Storm of Feelings

The connection was lost once Caelen fell asleep; cradled against a Lesser One I consider family. With a great regret I woke the child up with the sudden reconnection to the “third Eye”. Many would be against the methods I was using… to be honest I personally thought that the entire spying around using a small foal for it was way below the low state. But I simply could not act differently. Not after both Luna and my brother came back into my life. To make it even worse… they were together now.

“Is this one of your punishments brother?” I thought and sigh heavily releasing some of my frustrations with it. Somepony knocked on the door, Already aware of who it was I took a deep breath and rapidly changed my posture, the mask I was wearing for the meeting with the folk has been removed and I allowed to enter one out of many private chambers. The door opened on its own with a very annoying scratching sound; as old as it was and as often I forgot to let somepony repair it I was not really surprised by it. But the shame about it that I was feeling now hurt a small part of my pride as a host and as a mage.

A stallion of average age watched how the door swung open for him in a very unimpressed way. A wealthy attire suited his grey fur quite well. Wonderful patterns were decorating the expansive silk with its curves and form shaping a symbol that was known only to few ponies in this land. The common folk would probably assume that he was serving either the crown or a noble house. In fact the stallion was serving the two mentioned things, plus myself. But he was not consider as a mere servant oh no.

“I did not see you for quite a while Lorenzo! Being busy as always aren’t we?”

“You know my profession Artemis.” He grinned and bowed very formally. “Being busy is a relative term if I think about my duties… but I am glad that so many mares are involved in it. Makes the entire profession a bit more enjoyable though even that can be called a relative term.”

“ I hope that with enjoyable you do not mean only mating my dear friend.” We both chuckled and I placed my wing on his shoulder. “ Welcome in my tower friend, Please take a seat; you must be tired”

“My butt is tired from all the sitting around at my desk and in the chariot… but as long you still have the blue comfortable pillow I am willing to ignore my backside for the meanwhile.”

“Don’t get used to comfort Lorenzo. The things in the south do not look so good… and I am quite sure that my enemies know that we both are friends. Do you know what…”

“Yes I sadly do… “He interrupted me and sat down on the blue pillow he praised so much. “They impaled the Governor of Hoofhime for being a Unicorn friend. To make it worse they burned his family in front of his eyes.”The Pegasi sighed loudly. “Brothers are killing brothers… the riots continue and are about to reach our regions.”

“The gates of Marehime will not stand open for those blinded fanatics. Be assured of that.” I went over to a picture of a wine cellar and whispered the code:

I will not get waisted in the old Alicorn language. The line of the picture became transparent and bottles of different sizes, shapes and even age flew out of it; creating a perfect line between me and my guest.

“What would you like to drink old bagger?” I asked and the wine bottles slowly swirly around his head. As usual Lorenzo took his time and with great fascination he inspected the wine that was nearly as old as I am… who’s the old bagger now eh?

“A wine from the north is quite seductive right now. If possible I will gladly drink the wines of the north-east.”

“North-east? Can it be that you miss your region despite or last colorful conversation about it?”

“Things have changed… I started to realize the value of things I posses. My service for the crown made me wealthy and my own personal company brought fourth more than expected.” He sighs and point at a bottle with his wing. “It made me arrogant nearly selfish. I forgot the true meaning of value until the day the devouring flames of hatred nearly destroyed the things I care for.”

While he was talking I let the remaining wine bottles fly back into the picture. The glasses have been filled and levitated on a already prepared table that was nearly as old as our friendship.

“I want to leave this life behind me Artemis. I’ve met a wonderful mare who managed to free me of its grasp; just through smiling at me. I-I feel in love.”

“These are wonderful news!” To find love with our positions in the society was never easy. Many times I saw him drinking his sorrow away after his first love betrayed him with a wealthier pony. For years his heart was frozen and did not allow that such emotions would ever again blossom in it. But I could see it in his eyes that the ice melt away, In fact I was able to understand it because my own heart melted its cold shell away once I saw Luna among the living. “Who is the lucky mare?”

