Godly

Godly
Chapter 29: Meeting the Magai

Whisper, Orion, and I follow Stonehide to the gate where the other minotaurs tense up.

"Move aside! Our... visitor is here to meet with the magai," Stonehide tells the Minotaurs blocking the gate.

"We can't do that, Stonehide. The magai have ordered us to not allow this monster into the city," a light grey furred minotaur bull with light brown hair says. He's wearing armour similar to Stonehide, only with smaller skull pauldrons.

Mr Shady is to the side glaring at me with restrained malice but I ignore him for now.

"Perhaps, Hammerhorn. But he has returned from the Unari's home with some enlightening information," Stonehide replies.

I glance at Mr Shady again and a chill goes up my spine. His expression has changed from anger to something that says I'll be seeing you soon with a creepy grin as he sneakily steps back and through the gate without anyone noticing.

"Oh and what would that be?" Hammerhorn asks Stonehide.

"That they're not wild beasts and just as intelligent as we are," Stonehide replies.

Hammerhorn looks surprised at that and glances at me before looking back to Stonehide. "Hmmmm, and you believe him?"

"He did make some convincing points when he protected two of the young snakes. So I believe he is telling the truth," Stonehide replies without any doubt in his voice.

I then walk forward next to Stonehind and speak up. "I've had a nice conversation with one of their elders, a very kind old Unari. To them, you are the monsters. They fear for their lives every time they have to go out hunting for food worrying about when you would attack them unprovoked," I tell the gathered Minotaurs.

"Then why haven't they tried to communicate?" Hammerhorn asks me with a frown.

"I think either their vocal cords just can't produce the sounds needed to speak our languages, or that they fear you too much to try themselves," I reply. "Also, please don't go back in there to hunt them again. I have told them to stay in groups if they need to find food, and they have some pretty big fellas among them. So please for yours and their safety, stay away from them," I ask not just him but all the minotaurs gathered.

Some of them argue that I'm lying so I can hunt them all for myself, while others start asking what they're actually like.

For a good ten or so minutes they talk and argue with Stonehide and myself until the large gate slowly opens and four elderly minotaurs start making their way to us.

"Whisper, stay close just in case we need to get away," I quietly tell my companion who huddles up behind me with her hands on my shoulders. Orion sees her move and he moves closer next to me, and I can feel Whisper's hands slightly shaking.

The four elders stop a good ten feet from us while being surrounded by armed Minotaurs.

"So you are the monster who interrupted the hunt?" the second to the left elder asks me with a frown.

Just as Whisper described him to me, He has deep brown fur with grey hair and beard. His right eye is a deep green while the other is a milky white and blinded. His horns are light grey and polished to a shine with small bone charms or decorations hanging from them by plant fibre bindings. He's wearing a long robe made of Manticore and Unari hides with small gourd bottles hanging from his waist by a plant fibre belt. Lastly, in his right hand is an old but well cared for walking cane.

There's one more male with grey fur, brown eyes, and white horns, and the other two elders are females, one with pale golden fur, green eyes, and pale creamy horns, while the other has dark brown fur, blue eyes, and black horns. all there of them are wearing similar robes to Jurai but with less decorations and charms.

I frown slightly back at him. "I am no monster. I am Pantheon, God of the Changelings. I came here in hope that the minotaurs and changelings can be friends and open trade together, as well as to warn you of Celestia. But while on that hunt, I discovered the Unari you hunt are intelligent. They are a young race, and I have decided to help them," I tell him, making him narrow his eyes at me.

But I continue before he could reply. "And this means that if you refuse to cease hunting them, I will relocate them, and if I can't find a new location, then they'll be welcome in our City until I do find a place for them."

The old bull snorts. "And you expect us to believe they are intelligent? Just because some strange unknown being claiming to be a god comes and says so? That same being who attacked our hunters during their first hunt?" he asks with a frown. I notice Mr. Shady behind him smirking slightly.

Looking back to Jurai, I raise an eyebrow at him. "Attacked? I blocked the spear of a hunter from killing two young Unari, then spat some venom to chase off your hunters. Not once did I harm any of them. Stonehide can confirm this," I reply with my own frown.

Stonehide steps up beside me. "It is true Grand Magai, not once did he lash out at our hunters. All he did was protect the snakes from harm," he tells him firmly.

