Chapters "Tear them down!" insisted the constable, raising his voice as to be heard over the homeowners' protests.
The Lord Mayor's eyes darted nervously from the agitated group to the burning bakery behind them. The people looked to him expectantly; their faces lit by the dancing firelight one moment and bright moonlight the next. Though the Mayor knew it was only a trick of the light, it had the disturbing effect of making them look alternately devilish and ghostly.
All he wanted to do was turn on his heel and crawl back to bed, but he knew this decision – and the political consequences that went with it – rested squarely on his shoulders. The constable might be right and the neighboring buildings had to be demolished to contain the fire, but the owners were influential and their wrath considerable. Then again, if he denied the order and the fire spread, he'd be blamed for failing to act. He gulped nervously and wiped his brow.
Meanwhile, the fire expanded; unconcerned with human inventions such as pride or politics or expectations for how fires should burn. All it knew was a hunger for exploration—and someone had left a broom carelessly propped against the ovens. From the basket of stale breads on the floor, to the work bench and tools, to the cupboards overflowing with supplies and ingredients; the fire ate and grew and ate again. Before long, it had grown too large to fit in the bakery and started spilling from the windows and poking through the roof.
As the men argued in the street below, the fire, insatiable, reached lazily for the eaves of the building next door.
Author's Note
This is a short chapter, but took months to write due to distraction by my kids and the effort of getting the wording and amount of detail just right. In the effort, it ended up pretty short, but the fire is important so it begins here.
Note that these events are Historically accurate and reference the Great Fire of London in 1666.
On a farm outside the city, a man moved in the night. Holding his lantern high, Henry inspected the wagon's straps – tugged here and there until he was satisfied. He gave Dee a customary pat on the flank and mounted the wagon. Eager to go, she started pulling almost before Henry had taken his seat. He laid the reins loosely in his lap and leaned back; Dee knew the way.
The road to London was once crowded with merchants and farmers trying to reach the market before dawn, but it had been weeks since they'd seen anyone. Henry figured whoever was still alive was avoiding him... not that he could blame them.
All day, every day, Henry went from house to house collecting the dead. With no ceremony or last rites; mothers, fathers, and children were tossed like sacks of flour into his wagon to be disposed of in the mass graves outside the city. It was only natural for people to wonder what kind of person could do such things...he'd wondered it himself.
He'd recently found a woman dressed in an absurd ballgown; most likely too proud to die in plain clothes. Henry hadn't thought twice about stripping her and wrapping her in her own bedsheets just to save room in the wagon. Maybe he deserved the looks of fear and accusation from the townspeople, but the work had to be done and there were few who could do it. This was his new life and he'd accepted it... or so he thought.
It had been several weeks ago. Henry was called to the house of a nobleman who'd died in the night. Waiting at the door was a woman dressed in black, her face a mask of emotion – clearly his wife. Behind her in the shadows was a girl of about twelve. Too young to hide her feelings like a "proper" lady, she kept her head down and hid behind her long, blonde locks.
They led him to a reading chair where the man lay slumped. Then they took a space against the wall, clearly intending to stay. Henry preferred to be alone for this part, but he pulled his hat brim down and got to work just the same. He did his best to avoid eye contact and focus on the job, but just once he stole a glance up to the lady's exposed neck. As he suspected, black spots were forming: he'd be back here soon.
That's when it happened.
The girl had been hiding her face in her mother's dress, but just then looked his way. Henry froze. At first, she looked surprised, but then her face shifted into an emotion that Henry couldn't identify. She looked sad of course, but also... something else. Then she smiled. It was small and brokenhearted, but a smile all the same. She turned back to her mother and Henry blinked. Released from her gaze, he resume his work though his hands trembled.
In the days that followed, that moment haunted him. When he drove through her district, he found his eyes wandering to look in the direction of her house. As the inevitable day of her mother's passing approached he felt conflicted. He wasn't sure he could bear to see her again, but he knew he couldn't bear not to either. He would never be able to rest easy if he didn't figure out why she upset him so.
