I stared out the window through a crack in the curtains. The green strands waving in a invisible force, some were just green, others had growths that were different colors, one was a dark brown with green growths on its limbs that grow out of the main stalk. The sun was rising, its light bathing it all in oranges, purples and yellows, the light dusting of snow further enhancing the scene. I felt a something try to slip into my mind, I groaned as I pushed it out with all my might, I was pretty sure it counted as magic.
And I was not suppose to use magic.
A movement in the neighbor's field and I closed the curtains fully.
Mommy and Daddy would be so angry if somepony saw me.
my room was somewhat empty: two beds for me and Sis, a drawer, a chest with old toys in it and a bucket to... relieve our selves, all contained by cramped off white walls with a rough wood door.
I started pacing on the weathered wood floor, bored and hungry. I've played with each of the toys in the chest countless times, I've gotten too old for games like peak a boo, their is only so many things you can pick to play I spy with when outside is forbidden and there's not enough room to play tag, and there was no bo-.
No! Bad filly. Neither Sis or mommy and Daddy told you what books are, so you shouldn't know about them!
So I paced, wondering whats in the basement and trying to not let the mystery Pony slip things into my mind.
I call her the Carver and she likes to make me know thing I shouldn't.
The door opened with a soft creak, Sis stepping in, her iro- dark grey mane framing her chubby face and light grey coat, she gave me a warm smile.
"Diner's ready," She said happily, turning around and trotting down hallway, if she was like mommy and daddy she'd be jiggling like jel- like something. It would be funny if I wasn't worried. The Carver keeps saying that such weight gain was dangerous. I followed Sis down to the dining room, my amethyst hooves making a tink clop sound, despite the carpet on the floor everywhere, the stairs groaning, pink and pearl mane flopping in my face, as I got to the main floor.
The dining room was small with a kitchen to one side. at the table was Mommy and Daddy, they were setting the food down with their hooves, lacking a horn or wings.
Earth Ponies, the Carver supplied before I could do anything to stop it.
We sat down, a slab of glass and a few rus- red rocks in my and Sis's bowls. It was bland and made me want to gag, it always did but Mommy and Daddy get mad when I spit it out.
"Hey, Mommy?" I asked nervously, gaze at my bowl, as I picked at my glass.
"Yes dear?" Mommy asked boredly, picking up her and Daddy's bowls and taking them to the sink.
Not once looking at me.
"I was wondering. Sis is a adult and I'm becoming a big Pony and that maybe we can go outside?" my voice trailed into a nervous mumble, barley understandable. I saw Mommy give a disapproving stare and barreled ahead, "would be at night so nopony would see us or a disguise so nopony would realize what we are?"
"The answer is still no. It's too dangerous for you two to be outside, there are all sorts of creatures that would eat you for a snack. Now eat if you want to be a big, strong Pony," Mommy said sternly, watching us eat our bowls clean.
I felt like I was gonna be sick.
A gentle hoof rested on my withers and I didn't need to look to know it was Sis.
"Hey, chin up, I'm sure we can figure something fun to do," she said with a gentle nervousness, noting my glum expression. We headed up to our room where Sis pulled out a doll of a knight in beating and scratched armour, we played a game of a knight saving a princess.
For the fortieth time.
"inexcusable! Absolutely inexcusable!," Mommy shouted at us, rage filling every letter of every word she spoke. She paced in front of us in a agitated canter.
We are not suppose to do magic.
"We're sorry," Sis said saddly with a hint of what I thought was fear, eyes staring at the floor.
"Sorry's not good enough! You know magic is the work of demons and you did it anyway!"
I started tuning it all out, this always happens when me or Sis accidentally do magic. Mommy would scream at us about demons and how only evil Ponies do magic and Sis would try to placate her, saying that we'll never do it again.
A concept from the Carver entered my mind and I had to blink the idea away, anything else would've attracted Mommy's ire.
No that can't be right. We're Mommy and Daddy's daughters, there is no way...
No way they just want to control us...
Right?
"What are you two doing?" Daddy asked sternly. We jumped, our ears pressed to the door. Sis looked around nervously while I just stared at the dingy floor.
"Well you se-," Sis began with a nervous smile, before Daddy's hoof raised to stop her.
"Is this about the basement?" Daddy stated more then asked with a deadpan.
"It's about the basement," Sis said defeatedly, cheeks fogging.
"Honey, you know your not suppose to go in there until me and Mommy say so, right?" Daddy said, shooing us away from the door.
"We know! We didn't go down there, its just we wanted to know what the fuss is about... so we thought we'd might try and over hear or something..." Sis trailed off, a nervous look in her eyes.
"Fillies, while I can understand your curiosity, I must insist that you don't try this again, what's in the basement is supposed to be a surprise," Daddy said with a chuckle, leading us to our room.
Once inside I couldn't stop thinking about what Daddy said.
what's in the basement is supposed to be a surprise.
the basement is supposed to be a surprise.
Surprise in the basement.
Nothing good came from a surprise in the basement, the Carver supplied and for once I didn't fight it.
Nothing good came from a surprise in the basement.
Bucket's full. I stared at it with bleary eyes and a done with life look on my face. I should tell Mommy and Daddy, they'd be angry but less so then if one of us pooped on the floor since we were not allowed to use the bathroom.
Bucket's full.
At least it didn't stink like Mommy' and daddy's, you could smell it through the door. Mine and Sis' actually looked like gravel and dull grey, uncut gemstones.
Bucket's full.
Sometimes they wake up to use the bathroom, maybe I should wait at the door to tell them?
Bucket's full.
I gave a exasperated sigh and headed for the door, the room and hallway awash in odd colors.
Colors that Mommy and Daddy can't see.
I skulked through the hallway, the odd creak and groan from the wind being the only sound...
That's what it should've been. Instead there were voices from down stairs. Stalking down the voices became clearer and clearer.
It was Mommy and Daddy.
"-Harvest don't you think?" Daddy asked, his tone nervous. Hooves tap, tap, taping on the tile floor, in what I could only guess was pacing.
"definitely for the younger one but the older? I don't think we're not gonna get her any bigger," Mommy said sternly. Harvest? Younger and older? What are they talking about?
Images from the Carver flashed into my mind and I had to force myself not to make a sound or throw up.
Nothing good came from a surprise in the basement.
the sound of hooves clicking against tiles pushed me out of my shock. Slowly skulking back to my room and staying out of the light of a candle in mommy's mouth. I got to my room, closed the door an-
Whatever I have for a heart leaped into my throat.
The window curtains were wide open, letting in the dim light of the moon in. A figure framed in moon light and shadow, of what I think was a Pegasus Pony in armour was staring into our room, a aura of pure rage radiating off of them in waves.
Somepony saw us! What do I do! What do I do! Mommy and Daddy are gonna be so angry but if I tattle then this stranger's anger might get directed at me...
The stranger was staring at me. They raised a hoof to their face plate where their mouth would be and made a shushing gesture, ducking out of sight.
I redrew the curtains, grabbed my blankets and pillow. My mind raced while I crawled under Sis' bed
I spent the night there.
Me and Sis don't sleep, not like how Mommy and Daddy do. Sure we need rest but we're aware of our surroundings when we do.
We also don't need to breath, so when the door swung open and the tap, tap, taping of hooves was heard, I didn't gasp for my lungs were empty. furred legs reached my field of view and I recognized them, as belonging to Mommy and Daddy.
"Hey, sweet heart. Wake up," Mommy said sweetly and gently, the bed frame creaking. I kept still.
"M-Mom? Dad? what's going on?" Sis asked, letting out a yawn that I knew was fake.
"do you know where your sister is?" Dad asked, hooves shuffling.
"She had a bad dream and hid under her bed. What's this about?" Sis said nervously, the bed frame creaking again, more loudly this time.
"It's time. You are ready for the surprise in the basement," Mommy said with no small amount of joy in her quite voice. A shiver went down my spine.
Harvest.
basement.
Nothing good came from a surprise in the basement.
"Cool. Should I tell, Sis or..." Sis trailed off, smooth and shiny hooves joining the furred ones.
"We'll tell her in the morning," daddy said, a kind tone that dripped with something I didn't like.
"Oh, okay," Sis said disappointedly. Hooves moved out of sight and the door sounded shut.
For who knows how long I just lied there, praying to any deity that would hear, that the Carver was wrong and that Sis will be alright.
Nothing good came from a surprise in the basement.
When dawn finally broke, then and only then did I crawl out of the underside of Sis' bed. The house seemed... sad, I don't know how to explain it, like a Pony witnessed a tragedy and couldn't do anything about it. I shuddered, as I trotted to breakfast.
Nothing good came from a surprise in the basement.
It's strange. It's the same hall, the same house and yet it feels different, lonelier, emptier. The flowers in a vase were starting to wilt and the world expanded and contracted, as if existence it's self was making a sigh.
In the kitchen I trotted to the table, instantly noticing Sis' absence.
