Chapters Etherial Dawn Book One: Dawn
Prologue:
Authors Note: This story currently takes place 10,000 years prior to the end of season three. A.B. is the time-slot regarding after the birth of Equestria. I hope you enjoy!
"Hello?" Spoke a soft voice, sounding similar to that of silk. "Hello? Anyone there?" The voice spoke again. It was the year 11,127 A.B. The night was dark, the moon's ivory light kissing the tops of the coldest mountains. This made the mountains seem iridescent, over the valley that was home to many. It was near midnight, as silence was coming from every house on the grounds. Dawncrescent it was called, the city of morning.
The settlement was in a valley below, she had traversed a high and winding road in search of aid. She found that Dawncrescent had a Castle with towers every 10 meters. Perfectly square, gates made of solid silver. The symbol was encrusted upon the gates, looking like the moon and sun combined into one, though orange, red, and yellow linings made its mark upon some of the ridges. "Hello? Please, I need somewhere to stay the night. Is anyone going to help me." A soft whimper came from the filly.
She was very upset, as not only would no one reply to her calls for aid, she was angry. The people in the settlements refused to let her stay the night. She only had one more place to go for help, the castle. Definitely it was not her first choice as she was taught that expecting the best first is a form of greed. She hated greed, in all its boisterous idiocy. These towns people exerted nothing but greed and selfishness, she had hoped that the castle would be different. The filly had started to cry.
She had a mane of violet, with seams of silver. She had a cyan coat, and a strange maroon aura emanating from her being, though it was dim. A voice answered, "Hello, and please do not cry." A soft, low voice called. He sounded like he was only young, but none the less vibrant. He was speaking to her, directly in front of the gates. "I shall lend kindness to those who ask for it. And moreover, to those who need it." He smiled. She hadn't even noticed that he was there until he spoke.
She was only wearing a small coat, not nearly enough to keep warm. She had a cutie mark as well, the colt looked closely. The filly alicorn shuttered in confusion, but then came a reply from the stallion. "Do not be afraid, I was merely curious at how a filly at such a young age as yourself could already have a cutie mark." He asked with what sounded like pure curiosity. She calmed down, his voice seeming to emanate warmth. He looked closely and saw that it was very similar to his. She bore a mark of the sun, silver tipped rays, orange bases. The sun itself was ivory, and the middle of it was gold. His was the same as the insignia on the gates. Her majesty insisted that his cutie mark be the flag of the kingdom after all. His cutie mark looked like the sun at dawn.
"I don't know honestly, I was born with it." She replied rather timidly. He was startled by this information, as mysterious as cutie marks were this was never even heard of in all of Equestria. His expression turned to confusion. She looked up at him, her eyes were dominantly silver, though she had dark blue irises. His expression changed to one of suspicion, not the the filly was a danger from the outside view, he just found that where she was right now and at this time was a little suspicious. The filly's expression turned to one of panic, and he quickly replied with a complement. "You certainly are beautiful, may I ask your name?" The question though weird too her, seemed complacent enough. Her face calmed down as she replied, "My name is..." She shuddered in response to the cold. Concern spread across the colts face. "Please, come inside." He inquired of the filly alicorn. He looked up at one of the towers nearest the gate, "Guards! Open the gate!" He boomed in an urgent way. Someone replied, "Yes Sir!", as the gate was opening. It opened to reveal a wooden bridge, suspended by steel hinges. Underneath it a pit seemingly endless.
Light spread forth from torches placed on either side of the bridge inside the gate. The light revealed more descriptive features about the colt. He had a gold mane, with seams of silver and orange. He had a coat of oak brown, and crimson eyes with irises of gold. He was wearing a thick cloak of wool, brown, scarlet, and emerald green. Wool at the edges, seeming warm underneath it. The stallion was also wearing a crown, platinum and orange, with no gems. Though at the center, hovering above the crown, was indeed a gem of sorts. It was a pearl, and a bright light emanated from it. It seemed to be like a miniature sun, though her attention was towards the castle itself.
The castle wall was indeed perfectly square, but the castle was not. It had been dug into the side of the mountain, the architecture of which seemed triangular almost. With pyramidal roofs, corinthian pillars, and astounding marksmanship detail of the outer edges. They walked towards another set of doors, which were shining steel. Holding the same insignia as the outer gate, though with less color detail. She lowered her hood and spoke, with her silky voice, "I wish to thank you kindly, such hospitality is rare." He looked taken aback a bit. "My dear, I would hope that my subjects have shown the kindness I have shown for ages, and am now showing you. But I suppose a well-founded economy, a bit too much partying, and a residual trace of absolute arrogance from my predecessor still shines as bright as the sun." She replied, "That fault does not lie with you, though I must admit, I am abashed by the rudeness from your citizens in village below." She finished talking and waited for a reply from the kind stallion.
"Dawncrescent is a settlement founded by Serenity, her majesty. She has been alive for the longest of millennia, of which is unknown to any of us my dear. She herself resides at the top of the mountain, inside an ancient ruin that once belonged to ponies most ancient. But, enough of that. My name is Etherial Dawn, king of the morning." Though he was just an Earth Pony, the filly could sense a massive amount of power within him. They were finally close to the end, but at a closer look. The door was actually triangular, and with the speaking of a word, in a language unknown to the filly. "Persephone " The door slid up at such as speed, that no sound was made until it hit whatever was stopping it. It sounded like a "CLING!", hard metal against stone. He continued to walk, closely followed by the filly.
They entered into a hallway, with a silver carpet. The walls had murals entirely made of crystal, showing pictures of war, killing, even a creature with many animal parts, and him being scared as gems surrounded him, then he was turned into stone. "That battle took place merely eight months ago my dear. The creature you see there surrounded by those six gems, is named discord. He is The Lord of Chaos, and was defeated by the elements of harmony before they disappeared following the battle." The filly asked, "The elements of harmony?"
He looked surprised, but composed. He responded, "Those six gems surrounding Discord, kindness, loyalty, generosity, honesty, laughter, and magic. The elements are very powerful, but an unfortunate even occurred after we defeated Discord." He sighed, "The elements were lost and only the memory of what they are and what they stand for remains. As much as I might try to be an example my subjects are lost without them." He bowed his head slightly. They moved on, Etherial still sighing. She was close behind Etherial, still noticing the decor. The walls were dawned with torches of shimmering crystal which, though changing into 4 colors every five seconds, gave of the same color light.
She then saw at the end of the mural hallway, was something of a foyer. She then looked passed the marble floor and saw that at the edge of the hallway were stone bricks. Then she noticed that most of the castle had wasn't made of marble, but stone. Stone and marble, with steel beams support. Making bridges to and from towers, the place overall was impressive. He looked and saw the filly enjoying herself in the castle's architecture, he beamed at her. "I am flattered that you like my castle, the decadent decor took ages. The resources to build it longer." He saw where they were. "Ah, we are here. I hope you like my foyer."
Indeed no doors were present, she had a clear view of the castle foyer. It had a high ceiling, with glass chandeliers, tipped with gold colored crystal, emanating a bright yellow light. She saw that there were stairs on either side, curving around upwards. Leading to a grand oak balcony, underneath was a desk. Benches on either side had scarlet cushions, embodied with gems on the outside. The gems were brilliant cut, though at the top, shining outward, was the insignia. The floor looked like a mixture of tile granite, marble, and stone. Having a rhombus decor, with mini squares facing straight. "Amazing, I am truly impressed. With a man of such a decorous manner, a decadent living space, a brilliant couture." She gaped in awe at the foyer.
"For a filly, you have the vocabulary of which her majesty would be impressed by." Etherial smiled, "Truly." He finished. The alicorn blushed making her cheeks the shade of a crimson rose. They continued walking, going underneath the balcony and past the desk. "I am lucky, though not without reason, to be the ruler of such a wealthy country." He smiled at the filly, and now that he looked closer. He saw her aura glow just a little bit brighter, even in the blinding light of the chandeliers behind them. He also noticed that she looked eager to ask him something. "What is it my dear?" He asked as they walked. They had just turned left past the desk when she replied, "I wish to ask you, what is it like being the ruler of your country?" He seemed unshaken, though precarious with his answer. "That can be discussed over a meal." She seemed to beam with delightment, she was very hungry. Then he saw the ridges of where tears had once been. He thought back to what his subjects had done to the poor alicorn.
"I must again apologize for my subjects, I have tried and tried to be an example of generosity and kindness in place of the elements, but sadly, those elements of harmony has been gone for nearly 2 months now." He sighed, "Well, its a long tale, though one I would be happy to tell if you wished to know." She smiled with sincere delight, "I love stories, ranging from history to fiction. Oh, I would love to hear it." She showed the utmost enthusiasm, and though taken aback by this, he smiled. "I would love to share it." They continued walking.
