The journey is its own reward
They were born of the everchanging land and water. The rocks and sand coalesced together to become both their rigid bones and their murky blood came from the torrential waters of the blue seas. For every light there has to be a darkness, and so for every creature is there a shadow at their hooves that follow them tirelessly and eternally. The sun arose and the moon followed after, both illuminating the skies and lands. Their followers, the stars, fell from the skies for their admiration of the heavenly bodies was heavy, and brought fire and death to once verdant plains and forests. From the silent weeping of the fallen came the Scourge, borne from ashes of those that came before them. Corpses betrayed and spited, cursed with an everlasting hunger that could never be satisfied.
A pale unicorn read through this translation of an ancient text that was written thousands of moons ago. This unicorn had a dark brown mane parting to his left side. His blue eyes were fixated on the words, pondering and wandering in the deep cavities of his mind. Shifting around in his seat his glasses were moving slightly, and thus he readjusted them as he has done so very often. So many nights he has sat in that very same chair, reading texts, or researching fragments of various finds from all over the world. The walls were all covered in photos, showing off beaches, cold tundras, woods, lonesome deserts or even the oceanside here and there, but there has always been some artifact that was centered in those very same pictures. With them stood the one who had found them; the very same pony who was sitting in that ol’ chair.
Log no. 1:
“I’m writing this journal to record my thoughts and the possible theories that I’ll be coming across in the near future. Currently I’m packing up for the upcoming journey towards the more arid parts of Equus. Since the text stated something about rock and sand, I presume that this ancient text was written in an area near an ocean, or perhaps where there were some dunes and deserts all around. Saddle Arabia is perfectly suited since it’s both close to the sea and has many deserts.”
Log no. 2:
“Day 5 of my journey on finding out the origins of the Scourge, or what I most likely like to call them nowadays: Changelings. Still traveling, currently lying in a very (un)comfortable hammock in some rusty ol’ boat.”
Log no. 3:
“Day 7...Praise Celestia, I’m finally back on land! Checking into the hotel, and I’ll start my investigation as of today. Going to ask some locals if they know something about myths and legends from their lands.”
Log no. 4:
“Day 11. Most locals that I’ve met around in this little town called Yanbu are very friendly to me. Well, that is, until I ask them about this text that I’m telling them about. Once that happens they all immediately start becoming somethat...neutral? Not quite hostile, but rather reserved. I wonder if there’s a library nearby. Perhaps there’s information about the town’s past.”
Log no. 5:
“Jackpot! After 4 days of searching through Yanbu’s archive I finally found something about some creatures having attacked the town about 150 years ago. Cases of beings that impersonated others, shapeshifting and using magic unlike any other creature that was known back then were reported...the first cases were stated to have taken place in the north-western region...time to travel again.”
Log no. 6:
“2 days have passed. I think it’s day 17 now. Gezlanhoo’v. My next stop on finding out about the origin of Changelings. Ponies around here have been rather...uncooperative with me. Must be because I’m an outsider. Nonetheless, I was asking many of those ponies about their past. About wars. Perhaps there was a betrayal that led to a war? The text stated ‘The scourge arises from the ashes of the fallen’, and as such I take it that there must’ve been a fight, a war, or a betrayal of sorts...Perhaps powerful magic was involved? I will find out about it.”
Log no. 7:
“Day 22 of my journey. Gezlanhoo’v wasn’t much of any help to me right now. No one wanted to talk, and the archive...it’s as if they liberately don’t want anyone to get to know about their history. For Celestia’s sake, I was almost taken into prison by the town’s guards because I was ‘nosing around’. Doesn’t make any sense...”
Log no. 8:
“Day 23. I met a peculiar stallion today. He looked like he was well over 100 years old...grim-looking. Blindness struck both of his eyes. He stared blankly at me and smirked before he told me that he ‘felt’ my aura, and then he instantly knew that my work would soon bear fruit. He gave me a sheet of paper...looks like a map of sorts. I was too baffled to ask him about his name. I have to search for him. He has answers...”
Log no. 9:
“Day 28. It’s been almost a month now! No information to be found anywhere, damnit. This is frustrating, to say the least. And that stallion?...never found him again. It’s as if he disappeared without any trace left. When I asked a couple of locals they didn’t know who I was talking about. It can’t just be my imagination now, can it? No...the paper! This will prove that I didn’t lose my mind. Eastern region, here I come.”