“Her name is Holda.” Once he spoke his name it seemed like his mind faded away into another realm. A thing I knew as did everypony that found love in this world. “The most beautiful mare I have ever laid my eyes upon. Her beauty outshines every jewel at the Queen’s crown; makes the stars turn pale and even the Lights of the North look like a joke.”

“If she really is so beautiful, I am quite sure she is…” I quickly said before he could stare at me with his eyes. Believe it or not he was able to make them look like the eyes of a dead fish; just the mere thought made me shiver. “Then I would keep an eye on her and the possible competitors”

“We know each other for a longer time and, thank the Elements, I managed to win her heart.” His chest suddenly swelled with pride. “I already asked her to marry me. She accepted”

I would have cheer at him loudly… but the sting I suddenly felt in my heart took me my voice. The two glasses that were levitating in front of my chest were shaking. If somepony would have seen me right now they would probably think I am in delirium; what Lorenzo was probably thinking right now according to his facial expression. Though I was happy that one of my few best friends was about to put a step into a new life his sudden information about his upcoming marriage opened a very old wound that never healed during the last millennium.

The pain came back and with it the memory that showed me the biggest mistake of my life. Lorenzo was one out of few who knew my story. Bah! We were like brothers. He did not ask for forgiveness but his eyes were talking for the mouth instead. I simply smiled at him. Not with the smile I was using while meeting important ponies no. It was a smile that I could afford to show only ponies I trust or care for. The glass flew slowly towards the Pegasi and as always he grabbed it with his wing; quite a characteristic thing of Lorenzo often called the Illusive.

“I wish you and your future wife Holda all the happiness and wealth the life can offer.”

“My dear friend…” He raised his wing slightly while he kept speaking. “May you finally find the peace you are looking for.” The sound of hitting glasses filled our ears and we both sipped on our wine. The sweet taste spread on the tongue slightly granting me a pleasant warmth in the body; one of the most impressive attitudes of the wine produced in Lorenzo’s land.  The guest enjoyed the sensitive effect of the wine but soon the small glimpse of happiness I saw in his eyes has been pushed away by something.

“Sadly I have to ask you for your help Artemis.” The way he said *help* made me slightly shiver inside.

“What is it you need?” Lorenzo rarely asked for help but once he did then most of the time it was something very important, hard to acquire or simply both.

“This time it is a very delicate matter… in fact I considering it dangerous even deadly.”

“As I said… how can I help you?”

“I want to leave this land and move to Equestria together with Holda and her remaining family.”

“Remaining family? Oh dear…” I started to realize what was about to be told. “She is a…”

“She is a Unicorn yes…” He ended the sentence and placed the glass on the nearby table. “I want a family as anypony else Artemis but I do not intend to let my future family live in this land.”

“I do understand it but we both live in the part of the Free Marshes that allow the subjects to marry Unicorns despite being a different breed.”

“The shadow of hatred might be fading away but the situation here is too unstable… this imitation of peace might last for a few years but I will not allow that my future children will suffer for being what they are!”

Deep in my heart I was glad that despite the history of this former part of Equestria there were still thousands of ponies who were like Lorenzo. Thanks to our efforts the situation for the Unicorns and Aiicorns has been improved even if it is slightly noticeable; especially while one would walk through the alienage. I sipped on the wine and made myself comfortable on my own pillow.

“In that case Equestria or lands beyond it are the best option given to your family. But I know you long enough to know that this is not the real reason why you ask for my help. What is it you want Lorenzo?”

The Pegasi chuckled quietly and touched a rather deep cut on the edge of the table he was responsible for; to be honest partially it was my doing as well. At the very beginning of our friendship we got drunk in the end starting a childishly wrestling; the result was me cutting into the edge with my horn. The memory let me feel the unpleasant pain on my horn; I was not able to cast magic for a week.

“Before I will come to this point I have to tell you some important news.” Rapidly his facial expression became very serious making him look surprisingly older. “The rumors of the “Colorful Mob” turned out to be true. They are gathering in the Ashwoods of Hoofhime preparing for a massive purge.”