They went past another hallway showing many doors, this one entirely made out of stone-brick. The doors made of wood and stone. At the end of it a set of doors, supported by steel hinges. When they came close, he gestured forward, and allowed her to enter first. There was something about this place that seemed to keep getting better and better. In the center was a feast unlike any the which she has never seen. The young alicorn took off her cloak, now realizing it was warm. She spread her wings momentarily allowing them to stretch, then they quickly subsided. The room was comforting, it had torch-lit chandeliers, a hard oak wooden dining table, covered by a thick sheet of a silver-like substance. She set her cloak down on a nearby end table as Etherial entered.
He spoke, "This literally is the oldest room in the castle, the dining room. We never made to improve it as it always seemed to be perfect the way that it is." He laughed, "Too think, the oldest room in the castle be the dining room. It always makes me laugh." He laughed slightly at this. Then she moved on to she asked, "How was this feast prepared so quickly?!" He stopped chuckling and answered, "Actually, I just had them make it and place a new veil over it." She replied, "How did you tell them? I mean, we were together the entire time." He smiled, "While you were admiring the architecture, I asked one of the guards to tell the cooks to get the dining room ready." She looked amazed, "Hold on..." Now that she was thinking about it, there hadn't been a single guard there the entire time.
"Before you ask, I have guards all around me all the time. Though only 2, they are invisible. They wear armor made out of a certain type of metal, very rare. Which holds a magic enabling them to be invisible in whole." He said, a little proud of it. "How did you get the metal?" She asked with a pure curiosity. "Oh, well we found it in the mountain as we were making the castle. We eventually smelted and refined the metal into a usable form once we found out its properties." Etherial seemed rather uneasy about this subject, so she let it be. She sat down in one of the chairs close too Etherial. As she sat down, Etherial inquired, "Please, do not eat just yet. I have some questions before we dig in." He said in a calm, comfortable voice.
"If it invades into our dining time, I am afraid I have no choice but too answer." They both chuckled lightly. "First off, I would like too know your name my dear." She seemed cool, though she also seemed reluctant to answer. "My dear, just by guessing I can assume that you are reluctant to state your name, because someone is looking for you?" She nodded, though only just. "Well, I must then state that I will protect you if necessary with my life and kingdom if you're in any danger. Never the less your past is your own, whether or not to share it entirely up too you. Now please, what is your name my dear?" She looked stunned, though she smiled. "My name is Elysia. I come from a place far away, in order to find peace of mind. And I felt obliged to go leaving everything I owned, except for some travel supplies, and venture off."
"May I ask for your maiden name?" He meant with intended politeness, though came out rather strong. "Elysia Duskfire, the fire of the sunset." She replied, though casually. "What?!" He said, taken quite aback yet again at this new information. Duskfire was the name of the royal family on the other side of Equestria. The two families had a quarrel in the past, one which still buries deep into the memories of each. His father had once had an affair with the Queen of Duskfire a long time ago. This lead to an outrage and the killing of his uncle. Which resulted in a near war until her majesty used the element of kindness on the queen's sister. Resulting in her convincing her brother-in-law, the king, to make a peace treaty with them.
She seemed rather complacent with his reaction, after all her being just a filly alicorn and making it too the other side of the world. It was rather impressive, almost impossible. "I am grateful that you did not ask why I left." He was startled, and this was of course, going to be his next question. But in the interest of retaining the air of hospitality, she let her past be hers. "I must say my dear, I am impressed. You made it too the other side of the world! A feat done by little over a few. You are just a filly after all." She did not look offended, but sort-of amused. "I may be a filly..." She replied, with humor emanating from her voice. "...but I am not at all weak. Do not be startled for I know you meant no such thing." As he was starting to get a little riled up at this.
"I merely meant that, I am capable of doing great things. My family of course is as well, though I reside something none of them have." She though, even having the voice of a filly, sounded very adult-like. "May I inquire as to what that is, I am also quite famished so let us please hurry." He said eagerly. "Love." She stated clear, concise, and elegantly. "My family of course can love, its just that I can utilize its power too do magnificent things." She stated. This gave the king a new impression of the filly alicorn, not a bad one, but not exactly the best impression. He himself approved of ambition as long as greed was not kept in the mix. "I shall tell you another time perhaps, but for now. Can we please eat! I am famished!" She said almost sardonically. The king laughed, "I was hoping you would ask, dig in!"
They lifted up Silver lids off of steel dinner plates and what she saw made her mouth water. The table had cake, salads with all sorts of nuts, vegetables, and sauces. A rare kind of jam, rainbow strips within it. Etherial noticed Elysia looking at the jam and said that the jam was made by a unicorn mistress in the peak far yonder. He gestures past a window to the mountain which seemed that small sparkle was shining. There was cupcakes, pastries, fruits, even grass tipped with sugar. "This certainly is quite a feast, now it is my turn again to give you praise." She said, bowing slightly. The king laughed as she did so. She seemed quite confused, "May I inquire as to what has delegated your humor?" He replied still laughing, "I just... can't stop... laughing!" He kept going and was starting to annoy the alicorn. He then yelled, "Stop it Rogil, stop..." His next attempt at a sentence caught him with even more vibrant laughs. He fell off his chair, and then a voice came.
"Hey, hey, alright." Said a young voice. The laughing eventually subsided, and much too Elysia's relief. The king stood upright and got back up onto his chair. "Next time you do that and I send you too that bottomless pit!" He boomed, wiping a tear from his eye. "Eh, alright. Good too see you my old friend." Clearly the alicorn was confused as he was hugging what looked like mid-air. "Oh right... Rogil take off your armor." As he said this, a pony came into view lifting off silver and ivory armor with a small, cobalt aura surrounding it. He was a tall pony, with very unique features. He had a mane that was frizzled, coloring pure red. He had an orange coat, and eyes colored pink, with blue irises. "Well hi there!" He said with an ecstatic appeal to his voice. "Old Ethel here didn't tell me he had a friend over!" The king looked annoyed, "What have I told you about calling me Ethel?!" He said, angry though in a friendly sort of serious way. "Dunno' something about tearing my head off and throwing me off a cliff." He shrugged, though in a sarcastic sort of way.
"I swear, one of these days I will do one of those things. Though not right now, we have a guest. Rogil, I would like you too meet Ms. Elysia Duskfire, here as my guest." He did not seemed at all startled by her last name as the king was, nor show any indignation of it. "A pleasure Ms. Duskfire." He said, shaking her hoof. "And this Elysia, is my good old friend Rogil Hearthmetal. His family are legends as they are the best blacksmiths in this side of the country." He smiled, and Rogil beamed at him. "He shows no modesty, but yes. We are the best blacksmiths in this side of the country. We are actually in charge of the metal used for this armor here."
He picked up the armor and set it down on the table. "Really now? On the table?" Etherial stated, with a retort from Rogil. "Not gunna kill you, not a danger to you, so unless you have any other reason to object." He was just about to when Rogil continued. "This my dear is how the king here has his private guard in secret, the royal armor. Mine is specially outfitted since I made it myself. I was also known for tickling my colleagues often, so I found other uses for it. Much to my victims displeasure." He grinned, almost evilly. "Yes, and why you do it none of us will ever understand."
Rogil laughed, "Sorry your highness, but it is a part of my personality. I just cannot stop it no matter how much I want too." He laughed slightly, then pressed on. "Have you told her why else you haven't seen any guards?" He said, sinisterly. Etherial looked puzzled, then said. "Ah, yes." And pressed on. "The other reason for you not seeing any guards, is that the two behind me are the only two in most of the castle." The princess looked puzzled, then asked, "Why is that? Aren't you frightened of thieves or assassins?" He laughed, and then moved on.
"Well you see my dear, the thing is. This castle has many secrets, too those of the unwary that is. The rooms where I do not tread the lights go out, and the living do not tread. For once I leave a room you see, ghosts come to be. And they haunt the halls and rooms of where those without my permission dare enter.." He saw her stunned expression, chortled a bit, then continued. "These ghosts are actually meant to be here on purpose. They are the security that have been placed. What happens too those who trespass, I know not." He smiled grimly. "They converse with each other, going about their own business. But they have a darkness to them, as they are indeed ghastly. They care not for the living."