Log no. 10:
“Day 30. I do have a guide with me who’s leading me through the sands of this ever present desert. Packed enough water to drink, and well, we’re on the way towards an oasis and another small town, but perhaps I can ask her if she will bring me towards this marked space on the map. After researching through some other maps and scrolls in the library from the last village I didn’t find any traces of...any sort of monument, building, or life on those maps. Whatever it was the stallion gave me, I will have to find out...or it was all just a big ol’ prank. A mean prank, and that’s it, but for the sake of these people here...I BUCKING HOPE IT’S NOT A JOKE DAMNIT. Time to continue my travels. I have to show this piece of paper to the guide.”
Log no. 11:
“What the buck?! What the actual buck! This...this bitch threatened me. If I wouldn’t destroy this parchment she’d cut my throat. What in the actual Eclipse-causing ass of Celestia. This...well, luckily this dumb whore didn’t see me pack it into my saddlebags again.”
Log no. 12:
“Day 37 of my travels. It’s night. Normally we’d travel through this desert at this time. But...something’s not right. The guide was nervous. Too nervous...nonetheless, we pitched our camp, and now it seems like a sandstorm’s coming. I could see this high wall of sand traveling at high speeds from miles away, but it definitely wasn’t the sand that was making her nervous...whatever the case, I should try to rest.”
Log no. 13:
“Day 38...I woke up, and...she’s gone. The guide is gone. The sandstorm has passed and now...I’m alone. Fucking stranded within this stupid desert! Alright. I will just use my knowledge of navigation and reading of the way the sun travels. I should be alright. I hope. This bitch...she didn’t even leave her tent here...what the buck...”
Log no. 14:
“Day 40. I finally found an oasis. Gotta replenish my water reserves and just...try to live here for a bit. Last night was horrible. Throughout the whole night of travels I felt like I’m being watched from afar. Am I getting paranoid out here? What did I get myself into? I’m hearing ominous buzzing sounds...but those could also be from the desert itself. The phenomenon known as ‘Singing Sands’ haunts me...Anyways, according to my map the next village should be about half a day away from me now. And once I was there I’ll be making my way towards this little dot on the parchment. I really hope I’ll find my answers there.”
Log no. 15:
“Day 42. Finally, another village. The ponies over here seem to be very nice. Finally, civilization! And I finally found another clue on the whole suspect of the Changelings! Huzzah! It’s a large stone slab with hieroglyphs on it. Must be ancient. Over 2000 years old at the least...This thing, it belongs in a museum. On it there’s a carved illustration of a beautiful creature. Neither alicorn nor any of the three races. A saddle-arabian, yet...horned. Not a unicorn per se but similar. She was...depicted to have been one of the rulers from the time back then. These hieroglyphs state the following: ‘As beautiful as the sun itself. Well known and adored throughout the lands, bringing prosperity amongst us all.’ Almost as if she was adored like a goddess back then...peculiar. I have to ask where this is from.”
Log no. 16:
“Day 43. I’m onto something big here! This is so exciting! The locals have shown me a map. And on it there was an ancient temple, and it’s at the very same spot like the one mark that this old stallion gave me! It’s not just a lie! This will go into the history books for sure!”
Log no. 17:
“Day 43 still. Or, rather, night 43 right now. I’m so excited! I’ll be taking a guide from here with me. They said it should be just a day’s worth of marching towards the temple. I will get my answers there. I just know it!”
Log no. 18:
“Day 44. It’s been one excruciating excursion thus far. More sand, heat and the sun’s rays scorching the lands as I and my…’comrade’, at least that’s what she calls herself out to be, are making our way to the temple. The guide told me to keep close to her ‘lest the desert may divide us’. I’m a stallion of science, for crying out loud. I don’t believe in this nonsense that the locals seemingly want every outsider to believe. Perhaps they are still hiding something from me. My will has not been broken yet. I will show all those foals at the university that Changelings exist!”
