Prophecies and Beginnings
Prologue Chapter: Prophecies and Beginnings
The distant roar of thunder approached, fierce winds chased a pair of shadows as they warred vigorously over Canterlot Castle. Windows shook and shattered as a white blur cratered into the ground, one of it's wings bent and it's entire frame shook with effort to stand. Mud stained her flowing, pink mane and horn bringing a chill as the gale blew past them. A crown laid by her armored hooves. The alicorn gazed skyward, looking for the foe that brought her down.
"L-look at you, sister....so weak...you can't even...can't even take another step," Another alicorn mocked breathlessly from the midnight sky, her coat shining black under the moonlight. She kept to the air, choosing not to tax her worn legs anymore. "Your...a relic now," she heaved, "and...it's time for a new age...The night...shall reign forever!" The floating alicorn took a breath before trying to raise her front legs for show, but to no avail. Pieces of ember and soot flaked of her helm with each wing beat. Her determined light-blue, slitted eyes stung from the smoke and sulfur that permeated her charred helmet, yet she kept her menacing glare on her sister below.
Fear crept up her spine as the white alicorn realized she was out of option. Whatever caused the night princess to turn against her was beyond her power to correct. She was left one last spell and the fact gripped her heart tightly, but she steeled her resolve and stood tall against the howling winds. She whispered quietly at first, concentrating her magic for one last assault, before calling out to the figure above her. "Luna...my dear sister," she pleaded, "Please...forgive me."
"I am not Luna," In her blind rage, the night princess did not see the glow of jewels surrounding her. "I am Night. Mare. Moon!" The light encased and jolted her out of her madness. "Sister..." she wheezed, "What is this?"
"Your punishment." the white alicorn closed her eyes as she shot one last blast of magic to finish the spell. The sounds of Night Mare Moon's frighten screams stabbed at the sun princess's core. Then the winds ceased blowing, bringing silence to her ears. She opened her eyes and watched a speck of light ascend to the sky until it reached the moon. Pain and guilt that had been building inside her burst out as she cried out when the dot of light exploded with a loud blast.
"LUNA!" The Princess shot up from her slumber with sweat matting down her mane to her neck. That dream again. It was the same dream she had every night since that damnable night for the past-
There was a loud rapping on her chamber door breaking her thoughts from the nightmare. Within seconds, Celestia was out of her bed and began fixing her appearance. "Do not enter. Just one minute," She asked through her door. The quilt she slept under tucked itself in, guided by the same magic that brushed her hair and adorned her in her royal armor. Right as she looked like herself again, the doors swung open as a robed pony calmly trotted inside the solar princess's chamber. He was an old pony with a beard the seemed to curl unto itself as it extended from the bottom of his jaw. His robe was covered in stars, crescent moons and cosmic winds. The rim of his hat and the hem of his robe jingled with golden bells as he trotted back and forth at the door to the princess's bedroom.
A wooden clack upon the marble floor accompanied his stern, quick strut. Celestia was shocked to see her timeless friend, Star Swirl the Bearded. "St-Star Swirl, why didn't you send a message I would have-" The robed pony raised a hoof pausing the princess in mid-sentence.
"My dear princess, there's no need for formalities I'm only here for a quick visit. Being forced to bear a burden such as yours, raising both sun and moon now, it's a wonder you still take the time to consider preparations." Star Swirl interrupted.
"Now Star Swirl, there is no burden to it at all. And I could at least have the chefs whip up one of your favorite meal," the solar princess explained, but the archmage merely shook his head.
"Celestia, I'm only here to deliver a message. And while I do appreciate the thought, I'm more worried about you. It's only been a few weeks since you banished your sister away. The same sister who stood by you since you were both foals, the same one who helped you bring Discord to justice. Your only living flesh and blood to this day."
"I'm aware of all these facts, but I did what I had to because she lost who she was. And while I do thank you for worrying about me, I'm more than capable to run the country without her as well as deal with any political business and threats that needs to be dealt with. And if that's all you have to say then you've done your job, and may return to your home," Celestia kept her voice calm as she stressed the last sentence to Star Swirl, but the look in her eyes told him he was striking nerves.
"Many things will come to pass after this millennium of peace. Tell me, the Elements of Harmony, have you been able to use them again?"
Celestia pondered the question he gave, diverting her gaze to the marble floor. Since that night, the elements have turned to stone and remained inert no matter the amount of magic she pushed into them. Last she saw of them was back in the royal chambers where she and her sister used to reside. "No, they will not take my magic. I've tried many time to connect to them but still they..." she paused returning her gaze back to her guest, "Why do they just lay there now?"