Rogil then moved on, "Some say they take you too one of the inner caves, where you suffer something beyond horror." He said, with a ghastly voice. Which caused the three too laugh. "So, you mean to tell me that the rooms which we are not in have ghosts in them? And that is your security force?" She thought she was being pranked, but they had serious faces. As she was taught, serious faces from a king were never a joke. "The rooms become dark, and they who tread unannounced are filled with dread. As the dead form faces of which leave scary traces. The ghosts do not report to us, we assume they are an enchantment of some sort. They do not harm those who enter with the kings permission. They seem to sense when the king allows one entrance, and allow them to enter the room lit, without a danger in sight." Rogil snickered. Judging by the way he told this story, he told it a hundred times.
"I do have business with the king, but it can wait. I can see you guys are eating, looks like I am too!!!" He jumped onto the table and started scarfing everything down. Elysia started laughing, though the king just rubbed his forehead with suppressed angst. "Mishdint the fwimng shtill vu?" He explained through a full mouth. "Shta bale vis kagik." "What?" She replied, a little confused. "He means that the veil is magic, it seemed to clean up itself." And sure enough, when she looked at the veil it had no mess on it whatsoever except for the dishes and china clattering away from the scarfing stallion. "Mah, cut d lead." He said what sounded like, "Yeah, what he said." But it was very hard to distinguish from him scarfing down hordes of food.
Rogil eventually stopped after five minutes of eating, and a look of apology came from Etherial. Rogil eventually fell off from exhaustion, and just touched the veil as he became sparkly clean. Where mustaches and hats of cake had once been, there had been a mane possible cleaner then from when he has just entered. "Whoa!" She exclaimed, and decided to touch the veil. It cleaned her entire plate, as well as her being. She felt as though water were running through every hair on her coat, and then it subsided, leaving a feeling of immense clean behind. "Extraordinary! How is this possible?" She waited eagerly for his or Rogil's response. The king spoke, "Through a combination of enchanting, and material gather my dear." He smiled, leaving her with many questions.
"Rogil, I know you must have important business to discuss with me. But unfortunately, I have prior engagements with her majesty as she requested my presence in Ambertown, apparently she needs my help." Rogil nodded, and replied. "Of course my king, what is it you want me to do?" He smiled, "First off show our guest too her quarters, north wing if you do not mind. And send her a Nightveil Guard." She looked confused and before Rogil could reply, she asked, "What is a Nightveil guard? And more importantly, where is the North wing?" The king nor Rogil looked offended at being interrupted. Rogil spoke, "The Nightveil guard are the guard that wear the special armor, the king's private guard."
Rogil paused then continued, "The North Wing is the wing with the guest quarters, library, and astronomy tower. As well as the altar of water, which is an ancient and sacred place. Built by the first king, and is actually one of the few places the ghosts do not ever tread. It's not really a security risk being that it is entirely underground with no means of entry other then the front door. It is sort of like a spa, but with natural springs and beautiful pristine waters." Rogil smiled, "I will show you it tomorrow, its nearly 2:00 in the morning."
She looked taken aback by this, she had never been up so late in all her life. "Yes, we must retire. But before that what is Ambertown?" Elysia looked inquiringly at the king himself, he eventually spoke. "Ambertown is a settlement entirely underground. A mining settlement settled in a hollowed out mountain, and most of the kingdom's minerals and currency metal comes from there. It also has ponymade though seeming natural scenery. The waterfalls, lakes, forests, and even crystals are all ponymade. The city itself was built out of most of the resources taken to hollow out the mountain." She looked amazed at the description she was getting. A city entirely underground, with ponymade natural scenery. It was almost unbelievable.
"Yes well, Rogil here will show you too your room. Good night Rogil." He said with dignity, and in reply he got, "Good night Ethel." He swore underneath his breath as he got up, gestured a goodbye, and left through the way they had entered. As the oak doors slammed shut, Rogil smiled. "What?" She asked, almost unaware of his unusual behavior. "Do you want to have some fun?" He asked, with a grimace spreading ear to ear. He put on his armor, and then looked at Elysia. "I would love too tomor..." She was cut off as she was swept off her feet and was being carried by the earth pony at an incredibly high speed. "Whoa!" She said, clearly unaware that they were no longer in the dining room.
She asked while trying to keep calm. "Mind telling me what you are doing?" She said whilst wind blew through her ear. "I am taking you too the top of the peak." He said, an even wider grimace then before spreading across his face. Through watery eyes she could make out suits of armor, windows, and even some detailed architecture and murals. Finally they stopped, and she was shot forward. Instinctively she twist her flank upright, raised her hooves and spun, and landed feet first. She landed on something soft.
"Wow, I didn't know you were an acrobat." He smirked. This was not unusual for Rogil she assumed, he seemed to have and arrogant though friendly attitude towards others. Eventually she spoke, "I'm not, but I have been trained in the art of Shilem." Nostalgia blew through her head as she remembered begging her father too let her learn the art, and then for her training with a few older fillies. Then she was fighting others, and shewing off bullies. Hugging her family as she won a contest of Shilem, and every now and then climbing the city roofs and jumping house to house. "I am a full Shilemnest, 5th tier Correk." She stated. Rogil's jaw dropped and he exclaimed, "WOW!!! That is amazing!!!", with a booming voice and outspread arms of amazement. "Thanks." She said simply. She was reminded of how some in her kingdom say she was given that just for being the king's daughter, but she knew better.
The wind blew through her coat as she now regained full control of her senses. They were at the top of the castle, no, not the castle. The mountain it was built into. She could see the road she took to get there. "How did we get here?" She asked incredulously, and Rogil enjoyed this. "Well, put simply I used magic to increase my speed, agility, and endurance." Rogil smirked again, "I said my armor had other unique qualities..." His smirk turned into a smile, and then continued. "We are at what's called Solstice's Peak, this is the location where they say you can see all three of the kingdom's valleys." She looked and saw that the moon was getting low, the ivory now touching so little. She could see the three valleys of which he was speaking. They apparently were in the center of these three valleys, on top of a mountain range. She remembered something the king said and asked, "Is this where her majesty resides?" "Nah actually, she lives in some ruins a little back a ways." He gestured behind him.
She returned her attention the the valleys. One was facing east, curving towards the north where they lay. The other west, facing east as well as north, with a gap in the range. The other was South, and it had a large plateau in its base, which held a ruin of sorts. And just beyond that, was a dark region of land. Volcanoes could be seen though just barely, still active apparently. It seemed eerie though not exactly dark. Not in a bad way, just... off. "Ah, yes. What you are seeing is where the war took place against Discord." He paused too see if she knew who Discord was, and she did. "A tragedy, many casualties. That region was actually supposed to be our fourth valley signaling south but, sadly it remains to be a ruin. I hear rumors that another kingdom is trying to establish its reign over there." She looked wondrous, maybe that what was off about it?
She pondered a bit more and then commented on the rest of the land. "Its remarkable, you own all of this land? That is amazing." She stated, with a bit of impressment. "And I am disappointed no one decided to help you, Ethel tries to teach his kingdom as he has taught me generosity, but sadly, ever since that element was lost..." He looked outwards reminiscently apparently deep in thought. This was of course of topic from what she had just said, but he was clearly lost in his own thoughts. As she looked at some of the mountains and peaks, she noticed trickles of light, barely peering out through some of the valleys as though a candle through a violet veil. These must have been cities or forts, she thought. She looked back again at her surroundings. She noticed a small gazebo of granite. It had corinthian and doric pillars, lining up on the edge of marble stairs. Attached to each was a torch, a regular torch. The light was warm, it was a regular fire.
He noticed Elysia looking at it and began to speak. "The altar of the solstice, this was built by her majesty, with the aid of my grandfather. This leads toward the Solstice Stone, which glows a different color every solstice. Yellow for summer, orange for fall, cobalt for winter, and pink for spring." He sighed, "The festivals we have at every solstice, they're amazing." He smiled at her, causing her to smile back. "Come, let me show you what color it shows when the solstice is not here." He lead her up the stairs and removed a veil, revealing a fear cut stone atop gold, platinum, silver, and gems. It stood on a pedestal, showing the color white. "Go ahead, touch it." She did as she was told, and when she pressed her hoof lightly against it, it turned the color she loved the most, violet. "I simply love this color, does it change into your favorite color." Rogil laughed slightly, though with no intentions of being rude.
"Close, it shines forth the feeling we most adore. As from what I can tell, you most adore love." He smiled, though only slightly. "Here, let me try." He touched his hoof to the gem and it turned pink. "I enjoy the color pink also, but I prefer scarlet. My favorite feeling is the feeling of laughter and humor." He then looked at the stone eerily, and turned to her and said. "Oh, it also explodes sometimes." When he said this, it began to glow in a rhythmic pattern. She went to duck and cover and run for her life as fast as she could. Though only to be stopped by him. "Ha! Gotcha'!" I was startled and slightly irritated. "You sure know how to ruin the moment of romance." He looked startled and smiled as though expecting her to kiss him. "Are you sure I ruined the moment? After all you are only a filly, not really my type." Rogil stated with the most retort he could muster. "Good to know the moment wasn't there in the first place." She said with the kind of sarcasm that sounds like a fashionista could have said it.
