The General and his Steed

Saddle Arabia

Istanbul

Radahn’s girthy steps tread loudly against the clay-stone composed floor of his rectangular-shaped abode, said living space accommodating his larger-than-anypony-who’s-ever-lived stature. Hangaku’s words, not his, although he certainly wasn’t ashamed of it!

Bwahahaha!

The large earth pony had made his way over to and stopped at a window to gaze out at the innards of Istanbul, the towering walls out in the distance shielding those residing within. His eyes wander over neighboring buildings similar to his own, each rooftop lined with tiles made of material that complements the desert-dwelling lifestyle; each tile practically shimmering in the light of the full moon.

His yellow-orange pupils eventually venture upward as the lunar celestial body stood at the forefront of a glorious black and blue canvas littered with stars and an aurora that took on a shape akin to a large curtain that threatened to close off all of space.

Suffice it to say, the astrologist within him was enamored by the sight. Giddy, even.

A hearty chuckle emanated from his throat as he recalled the stunned faces of those who never took him as an astrologer. Well, of course, he was! He’s a Carian, for Rennala’s sake! Astrology was as essential to his House as breathing is to all living beings.

However, it was because of his Carian lineage that, as he continued to soak it all in, and despite the eternal beauty of this very night, something felt…wrong. Now that he had the time to truly analyze the night sky, there was no question: he didn’t recognize any of it.

Even the moon itself, a prominent staple of his ilk, was alien to him. It didn’t feel like the moon he’d known for all of his life. Yes, of all his siblings, it was Ranni who had the deepest connection to the moon; there’s no denying that, but it doesn’t mean he or Rykard were to be found lacking.

Radahn exhales sharply to banish those thoughts away for the time being. He then removes himself from the window and proceeds towards the opposite side of the abode, whereupon a large, circular-shaped red bed rests on a—to quote the fine saddle arabian stallion that’d brought him to this residency on Hangaku’s behalf—‘Vintage Hamadan area rug,’ with a wardrobe and nightstand present on either side.

A pale-purple forehoof grabs onto the limestone that lines the bed’s outer ring, pulling Radahn’s form onto the furnishing as he allows himself to crash down upon red fabrics and well-placed pillows.

Allowing himself a chance to finally and truly unwind, and reminisce, a singular worry; one that’s been latched onto his mind ever since he’d awakened in this strange, distant land, crawls up to the surface.

“Leonard…” Determination remained despite fatigue sullying the cadence of his words, “My brother. Once I return home and regain my true form, I shall scour all of the Lands Between and those beyond to find you…”

Unconsciousness’ blissful embrace slowly tightens its grasp on the equine-Carian with every passing moment until, at long last, he surrenders to the realm of slumber.

Radahn’s eyes abruptly shoot wide open and he lets out a low-pitched gasp as he finds himself standing in the epicenter of a pathway made of stars that shimmered and shot across the star-way in every direction. The star-paved path stretches out and winds in two directions as clouds of white, pink, and blue border on either side, threatening to consume the star-way but never finding the courage to do so.

There was only one thing he could do in a situation like this, although all of it felt somewhat…familiar.

“Bwahahahah!” He boisterously laughed in joy, head thrown up to the realm’s night sky with closed eyes as his laughter echoed all across this serene realm.

“What a wonderful place I’ve seemed to stumble into. However…” He raises a forehoof and rests it beneath his chin in thought. “Hmmm. You know, this feels like that time when Selene and I spoke in the Dream Realm. And if I were to hazard a guess,” he scans over the realm, turning in place to look out in every direction, “this must be it.”

Nodding and humming in satisfaction, and giving into his adventurous side, Radahn picks the direction in front of him and continues onward without hesitation. His every step disrupts the collective of stars he has trodden upon along the star-way before said stars reform again after he lifts and pulls his leg away.

His eyes wandered to scan every nook and cranny of the scenery, but it was when they eventually went skyward that something suddenly presented itself in the realm’s night canvas, causing a sudden pause in the equine’s steps: a constellation.

The collective of stars flawlessly depicts the figure of a bipedal bull-like entity whose arms are raised in triumph, its head letting out a warcry as its horns reach upward as if ready to pierce the heavens.