As expected, her mother fell not long after and Henry was called again. The girl sat on the stairs this time; her arms pulling her knees in tightly, her head down. She was still there when he carried the body outside which made Henry feel restless. He tried to mount the wagon and go, but couldn't. He stood there foolishly for a few moments wondering why his body wouldn't obey.
Just then, Dee shifted slightly and his lunch sack fell over. An apple he'd picked that morning rolled out and he caught it. He looked back to the house. Surely the girl still had food, but he walked back inside anyway and laid the apple at the foot of the stairs. She said nothing, but it felt like the right thing to do.
In the following weeks, he stopped by her house every day. With her parents gone, food delivery would stop and she'd be "left to fate" – which in Henry's experience meant starvation. So he brought apples, strips of jerky, and whatever else he had to offer and, each time, she smiled and thanked him. It filled his heart , but at the same time he despaired. The disease hadn't spared her and her health was fading fast.
Despite how much it pained him to watch her wilt, he couldn't resist her pull. Like a moth to the flame, he would burn himself just to be close to the light.
Henry was so lost in thought that when Dee snorted, he flinched. Dawn was breaking and the city walls drew close. Henry absently placed his hand the lunch sack beside him where he'd put a particularly handsome apple he'd found on the tree that morning. He smiled. Only a few more hours until he could see her.
Author's Note
The role of Henry and Dee is two-fold. They are there to introduce and explain the horror of the times. He lives in a darkness he carries with him always. Dee is the only thing he has left in the world that matters to him...until he meet someone special. Their second purpose is to carry the story to "the girl" :)
She was worse. Much worse.
She sat with her back to the wall, her legs sprawled on the floor. Her arms lay limp and palm-up beside her. If it weren't for her throaty cough, he might have thought her dead already... though Henry knew from experience it wouldn't be much longer.
He stepped forward slowly – as if approaching a wounded animal; worried she might run away. Quietly –afraid to breathe too loudly, he set the apple and jerky on the floor beside her. It was a useless gesture, but it had become their tradition and he couldn't bear to break it. She tried to thank him as usual, but fell into a dreadful coughing fit instead.
Henry jumped and ran for the water pump. He hastily filled a cup and sloshed it badly in his hurry back to her side. When it he put it to her lips, another cough splattering red-tinged water across his arm. Feeling as if he'd swallowed a set of horseshoes, he held it a moment longer until he was sure she'd had a chance to drink. He set it down and started to stand. There was nothing more to say; nothing more to be done.
Her touch was so light, he barely noticed when she brushed his hand. He looked at her, surprised. Her hair was matted and fell across half of her face but it was enough to see her smile. In barely a whisper, she said, "it's alright."
Henry stiffened. Unable to speak, he just nodded once instead. Seemingly satisfied, she resumed her ragdoll pose which he took as his cue to leave. He rose awkwardly and stumbled out the door and down the walkway where he braced himself against Dee's side. The girl's smile set his head spinning and images flooded into his mind.
He hadn't thought of Eliza much in the past year – not since the day he'd lowered her into the ground. But now he clearly remembered her laugh, her smell, the sparkle of her eyes. There was that time she'd left laundry out and it started to rain – she was so sopping wet and angry when she'd come back in, he had to fight not to laugh. Water dripped off her hair and arms as she threw the clothes into the basket with a loud slpurch. He couldn't hold it in anymore.
She rounded on him hollering and complaining – looking for a fight, but he didn't oblige. His feelings overflowed and he pulled her into a kiss. They made love that night then lay together; listening to the rain pouring outside. He'd fallen asleep with her in his arms feeling more content and happy than any other time in his life.
He finally understood. Eliza was the last person to smile at him, to care about him, to try to lift him up when he was low. The girl was a complete stranger who owed him nothing and yet she wouldn't let him succumb to misery. Her smile, her words of encouragement – from the time they'd met until now, she cared more of his suffering than her own. As she lay dying on the floor – just a child – with what might have been her last breaths, she urged him to find peace.