"In the time to come, the Elements will find new owners, new vessels, to be used by. The bonds that you had with them were broken the second you banished your sister, for she was also a part of them was she not?" Celestia turned away and nodded, unable to stand look back into Star Swirl's ever knowing gaze much longer. "Once the new holders of the Elements come of age, the spells that have kept your sister and your foulest foe sealed away-"
The princess shot up an alarmed look, "Discord? But he's still imprisoned. Locked in stone for as long...," Celestia allowed the warning to sink in as she resumed her regal appearence. "As I....hold onto...the elements..."
"Yes, the spells will be broken. And they will return. Not all at once, but soon afterwards. That is why I must tell you now to look for them, the new Elements of Harmony...as well as the emergence of the Pillars of Discordance," the archmage finished.
This latest detail piqued Celestia's curiosity enough to inquire, "Pillars of Discordance? I've never heard of them. What are they?" Star Swirl shook his head and smiled somberly. Celestia, for all the things she has seen, always felt unnerved when he smiled that somber smile.
"I'm sorry to say, but I've not a single idea. Only that they will used against you if you cannot find them first. My message to you is to look for them, for they all will play a part in a much bigger scheme." With that, Star Swirl began to walk to the door. Celestia stood there by her desk, her composure spoke of strength but her eyes still begging for answers. "If there is one thing I can assure you my dear princess, it's that your sister will return, and she will be herself once more if you do what I've told you to," Star Swirl announced without turning back toward Celestia. He left her chambers, closing the door behind him by magic, allowing Celestia to drop her mask as she laid her head on the desktop. Her face contorted from her stern composure as she fought back the yells and screams that welled up in her breast. This was much for Celestia to take in; but with breathing and silence, she quell the stress that her new day started with. She had a sun to rise, a schedule to keep, an appearance to uphold, and heralds she must now keep an eye out for. But of the questions that plagued her life to this day, one stood out at that moment: Who or what are the Pillars of Discordance?
Chapter One: The Foreigner- Part One
A window shattered to the tune of screams and laughter. The smell of fish and burning fur began to fill his nostrils. As he tasted seawater, he tuned his senses toward the dark and cold, desperate to reclaim his senses, only to find a sharp pain crawling up his spine.
"Ah, AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" His body convulsed and kicked a pile by his hind legs. The patter of hooves on wood circled around him along with clunking of wooden objects being piled up. Their voices were in a panic as his screams grew louder. Whoever was near him held him down as he struggled against them. "Stop, please," he begged between gasps, “I can't- I can't take much more.”
"It's almost over...hang on," A feminine voice consoled between breaths before shouting away from his ears, "Wood Rot, First Aid, Sudsy! Water! Now! He's burning up!" Bumps and groans muffled panicked hoof stomps as those around the captain rushed to follow orders. A splash of cold water shot his eyes open. Ponies in sailor outfits galloped back and forth with buckets. He turned to the closet pony who had been causing hell upon him. A unicorn in a captain's outfit resumed shining light upon him, and the pain returned.
"Sweet Luna, he's smoking from the inside out!" One pegasus with an eye patch shouted.
"What's wrong with this pony?" A well-fit unicorn asked as she helped hold the earth pony down.
"More water! Now!" The captain shouted. Each second the magic lingered, more and more steam and smoke billowed from the closing wounds. Kneeling down, she whispered, "I'm healing you okay? But you have to hang on and pony it out," A peg-legged pony galloped in with a bucket of water over his shoulder as the it seemed the injured pony would burst to flames. With a final splash, the black coated pony sizzled out with a sickening crackle as the wounds finally closed and healed. The crew backed away as soon as their new guest began to stir, looks of worry appeared on all the accompanying crew members. The wounds seemed to have closed completely, but they never heard a pony scream from being healed. They began murmuring to each other about his alien reaction as the guest sat up.
The last memory he remembered was a fall, the force of icy water slamming his backside, and the sky disappearing through the water’s surface. . The straggler pat himself down with a sluggish hoof, tearing some of his worn pockets on his dark green vest, as he struggled shortly to stand on his hooves. His eyes darted around the room, hovering for a short time over his saviors before glancing at the scorch marks on the boards under him. The sailors of varying sizes and races looked ragged and worn in their matching, white uniform. The unicorn sitting over him washed the blood and water from her captain's uniform. Her navy blue mane, matted to her shoulders and back with salt water, was scorched at the ends as she pulled burnt patches of the straggler's coat of her own cantaloupe color fur. A school of fish in a variety of colors graced her flank.
