Ash

by Cloud Ring

Rating: everyone
Tags: Alternate Universe, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 1304

At the moonset when nothing is left to judge or appreciate the stars remain.

A meeting which happened when all three Moons briefly went just below the horizon.

A small bridge story between the first novel and the second one which might just happen soon.

Published 2024-04-02 10:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-04-02 10:00:00 UTC

At the moonset

"May I request a permission to accompany you?"

Coherence measured the stranger with a glance. Short bleached mane, matte black fur, a frail frame, a horn jutting out of a white forelock like a sharp, short piece of volcanic glass. An electronic bracelet hosting a reimplanted soul. She paused, estimating: clearly at least the eight grade of status needed to get one through a normal means – Coherence herself would never reach the fifth grade. And the clearly visible witchfire at the bottom of pearly eyes.

Scavenger, Coherence almost said. Even before the first letters and terminal conversations she had read about such creatures. Even then she felt squeamish knowing they exist. "You may, and I permit you to come with me. But do not speak to me, you disgust me." That one she voiced aloud.

This permission was not a mere formality. Black Moon's Herald nodded and made her first step. The chance of success, while not great, was much bigger than zero, which justified such an attitude.

She followed Coherence – along the street, into the deserted park, further and further along paths that were still visible only because there should always be a right to get where ponies usually don't go — just as there should be a right to find such a place. To a bend almost at the very edge, where both surveillance cameras answered to Metropolis exclusively. Through the trees to a clearing, pre-outlined with "Please Consider Other Ways" runes.

The triple moonset cast triple shadows into the blue twilight. Triple, as for now both of them could see Black Moon; Coherence found it strangely amusing. She stepped into the center of the clearing. There was nothing between her and the sky.

The stranger sat down at a distance. Just far enough to reach with telekinesis, if she was lucky. The stranger knew perfectly well what ponies called creatures like her. And she didn't mind, really. But in their small, tight-knit community, they preferred another, beautiful ancient word: necromancer.

White Moon set, and the memory of disapproval surfaced. Once Coherence trusted her skill. She had been a competent monster hunter. She will not be one anymore.

Bright white light flooded the area. As it should be — the light of truth and justice. Sounds delightful until you find yourself on the other side of justice. They gathered around – young ones who came after her, and old ones too. Close acquaintances and coldly distant colleagues. They surrounded her like wolves might circle a wounded beast. Wolves don't care that the beast did everything right, you know. Neither did they, as a community.

She should have paid more attention to healing spells. Yes, at the expense of combat ones. They didn't want to see her at the station. Not at this one, not at any other, ever again.

And so Coherence went to pay attention to healing spells. Throwing out of her house all the things that reminded her of former friends and past life.

White memory fizzled away in sparks as Coherence let it go.

Stars began to break through the haze. The air was rapidly cooling. "Will I catch a cold?" she thought and then burst out in laughter. Oh, the Moons and the damned one with them! Even if she had left the heater on, or her window blinds exposing her humble room for the Red, or the cat without proper feeding until the neighbors come to pick her Hooktail up--

She swallowed, inhaled sharply. Her ginger friend went to the Rainbow Bridge way too recently. She kept thinking of him as if he was alive.

The cold resolve came back to her. Not every life gets to taste the freedom of knowing that everything is over. There is no fear on the other side where the remaining time is yours and yours alone.

Coherence looked back at her companion. In the darkness, only the light spot of her mane was visible, blue in the thickening twilight. She, of course, hadn't left. Like a stain invisible to others' eyes, but indelible on clothes. At the thought of a sudden infusion of the Red Coherence smiled. That would be… satisfying, in a way.

Blue Moon set, and the memory of pity surfaced. Once Coherence wanted to prove her skill. She had been a promising healer. She will not be one anymore.

This time it was sympathy, not hatred, that enveloped Coherence from all sides and choked her, corroding her coat like an invisible gas. The looks of her new colleagues. She had done everything right. They told her so. Put it in her file, sincerely believing it. She couldn't have known that the regeneration acceleration spell would also speed up the cancer that had been hidden until then. Cast with all her diligence, so that by the next examination it would be too late. As one of old medics muttered, "Perhaps if you had shown a little curiosity…"

Having touchingly said goodbye to her colleagues in her second profession, Coherence dispatched to show curiosity.

Blue memory shimmered in the darkness as Coherence let it go.

Only Black Moon remained in the sky, accompanied by stars. The forest became a jumble of charcoal shadows and sharp fluorescent spots. A spot of non-light, truly visible only to Her Heralds, which highlights secrets and outlines mysteries. Insects too little to be seen were glowing now. Strange veins appeared on tree trunks. Plus, of course, her companion's eyes were glimmering — small but clearly seen purple sparks at the edge of the clearing. It was coming.

Black Moon set, and the memory of discovery surfaced. Once Coherence wanted to believe she has any decent skill. She had been a doubtful researcher. She will not be one anymore.

There was a celebration, and there were congratulations. She accepted them with a stony smile. She had scientifically confirmed and investigated her own phenomenon: a pony perfectly balanced across the three Moons. She proved that there were others like her. Fortunately, not many so. She proved that they could never reach a remarkable success in any profession. She proved that there was nothing that could be done to help. Throw confetti, blow into straws — congratulations well deserved.

This time, nopony offered any advice.

Coherence turned to legends and fairy tales. About the first half-forgotten foal's book provided the answer.

Black memory dissolved into the void as Coherence let it go.

Now only the stars remained in the sky. She looked up to the zodiacal belt and made her wish on a falling star.

Coherence's body flared with silver fire. The fire warmed her yet did not burn. Flesh melted in it, and it was good. She was not dying. Rather she was leaving with the falling star, as the fairy tales promised, to return to a world where there would be other Moons. A world where there would be a place for her. Maybe her ginger too.

Silver ash swirled in a cloud of magic, caught by the unicorn. Slowly and carefully, she levitated several flasks of magically reinforced glass. She whispered a few ritual words on the departure of one who did everything right. Saturated with materiality, the ashes acquired a bluish tint. A few nines of similar flasks in a lifetime of a collector. They pay off well too.

She was doing what was necessary. Necessary for those who could be helped. Who had made a mistake and crippled their lives by choosing the wrong path, who were hopelessly stuck on it. Only one remedy could help them. "Guiding Starfall-TX", a revered potion of hushed tales; a sentient one which reverses everything except itself. It is expensive. If you acquire a flask, no need to ask what it is made of.