The Refining Fire

Yarilo stepped over the sharp stones that lined the path he was following. It wasn’t an easy path, but then again it wasn’t meant to be. The Barons had a horrible policy of seeing and courting visitors, almost wanting to keep everypony a forest or a mountain away. Anypony that approached them had to be worthy to approach, and the Barons measured that worthiness on pain and perseverance. Shaking another sharp stone out of his horseshoe, the stranger looked ahead at how the pathway seemed to clear.

Yarilo stared at the Baron’s fortress. It was a wonderous thing, a scale unmatched. They wanted to project power, and prove that they were something more. Yarilo scoffed as he approached the walkway that soon interrupted the stony path, looking at a line of… guards? Yarilo shook his head but the guards didn’t disappear: an assortment of ponies, zebras, griffons… all species under the blue sky, and it stretched on for dozens of metres.

“What the…” Yarilo muttered, “gathering an army?”

“We gather peacekeepers.” A voice said behind him.

Yarilo smiled, realising who is was. He turned around slowly, offering a obviously sarcastic laugh: “Aha, well, if it isn’t the Head Baron Prarkis! Who do I owe the honour of having found favour in your sight?”

“Please, brother…” Prarkis replied, peering down at Yarilo, “Call me brother. For we are of the same mortal flesh.”

“Why, I wouldn’t have thought the Barons would be so considerate! The Sisters must truly be so treacherous as to deceive me!”

Prarkis gestured forward, stepping more militantly than majestically. It was apparent to Yarilo that the Baron wished to be seen as something commanding respect, but his strange trot only reduced Yarilo’s opinion of the Baron.

“The Sisters have much to lie about, because they have everything to lose.” Prarkis explained, “Unfortunately, it may require them their stead should they hold themselves with such esteem any longer.”

The two walked carefully across the bridge that led toward the entrance of the fortress. Yarilo eyed it suspiciously, before he looked back up at the Baron. Prarkis had been staring at him ever since he arrived. Yarilo knew why. It wasn’t an everyday occurrence that an ex-member of the Iron Order appeared before some would-be-dictator’s creepy fortress, with perfect sight over the gathering armies. Prarkis was as suspicious of Yarilo as Yarilo was of him.

That seemed fair. But he needed to avoid the obvious questions.

“What brings you here, weary traveler?” Prarkis asked, “I would have thought you would reside in your exile for the rest of your days.”

“I’m cursed with curiosity,” Yarilo chuckled, “and to be honest, I’ve seen enough of one side of a conflict to see where it’ll lead.”

“So you seek for another?”

“I seek to be another… what the Princesses and the Iron Order did to punish their enemy was wrong, brother. I’m not gonna be party to that any longer. I’d rather see all that potential go elsewhere, to find better futures! That’s all we have, ain’t it?”

Prarkis hummed thoughtfully.

“Fortunately there is a bright future for all who walk our path, brother.” Prarkis eventually responded, “We have sent forth the other Barons to speak to all those who have ear, to receive our message. Few come forward of without first receiving our message.”

Yarilo quietly noted how Prarkis had stopped using ‘I’ and started using ‘we’ as soon as they stepped into the grand hall. Yarilo looked up, amazed by how the ceiling of the place seemed far outside of his reach. He stared up the spire for quite some time before he returned his attention to the Head Baron, who stood motionless yet still peered at him. Yarilo flashed his characteristic smile, shrugging innocently: “I’m tired of seeing powers be used for the… wrong reasons. I figure I’d toss in my few bits to help push whatever you’re planning in the right way!”

“You know of our plans?” Prarkis inquired.

“Heh, it’s obvious… otherwise you wouldn’t be assembling ‘peacekeepers’ or making visits into royal cities.” Yarilo challenged, “Point is, the Iron Order has been gathered again and the Princesses are eager to crush any dissent they have… trust me, I know that better than anypony else!”

“Why do you come, brother--SON?”
Yarilo blinked. No, that last word… that wasn’t Prarkis’s voice. The pony tried everything in his power to ignore it, but that word ‘son’ unnerved him greatly. Managing a nervous laugh, Yarilo continued: “I’ve come to warn you, and to bend a willing knee… I’ve known the Princesses for a little time, and they’ve trusted me with some ‘don’t tell anypony’ sort of knowledge. If you’re going to strike at them, then I know when they’ll be weakest.”

Prarkis raised an eyebrow.

“The eclipse. When the Sisters raise both sun and moon at the same time, they’ll be right in the sights for the pickining. You’ll just need to execute then.”

“And how can we trust you?”

“By listening to my words,” Yarilo responded, “I’ve managed to convince Princess Luna that the only way to best you is to assemble their greatest warriors, the Iron Order. I’ve told her that I’d learn about what day you seek to strike… she’ll listen to what I say. And that gives you the clearing you need to get in there and twist a leg.”

As Yarilo spoke, it seemed as if the room seemed to materialise away. Shadows seemed to pull along the walls and block out any semblance of the light. He stood in a perfect void of pitch black, turning his head cautiously as he tried to piece together what was happening. Prarkis was no longer standing beside him, he was totally and utterly alone.

“Come, son…”

That voice.

Yarilo felt as if hope itself drained from his very being when it spoke, as if he were a sieve that was left to lose everything that made him… him. All that remained were jagged stones of fear, of pain and of misery. It was as if the voice knew who he was, it could look through him. He couldn’t move, he couldn’t shy away from that which he was presented before.

Yarilo wasn’t smiling confidently anymore.

“My child, how I fear for you.” The voice spoke, “I have heard your cries, and I have felt your pain… Yarilo, the one who stood with heroes was betrayed long ago and left scattering for what little he had left. Your friends consumed in the greed of want, in that everhunger that stretches itself viciously across dozens of lives. Yarilo, the one whose home was destroyed for lust of power… oh, how I have heard your cries indeed.”