My lungs stopped to breath, my heart stopped to beat and I could swear that cold sweat appeared on my back. This could not be possible! How could such thing remain unseen to me!?

“A massive Purge?  There were no purges for nearly five hundred years Lorenzo! How did you acquire this gruesome information?”

“I have my eyes and ears everywhere Artemis; especially in places where your kind is not welcomed at all.” He suppressed a sigh and rubbed his temple with the free wing. “You cannot imagine what I had to pretend to be to find this out… never than less the Purges are about to start again. When is not certain but I am sure that nothing will stop this uprising.”

It seemed like he was expecting some comments from my part but the silence that was literally echoing in the air was broken by Lorenzo; after he nipped his wine a few times.

“Since the coronation of King Dawnstar III racism and fanatism have been reignited in the heart of the ponies. As you probably know on your our beloved king, may he rest in peace, was a Half Unicorn…  For nearly a millennium, not since the terrible outbreak of the Black Death, there were no Alicorn , or more insulting, any “Horned One” leaders.

“Unicorns and Alicorns nearly faced extinction in  the Free Marshes. The Black Death took its tribute but the real eradication started once the plague vanished from this world.” Oh if that would be true… “Not many survivors can be found from those dark times.”

“You are one of few who have survived those horrors; including your brother.”

“Are you sure that he has survived it?” I thought and withstood the urge of drinking the entire content of my glass at once. Not that I could do it in the first place with the gross taste on my tongue.

“Let us not talk about this matter.”

“As you wish…” Lorenzo was watching his own reflection in the wine while he continued his story. “During the reign of Dawnstar III the first preachers entered the streets, warning the subjects about the growing that started to shroud their land. That the shadow of Death itself was once again upon them. You can realize what have been reborn in the hearts of the ponies and other intelligent living beings.”

“The king feared that any actions against those preachers would make the things worse but he could not simply let it grow stronger. Wise as he was Dawnstar III used the rules established by the old rulers against the mad preachers, stopping their preaching for a while. Sadly they returned in greater numbers and with twice as strong speeches.

“I know our story Lorenzo. Riots were consider as a punishment back in the old days, unjustified punishment for filled by ponies that were mad and blinded by hatred.”

“Even you will have to agree that the riots became rare during the last 500 years. The Unicorns repopulated as did the Alicorns; sadly in far less numbers. They started to adapt, find new ways to live among the new rulers and soon they returned into the society. Very slowly they became involved into the world of trade and politics as in the old days before the blasted plague. Many will not agree but ponies like us know that thanks to the Unicorns the financial crisis has been breached and that the Free Marshes earned their status as the best in- and exporter next to Equestria. The Unicorns grew stronger… I am quite sure that many were watching their progress with disgust and anger; maybe even fear.”

“Motive enough to start aggressive actions against the Unicorns… but would they really…” I did not end this sentence realizing that whoever was behind all this would consider to start massive Purges in the cities and villages.

“Greed has poisoned the hearts of the subjects. Bits, gems, jewels, silver and even copper… have overcome the value of a living being long before the Black Death. Would the subjects really start massive Purges to gain power, wealth or simply pleasure? Of course! Why should they not? Despite everything that the Unicorns and Alicorns did achieve with their sharp minds and magic they were and still are consider as trash and scum. Besides the fact of being what they are… it was their success that brought doom upon them. Loaning bits in their banks, companies overtaking those that were not able to keep up, companies of “decent” ponies I am talking about! Jealousy and desperation are born alongside of hate. Why should they not start to Purges in the cities? Why should they allow that the Horned Ones would overtake their places? Many see a opportunity in it. Those who owe a huge amount of money will gladly see those who lend them a credit burning on a pyre. Others will overtake the banks and their finances, houses and farms, lands and mines, ships and shipments… I could mention more but I am quite sure that you see the entire picture on your own. In the end, besides the already mentioned facts, other will simply enjoy to watch how the Horned Ones are being wiped out. The far more powerful individuals would watch everything from above, enjoying what their eyes see while drinking wine.”