"Where's, Sis?" I asked, a tinge of fear slipping in. Mommy and Daddy looked at each other, their faces shifting through a dozen different emotions. Mommy placed a hoof on my withers with a kind smile that did not reach her eyes.
"She was ready and went into the Basement, she won't be coming up for a while," She said, drips of unnerving glee in her voice. Daddy gave a nod, both Mommy and Daddy were looking at me with a expression of vultures sizing up a dying animal in their eyes. I stare at my bowl, my mind churning like a stormy sea.
Fake. It is all fake, their expressions, their body language, their tones, their stated intentions, all fake. Are they even our parents? Me and Sis are shiny and smooth, while their covered in fur, they don't eat the same things, as me and Sis, they can't see like me and Sis, they don't sleep like me and Sis.
After breakfast I cantered to my room. No mystery Pony this time. I paced along the room angrily. My guts twisted and knotted with worry.
Nothing good came from a surprise in the basement.
No there isn't, is there?
The Carver supplied a idea and I stumbled to a stop. No. I couldn't. Could I?
Mommy and Daddy would be so angry.
then again. Are they even my Mommy and Daddy?
Lets see. They need to sleep, are much less aware while they do, they sleep at night and the... I don't know if the Basement is locked. I'll have to check the door at some point, the keys are likely in one of the rooms that me and Sis are not allowed in. So it's a plan, break into the basement, find Sis and get the Hells out of here.
Don't worry Sis, I'm coming for you!
Waiting was the worst part, that every second I spend siting around for my golden opportunity, my Sister could have horrible things done to her. When Nighttime fell I slipped out of my blankets, the cold and dark more pronounced then ever before.
The plan was simple.
Check the basement door; if it's locked sweep the first floor for the key, if it's not there sweep the second floor, some stiff wires from one of the dolls will make good lockpicks in the meantime.
The door made a squeak as I opened it, its sound seeming louder in the quite. The hallway was bathed in the colours that the Earth Ponies can't see with the curtains drawn. If I was like the Earth Ponies, my heart would be thundering in my ears, my breathing ragged and having to control it or else risk being caught.
But I am made of crystal, my heart was silent as a grave, my lungs empty of any air, the only sound was my hooves clinking against the floor but I made sure to keep it quite by stepping with the edge of my hoof then rolling the rest into place and the carpets and rugs made them even quiter.
First stop the basement door.
The stairs were not much of a issue, just step at the edges by the wall and it creaks, and groans much less. The basement door had a much more ominous feel to it, like the jaws of some trap. I got on my hind hooves and tried the handle, it jiggled but otherwise didn't budge.
Locked. Should've expected that but it was worth a try.
The first room I checked was the living-room. I checked under couches, pillows, tables and in any drawers.
No key.
Next was the kitchen. More drawers and I had to jump on to the counter to reach the upper cupboards. I cringed inside at every scrape and soft clang as I rummaged in the pan drawer.
No key.
First floor cleared, second floor left.
Back up the stairs and then to the bathroom, locked. I pulled out the wire and inserted it into the keyhole, why a bathroom needs a keyhole is beyond me.
I never done this but the Carver had, so some time, internal cursing and a broken wire later and the door to one of the forbidden rooms was open.
Inside was a bowl on a pedastial, a large bucket big enough for two adult Ponies and a seat with a hole cut into it, and a set of drawers. I checked, towels and no key, the bowl was filled with water.
That only left... their room.
I crept to the door. Shapes flickering in the colours like hooves reaching out to grasp something. I didn't check the lock before inserting the wire.
They always kept it locked.
With a soft click that felt deafening in the quite; I opened it. A small room showed itself to me, a vanity at one wall, a double bed at the opposite wall with two drawers on either side, a window.
And the Ponies that might've hurt Sis.
First the vanity, I moved to it and carefully opened it's drawers. Some bottles with who knows what, some brushes and some files.
No key.
Just the drawers left.
First one, nothing on top, top drawer had a hole lot of paper with markings that made no sense to me, the second one a bunch of cloth in it.
Second one. I cringed at every noise, the floorboards creaking, the window rattling in the breeze outside, the walls groaning.
second one, on top is a key!
That was easy... almost too easy.
I ears stood on end, the groaning of a pony and the rustling of sheets. I darted under the bed, still careful to be unheard. I waited there, grateful for my lack of breath, I waited, the rustling stopped and I waited, one, two, three minutes before I dared to move. With some relief I went to check the drawers and nearly fell over, my hoof catching a loose floorboard.
Wait. a loose floorboard? I shuffle it open, a leather pouch and...
A key!
I pick up the key, careful to not chomp it. Two keys and I don't know which is for the basement.
I moved to the drawer, looking up and behind to make sure that both Ponies are asleep and not awake just waiting for me to crawl out under their bed. first drawer, empty, second drawer, a book and a smashed in iron helmet.
I got on my hind legs, my mouth wrapping around the second key when I saw a glimmer in the colours. I settled the key in my mouth with it's sibling and set to check the glimmer.
It was under a pillow. I reared up and I had to calm myself, being this close to the Ponies being nerve wracking with the fear of being caught. Slowly I moved it to me and yet again I was glade for my lack of breathing.
It was a dagger, I unsheathed it to show a sixteen centimeter blade of crystal with a cross guard and a handle to weld it with either mouth or hoof.
Where the Hells did they get this! It's nothing like what they have in the kitchen, those were made form iron, this looked like it was made of crystal and for a fight.
A snore broke me out of my shock. Right, help Sis then worry about mystery daggers. I strapped it to my barrel, it's size too big for one of my legs.
I picked up the keys and trotted to the basement but not before giving one last glance at the Ponies I thought were my parents.
I swear if any harm came to Sis, we'll all learn just how demonic magic really is.
The trip back was uneventful. The howl of wind and the creaking of floorboards masking my movements. Rearing on my hind legs again, I inserted the drawer key and gave a twist.
Didn't butch.
I pulled it out and tried the floor key; it gave a soft click, swinging open to show a staircase leading underground, colours ceasing into just shapes. My mind raced with possibilities, will it be as bad as the Carver suggested? The paradise that Sis and I thought it would be? or something boring?
Only one way to find out.
I took a step over the freshhold, hesitating for a moment, as every memory of being told to stay out of the basement crashed into me, I shoved them aside, Sis is more important. I took a step, then another, then another. Descending, I steadied my mind. Whatever I find down here, I'm leaving.
This house is not my home.
Colours left but the shapes remained. The stairs eventfully opened up into a moderate sized room, a big table to one side, a counter at the far wall with buckets lining it, otherwise empty.
Drip, drip.
That's it? This is the big surprise that they made such a fuss over?
Drip, drip.
I trotted to the table and with a mighty leap for my frame, I jumped onto it. Metal tools clattering from my landing. I pick one up in my hoof, a weirdly shaped hook.
Embalming tool, the Carver supplied.
Drip, drip.
Wait. I look at the other tools, chisels, hammers, files, brushes, pliers and other strange objects.
Drip, drip.
I looked at the counter, a saw and...
Bones, there were bones on the counter.
A sinking feeling filled my chest. I climbed down from the table to get a closer look, trotting half way when something cold and sticky dripped on my pole.
Drip, drip.
The room was flooded with light and I screamed.
Sis!? A overweight light grey Pony with a iron grey tail. She was hanging on the ceiling by a thick rope tied by one of her hind legs, the other missing, her chest was ripped open, ribs and gems that acted as organs gone, a forearm stripped of its crystalline flesh to show the metal bones beneath, her head was missing!
"You shouldn't be here," A familiar voice said with rageful disapproval. I spin around. the imposters that had lied to me and Sis for our whole lives.
"What have you done to my, Sister!?" I shouted with rage, a snarl on my muzzle, drawing the dagger into my hoof.
"It's a shame, a few more years and those bone would have been worth a fortune," the male of the pair said with a psychotic glee. The pair taking slow steps.
And ignoring me as normal.
Not this time.
I broke The dam. Magical power flowing through me and up my horn like a white rapid. With a scream of hate, I swing my head, a arc of topaz light flew out and expanded to cover the whole room, the female was cut in half, a look of shock in her fading eyes, the male jumped, his hind legs getting cut off.
Still alive
I shifted the dagger to my mouth and charged. His look of shock turned to fear, he raised his hooves to his muzzle.
It didn't save him. I plunged the dagger into one of his forelegs, shifted to a hoof grip and bit down on the other, my diamond teeth cutting through skin, flesh, tendons and bone. I yanked, blood spilling and a chunk of flesh in my mouth, savoring his screams of pain.
I pulled the dagger and stabbed him in the eye.
Then again.
and again.
and again.
and again.
Only when his head was a bloody mess did I stop. The monsters that pretended to be our parents, dead by the hoof of one of their would be victims.
Oddly enough, I felt nothing, no sorrow for the lies, no fear and regret for my actions, not even a hollow emptiness.
