She was an explorer by trade. Or had been, at least. She was more accurately one who had no path or desire. While it felt as so, truth be told she had none.
She'd had lost her ways. Lost her tools of the trade, all thanks to self proclaimed heroes of the land. As she had entered the Merimount Timberlands, she was hours away from her escape. A pegasus mare, with brilliant purple wings was now lost. She had no idea where she was. But in her mind, those who had pursued her would not find her here.
She flew into the forest, intending to go as deep as her wings could carry. For how long she flied, none would never know. She didn't care. She just wanted to escape her worries. Eventually, her wings gave out and she slowly glided down to the forest floor. Nobody had been here in hundreds of years. Not that she would know. Not that she would care.
Her heart pounded in her chest as sweat rolled off her legs and face. Illania knew she had escaped. But was now trapped within the clutches of the forest. A forest that there were legends about, a forest that none had ventured into. She didn't know the reason. It was far too long since she heard the tales of her youth.
She had leaned up against a large oak tree. One that had been around since ancient days. She rested her head on it's trunk and looked up into its swaying branches and wide variety of leaves that extended all across her vision. She breathed deeply as her heart rate slowed as she gathered her thoughts.
How did I arrive to this point? she'd whisper under her tired breath.
She remembered storming a watch tower. One of those watch towers across the land. A guard tower just outside a certain village. She hated that town. But, she only had herself to blame. She remembered taking the search light of it. The searchlights of those towers were powered by a special crystal that enhanced the ability of those near it. She knew how to work crystals. Only so they could serve to power her.
Illania had done this for years. She lost track of the first time she stole something of power, but it didn't matter. All that matters was that she had escaped. While initially she was chased by a few guards, she was able to outsmart them and flee in another direction. It had brought her great satisfaction to watch from behind a building as the guards flew off in the opposite direction to search.
But then. She remembered! She remembered that she was not entirely free yet!
With pained eyes, she looked to the white runes adorning her cutie mark. Her cutie mark being that one of a magnifying glass. All prisoners in the distant kingdom, that she had originated from would wear these runes. It was a final resort for...more troubling prisoners. These runes would allow one to be tracked down by a certain spell no matter how far one had gone. But, why hadn't she been found yet? She didn't know.
It hadn't crossed her mind. She had gone all this far, to just realize she wasn't free. If she wanted to be, she would have to take them off herself. She had no tools to pry them off. Illania didn't care about the pain. She just wanted to be free from the consequences of her actions.
Looking about as her breathe slowed, and as a welling nervousness grew at the pain she would soon feel. She would not wait any longer. "Might as well get this over with..." she would mutter. In the distance she could see a clearing with many flowers. But that did not concern her. She was focused on finding rocks. Sharp rocks. Pointed ones. It didn't matter, just as long as she could tear herself free. Literally.
It felt like hours trying to find sharp rocks, before she had eventually found some at the roots of a tree. The nervousness in her mind made time slow as she purposefully delayed herself. She didn't want to feel the pain. But, she had to in order to be free. Then it crossed her mind. She was hungry. But first, she pried the sharpest rock she could find loose from the roots of the tree, as well as a few others just for good measure.
Carefully balancing them on her back, she soon found a bush. It had bright red berries. Her hunger was far too extreme to even reason with herself. She quickly took bites of the berries. Swallowing whole ones, chewing up others. Her hunger was like that of a ravenous bird, chained to a post. With a desire to be free.
Eventually after however many berries, she was satisfied. She was full. She quickly felt like something was off though...there was a sharp pain inside of her. She figured it was just because she had not eaten in a long long time. Glancing to the rocks on her back, she sat on the edge of the clearing. In the distance was a waterfall, peacefully flowing amongst a stream.
The water calmed her mind, but as she sat down and glanced to her flank seeing the 6 runes on right side whatever calm she felt had went away. She was well aware that she was going to bleed. And after gathering a heap of leaves she was ready.
Ready for what? The pain? The bleeding? The aching desire to be free or...her aching stomach? Her stomach by now was aching quite a bit. Something about those berries had hurt. It then dreadfully set into her mind that they were poisonous berries. She ate them. Now, she had nothing else she could do. She was going to die.
Her life flashed before her eyes as she grabbed the stones. "If I am going to die, then I will die free...yes...free..." she trailed off, her thoughts racing at a thousand miles per hour. She could no longer understand her emotions, or memories from her youth.
Placing the edge of the stone against one of the runes she realized this was it. This was the moment she was going to be free. And with another rock in her hoof, she propped herself up and took the leaf heap by her side. Then, with one slam the rune popped off, leaving a bloody mess.
