed, letting the blackness or sleep swallow him whole.
Another Dream Another Time
Over the course of the following week Sebastian began having several dreams, several memories rather, each worse than the last up to the point where he decided not to sleep anymore. The first dream was of the statue being taken from a temple in a foreign land. The second night's dream was of the a pony studying the power the statue held. The third was of a darkness ascending over the land and troops being summoned. The fourth was of troops readying for battle. The Fifth was the war. The Sixth was a clash between the statue's wielder and a strange beast which ended the war after the wielder was killed by the power he possessed. The seventh was the statue being taken to the cave in which Sebastian had found it.
The dreams didn't seem as bad as they really were, however Sebastian had felt it. He had felt everything in the dream. It was all so real like memories he didn't know. They weren't his, but he was living them. He felt the pain, the sadness, the fear, he felt everything and it shocked him to his core. Every time he awoke from the dreams, he had felt an icy chill as if his veins were made of pure ice and the worse part was how he could hear whispers from the statue as if somepony was trying to speak to him but he didn't understand what they were saying. He couldn't grasp on to what the words were saying and he was curious to know, but a voice in his head asked him, Do you really want to know?
After a few restless nights, he decided he wanted to try. Only problem was he didn't know where to start. He figured that if he fell asleep the rest would happen on it's own, but he didn't know if it was going to work. So he sat staring at the statue, into the mare's carved eyes of stone hoping for something, anything. He was greeted with only silence and the icy dread from the dreams. It had been several days and he was exhausted. He desperately needed sleep.
" Ahem, Sebastian. Sebastian? Sebastian! "
He was snapped from his trance by the shocking voice of Honey. He looked in her eyes and he felt her worry. He tried to talk but couldn't process the words and they died in his throat.
" Sebastian dear, it's been three days, you need to sleep. Come, I'll ready a nice warm bath for you and maybe you'll fall asleep easier. "
He wanted to say ' no ' but the look in her eyes haunted him and he submitted to the idea. Without anther word, she trotted to the bathroom and the sound of water flowing soon followed. He waited a few minutes before trotted back to the room using the wall to help balance himself. He stood in the doorway watching Honey prep the bath. She had gotten a fresh towel ready and lit a cinnamon scented candle before walking out and nudging him to the tub.
He settled into the water and his body relaxed himself. He truly felt the fatigue and his muscles screamed with agony. He sighed and started the washing process. First was his mane to which he treated with a fruity smelling shampoo. After getting his mane nice and soapy, he dunked his head under the water until the soap was gone. His tail was easier seeing as how it was already under the water and his torso and legs were already soaked in the soapy water so he was clean. He decided that this bath was a too pleasurable to leave and he leaned back closing his eyes.
A vision filled his head and he was no longer in the bath but a nice cool stream. He was floating on his back and he looked around seeing only trees and feeling a soft breeze. He didn't know where he was but it felt a little too familiar. The Sky was suddenly turned black and stormy and he heard a nearby crash of swords and heard the war cries. Sebastian. He heard tapping and focused until he was back in the bath. It was cold and Honey's worried voice scared him.
" I'm alright, must have dozed off. " he called through the door.
" Oh I see, you've been in there for nearly an hour, are you done? "
" oh, yeah, I'm done. " he stood up and the water cascaded down his torso and legs. He stepped on the bath mat and dried off before pulling the plug and opening the bathroom door. Honey looked concerned. He could see it in her eyes.
" I've made your bed. " she said pointing to the door of his room. " Please, sleep. "
He made no objections and walked past her to the room. He set the statue on his nightstand and fell on the bed. It wasn't moments later he found himself being sucked into the void of sleep and only blackness surrounded him. Then, quite suddenly, a match was struck in front of his face and a candle was lit. He was no longer in his room. He was in a study of sorts with only a candle to light the way. So you think you are ready?
The voice was soft and feminine and carried an icy tone to match the way he felt.
I don't think you are ready. This power is not easily contained and will consume you unless you know how to fight back.
" I know and I'm ready. " The voice wasn't his and he hadn't even wanted to talk. It was another memory, and he didn't know whose it was.
There are many out there who seek to wield this power. You will only endanger yourself.
" I am aware of what will happen, but surely we can change it. I can, with your knowledge and guidance. Please, teach me. "
" Very well.
The cold monotone scared Sebastian. No emotion what so ever and the icy voice sent chills up his spine. He felt something inside, a burning desire he couldn't explain. His body was aglow in a golden aura as if he was on fire. The vision changed and he was at a volcano somewhere. The magma was flowing towards him and he was scared.
Reach out and redirect the flow.
How was he to do that? He already knew and dug his hooves in the hard soil bracing himself. He saw the path the magma followed. Like strings and he could move them. He reached out with his spirit toward the strings of the Earth and imagined pulling them aside like curtains. Suddenly the magma branched in tow directions flowing around him. His concentration wavered and the magma started closing in. He quickly regained focused and pushed the strings aside. He felt pain in his heart, in his very being.
You done well thus far, but know this; manipulating the strings of reality will have a toll on your sanity. These strings are connected to every life force including you. Be wary and execute caution, even the smallest change can have a disaster sized consequence. One that will not be easily forgiven. You can't control this power, you can only guide it. Channel this energy and move it. Become one with your surroundings, and your surroundings will seek to you for guidance. Practice, this will come in use later. Until the time of next my student.