I felt nothing.
Giving a sigh, I spat out the lump of flesh. I look over the room, the light of lanterns illuminating the basement. Brick walls gouged from my spell with no windows, tile floors that were stained with black blood, now mixing with crimson, the table and counter stained as well with metal bones on the counter, still bloody, the ceiling by the counter had hooks for ropes, the ceiling had lanterns hanging by lengths of ropes.
This house was not our home, we were not their daughters.
We were like Like pigs to slaughter for them.
I gave them both a kick when the thought struck me. Embers of rage raising. I looked at the dagger, seeing it properly for the first time; a slightly curved bluish green blade, a cross guard of the same colour, the handle was wrapped in dark leather, the emblem of a slit pupiled, crying eye on the pummel.
This diffidently didn't belong to them, one of their victims maybe?
My gaze turned to Sis and I sighed. Doesn't matter, their gone, Sis is dead and their is not much I can do about it.
With one last look at the only family I had, I trotted over the corpses, up the stairs into the house and searched for a set of saddle bags, finding them in the other bedroom by the door, then I trotted to our room, rummaging in the toy chest for a moment, finding a doll of a knight in beating and scratched armour.
I stared at it for a while then stowed it and a travel blanket. The house felt dead as I trotted through the halls, down the stairs to the door that would lead outside. If there are monster that would try to eat me, I'll stab and slice them! the weight of the dagger bringing some comfort at that thought.
The ground shook when I got to the door, the rumble shaking the building to it's foundation and making me stumble. Rearing up I twist the handle, the door swinging open without protest and I stared in mournful shock.
Me and Sis could've left at any point. We didn't even try the front door.
It was nighttime the pale silver rays of the moon mixing with the harsh oranges and yellows of fire. The whole town was ablaze, armoured Pegasi threw explosives at the buildings, the shockwaves shaking the ground and fires growing, large metal and crystal beasts roared along the roads, thundering echos following them as armoured Ponies trailed behind them, the same armour as the Pony at the window.
In the short time I was in the Basement, this town became a warzone.
I tried to skulk away, using trees and bushes to stay hidden. There were so many of these armoured Ponies, roads, alleys, buildings, even in the sky! They were everywhere, strange contraptions on their sides thundering as Ponies had holes ripped in them or were set alight. Some were fighting the armoured Ponies, others were dragged to the town square, crying and begging, and others...
A T shaped piece of material, the Pony nailed to it by their ankles.
I looked away and cantered on, the Carver showing me their fate.
I was at a cross section with one road leading to a forest. The smashed rubble hiding me from a patrol of armoured Ponies going down the road in a self powered cart. I waited a few minutes after it rode past to make a break for the forest. It took a few moments to psych myself up, I can do this!
Hooves pounded stone and dirt, my legs carrying me as fast as my little body could. The glow of fire started to fade, the tree line growing nearer, I'm gonna make it!
A sudden harsh light surrounded me from above, a thunking, chopping sound drew closer, voices shouted from it's source. I galloped for the trees, maybe their branches can hide me from the light now following me like some kind of hungry predator. The thing's sounds was getting louder, my magic frothed and churned in my body while I tried to force my legs to go faster, tears forming in my eyes.
Have to get away! Have to get away! Have to get away! Have to-
Sound muffled as if I was underwater, colours faded to washed out greyishness, then nothingness consumed me.
When I came to, the first thing I heard was a odd ringing fallowed by the din of a crowd. My eyes opened to see crystal walls and floors. I took in my surroundings, a wide street to my right filled with armoured ponies made of crystal, to my left is a narrow ally.
I checked my body, Amethyst hooves greeting me intact. A chuckle left my mouth. It actually worked! I- That's my own kind!
The thought echoed and bounced in my mind. My own kind.
first order of business, stop the spinning. I focused on the crowd, noting their movements, the way they carried themselves so different form the Ponies from that village, straighter, lower to the ground and with a pride that I immediately hungered for. As my sight settled I got up and started to trot, falling on my hindquarters as the spinning hadn't fully stopped. In the that time I've made a discovery
that discovery was that using telekinesis for a Unicorn is innate like how most Ponies use their hooves, as the field caught me attested, no intense emotion or focus needed.
And it felt so good! Like a full body stretch after waken up. Once everything settled, I Trotted down the streets. Magic catching me whenever I'm about to fall. My body felt pins and needles all over.
I don't know how long I've spent just trotting in random streets to get a feel for the place. The streets were packed. Ponies going to and fro. A glance up was greeted by crystal and stone, specks of of shiny somethings glinting scattered light. Signs in a hieroglyphic writing that was gibberish to me.
And through it all I just wandered. From crowded streets to empty alleys.
My wanderings eventually lead me to a playground. Cries and shouts drifting into the ally I was trotting down.
"Leave Her along!" a young filly's voice cried out. I came out of the ally, Seeing a blue Pony foal staring down three others with fear clear in Her eyes, a shivering lump behind Her.
"Or what?" one of the three sneered. Twice the size of the defender. I knew were this was going. they won't back down without force. Case after case fluttering in my minds eye like pages in a book.
I felt, tugged and pulled the magic for telekinesis. The act seeming more arduous when done intentionally. Phantom muscles in my horn pulling and contracting. I felt a headache coming on as I pushed the magic through a thin opening.
With a loud pop and crack. the spell flew out in a bolt of crackling topaz. The bolt struck the one to the centers left. A explosion of crystal shards flew. The one shot, fell like a puppet that had its strings cut.
Then she started thrashing and screaming in pain. One hoof pressing against the side of her face that was shot.
I stalked towards them. Horn still lit. A sound of a cat hissing while gargling rocks, leaving my throat. A chimp's smile on my face.
The two remaining looked horrified. Eyes wide, mouths slack.
I slowly trotted to the group. The damage I done becoming more clear. Large chunks sprayed on the ground in the color of the Pony I shot. Black Ichor dripping past the hoof.
I basically shot Her with a gun.
The other two unfroze. Screaming in terror as they picked up their fallen comrade and ran for the metaphorical hills.
I waited a few seconds before dimming my horn. Face shifting to shocked awe, the kind every new weapon owner gets when they see the destruction of whatever arms they choose, the imposters were different, that was with intense emotion and the want to kill, this was just to hurt them enough to get them to back down.
My capture's fear of me and SIs learning magic felt way more understandable, now that I know I have a giant screw You to reality on my forehead.
heavy breathing dragged me out of my thoughts. The blue Filly was looking at me with apprehension. Eyes determined.
"Aello," I said. scuffing the ground nervously. Vary well aware that I could have just killed somepony in front of a foal.
"Uh...Hello?" Blue said. seemingly thrown off by my change in demeanor. The lump revealed its self to be another Pony, a body of smoke quartz, a wild and unkempt mane and tail of onyx, and ruby eyes that were full of excitement.
"That. Was. Awesome! You cracked that meanie to the skull," She said with a scratchy voice. Her eyes sparkling.
"I-I only m-m-meant to crack them a little bit," I really did shoot them with a gun. Throwing hands, or in this case hooves is one thing but that kind of force lands You in trouble regardless of age.
"It's fine. A visit to a healer and She'll be right as stalactites. Heart knows she needed a good thumping," the blue Filly said with bitterness at the end.
"Won't They be coming for Our heads though?" I asked. If there is one thing you could be sure about bullies, it's that they never take getting told "No" to, very well.
"Nah, They'll be getting cracked hindquarters for dishonoring their family," Blue said with a easy smile. Seeming to forget the carnage I wrought.
"What?" I asked. The carvers memory's contradicted that statement. A eyebrow was raised.
"They went after two filly's that haven't even under gone the trials of blood," Blue said with that tone of saying the obvious.
"Right. Whats Your name?" I asked. the carver telling me I should, might as well make some friends.
"Sapphire Joy," Sapphire said with a embarrassed look, rubbing the back of her head, her cheeks fogging.
"S-S-Sombra," Sombra stuttered, hiding behind her mane and scuffing the ground. It seemed that Her excitement faded to shyness.
"Amethyst. Amethyst Blaze," I named myself, the name itself sounding right. a smile bloomed on my face and a odd feeling in my chest.
For the first time in my memory's I had friends.
We trotted to a swing set in the playground, steel links swaying on a draft.
"what are the trials of blood anyway?" I asked pensively, siting down on the crystal seat. The two gave me incredulous looks, I froze, did I say something wrong. Sapph let out a gasp, hooves to her checks, face shifting to shock.
"You don't know what the trials of blood are?"- Sapph narrowed her eyes at me when I shook my head,"How do you not know?"
How indeed, "Ma, Pa,"- I can't just tell them about the basement and what happened to Sis, that stuff is for adults to sort out I searched the Carvers memory's for help.
One reoccurring detail stood out.
Lies of Omission
"I was raised by... other Ponies. Not like you or me, they were squishy, and ate these gross things that got slimy when you heated them up," I made a gagging sound, selling it further.