Yarilo couldn’t speak.

“Lay down your cloak, unburden your shoulders and lay your weary feet to rest…” The voice spoke, “Fear not, for I answer your pain and I requisite justice. I brush away your tears and I present you with eternity.”

“Who are you?” Yarilo managed to break through with strangled breath.

“Do you not recognise me?” The voice asked, disappointed, “I am your only friend. I am your only vigil. I am your SALVATION. I? I am Equitius, and all shall feel my embrace.”

Forge looked over the fields and the mountains in the distance as the sun danced brilliantly in the sky above. He had been given time to relax and to think, Mokosh had determined that was the best medicine for his melancholy. The others had gone in for a council decision, leaving Forge alone… he was wondering why he wasn’t in the meeting, if he was one of their allies. He lowered his head, feeling utterly alone in that moment… it had been a very long day and a part of him just wanted it to end.

“Young Forge?”

Forge immediately snapped to attention, swinging around before he bowed before the Princess that was approached. Celestia laughed politely, before she responded: “No need to bow, my friend.”

“Your Highness,” Forge immediately addressed, before remembering what Mokosh had said, biting his tongue as he awkwardly stood there… he eventually pieced something together, “How can I be of service?”

“I just wish to speak, young Forge.” Celestia responded, “From what I have heard, it has been quite the laborious day.”

Forge flattened his ears, “Yes, yes it has…”

Forge looked up as he noticed the immediate expression of concern that seemed unique to the Princess of the Sun. He stood quietly for a moment, waiting to see if she was going to inquire… before it became very evident that she was waiting for him to continue. He felt foolish standing there, bringing up issues that really didn’t seem as if they would’ve been problematic for anypony.

“I’m just feeling as if I am being… pulled two different ways.” Forge eventually admitted.

“Why is that?” Celestia asked.

“Well, I have found friends in Mokosh, Svarog and Swift Song… but my other friends came and they turned their backs to me and made fun of me.” Forge explained, “Swift Song told me to just ignore them, and Mokosh told me to just remember the good times… but I don’t want to have to say goodbye to them.”

Celestia stood patiently by, looking down at Forge before she turned her attention to the horizon. The two stood quietly as they looked off in the northern distance, admiring and dreading the beauty of the land where they lived. When Forge glanced to look at Celestia again, he saw what was the borderline of her usually majestic expression and worry. That slight break of worry unnerved Forge.

“You know, Forge, my sister and I had difficulties with this too.” Celestia eventually said, “It was not easy to be chosen and entrusted with a sacred responsibility for the care of all of Equestria. We faced numerous trials, and we came short of our expectations many times… but the one thing that always stuck with us was how difficult it was to have to see friends drift away. It is up to us to do what we can, to make sure that we are the bearers of goodwill. But we cannot decide what others will do.”

Forge looked down at the ground.

“A lot of expectations and responsibility has been placed on you in a matter of a day, Forge. It is expected that you would feel that you are at crossroads in your life, and ultimately it is not my decision to keep you bound to this. We wish what is best for our subjects, and if you decide that you wish not to be a part of this then you can walk free.”

“But,” Forge struggled to say, “I want to serve… I want to be like Svarog, like Swift Song… like Mokosh… I just don’t know where to start. I want to help everypony I can, but it feels as if they don’t appreciate that help.”

“A lot of the Iron Order’s brief history was filled with moments like this, my friend. They declared unto themselves the reasons they wished to help others. And as long as there is that desire to do good and be friends unto all who shoulder the burdens of life, then that power shall persevere. I have seen how you have picked yourself up from ashes. I understand how difficult it was… seeing that grief and torment with my sister taught us a valuable lesson.”

“And what’s that?”

“That lesson will come to you in time.” Celestia responded, “You are well on your way, young Forge. Times will be difficult, but should you bear them with honour and distinction you will become a symbol.”

A symbol?

Forge paused and thought about that, considering what Celestia meant. It had been the nature of the Iron Order to be made low, from what he understood… yet the Princess insisted that was the higher way of life. Forge tried to comprehend what she meant, before he felt a hoof be placed on his shoulders. Surprised, Forge jumped a little before Celestia’s quiet laugh reaffirmed to him that it was her.

“It is a beautiful land, is it not?” Celestia asked.

“It is... “ Forge responded, returning his attention to the horizon, “I’ve always wanted to see it all, I thought I was going to be an explorer.”

“You have to,” Celestia responded, “it always escapes me how it can be so incredible. I travel very often, you know, and every single time it takes my breath away. I am certain that if you look through all of it, you would understand precisely how I feel.”

“Will I ever be able to see all of it?” Forge asked excitedly.

“You will…” Celestia’s voice trailed for a bit, before she retreated her hoof. Forge looked up to her, as the Princess offered a comforting smile. He smiled back as best he could, reinvigorated by what she had told him. Forge had long come to trust the Princesses, and he was glad he had the honour of calling them friends.

“You still look tired,” Celestia responded, “you will have to get a good night’s sleep tonight.”

“I could sleep now, but…”

“It is the middle of the day?” Celestia guessed.

“Yeah…” Forge responded, “wouldn’t be good, would it?”

“Sometimes it is not a bad idea.” Celestia responded, “Take care, young Forge. I have responsibilities to return to.”

“Of course, your Highness.” Forge bowed, watching as Celestia left him alone on the balcony once more. Forge turned back to stare off into the horizon, wondering when he would have the opportunity to go to lands that he had never explored… but then it dawned on him what he agreed to do again. That joy was nearly all sapped out of him, before he remembered that one thing that always comforted him.

At least he would always have friends.