"Are you alright?" the unicorn asked, her eyes measuring their new guest. "You were on the about to kick the bucket when we caught you with in our net. In fact, some of my crew were about ready to chuck you back in the water if you hadn’t started kicking.” She watched him nod slowly to her words before sighing, “I was kidding. Either way when you moved, they called me and...well, here we are." The straggler allowed her words to sink in before giving a heavy nod, allowing his wet, gray mane to fall and cover his face.
The unicorn paused for a minute before flinging her hair back and giving orders to the rest of the crew, "Alright, you sea dogs, back to work. Give him some time and room to breathe. Irish Song, a towel for this colt." With a salute, the sailors rushed to their duties. The unicorn gave a once over look at the room and the ponies outside after a red-maned malnourished pegasus returned with a long cloth before closing the door to address her new guest. The guest swept his mane back as he dried himself before lowering his head to glare the captain at her eye level.
"Who are you?" He inquired in a shushed, aggravated tone.
She was taken back by the glare, but answered politely, "I'm Sea Bass, captain of this fine fishing vess-"
"What are you doing here?" The pony interrupted, scrunching his eyes and the green spots that adorned his face as he frowned upon her answer.
"What am I doing here? This is my vessel. What are you doing here?” She retorted, only to recall her own words just seconds before. She took a second to cool her head and continued, “We were exploring this section of sea for new fish and other sea creatures to document. You see my crew and I hail from Equestria, and we travel all over the world documenting and fishing up new breeds not known in our country," Sea Bass, now worried, tried to smile at the straggler as she explained.
The rescued pony didn't return the expression, "You shouldn't have come here."
Sea Bass frowned, his comment souring her mood, "You should thank your lucky stars that my crew didn’t toss you back in mister....uhm...what's your name?" The seafaring unicorn gave a curious look. They had slaved over him for a few hours, but she didn't even know if he was good or bad. For all she knew, he could’ve done this to himself.
The frown didn't leave his face as he backed away. Inspecting his surrounding looking for any tail that would infer his situation otherwise, he only saw the scorch marks and the pile of buckets used. Sea Bass examined him more as he looked about. He had a warrior’s build and stance that made the mane on the back of her neck start to stand on end, but as her gaze fell upon his looped, tied tail, hanging frizzly over his cutie mark of a grey shield with a four pointed emerald star, she became more entranced with what she saw. She kept looking at his flank, even as he turned back. "My name is..Ironside," he answered, breaking the unicorn's concentration on his mark and returning to the conversation, "And thank you."
"Uh-Ironside, huh. You're welcome," the captain puffed up her chest with a grin, "Have to admit, though, we don't often get catches of your size." Ironside kept quiet as he shifted his gaze to the wooden floor and began to think of how he got here. Sea Bass’s brown eyes seemed to beg for the conversation to continue, but he didn't seem to catch on; his emerald eyes became dim with memories passing before them. The haunted look worried Sea Bass, so she tried to lighten his mood, "Much less a handsome pony such as yourself. We're about to head to Cowrea from here, then home afterwards, so if you need to be dropped off anywhere?" She left the question hanging in hopes the the black coated pony would talk more.
Ironside snapped out of his restless reservoir. The word ‘home’ stung him. "What are you getting at? Are you expecting something in return?" Ironside questioned her. Sea Bass felt a sweat drop under her mane. This wasn't what she was hoping for, but it's better than the bitter silence earlier.
"What, no. I'm just asking where you live? You do have a home, right?"
Ironside frowned once more before shaking his head, "Not anymore, no. Why did you save me? Did you have orders to?"
"Nope, no orders. I just don't have it in me to let anypony die. Not on my ship, no way, no how," She spoke with earnest before giving Ironside an inquisitive stare. "What do you mean you don't have a home?"
Ironside dropped his head as the weight of that question grew heavy within his thoughts, "It's...a long story."
"Well we won't be back to Equestria for a while, so I've got plenty of time to hear it. Not sure if my ponies will like another mouth to feed, but if you prove to them that you're a hard worker, I'm more than sure they'll be okay with you joining for a while." Ironside bowed in thanks to Sea Bass.
He took in a long breath as he shifted through his thoughts of where to start, "It all started a couple of days ago, in a settlement out by Frigus...."