"You were raised by Fleshies?!" Sapph exclaimed with wide eyed surprise. I gave a numb nod, surprised at Sapph for knowing about the concept.
"Then you must've marched a long ways to return to your rightful home," a deep, rumbling voice cheered, making me nearly jump off the swing. Sapphire and Sombra sat slightly straighter.
Two adult Ponies were trotting to us. One looked like a adult Sombra with flame orange eyes and no horn, she was clad in rust red full plate mail. The other was in purple full plate, her head covered by a helmet.
The red clad one trotted closer, wrapping Sombra in a strong hug that would've crushed the bones of a "Fleshy", the thought bringing more joy then it should.
"Its good to see you making some new friends, my Treasure," Red was nuzzling the top of Sombra's head.
"Mooom, you're embarrassing me," Sombra gave a pout, looking away from her mother.
A smile crept on my face. She'll hate it now, but come to miss it as she grows older. The lack of stiffness meant that she was nothing like my "mother", always distant, always transactional, never telling them anything ... a fake.
"Iron, please. She's not a baby anymore," the fully armored Pony said, positioning herself by Sapph. Iron let go of Sombra, giving the armored one a pout that mirrored her daughter's.
"Its getting late. You have a hour," Full Plate said, turning to Sapph, her voice holding that gentle edge that all good strict parents strive for, then trotted to a bench. Iron gave Sombra a kiss on the forehead, before following her companion.
"I like her, she's nice," I said cheerfully. Using the swing as its namesake.
"Mrs Flask is the best! She lets us stay up late and makes the best gem meal," Sapph also started to swing.
"I just wish she wasn't so hoovesy with me," Sombra swung at shorter arcs then me or Sapph.
"Only like affection when you seek it out?" the Carver know the feeling, that very uncomfortable feeling of being touched when you don't want to be, ughg no thinks.
"Exactly!" Sombra's checks fogged at the volume of her out burst, turning away slightly.
After that we just played. Swings, slides, seasaws, jungle gyms, we spent at least a few minutes at each. It was nice, Just being out and moving, being outside at least as outside as one can get underground.
At that moment, I was a foal enjoying her life and not a pig being raised for harvest.
We were playing tag when the hour was up, my fun contrasting the Carver's hate for the game. Then again my eyes and ears didn't feel like they were being rubbed with sand paper when I ran.
"All right. Times burned. Pack it up," Full Plate said with authority. Trotting up to us, and picking up Sapph.
"Aaaww," Sapph groaned. Going limp and letting Full Plate place the filly on her back.
Its suddenly occurred to me that I don't have a place to stay.
My gut did flips, as I suddenly floated, why was I floating? I didn't see any horn fields.
"Hey, Plate? I've got a big order tonight. Lots of young ones passing the trials of blood this year," me and Sombra were placed on Iron's back, as the two adults trotted to parts unknown to me. There was those trials again.
"And I suppose they want the best," Plate said, adjusting Sapph's seating. The filly squirming in place.
"Diamond Hammer still holds that honor. I'm just easier to reach." Iron gave a light chuckle. The trip fell into silence.
I started paying attention to my surroundings after I was sure the conversation ended, and my jaw dropped. The walls were carved or painted with mosaics, murals and carvings, statues of stone, and crystal, all depicting armored Ponies were scattered about, some standing in solemn vigil, others in battle poses ready to face off against foes seen and not. When I looked up I saw the cavern ceiling, crystals and gems glinting more like stars then before.
So cool.
The Ponies that trotted the streets were also stunning to look at, their armour had patterns painted or filigreed on plates of crystal, only the younger foals were not armoured.
The sound scape was something to behold, music, and deep voices singing in the distance, the bangs of hammers, and chisels, the thunking of armored hooves.
Our two guardians marched and weaved through the streets, some I recognized from my wondering, how did I miss all this?
Right. Because I was a quarter the size of the adults and was trying to stop my world from spinning.
I looked at the back of Mrs Flasks head. Should I ask what this trial of blood is? Most adults get snippy when you ask questions they think you should know the answer to.
'Indeed they do,' I would've jumped out of my skin, shell? As I heard Mrs Flask's voice in my head unprompted. That same force from before pushing me in place.
'You are a unusual filly, stronger magic then most, a older soul then your body, and knowledge not your own,' It was harder then it should've to stay calm, a nervous bubbling in my chest. What was she gonna do to me now that she know that I was not a normal Pony?
'If you came as this, Carver then I would've kept a eye on you, made sure you didn't hurt my treasure,' I was starting to calm down, the pulse I had in place of a heartbeat slowing.
'Can I shut you out? This is starting to scare me,' I pushed the thought to Mrs Flask, hopping that worked.
'Take your mind, and organize it. start with facts and put them in true or false category's. Then the rest is to be organized as you see fit,'- I felt a pulse of something in my mind that was not my own, 'To push something out that you don't want weather that is a idea, a belief or another Pony, grab it and drag it out of you head, and let it be swept away by the currents of existence.'
My face scrunched up, as I did, as instructed, using a Libray for a visual aid. I grabbed the pulse, and pushed it, dislodging it, my time resisting the Carver giving some aid.
did it work?
...
I let a sigh of relief, my body relaxing. Fact true, Psykers are real. It's then that I realized just how much the Carver left in my mind
"Did you know your mom is a telepath?" I asked, looking at Sombra.
"Yes," Sombra said with a groan, and desk planted on Mrs Flask's back plate.
"And here we are. Come on I'll show you around," Sapphire said with a smile, as we approached a house carved into the cavern wall. She jumped off Full Plate's back, and galloped to the door.
I still can't quite get over how that's her actual name.
The house was part of a neighborhood. Houses carved into the cavern walls with front lawns that were two meters from the house walls, some had trees of gem, and crystal with growths the size of a adult Pony's hoof weighing down their branches. The house that Sapph went to had a mural of six armored Ponies facing off against a horde of bipedal dog like beings.
Sapph was trying to open the door, putting all her weight into both pushing, and pulling with a scrunched face of great effort.
"It's locked, Treasure," Plate said with a faint hint of amusement that surprised me. Figuring Full Plate to be the type of parent that only showed emotion behind closed doors or struggled to feel emotions at all.
"Right," Sapphire said, her checks fogging with embarrassment, as Plate pulled out a key from a pouch on her chest.
Shades of Orange and violate mixed with other colors, as the door opened, soft amber light spilling out from a mudroom. I felt the increasingly familiar telekinetic field of Mrs flask. Me and Sombra being lifted to the ground gently.
"I'll be back in twelve hours, stay alive my Treasure," Mrs Flask gave Sombra a forehead kiss then pulled away.
"I'll be fine, mom," Sombra said, looking away with fogged checks, and a half smile of a loved child.
With a wave, and a push from Plate we were ushered into the mudroom, a fur like quarts rug scrapping any dirt or grim we may have trekked in, off.
"Emerald! We're home, and we have gusts," Plate called out, as she opened the door. A hallway reveled its self to us, smooth carved stone walls, one side leading to a training room filled with mats, marksmare targets, training dummies, and gym equipment to our left. To our right was a room who's walls held cupboards staked ceiling high above a counter, a large long table sat in the center with seat cushions that shined in the dim light. A emerald green mare in pinkish purple armour turned her head to face us, her pine needle colored mane bobbing with the movement, and bat wings twitching, as she looked at us with a happy smile.
"Plate! You're still alive!" Emerald said happily, as she trotted towards us, giving Plate a hug and a kiss on the helms cheek when she reached Plate.
Wait. You're still alive? What kind of a greeting is that? the word gave the Carver's archive a stir but not much else. She turned to me and sombra.
"Our Sapphire seems to have made a new friend," Full Plate gave me a look, veiled by the helmet's visor, I shifted on my hooves, not liking the idea of being scrutinized.
"Oh that's wonderful,"- Emerald said, her wings positioning into a window - "I can see it now. The three of you fighting and marching side by side, it's nice to know that my treasure will have such fine squad-mates."
A sensation fell over my face, fogging I think. I'm flattered but even with the Carver's limited knowledge of battle, I was not sure if I'd make a good soldier, a support role maybe.
Sapphire puffed out her chest in pride, a thin lipped look of determination, the faintest hints of a smile. Sombra looked at the ground bashfully, a front hoof rubbing the back of her head. My own face slowly shifted to a similar expression to Sapph's, thoughts of Sis filtering in my mind.
"But enough about that! take a seat, diner will be ready in a few minutes," Emerald said with a chuckle, folding her wings to her side, trotting to a large counter, only then did I realize that there were others with us, a ruby red filly and a light grey mare, both in armor. They were mixing shiny dust of different colors into trays.
And it smelled absolutely delicious.
"Come on! I want you two siding next to me before the rest of the family show up," Sapphire said excitedly, tugging me and Sombra to a spot at the table.
after a few minutes, ponies started filing in, fillies, adolescence, full grown mares, all the adults, adolescence and most of the fillies wore armour.
