"So, you wish for a tale from times long since forgotten? Very well, I shall humble thy request. Our tale was begun many moons ago when the planet of Equus was unified as one. Are you familiar with these times? No, how could you be? You are but a mere mortal. But you came here for something, that much is certain. whether you find it or not is entirely up to you. Right, you're not here to listen to the time pass us by, no, if anything, you're here to tell proof of the legend of the six heroes of Equus, and the two small creatures they found upon their deathbeds. Very well, I shall begin this tale of legend, about a mother and son lost by time and saved by fate. Our tale begins on a clear night, during a pivotal point in the Equestrians history."
"Sister! I beseech you, lower the moon. I don't want to fight you!"
"You know this already? Surprising, not many cling to the past. Alright, then let us move forwards to the divide of Equus."
"Look at all of this destruction wrought by the Equestrians. Dear Father, what am I to do about the lands beset by chaos?"
"I don't know Dear Sister, mayhaps you find the answer will arrive per annum."
"Mayhaps, but till then, I shall bid thee farewell, may we meet again on a fortnight."
"Dear Sister, I am ashamed of thine actions. Division of the races was not just."
"Dear Father, listen, I have done as that which I am called. The process was accelerated by my hand but maintained by yours. Are we both not at fault?"
"We are, although, in my haste to spare a single race, not of four. I grabbed these two before us. A mother and son, each sought forgiveness and mercy, so I granted them each. Now I befall upon them, a gift to halt time; the gift of eternal youth."
"I am touched by your acts Dear Father, so I shall defile my hand as fate; I behold these beings the gift of Longevity, and of a seer."
"Are you sure Dear Sister? They would be the only beings able to see us, is that truly your wish?"
"Yes Dear Father, it is by my hand this child beholds us now. These last two shall be forever free. Speak your names now, along with species and creed."
"Speak your names now, along with species and creed." An ethereal voice whispers. The two beings bow and recite lines of bonds to fate.
"Dear Fate that spares us your wrath, I humbly bestow my credence to thee, you hold the honor of Elpis, queen of the Lamia breed." The female bows. She has a long serpentine body, adorned by red colored scales. A skirt around the waist where the scales meet flesh, and a flowing gown befitting a princess. The son is the same, save the top is a cut-off tank top.
"I follow my mother's path, I, Eridian born of sacrifice to fate, give credence to you who spared me this day." They both raise their heads and look before them hold, but the bodies of Fate and Time to greet them this fortuitous day. The pair is guided by the hands of Fate, while a path is laid out by the sands of Time. Before the day is done, a light is seen by all, where this light leads, only the physical can go.
"You wish me to stop with these side details? Very well, we shall begin our tale proper, set out from fate and time our pair will travel to the town of which our heroes reside. And we shall begin thine tale at their moment of arrival, as you wish to only see action to tire the mind."
"Behold my loving child, the town that we have challenged to find, here we shall rejoin society and live in peace and harmony." Eridian says to Elpis.
"Indeed, Mother dearest, but surely our reduced sizes would mean we are that of a child? I mean no ill intent, but I suggest that we take caution as we proceed onwards. Or, if possible, find a place nearby to rest for a bit." Elpis suggests.
"I know you would only mean well my sweetheart, so for this, I shall listen, but in return, you shall listen to the one who loves you." Eridian replies. Elpis nods and the two slither away from the town and head towards the tree.
"So now you seek some insight? About how these two look, well, I can oblige that request. We shall start with the eldest: Eridian, a proud Lamia, and mother. Her long brown hair flowed cleanly and elegantly. Her piercing green eyes stated her authority and conveyed compassion and respect. Now her body, while the lower half of a snake,
was a beauty to behold. Her bust was supple and caught your attention, her hips were wide and tender, but her outfit was reserved: a plain skirt at the waist, where flesh met scales, and a flowing white gown that conveyed her royal position.
"Now for the younger: Elpis, he was small and reserved his presence nearly hidden. His short dirty blond hair and blue eyes were welcoming and calm but told you that he was inquisitive by nature. His figure was scrawny but muscular. His outfit was similar to his mother's, but the color was an off white rather than pure. Have I stated your curiosity?"
The pair began to move around towards what looked like an old farmhouse. With the hope of a place to stay the night, they began to quicken their pace. As the two raced towards the barn, they were blissfully unaware of the two people walking up ahead. This encounter to befall each will set forth events which will change history, forever.