But therein lies the source of Radahn’s stunned amazement, and it wasn’t entirely due to the depiction of the bipedal entity: the constellation is glintstone clear in what it was presenting. That was the complete opposite of how every constellation known to the Carian household worked, each being exceptionally vague with imaginary lines drawn between stars to create recognizable shapes that also relied on human interpretation and imagination.

This place…the Dream Realm…is truly a marvel. Radahn could only imagine the number of Carians and scholars of Raya Lucaria who’d get lost in studying that constellation above him.

Then again, such a wonder could only be found in the Dream-

“I assure thee, Radahn,” a familiar, authoritative, and feminine tone gently shook the Dream Realm in its entirety with every word, “that the constellations’ wonders are not a mere fabrication of this realm. Yes, for it is as grand in the waking world as thou seest here.”

Radahn chuckles in amusement, “I figured you had something to do with this, Selene.” His eyes are drawn towards the constellation as a series of white particles manifests in front of it, “I doubt very strongly that just anyone could enter this place, even me.”

“Astutely put, my fair stallion,” Selene’s voice responds from within the gathering of particles before said gathering flies down to the star-way like a swarm of energy-composed insects, landing several feet away in front of Radahn.

The particles began to shift and take shape into that of an equine. They disperse, unveiling Selene’s alicorn visage with outstretched, transparent rainbow wings as, while some particles sizzle away, others have formed lines and swirls along her body as if someone had used moonlight itself as ‘ink’ to create such fine art.

Selene’s closed eyelids with brows and lashes of white energy slowly unveil sapphire pupils that inhabit sockets of light-blue energy. With a flick of her head, the alicorn throws her waving pink mane to the right so that it flows in the same direction as her pink tail.

The alicorn folds her wings to either side and lowers her head in a respectful bow. “Greetings, Radahn.” She rises to her full stature, although it still pales in comparison to the large earth pony in front of her.

“It pleaseth me to hear of thine arrival to Istanbul, though I must apologize for not having welcomed thee personally in the waking world. Thine accommodations have been to thine liking, I trust?”

“Haha!” Radahn beamed. “Most certainly. And I have you and Hangaku to thank for it.”

“And Prince Forte,” Selene gently corrects. “Thine current abode has been graciously provided for by the crown. Hangaku is a dear friend to Forte. As am I. And-”

“‘Any friend of yours is a friend of mine,’ I take it?” Radahn interjects and ends with a knowing wink.

A transparent wing stifles Selene’s laughter. “Indeed. Come, Radahn.” She turns away and beckons him to follow with a head gesture. “There’s something I wish to show thee.”

Radahn adheres to the alicorn’s request and ventures forth—Selene waiting until he passes alongside her as the duo walks together along the star-way, disrupting more stars along the path, only for them to reform, in the process.

Moments go by as they walk in silence, and Radahn’s wonder of this realm only increases with every second. But the constellation above soon became his interest in conversation.

“I’m curious, Selene,” Radahn began as the ears of the alicorn next to him twitched in response, “what can you tell me about that constellation above us?”

“It is the constellation Taurus, one of the nine Zodiacs that reside in the night sky. Taurus, Gemini, Aries, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricornus, Scorpius, Libra, and Virgo. Each one is ever-watchful of our world.” An eyebrow of white energy rises, “Doth thou mean to say that thou art unfamiliar with the Zodiacs?”

Radahn’s best response is closed eyes with a toothy grin and a forehoof scratching at the back of his neck. “Haha! Guilty as charged.”

Selene comes to a pause at that, Radahn stopping in tandem. “...Truly?” She asked in shock. “This must be a jest. Thou simply cannot be ignorant of the Zodiacs. It’s…unfathomable.”

“But…I am ignorant,” Radahn offered half humorously. “I don’t know what these Zodiacs are. Or who they are, for that matter. Marika’s tits, Taurus’s constellation,” he emphasized with an appointed forelimb aimed at the constellation, “doesn’t even function the same as a proper constellation. Wait…” He paused in thought, “Does this land possess the ability to completely rewrite the night sky?!”

