The Different Prince

"Let her touch you with her magic, this time," Luna instructed me, taking Cobbler and standing back. I nodded and stood up straight, facing the giantess. I stepped forward.

She tilted her head curiously. Unsure of what I was doing. But, after a long moment of staring, she activated her magic again. This time I kept quiet as it enveloped me. Her magic felt different, heavy, yet gentle as if ran over me. She stopped after a couple minutes. Well, time was relative in dreams.

She sat back down and blinked a few times.

I sat down as well and watched her, waiting. If she was real, what did she want?

My apologies, but your mind is very different from mountains old. A voice resonated inside me head. I leapt back in shock. You seem easily frightened. Shall I leave you alone again?

Luna was at my side in an instant. "What happened, Gold? What did she do to you?"

"Nothing," I explained hurriedly. "I think she's talking in my head."

"But we're both in your head," she pointed out. "We should both be hearing her."

You make such strange sounds with your mouths. The voice went on, almost amused. Will you not converse with me?

"Um, hello?" I said, waving at the mare. She again looked confused.

Forgive me, I don't understand. She slumped a bit at the shoulder, seeming to be disappointed. Are you a foreign student? Have you come to learn to carve stones?

"What is she saying?" Luna asked.

"She's asking me if I want to learn to carve rocks," I answered, not taking my eyes off of the giantess. "But, she doesn't understand what I'm saying."

Luna thought for a minute. "Perhaps her language isn't verbal. Try thinking back at her. Direct your thoughts towards her."

I did just that, I asked her what she wanted.

I want to know if you want to learn to carve stone. She replied. Though she seemed happy that I actually replied. I was almost afraid you were incapable of speech. My name is Corner Stone. What is yours, dear student.

I replied back with an honest answer.

A prince? Here to learn to carve stone? she was surprised. I would be honored to teach you to carve stones. That is what you want right?

I answered her honestly, asking instead if she could teach me anything else. She lowered her head.

I carve stones. There is little to teach you outside of that. She sighed and looked at Luna. What is this strange creature who walks on two legs? If I may be so bold, prince.

I told her that was my auntie Luna.

Oh, a herd? Delightful. Corner Stone clapped her front hooves with a grin. I was beginning to worry I'd been asleep for so long that things had really changed.

"Uh, she doesn't seem to realize she's been asleep for millions of years," I quickly told Luna. I explained the other details of our conversation.

"She's... the Alicorn of Masonry?" Luna asked, sounding a little humorous. "Ask her what spells she knows."

The answer was less than satisfactory.

I use magic to lift hard stone to carve soft stone, light fire to stay warm, and hold spear to fight enemy of the empire. She seemed rather proud of herself. Oh, and link minds so I may teach students to carve stone for the empire.

I relayed this information to Luna. She was almost laughing now. "She... seems a little out of sorts, does she?"

I hated to admit it, but... she was right. Corner Stone didn't appear to be playing with a full deck. I asked her if she helped build the empire.

She nodded. I carved many of the stones, which my brother helped stack. We built house and fortress for our queen and her mountains.

Luna and I had to admit, that was actually interesting. Ask her who the mountains were. She seemed taken aback.

She pointed to herself. We are the mountains, the stackers of stone.

I thought on that. There was something so simple, yet primordially powerful about that statement. O asked her another question. I asked her who moved the sun.

She grew quiet for a moment, just staring at me. The king of course. He commands it's movements with his great red bell. Many gather near everyday, for it is believed that when you can see as it rings, you are healed.

I grew quiet. I turned and looked at my flank. So did the giantess. She gasped in awe.

Your destiny is the king's bell. She smiled. Have you come to relieve him of his duties? He has grown weary in his elder years. Perhaps your arrival shall dissuade him of his plan to move the world. We adore our king, but this is most foolish.

I decided to keep the part about the bell to myself. I told Luna bout everything else though. She was perplexed.

"It seems, perhaps the males of old were intelligent to some degree," she mused. I gave her an unamused groan. She apologized. "But, move the world? What could he hope to accomplish with that? How would it have been done? It would be like sitting on a chair and picking yourself up."

"Well, you could always throw magic into the mix," I suggested.

Luna shook her head. "No, don't be daft as an earth pony. Even magic has rules. In space there is nothing for your magic to push against."

Wow, racism. I snorted. "So. Besides everything else... what do we do about her?"

"Simple," Luna began with a shrug. "Ask here where she is that we might find her."

I lie upon my bed within my school of carving stones. She said in bemusement. Why else would I walk in your dream? Do you wish to learn in person? I assure you I can teach just as well in dreams if the distance is too great.

I shook my head. It was hard to explain. She was in for one hell of a shock. Mother and Twilight would probably have to handle the diplomacy on this one. But, I gave her one clear bit of instruction. Tell no one about the red bell.

She was a confused, but relented. As you wish, prince. I suppose our dear king can wait perhaps a while longer.