Jurai glances at Stonehide with a frown. A few seconds pass before the old bull replies. "Oh?" he mumbles and looks back at Mr. Shady. "Didn't you tell me that he got aggressive first?" he asks unamused.

"Father! You would believe them over your own blood!? There has been no evidence of the snakes expressing any form of intelligence in the past, and this monstrous being shows up and just claims they have intelligence? It then got aggressive and interfered in our sacred tradition!" Mr. Shady replies to his father in indignation.

I smirk and look back to Jurai. "If it means anything to you, I can ask one of them to come here to talk while I can translate for you both," I reply, but I keep my guard up, ready to portal away on a moment's notice.

Jurai closes his eyes and strokes his beard in thought. "You can't be considering that father!? He could bring a swarm of them here to attack us!" Mr. Shady warns his father with a glare.

"Hold your tongue, calf. We will have a long talk after all this is sorted," Jurai demands without looking at him. Mr. Shady frowns but backs down. "How are you able to talk to them? For decades we've hunted them and they've never attempted to communicate, and you've just come here and spoke to them straight away?" he asks me with a raised brow.

"I have the ability to understand others if I'm in the form of a similar species. For instance, as the god Fenrir, I can talk to wolves. I have a few serpentine gods I can turn into and so I can communicate with the Unari," I reply.

He hums in thought while glancing towards Whisper. "And why is young Whisper Wind with you?" he asks me, making Whisper whimper quietly behind me.

"I needed a guide to Hornhiem, and she offered to guide me here," I simply reply. "And if you plan to harm her for that, I will take her and her family to my City to protect them."

Jurai just stares at me for a good twenty or so seconds before huffing. "Very well, I will entertain this notion that these Unari have some intelligence and will speak to one of them. Pull any tricks or treachery, and you will be dealt with. You aren't the first so-called god we've had to battle with," he tells me and turns towards the gate as the other elders follow him.

"I think that went well!" I say in a cheerful tone and look to Stonehide. "Do I follow them or wait here?" I ask him in confusion as Jurai said nothing.

"We follow, and I'm trusting you not to start anything whilst inside. I may not be a threat to you, but the magai are quite powerful," he replies and walks off. I spot Mr. Shady scowling at me before he hurries off somewhere beyond the gate.

I'm getting that bad feeling again...

I follow Stonehide while Orion and Whisper follow me. We pass by the first buildings that are simple pelt covered tents, where the occupants all stare at me or pull their young inside as I follow Stonehide and the elders.

I hear mumbling all around us as we make our way through to a large twelve foot tall and about thirty foot diameter pelt tent with two small mud brick buildings attached to the sides. The elders lead us in while Minotaurs huddle around the entrance.

The centre reminds me of the High Shamans hut in Wanori, a fire pit in the middle surrounded by pelt or linen pillows. I thought I saw Flax in the fields so that explains it and some of the clothing of the other minotaurs. Around the pillows are many logs set up for seating for I guess people to come and listen or talk to the magai.

The elders all take a seat on the cushions while Whisper and I stand by the log benches.

Jurai snorts and gestures to the cushion across from him. "Come sit, we would have you tell us of what you know of these Unari," he tells me. "But first, introductions. I am Grand-Magai Jurai," he introduces himself.

I look back to whisper with a smile. "Take a seat on one of the logs, this shouldn't take too long," I gently tell her as she's still shaking slightly.

She nods and sits down with Orion next to her while I hover over to the cushion and decide to show off by crossing my legs and float about three inches above the cushion, getting the female elders to slightly raise their brows in surprise.

The other male elder speaks up, getting my attention. "I am Magai Stonehoof," he tells me in a deep gruff voice.

Next is the female with the pale golden fur. "I am Magai Tide Song," she says in a calm and gentle voice.

Finally, the other female narrows her eyes and is not exactly glaring, but obviously not trusting me. "I am Magai Flameheart," she introduces herself a bit sternly and looks back to Jurai as he speaks again.

"There are three other Magai, but they are out helping the clans right now," Jurai tells me.

I smile as I nod politely to them. "It is nice to meet you all, I am Pantheon, God of the Changelings," I reply.

"So, about the snakes," Flameheart says with a raised brow. I get the impression she's impatient.

"Well... I can tell you they are friendly and have a close community. They're not as advanced as us as they have no means to build or craft things, the lack of hands or magic is quite a handicap," I tell them, getting a hum from Jurai.