“Proper constellation?” Selene inquired incredulously. “Forgive me for being brash, Radahn, but thou art mad. And of course, the night sky has been ‘rewritten,’” she sets a forehoof on her chest, “I’m the one that shapes it in these parts.”

“Ah, that’s right!” Radahn roars in recollection before playfully smacking Selene on the back while laughing boisterously, the alicorn gritting her teeth with a strained expression as she catches herself.

—“Th-thou art s-strong. W-wait…”—

“You told me that you are a demigoddess who rules over night and day when last we spoke. Of course! Haha! Now it all makes sense.”

“It…does…?”

“Of course! I’m a demigod, you’re a demigod; demigods do amazing things. It’s quite simple, really!”

“U-uh…”

“Actually, come to think of it, why am I still an equine?” He asked while looking himself over, “Shouldn’t I be in my human form like last time?”

During Radahn’s questioning, Selene had blanked out and stared at him as, due to the stallion’s strike, it made one thing all too clear:

‘He…actually hurt me…? In the Dream Realm…?’

“Uh, Selene?” Radahn’s inquiry draws the alicorn out of her stupor. “Are you ok?” He waves a forehoof in front of her, “Helloooo.”

“I-I’m fine,” she managed with a croak. “Thine playful strike had…taken me by surprise.”

“Ah, right.” In one fluid motion, he lifts her right forehoof with his left and plants a kiss on her upper pastern. “Forgive me for causing you any bodily harm, ma’am. It’s, uh… Well, let’s just say that the women of the Redmanes are a hardy bunch, like Freyja. That woman can punch a man’s head clean off, let me tell ya.”

Selene managed to conquer her inner shock of what she’d just heard, although she was sure to explore that strange phenomenon of him actually managing to hurt her in the Dream Realm for later, and offered a pleasant smile, instead.

“It’s, uhm, quite alright, my good stallion.”

Her words set Radahn at ease as he gently releases her forehoof. She then clears her throat in urgency, and regains her composure, “Right then. With what we’ve discussed so far, I think it prudent that thou learn more about the Zodiacs.”

“Can you teach me?” He asked with a hint of excitement. “What better teacher than the Demigoddess of Night and Day?! Hahaha!”

The edges of Selene’s muzzle curl upwards. “Nothing would please me more, Radahn. Sadly, my duties wouldn’t permit me enough time to be a teacher, so I shall arrange for Hangaku or Tzana to tutor thee. To that end, I shall also be working behind the scenes to clear up any further confusion.”

“Hmm. And this is referring to when we last spoke?”

“Verily. Even our current meeting has made it all too clear that something is amiss. Pray, let us proceed further, Radahn. We’ve almost reached that which I wish to show thee.”

Radahn nods in understanding as the duo resumes their march. However, as they began, a smirk formed on Radahn’s muzzle.

“Couldn’t help but notice that you’re not speaking as archaic as you were last time.”

Selenes’s face goes beet red as she looks away with a snort, eyes closed and chin faced upward.

“Yes, well, Tzana insists that I, and I quote; ‘Get with the times, old timer.’ Hmph! The boldness of that mare.” A hearty chuckle escapes her as her features soften, “Then again…I did raise her.”

Radahn nods and lets out joyous laughter as the duo of equines continues along the star-way.

……….

After what felt like an hour to Radahn, Selene slows her steps as the earth pony accompanying her does the same in tune upon noticing.

“Here we are, Radahn,” says the alicorn while turning to the right side of the star-way.

The equine-Carian looks around their general vicinity. “I…don’t see anything. It all looks the same as ever to me.”

“Ah, but alas, my dram pony,” Selene spreads out her right wing with a smirk present on her features, “there’s more to the Dream Realm than what meets the eye.”

With a simple wave of her wing aimed towards the direction they’d just arrived from, a nearly infinite number of doors began to rise from the clouds on either side of the star-way. Each door bore a unique insignia on its face, a cutie mark, as Hangaku had called the same mark that rests on his flank, which resembles his Rock Throw sorcery, and every door is composed of different building materials and styles.

With her left wing, Selene causes the same to happen in the opposite direction—Radahn looking on incredulously throughout the entire affair. And when all was said and done, there remained one vacant spot in front of them.