She screamed. Her screams echoed through the forest as the sounds of the forest had ceased. It was a pained scream, but also one crying out for help too even if she wasn't herself. One down, 5 to go. One after another, they eventually were all off. Her entire flank was now red, she felt the blood pooling up around herself.
She didn't waste any time and gathered the leaves. Putting pressure to the wound. It only made it hurt more. Not to mention, her stomach felt like she had just been impaled. Her body was feeling so much pain. So much pain, indeed. Despite all of this, her eyes remained transfixed on the runes. The white glow inside of them gradually faded off. She was free now. But, for how long?
Illania couldn't help but cry at the pain. It was too much. Just too much. But she was certain she was going to die in these woods. Alone. But at least she would die free. Throughout all of this, she remained silent besides her grunts and screams of the pain she had just caused herself.
However, her mouth did muster some words though. It was words she had no other way of saying. She layed on her back, unable to push the leaves against her bleeding flank due to the immense pain. It began to bleed more, without the pressure on them any longer.
She looked up to the leaves and branches above as she called out to whoever might listen. "P-please...someone! Anyone...help...h-help me..." she'd say with all the strength she had left. It was not much, not much at all. Her eyes would roll back.
Little did she know, Illania's pleas were already granted. Nearby, a mare was watching. The mare didn't know if this was her place to help, or if it was just the cycle of life. But whether it was or wasn't, she couldn't watch this one die before her eyes.
The mare would walk up to Illania serenly, yet calmly. As if completely undisturbed by what she had been seeing. She would look down to Illania's flank, even for one of her age she had not seen so much blood from a pony. Wincing at that, she would look down into Illania's purple eyes who were looking to her with thankfulness.
"S-save me...whoever you are...save me...please..." the purple pegasus would plea, the strength in her words fading.
The mysterious mare standing over her was one of a light green. Her mane and tail were that of various shades, she was an earthpony. And she had a small flower in her mane by her left ear. The most intriguing fact, was that the mare's eyes were brown and slit. The mare's two front legs had vines wrapped around them and she seemed to pay no mind to that.
She'd smile to Illania. "Fret not, little one. I am here to save you." she'd say serenely. “Why are you dying?” she asked gently yet urgently.
"T-the berries...I ate them...the runes...I cut off..." Illania said in absolute pain and agony. " "You should not eat, what you do not know." the mare would respond calmly. Illania thought that for a moment, this strange mare would just stand there and watch her die.
The mare smiled knowingly. She walked closer and looked to Illania. "Stay completely still. Please." she'd say as if shakingly. Illania would lay still as she could. "T-hank you...whoever you are..." Illania said hoarsely.
“Don’t speak,” the mare replied. Stepping closer she would open up Illania's jaw with her hooves that were like that of a farmer. “We have little time. You will come to understand.” the strange mare said. Illania could only look on in confusion, but hope.
The mare then pulled illania into the clearing, walking slowly just as the life was fading from Illania's body. Yet still, Illania had clung on dearly to her life. The mare began to walk around Illania in a slow fashion. Apparently, mossy green rocks popped up from the ground for some reason around her. Then once the 'circle' was complete, the mare stopped.
"Do not be alarmed, little one. I am helping you." she'd say, then Illania suddenly found herself paralyzed within the rock circle. Illania could not talk back. She could only think. The mare seemed to be preparing something. Then all of a sudden, her body faded away and left behind a deep green pulsating orb.
With the way that Illania was laying, she would stare into the orb for what felt like an eternity. It was amazing. It was beautiful. Then, the green orb began to spin around Illania as she layed there paralyzed and then lurched forth.
Illania's mouth opened as the orb would force its way into her mouth. Illania felt an immense power. It was not like anything she had felt. Far more than her artefacts had given her. It overloaded her senses as the orb worked its way down Illania's throat. She felt that power spread throughout her. Every nerve, every muscle had this power flowing within her.
Once this was complete, there was a sudden surge of energy. An explosion of a deep green light would fire off into the sky. It was silent, yet it was seen for miles. At least it would be, but nobody else was around to see it.
Illania would then black out and find herself in a void. It was a black void except there was a calm green mist. Illania felt no more pain. She called out, "W-where am I? Am I...dead?" she'd ask not expecting an answer.
The strange mare would then exit the mist and walk to Illania silently, her eyes were quite motherly. "You are not. I have healed your injuries and your poison." she said with a calm nod.
"W-who are you?" Illania asked, the mare smirked as a thought settled into Illania's mind. "Wait...you are...you are Gaea?" Illania would ask and step back a bit.
"Some have called me that. Mother nature, too. But, my true calling is Morning Bane. I am...lets just say I am a spirit. But you have much to understand." she'd say, leaving Illania bewildered.