The room was filled with boisterous voices, singing, storytelling and general discussions. the table was packed. Emerald and the other two cooks trotted around the table, a glass sheet with edges that curled upward acting as a tray, followed by a small brick of shiny almost white, light grey metal and a chunk of what I thought was multi colored glass from the tray earlier.
"Before we begin, I'd like to say a few words,"- Full plate spoke over the ding, voices quieting and all eyes on her, as she raised a goblet in one hoof - "Thank you, Empress Blood Ruby for another day of prosperity, treasure and for returning one of your wayward daughters to her rightful home. Jewel and snow."
"Jewel and snow," the rest of the family echoed solemnly, a few moments of silence took place, as we started eating. I stared at the metal brick, with some hesitation I levitated it over to me, I took a nibble.
Then my jaw unhinged and inhaled the rest, it tasted so good!
A faint glow peeked at the edge of my vision.
My Dagger came crashing down on the colored glass, a blue glow over it, the sound of a hound snarling while gargling glass and gravel coming from my throat. My eyes searched for the would be thief, finding two identical yellowish green mares looking at me in surprise on the opposite side and to the right.
"Mine!" I said, adding my own horn field to the force that was keeping my food on its plate.
"Eh you owe me a new rifle, Sister," one of the pair said with a cheeky smile and amused tone, looking to the other.
"Oh piss off, Sister. We almost had it!" the other said with a similar tone and smile.
"almost only counts with cave ins and grenades," the first said with a odd head bob that amused me but my dagger and field was still on my food. the pair argued amongst them selves.
Once I was sure no more attempts at my food were going to be made, I sheathed my dagger and took a bite of the colored glass.
It. Was. Delicious!
Flavors of sweet, sour and a hint of spice danced on my tongue, filling my stomach far better then any glass before. I ripped into the glass in large bites that could sever legs.
"Can I have some more," I asked, five words that I thought I'd never say, As I finished. The adults near me started laughing, one of them passing another chunk of multi colored glass and a small brick of yellow metal, my checks fogged a little in embarrassment. Looking around I noticed that some of the adults were having hushed discussions, taking quick glances in my direction, Sapphire and Sombra were looking at me with surprise.
My cheeks fogged further. All of this was just so tasty! Way better then what those butchers feed me.
The yellow metal brick was nice, I think I prefer the light grey one tho.
A bowl was passed through the table, a black glass that seemed to eat the light around it being put on the plates, a few were placed on to my plate when the bowl got to our part of the table. I took one of the pieces of black glass and put it in my mouth.
And promptly snatched the bowl to me.
Out of all the foods I've eaten so far these were the best, flavors that I could not describe for I have not tasted them before, a odd sensation of my cheek wanting to pull into the inside of my mouth.
I saw a hoof inching to the bowl, I moved it closer to my chest and bared my teeth at the intruder, Sapphire's hoof snapped to her chest.
"can we have some too, please?" Sapphire asked, a nervous smile shifting on her face. Sombra was squirming in her seat. Me pressing the bowl further into my chest was my answer.
"Pretty please," Sapphire wrapped Sombra with a foreleg, the two of them looking at me with big old eyes and quivering lips. ughg keep food of the goddess' or keep my friends, decisions decisions.
"Fine," I said reluctantly, splitting the bowl between us, my plate having a few more then the rest, Sapph cheered.
"Thanks," Sombra said, so quietly that I almost didn't hear it over the ding of the family.
I just gave a annoyed hum, picking up a cup with a clear, barely noticeable yellow tinted liquid inside, cubes of pale grey metal floating inside.
Do I really have to state how it tasted?
The rest of diner was mostly uneventful, once everypony had their fill they filed out, laughter and songs on their lips. I gave a content sigh, patting my belly. I felt full, not in the my stomach is filled with matter kind of way but in the I've been fed kind of way, I not sure how to describe it any other way.
"Hey, we've got a hour before we have to rest. Do you want to play a game?" Sapphire asked, hopping off her seat and trotting to the hall, popping the last of her black glass into her mouth.
"Sure," I shrugged. carefully getting off my seat and trotting after Sapph. I wonder what kind of game we'll be playing, can't be anything too strenuous. A pang of sadness washed over me.
Before coming here, the only games I played was with Sis.
"Tank to e ten," I gave a annoyed huff, as one of Sapphire's tanks rolled out from under her bed. It fired with a tinny bang, striking down one of my ally's armoured troop carriers.
"helicopter to g nine two," one of my helicopters moved into position and rained down missiles onto the tank, despite the victory me and my ally were losing. Badly. We've only survived, as long as we did because I managed to achieve air superiority.
"AA to h 8," one of Sombra's anti air vehicles moved and I looked on in horror, as it fired a missile into my helicopter, shooting it out of the sky.
I was reduced to a hoof full of air frigates, two cruisers, five helicopters and a commandeered jalopy. My ally had only a dozen mares of infantry and five tanks left. We aren't gonna win, Sapphire and Sombra were more experienced and my ally was to afraid to sacrifice her mares to achieve victory.
That doesn't mean I can't give the enemy one last middle feather.
"Five infantry to J 4," my ally, the red Pegasus filly cook from dinner said with a nervous grimace. The infantry were ripped apart by a column of light armored vehicles.
We lost more of our forces as the turn order reset.
but not the one needed for my plan.
"Cruiser to F five one," my opponents raised their eyebrows at that, the cruiser flying at their FOB and only using it's Guardian systems when the base's defenses tried to bring it down prematurely.
Sombra was the first to realize what I was doing, her face shifting from confusion to shocked horror when the cruiser exploded in a magical blast that destroyed everything in five squares of F five.
"I... wow, I-I was not expecting that," Sombra said with a gobsmacked expression and a tone of still recovering surprise. Sapphire gave a numb nod in agreement.
The game continued and we didn't win in the end, though the game was more fun now that we were playing on equal hoofing.
We just sort of hung out in comfortable silence after that. The four of us laying on our backs in the center of the room, one of us making small talk before petering out back into silence again.
The sound of marching hooves and singing slowly broke the silence, growing steadily louder, as the moments went by. Before I could open my mouth to ask what it was, Sapph squealed excitedly and scrambled to her hooves, galloping to the window. The rest of us got up and followed her.
A column of armoured Ponies, yet different from the rest. Their armour's plates were thicker, their patterns uniform in some spots and just the way they carried themselves. They were marching down the road, some carrying a banner of yellow with a crimson tear drop in its center.
"When I grow up, I'm gonna be in the Legion," Sapph said with a exited face and no small amount of reverence in her voice, pointing at the column. I looked at the column, pondering, what would has happened to me if I've never Teleported here, would I have starved to death? Find my way here anyway, the Empire did sent troops to that village I realized, the armour matching what I saw there , maybe they were there for Sis and me?
How differently would I and Sis be if we were raised, as proper Ponies? As citizens of the Empire?
"Me too," I said, the embers of resentment for the butchers and all their kind fanning into my voice. I refuse to let what happened to me and Sis happen to anypony else.
We are the wrath of the Empire, sisters all.
Author's Note
And this is the second project along with The rise of the Alicorn sisters that will be taking most of my time.
This one has been a long time coming and has mutated from it's original concept quit a bit
I gave a content sigh as I stretched my whole body: Sapphire, Sombra and the red filly who I learned was named Ruby Skillet doing similar actions. I looked around the room, six bunk beds lined the walls, a foal resting in all of the beds with me and Sombra getting cots to rest on, a dresser placed between each bunk.
I gave a hum. Cataloging some of the Carver's knowledge. I've spent the last however long sorting out what the Carver left me.
It was a lot, a lifetimes worth a lot.
A throng of fillies formed in a short while, each getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom. I followed at the back, me and the other three occasionally making small talk and it's now without the stress of yesterday that I realized I was speaking a different language from what the butchers taught. Good. We eventually entered a door into the... Bathroom?
A large room with tiled floor, a big pool of moving water in the centere, chairs were strewn about the surrounding floor. Crystal Ponies were in the water and on the chairs, their armour absent, refracting the light above into a beautiful display of colours. The foals got into the water, older Ponies, likely their parents, approached them with brushes and sponges. I stopped as I figured out what this was.
A bathhouse, a private one for the whole family but still a bathhouse.
"Whatcha doing just standing around, come on!" Sapphire picked me up and-.
"Wait, wait,-" too late. With a splash I fell into the water, dust and grim forming a cloud in the liquid, getting sweeped away by the current. the water was lukewarm, not hot, not cold. some of the Ponies were completely submerged like I was at the moment. Sapphire jumped in after me, her smile turning sheepish at my glare. Sombra entered next, sliding rather then jumping, scrubbing brushes in hoof. I took one of the brushes when it was offered to me. I see the other Ponies scrubbing, brushing and otherwise grooming each other. huh, I saw neither males nor females like the butchers, but a third option. I take the brush and started scrubbing Sapphire, who was scrubbing Sombra, who was scrubbing a newly entered Ruby, who decided to scrub me. So there we were, cleaning each other underwater.