"Other than that they just look out for each other and live their lives. Though they're afraid to go out hunting for food in fear of running into your hunters, but have no choice as they need to eat," I finish and place my hands on my thighs.

They mumble to each other in discussion before looking back at me.

"You said you could bring one of them here and translate for us, correct?" Jurai asks me, making Flameheart narrow her eyes at me again.

"Yes, I can go and ask one of them to come and then change form to translate for you. But be warned, if I bring one of them here and you harm them in any way, I will do everything within my power to protect them and make sure you regret your actions," I tell them, now getting a harsh glare from Flameheart.

"Are you threatening us?" she asks in a low tone.

"No, it's a promise. I'd like to resolve this in a civilised manner without further bloodshed on either side. Not to mention the threat of Celestia right now, which is also why I came here. She has been possessed by a nightmare, and it is using her to build an army out of her ponies to then possibly invade the other races," I reply and warn them about the mad alicorn.

Jurai hums in thought and nods his head. "I too would like to settle this peacefully and while I'm willing to accept that the Unari may be intelligent, but the sun alicorn possessed? That is far harder to accept," Jurai says, getting affirmatives from the other three.

"I figured you would say that. We currently have Princess Luna recovering from her attack from Celestia in our City. I can open a portal and let her tell you her side of the story herself if you want proof," I say as I look between them.

They talk to each other again for a few minutes and look back at me. "Then we ask you to invite the night alicorn here and hear her story," Jurai asks me and I nod in reply.

I float up and turn around to the open area behind me, with a wave of my hands, a portal opens up in the hospital once again spooking both Luna and Cadence. I also spot Chrysalis to the side also recovering from being startled.

"By the stars cease doing that!" Luna demands with a hoof to her chest. Cadence then picks up the moonstone she dropped from being startled.

"Sorry, but I need you to once again explain about your sister's current condition," I ask her and gesture to her to come through.

She sighs and steps through, Cadence puts the moonstone down and steps through next followed by Chrysalis.

I notice Flameheart and Stonehoof narrow their eyes at Chrysalis as the three mares each take a seat at a cushion, though Chrysalis gave me a nuzzle as she passed by. But Tide Song and Jurai are looking at Luna's shattered horn in disbelief.

So for the next half an hour or so, Luna explains what happened to her and Celestia. Then I explain what's going on with the Minotaurs and the Unari.

"So you have discovered a new race?" Chrysalis asks me with intrigue.

"Yes, and I would like to see them and the Minotaurs coexist, but that will take time as most of the Unari resent the minotaurs for killing their people unprovoked," I reply, hovering over a cushion cross-legged again.

Jurai sighs and looks up to the ceiling of the tent. "That may not be possible... We have hunted them for over four-hundred years... they've become a stable part of our culture and their furs and bones comprise most of our blankets and tools... To suddenly stop would deny us of our main resource," he says, making me frown in thought.

I look between the elders and then get an idea. "Do you know anything about metal?" I ask them getting confused expressions in return.

"Meh-tal?" Stonehoof says, his first time saying the word.

"It is what my body is currently made out of," I tell him and open a small portal in front of me to the forges, the sound of hammering metal and pumping bellows followed by the heat of the forges flows through. "Seth!" I call out, getting his attention. He's currently working on another set of armour, while Crystal Blade is behind him examining a steel sword with a bunch of gems on a table next to him. "Would you please get me a bar of iron?" I ask him getting a nod in reply before he walks off to the ingot storage room. After a minute or two, he returns with a solid bar of iron.

"Here you go, Sir," he says and floats it through the portal.

I grab it out of the air and smile. "Thank you, you can go back to your work now," I say, getting a nod from him before I close the portal.

I float over to Stonehoof and hold the bar out to him. He hesitantly takes it and runs his other hand over it.

"What is it?" he asks as he passes it to Jurai.

"It's a metal found underground where we then use high temperatures and forging techniques to mould into a strong and durable form, ranging from construction parts, tools, weapons, or armour," I reply as Jurai stares at the bar in his hands.

"Iron..." he mumbles as he holds it up. The bar shines in the sunlight coming from a window like hole in the tent's side.

"I'd be willing to teach you how to mine, forge, and shape metal in return for leaving the Unari alone," I offer the Magai.

Jurai's eyes narrow as he stares at the faint reflection of his face on the bar.