"Shh! Elpis, do you hear that? It sounds like voices. I feel like an investigation is necessary." Eridian says, halting both of their paths. They continue ahead cautiously and find a small path. Just up from them, are two females, alicorns, walking and talking.
"They look like they are natives of the town, dear child. Best we avoid them for now." Elpis nods and begins to follow Eridian across the path towards the barn, but as they're crossing the path, a sizable stick breaks under Eridian's tail causing the two females ahead to snap back and fire a small magic pulse at them. The two dodge, but are forced into the open, where the females are waiting for them impatiently.
"And why are you two sneaking around dressed like that? Rainbow, Pinkie? Are you trying to scare us knowing Celestia is here?" The smaller alicorn asks. The Lamias brush themselves off and hesitate before responding.
"I know not one named Pinkie, or Rainbow, and I assure you, My son and I are trying to get to that town but felt the need to seek shelter for the night." Eridian explains.
"Right, come on. Props for choosing Lamias as your costume inspiration, but they went extinct years ago." The alicorn says.
"Ma'am, I do assure you. Mother and I are most certainly real. Do you call us liars?" Elpis asks.
"Please, the Lamias went extinct after Discord's reign over Equestira. You can't be real."
"Come now Twilight, you of all ponies should know that the impossible is possible." The tall alicorn says.
"Yeah, but Princess Celestia, you can't just come back from being extinct." Twilight starts.
"If I may, we are certainly real and are most certainly Lamias. My son and I were protected by two good friends eternal. They told us to seek this place out, and adapt to the new age." Eridian says. "If you'd let us remain here Princess."
"Mother dear, do you think that they will piece together what you have said? Sure, we are live by fate and draw breath through time, these two would not buy such fantasies." Elpis replies. When he mentioned time and Fate, Celestia's eyes went wide with awe for but a moment.
"If what you said is true, do you give your word that you mean no harm to my subjects." The two nod simultaneously. "Excellent. Now Twilight, I'm sorry to say, but something has just come up, and while I'd handle this myself, I would like you to watch over these two." Twilight hesitates but nods nonetheless.
"Good. I leave these two in your care. We will meet again soon enough, but until then, you are to care for these two." Celestia says, just before she teleports away with a bright white flash.
"So before we start anything, I want to know your names. Seems fair if I'm taking care of you two, and now that I look at you, you two are very small." Twilight muses.
"Very well, if we are to burden you, we shall tell our names. I am Eridian, Lamia queen, and this boys mother." Eridian says, bowing.
"I am Elpis, the son born through hope. I shall be in your care." Elpis says bowing. Twilight chuckles a bit before teleporting them back to her house.
"So begun has our tale, I assume you wish to know of the relics given life renewed, and of their legacy left behind. But of course, there are those that are content with leaving this tale as that, a tale. I wish for you to hear of the tale that changed history, for better of for worse."
Author's Note
Hey, everyone, I thought I'd try my hand at an epic style of writing this time. Oh if you're confused about some of the phrases used (Dear Father, Father time. Dear Sister, The Sister of Fate). Oh yeah, I started after Time and Fate gave Eridian and Elpis their gifts. Telling you now so you aren't confused. Also, question for you guys, How many years pass between the first meeting of Time and Fate to their second meeting?
As for how the son is a lamia as well. If you dig around enough, you'll find that Lamia gave birth to a daughter and son, each possessing the traits you're familiar with in modern adaptations. However, in the myth, the father of Lamia's children had to be given as a sacrifice.
Upon sacrifice, the daughter was given eternal youth, the son longevity. During a hunt, the two bit each other in a frenzy, sharing the abilities between them both. Outraged that this happened, Lamia sent her son into exile, where it is presumed he perished. Well, we know about the daughter. She lives but was cursed to only have female offspring, unless the father was to become a sacrifice for the child.
All this aside, I had a lot of fun writing and editing this. Going from archaic to modern speech is daunting at first, but it becomes easier as you write more. I hope everyone enjoys this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I don't have outfits picked out for the main 6, or anyone else really, but I'm giving you all a chance to fix that. Comment one outfit for the main 6 members you want. It's first come first serve, but it's going to be a while before another chapter comes out, so don't worry. And if you can't think of an outfit, since this is mythology based, make one of the main 6 a mythological beast. Well, Celestia and Twilight are taken, but the others aren't.