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As weeks went by on sea, Ironside found himself cleaning the floors, manning the sails, doing the laundry, and lending a hoof to anypony else on board while trying to keep his new found place amongst the rest of the crew. He proved to be quite versatile that everypony in the ship could use. Sea Bass, especially, found herself calling on Ironside when she needed something involving muscle when none of her crew were available.
But even with all his effort, the ship still wasn't very accepting of him. Each pony on board had taken a vow long before Ironside boarded; to never distract the captain from her duties as she had no first mate. The Frigus pony was seen as such a distraction. Sea Bass would keep glancing at the foreigner as he worked around the ship; distracting her from her duties of course laying, directing the crew, or even settling onboard disputes. Once she stared so long that she made a mistake on directing the helmsmare too far off course that they nearly became lost out on sea. Two month past before the fishing boat managed to find it's destination.
"Land ho!" Irish Song cried out from the crow's nest as a beach grew in the horizon. Ironside raised the sails as the rest of the crew began preparing the ship to dock.
"Steady as she goes, Voyage. Rudder to Midships! Ready the Anchor, Overhaul!" Sea Bass commanded. The ship lurched and creaked as it scuttled across the sand into the docking bay. As the vessel stop, the captain began directing details and instructions to her crew, "Alright everypony, listen up. Cowrea is mainly a bovine-populated land known for their unusual sea-food based diet. And right now we need some supplies including medical kits, clothing, food for ourselves, and a bath for some of us. I'm talking about you, Raw Hide. They don't take to outsiders kindly, but if we show some courtesy and sell them some of our catch, we just might stay long enough to earn a profit. So grab the cargo and lets make some bits today." The crew saluted and cheered to Sea Bass before galloping off to perform their individual tasks.
As the other bucks and mares of the crew began unloading a partial amount of the boat's cargo, Ironside trotted over to give a hoof. Raw Hide, a pegasus with a foul stench and a leather cap for a cutie mark, ignored his offer to help. An earth pony by the name of Overhaul shrugged off the Frigus pony’s offer as well before resuming to pull more cargo out of the ship. With a sigh, Ironside trotted by the captain's side and asked, "What should I do, captain? Your workers don't seem to need anymore help."
The captain took a minute to absorb the scenery contemplating on what the her newest member could do. There were lush exotic plants that grew on the outskirts, and groups of bovine, canine, ponies, and the occasional penguin moving along the community. The town they had docked at had a few crowds gathered here and there. The excited sounds and music wafting from the market street gave Sea Bass an idea. "The market looks lively today. How about you try to find a small job or two out there, make a few quick bits. Anything helps." Ironside nodded to Sea Bass and headed into the commune.
The market was alive with performers, dancers, musicians, and of particular interest to Ironside, challengers. Some bovine and ponies stood at stalls calling out prices for their wares of jewelry and clothing. A few canine performers were dancing in sync to their band's string based music while coaxing onlookers to tip and join in their dance. A voice cried out over the music and the excitement that caught Ironside's attention, "That's right only ten bits could win you a thousand if you can stay in the circle for more than one minute with THE SUMOTAUR." a tiny donkey with a large swirling mustache, a stopwatch, and a top hat shouted as he stood next an overweight, over-sized, minotaur of brown fur and tiny yellow eyes.
The beast spoke in a language that Ironside did not understand, but openly inquired, "What did he say?"
A bovine onlooker who heard him replied, "He said, No one, pony nor bovine, is tough enough to take him on."
"That so? Let's see if he can put his bits where his muzzle is." The earth pony trotted over to the circle, tossed the last of his bits into the hat with a sigh, and stuck up a fighting stance. He felt calmer in closed spaces, even if they were imaginary, and this circle was no exception.
"Bwa-hahahaha, puny pony wanna die?"
Ironside smirked for the first time since his journey began, "Puny pony's going to win a thousand bits today." The minotaur growled at the pony's cockiness, and felt that such a comment deserves to be rewarded.
"RAAAAAUUGH!" The large minotaur lunged at the earth pony, intent on throwing him out only to become increasingly shocked when Ironside intercepted his hands with his hooves. Not only did the earth pony refused to move, but Ironside was proving to be as strong as the wrestler himself.
"Where do you keep your muscle? Under all that fat?" The foreigner asked aloud as he pulled the minotaur close, headbutting the large creature in its bulging belly. Ironside pushed the Sumotaur back a few steps then pulled himself under. As he slid between the minotaur's wide open legs, Ironside pulled his opponent’s arm with him and forced the over-sized man heifer to fall face first toward the inner edge of the ring. Ironside gave a small chuckle and stood back up, keeping his body in motion. The large beast's eyes opened fiercely in rage as he picked himself up to continue the match.