Log no. 19:
“Day 44, evening. Zala, my guide, has led me to the temple, or rather…what’s left of it. A couple of collapsed stone walls in the middle of the desert. Everything that I’ve been through, every Celestia-damned hardship in this forsaken place has led me up to this bunch of useless stones! No writings, no depictions, and no clues at all! I’m tired, thirsty and we’re all the way out here, surrounded by nothing but sand as far as the eye can see! I’ll set up camp here and try to get some shut-eye. My water rations are slowly depleting, so I better wait until it’s dark and then have Zala guide me back to a city or at least some kind of civilization again…”
Mere moments after he had written the latest log in his journal, the pale unicorn’s eyes closed. Luna was sending him into peaceful sleep. Soon the sun would set on the horizon, bringing a cold night with it, as the countless stars began to show their faces, illuminating the night sky in an ocean of sparkling white dots. Accompanying thel was the crescent moon, beautiful and clean like white marble, as if a painter had been drawing romantic scenery on a canvas. What distorted the peaceful night was a sudden shriek; shrill and otherworldly and so very loud that the scholar jumped.
“Z-zala…?” he asked, whispering softly as he peeked out of his little tent. “Zala, this…this isn’t funny. Come on, you…” he remarked as the stallion shivered in place, looking around and towards the dunes before his gaze shifted over to a strange glow that was coming from the temple ruins.
Far too intrigued by the strange phenomenon, he swiftly gathered his camera from his saddlebags he held within his telekinetic grip. Still shivering with fear, and with every single fiber of his body saying that he should leave, his spirit of discovery and research took over, numbing and overwriting those primal fears of his. Still, there hadn’t been any sign of Zala at all. Wherever the saddle-arabian mare went seemingly was as much a mystery like the gentle and soft orange glow that came from the temple.
“What in the world…” he wondered idly, his breathing slowing down as he, with tired hooves, made his way through the cold sands and on towards the glow.
Like a moth into the flame did he find himself now near to what appeared to be an entrance to an underground cavern as recently ignited torches were lighting the way down its sand-covered stairs made of stone, said hole having appeared out of thin air, it seems. Being in the heart of where said temple once stood, with the caved-in walls surrounding it, and in the distance he could hear a faint clicking…or was it buzzing? It echoed through the caverns and up to the unicorn’s ear nonetheless, which had prompted him to follow said noise, against any voice of reason.
Slowly and carefully the explorer took step after step down the stairs, trotting past the torches as he soon found himself in a gangway, tunnels upon tunnels stretching far and beyond as faintly he could see illuminated passages from his current view. Some were lit up, and others were overcome by the darkness that took hold of the underground. In the distance he could still hear the buzzing sound, and, as if he were in a trance, began to follow the sound. Hungry for knowledge, the scholar followed the sound as he went from one passage to the next, from left to right and then back to the left. With the camera at the ready, he followed onwards as the buzzing kept on tickling his inquisitive nature…until the moment where it was stopped abruptly.
“Where did it go?” he asked himself openly, his voice reduced to a half-whisper as the unicorn’s ears were moving and perking up every now and then, trying to locate the wondrous and alien sound once more. That was, until said buzzing suddenly filled his ears, coming from behind! Which, in turn, frightened the stallion. He turned around swiftly, and…nothing. No soul but him, or so it seemed, but what he did notice was that the torches in the distance were extinguished, darkening the further reaches of the cave system once more. It was then that he took one of the still-lit torches that were close-by, using his telekinesis to lift it out of its sconce and use it like an impromptu flashlight.
Just after he took the torch, he could hear the buzzing all around him now! Above and below, to all his sides, front and behind him, as more and more torches were dimmed and extinguished now, until all that was left was the light in his metaphorical grip as well as his horn’s magic. He screamed and panicked, trying to flee…but where? Where would he go? What would he do? He needed to find an exit! A way to escape this Tartarus and never return again. And so, he ran through the hallways, endless as they were, surrounded by cracked stone and sands, as the sound of his hooves clacking on the stone floor were the only sounds that differed from the mind-numbing buzzing that emanated all around him, echoing into a cacophony of noises that was grinding the stallion’s nerves.
“LEAVE ME ALONE!” was what the frightened pony screamed at the top of his lungs all the while he laid down on the floor, cowering in fear and dreading what was about to come, and yet, as if the seemingly invisible force heard his call, it silenced itself again, utterly and completely, with the only noise left being his whimpers. It took him a little while, be it seconds or minutes, to calm down again as he looked around the area with his still lit torch lying around, the camera clutched tightly into his hooves. In the distance he could see shimmering eyes of cyan…or was it teal? No matter the case, he was trembling with fear as multiple pairs of eyes kept on staring at him while the torch began to lose its glow, dimming more and more until it was snuffed out.