“And this, Radahn,” both of Selene’s wings stretch upwards, “is thy door.”

Radahn’s eyes bear witness to something that is both familiar and alien. A Carian, gothic motif, silver metal door frame with his cutie mark resting up top rises from the clouds. However, his features turn from amazement to utter shock as, rather than a proper door with a doorknob, or something else of the like, that was present on virtually every other door frame he could see, his ‘door’ possessed something entirely different…

A Golden Fog.

Noticing the stallion’s shock, Selene steps closer as they gaze upon the fog-filled doorway.

“Of all the doors I’ve seen in over a millennia of service, thine door is most unique.”

Whether or not Radahn could hear her words was unclear as, in his psyche—seemingly unaware that Selene could also hear his thoughts—he thinks back to the words his father had passed onto him at a much younger age.

It was just after he’d received Leonard as a frail, young colt, and sparred with his father later that day…

Radahn, my son, are you familiar with the Golden Fog that divides all things and transcends time and space?

Yup! Mom told me about it.

Splendid. I trust she told thee that only a select few, such as the Tarnish and Numen, art capable of properly interacting with it and leaving unscathed.

Yes, but, why are you telling me this, father? I’m not a Tarnish or a Numen—I’m a red-maned lion! Raaaaawr!

Hahaha! So you are, son. So you are. Heed me well then, young lion: you and your siblings possess a gift.

A gift?!

Mhmm. But here’s the thing: it’s a secret gift. We cannot allow either of your siblings or your mother to learn of it. For now, of course. You are the eldest and, as such, I shall entrust this secret only to you. Can I trust you to keep it safe until the proper time comes?

Of course, father! What is it?

Come here, little lion…

The blood of the Numen flows through thee.

“Father…” Radahn finally managed after moments of recollective silence.

Selene, dumbfounded by what she’d just heard, wanted to inquire further, only for a feeling to occur that threw her gaze toward the night sky of the Dream Realm.

She gasps. “Wukong will be raising the sun soon.”

Urgency dictates her actions as she lunges forth and gently grabs onto Radahn’s cheeks with her forehooves, while sitting on her haunches, to force his gaze upon her—no more time to waste.

“Listen to me, Radahn: thou must grant me access to thine memories.”

“Wh- but, how-”

“I can find answers for us both,” she interjects, “but only with thine consent. Words are a powerful thing here in the Dream Realm, so I ask thee: doth thou, Radahn, grant I, Selene Sol Invictus, unhindered access to thine memories beyond thine door? It is imperative that thou beest sincere with thine answer.”

Radahn, seeing the desperation in Selene’s features and finally being pulled out of his stupor, grabs onto her forehoof that rests on his left cheek.

“I do,” he answered with a grin.

“Huzzah!” Selene’s wings reach back in celebration, her features one of joy. “Then I shall take care of the rest. Our time is limited, but still enough to explain the procedure.” She retracts her hooves, rises, and backs away. The alicorn then ignites her horn in a pale-blue aura and rests its tip on Radahn’s chest.

Radahn couldn’t entirely make sense of what was going on. From his perspective, the alicorn simply kept her horn gently pressed against his chest as she concentrated with closed eyes.

No, wait… He was starting to feel something, as if his magical reserves, and something else he couldn’t quite identify, were being siphoned towards the point of Selene’s horn, although it wasn’t in an alarming fashion.

Selene finally pulls away after less than a minute and presents her right forehoof, eyes narrowed. “Behold, Radahn.” An object manifests and floats above her hoof: a key, the coloring of which reminded Radahn of his own Great Rune.

Radahn’s cutie mark is present on the key’s head while the rest of it consists of a long shaft ending with crown-shaped key wards.

“So long as this key remains in my possession, and should thee continue to will it so, I can enter thine Mindscape Door even during thine waking hours.”

Selene turns around to face the Mindscape Door in question. “It serves two purposes: one that allows us Dream Walkers to locate and enter an active dreamer’s psyche, and, with this key in hoof, I can sift through the vast sea of thine memories safely.”

“W-wait a second,” Radahn began. “How did you enter that fog last time?”

