The light was departing. The brown air drew down 1
all of Equus’s diurnal inhabitants, singing songs of sweet rest 2
from their day-roving, as I, one mare alone, 3

prepared myself to face the curious furor 4
of the discovery and the pity, which memory 5
shall here set down, nor hesitate, nor err. 6

O Founders! O High Genius! Be my mind’s aid! 7
O Memory, recorder of the discourse, 8
here shall your true nobility be displayed! 9

Thus I began: “Magus, you who must guide me, 10
before you trust my eyes to that arduous path,11
look to me and look through me – can I be worthy? 12

You who scribed the alchemical quill, 13
in tangible flesh laid bare the symbols, 14
crossing with mortal sense immortal sill, 15

leaping blindly without guide, 16
for a journey sill to sill, 17
is more rapid than the quickest ride. 18

But Lo! If you were he who first went, 19
then the runes would lift your hooves not, 20
no purchase would have been sent, 21

lest the wing of an Alicorn support your hoof 22
your doom should have been certain 23
but even they are not aloof.* 24

In that quest which bards’ tales pay homage, 25
you learned that realm’s mystery from which arose 26
Her victory and Roam’s first archmage. 27

There later came the inspired vessel, Alogoscio* 28
bearing the confirmation of that Truth 29
which is the one true door to friendship’s row. 30

But I – how could I dare? By no permission? 31
I am not Starswirl. I am not Alogoscio. 32
None would believe me worthy of this vision. 33

How then, may I presume this high honor 34
and not fear my own lack? You are wise 35
and will grasp but what my own mind could dare ponder. 36

Surely those of higher authority than I 37
will laugh and make mockery, a fool’s word 38
they proclaim. Magic Kindergarten would be upon me nigh. 39

As one whose fears unwill what she wills, will stay 40
strong purposes with feeble second thoughts 41
until her fears spell all her fervored zeal away - 42

so I hung back and balked at the thought* 43
till thinking had worn out my hard-suppressed glee, 44
so stout at starting and so easily lost 45

“I understand from your words and that shrunken look in your eye,” 46
that magnificent wraith answered me, 47
“Your soul is sunken in terror from possible disparage of on high 48

that bears down heavily like a yoke on a weak back 49
turning your course through imagined horrors, 50
as shadows give seed to fearful panic 51

To free your mind of its chains I will tell you all 52
of why I rescued you and what was spoken to me 53
when I first pitied you. I was a shade 54

among the shades of Limbo, when a Mare 55
so kind and loving, I implored her 56
order my will, called to me. 57

Her eyes were aflame from the lamps of the great Spheres. 58
Her voice rang clear through me, tender and sweet 59
an amica’s* voice, pure melody to lusting ears: 60

‘O intelligent Manetuan whose wizardries 61
live in Equus’s memory and shall live on 62
till the last whirl of the Sun ceases in the skies 63

My dearest ward and fortune’s foe, has strayed 64
onto a friendless shore, and stands beset 65
by such neuroses that she turns afraid 66

from the True Way and news of her in the Spheres 67
rumours my dread she is too far gone. 68
I come, afraid my wings too slowed by my fears. 69

Fly to her and with your high counsel, pity 70
and with whatever need be crafted or learned for her good 71
and spirit’s salvation, help her, and solace me. 72

It is I, Cadenza*, who send you to her. 73
From blessed height I dream my ladybug to fly. 74
Love called me here. When those among who cannot err, 75

I stand again before my Lady, your praises 76
shall sound on high,’ She paused and I began: 77
‘O Alicorn of that only grace that raises 78

feeble ponykind within its mortal confines 79
from thoughtless bestiality to higher mind 80
allowing reach to friendship in its refines; 81

so welcome is your plea that to my sense, 82
were it to be already fulfilled, it would yet seem tardy. 83
I understand, and am all obedience. 84

But tell me the reason for your venture thus 85
from from the wide heavens of your joy 86
to which your thoughts year back from this abyss, 87

and fills your entire being with revile 88
if but for one more soul astray, unicorn, 89
you allow the filth of a place so vile 90

stain your taintless hoof. Is such then, 91
the effect of such strong Love of the Aspect* 92
so as to prevent the on-high from becoming aloof?’ 93