Henry lay his head against Dee's shoulder. It wasn't proper for a grown man to weep so he set himself to adjusting the wagon straps instead. It took a long, long time to set them right.
Author's Note
I realize it might seem like the title of this chapter and the last are reversed, but I assure you that's not the case. Darkness and light refer to the state of Henry's heart. He might be going through a very painful experience right now, but he's been freed of his eternal darkness in the process. This is the power of intersecting with someone who carries a natural light within them. Someone like the girl he happened to meet.
Celeste woke. She was aching and sore and, well... nothing felt good. She supposed that was expected when one is dying from the plague.
With effort, she looked around the room. Based on the shadows, it was past noon. Beside her on the floor was an apple, some jerky, and a mostly empty cup with soiled water. In disgust, she knocked the cup aside.
She reached for the apple and held it in her hand. It was flawless. Completely wasted on her, but such a kind gesture regardless. He... what was his name? Come to think of it, she didn't think they'd ever properly introduced themselves.
Whoever he was, she admired him. The last weeks had been torture for her, but he had probably been collecting bodies far longer – maybe since the beginning. She couldn't even imagine how painful that would be, though she saw a glimpse of it whenever she looked in his eyes. The poor man.
She set the apple down and clasped her hands in her lap. Her back was stiff, but the mere thought of trying to move somewhere more comfortable was laughable. She knew the floor upon which she sat would be her final resting place and found that certainty somewhat comforting.
Of course she regretted having so little time. She'd had hopes, dreams, a loving family; now she had an empty house, an apple, some jerky, and...
As if on cue, Kitty leapt from the shadows onto the apple sending it rolling across the floor. She chased it – batting at it a few times – until she became more interested in licking one of her legs. Then she turned back to Celeste and with a small mew rubbed against her skirt and purred. Celeste reached out. Kitty rubbed on her hand then bit her before running away. Celeste's heart thumped and she smiled.
After their family had been quarantined, Celeste had been going through chests in the attic looking for something to do. She'd seen a strange black fuzz on some old sheets and went over to poke it. When it moved, it startled her half to death, but then it turned its little head to stare at her with striking teal-colored eyes. It was love at first sight.
The people of the city blamed cats for the sickness, but Celeste couldn't believe that such a darling creature could be evil. Of course, no one would have listened to a young girl's opinion so it was fortunate that Kitty was shy and never made noise or showed herself unless they were alone.
Celeste reached for the jerky and waggled it. Kitty pounced from somewhere, biting and kicking. After she was sure the "prey" was dead, she ate. Celeste still worried what would happen after she was gone, but Kitty was as ready as she could be.
The long days chasing the toy rats Celeste had sewn and pulled with string. The efforts Celeste had made to get her used to meat before the last of the milk soured. The window above her that she'd propped open so Kitty could escape. Celeste had done all she could. She hoped it would be enough.
She sighed and looked out the window. The sky was orange-colored and filled with smoke. It seemed they'd started burning bodies early today. Celeste felt her time was short. She closed her eyes and let her mind wander.
Her mother spent her final hours reminding Celeste that they'd see each other in Heaven. Celeste was happy her mother found comfort in that belief, but now Celeste was alone and her only comfort was the company of a kitten who was biting her hand again. She wanted to believe death wasn't the end, but couldn't quite accept what she'd been told in church.
In the end, it didn't matter what she believed about death any more than what she used to believe about her life. She would not have children or grow old. She was going to die and what happened, happened. Her body would simply be gathered and fed to the fire like all the rest. She could almost hear the sound of cracking wood, the stench of smoke, the sight of leaping flames flashing behind her eyelids...
Celeste jolted upright. The wall was on fire.
Without a second thought, she searched the shadows and corners for kitty. At last, she saw bright eyes staring at her from under the bureau.
"Kitty! " she called weakly. "Run! " she commanded, pointing to the window above her. Kitty ran to her, but instead of climbing to safety, buried her head in Celeste's sleeve and mewled .
No! Celeste thought. You have to go. Leave!
