Chivalry Reborn

Chapter 8:

Royal Chatter

So, the princess of a land that is completely foreign to me has come into my home the day I get sent here. Not only that, but she seems really…weird. I could have sworn I heard her voice from somewhere.  Her voice is making alarm bells go off in my head. I just can’t remember where I heard this voice from. I stared at the princess, as she spoke to Twilight, getting her side of the story before talking to me.

“So, my faithful student, what happened here today? “ Celestia quizzed Twilight, looking around my home, critiquing the décor.

“Well, your majesty,” Twilight began with a lifted hoof, rubbing her other foreleg slightly. She seemed to be trying to find a way to properly explain the situation as best she could for the princess. She glanced my direction, and began her explanation.

“This creature here is, called a ‘human,’ come from a place called ‘Earth,’” she pointed a hoof at me,  and then placed her leg back down on the ground, looking back at Celestia. “He said he fell from the sky this afternoon for some unknown reason, shortly before-“

“-before this house was sighted falling from the sky as well.” The princess’ eyes were lifted slightly, showing slight amusement, as she slid the guess in before Twilight could finish the sentence. She giggled silently when she saw Twilight pause, taken aback by the princess’s correct guess.

“Y-yes, that’s right, but how did you-?“ she began before the royalty stopped her again.

“We received reports from scouts of the Royal guard for Ponyville that there were three unidentified figures were sighted falling from the sky,” She spoke evenly, her smile fading a little. “I got curious as to something so strange would happen to such a small and peaceful town, so I came as soon my royal meetings were finished. Please, continue.” She asked Twilight to continue explaining the situation

Three falling objects? Didn’t she mean only two? What the hell could the third thing b- oh wait, the backpack. I glance over my shoulder at the red leather bag against my back. It has stayed clinging to my back all this time, and I just kept forgetting about it. Maybe the princess knew who dropped this? It was then, my eyes wonder to the princess’s flank. There, laid a symbol of the sun.

It was drawn in the same fashion…as…my pendant…

My eyes stayed locked on that marking before closing my eyes slowly. Just what did this mean to me? All of these signs of familiarity were sounding off sirens in all areas of my mind. What was the connection?  The mark on her flank was exactly the same as the one on the box and pendant that Uncle Jimmy. Not only that, but it also matched the bag I caught falling from the sky. Her voice was so familiar. I wretched my mind for a matching voice, placing my thumb and index finger against my eyes, massaging them slowly.

Suddenly, a voice rang in my brain. It’s voice sounding quite like Celestia’s, but slightly higher pitched, at it sounded like it was hardened, like it was disciplining something. It was faint at first, but then it finally rang out clearly to me.

“Do you really believe this world is truly cold?”

Ah…I recognized it. But it wasn’t from Earth, nor was it in Equestria. No…

I wasn’t anywhere when I heard this voice.

I was…..nothing.

I was in the depths darkness.

I was in Despair when I heard this.

The wall seemed to disappear around me. I was now standing back in that void of darkness.  This abyss of loathing.

The voice chimed to me once more, growing in volume.

“Do you think you can’t do anything in the world?”

I remembered what I wanted in my fall to madness here.

To remain innocent,

to stay happy,

to be loved.

I wanted to stop the pain of myself and others, the misery of all living things.

I wanted to stop this horror of evil that mankind could reign upon the world.

I remember seeing someone there. Someone I  could tell was having the same thoughts for his people. Feeling the same pain for his land. He wanted to stop the madness as well.

He was my other.

What was his name? I can’t pull it out. It’s so close, but I can’t draw it.

“….son.”

Huh? What?

“…Win..ton!”

Was someone calling me?

“Winston!” Twilight she yelled, nudging me a third time. This time, it worked, snapping me back to reality.  “Are you okay?”

I gasped silently, pulling my hand from my face. I glanced around quickly. I was back in the living room. I had apparently taken a seat my chair when I blanked out. Twilight and Princess Celestia stood in front of me; Twilight’s face looking worried and a little scared, while the princess was just watching me with a weird stare. It wasn’t hostile. I think it was actually giving sympathy. Like she’s seen this kind of behavior from people she knew during her lifetime.

It remained silent for only a couple seconds, but it felt like five minutes. I push my glasses back across my nose and look at the two unicorns, smiling slightly.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Just kind of..” I paused for a moment, thinking of a proper word for my action. “…overwhelmed, I guess.” I stood back up slowly. My Legs wobbled a little, still a little shaky from all the moving they had performed over the course of the day.