After a while, the adults started rounding up the foals, guess it's time to see what the Empire has in store for me. We were herded to a changing room with a wall mirror to one side, in it's reflective surface I saw my reflection for the first time: A coat of darkish amethyst that caught the light slightly less brilliantly then some of the other Crystal Ponies I've seen, my mane and tail a polished rose-quarts with a streak of pearl, bright topaz iris' stared back form teardrop shaped eyes with something that the other foals lacked, what that was I wasn't sure. We dried off, our chaperon now in armour, guiding us to the room we slept in.
"Alright! Get your stuff and head to the kitchen for breakfast, you got a long day of training ahead of you," she said, backing out of the room with the thud of the door. The foals eagerly went to the dressers, pulling out saddle bags. I gave a sigh, picking up my bags and the dagger, swiped a hoof through my mane, it was long.
Too long, if I want to be a member of the legion then I need to be able to fight without fear of my mane getting caught in something. I sat on my hindquarters, grab as much of my mane as possible, took my dagger in the other hoof and cut my mane in uneven sawing motions; doing the same for my tail. In the end my mane only reached my jaw and mid neck, my tail reached my mid thigh. I dumped the cut hair into a designated bin. Much better, still a bit long but at least its not as easy of a target. A lot of the other foals donned armour, Ruby trotted by, her helmet hanging by a latch between her chest and right withers.
We poured out, down the hall and in to the kitchen, the table just as crowded as before; this time though, a familiar rust red armoured Pony sat amongst them.
"Hi, Mom," Sombra said happily with a smile, trotting to her and sitting next to her, me, Sapph and Ruby following suit.
"Didn't you say you had orders to fill? its only being four hours," Sapphire asked with suspicion. Four hours? had it been really that short of a time?
"Six. and I teach metallurgy, remember?" Iron Flask more stated then asked, taking a bite from a piece of coloured glass. The meal was a different mix of colours but still was tasty as before. Once we finished, all the foals were picked up. Me and Sombra being picked up by Iron Flask with her freaky psionics.
We were trotted out of the house, the streets opening up in their artistic glory, my gaze lingering on a mosaic of a group of four Ponies facing off against a dragon. Would I have to face against something that fearsome if I joined the legion?
I'm aiming to be in a support role, so not directly, no.
We eventually reached a huge sandy pit, tiered sets of of polished stone seats raised above the pit in a circle to give all those that sat a clear view. There were some adults in the pit, setting stuff up. The foals were set down on the pit's sandy floor, the adults either leaving the pit outright or taking one of the seats, others were staying in the pit and helping set stuff up.
"Welcome, welcome one and all! I am glad to see so many faces old and new here for the new year, now as I'm sure you all are aware, the first month will be going back to basics,-" there were groans from the crowd of foals, I was glad, for I knew nothing of my heritage or my culture. "- now, now don't be like that, the basics are the supports that keep the tunnels of skill from collapsing. Now with that out of the way. Thank you Empress Blood Ruby, may your cunning and wisdom be showered and formed onto our treasure, jewel and snow."
"Jewel and snow," we echoed. I was starting to wonder if Empress Blood Ruby was some god figure for us or if her deeds were so impactful for better or worse that we give her reverence despite being a regular Pony?
One of the adults in the pit stepped forward, carrying a bag of random odds and ends. She gave us a certain amount from the bag and told us to add and subtract, calmly explaining what those were when I asked. We were giving a sheet of quarts paper with particular problems to solve. The teacher moved among the students, teacher and students giving corrections and advice when asked or needed. I was incredibly thankful for the pile of junk I was given and Ruby explaining what symbol meant for each number provided by the Carver; the problems on the paper being complete gibberish otherwise.
After the cipher that the Carver called math, another Pony trotted forward, sheets with numbers replaced with semi hieroglyphic symbols, I say semi because sometimes the same symbol would have different conjoining shapes attached. I am embarrassed to admit that I needed a lot of help understanding, even with the support of the teacher and the students around me.
The next teacher was a Unicorn, she lit her horn, a hologram of a Pony standing next to her.
"Some of the younger treasures may wonder why we live separate from the Fleshies and their settlements,"- The Teacher began, a hologram of two, somethings floated above the casting Pony, -"Put simply, our bodies are valuable to them, our bones are stronger and lighter then steel, our teeth are made of diamonds which the Fleshies covet for some reason, same for the rest of the body."
The two somethings expanded, one was a misshaped sphere and the other was a Octagonal orb.
"Behold! the bricks that make Fleshies,"- the teacher points to the misshaped sphere, -" and the bricks that make all life in the Empire."
The Octagonal orb expanded more, completely over taking the misshaped sphere. The teacher went further in the lecture on the biology of life in the Empire, where the organs are which apparently in similar places to a Fleshy's but the shapes and lack of movement are different enough to take note of.
At some point in the lecture I raised my hoof.
"Yes, purple treasure, you have questions?" the teacher asked with genuine interest.
"I was told that fleshy's only... ur, have one of the sets for making foals while we have both, why is that?" I asked with embarrassed hesitation while adjusting my seating, the near by foals laughing at my discomfort at the topic. The teacher just chuckles.
"Because Our Empress' neighbors argued with each other constantly and the Empress thought that a race that is one sex would survive better," the teacher stated matter of factly with a straight face.
"Oh," well then. the lecture went on and ended after that. The things I learned were that Crystal Pony eyes could see in the full spectrum, thermal, visilight (what Fleshies can see) ultraviolet, even EM and radiation. Our ears were much the same.
Turns out that when I was seeing just shapes in the basement, I was using LIDAR.
...
How have we not taking over the world? I mean seriously: we are faster, stronger, tougher then fleshies, we don't need to breath or drink, we need less sleep then Fleshies, we are immune to diseases and poisons and acids that would melt a Fleshy to goo would be just a irritate to us.
How have we not taking over the world?
the biology teacher cut off the holograms and trotted to the front seats where most of the teachers are. A Bat Pony trotted up, bowls and metal bars balanced on her back and wings, some floating around her head.
"All right! Unicorns, you are to hold onto the bowl with telekinesis and hold the water inside, Earth Ponies, you are to turn the water into ice, Pegasi, you are to turn the water into clouds, Bat Ponies, you are to control and direct sound made by the bars, I'll be ready with a silencing spell so we don't go deaf and please don't break the bowls," the teacher called out good naturally. I swallowed nervously when a bowl was placed in front of me.
"Unicorns! Auras around your bowls, Earth Ponies! Hooves to the sides of your bowls, Pegasi! Wings on yours, Bat Ponies! Bars in your wings."
I took slow, deep breaths when I lifted my bowl, the water within sloshed around the wobbling dish ware. Some of the other foals struggled like I did, others did fine with some consecration and other still with a bored look, mostly older foals.
"Good, now the important part," the foals' faces shifted to dread and before I could guess as to why, the invisible field of the teacher grabbed our bowls and flipped them. some had their water fall out immediately, the casters bowing their heads in shame, others were able to slow the fall to various degrees and a small few managed to prevent a single drop from falling.
I consecrated on my bowl, the water sloshing around forcing me to adjust my telekinetic hold, the bowl moving with the water, not a single drop left the bowl but it was obvious to anypony that I was consecrating more intensely and using more raw power then the rest.
Seconds ticked by in hours to my mind then.
A loud crack, both in matter and in sound broke me out of consecration, the bowl fell to the ground and the water spilled on the sand in one big ball of wet.
"fifteen seconds, not bad for a first try, plenty of magical power but not much fine control, we'll be working on that later," the magic teacher said next to me. I did not nearly jump out of my skin at the seemingly sudden presence, nope, no sir re and if, Sapphire says otherwise then shes a liar, speaking of. I looked over the other tribes and noticed a large and sharp spike of ice judding out of, Sapph's bowl, smaller and different shapes made of ice from the other bowls, clouds fromed near the Pegasi's bowls and odd and funky sounds and distortions of those sounds coming from the Bat Ponies.
"All right! that's enough for now, lets switch gears and cover some theory,"- the crowd of foals groaned, some already getting glassy eyed, -"After that, combat training."
The foals immediately perked up and we formed a semi circle around the teacher, where it was still dry. She teleported the mess from the practice away. She sat and her shadow started to writhe and move.
Wait.
"Magic as a definition is using energy, intent and will to alter or add new forces in the world, any energy will do though mana is the easiest to work with, you need to know damn well what you intend to do with a spell or it will do nothing or something you've been fixating on, like beating up your annoying neighbor or rival,"- the teacher chuckled at some of the foals nodding off, the shadow lunged at them, startling them and some of the surrounding foals, -"To speak plane imperial, lighting a candle or shoving a foe is easier then pulling a meteor out of the sky or teleporting... or the other way around depending on how your mind works."