I was about to nip on my wine but a gross taste in my mouth snared my throat and belly. The last time I had such taste in my mouth was in the time when the plague was ruling the land. In the time where I slit open the black spots on the skins of the infected; hoping to squish the deadly disease out of their bodies.

“Why should they not let it happen? They don’t have to get their hooves dirty. They will simply pull the strings; watch how the dolls dance for them. Here and there they will push a slight rock that will start a entire avalanche. Their influence and power will grow and will be secured and strengthened. The wealth will increase rapidly and along with everything good for them… the filth will be gone from the world of politics, trade and the cities. Surely many subjects will be happy about this outcome while those responsible for everything will be filthy rich. Yes… a Purge seems to be a wonderful solution; for those who have not a soul at all.”

“This is sick and beyond disgusting!” I suddenly yelled. The glass that was levitating in front of me broke from the pressure my horn created but gladly my mind was clear enough to grab the fluid in the air; making it float like in a place with very low gravity. Lorenzo was looking at me, waiting till I managed to calm my sudden outburst that was nothing new to him. While he was waiting he grabbed his own glass with both wings trying to protect the precious content from being spilled over the floor.

“We were once fighting monsters… we still do. But even the old Abominations are dying out and new monsters replace them. Monsters in form of ponies… monsters we cannot openly fight against.”

My friend lifted an eye brow and kept looking at me a bit irritated about the spoken words. It was not a easy thing to do but mages tend to do so quite often; mostly without being aware of that.

“I heard these words long ago while I was traveling from town to town. I’ve met many various individual beings on this wretched travel that seemed to not find an end.  One of them was a Lesser One called Nazan. It was in the beginning of a very short autumn. The days were unnaturally cold and slowed me down. I found him in a tavern, sitting at a table that could fit two big families all alone by himself. I was the only pony who had the courage to take a seat at this table; since he was a Unicorn of a size of a fully grown Alicorn.”

I chuckled at the memory of the pony who suddenly smiled at me, happy about the fact that I decided to grant him some company in a town full of Earth ponies. In the same time I summoned the wine bottle out of the picture and to Lorenzo’s great joy I refilled our glasses. This time the bottle remained on the table and I decided to continue my own story.

“Together we have been thrown out of the tavern. The hay, table and the wooden dishes we were using have been burned at the outskirts of the town while a small mob of the citizens shoo us away with stones and wooden bats. I offered Nazan to accompany him for a while. I have to say Lorenzo… listening to him was like listening to a professor of my old university.”

“I assume it was either boring as hay or incredibly fascinating.”

“It was something worth to not be left forgotten. After he spoke the very words he vanished while I was sleeping. Two days later I end up in Hoofhime.”

Nazan was a companion to me for two full months until our ways separated. A very characteristic pony who was unlucky enough to be born with the old Heritage. Suddenly I realized that my own story was longer than expected. The memories have been pushed away into the corners of my mind for those things were not relevant now. How unkind of me to let him listen to me while he came here asking for my aid.

“I am sorry Lorenzo. You are a very busy stallion my friend… I do not wish to steal more of your time.” I smiled at him sincerely. “You should be with her now not in the tower listening to a Alicorn about his journeys.”

Lorenzo kept looking into his wine until he placed his glass on the table. In that very moment he bit his lower lip and puffed out loudly. Oh, oh… this never was a good sign.

“You know me Artemis. Probably better than anypony do. The thing I am asking for is very difficult and surely not safe; especially for you. My future wife is right now being hold as a prisoner in the Headquarters of the Order.”

“What?” I asked surprised and lean a bit forward to him. “The Order is holding your beloved? Pardon me but this is hard to believe.”

“I was not believing it myself until one of my servants brought me a sealed letter that has been delivered by a eagle of the Order.” He sighed and without saying something he intended to nip on his wine but the glass was already empty. While trying to understand why the Order would take Holda into custody I refilled our glasses and tried to remain patient while Lorenzo nipped on his wine.

“I will try to make it quick. My dear Holda is one of servants of the Governor who survived the “accident” that occurred a while ago. Among two other Unicorns she was serving the Governor’s family living in the estate that right now is a pile of ash.”