“I see, thank Celestia…” Twilight sighed in relief, letting the princess step towards me with a look of business on her face.

We locked eyes for a moment, before the Princess addressed me in a clear and very courtly tone.

“You are Winston Flash, I take it?”

“Yes,” I answered in my own business-time voice. “And you must be Princess Celestia, one of the rulers of this land.” I put one foot forward, pressing my left arm across my chest. I bowed to the Royal ruler in the same manner English nobles did towards the Queen. “An honor to meet you so soon. I’m flattered.”

A mannerly chuckle came form the princess, breaking her royal business attitude, smiling at me sweetly. “Oh my, aren’t we the kind one?” She mused, lifting her hoof, putting it in front of lips to stifle her laughter. Twilight was behind her, giggling at my response as well. I couldn’t help but chuckle a little myself.

“But back to the point at hand,” I sigh, letting my smile dim slightly. The princess understood this immediately and turned back to me, no longer laughing, but still had a smiling gracing her face.

“I think you can tell me some answers as to why I’ve fallen here in Equestria.” I began to explain myself, pulling out pendant slowly. My voice was letting some concern slip through. I wasn’t certain if Celestia had the information I needed, or even if I wanted to know it. But I have to get some sort of answer from her.

“You see I got then pendant from my Uncle Jimmy Flare and-“

“Wait.”

I stopped dead in my tracks. I looked up at the princess slowly and she was eyeing the pendant closely with narrowed eyes. She looks like she couldn’t really believe that I had around my neck. She suddenly didn’t seem that motherly. She actually looked at me as through I had just spat in her face. Was this pendant important to her too, somehow? Did she think I stole it, or something?

“You said you got this pendant from a Jimmy Flare, correct?” She pressed me, her voice suddenly ordering. It felt as though my very soul was being told to spill itself for her. I bit my tongue from shooting of a barrage of confessions. I looked at her surprised for a second.

“Yes…?” I answer her hesitantly. Only my mother could make me pause like that.

“Did he give you a letter with this?” She had walked up to me to the point she was right in front of me, staring into my eyes. Was she looking into them to see if I was lying or not?

“Yes,” I shifted, getting used to the gaze. I looked at her eyes, returning the gaze. I had nothing to really hide about this.

“What were the first words he said to you…?” There was an edge in her voice. I could see Twilight watching on a little nervous at the sight in the corner of my eye.

“My little Winston”

This made Celestia’s eyes widen slowly, backing away. Her lips slowly, letting a name slip out ever so slowly.

“Flashbang…He’s still alive?” She looked to the side, gathering her sights. “But he disappeared years ago along with the rest!”

“Um…he’s dead,” I slipped that in, correcting her. “He died last week.” I looked to the side thinking Flashbang? Did he have a name in this world?  I decided to tell her what the letter basically said.

“He said that this belonged to my mom. He stated that she sent it to him to keep safe until I was ‘ready to face the truth,’” I stopped, wrapping my fingers around my mother’s gift to me from the grave. “It’s her most prized possession."

She paused at that. She just stopped moving, hooves and neck alike. Her mane was in the way, so I couldn’t tell what expression she had. Twilight looked at her mentor, a bit more than a little scared.

“Princess…?” She asked, fear obviously in her voice.

Tick, tick, tick.

The clock seemed to count the seconds awfully loud. I stood there, wondering just what I’ve gotten myself into. How does this ruler of a magical word, know about my weirdo uncle so well that she could guess what his letter to me said? Why did she say his name was Flashbang. And just what’s the story behind this pendant?

Celestia slowly turned towards me. Her face grave and eyes filled with a small spark. Like she was hoping this day wouldn’t come.

“Does the name Shadow Flare say anything to you?”

“Shadow……Flare?”

Suddenly, the memories flooded my mind at once.

The emotionless boy.

The painful visions of Earth.

The mysterious voice.

And finally, the darkened figure of a horse in the mirror, copying my every move.

My mind raced in horror. How does she know that name?

“Y-you…how do you-?” I tried to ask, but she silenced me with a mere lift of her hoof.

“Say no more, I think I know what’s basically happening here.” She spoke in a soft , sincere tone. She sounded slightly upset though. She gestured to take a seat on the couch against the wall.  “Please sit.”

I just complied. If she knows this much, and is as powerful as I’m told, I’d be stupid not to listen.

“Now, I am going to put you to sleep.” The princess explained slowly, walking around me, towards Twilight. “Don’t worry; you will wake up in the morning. You will get more answers in you own heart than you will from my words.”