The shadow receded back to it's proper shape. After some more magic babble, the teacher trotted to the raised benches. Another teacher trotted onto the sand, this one a Earth Pony with a short pink mane and a green coat.
"Fitness," the teacher stated simply. The gathered crowed of foals groaned. The teacher put us through exercises: slowly pushing ourselves up from our bellies on the ground position, crunches, being on our backs and raising our upper barrels, jumping jacks, jumping and shift our hoofing from under our barrels to being spread out and back again. The lesson ended with a Gallop around the pit that slowed to a canter. My body felt like it was about to shatter from the soreness.
Yet another teacher trotted onto the sand; this one had a grayish yellow coat with a crack running along her forehead to her pole then down one of her eyes and cheek then disappearing below her jaw.
"Everypony form a line and get into a combat stance!" the teacher said with authority, not quite a shout but close. We all did as told with me at the third row. The teacher stalked the rows, correcting mistakes when she saw them, move a hoof here, bend the knees lower.
"Good. Now watch closely, we'll start with a simple buck, plant your front hooves firmly on the ground, use your head, neck and withers as a counter weight, coil your hindlegs and kick! do mind your stance and balance on the return. Now, begin!" the teacher showed each row, each step she talked about. The students tried to copy the motions, some succeeded, others struggled.
I took a few deep breaths. I can do this. I reared, forwarded? On my front hooves, head bobbing to not smack the sand, my hindlegs coiled like the teacher said and bucked, the hooves stuck out for a moment then gravity took over and I had to scramble to stay standing.
"Draw those hooves back if you don't want to be grabbed! Send out, return, in the same motion, send out, return!" the teacher barked, adjusting stances and tripping foals that didn't heed her instruction. I continued to do the motions, adjusting hoof placement, balancing, force of motion. In the end I did a buck with some actual force behind it without stumbling!
"That's enough for now. next is jabs," the teacher demonstrated again, one foreleg raised in the air then striking forward hoof first. The jabs were like the bucks, practiced motions being adjusted until we got it right, We went like this for a while, hooks, upper cuts and headbutts being put to practice.
"Next, some katas for maces and picks," the teacher said, trotting to the lowest stand where a chest was. She pulled out sticks made of... crystal? the teacher put one in her mouth by the wrapped end and showed us a series of motions to swing it.
It was awkward. Swinging side to side felt fine, but up and down, and diagonal pinched my neck somewhat painfully, making me wince. After a few minutes of practice, the teacher shifted the practice weapon in her hoof and demonstrated a new set of katas, these ones feeling much more comfortable.
"Okay, lets end the lesson off with some sparring," the teacher said, trotting back to the lowest stand where the chest was. She pulled out pairs of foal sized armour, shiny but not made of metal or crystal. We put them on, comfy padding lining the inside.
"The rules for today's spars are quite simple, no weapons or magic, the first to knock their opponent to the ground three times or land three solid hits wins the match, hits and knockdowns are cumulative of coarse," the teacher said once we were in the practice armour.
"Who to start with? humm, You,"- she points at a foal further in the crowd. The foal trotted forwards with confidence, "you'll be facing the new foal."
I shutter a bit, taking measured steps into the centere of the arena... it is a arena! I really should've noticed. the rest of the foals formed a circle around us.
"You got this, Blaze!" Sapphire cheered out from the crowd, I gave a nod and faced my opponent.
Earth Pony, relaxed stance but low and firm, a head taller and a few kilograms heavier then me.
"Begin!!" I startled at the teacher's shout. The opponent started trotting forward and to the side, never looking away. I copied the movement, the two of us circling each other, to a centere point.
The opponent charged at me, her front legs planting and skidding across the sand and her back legs coiling for a buck. I scrambled to get out of the way, leaning to the side, one of the hooves landing.
I stepped into the opponent, jabbing a hoof into her side, we stepped away from each other.
The opponent charged and I followed suite, we raised our forehoof and jabbed at the same time, she tilted her head, making my strike miss, hers connected to my head, the padding the only reason I wasn't seeing stars.
The opponent wrapped her forelegs around my barrel and pivoted hard to the side.
"And match! Steel Tooth is the winner," the teacher said, trotting to the arena's centere, "let this be a lesson to all of you. There'll always be a opponent out there that can't be beat by direct attack, too strong, too quick, too well defended, whatever, It's why we use weapons, combat magic and explosives."
"Then why are we training to fight with our hooves!" I grumpily exclaim with a pout, accepting Steel Tooth's hoof of aid, standing again.
"Things happen, weapons break, guns jam, sometimes you'll lose your weapon in a fight, sometimes explosives miss fire or don't detonate at all and any spell outside of telekinesis takes discipline to cast during battle. things happen," the teacher said with some heat and not quite a glare but rather close. I hang my head and nod. It made sense, better to be prepared for something and not need it then to be caught vulnerable because your gear failed.
A pink Unicorn with a pearl mane trotted into the arena with others trailing behind her, various items such as instruments, books and other tools floating in her magic field.
"I think that's enough of the physically demanding stuff, time for some fun! Pick some crafts and we'll get started," she said with a smile, setting down items for the others to setup.
We scattered around what quickly became like a job fair. Teachers talking to foals about the merits of their craft. One teacher sat at the edge of the fair, only a few foals hanging around unlike the dozens at the others. I trotted over, feeling a tingle go over my body, files, chisels, bowels of powdered metals and crystals, and odd sculptures that made my head hurt and my tummy sick just looking at them sat on the table next to the teacher.
"Yeah they tend to do that to rookies," the teacher said with a amused chuckle, patting one of the sculptures. I trotted to the table with the rest of the foals there, feeling oddly drawen despite the sick feeling.
"What... are these?" I asked, tapping one of the sculptures with my hoof.
"Talismans, ruins, spell matrixes, enchanting is my craft," the enchanting teacher said, picking up a chisel and carving a new one from a block of stone that I think is granite. I watched for a time, the strokes of the chisel, the rubbing of dusts and powders in grooves, the filing to make the perfect shapes.
"Enchanting is applying magical effects on a item, it is used a lot in our technology base with some mechanical devices as a redundancy," the enchanting teacher said, correcting the foals that had taking to the craft.
"Are there enchanters in the legion?" I asked with some hope, could this be...?
"Are there enchanters in the legion? Ha! That's like asking if there is metal in the planet or water in the sea, of course there is," the enchanting teacher said with mirth, slapping away a foal's hoof that would've stabbed them.
"Teach me," I said, that fire from the column march fanning higher.
"Soon, treasure, soon, today is for new treasures like you to get a idea of what crafts you want to learn," the enchanting teacher said happily, shooing me and another foal away.
I wondered a while after. Overhearing teachers talk about what they do and teach, some foals galloping to and fro stalls while others cantered, usually older ones. The notes of instruments reached my ears over the din of the crowed, a stall with a teacher and some students playing on various instruments. I approached, the teacher cracking a eye open, ending her song with a final drawn out note.
"Well, well, the fire mare has come to learn," the teacher said with a odd mirth, her spider quarts eyes staring into nothing. One of the older foals in the band kicked the teacher softly in the leg, her look of unamusement softening when her gaze swung to me.
"Don't mind, Mother's ramblings. So you want to learn how to play a instrument?" She asked with a smile, her instruments still floating in her horn's field.
"Suure," I said with slow uncertainty, getting dragged by the foal, "Why though?"
"Because creation is good for the soul! Besides, we have to do something besides training, battle and resting for the next of the last two," the Music Foal shoved a random instrument into my forehooves, asked me to play a few notes that didn't sound right to me, even when I played them correctly. We tried different instruments, non really feeling right, even when they didn't sound like a screeching banshee. A glint from the back of the stall caught my eye. I trotted over, a odd instrument, a stringed one where the strings feed into a box with buttons on the side, a crank on the bottom.
I picked it up in my forehooves, one spinning the crank while the other's hoof field danced along the keys, the notes having a buzzing and droning quality to it.
This, this felt right.
"Seriously?" Music Foal asked incredulously behind me.
"Is there a problem?" I ask coldly, head turning, my horn coming alight.
"O-Oh nothing just... maybe we should find a additional instrument?" it is obvious that she was trying to deflect my ire, but I let her guide me to other instruments and we settled on a odd string and bow instrument that is bigger then a violin smaller then a cello.
After that, I was back to wandering. Non of the other trades captivated my interest like enchanting did, alchemy? Maybe as a hobby but not a trade, architecture? Learn enough to avoid cave ins, but boring otherwise, vehicle making? Same as architecture, there were others of course, but non that I was willing to name. A glint of shininess caught my eye and stopped my gait, drawing my gaze to a moderately crowded stall.
And a familiar grey coated Earth Pony with a onyx mane and ember orange eyes.
