Renaissance

Act III: Luminescence
Chapter VIII: Sssnakepit

The road to Vesalipolis was indeed a long one, just as Princess Cadance said. As they got closer to the border, the area was covered with snow, and trees surrounded them on all sides, making it even harder to see around them as they trekked down the long and winding road. Fleur had walked longer distances before, and so was pacing herself, making sure everypony was doing okay as they went along. But they weren't even across the changeling border when Trixie began to complain. "It's too cold out here for Trixie! And Starlight's having trouble keeping up with us!" Fleur and Fluttershy stopped, looking at the two unicorns behind them, one indeed shivering while the other noticeably looked out of breath.

Fleur looked to the horizon, noting it had to be just before Night, the four hours of Lunar Twilight nearly over. I don't know how they can just do that twice a day like it's nothing. ...Fighting for control over the sky, for four hours each time. The two periods of eclipse became known as Lunar Twilight and Solar Twilight respectively. It has to be draining, for both of them. And yet Daybreaker looked perfectly fine. Is her... Is their power really so immense that controlling the Sun and Moon is like lifting an arm to them? "...Alright, let's set up camp for the night. We'll cross the border in the morning, and be at Vesalipolis by this time tomorrow."

They set up camp on the side of the road, Fleur getting wood for the campfire as the other three set up the two tents, one for Fleur and Fluttershy, the other for Starlight and Trixie. When Fleur came back with the wood for the fire Trixie was already wrapped up in a blanket, each of them sitting on some large rocks Starlight found, around the makeshift firepit they made. Fleur put the firewood down and lit it up with a spell, Trixie sighing with relief as she warmed up, with Starlight and Fluttershy simply looking at peace. Fleur smiled as she took her seat on the rock next to Fluttershy, the two blushing lightly as they locked eyes for a moment. Fleur cleared her throat. "So... What's everypony thinking about?"

Fluttershy was the first to speak up, the three unicorns looking at her attentively. "I-I... I'm wondering how bad it is on the other side of the border..." Starlight and Trixie seemed to share the sentiment, nodding before Fluttershy continued. "I just hope that we'll be safe on our way to the capital... I'm worried we'll run into trouble like Princess Cadance said, a-and I don't know what we're going to do if it does happen... I don't like fighting... I'm sorry I won't be much help during the battle, but I promise I'll do whatever I can to patch you up afterwards. I have bandages and health potions, and mana potions too, for if you three ever feel worn out from using too much magic."

Starlight spoke up next since Trixie was focusing on warming her hands and feet up with the fire. "I'm glad somepony else has some, I was worried I might not have enough for all three of us. I'm used to only carrying around enough potions for me and Trixie." She sighed. "Ever since the war began they just began to cost more and more. I know it's because we need to make up for the amount being used on the front lines of the war, but still. It makes it hard for us who aren't directly supplied them. That's... kinda why I try to stock up on potions whenever I'm in the Crystal Empire. You ponies ever think about exporting your excess?"

Fleur was about to mention something about the price of health and mana potions, but they all noticed Trixie pointing over the fire, in between Fluttershy and Fleur. The unicorn and pegasus swung around on their rocks, before Fleur immediately jumped in front of Fluttershy, her glaive at the ready. A group of three changelings were staring back at them from the trees, Fleur, Trixie, and Starlight's horns all glowing at the same time as they each pointed their glaive, longsword, and staff at them respectively. They were each ready to cast or fling a spell if they had to, the changeling in front holding up his hand, the three insectoids in a non-offensive stance.

The supposed leader of the three spoke up. "Why would you stupid ponies make yourselves so easy to spot? Are you planning to travel through our lands?" He laughed. "You're dumber than I thought if that's the case. What business would you ponies have wandering the Changeling Empire anyways? Don't tell me that you four are the best your dumb gemstone nation has? I don't think the yellow one even knows how to fight!" He laughs again, mocking the four ponies. Trixie almost growled, her ego getting the better of her at being insulted. But Fleur raised her hand, and the magician begrudgingly stifled her response.

Fleur's horn never stopped glowing, the edges of the blades on her glaive heating up and beginning to glow red, smoke coming off of them in the cold northern air. "We come in peace, but we will fight if we are forced to." The changelings looked confused at her words, and she continued. "Our message is a warning, but not the kind you may think. If your Queen decides to invade our land, Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon will both match it. The Crystal Empire is in an opportune place for both of them, and if given the chance, one of them will ensure it becomes theirs. And I'm sure you three have at least heard the tales of Daybreaker vaporizing hundreds of your kind at a time."

The three changelings hissed, obviously knowing exactly what Fleur was talking about, and the ex-model took a step forward, the three changelings surprisingly backing up a step. "Her righteous fury disintegrating more of you isn't exactly a fate I would think you're all keen on accepting. I've met her, face to face, and I can tell you this, she would do it without even giving it a second thought, and the only sound left in the battle would be her laugh. So... We have come, as ambassadors, to talk to your Queen about a temporary peace between our nations. So long as the Crystal Empire remains untouched, so shall your lands remain untouched by more eternal fire than they already have."

The three changelings snarled before turning around and running back towards the changeling border. It was only then that the three unicorns let their magic dissipate. Fleur took a deep breath, letting it out in a sigh as she knelt down, pressing her glaive's blades into the snow, pulling out a cloth to dry the water off of them after they were cooled. Starlight was the first one to walk up behind Fleur and put her hand on her shoulder, the ex-model looking back up at her. The sorceress had a shocked expression on her face, and Fleur expected the words that came from her lips in that moment. "You met her... Daybreaker, face to face...?"

Fleur stood up and looked solemnly into Starlight's eyes, wordlessly telling her that she had indeed spoken truth. She put her glaive on her back, and walked back over to the campfire, taking her seat again as the other three stood, expecting her to say more. Fleur silently stared into the fire. "She stood in the living room of my house, in front of our fireplace. Her firey gaze felt as if it was stealthily trying to pierce my heart. Her burning mane of fire, immaculate alabaster fur, and captivatingly sensual and powerful presence, made it hard to believe she was even a pony at all. And when she spoke, ...it was then that I found her truly terrifying. Her words brought such peace to my soul, they had a dangerous sweetness. ...That's exactly why she is terrifying."

She continued as the other three took their seats once again, listening closely. "She told me that if I ever betrayed the Empire and she found out, she would burn both of my mothers alive before my very eyes, and then burn me alive as well. It took me begging on my hands and knees for her forgiveness for her to laugh. She told me to be more careful, like a mother would her child, and then walked out of the house, the fire in our fireplace going out once again as she did. I consider myself lucky to be sitting here before you tonight, because I know that she could have turned me and my mothers to ash like it was a wave of her hand if she had felt like it."

The group sat in silence for a moment, Starlight making an audible gulp, Trixie holding onto her. Fluttershy was trembling when Fleur finally looked back up from the campfire, immediately feeling a little bad, and wrapped her arms around the Element of Kindness tight. The last words any of them said that night before they laid down to rest were the ones Fluttershy said as she wrapped her arms back around Fleur.

"S-So scary..."