Rogil laughed, and so did she. "So, the gem remains white until someone touches it?" He nodded, and she continued. "And it does our will when we touch it?" He replied, "Impressive, though it does our will to a point. Meaning it can only do certain things, and it has to remain on the altar at all times. I don't know why, Ethel tried to explain it once, maybe twice. But he is a boring speaker when he talks all intelligently and I got bored. I also fell asleep, yeah, he was furious." He mimicked an angry face which met laughter from her. After the laughter subsided, she yawned, and then spoke. "I am quite tired, can we head to bed."
She was surprised at his reaction, "Aw, party pooper. Just wanted to have fun, but fine." Then she realized it was foolish to be surprised, and from what she could tell of Rogil, he liked to spend time late into the night. "Alright, imma tell the guard, be right back." He dawned on the armor, and sprinted off into who knows what... She continued down the stairs back into the peak. She rested on a rock and when he returned he spoke, "Come on, give me a hug won't yah?" He held out his arms. Now this was a surprise, but she got up and replied. "No, I will not give you a hug, and furthermore... HEY!!! WHAT THE!!!?" She was picked up as Rogil turned invisible and sprinted off with her in his arms.
Rogil turned in a one-hundred and eighty degree spin at one point apparently making a wrong turn, and making the princess sick. He then headed back to a hallway, one side with windows, the other doors. And the poor filly was almost sick to her stomach. Finally he stopped in front of a door, just seconds before he had entered into the hallway. He stopped more slowly and set the filly down, and undid his invisibility. "Sorry about the rough ride, but I decided that going through the castle hallways 3 times and back until I got bored." She turned the deepest shade of scarlet purple in an outrage. "WWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She yelled for the longest of times, literally causing the stallion to topple backwards. He stuttered, "Onl-ly jo.. joking." He said, scared to get up. She regained her composure, and stated simply. "Oh, my apologies. Here, let me help yo..." He interrupted, "No need, here is your room." He gestured towards a door with the number "3", embodied across the top of it.
"I am very grateful for your kindness." She bowed slightly, and saw him smirk slightly, though in a friendly way. "The pleasure is all mine." She opened the door, and stood in the door from. "Good night, or in this case. Good morning." He smiled and he was about to leave through the next door, but not before bowing to the princess and saying, "Love shines, I notice that so do you." And with that, he left. She was quite flustered and glowed scarlet, she thought a her aura was a secret, she was wrong. She noticed the sun beginning to rise, and she saw a tear in her eye. She quickly enter the room and saw a bed. Not caring to describe it in her thought, she began to cry herself to sleep.
Etherial was just beginning to wake, he was certainly flustered. He was lying on what felt like grass. It was slightly red through his eyes with some dark spots, must be some sort of foliage blocking out sunlight. He was exhausted and tired for some reason, almost too much so too wake up. His body would not let him rest, yet he felt like he was carrying her majesty and them some on his back. The temperature was moderate, and not too cold. There were spots on his coat which seemed rather warm, the sun must be touching them.
He opened his eyes, barely daring to look at where he was. He was in a forest, a place he knew all too well. This place too him was known as The Forest of Death. He looked around, and noticed indeed there was thick tree foliage, and after a while gazing, he noticed an old sundial ruin. He got up and shook off the grass that was on him. He blinked a few times, adjusting his eyes. He began to walk towards it. He began to also notice its dilapidated features, its stone bricks cracked and with moss growing in certain places. It was on top of a ponymade stone hill, and had steps carved on all the sides the shape of a hexagon. The steps lead to a smooth platform which revealed large stone slacks, with tiny ones in between each of its larger counterpart. The floor was littered with rubble from the above stone brick roof. It was common skill to know how to read these. But, what did it indicate?
Etherial walked towards up the steps underneath the broken roof. He looked around, the floor had a compass rose. With the inside of it blue and the spiked outwards triangles red. They had the letters at each end, N, E, S, W. He knew what they meant but something grabbed his attention. The sundial indicated something impossible, it stated that it was 200 years after his last recollection. He gathered his thoughts, the last thing he remembered was returning to his castle, and hearing some grave news. This wasn't just weird, nor impossible... It was unfathomable, even for the most creative scribe.
He remembered that after hearing the grave news, he sprinted down the hall in the North Wing as fast as he could, towards Elysia's room. He had no idea why he was doing what he did or what the news was, but that was all he could remember. He saw that his hoof was on the letter "E". He liked east because whenever he was gone, if ever he was lost, he would head east and it would mean home. His settlement was near the eastern shores after all. He remained silent except in thought, as he was imagining a world far different than the one he knew, but he also thought his castle would still be there. He had many questions racing through his head, giving him a headache. One of which was where his crown was. Etherial was home bound East, though unsure if his home was still there.
Author's Note
May I take away just a few more moments of your time? I wish to speak boldly about my story. The inspiration came in a dream one day, describing a settlement at nighttime with a young filly alicorn. In the dream she was troubled greatly by something. Then I came to a spring, with many playing in its water. This was the end of this dream, as it is a very vague description. Yet then again, most dreams are vague. Needless to say, this was my inspiration. This story holds a great deal of potential. With that I am grateful for all the efforts of my editiors and bronies who are helping me complete it. :)
Etherial Dawn Book One: Dawn
Authors Note: We are now back in present day Equestria. I will make editions as necessary too my typos and grammar errors. I will be busy with schooling of course, but I am greatly inspired too continue working. My thanks goes to the author's out there who are advocated writers. As well the editors who take time away from their days to edit stories like mine! :D
Chapter 1: Awake
Heading East, through a forest known to be called death, in the middle of the day. He had no idea what was going on, only that he had the intentions too find out what exactly happened. Etherial Dawn was not a pony to be messed with, yet, neither was the young filly alicorn from what Rogil had last told him before whatever is going on happened. He stated, "She did a double back-side summersault and landed feet first onto the crash pad I had put there! It was incredible!" He was enthusiastic about her abilities at the time. Though he had too admit it sounded a little far-fetched. That and that she knew the art of Shilem. He was just returning back from Ambertown with Rogil as his only company. The crisis sort-of resolved at Ambertown he had started to head home with Rogil at his heels.
Etherial kept remembering, trying hard to focus on memories 200 years prior. He noticed a guard running to him, panting. The guard told him something that made his expression turn too fear, concern, and confusion, or at least that is what it looked like. Etherial and Rogil both rushed too castle, and noticed that there was a light coming from the North Wing. They ran very fast until they reached the hallway. He was coming close too the third door where Elysia was when... "Hello?" Sounded a voice, it was soft, a mare.
He turned around, looking precociously at a young mare. She had a purple coat, a star cutie mark surrounded by 6 smaller stars. She had a violet and navy-blue striped mane. "Hello." He replied simply, unaware of what too say or do. "May I ask what you are doing all the way out here in the Everfree Forest?" She asked, inquiringly. So it seemed that The Forest of Death was now called, "The Everfree Forest." He thought in his head. He thought of a response then replied, "I do not know my dear, it seems I have lost my way back home." He tilted his head solemnly. She said in return, "Oh dear, I am sorry too hear that. Are you from Ponyville?" She looked curiously at the stallion.
Etherial was completely lost on what too do, or even say. So he just replied, "No." This was true of course being how he hadn't ever heard of a place called, "Ponyville" until just now. She said with concern, "Then where are you from?" Etherial looked at the purple pony, she was a unicorn. He had never really seen much of any unicorns, only a few alicorns that entailed her majesty and Elysia. They had horns, which meant they could do magic, and that was all he really knew of unicorns. He then thought about his answer, "Somewhere very far away from here." This was untrue as he actually had no idea where, or even really when he was. He guessed 200 years after he was last awake, based on the sundial.
She looked even more confused then before, then asked, "What's your name?" He figured this was something he could tell the truth about. "Etherial Dawn." He said with a slight bow towards the unicorn. She blushed, yet was taken aback by his politeness. She stated, "Thank you." and then moved on too say, "I understand that you are lost? Would you like some help finding your way back?" The purple unicorn seemed kind enough, and rather generous. Maybe her majesty did manage to get all the elements back without his help. "Actually, I am lost in more ways then one my dear Ms.?" He inquired of the purple unicorn. She stated, "Sparkle, Twilight Sparkle." She gestured kindly, and he shook her hoof. "A pleasure Ms. Sparkle." "Please, just call me Twilight." She seemed to be kind enough, but then recognized where they were. Though she seemed confused, she asked him, "Would you like to come stay with us for a while?" Etherial nodded.