"I know your thoughts. I feel every pain you have felt. I know everything about you. When a spirit is within someone, they know everything..." Morning Bane stepped closer, her words slightly offended. "I know why you are here. And I am not exactly pleased with who you are, however, I would never let someone at their wits end die." she'd say solemly.
Morning Bane would smile knowingly. "You have much to learn. Much to learn, indeed." she'd say as the black void faded away. Illania found herself in the circle, being lowered. The paralyzing feeling would be gone. The blood, and the pain was also gone. She was healed.
Illania, confused as to what had happened would step out of the circle. A voice sounded in her head. It was Morning Bane.
"Come now. You have much to learn. Everything will be okay. Your body isn't exactly my type, but you must learn." she spoke, as Illania felt herself unwillingly walking further away into the woods.
And like that, Illania was never heard from again.
A guard patrol would end up searching the area, days later after having indications as to Illania's whereabouts. Eventually the runes were discovered as well as a patch of dried blood. But no body or anything. They searched the woods but found nothing. Confused, they would return with nothing. Absolutely dumbfounded.
The legend of Illania vanishing into the cursed woods would eventually reach everyone's ears in due time across the land. Many years later, of course.
Little did they know, Illania had found her calling. For that, she was in peace. With Nature herself.
"You can't just walse off and take my body like this, Morning Glory or whatever your name is..." Illania sounded within her mind as Morning Bane would stop and sit at a rock. She'd kick her legs up on another rock, admiring Illania's purple legs. It was interesting to see the difference.
"My my, a little unappreciative are we? Perhaps I might keep you for longer. Like I said, you have much to learn." Morning Bane replies, relaxing against the rock.
"You seem so nonchalant with everything...why is that? What will you do with me...? Keep me forever?" Illania asked timidly.
"Your kind want so much, that you will never get. When you have lived as long as I have, you learn that wanting and having is not what it may seem. Sometimes wanting is better than having. Especially in your case." Morning Bane would grin slightly, feeling her hooves and legs a bit.
Illania was quite frankly embarrassed by such an intimate thing. Morning Bane knew everything about her through and through. And now she can see anything she like of Illania's body."But wanting is what drives life...wanting drives success and lively life. I've been all over the land, seen things many ponies do not. All due to my want..."
"That is where you are wrong, little one. Why else would you end up with those runes on your flank? Or why else would you have ended up so lost, and so alone?" Morning Bane twirls her hooves slightly, looking at the various scars on them.
"I...I guess you have a point. But you speak of being alone...but aren't you yourself alone here?" Don't look at those scars please..."
"Quite the contrary. I am never alone. Your scars are deep, and painful. But none as painful as the ones I have seen." Illania could feel a sense of slight rage within her spirit companion, but also loss too.
"W-what do you mean by that...?" Illania asked, knowing she was at the mercy of Morning Bane.
"Why tell, when I can show?" Morning Bane asked rhetorically as she hopped up off the rock and walked towards the nearby tree. It leaved Illania extremely confused until Morning Bane approached the tree. With her hoof she felt along the tree's trunk.
What happened next was completely unexpected. Illania felt a rush of wordless thought flow into her mind. It was a thought process that of which she had never thought of. Thoughts without words, smells, tastes, or any senses. It was just thought. Illania was confused.
"What is that? What are you doing? Can you stop? I don't like it..."
Morning Bane smiled sadly as she pulled away. "Everything in nature possesses thought and emotion to some degree. While lots of things cannot express themselves, they can still be hurt just like you and me. It pains me to see the actions of your kind towards the world around them, unaware of the pain they cause. The pain they cause to others. Imagine being aware of everything hurting you, but not being able to do anything about it. Or tell them to stop." Morning Bane said sadly, yet carrying a degree of harshness within her words.
Illania was left speechless at that. Morning Bane felt the way Illania felt. Sad. Yes, sad. Illania felt sad for the first time in a long while.
"I...I...don't know what to say to that really...but I guess I can see how horrible it is..." she'd finally reply.
Morning Bane would scoff. "You already know what to say, you just feel the need to say it. Now lets get to why you are here. You are here because of your wants, your desires. And the pain that they have caused you. You were lucky that I was around, or you would have died. Alone." Morning Bane's words were harsh, and ran deep within Illania, but it was the only way for Illania to understand.
"I have these wants and desires...because I had nothing else. No friends. Nobody to talk to. As you know the story...you know the rest." Illania thought sadly.
"You were that way because you were afraid to ask. If you simply asked, your whole life would have went down another path. But, everything happens for a reason. It is nature. Nature always has a way. Nature will always teach you a lesson. Because if you had gone down that path, would you have learned what I am teaching you?"