I trotted over, squeezing through the crowd. Iron Flask was using some sort of metal stick with two sideways prongs on the end to bend a plate of glowing green stuff, dunking it into a trough of glowing purple liquid when it was the right shape then taking a brick of glowing green stuff from the yellow frames of a portable forge. Iron Flask switched the sideways prong for a hammer, beating it into shape with deliberate, practiced swings.
"Heh, heh, figured I'd see you again at some point. So want to learn the lifeblood of your culture?" Iron asked with mirth that bleed into seriousness at the end. I gave a resolute nod, I won't fail my sisters in arms! I stayed there, watching Iron Flask use various hammers, tongs, pliers, the metal stick with two sideways prongs on the end, a oddly wedged axe, screwdrivers, wrenches, vices, chisels and machining tools.
Some time past before the stalls were disassembled and moved out of the arena. Adult Ponies trotted over and gathered their foals, having them settle in the raised seating, Iron Flask picking me and Sombra up with her mind. A pinkish red Pegasus with a green mane and dark purple armour trotted into the centere of the arena, a stringed instrument and a bow in either wing. She started playing a few notes, grim faced and looking at everypony in the crowd with a appraising eye.
"We owe our existence to, Empress Blood Ruby, for without her we'd be nothing, less then dust,"- the mare said, her tone just as grim as her face, the occasional note emphasizing her words, -"To know the history of the Empire and it's citizens, is to know the history of the Empress."
The mare's music shifted form just some notes into a coherent song.
"Once oh so many moons ago there lived a Earth Pony, not of gem and metal, but of flesh and bone. Her mother and father, sister and brother," the newer foals gasped with faces of disgust, weather that was due to our god figure used to be a fleshy or the incest remained to be seen.
"It twas true and she suffered dearly for it, her spine crooked and displaced, her jaw bent and wrapped, a eye that drifted on it own and hindlegs that were withered and frail, injuries from raiders attacking her home, and so, so much more, but there was one thing that made her keep going," the cords turned incoherent in odd places, the musical historian looking us in the eyes as if daring us to interrupt and continue where she left off.
"Magic, our empress loved magic in all it's forms, she'd craft potent enchantments, runes and talismans, wishing to help her village despite her weakness; Yet when she presented these achievements to the villagers, they shouted curses and tossed them into fires, 'Magic is a Unicorn's craft' they'd cry, throwing rotten food and loose stones," disgust shifted to anger, all tribes in the crowed unified in their agreement of who was in the wrong.
"The vary next day, bandits raided the village, bandits that would've being stopped by our empress' spell work. She approached a Unicorn caravan days later and asked them to take her with them, even presented a set of runes that would animate a statue or carving to life, the caravan laughed and mocked her, one unicorn named, Star Swirl stole her work, past it as his own," I gave a hum at that, surly Star Swirl would've been found out, inconsistencies with his story of how he discovered it, differences in methodology or construction?
Then again, if our empress lived in a society with such narrow minded views on who can wield magic...
"Then the spirits of woe came, beast that feed off of hate and strife, her village fell apart, ponies fighting over the pettiest things, wives striking their husbands, husbands striking their wives, all yelling to do certain roles based on what's between their hindlegs and how one is inferior to the other," that... explains that answer back at the biology lesson, some in the crowed looked between their legs, seeming to find a new appreciation for being a hermaphrodite.
"Our empress, having grown disgusted with her society, her people and her body, shunted herself in her home, carving the most powerful and complex ritual ever seen to Ponykind, a ritual to cure aliments and improve her beyond what any flesh could dream of being, metal rare and deep underground, various crystals and gems, she performed the ritual on herself and-"
"Was torn apart to become a living work of art," the words left my mouth before I even realized I said them, some of the surrounding crowed giving confused looks in my direction.
"Heh, indeed, indeed. The ritual tore her fleshy body into a fine mist, condensing around the metal and crystals. When our empress emerged, it was with a new perfect body of crimson diamond coat, her spine straight and in place, her jaw perfectly aligned, both her eyes facing where she pleased, framed by a black and white mane , trotting on four thick and powerful legs, yet that wasn't all, for she now sported a pair of feathered wings on her back and a spiral horn on her head. She wished to share this form, yet most looked upon her with greed and envy, so she left, heading north and picking up the lost, abandoned and discontent along the way. Yet most betrayed her for one reason or another and then there was two who stayed loyal, they and our Empress would work, forged and carved what the world now calls Crystal Ponies, but the greed of fleshies gave chase, we cut, stabbed and bludgeoned until the snow ran red and on that day the legion was born, to protect the empire from those that would steal our treasure for their own gain," the musical historian stared right at me with those final words, the lesson ending in a final, drawn out note.
A moment of silence followed after history then chatter started, parents picked up their foals. Iron Flask wrapped a hoof around my withers.
"So my treasure, how was your first day proper here?" Iron asked kindly, sitting next to me. The crowed thinning out.
"It was..." nerve wracking, exciting, frustrating at times, "...informative."
"Good, good. So I've been thinking, your parents are more then likely dead if some fleshies managed to get a hold of you and we can't have foals growing up alone, it's not right; so if you are willing, you'll be a part of my family," Iron dipped her head, one hoof over her chest. I- she's adopting me? Despite the Carver, despite not being her bloodline. Will I have a real family? Sapphire nodded enthusiastically with a encouraging small, Sombra gave a shyer smile similar to Sapph's at the idea of having me as a sister.
"I... I accept," a tremble warbled my words, tears pricking at my eyes. Don't get too excited, wait and see how it goes.
"Then I bring you into my family as my daughter, to teach you and care for you forever more," Iron said with formality and reverence. She told me the words to recite to finalize this adoption.
"And I come into your family as your daughter, to learn from you and carry your legacy forever more," I recited, a smile creeping onto my muzzle.
"Jewel and snow," Iron picked me and and sombra up in her mystery field, placing us on her back. Sombra's smile grew bolder and she wrapped her forelegs around me in a tight hug. The three of us trotted through the streets, works of art passing by until we reached a house with a stone carving over the door of a blacksmith striking something between her hammer and anvil then a pair of warriors of some kind slaying a dragon with a spear and mace.
We trotted to the sturdy door. Iron unlocked the door and headed inside, a quarts carpet on the floor of a mudroom. She settled me and Sombra down and we wiped our hooves before entering the rest of the house. The first thing I noticed was how much quieter it was then Sapphire's home, any where you went there was at least the shuffling of hooves of ponies going from one place to the next; where it was almost completely silent, the only sound coming from the right hallway, the left obscured by a heavy metal and crystal door, the front leading to a crystal door, a training room like at Sapphire's and a set of stairs leading up.
Iron Flask lead us to the right hallway, opening up into a kitchen. eleven ponies of various types conversed around a table obviously intended for a larger gathering, they all turned to face us. A washed out braze pegasus trotted forward from the group, silver mane swaying, eyes of granite looking at me with mild scrutiny that shifted to a warm smile.
"So you are the filly that, Iron has taken a liking to. My name is Braze, I'll be your parent alongside Iron," Braze said welcomely with a nod of her head; four fillies from the group snickered and giggled, drawing a confused glance from me and a annoyed frown from Braze.
We were guided to the table where food was being set. I looked around the kitchen, noting the- my new family, not including me, Sombra, Iron or Braze I counted three merponies, three bat ponies, two unicorns, a pegasus and a earth pony. The family members introduced themselves, two sets of aunts and cousins, a set of grandparents.
"Before we begin, I'd like to say a few words,"- Obsidian Gale, one of my now grandparents said, sternly, grave face turning kindly- "Thank you, Empress Blood Ruby for another day of prosperity, treasure and for guiding this treasure into our lives, who we greet with open wings and love. Jewel and snow."
" Jewel and snow," The family ate and chatted, one of the aunts told a story of how she and her friends fought and killed a quarry eel, the atmosphere wasn't somber just subdued from the much more lively and bigger family of Sapphire's.
The food was nice, chunks of glass both coloured and not, smaller yellow and light grey bricks floating in a clear yellowish liquid that was cool to the touch. I ate with less of the wild abandon that I had at Sapphire's, I still took the lion's share of the onyx though... what a odd phrase, are there crystal lions here?
"Hey, Amethyst? I saw you were drawn to the enchanter's booth, I'm still going through orders and while, Apatite Flare will be doing most of the work, you, Sombra and Silver Flicker can still power them," Iron said tentatively, standing up after the food was eaten, Silver Flicker gave a scowl and pout, forehooves crossed. I nodded without hesitation, That fire from seeing that Legion column was stoked again, my face setting into a expression of determination.
Author's Note
To those just coming here, welcome; to those returning from previous chapters and stories, welcome back.
Sorry for the long wait, IRL stuff and random spurts of writers block delayed the writing and completion of this chapter... on the bright side, Merry Christmas!
See errors in spelling (in Canadian english please), punctuation (not grammar, pretty sure I've got that figured out), see ways I can improve or just have thoughts on the story then feel free to comment