"Crush PONY!" Standing tall and facing Ironside again, the Sumotaur launched a series of strikes. The first blow was dodged as the earth pony took a step back, the second deflected with the use of his forelegs, but the third connected. The large, brown minotaur smiled as he hit the pony's face, but it quickly dropped as he felt Ironside pushing back his fist with his forehead leading the Sumotaur to the edge of the ring. The pony smiled a wicked smile as adrenaline began surging through his frame.
"Not bad,” He dropped to all four hooves to hold his position. The Sumotaur strained to push Ironside back, but only started to run in place. “Just no oomph!" The Frigus pony gave a forceful push and shoved the oversize heifer out of the ring into the crowd, to which it landed on an unfortunate penguin. For a couple of seconds, the crowd remain speechless as Ironside stood tall on his hind legs and roared loudly in excitement, "AAAHHH!"
The crowd shouted cheers and praise for the Frigus pony. They've never seen anyone out muscle a minotaur, much less the SUMOTAUR, before. Ironside nodded with a pleased look on his face as he trotted over to the ring-leader to receive his pay, "My prize money?" The donkey sighed, before tossing out two-hundred bits over to Ironside. The eager pony felt insulted as he stared at the small sum, "This isn't all of it, where's the rest of my bits?"
The mustached donkey gave a sour look before showing him the clock by his side, "I said a thousand for over a minute, not forty-six seconds. So your only getting that much." The donkey resumed calling for other takers as the Sumotaur wearily returned to the middle of the circle. Though his blood heated up, Ironside sighed in resignation. Just as he turned away, a thought crossed his mind.
"You should help your friend there," Ironside raised his voice for all others to hear as he calmly started walking away, "For as strong as the Sumotaur appears, his use of it is lacking, not to mention the fact he's too top heavy." The donkey and his minotaur companion began sweating bullets as the crowd murmured darkly amongst themselves. Ironside left, disappearing into the bustle and hustle that the market contained today, as a large, well-fit, dull blue minotaur walked into the ring with his ten bits in hand.
"Once I set my mind to it, I'll always make a profit!" The Sumotaur gulped air and saliva as his new opponent entered the ring with a fire in his eyes.
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Ironside wandered the market street in the small village, looking at some of the stalls for veggies, fruits and other edibles, when he passed a small vendor offering fortunes. He gazed up at the sun high in the sky and and felt it was about time to return to the ship with the bit he gathered from the fight, when a sweet, feminine voice caught his ears.
"Ah, young stallion, before you leave, would you like to learn your fortune?" A cloaked figure waved a clothed cover limb, signaling Ironside to return to her stand. She continued, "I can give you your fortune and some bits if you give me a...hoof with something." Ironside eyed the mountain of orange cloak warily. It gave no discernible features of the being inside, and her voice was the only indication it was female, "I was looking for a book, supposedly nearby, but I've found myself weary and unable to continue on....hoof. I've asked for aid here in this village, but none would listen. No matter what I do or try, I cannot find any help here. Won't you do me this favor. I swear you won't go unrewarded." The figure pointed with a lanky piece of cloth over towards a forest by the outskirts of the town, "I'll give you two hundred fifty bits in return for the book. You'll find it out in the middle of a lake of salt, but be warn, for the lake has a guardian that will impede anyone who searches for it. I'm so frail that I could not be of any use, but a strong pony like you would surely get past it."
Ironside was unsure of what to think about the request. Too many question popped into his head as he weighed his option: What were the details she's leaving out; why did she wear so much cloth yet could be heard as clear as day? Even more, why is this book on a lake of salt and have a guardian? He stopped his mental inquiry after recalling Sea Bass's instruction to take up small jobs and earn some bits for the ship. With a sigh, Ironside begrudgingly accepted her request, "Alright, you've got yourself a deal, madam." He held his hoof out to shake on the deal, but the cloaked figure only nodded.
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Ironside arrive at the lake of salt as the day neared its end. The lake was farther than he had first thought. The town was no longer visible on the horizon. "Maybe the crew will convince her to forget me. Better find this book and fast," Ironside muttered to himself. The lake expanded further out ending at the edge of a thicket near a cliff-side. No home, no hobble, not even a shack to show where the guardian of this place could be. Ironside looked towards the center of the lake hoping to see anypony that he could talk to. He could only see a thin, blurry, black line erupting from the very center of the mineral-filled lake.