"May I ask what the date is today?" Etherial asked, while walking down a stingy path away from the dilapidated sundial. "It is the first of May, 21,328 A.B. (After Birth)." This confused him even greater then before he woke up. It was 11,127 A.B. when he was at his castle running for Elysia, but now... No, he couldn't think about it he wouldn't, yet there it was. It was almost exactly 10,000 years belated to what he thought the present. "Hey are you alright?" Twilight asked, concern spreading across her face. "I have been bet..." He felt light headed and sick then fainted, too twilight's horror. The rest went dark after that... then too his ephemeral delight, he was back in the castle.
When he tried to speak, he couldn't. Well his mouth was moving, and he could feel his vocals vibrating, but there was no sound emanating from it. The room now seemed blurry and kind of vague. He was in between the door frame when he heard a scream. It was Elysia, and she was suspended in mid-air in front of him. Her mane was rigid and thin, her aura was non-existant, and her eyes hollow blackness. She screamed again, tears of blood deluging her body. Her mane was shooting out in every direction, and she began to speak with a voice, eerie and dark.
"Time will uphold my commands, and you shall be washed upon gray sands. Ashes fall and voices scream, at the absence of their beloved king. " After this, she dropped too the floor. She began to shrivel up and dry, he screamed.
"Wha!" He shouted in surprise. Etherial definitely woke with a start, cold sweat protruding out his pours, and his breathing was fast and erratic. He noticed he was inside a what looked like an almost perfectly white room. He was on a bed, the likes of which he had never seen. It had beeping machinery and other sorts of wizardry all about it. He noticed that his heart was pounding, and one of the machines was beeping and showing lines. It made ridges and beeped in perfect sync with his heartbeat. He suppose that it was used for medicinal reasons, though unsure.
He heard hoofsteps coming from the outside of a door. It had a window that was unclear, and a metal handle gripped on the opposite side of steel hinges. He guffawed at the place he was in, if her majesty had heard him tell this story she would have been hysterical. The hoofsteps became louder and louder until finally the door opened with a pure white coated pony entering. She had an orange mane, and a red cross cutie mark. As well as a hat with a red cross insignia placed in the center of it. "Nurse Red-Heart my dear... Etherial was it?" He nodded. "Well I must say, you are quite the talk of the town at the moment. The fact that you were in there, with Slendermane around and everything..." She sighed deeply.
He had no idea what she was talking about. He assumed he was in the placed called Ponyville, an infirmary most likely, and his nurse was standing near the entrance. But Slendermane is where he got lost. He knew The Forest of Death, or in this case, The Everfree forest had dangers, but whatever Slendermane was, again, had him lost. She noticed his confusion and merely sighed deeply again, "My dear, my dear... You do not know what Slendermane is?" Etherial nodded which was met with tumultuous sound of, "What!!!!" Resonate throughout the whole building. Apparently everyone could here their conversation but how, he had no idea. She continued chattering, "Well I will explain the legend too you deary."
She grabbed a vial filled with a clear liquid, sucked it up with a syringe, and put it into a clear bag. Which he noticed was going into his arm. He was terrified of his situation, though he noticed no imminent danger."You see..." The Nurse sat down as she spoke, "There is a legend of a terrible creature, living inside the forest. Though, now he seems not too be a legend anymore." He nodded as Nurse Red-Heart continued. "He has no face, but wears what seems to be a suit. He is said too have tentacles streaming out from his back." He imagined a pony, faceless and wearing noble attire in the middle of the forest, he shuttered. Yet at the same time believing that this was merely a child's tale. His relief was short as he noticed that her expression was serious. Noticing this, she sighed. Then moved too shrug her shoulders then continue, "He is great and terrible. He is said to ponynap anypony who dares too enter into his realm. Though this is an exaggeration, as apparently it would seem, he only has been ponynapping a few who wonder off into the forest, and sadly these are mostly fillies." Her expression was grim, this reassured his fears immediately.
Etherial seemed interested greatly in learning about this creature now, and where he was. He tried too get up when the nurse shouted, "Wait! You can't go yet!". He felt the urge to roll his eyes, but thought better of it. He inquired, "When may I go dear?" She responded, almost non-chalantly as though the previous shouting never occured. "You may leave tomorrow morning. It is 5:23P.M. right now, so get some rest dearie." He did so rather reluctantly as she left the room. He noticed that indeed it was sunset outside, as the windows gleemed orange, tainting the curtains with the color. He fell asleep as soon as he laid back onto his pillow. He realized how exhausted he was as a myriad darkness crept into view. He gladly accepted sleep, as his mind needed rest from the nervous breakdown he was close too having. And the last thing he heard before he slept was Nurse Red Heart closing the door behind her.
Slendermane , the monster Nurse Red Heart describes was unheard of in his time. But his time was 10,000 years ago, and her majesty, Rogil, and even little filly alicorn Elysia were all dead by now. He was alone, knowing no one but the kind hearted ponies he had met. Nurse Red Heart and Twilight Sparkle, they were the only two ponies he had met so far in this new age. But he had tomorrow to research and find out what was going on, for now, he slept.
In his dream, he was again back at the castle. He sighed, "Why in Equestria is this happening too me? Torturing me with taking me away from my home, then make me have nightmares of it. Why?" His words were lost too himself, this time he was in the dining room. It was similar too how it was the last time he was there, but there were some differences. There were violet flames emanating from the torches. The table had a blackened veil around it, not silver as it normally was.
The entry doors were wide open, but beyond that pitch black dark. He was wearing his clothes from when he left, his coat however was black. He began to speak, "Is anypony here?". He was speaking, but not of his own will this time. He was merely watching as the events took hold in front of him, and he was lucky enough to get a first-person view of it. He thought too sigh though he couldn't. Etherial Dawn was not himself in this nightmare, because he felt dreaded. He was close to the verge of tears from what it appeared, but he didn't cry. His eyes hurt with the pressure he was holding back, then he heard somepony's hoofsteps. He turned around and saw Rogil, but he was disfigured in a way. He was wearing crimson armor, with a feathercap helmet, christened with the Duskfire insignia.
"You betrayed us my lord, you left us behind. We are all dead, its all your fault." Rogil spoke, with his voice, but it was empty. It was hollow, as though something was missing. His words hit Etherial hard, he screamed at him. "I would never!!! ITS YOUR FAULT I LEFT!!!" He yelled at his best friend, Rogil laughed. "You are despicable, leaving me to care for Elysia, and when I failed she died. It's all your fault..." He vanished. This left Etherial stunned as he collapsed too the floor. The king sobbed harder then he ever had before in his life. The room began to glow dark at this.
Sounds were heard, they were eerie, dark, and as incandescent as the room around him. He turned and before he could comprehend what was coming pain surged through him. He was afraid that he was going too die, but at this he was falling. The floor had disappeared, leaving him in mid-air. He began to swell with rage. "THIS IS UNFAIR!!!!" He tried to yell, and he looked at where he was falling. Then he was on top of the peak, near the Solstice Stone. This left him no longer falling but visualizing what was atop the altar. He was walking up when Elysia showed herself. "You left us too die."
"No." He said at once. This was unfair, all of it. What was going on what was happening. Then she herself spoke the ancient language he had used to open the gates. "Silis en voramore. " She said in a snake like voice. With the end of that phrase, he was thrown off of the peak falling down all over again. He was gliding seamlessly past the castle. As he was falling, the windows shined brighter then the sun, and then everything went white before he even went past the bridge to his doom. He opened his eyes, and was relieved too see the white room with its indecorous furniture.
Cold sweat again, breathing heavily, he sighed and spoke aloud. "I need to get too work." He got up, but not before the door opened revealing the brilliant white Nurse Red Heart. She sighed, "You cannot leave yet, it is merely 4 in the morning." He was startled by this, but when he noticed that the sun was not shining in through the windows, revealing stars and the moon. He nodded once realization flooded through his mind. He had been asleep for 11 hours.
The dream felt longer. "And how, may I ask did you know that I was leaving?" She looked up, and smiled. "Actually I was coming in too check up on you, your heart rate was way above the normality for a sleeping earth pony." He understood, "Of course my dear, but I cannot go too sleep again after 11 hours of it." She smiled wider, then laughed lightly. "Alright, but however that doesn't mean you can go out yet. I assume you were just having a nightmare." He nodded, "Well then!" She exclaimed, "That means I get too inform you on what's going on." She was kind in the way she spoke too him, and in the way she communicated. She was a very friendly person, who though impatient, friendly. He remembered her stated, he tilted his head slightly, "What is going on?"