"I suppose not...but why are you doing this? Why did you save me...? You should have let me die...I deserve it..." Illania would start to cry, but Morning Bane held back her tears.
"Don't say that, little one! I couldn't let that happen to you. While I may not like the path you have lead, I would never let that happen to someone. But now that I have intervened, you will not live that path again. Don't be sad." she thought almost pleafully.
Illania didn't reply, she only felt shame for the way she had acted.
"Come on now. Lets get you something good to eat. You are still hungry, yes?"
Illania's stomach would growl as if almost on cue there. Morning Bane would grin serenely as she got up, and walked off. Illania didn't know where Morning Bane was going but she had located a grove of apple trees soon enough.
"Your kind are not as bad as you seem, at times. They planted these for me, years ago. As an offering. I do not wish or require offerings, but from time to time it helps remind me that I am appreciated for what I do." she'd say as she approached one of the low hanging branches. A bright bunch of green apples would hang low.
Morning Bane would pull one off and bite into it. Savoring her taste. She didn't ask or let Illania give permission to take a bite. She was going to make Illania enjoy it whether she liked it or not. She ate slowly, Illania never ate so slow in her life. But, it felt good. It felt really good. Enough to make Illania smile slightly.
"That was delicious...thank you for showing me that." Illania would reply.
"When you take the time to savor things, you will want less. And when you want less, you are happier. More content. More safe from the consequences of your actions. It felt good, yes?" Morning Bane leaned at the tree gently, rubbing its roots with her hooves.
"It felt good, thank you. Can you bite into some more for me...? I kinda like sitting back and letting someone else take the wheel." Illania chuckled mentally.
Morning Bane would chuckle slightly in reply, serenely. She would take a few more bites of the other apples. After long savoring chews and swallows, Morning Bane would rub her stomach in a satisfied manner. Illania felt warm, and content. Then, Morning Bane would pull out the seeds from the cores of the apples.
"See these? These seeds? What do they mean?" Morning Bane asked quizzically.
"Well they are seeds, so they will grow into more apple trees in the future? I don't understand your point..." Illania was confused.
Morning Bane would gracefully get up, carry the seeds in her mouth. When a good distance away from the other trees, she would spit them out into her hoof and levitate them over the ground in equidistant spacing. Then, she shoved them into the ground with just the right pressure and just the right depth.
"Those seeds will grow into beautiful, strong trees just like the others over there. You have to be patient. But, patience has its rewards. Eventually they will grow large, and with many apples of their own. But, they can come in all forms, and shapes. The possibilities that a seed can be, is truly marvellous, isn't it little one?"
"Well now that you put it that way, that is very interesting...all from a small seed, into one big tree." Illania said with a bit of wonder.
"But seeds aren't the only thing planted. Your thoughts. Your actions. Your ways are seeds. What will they grow into? You can never know for sure. But knowing what you plant, will at least give you an idea of what to expect. So think about what you want to plant, before you plant. Then you will get the results you seek, but not always. That is okay though, not every seed planted turns out beautiful. But some are truly stunning." Morning Bane said in a rather wise manner.
"I...I see what you are getting at. I am where I am now because of the way I acted. Actions have consequences? Is that what you are saying?" Illania asked curiously.
"Precisely that. Well done. You have passed your first lesson. But I will not let you go just yet. It will take a long time, if and when I let you go."
"Well, what will happen if you don't let me go? Will you just keep me here in these woods, with you...inside my mind?"
"Well, I will always be with you. You will never age. Despite that, it may take years. Hundreds of years to learn important lessons...like this lesson was now, it was just the seed of what is to come. Since you have nobody waiting for you out there in the world I suppose you are content with that?" Morning Bane asked, but she already knew the answer.
"Well...I don't suppose I can deny that? I mean, what other ponies out there gain lessons and...insight such as me? And if I am out here long enough, then all my crimes will be forgotten."
Morning Bane smiled knowingly. "There are others. Other spirits. But, I will take you one step at a time. And what you say about long enough...it's not about forgetting what has happened. It is about learning from it, and moving forward better than before. Now come. I have much to show you."
Morning Bane would look down at Illania's front legs as green vines twirled around them magically. As if they just spawned there. Then, Morning Bane would create a small flower from magic and place it into Illania's mane at the exact same spot it was at when Illania first saw Morning Bane as she really was.
"You have much to learn, little one. But in time, you will know more than any other chance you had. Do not be afraid. While this seems like a lot. You will learn that what it seems is not always what it is to be." Morning Bane smiled.
Illania felt content as Morning Bane walked off deep into the woods. Nobody was around. Perhaps for one hundred miles. Perhaps more. But Illania was more content. For once, she did not want anything else. She was content.
From what will the seed grow? Time will tell.