Celeste wrapped her hands around Kitty and tried to lift her to the sill, but the kitten was terrified and had her claws sunk deep into her shirt. Celeste tried to pull her free, but her body couldn't muster enough strength to do even that.
Her mind raced, but panic, sickness, and smoke made her dizzy and disoriented. The fire was rapidly chewing its way through the draperies and furniture and Celeste could already feel it's heat searing her face and legs. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around Kitty and curled into a ball.
The fire roared in her ears, smoke blasted across her exposed skin, she felt the fire stroking her back. She went numb from the shock and pain, but her only concern was the terrified kitten trembling against her chest.
"Don't be afraid Kitty", she pleaded. "Don't be afraid!"
Author's Note
In the last great plague of London, people were convinced that cats were the cause of their troubles and exterminated them on sight. It was actually the fleas carried by rats that spread the disease who, ironically, might have been better controlled if they hadn't killed all their cats. The thing that saved London from the plague was actually the great fire of London, September 2nd 1666. Most of the poorest parts of the city where filth, clutter, and rats festered were burned away.
5 - Another Story's Beginning
Celeste's conscious slowly returned. She was still lying on the floor, but her body felt strange; misplaced – but the burning had stopped. She could still see the flicker of flames behind her eyelids, but now she only felt warmth... like being held in a loved one's embrace. Slowly and steadily, the warmth leached away the terror taking with it the shuddering that coursed through her body.
She became aware of the quiet. She could barely hear the fire anymore. Not a roar or even a crack; just the soft sound of flames rising into the air – like you might hear sitting on the rug in front of the fireplace just before falling asleep.
It was peaceful, but punctuated by sobbing. Whoever was crying sounded young and afraid. Celeste bent her ear... or whatever was left of it. It was a stuttered cry that exactly matched the rhythm of her own spastic breaths. She realized it was her own cry that she heard.
She'd been worried some other child had been caught in the blaze and was so relieved to be wrong that it took her a while to realize how easily she was breathing. Little by little, her mind began to take stock: there was no more pain and her body felt strange, but strong again.
The light behind her eyelids moved and Celeste instinctively turned her head to face it. Carefully, she opened her eyes, then froze. The fire was looking at her.
Celeste was captured by bright yellow eyes that whispered of light and laughing and the joy of playing in an open field. They also spoke of great power: the strength of the sun and soil; of nature itself. She might have thought it the very face of God himself – if God was actually female... and a horse... with hair made of fire... and a long pointed horn on her head.
"God" looked at her with pained concern and a hint of tears forming in her eyes. Noticing Celeste staring, she rose to her full height and extended an impressive set of wings. If Celeste didn't know any better, she would have thought the horse was striking a pose.
"GREETINGS! I... " the horse began before her voice broke. Could horses look embarrassed? This one was making its best attempt.
The shadows beside her chuckled. There was another horse she hadn't seen at first. He also had a horn and large wings, but was deep blue – nearly black while the "god horse" was white. Her mane was made of orange and yellow fire; his was made of pale light and sparkles – like sand under the moonlight. He was taller and more stocky, but not intimidating. His eyes made her think of a tranquil night with softly falling snow, but also the power of wind and storm and the vast and endless oceans.
She felt calmed in his gaze, but at the same time... bright blue eyes on a dark, fur-filled face... he reminded her of Kitty. He must have seen something in her reaction because he turned to Fire-horse and said, "shall we?"
She looked annoyed, but obliged.
"Celeste, of London. My name is Tau Sunflare. I brought you here because I need you... the world needs..." She became flustered and puffed out her cheeks. Her flames flared oddly pinkish.
Dark-horse, who'd been watching patiently, smiled then turned to Celeste and said, "She's been waiting for you for a long time. She had a whole speech planned you know..."
Fire-horse shot a look at him and made an annoyed noise. She flicked her tail on his rump with a loud smack, but it seemed to have no effect. He just looked at her and smiled serenely.
She glared for a moment then sighed exasperatedly as if he'd won some silent argument between them.
Fire-horse lowered her wings and relaxed her pose. Celeste, having been mesmerized by the interaction between the two snapped to attention when Fire-horse looked at her again.