The eyes were moving ever closer and closer, insectoid and strange as they were. The pony was unable to move, too frightened to do anything at that moment.
“Scholar, coming from far lands. What brings you here, to our home?” a female voice stated, reverberating and seemingly coming from right up above him. The stallion quietly looked up, trying to make out anything. That was, until he met with a pair of slitted green eyes opening up and staring directly into his own eyes. “I have asked you a question, scholar.” The female’s voice boomed with a certain regality, gentle yet somehow sending chills down his spine as he continued to stare up and into those eyes, hypnotized by their glow. A crooked horn lit up, showing more of the creature’s face as large fangs were glistening in the magical light. “One more time: What are you looking for here, scholar? I do not like to repeat myself,” she stated with a wide, almost impossibly large grin.
It was then in that moment the stallion realized that the creature’s head was twisted in all the wrong ways while its body seemed to be glued against the ceiling. “I…I am…I mean, I…” he mumbled out as he tried to find the right words, which were cut off by a snarl followed by the creature’s booming voice once more,
“Speak!” she said, her voice now filled with anger and yet, her uncanny grin still staring at him, unchanged.
Breathing in some air to calm himself, he slowly but surely stood up, pointing a hoof at himself, “I was looking…for the Changelings…”
Silence is what befell the room now, for excruciatingly long seconds, before all of those pairs of eyes around him began to laugh, their new cacophony of voices being even more frightening than the buzzing from before. He then looked around, trying to figure out what these other beings looked like before he suddenly heard a loud thump to his right side now, and with that, the laughter ceased, the lanky and towering creature’s horn lighting up to reveal her in full, with long legs that had holes in them, a teal mane, insectoid wings emerging from smooth-looking skin, and fangs that glistened even more now in the light and seeming that much larger now that they were closer to his face now. “Well, well, well…you have found what you were seeking,” she responded, her voice shifting to that of Zala, his guide who had vanished prior. “Are you happy now that you have found us?” she asked him, her voice shifting to that of the blind stallion that he had met in Gezlanhoo’v.
As realization struck him, his eyes opened up wide and his mouth hung agape while the Changeling’s forked tongue was slithering between those fangs of hers and her laughing remained unfettered.
With disbelief in his voice, he then tentatively asked her, “S-so it was you…all along? T-this whole time?! What in Celestia’s name are you!?”
“A little correction, scholar. It was not me per se, but my hive. We have observed you for a while now, and…Celestia, you say? Who is this ‘Celestia’ that you are talking about?” she asked with a raised brow. “Nonetheless, unicorn…” Her horn started to light up once more, and she gently touched his forehead while the stallion was unmoving, staring into those predatory eyes, until she whispered to him, “Sleep…”
As his vision became blurry he realized the magic she used on him, “L-let me go…” he wearily tried to say, as he soon fell to the floor. He curled up on the floor and his heavy eyes slowly shut, leaving him a quiet, unconscious mass on the ground.
“...Professor? Professor, please wake up!” The sudden sound of a youthful voice of one of the unicorn’s students made him groan in place for a moment before he shrieked, staring at the ceiling for a moment before he then quickly got up, looking around in confusion only to realize that he was in a lecture hall, “W-where am I? What happened?” He then turned towards a young earth pony mare, looking into her face as she began to giggle a bit, “Professor, you were sleeping. We were watching a documentary about Saddle Arabia’s most famous excavation sites! Don’t you remember?”
And as she explained the situation to him he began to chuckle and sigh a little afterwards, “I just…seemed to have had a nightmare.”
“Oh? About what?” she asked, gently smiling at him as she stood by his side.
“Wild fantasies…about mythical creatures. That I was an explorer, trying to search for any signs of an ancient civilization and thus finding out about the shapeshifters that are now known as Changelings,” he remarked.
His student giggled. “But Professor, those are just stories to scare little foals and fillies!” She then got closer to him, exposing small fangs and glowing green eyes. “Isn’t that right, sir?” she grinned innocently, “It’s all but a silly story…” she explained to him in a calm voice. “
“All but a silly story…” he repeated.
“Good, very good.” She nodded and, as she booped him on the snout, the stallion began scrunching it in confusion, “W-what?” he blurted as he shook his head. There was no one else in the lecture hall. The stallion stretched and yawned at the same time. “I think I should take a little walk to ease my mind,” he stated to himself before leaving the campus.