‘Since what you ask,’ she answered, ‘probes near 94
the root of all, I will say briefly only 95
how I have come through Moon’s pits lacking fear. 96

Knowing then, O waiting and non-understanding shade, 97
that is to fear which has the power to harm, 98
and nothing is so fearful on the Moon. 99

Nor is anything more pitiful or disgusting 100
than the shades here uncomprehending, 101
their total refusal to learn obstinate and unwilling. 102

I am made by Celestia’s all-seeing mercy 103
your anguish does not touch me, and the flame 104
of this great burning, can not lick even the least of me. 105

There is a Lady in the Spheres so concerned 106
for him I send you to, that for her sake 107
the strict decree is broken. She has turned 108

and called Octavia to her wish and mercy 109
saying, “Thy friendless one is sorely pressed; 110
in her distress I commend her to thee.’ 111

Octavia, that spirit of light and foe of all 112
cruelty, rose and galloped to me at once 113
where I was sitting with the modern Vinyl, 114

Saying to me: ‘Cadenza, true niece of Celestia, 115
why dost thou not help her who loved you so 116
that for thy sake she left her reigning solitude? 117

Dost thou not hear her cries? Canst thou not see 118
the death she grapples with beside that river 119
no ocean dare pass for rage and fury?’ 120

No spirit of Equus was ever as rapt to seek 121
its good or flee its injury as I was - 122
when I heard my sweet Octavia speak - 123

‘To descend from the Spheres and my blessed seat 124
to you, laying my trust in your high knowledge 125
that honours you and all whose minds are given taste of it.’ 126

She spoke, and turned away to hide a glistening tear 127
that, shining, urged me faster. So I drew my strength 128
and freed you from the beast that plagued you there, 129

blocking the near way to the Celestial Height. 130
And now what ails you? Why do you lag? Why 131
the neurotic anxiety and pale fright 132

when three such important Mares lean from the Spheres 133
in there concern for you, and my own pledge 134
of the great learning and good news that awaits your ears.” 135

As a flower, drawn and puckered during the night 136
turns up towards the returning sun and spread 137
there petals wide to bask in the warmth and light - 138

just so my wilted spirit sprouted once again 139
and such a heat of impassioned zeal surged 140
that the dam of my curiosity was broken 141

And I was born anew, my spirit rejoicing, 142
for the knowledge I sought, was just within 143
grasp of my hoof, a mere stretch to reaching. 144

Thus I began: “Blessed be that Mare of infinite pity, 145
and great is thy taxed and incredible shade 146
that came so promptly on the command she gave thee 147

thy words have returned me to my first purpose. 148
My Guide! My Lord! My Master! Now lead on: 149
one will and one thirst will serve us both for this.” 150

He turned at once when the words left my lips 151
and facing his back, trusting his step, 152
I entered on that hard and perilous track. 153

Author's Note

* lines 13-24: This is describing Starswirl when he invented the teleportation spell, and how it is a leap through the immortal realm also known as the Spheres. He should've fallen to his death without the runes to carry him safely through, unless he was carried/saved.

* line 28: Alogo meaning horse in Greek and Scio meaning to know, it means knowing horse.

* line 43: Referring to going down.

* line 60: Meaning "friend's".

* line 73: She refers to herself as Cadenza and is referred to as such because both occasions are rather formal and in the former she is desperate.

* line 92: Love is a force, and Cadence is the Aspect of Love. This refers to the Love belonging to her.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Alright, so a couple of things. First of all, Twilight is not in love with Cadence. The love described is more between child and caretaker. Next, does anybody know who that Lady is that sent Lucia? I suspect it's Mary but I'm unsure. Finally, souls in Hell (moon) will be referred to as shades or wraiths. Souls otherwise are souls or spirits.

Well now that the business is done, I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Looks like Vinyl took a level in Luna. :LunaEmoticonRequired: Hopefully my terza rima will get better so hat I don't have to stick so close sometimes it's almost word for word. Cheers!