A Tale of Something New

The train ride was rather quiet for the time being. As I was the only passenger to get on, and I was correct in assuming that no passengers would head to that location. As such, I sat alone in the train after paying for my ride to the Empire. The train was rather nice. Its walls coated in a cream wallpaper that held the few pink flowers. The roof of the train had one light in the center of a dark blue with a pattern that resembled waves. The edges where walls met were painted orange and held lamps (probably to be used for reading at night). To the back was an open green door that led to an empty room with an orange door, the same shade as the edges of the walls, that was the end of the train. My seat in the current room was very comfortable with the color of the seat wide cushion being that of a nice vanilla cream, and to my back was a green glass backing that took the shape of wind.

Staring out the window, I allowed my mind to wander before eventually reaching something. ‘Being created, being born, growing out of a flower, or from a peach. It doesn’t matter to me.’

“’It doesn’t matter’, huh? I suppose it shouldn’t. Master, for all his deeds, never did say she wasn’t ‘alive’. Though, I fail to see how her interference would be of any concern.” Speaking to my reflection put my mind on a single track, and was a good way to pass time. “She couldn’t even handle a simple Land Mine spell, let alone my Elemental Storm spell. So, why is it that I continue to think about her? She has no redeeming qualities.”

‘Those two are my parents, and I will get them back. I don’t care what I have to do to get them back!’ Such thoughts were ridiculous. If she couldn’t even match me, then she stood no chance of even touching Arch Mage Prometheus. ‘I don’t care’, her voice continued to echo.

“That stubborn filly,” I let out before stopping. She was indeed real. Prometheus was wrong on that account. As was I, she wasn’t a doll. I stare at my reflection once more. “Should I apologize? Even if I do, there’s no chance that I can allow her to reach that goal. Those two are too important to him.” If she survived… “Since she survived,” I allow myself the correction, “I will have to continue to fight her. Hopefully, she will be able to defeat me. As it stands, however, I will not go easy on her.” The grin on my reflection is plain. His hope that she improves to give him a worthy challenge is written all over his face.

Once the train arrived in Ponyville, the number of passengers had increased by quite the amount. The cart wasn't full, mind you, but I was forced to sit next to an odd pair of mares. One was pale green with a harp Cutie Mark. The other was vanilla coated with a mane and tail of dark blue and pink whose Cutie Mark consisted of three wrapped pieces of candy. They were quite talkative, however, I paid little attention to them. Though, the green one was sitting down in a rather interesting manner. With the conversation of the two mares in the background, I found I had little opportunities to reflect on my thoughts, so I opted to take a nap for the remainder of the trip.

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The arrival at the Crystal Empire was smooth and on the train's scheduled time. The station itself was rather small, but oddly thematic. Purple with a glow and deep hue of the gems it was carved from. It was surrounded by fields of green with crystals growing from the very land beneath it. As we all depart the train, I saw a well-dressed old stallion holding a sign with my name on it. At least my arrival was made known. I walked up to the stallion, green with a white mane and a glass cup for a Cutie Mark. “Hello, am I to assume you are here to escort me to Arch Mage Count Conflagration’s manor or estate?” I asked the stallion.

“That is correct. My name is Well Manners, and I am his personal attendant,” he said. “If you would be so kind as to follow me. Lord Conflagration is awaiting your arrival in the coach outside the station.” With that we depart the station to a decent sized red coach. The wheels and edges of the coach were yellow with green symbols etched in, and it was apparently pulled by two red stallions with manes that looked almost as if they were on fire. What bothered me was that they looked strikingly similar. Well Manners then opened the door to the coach and I proceeded inside before he joined and closed the door. Inside I confronted another red stallion, but while the manes for the two outside only looked like they were on fire, his was indeed on fire, as was his tail. His Cutie Mark was also an Enochian Circle like Master's, however, this one was green with the symbols taking the shape of a black and red mountain not unlike an erupting volcano. “Lord Conflagration may I present, the young Comet Blaze.”

“I see… you are the student of that old mud stick, Prometheus,” the stallion said with a hardy voice. He looked as if he was examining me for a moment after he spoke.

“Former student, Count, and I believe he used to call you, Mr. Hot Streak? I can plainly see why,” I counter causing him to laugh.

“How did that stallion ever find a student with as much fire as you have, I wonder,” he said, “but enough of him, I assume you have been informed of why you are to assist me?”

“I have not been,” I reply, “I was merely informed that I was to work under you.”

“I see… then there is much to discuss.” He stops as he signals to begin our transit. “Before we get into the details, the basics of what I wish is nothing short of leaving no ice or snow in the Frozen North.”

I simply deadpan him. The very idea of such an endeavor was ridiculous and insane. “Lord Conflagration, if I may,” he nods, “that’s insane. How do you plan on such an endeavor, especially with the reports from our scouts who monitor it saying that signs of Windigoes have been found?”

“It is because of these signs that I take this, ‘endeavor’, as you call it.” His expression turns stoic. “Those creatures are terrible, and thrive on the very hate for this abominably eternal winter. I shall rid us of this evil, and return the land to flourish as it had done once before.” The passion in his voice was unmistakable, and his expression had once again changed, but this time to match his voice. “Now as far as what is required for us to accomplish our goals…”

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It’s been two months since I’ve started working for the Arch Mage of Fire. I found myself believing that he and Master both probably used the same decorator. If the only real differences were that Count's home had more of a fire theme. My room was no different, and like Master, I wasn't allowed to redecorate my room. The plan seems simple: Count plans on siphoning a small amount of power from the crystal heart in order to lift underground magma paths close enough to power heat transfer devices. The ideal path for the magma to travel was found to be cave systems far below chasms scattered all throughout the Frozen North. My only problem was that we have yet to discuss how to return the magma to it's original position to minimize the ecological damage to the Empire, itself.

"Lord Conflagration," I call as I enter his study. A direct reflection of Master's if not for the pillars with fire to each side of the table. He turns to me as he closes a book and returns it to the shelf. "I believe that as the plan seems sound, it still will cause damage to the agricultural environment if we don't return the magma immediately after we eliminate the winter."

"I would be inclined to agree with you," he replies, "if that was not also part of the plan." I stare at him dumbfounded. "The Crystal Empire is dangerous. The power of the Crystal Heart alone allows it to thrive in this forsaken Eternal Winter, and that makes it a threat to the rest of Equestria." He then cast's a spell to show me a map of the Empire and the Frozen North. "This is how it is now, a retched oasis of evil in a blizzard of hate," he proclaims defiantly before a massive volcano springs from the map. The volcano then erupts covering the land in fire and ash. The site of the snow being melted in destruction was one thing. The sight of the Empire burning as magma flowed through without mercy was another thing altogether. "The fire of purity will consume all, and the land will be cleansed to it's original glory."

I stare at him in horror. He was insane, and I was helping him. Did Master know? Was Prometheus aware of how mad Conflagration was? No, there's no possible way he would allow this madness to persist. "You're insane, you're a lunatic and must be stopped!" I shout. "I'm going to inform Arch Mage Prometheus. There's no way he would allow such horrors to happen." I proceed to exit as I suddenly feel myself being held in his magic.

"Now that's where you're wrong," he says in a quiet, chilling voice, "he won't be informed of this. As for you... I believe a simple spell will keep you obedient, young apprentice." Suddenly there's a sharp pain in my mind. As the pain grows, I feel myself slipping into unconsciousness.