"Well, first off while you were out Pinkie Pie was ecstatic, she has a whole party planned for your arrival." She stated. A whole party planned for his arrival, he was used too this sort of thing when he went to visit royalty from other kingdoms but this was unheard of. He smiled with delight at the prospect of ponies throwing parties just for new comers, making them feel welcome and introducing them to everypony. Now all he needed too find out is who this Pinkie Pie was, what sort of clothing to wear, and what kind of party exactly he was attending.
He was impressed with himself overall. I mean 10,000 years later and he hadn't jumped off a cliff yet? This was what certainly worthy of a metal, and maybe a princess mare or two? He laughed inside his head, it felt good though it wasn't out loud. He merely smiled, and then asked.
"May I ask who Pinkie Pie is?" She looked shocked at first, but then seemed to remember that he was new here. Boy was that the understatement of the past ten millennia. "Oh, she's a wonderfully kind, energetic, and crazy pony who has the ability too make friends easily." She smiled once she had finished saying this. Clearly she thought highly of Ms. Pinkie, and now so did he. Too think that someone could make friends easily in his time, was like saying that mountains get up and start tap dancing at parties. He laughed at the prospect, though again internally as he did not want Ms. Red Heart too think that he was ungrateful for it.
"I have another question for you my dear, can I leave yet?" He inclined his head though only slightly, this was enough to make her blush rose red. "Well, now that you mention it. I did say this morning didn't I?" He nodded, though not entirely sure if this was true. He beamed at her as he was eager to get out of the wherever he was. Not only that, but he wanted too see what happened in the last 100 centuries. "I suppose then you can leave when Dawn touches the sky, Mr. Dawn." She laughed at her poor attempt at humor. In politeness he reciprocated this, though upset at the thought of being here longer.
He took notice that he was wearing a soft sort of cloak. But it was thin, tide by a string on his back and colored teal blue. The bed had sky blue bed sheets, and made of some sort of material at the end of it. There was a white cabinet in the corner of the room, on which stood some flowers and a note from Twilight Sparkle. He picked it up with his hooves, and opened it too read. "Dear Etherial, " She wrote. He continued, "I hope you get better soon. I was surprised to see you near that old sundial, which was claimed by historians too be at least 12,000 years old. Which makes it a valuable land mark, but no one seems to come visit it or even study it. I thought I should also invite you too my home at the library, you can ask Nurse Red Heart for directions. I am eager to talk, if you are heading home, I would ask you too visit briefly if its not too much trouble. " He sighed, then Nurse Red Hear began to speak,
"She sent you those flowers, Twilight did. She was always nice to everypony, considerate of others." He nodded in agreement. And then continued too read, "I was glad I found you before Slendermane did, believe me when I say I was surprised too find another pony in there besides me. " There it was again, Slendermane. This must really be a problem why doesn't the government do something. "Princess Celestia asked me too study the sundial even though the woods were thick with danger. " With her majesty gone, he had assumed someone else was in charge. He got 2 answers in one sentence. The hierarchy sent Twilight too research the sundial, and this Princess Celestia was the new ruler. He continued, "I hope too see you soon, much to discuss. Please feel better, Twilight. "
At the end of this he re-read it again so he made sure that he soaked up every bit of information this piece of parchment gave him. Nurse Red Heart was tending to one of the machines when he spoke, "Where does Twilight live?" She replied, "Just head down the pathway, make a right turn down sugarcube corner, then keep going until you reach the library. It is a hollowed out tree made into a livable place. It also is the town's public library, Twilight sure does love to read from what I hear." When she finished he repeated the directions inside his head.
Once he was sure he remembered it he said, "Thank you." He nodded then layed back down, then noticed something that made a smile flicker across his face. It was no longer 4 A.M. as the sun was peering over the horizon. He got up, and looked inquiringly at the mare. She noticed and replied, "You may want to wait a little while before leaving. And eat those flowers before they go too waste." He grabbed the glowers and ate them up in less then a minute. "Whoa there, slow down just a bit." She asked imploringly, but he just kept eating. He hasn't eaten since before he woke up, which was 10,000 years ago. So you have to admit that would work up something of an appetite. He finished by drinking the water, and burped lightly. "Excuse me." He said, hiding a smile.
She looked as rigid as if she just saw someone get have a heart attack. Heck, she looked like she was going to have one. He laughed, "I am sorry if I scared you." He continued too laugh. She pointed her hoof towards the door, he looked while still laughing. His laughs quickly subsided, as he saw a brilliant alicorn. He thought poorly of his performance in her presence, but she seemed to retain composure. She had an ethereal mane, with blue, pink, and teal in it. She had a pure white coat, and a sun for a cutie mark. He also noticed a platinum crown on top of her head with a pearl at the center piece. He recognize it as his crown and his pearl, but instead of the pearl floating the pearl was inside the center of the crown.
He assumed immediately who it was, but before he could make any more assumptions, Nurse Red Heart spoke, "My princess, its an honor." She said with a bow. The princess had a solemn expression, though she smiled slightly. Something told me she knew something, and that was anything but good. But he sighed with relief as she asked, "I understand you are acquainted with my student, Ms. Twilight Sparkle." He gapped in awe, Twilight Sparkle wasn't just doing a favor for the princess, she was her student.
Princess Celestia looked at him with violet eyes, that seemed to pear inside his soul. He was speechless, he had never seen such beauty as this before. She was as equally if not more (though he would never dare say so outloud) beautiful then her majesty. This alicorn had a certain majestic around her, she was quite a sight. "Ye.. yes your majesty." He stuttered, not daring to make eye contact. He began to sweat a little around the hooves, and began too be rather uncomfortable. But she simply smiled and said, "Call me Celestia." He looked up and beamed at her. She was kind, and seemed to prefer being called her name. This was not really common among the royals in his day, especially too complete strangers.
"I had just completed raising the sun, I was hoping you could accompany me as I understand you were also invited to my student's home." He nodded, her voice sounded as majestic as if rays of sun were surrounding her very being. He then payed more attention to her words, "Raising the sun?" He asked politely. This reciprocated confused looks from the two. "Don't you know? Its my duty too raise the sun, I have been ever since I was a filly alicorn." He was not immortal, nor were any of his guard. The queen was the only thing close to immortality that he knew. She actually just had a very large life span. Princess Celestia must also be a near-immortal. He didn't know much of what was going on, only that hopefully he would find out.
"My dear, excuse me but I am not from here." He stated politely, the princess nodded. "I am aware of that, but even the gryphons know of my power. They keep to themselves because if they attacked I could just simply leave it be eternal night. Everypony knows this, never the less." She said in an uncaring tone. "Shall we be off then?" Still focused on the word "Gryphon's", and whatever the heck they were. He came back too reality. He was eager to leave, so he told the princess "Yes Celestia." He bowed, and then took of his robe. He remembered too asked if he was free to go. The nurse simply nodded in awe, and with a bow from both him and Celestia they were off.
The alicorn closed the door behind them with a blue aura surrounding it. "So, may I ask where are you from." She seemed kind, though rather curious about him. "I honestly think it would be best if we saved those questions until we reached Ms. Sparkle's home. Wouldn't you agree?" He said softly, though with a confused look from the princess. She simply nodded and they continued walking. The hallways they past were filled with ponies dressed in weird clothing, and a few lying sickly on beds on there way to other places. This was possibly the largest infirmary he had ever seen.
He was severely confused, he had major panic going on inside his head. He was terrified of what would happen, and what had happened. As they past corridors and hallways with gazes from a majority of the ponies, he couldn't help but also digress towards his home. He remembered his castle, his wife, and his friends and royal guard. He thought of Rogil and how he would laugh at this story. He would have thought he was making it up, that is, if he could ever go back. He hung his head in a sad silence. He could not even begin to imagine that possibility. Staying here in a world much stranger, and much more unique then the one he had left.
He also noticed that there were no torches, there were only lights illuminating from the ceiling and cone shaped posts on desks. This world was very different indeed from the one he had just left. 10,000 years is certainly a long time, and a lot definitely has changed. He noticed they were nearing a set of metal double doors, with glass windows. Sunlight was shining through and he could now put his mind at rest. He was nearing the end of wherever he was, and would be able to see the outside world.
Celestia pushed open the doors, revealing a beautiful natural setting. Trees were aligned on either side of them, lining up a dirt road with hoof tracks all over it. It lead to a colorful town, with architectural variances in every building. "Come, let us go meet my student." She beckoned him. He obeyed without question. As they walked he noticed a few of the ponies staring at the princess, and a few bowing. She nodded to those who greeted us and he merely stated "Hello." to everypony that would pay attention to him.