After a few seconds of silence Jurai speaks up. "Call one of these Unari here so we may discuss peace amongst us," he says. Making the other Magai look at him.

"Alright. While I go ask one of them to come, I ask you discuss with Luna and the others on how you can help us restrain Celestia's mind-controlled forces while I, the Changeling Queens, Luna, Cadence, and Amore figure out a way to turn Celestia back to her old self," I ask the Magai as I stand up.

Before anything is said, a loud crash comes from the left brick building attached to the tent. A scream shouts out as the crude wooden door held together by plant fibre bindings splinters as an Unari bursts through it. It's about six metres long and has scars all over its body. Its eyes unnerve me as they have a blank feral look to them.

It looks around and hisses at us before lunging very quickly at Flameheart who brings up her arms in defence. I act quickly and open a portal in front of her and the Unari soars right in. Another portal opens in front and above me where the Unari falls through and slams face first into the ground.

While it's disorientated, I change god to Chronos, Keeper of time.

My skin turns blue and long silvery-white hair grows from my head. A golden eye-patch covers my left eye while golden gears and cogs replace the chains within my torso. Bronze coloured armour and gold trim covers my chest and the middle of my stomach while my waist shows the ticking and spinning gears inside me.

My legs and forearms are completely covered in bronze coloured armour and gold trim with gears and cogs at the joints and in front of my thighs.

A kilt of dark brownish-red cloth with blue trim hangs from my golden belt as well as my shoulders, upper back, and biceps held on by the collar of my chestplate.

On my back are two wing-like limbs where the "feathers" are three clock hands that twitch every second perfectly. Little bolts of static electricity sparking from one hand to another.

Lastly, in my left hand is a staff taller than I am with a hand-guard on the grip and a crescent moon shape on the top with a saw-tooth like gear with clock hands on it along with a stopwatch floats perfectly in the middle of the crescent moon.

I quickly flick my staff forward and use my Stop Time ability. A large orb with multiple rings orbiting a clock in the middle where the hands spin quickly launches forward. As the orb hits the Unari, the hands slow down till they stop completely, along with the Unari.

We all stare at the Unari before they all look towards me. "Don't look at me, I didn't bring them here..." I say in a deeper voice. "Chrysi? Can you hold them down while I try something? I think something is wrong with this Unari. I didn't see one this badly scarred at their home and this one didn't act like the others," I ask her, still holding the Unari in a time frozen state.

Unlike the game, I can hold a person or object frozen in time for as long as I want but it consumes mana constantly to hold them. The more targets I hold, the greater the mana drain.

Chrysalis' horn glows and her magic covers the Unari. She gives me a nod and I let go of my hold, which the Unari instantly begins thrashing to break free. Cadence then joins in with her magic, helping to restrain it.

With it held down I change god again and swap to Nox, Goddess of Night.

My skin changes to a pale and flawless creamy colour and my hair is a short neck long white with a purple oily sheen to it, though there are two long thick strands of hair that flow down to the ground and wave gently in an unseen breeze. I'm now wearing a black dress with gold trim and golden eyes along it and pale purple lace. The lower half looks like it's made of feathers with glowing white jewels like stars in the night sky.

Small deep purple pauldrons rest on my shoulders each with a figure of a raven with spread wings sitting on them. A black necklace with five pale blue teardrop shaped stones hanging from it while black gloves adorn my hands that get more transparent up to just below my elbow.

On my head rests a dark purple headdress that covers my eyes and the bridge of my nose with black lace on the bottom of it. On the back are long dark purple like feathers that fan out.

Lastly, in my left hand is a large purple candlestick holder holding a large candle with three smaller candles orbiting the big one.

With the snake restrained, I lean down and sit beside its head as Luna stares at me with wide eyes. Its eyes fix on me as it hisses. I gently place my right hand on its head and its eyes widen as the candles on my candlestick holder light with a mild light purple flame.

"What are you doing?" Tide Song asks as everyone watches.

"I'm going to put them to sleep and use my power to view their memories as a dream to see how they got here and in this condition," I reply and my hand is engulfed in black and dark purple energy. I turn to Chrysalis and Cadence with a frown. "This will leave me vulnerable while I do this, so I need you to watch over me while I watch their dream," I tell them, getting a nod from Cadence and a worried one from Chrysalis.

The eyes of the Unari grow heavy until it goes limp. I close my eyes and with a pulse of mana, I dive into its dream.