“I see…” It was true. The Governor was a good stallion who was willingly offering jobs to everypony regardless the race; but his choice was often affected by his wife and his daughter, especially his little treasure who was ill and needed ponies she would like to have on her side. It seems that Holda managed to win the fillies heart what surely helped her to find her place in the society of Marehime. “I might have seen her in the company of the Governor’s daughter. Still… why would the Order take her in? And what was the content of the letter?”

“I was about to go on Artemis…”

“Pardon me…”

“As you know the great Order is not always dealing with small things that are usually dealt with by the City Guard. Marehime is a very large city and often the City Guard is not always able to deal with everything at the same time. Though the Order is associating with the City Guard they are dealing with things that are beyond the City Guard’s reach.”

As usual I nod at the thing I already know but one cannot be weary enough in those times; everything could be of vital importance. Slightly I nipped on my wine though it did not taste the same way as it did in the beginning. Lorenzo was quite good an ruining ones taste or appetite if it was intention but this time it was not the case.

“The investigation of the late fire in the Governor’s estate, which is also the Town Hall of Marehime, has been declared as an act of violence against the entire city and its citizens. Of course the investigators are searching for the one responsible for this violation. My poor Holda is being accused for burning down the estate, for an attempted murder on the Governor and his family, for murder of the victims who died in the flames and even worse... she has been accused for endangering the heavily populated area of this city.”

“You can’t be serious!?” My sudden outrage surprised me far more than Lorenzo. “The fire that has been unleashed was something that required special materials to combine into a proper powder. Besides that there is no possibility that she could have ignited the powder! Normal flames would simply devour it like a dry leaf. The necessary spell for this is a very complicated… not to mention the fact that only a few ponies are able to cast it. Gah! I personally know three ponies who can do it; two of them are no longer among the living for more than twenty years!”

“You are the third then? Aren’t you?”

“If I would not know this spell it would be impossible to extinguish the devouring flames.”

Lorenzo stretched his wings and started to play with the buttons of his vest.

“Do you think… that the Governor is involved in this tragedy?”

The sound of the glass breaking filled the air and only with extreme effort the wine has been stopped from tainting the white rug with its red fluid. The Pegasi noticed it right away, grabbed his own glass and tasted a part of his old Homeland.

“Why would you come up with that Lorenzo? I asked and let the floating fluid refill the glass that has been melted together into its old shape through the kind help of magic.

“I have eyes and ears everywhere Artemis; starting with the lowest parts of Marehime where all the scum is drinking their money away to the very estate of Lord Solitude. Only your tower is safe from my eyes.”

“I would not be surprised if it would not be free from your ears.”

“Pointless talk among the citizens might be interesting to listen to but gossip is often twisted in a way that not even a child would believe it. But I have to say my friend… the visits of the Princess did start quite a chatter here and there but the Ambassador leaving your tower with a bleeding wound did catch a lot of attention.”

“Let’s leave gossip to those who have nothing better to do than chat about others.”

“Straight to the point as always hmm?” He smiled and surprisingly drank the wine in a way a commoner would do not a high class citizen. “This is why I like you so much! But I have to say Artemis… that the Equestrian Ambassador not only won my full attention but also my gratitude and trust.”

< It slipped out of my mind… Corvus you dragged Holda out of the flames.> I thought and looked back at Lorenzo who seemed to know what I was thinking about right now.

“Anyway… I had an eye on the Governor after my servants spotted him with some nasty individuals. Belive it or not he got into something big; willing or not the time reveal everything eventually.”

He stood up and suppressed a yawn. “I am sorry… I did not sleep since they took her.”

“This is completely understandable… I would look even worse if I would be in your shoes.”

“I shall go then… I already stole you enough of your time.”

He bowed formally and was about to turn away…

“Wait. You still did not tell me how I could help you out.”

“Oh by the Elements…” He hoofpalmed and looked back at me. “ I would like to ask you… no I beg you Artemis represent her in the court and clean her name of everything she is being accused of.”