Ironside felt unsure about the lake, but chanced a step on its white surface. When his hoof did not sink into its depths, Ironside took another step in. Finding himself still afloat, Ironside's confidence grew in spades. He even started thinking that grabbing the book would be the easiest job he'd ever done. That line of thinking shrank with the world around him as each step the black furred pony took, disappearing in a grey void. Ironside felt a disturbing sensation wash over him as he looked about his new surroundings. The silence that echoed throughout it forced Ironside to question aloud just to settle his nerves, "Where did the forest go, or the shoreline? Did I enter somewhere I shouldn't, or is this what always happens on a lake of salt?"
"This realm was meant to keep the Tome of Tartarus from ever falling into the clutches of those who would abuse it's dark magical power. Those who enter, are judged for this reason." A bellowing voice echoed throughout the void, yet Ironside couldn’t tell where it was coming from. Turning back towards the center, he was shocked by the presence of a large winged, deer-like entity standing between him and what appears to be a black, gnarled branch growing out of the salt with a large book within it's twisted dead claws.
The winged deer towered over Ironside by half his size. The armor she wore over encased her in a golden light, radiating so much that any defining features were obscured and silhouetted. Her wingspan seemed to extend beyond the straggler's peripherals, and each flap crafted a dust devil of the purifying substance that filled the lake. Her antlers extended to multiple points and glowed along with her radiance. The winged, armored guardian spoke, her voice holding more force this time, "What is your intent with this tome? Good, or Ill?"
The Frigus pony ogled the angel-like figure before him. It left him in awe for a few seconds before he did answer, "N-neither, I..I'm only here to r-retrieve it. N-nothing more. I-I'm actually allergic to m-magic. So I-"
The guardian's light dimmed as a ball of light appeared between her antlers during his stuttering. Ironside stopped just as the ball intensified then fired a laser towards him. Reacting with only milliseconds to spare, Ironside dodged the beam, but the blast that struck his previous placement erupted into a shockwave, pushing him back further from the book. Magic, if there was one thing Ironside disliked in this world, it was magic.
He stood back up, only to be sent flying by the wing of the angel. Feeling the weightlessness after his collar bone cracked and having his breath leave forcefully, Ironside wondered if he was in over his head for an old book. A book that gave the guardian enough reason not to let up on her assault. She thrust her hooves into the Frigus pony's spine in mid-flight. Ironside writhed on the ground as his back flaring with pain. The guardian returned to her position, waiting for her opponent's next move as he struggled to stand. Ignoring the pain, Ironside rushed up to the veiled being and lashed out with both hind legs in a fierce buck. He found himself being launched back. He didn't feel the armor, only a force manifested by her light. "What the- what did I hit? I know I hit you..." He seethed as he pushed himself up again.
The guardian stood proudly, her gaze boring through the confused pony. "Not a single being has ever been able to land a strike on me. Only those of righteous spirit are able to defeat me." Ironside mulled over the words as another strike from her wing sent him sailing away from the book. If what she said was true, then it would be futile to continue. The guardian's reason for protecting the book outweighed his own for retrieving it. Ironside decided that surrendering now was better than continuing a losing fight. Shakily standing once more, he began leaving the battle.
"I've...enough of...of this...fruitless endeavor, s-spirit. I sh...shall leave. I forfeit," He admitted dejectedly. His words enticed more fury as the apparition launched another bolt of energy towards Ironside. The blast burned the earth pony as he was hurtled further out.
"Nopony may leave! Nopony must know where the tome is! I won't allow it," the guardian screamed as she flew into the grey sky, intent on finishing her captive as he laid on the salt. Her threat struck a chord in Ironside's soul. His eyes widen with fiery fury erupting from within.
"I surrendered. walked away, and you're still attacking? You call yourself righteous? You say that nopony can lay a hoof on you, but only because your cursed magic keeps you safe." He stood on his hind legs to watch her descend. Ironside felt a surge of new found strength rising throughout his body, pulsing with indigo flame without his knowledge. His focus remained on the angel-like being that fell towards him as he reared his right hoof to strike "How Right is attacking the Fallen!?!"
Hoof connected to metal as a resounding snap echoed throughout the realm. The two stood there as the force of the impact blew salt, light, and wisps of purple all around them. Ironside felt his left hind leg break under his opponents hoof, yet he stayed his ground as his hoof pushed against the stunned face of the guardian. "But....only the righteous...." She muttered.