"So, what do you think of Ponyville?" She asked. He thought for a minute then stated simply, "Its nice, quant, and has a friendly population." She smiled as he said this, he smiled in return. She continued to question him of his thoughts and feelings of his surroundings. The town, the people, even once she asked what he thought of her and he stated, "Your majesty; I must say, your beauty, elegance, grace, and kindness is that of which heaven itself couldn't muster and is what words fail to describe." He spoke as if he took pride in his answer. Not to his great surprise, she blushed. Then moved on to smile and say, "You take pride in your words, as you should. Thank you." She beamed at him. She then took a moment to realize where they were. As they turned a corner around a place called, "Sugarcube Corner", she spoke. "I believe Ms. Pinkie has delegated a party for you, this is where it will take place." I took notice that it looked like a gingerbread house with doors and windows that were actually usable. As they turned the corner Celestia nodded at a tree.
This wasn't an ordinary tree. It had a balcony cut out of one of the sides. It also had a few windows, a door with a heart shape symbol on the front, and a lantern for a light source. The lantern was not lit as it was sunrise, 7:00 A.M. EST (Equestrian Standard Time). He and the princess approached the door. She knocked on it three times. A familiar voice answered in reply, "Coming!". But Twilight was not the one too answer, A small young lizard like creature answered the door. As it opened Etherial took notice that it had a purple belly, scales, and spines that were thick green. He had claws on his hands and his feet, he had green eyes, and thick skin. He had never seen this type of creature before and was utterly shocked by its appearance.
"Oh, Princess Celestia." The creature gasped in surprise. "Twilight!" He yelled behind him, "The Princess is here, and she brought a friend." He turned back too face us, "Hey, my name's Spike! What's your's?" He asked Etherial. Etherial replied, "My name is Etherial Dawn, and its a pleasure too meet you Spike." He shook hooves with the creature. His claws were cold as he clasped his hand. Etherial would normally run screaming for the hills. How he kept his composure he hadn't the slightest clue. Once they were done shaking hands a purple unicorn came rushing to the door. Stopped by pressing her hooves hard against the door panes.
"Oh yes, Princess Celestia, Etherial. Come right in!" She gestured inside, lowering her hooves and panting. I took one glance at the princess as she smiled and walked inside. He followed her closely, greeting Twilight as she welcomed me into her home.
Etherial Dawn Book One: Dawn
Author's Note: This chapter is currently being plotted and will be complete and edited by Saturday. Published too explain why the second chapter is taking forever. Sincerely, masterchef227. P.S. Post comments on previous chapters to give me some insight as too what you guys think so far. :)
Etherial walked in, and his hooves were trotting on a wooden floor. Etherial took notice of his surroundings as he entered with the princess. The room was cylindrical with books on either side. Both sides are divided by a set of spiral stairs leading up to an upstairs. The second level had a small bed, that seemed to sway. It had a small blanket and a heart insignia at the base front of it. He guffawed inside his head though only letting out a small chuckle as he thought who slept there. Then he remembered the dragon who let him in. When he chuckled it was met with some confused faces and a question from Ms. Sparkle. "Is something funny Etherial?" She said with a look of confusion. He replied immediately, "None at all Ms. Sparkle, it is a private joke."
This was of course a lie, but she continued to ask, "May I be so enlightened by what exactly is reminiscently humorous about my home?" She was offended, he could tell; it was in her tone. He moved on to say, "Nothing my dear, its just that I remember someone else who lived in a library." This was the wrong thing too say. She then calmed down. "Oh." She spoke plainly, but he knew what was coming next. "Who was it?". He of course knew the librarian at the castle, so he would just use her name. "Her name was Kiandra Quillstar." He stated. He never really knew Kiandra nor anything about her. He didn't find it funny at all that he was reminiscing about his home. In fact he was on the verge of tears. Etherial was very far away from home, in more ways then one. He reminisced about the times he simply spoke too his guard, Rogil, her majesty, Kiandra, Elysia...
He noticed that she was speaking but he didn't pay attention. Then he remembered why he was there, "Shall we get started?" he asked. Twilight looked irritable when he said that. "I had just asked that." She then recomposed and then moved on to say, "Never the less, we shall proceed. Now first I must ask you a series of questions, if this is alright." Etherial nodded his head, and then Princess Celestia spoke, "Twilight, remember what I told you prior too my arrival." the Princess inquired of the mare. She nodded then spoke to the dragon called Spike, "Spike, can you go outside and maybe play with the crusaders or something?" The dragon retorted and whined, "Awe, but Twi I want too stay! I have some questions of my own!" He looked beseeching of the librarian. "Spike, this wasn't a request. Etherial I am sure however can make the final decision. So Etherial can Spike stay and ask you his questions?" The mare put a hoof and put her hair out of her eyes as she spoke. He smirked, though not in the arrogant way so many ponies as he knew did. "Of course, go ahead Spike."
Spike was eager, and he began. "Where are you from? And why were you in the Everfree Forest with Slendermane around?" Etherial simply smiled as he spoke, "I am from a place very far away, and I honestly do not know why I was in the forest. I must have forgotten from heat exhaustion or something." He wasn't entirely being untruthful, but he wasn't exactly telling the whole truth either. The purple dragon continued, "Why is your cutie mark shaped like the sun at dawn?" This was actually a very sophisticated observation. He did not think too little of the dragon now for sleeping in a bed like he did. He thought for a minute then replied, "My cutie mark is of the sun at dawn, as you stated. It is because... well honestly I do not know. I have forgotten quite a bit actually." he simply tilted his head innocently as he lied. He had gotten his cutie mark from when he became king. The cutie mark was a symbol of him being king of the morning, it was the foundation of his whole kingdom. His cutie mark was the flag and insignia of his kingdom, his power, his life, and most importantly what he stood for. Dawn meant the beginning of a new day, he always took every new day like a new start.
How Etherial became king is a different story, and he would rather not talk about it. Then when Celestia's voice spoke he was brought back into the present. "Are you sure? I am quite sure that she should have tested you for things like amnesia and other stuff. I suppose I arrived too early." Amnesia, what a perfect excuse. "Oh, I am sorry I didn't know." He spoke innocently, but then a surge of guilt coursed through his body like a dagger cutting a fine line into his flesh. He did not want to lie too Celestia, Twilight, nor Spike. He had only used lying as a form of amusement, something of a joke or too test others and see if they saw that he was telling the truth or not. Celestia apparently only saw his innocence, yet something about her made him very inclined to feel remorse for what he had just said.
Twilight then spoke, "Alright then Spike, enough with the questions. I had enough trouble telling Pinkie Pie to wait until today at around 8:00 to throw a party for Etherial so don't start on me now. I will see you later Spike." As she mushed him out off the house. She then spoke, "Right, shall we get started then?" she looked at Celestia as she spoke. "We should, and maybe it be best if we explain what it is we are talking about to our new found friend." She smiled at him kindly, looking at him straight in the eye with her own. She was very stunning, and was beautiful almost radiant with the light of the sun. At this description of the alicorn princess he remembered something that threw him off prior. Yes, it was her cutie mark. She had a sun for a cutie mark and apparently had the ability too raise and lower the sun. This must have taken immense power too move a celestial body that big.
"We wish to just ask you a few questions, that's all." Twilight stated, turning away from the end of the room and walking towards him. "I as well, me not really remembering much. Yet curious enough, is this place called Equestria?" Twilight simply nodded. Celestia seemed to be examining him as she spoke, "How old are you? And are you available friday night?" Etherial was taken by surprise, "I am... wait, what are you asking me my dear?" She answered, "I asked how old are you? And if you are available Friday for a royal feast." Etherial understood now, "Oh. Why yes I believe I am. And that is mainly because I forgot any prior obligations I may or may not of had." They both laughed slightly.
Etherial was once again in the presence of royalty, and he must behave his absolute best. He reminisced about royal gatherings and parties and feasts and banquets. It was all fine and dandy and the music was nice, but a lot of the time he would just stick with Rogil, who happened to get him into a lot of trouble at these gatherings. Once Rogil was with him at the banquet for King Goldfire's daughter's wedding. It was a nice celebration and all went well, even Rogil seemed to behave himself. But like all good things, it can't last forever. Rogil then made it his solemn vow to get the address of one of these maids, so they could "Bake cookies" as he put it. Of course Rogil failed miserably by asking out Queen Goldfire herself. He flirted with her and got her a drink.