"I... I brought you here because we need you. Your life was ending..." she broke eye contact and looked to away like she was ashamed. She hesitated.
Dark-horse laid his wing on her gently in support. Her head dipped slightly and she lowered her eyes, but turned to face Celeste again.
"I'm sorry for what you went through. I can't take somepony until their world has let them go. I wish it didn't have to be this way..." She stopped again.
Celeste was no expert on horses, but these were so human-like that there was no question of the guilt Fire-horse was feeling. "But you saved me," she said.
Fire-horse's eyes snapped up in surprise. She stared for a moment, then started slowly "... yes... I... suppose I did".
Celeste smiled, "Thank you."
Fire-horse's mane flared again, a much brighter pink this time. She might have imagined it, but her face might have flushed a bit too. She was imposing, but endearing somehow. Celeste decided she liked her.
Dark-horse looked at Pink-horse for a moment and some silent communication seemed to pass between them again.
"Look to the sky," said Dark-horse; who looked up himself.
Celeste obliged. Until he spoke, the three of them had been in total darkness, but with his gesture, the sky came alive with bright twinkling stars. It was incredible.
"Each light you see is a soul that lives in another world, in another time. When the conditions are right, Tau Sunflare can reach out to brightest of them and bring them here."
Suddenly curious, Celeste turned back to him and asked, "where is here? What is this place?"
"This place..." joined Tau Sunflare, "... is known as Equestria."
She gestured outward with her hoof and the darkness around them retreated. Suddenly, Celeste was sitting in cool grass under a bright moon-lit sky. The lands beyond faded into view as if being created at that moment. They were high upon a hill overlooking a valley in which snaked a lazy river. Small villages dotted the countryside and rising tall above the trees of the forest beyond were the spires of a castle.
Tau Sunflare gazed over the land with pride, then took a breath. "Our role is to nurture and grow this world and the ponies who live within it."
"Ponies?" Celeste asked.
"Yes," said Dark-horse. "In this world, we ponies live not unlike how you humans do on yours. But this world is young and in need of more direct guidance than we can provide. That is why we reached out to you."
"Why me?"
Tau Sunflare looked at her again with a solemn expression. "Because you were the brightest star I have ever seen. I know in my heart that you will become a guiding light for millennia to come. That's why I fashioned you in my own image and shared with you my power. So that you might help us to inspire and protect the creation we love."
Celeste was in awe of her words, but latched on to one part in particular. "Your image?"
How had she missed it before? Where her nose should have been was a long white snout. Her hair fell beside her in pinks and greens and blues; waving slightly even though there was no wind. If she turned her eyes up as far as they'd go, she could see the white horn upon her head. Where her hands should have been were hooves.
The god-ponies gave her a few moments to take it in.
"Oh." was all Celeste said. Tau Sunflare looked crestfallen. Clearly she'd been hoping for a different reaction.
"Give it time," rumbled Dark-pony; whether for her or Tau Sunflare, she didn't know.
"To be clear," he started again, "we ask that you live in this world with us. You are young and foreign, but we will raise you to learn of this place and of your role within it... if you will accept."
Celeste must have looked confused because he added, "we cannot force you to accept our gifts. It must be your decision."
Celeste looked to Tau Sunflare. The fire-pony was looking away, but trying to stealthily glance back to see Celeste's reaction from the corner of her eye. It was adorable. She definitely liked this pony.
Still... it was a big decision. Being reborn into a new world, with a new body, with a new fate.
"What about my parents? What about my friends? What happened to them?"
Dark-pony looked at her with sympathy. "Dispensation of souls among realities is a complex thing. We fear we could not explain adequately, but for now let us say that they are at peace. Your decision will bring no harm or distress for anypony that you care for."
Celeste looked over the land again. It felt alive and magical – like a fantasy book come to life. Compared to fire and disease or whatever other path her fate might have taken, this felt right to her, but she still had one regret. She gazed back into Dark-pony's eyes. He really did look a lot like Kitty.