"Will end you!" Ironside finished, pushing the rest of his body to follow through the strike. He hurled her back a few steps before he fell onto the lake. She stood up slowly, the strike breaking her resolve. Her light fade away revealing a more solid form. Her coat was stark white, mane of bright yellow, and she had no wings nor antlers. She was a simple earth pony. The guardian walked in a daze over to the book as the branches withering in her wake. She grasped the book in her mouth.
Ironside struggled on the ground as the guardian dropped the book by his flank. His eyes widen when he gazed up at her true form, "Where- wha-, what in the name of the God King are you?"
The white pony stood silently as a gust of wind blew against her, her mane flowing along before disintegrating before Ironside’s eyes. She smiled somberly as her body followed suit from her tail to her forelegs, rejoining the lake of salt. Before the winds took her head, she whispered into the void around them, "I am like you. A relic of a time past. Vessels of great powers with responsibilities that many would abandon. Our curse...eternal. Child of Ursa....You have suffered evil’s grasp, but there is more to come. You must fight. Never...stop...fighting..." The mare and the grey void around him vanished, leaving only the lake of salt, the tome, and himself alone when the orange cloak emerged from the darkness around him.
"The book, where's the tome?" The figure inquired sweetly. Ironside made an attempt to stand, but fell once more, his broken leg proving more difficult to move.
"I've got it, but I can't seem to move..." The cloaked figure seemed to be in a hurry, urging the injured pony to hoof over the tome.
"Hurry and get up, give it to me, You're only just a few steps from knowing your future."
"The guardian said that this was a tome of Tartarus. Full of dark powers. Why would you need it?" Ironside's questions failed to reach it's ears through the cloak. It's insistence continued as Ironside grabbed the book, but crawled away from her. He began shaking his head back and forth. "Forget it, the deals off."
"I need it, give it, GIVE IT!" Ironside was taken back as the being erupted from the cloak, the sight of her true form becoming too much for him to handle with everything else. Fainting, he clutched the tome tightly, fearing what terrible things the thing inside the cloak will do as his vision blackened.
...................................................................................................................................
"Ironside, Ironside," a sweet voice echoed out in his mind, pulling the Frigus pony from his slumber. The voice reminded him of somepony dear to him long since past.
"Pure....?" A rave party of light danced in his eyes luring him to the living world, only to find himself back on the deck of the ship.
"Pure what?" asked Sea Bass, grinning over him, her chocolate eyes scanning Ironside's left hind leg inside the wooden brace her medics put on. Since Ironside's magic allergy prevented any of their healing spells to work properly, they would simply let time tend to his injuries.
The black and green pony sat up, his mind reeling from what all he experienced,
"Where...am I?" The haze in his mind began clearing fast, "All I remember is salt...and the book..Where's the tome? And that...thing?"
Sea Bass frowned, not enjoying his absence of memory or her being ignored. "Your back on the S.S. Fine Fishing, with your lovely host, Sea Bass," she announced, "We found you on the outskirts near the forest, hugging that book while bleeding from your leg. First Aid and Wood Rot got to work mending and binding your hind leg. The brace's is Wood Rot's own design. We had to wrench the book out of your hooves before pulling you onto a cart. Have to admit that book freaked out the locals, but some old pile of rags made quite the offer, six hundred bits. For that book you found, haha. Repaired the sails and filled our stomachs, it did. Even got you some medicine that might help with the lame leg of yours."
Ironside stood to address the captain, only to lose his thoughts as the pain in the braced leg pinched in points he couldn't see. The crew began thanking him for the food and the repairs. Shouts and cheers came from all sides, even below the deck to the stallion's amazement. They were happy for now, and Ironside felt a little more at ease now that they weren't glaring at him. Yet the knowledge that the tome was in that thing's clutches lingered on his conscious. His stomach thankfully distracted him. "Did I miss out on dinner?" He asked, smiling to the captain.
"In the Kitchen, but make sure to talk to Salad Dressing, you know how he gets with ponies just taking things from there. I'll walk with you," The captain waited while Ironside tested his ability to walk. Save for the limp from the bad hind leg, he felt he could safely traverse the stairs without falling down. During the rare moment of privacy in the staircase, Sea Bass asked Ironside about his waking words, "So what's Pure? Or is it Who's Pure?"
Ironside gave a perplexed look, "Pure what?"
"You muttered something while I was trying to wake you, Pure something or other...." Sea Bass blushed feeling awkward about bringing it up. She wasn't sure what she was hoping to hear Ironside say. Said pony felt his mind reach back to a very important face in his life. A vision of light pink topped with scarlet crossed into his mind before he buried the image. He wasn't ready to see that face again.