“My friend…” I came closer and place my wing on his shoulder. “I will make sure that you and her family will leave this land with the fastest chariots this land can offer.”

Lorenzo suddenly showed something he was rarely showing. He closed his eyes and leaned against my chest with his forehead; the shoulders going up and down. It seems he was holding this in himself for quite a while and now he was releasing it.

“If you will succeed then I will always be in your dept.” He managed to recover his posture and nerves. Swiftly he wiped away the tears with his wing and became the pony that I once met years ago. “But you have to watch out… Your knowledge about the flame might be used against you. In the end you might end up being accused for planning all this.”

“I am aware of that… but I was accused of worse things in my life.”

The Pegasi nodded and sigh loudly. Before he opened the door once more he looked at me; the sparks of hope glowing in his eyes.

“I can only wish you luck. I-I would not say such thing to another pony but… if you might not help her I will take her out of the custody violently.”

“Everypony would do it. Find some rest Lorenzo… you will need a clear mind.”

Once more the Pegasi bowed formally and left the room leaving me alone with the bottle of wine that was nearly empty. I was about to refill the glass but with a slight curse I grabbed the bottle with my wing and drank everything with one swing. Trying to focus my mind and control the fear that was growing in my heart; a fear that was planted by his words.

I was afraid not for my own sake but for the sake of the Princess and her Ambassador for this might be used against them as it was used against the poor Holda.

Since we woke up I was busy with cutting Corvus’s mane shorter. The progress was slow for his mane was stronger than it looked like. A simple scissors had problems with cutting through them and for some unknown reason magic was simply going through them like they would be made out of thin air. While the white hair was slowly falling down on a ground similar as snowflakes Crovus remained suspiciously quiet.

He simply kept looking at the chimney at the remains of the wood that has been burned by the falmes. Here and there small embers were still visible but the magic securing the chimney was making sure that nothing would go wrong. This city seen enough flames lately so did I. Calen was playing around with his ball constantly pushing it towards the stallion but he was lost in his thoughts so he did not feel the ball touching him at all; he was probably not feeling how his mane was being cut short. Soon the foal simply started to play on his own with noticeable disappointment.

I looked back at Corvus who was acting like a statue. Unable to read what was going on in him I simply continued my work bothered by the fact that I was not hearing his complains. As quiet as possible I sighed and was about to continue but suddenly my mate hid his face in his wings. First I thought he got bored and was about to complain that I was cutting his mane but a shiver went though his body and then his shoulders started to move up and down.

The scissors flew back to my desk and gently I placed my wing on him while with the other I revealed his face from his own wings. I barely could describe what I could see. It seemed like Corvus wanted to cry but he couldn’t. Rarely his eyes were filled up with the sadness I was seeing in him right now. Like a small child he pushed his head against my chest and kept trying to cry but it did not happen.

I was trying as much as possible to keep my own tears away but soon I lost for it was breaking my heart to see him in such state; feeling how desperately he tried to let something out made it only worse. I was simply crying for him… the only thing I was able to do for him right now. Whatever caused this it must have been something terrible.

< “What’s that my dear?” I asked and took a rolled letter that was levitating in front of Sagitta. She was smiling and emitting a wonderful aura of joy as she always did but today it seemed to be stronger. The mare tried to say something but she seemed to lack any words but I could see in her eyes that she desperately tried to tell me something. I rolled the letter open and looked at the letter that had a weirdly big size. My eyes opened wide once I read them. Shocked I looked back at Sagitta but before she managed to nod at me with a happy smile I looked back at the message that now was shaking in front of me.>

Congratulations… You are a Daddy

This memory came into my mind right away after I woke up and saw Calen cradling against me. Since I stood up I was trying to push it away but it came back and back. Then it simply overwhelmed me and right now my beloved moon was shedding tears instead of me. I was not even good enough to cry for myself... knowing that never again I would be able to be called Daddy.

< You are right Artemis… you are right. >

What we both did not notice was Calen who was no longer playing with his toy. The foal was looking at us without knowing that right now somepony else was watching  at us through his very eyes.