I slowly nod my head, obviously confused. A sleep spell, huh?  The back of my mind wondered about the capabilities of these ponies and their spells. I quickly just disregarded thinking about it any further, taking off my glasses and backpack.  I set my glasses in a nearby table, now to go to this fated slumber.

“Princess?”  Twilight stepped towards Celestia, the same expression of fearful curiosity on her face. “What’s going on?”

Celestia simply smiled at her student reassuringly. “Don’t fret Twilight Sparkle, I will tell you everything in a moment.”

She then turned back to me, her horn starting to glow a bright yellow. “Are you ready?” She asked me, waiting for permission.

I slowly nod my head, closing my eyes. I can feel my mind slowly fade, as I can feel warmth flood my entire body.

All is quiet.

All is silent.

All is nothingness

That is, except for me, the boy who let the world he loved so burn, and didn’t do a single thing to stop it.

I sit there on my legs, just dwelling in my thoughts of madness.

I should have done something to stop it, but I didn’t. I was such a heartless ass, that I watched all I held dear to die for it.

I suddenly hear a voice blast out of darkness, cutting the air with it’s anguish.

“GYAAAAAAAAH!” I knew that voice, but I at the same time I didn’t. He voice was very rugged, like he was smoking a lot in the past. A soldier. He sounded like he was in so much pain. Like he was being torn apart.

Blood splatters the now metallic floor all around me.

An ominous glow flickered behind me. As I turn to see behind me, I can see a giant sphere of energy, swirling around in a giant, metal frame. Inside this sphere, I can see a city. I could recognize it easily. It was the house I was born in. The place my parents raised me and I now owned. It was my home.

To my right, I can see a young turquoise mare unicorn with bright blonde hair standing in front of the sphere, looking at the blood in absolute horror.  Her ruby red eyes trembled, as she knew all too well whose blood it was. She wanted to scream, I knew she wanted to scream, but she bit her lip, because she didn’t want them to find her. Tears ran down her face, as she stood there, her body shivering beyond control.

“KYAAAHAHAHAHA!”

I can hear laughter from all around me. They people causing this horror were enjoying themselves. Shadows began to cast themselves along a wall in the distance of the opening.

Two forms were gathered around a barely standing stallion.  One was another horse, but it seemed taller than the wounded warrior. It had a leering haze coming out of her mane and tail, which a long and sharpened horn and menacing wings. A Walking Nightmare crept into my mind.

The other had a completely different figure altogether. It was long, slim, and overall, was an absurdity of nature. I seemed to have a dragon’s body frame, but had a hawk’s claw as one hand, and a lion’s paw for the other. Embodiment of Disorder flowed from my heart.

“AHHHHAHAHA!”

The laughing from the two shadows got louder, as they watched the stallion fumble to his feet.

I wanted to help him so badly, but I couldn’t move my body.

The Nightmare kicked the already down horse. The abomination was grinding his clawed foot into his shoulder.

Rage filled my soul. I couldn't bare to see this brutality anymore. Enough is enough.

I pushed my legs forward as hard as I could, but could only manage to slowly ease my way up to my feet.

Stop it.

A horn stabbed the warriors back.

“AHHHHHHHH!” more blood dirtied the ground.

STOP IT.

The duo was now stepping on him.

“KAHAHA HA HAAAAAAA~!”

“STOOOOOP IT!” A new voice broke the chorus of abuse and torture.

The room filled with a loud crash.

As quickly as the new voice rang out, a new silhouette sped past the two tormentors and grabbed the now unconscious soldier, sliding into view, putting the soldier down next to the mare.

He was young, tall, and very strong-willed. His mane was shining silver, ruffled up slightly at the top of his head, and stopping at the back of his head. His coat was a solid white, with powerful wings ready to take flight towards battle. His eyes were a sharp crimson, shining with determination, as he stood toward the wall that continued to show the figures of the perpetrators who hurt his friend.

The mare who was just standing afraid to do anything, galloped to aid the barely breathing victim. She yelled at him to stay with them, and then proceeded to beg the new warrior to please don’t go and face them. She knew it was suicide.

The white-haired warhorse didn’t listen, as he began to charge forth.

Time seemed to stop right then, as I stood staring at the galloping crusader. A rhyme flowed into my mind, a nursery rhyme that I can’t recall where I heard from before. The rhyme sang in my heart, as a bright light engulfed me.

Throughout the cycles of day and night, you will come to times of plight.

There are times when you would just like to surrender and just give up on such an endeavor,

But do not allow fear to swallow whole, you have the power within your soul,

For you are a Flare, so you losing is quite rare.