"I was saying your voice was pure sugar. Brought me out like a fly," Ironside fibbed hoping the shift of subject would steer the conversation away from the truth.
"WHAT? Oh Ironside," Sea Bass blushed, turning the cantaloupe fur around her cheeks to a red-orange, "My voice isn't that sweet," Sea Bass whispered quietly. Her voice was lovely, but if compared to those who ponies who singing was their gift, it didn't stand out much. "If anything the look-out, Irish Song, has a better singing voice-"
"I wasn't talking about singing," Ironside brought his face inches from hers. "I'm only speaking the truth...your voice... is like honey." He whispered the last part heavily into her ear, before continuing down into the kitchen, leaving a stunned, blushing Sea Bass to contemplate his compliment.
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Ironside sat in his hammock in the crew quarters at the lower bowels of the ship. The bowl of potato stew in carrot broth bubbled in front of him as he eyed it warily before taking a spoonful. He hummed in surprised as the taste was pleasantly delightful. The spice covered the carrot flavor, much to his liking. It was dark and empty where he lied, yet Ironside did not mind. A single candle laid on top of a drawer beside him at the farthest wall. Ironside placed his empty bowl on the drawer and laid back to rest when Sea Bass called out from the door. "Ironside..."
"Yes, Captain?"
Sea Bass entered the small room, leaving her captain's hat on the doorknob before gently closing it behind her. "I was hoping we could talk more," she explained as she lit the candle above the drawer with a simple spell. Ironside eyed her with worry, wondering if she realized his ruse, but the idea dropped along with the captain’s stained and dirty jacket, Since you been on board, they've been forgetting certain duties that fall under their chores. One includes laundry, and another is my quarters. While you were gone, the crew had been lounging around. Had to remind them who’s ship this was." Sea Bass laid herself besides Ironside nudging him over a tad to fit inside the hammock.
"Sea Bass, what are you-"
"The cleaning crew is working on my quarters, and knowing those knuckleheads it will take while. I told them I'll be taking one of these hammocks and leaving my hat on the doorknob. Anyone who interrupts me, gets to scrub barnacles off the port side. The entire port side." She snuggled into Ironside's neck, enjoying the warmth radiating from the now flustered, earth pony. “You don’t mind if I use you to keep warm do you?” Her captive shrugged in agreement. Not that he could do much else. "So what will you do when we reach Equestria?" Sea Bass asked, earning a sigh from Ironside.
"I don't know, maybe just....continue wandering. As I've said many times before, I don’t have a home." Looking down into the hopeful eyes of the mare in his hooves, Ironside felt himself blushing.
"Maybe you could be a seafarer? We can go sail for days and days..." She offered, trailing off as she snuggled further into his mane, enjoying the faint scent of metal that emitted from him.
Ironside nervously hugged Sea Bass, "I'd like that, but...I don't think that would...sit well with the rest of the crew." He shivered as Sea Bass sighed into his mane. Her crew took steps to avoid her noticing the glares and warnings they sent him, but some of their threats could be heard throughout the ship during mealtimes. They've been doing what they can to remain peaceful, but the crew gets rowdy when it came to her becoming interested in anypony. They needed her to be focused at all times.
"They're worried that you've been keeping me distracted from doing my duties as captain. One rumor amongst them is that you're trying to steal my heart." Ironside frowned at this, the idea bringing up a terrible taste to his tongue. She shifted to be on top of the black and green colt and changed the subject when she spied his scowl, "Maybe you could see if the princess could do something."
Ironside curiosity perked up at the mention of a princess, "Princess? What Princess?" Sea Bass giggled a bit at the pony under her, remembering he wasn't from Equestria.
"Princess Celestia, she rules over all of Equestria, everypony loves her. I'm sure she can help you find a place. Especially with your...unique allergy." Ironside looked away once more, the mention of his allergy putting him off a little. "Oh, don't be upset, I'm sorry." Sea Bass leaned into Ironside, nuzzling her cheek with his.
"You shouldn't be doing this," the Frigus pony protested yet nuzzled back.
"Well keep quiet and nopony will find out." She continued nuzzling him when he didn't stop her. Ironside allowed the warmth to lull him close to slumber, but a worrisome thought crossed his mind.
"Do you really think I'll find a place in Equestria?"
Sea Bass smiled warmly, "Everypony has a place in Equestria, a strong pony like you could work as her guard or something." Ironside allowed a small grin to grace his features, and held Sea Bass close as they both entered sleep. The ship took sail out of Cowrea as they slumbered, and cruised the sea toward its final destination: Equestria.