“Something, or someone, aided me when last we spoke. I’ve been trying to track them down since then but to no avail.” Selene looks back to Radahn over her shoulder, “Thou hath been an enigma ever since Philomena and Hangaku informed me of thine existence. And now… There are more questions than answers. Fortunately, thou hast given me the means to find those answers. I promise not to betray that trust, Radahn.”

Radahn nods in affirmation. “Understood. When can you start?”

“I must first escort thee to the mercenary guild, Magius Syndicate, in the waking world. I’ll wait for thee outside of thine abode. After that; once my business with Queen Fatima and Prince Forte is concluded, I shall make good on my promise to thee.”

“Could I make a request of you, Selene?”

Selene blinks and tilts her head curiously to Radahn’s inquiry. “If it is within reason, aye.”

“...These doors, could you see if one of them belongs to my brother, Leonard?”

Selene nods. “I shall see what I can do. No need for details, I’m sure that I’ll get what I need from thine memories.”

“Thank you. This act of service means the world to me. So then, what happens now?”

Selene doesn’t respond immediately as she closes her eyes. A sudden pressure builds up all around them, causing Radahn to shield himself with a raised forelimb. As his eyes look around the now-crumbling realm before eventually falling on Selene again, the alicorn’s own orbs suddenly shoot wide open, windows to her soul filled with white energy.

“AWAKEN!!!”

Radahn gasps and lifts himself from the bed in one swift motion. A glance around the room, now illuminated by sunlight, its rays creeping through the windows and patio, confirms Selene’s actions: she’d ejected him from his slumber.

Such incredible power.

However, urgent matters needed to be attended to as Radahn quickly dismounted from the bed and, rather than walking out the front door, he ran over to the patio, slid the curtain along its track, and ventured out to the outside world.

The sounds of voices from those littering the morning streets below graced his ears, the sweet aroma of food being readied filling his nostrils. Radahn closes the curtain behind him and makes his way over to the balcony.

“Good morning, Radahn!” Came Selene’s voice from down below as Radahn spots the alicorn, now donned in silk-like attire, standing before a food stall in what looked to be a marketplace. “Come, my friend! The mercenary guild awaits us!”

Radahn smiles as he throws himself over the railing, much to Selene’s chagrin, and just before he makes contact with the earth below, the large earth pony calls upon his gravity-defying prowess and sets himself down gently.

He then marches over to Selene, but as he approaches, he takes notice of the alicorn…face-winging, with an alighted horn.

“What?” He questioned, stopping in front of her. “It was a fine landing! Bwahahaha!”

Selene sighs gently while folding her wing firmly to her side. “Thou art not to draw attention to thyself with thine prowess. The time shall come for such a display, but we must ease the local pony populous into it.”

Radahn’s eyes drift left to right and set on Selene again. “Oh, come now, look around you,” he gestures to nearby and passing equines, both saddle arabian and pony alike, “it didn’t seem to bother anypony.”

“That’s because I cast a spell to veil over their perceptions. As far as they’re concerned, I teleported thee in my presence.”

“...You can do that?”

“I can do many things, Radahn,” she finishes with a wink.

“Ahahaha!” He laughs boisterously and sets a forehoof on his chest. “So can I!”

A mischievous smirk forms on Selene’s muzzle. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that thou art issuing me a challenge.”

“Maaaybe,” he teased. He then raises a forelimb in a declaration. “Before any of that, let us conquer the aches in our bellies with a fine breakfast!” He spins in place, closes in on Selene, and gently bumps a forehoof on her chest.

“Your treat, of course. I have no idea how this land’s currency works. Ahahahah!”

Selene chuckles merrily at the stallion’s antics. “Of course. Further provisions shall be provided for thee at Magius Syndicate. Now let’s be off, I wouldn’t want thee to be late for thine enlistment.”

“Enlistment?! Well, why didn’t you say so?! That’s a fine way for me to earn some… What is this land’s currency?”

“Bits.”

“Bits! Lead the way, my friend!”

Selene takes the lead as she proceeds to guide Radahn through a nearby archway and towards the eastern side of Istanbul.

All the while, on a nearby rooftop, a hooded figure looks down at them...