Walking through a forest at night opens so many windows for the imagination to peer into. There are countless sources of inspiration wherever one might explore, but for During, the best places to explore were dark and quiet.
The unicorn had traveled numerous forest paths in his adventures, as well as other paths in other settings. Those weren’t as exciting to him, though. In these ways, he was different from his brothers.
His elder, Before, was an earth pony who also enjoyed solace, but in a much brighter and more stationary manner. He spent most of his days alone, working in fields and humming slowly to tunes that came to his head during the sunny days.
The younger, After, seemed to never sleep. The pegasus spent days and nights constantly out with strangers and exploring, dancing to rhythmic beats that no one else could hear.
While his brothers lived their lives in their parts of their worlds, writing music with their own inspiration, During whistled quietly in the darkness, inspired by the sounds of wind and nocturnal animals, as well as the lights of stars and glowing eyes. He trusted the mysterious creatures to keep their distance from the strange magical being wandering their forest, whistling casually. Even if they decided to take action against him, During did not fear them, for he had his means of protecting himself, as all of his siblings had.
His whistling cut short when an ominous wind blew. He felt a warmness in the breeze that was just as unsettling as it needed to be to remind him he was being followed.
“You don’t need to worry about these beasts,” he told his sister who was lurking in the shadows. “This forest is docile, there are no predators that would dare harm us.”
“Maybe not,” his sister whispered from all around, “but there are others that would wish to do harm to you. Or have you forgotten?”
During scowled, “No, I have not. I recall perfectly the history of my ancestors always fleeing from The Endless. But, as are we, they are mortal and must take their rest as we do.”
“And may keep secrets as we do,” she pointed out.
“Yes Shadow,” he grinned, “As we do.”
She manifested before him, pausing his calm canter. “I told you not to speak my name so casually.”
“As I recall, fondly,” he mocked her. “But it seems so tiring to have to be so formal at every occasion. I thought that was Before’s duty.”
“There are rules to follow, brother. As you muses record history in your music, The Endless seek to end time by finishing off our bloodline.” As she spoke she began dissipating back into the darkness of the night. “And as they hunt you, we must hunt in return in order to balance the flow of time with Discord, and Harmony.”
During scoffed again, and mumbled, “and you think I’m stupid…”
“What?” She demanded.
“I’m not the one exposing our history to the quiet of night. I don’t need to be reminded constantly, mom and dad taught me well enough, I don’t need you harping me about it constantly.”
“Then you should know not to forget your formalities.”
“Pssh,” he hissed. “I’m the muse During, of the present, and these days formalities are treated as old fashioned. More luxurious than commonplace.”
Shadow groaned from hiding while During continued at his casual pace and his whistling. It was still a long walk before they would arrive in Canterlot.
Another whisper of the breeze and During stopped whistling again, laughing slightly to himself. This little brush of, what Shadow called “warm darkness” was what she used to let him know she has something to say, and he would make sure the coast was clear before initiating conversation, so as not to reveal her in case enemies were nearby. He furtively cast his simple sensory spell, which would alert him to anything that might be hostile. When nothing was shown, he asked what it was his sister wanted.
“Remind me of our intentions in Canterlot,” she insisted.
“Since Harmony’s passing, and her decision not to reincarnate, her lifeforce has been separated into several different elements. We need to let Celestia and Luna know, and see if they have any plans for Harmony’s remains or what they know about Discord’s newest form.”
“Right, thank you.”
She remained silent a few more steps before brushing through During’s scarlet mane once more. “Yes?” He prodded idly.
“I just, liked Discord’s previous form,” Shadow bantered. “He had a way with darkness that I admire.”
“I feel he was quite selfish, enslaving the crystal civilians and waging war on Equestria. He didn’t even use his proper name.”
“Yes but Sombra is so much more deviant, I believe.”
“Deviant perhaps, but darkness and slavery do not embody the spirit of Discord wholly. It was no wonder he fell so soon.”
“Yes, but don’t the songs of a previous Muse tell of his re-coming?”
During sighed. “The living body of Sombra was malicious and vindictive. Selfish, to say the least. If a piece of him used dark magics to hibernate with the Empire he very well may. But he won’t possibly revive the spirit—or power—of Discord that previously embodied him, and so it shouldn’t be hard to defeat him once again.”
“In whatever manner he does revive,” Shadow said, “I wish to be there to see him once more.”
“His presence spawned twice as many Endless as have ever existed on this world in the past,” During reminded her. “To have him around again would only mean more work for you. You wouldn’t have time to admire him.”
“You have enough ability to survive a few hours without me.”
“And you’re willing to take that chance?” During challenged. When Shadow didn’t respond he continued. “Believe me, I’d love to spend a day without you. However, since days like those are near impossible to achieve thanks to the endless number of Endless, we’d best not separate.”
“As you wish…”