He smiled; seeming to understand. "Raise your wing," he said.
Celeste looked to her side and was surprised to find a wing there. It took a few tries to figure out how to command it, but when she lifted it...
"Mew!"
It was a tiny blue pony with black specks on her rump. She had little wings and a small horn. When she saw Celeste, she gazed at her with the same striking, teal-colored eyes.
"Kitty!" Celeste cried, pulling her close.
Kitty squirmed and tried to bite her, but couldn't quite figure out how to work her new body.
Celeste laughed feeling her last reservations fading away. She smiled at the two god-like ponies. "I'll stay. I want to learn of this world and the peopl... ponies who live here."
Tau Sunflare smiled, "Then it's done! I, Tau Sunflare, dub you Celestia of the sun; light and protector of Equestria."
Dark-pony added, "And we, Orbash Duad Bonist, dub the one created in our image Luna of the moon, protector of tranquility and peace. Sister to Celestia of the sun."
Whatever expression Celeste made in response, it made him smile.
Tau Sunflare seemed impatient and continued, "You two will live by our sides in the castle. We will teach you all that we can about this world, about your power, and about your responsibility. After some time – perhaps several hundred years – we will return to the cosmos and our work there while you two will rule in our place together."
It was a lot to take in, but Celeste had seen too many amazing things already to question it. Instead, she asked, "so, we'll be a family?"
Tau Sunflare's eyes popped open and she stiffened. "...Yes... a... a family."
Orbash smiled widely and looked at Celeste with mischief in his eyes. "You can even call her 'Mother' if you wish."
Fire-pony glared at him dangerously, but the bright pink explosion of fire around her betrayed her true emotions. He just stared at her with a smile, saying nothing. He didn't have to; he'd already won. Celeste giggled. She decided she liked him too.
Mew! Luna added.
Celeste could tell she was getting restless and wanted to run around which probably wasn't a good idea in a dark field in the middle of nowhere.
Tau Sunflare's expression changed as she seemed to take in everything at once. "It's time to go," she said simply. Celeste wobbled to her feet... hooves and then looked to her new guardians.
"We're ready."
Tau smiled, unable to hide how happy and satisfied she felt. Her horn glowed brightly, surrounding the four of them with sparkling light. Then, with a flash, they were gone.
=========================================
Author's notes:
You have just read the first story I ever created for My Little Pony. I have dreamed of telling it since 2010 when I first thought of it, but I didn't have the artistic skill to pull it off. Since then, I have spent thousands of hours drawing ponies and writing; trying to build my abilities.
It was supposed to be a comic, but I eventually realized that if I ever have the skill I need, it won't be while MLP is still around so I decided to write the story instead. Now that it's out, a whole lot of things should make more sense:
Celestia called Luna "Kitty" in my very first comic because she never dropped the nickname... not in private anyway.
In a picture of Orbash and Luna I made in 2015, Luna meows at Orbash. It took her some time to learn words :)
In my "Second Chance" story, this is why Celestia knew what was wrong with Heartsong.
In the Gathering The Elements comic, Celestia had inner fears about dark, human-shaped shadows destroying Equestria. Her background as a human is why she had such gruesome fears.
In Willow's love story, Celestia's vision haunted and gnawed at Willow's sanity. The visions of death and human-shaped shadows defeated all of Willow's friends except two: Rose Petal who's love was her strength and Heartsong, was once human herself.
Celestia and Heartsong weren't the first or only humans brought to Equestria. Tau Sunflare has brought many souls to Equestria through history.
Nopony can hold the title of king or queen in Equestria, because those titles belong to Tau and Orbash
I feel a great sense of accomplishment finally getting this story out. In theory, it should have been the foundation from which everything else was based, but I just didn't have the ability. Hopefully I was able to do it justice in the end, but at least it's finally been given form. Thanks for reading!
(I made this art last year in an attempt to push my art in a direction that would bring the story to life. It didn't take me long to realize I had way too far to go, but here it is just the same. It's the moment that Celeste (Celestia) fell in love with Kitty (Luna).