His hoof was in his face so many times he was turning redder then tomato paste. So then the King walks up to him and asks, "Who is that fine gentlement with my wife the Queen?" Etherial looked sardonically at him and spoke, "Someone you need not worry about." They both laughed. Then they continued to watch as the faithful blacksmith tried to win over the queen. So then he continues to ask, "Are you sure we have nothing to worry about?" He smiled though only slightly. Etherial sighed as he spoke, "My friend, Rogil has about as much a chance with your queen as he does with his own." This was met with booming laughter once again. Then they looked over one more time to see what Rogil was doing. "SMACK!" The queen her majesty smacked him hard across the face. They joined in another joyful chorus of laughter.
Rogil came over to the two stallions and had a defeated look about his face. He had a red hoof mark where the queen had so gracefully decided to smack him as hard as she could. "That was a bit off don't you think?" Etherial chortled with the king at this. Then continued to reply, "I think you were a little more then a bit off don't you think?" The king and Etherial howled with laughter at Etherial's remark. This was met with stares at nearby party guests. "Why are you two laughing so hard? And who's that you are with Etherial?" He was brought back to the present as Celestia spoke. "Well, are you going to answer my questions?" He had almost forgotten that he was suppose to answer.
He remembered her first question, "I don't know sadly my dear, I suppose it is my amnesia." He lied again, and the painstaking guilt returned. "Do you know where Canterlot is?" He assumed it was the place where his old castle once stood, so he just sighed and spoke, "Sadly I do not my dear." For he could not say anymore then this as the guilt intensified even more. He just hoped he could maintain his composure, he had never felt guilt like this ever before in his life.
Celestia smiled, apparently buying into his lies, the literally made tears go into his eyes from the pain. A look of concern spread across the two mares faces, and Twilight was the one to speak. "Are you okay Etherial? What's wrong?" He couldn't answer for if he did the guilt probably would have killed him, yet still he had to say something. "I assume its just the guilt I feel." He didn't know what he was saying, or why. This surely would be a dead giveaway that he was lying to them before, but Twilight continued, "Guilt? About what?" The tears were subsiding and the pain in his throat from the intense guilt was leaving him. He didn't know what to do, or what to say, but he had to tell the truth. He simply smiled as he spoke, "I suppose its guilt I feel from my past." This wasn't a lie apparently as the guilty pain didn't join him. He sighed as he stated, "I just don't know why?" At the time he was thinking of why he would feel such intense guilt, and why it didn't rejoin him previously. Apparently he did feel guilty about something in his past, this would make for a great excuse later on.
He knew they were very vague answers but it was the best he could give them. After all he still didn't trust these ponies, not yet anyways. And he wanted to keep his amnesia story going for as long as possible. He wanted to tell them everything, but something in the back of his head kept nagging at him not to. Twilight continued, "Then why were you crying?" Etherial smiled at this, "I suppose it was tears of joy, for never have I met such kind folk as you my dears." The Princess and her student both blushed and returned to smile. He had not entirely given the truth, and not entirely lied to them either. This must be why guilt hadn't shown up this time; otherwise, he would probably have fainted again.
Celestia was the one to speak this time, "Very well Etherial, my student here can give you directions to Canterlot for the feast. We have it only 4 times a year, on the solstice of every season." She was smiling but Etherial was in complete shock. Apparently, even 10,000 years later they still celebrated the Solstice; however, for them it wasn't a whole festival but a feast. This certainly was something to think about in fact, why wasn't he thinking about it? He was in awe with himself, and literally disillusioned at once. It was 10,000 years belated! He should be panicking, though that would be a dead giveaway. He was very lucky that they even spoke the same language! Etherial was angry with himself, he had forgotten to think about gathering some intelligence on when and where he was. Etherial was clever however, and so he thought of a way to gather intelligence and delude any doubts about his amnesia. He then spoke, "Twilight, would it not be wise to study and see if anything triggers a memory?"
Twilight looked taken a back. Apparently she wasn't expecting a response as intelligent as this from Etherial. "Of course! I was actually going to suggest that for tomorrow." She smiled when she was finished. He replied, "May I ask why not today?" Twilight shrugged, "Pinkie Pie's party." Ah yes, he had almost forgotten about the pony Nurse Red Heart had once told him about. He definitely was intrigued about what kind of attire was required at these events. He figured he would find that out in due time.
His mind focused on studying however, so he moved on to ask, "May I borrow some books that I may read?" He was polite but Twilight grimaced. She must be an intellectual reader, focusing more on logic then drama or entertainment. For Etherial this was quite the opposite. He remembered his days as a young foal reading adventures written by Steel Flames. He was a famous pony writer who told tales of fantastic adventures. Thinking of this now, made him homesick. His nostalgia was ephemeral however, as the unicorn responded. "Why of course you can? I recommend A History of Equestria, Myths, Legends, and Theories of ancient Equestria, and maybe a foal's tale. I think if you have read one when you were a foal it should bring back some memories." The first two books make sense for one if they had attended school and had been educated. This would bring back memories of school and possibly festivals and why they were celebrated.
She was very logical in coming to these conclusions, yet the foal's stories he would not indulge in lest he find time in between his studies. He was of course lying about his amnesia, for he had a perfect memory of who he was and where he came from. Its just how he got here and why, (if there was one) that he is clueless about. He somehow felt that the amnesia story would be quite inadequate if he did not play the part. So he decided to read the foal's stories, maybe they would be interesting.
Celestia spoke, "Twilight, I should take my leave. Unfortunately Luna has requested my presence, and I have been belaying my arrival in an effort to help our friend here." She gestured towards Etherial. Twilight was busy browsing the libraries, yet with a bow she spoke, "My princess please do not let us keep you waiting. I will tend to Etherial." She lifted up her head, and opened the door via magic for the alicorn princess. Celestia smiled, took a slight bow at both of us, and turned to walk out the door. When the door closed, signaled by the ring of a small bell, Etherial decided to ask for the foal's stories.
"What are the titles of the foal's stories may I ask?" Twilight responded, "Oh, just some of the more popular tales. I think I would have you read a couple. Let me think." She put a hoof up to her mouth and gazed apparently thinking hard. Eventually after a moments silence she spoke. "Ah yes, "The Tale of Nightmare Moon" and "Blazes Apples". These are both popular foal stories that should trigger some memories, and if not... well we have plenty of books as you can well tell." She gestured with her hoof around the room.
Etherial wasn't accustomed to speaking so much. He thoroughly enjoyed company; however, this wasn't as common as he would like. His guard remained silent unless he spoke, and they weren't much for conversation. The castle didn't receive many guests, as even visiting dignitaries weren't common. He should have made time for more parties and feasts yet sadly, being a king meant mainly that he signed acts and laws needing to be passed. It was very dull work, and he mostly did it alone. If he ever gets back, he will make the necessary changes to accompany his newfound desires.
Twilight spoke, "Etherial, I am done collecting the books. I think these should help trigger your memory." She was levitating a stack of about 20 books. When the aura disappeared around them, they crashed onto Etherial. The weight of which was immense, crushing him. "Ouch!" He managed to let out, with the books crushing his figure. "Oops! Sorry!" And with that, the ton of books that used to be on him, was floating in air yet again. "I got distracted by this book, here." She levitated one of the books from the stack toward him. He held out a hoof, and caught it. He looked at the title and read aloud, "The Remembrance of Celestia?"
He looked at Twilight who was organizing the books. While books were organizing themselves, she looked at Etherial. Then she sighed and looked outward, apparently reminiscing the time when she either first read the book, or when she first received it. After a moment or so she answered his inquiry, "It's a tale, unlike any other. From when Celestia was a lot younger. It tells the story of how she became the Princess of Equestria, through a series of many tales." She levitated a stack of books onto a table, and began writing on a piece of parchment. He was curious to know in particular why she had chosen the story, but he assumed he would find that out once he began reading.
He looked again at the title, the author's name was Bronze Flames. Wait, Flames? Etherial looked puzzled, Flames was the last name of the author of his favorite foalhood story. So, this Bronze Flames must be a descendant of Steel Flames. The family wasn't famous for being authors, yet, that was back in his time. This was 10,000 years after, so maybe the lineage is famous for that now. He asked Twilight, "Flames, is that name significant?" She replied, "Oh why yes actually. The Flames family has been known for writing for thousands of years. They claim that the trait goes down the lineage quite a ways. Of course, there is little known evidence to back it up, other then the supposed name of the first author in the family." She wave a hoof in the air dismissing it. "What was the supposed name may I ask?" She thought for a moment then spoke, "I believe they say its some ancient pony by the name of Steel Flames. Hmm, I highly doubt that its true though. That would be remarkable, because any record of any ancient ponies have been lost in the ancient Canterlot Catacombs..." She sighed, "I would love to get my hooves on a manifest of the ancient ponies."
That explains why the ponies didn't know who he was, or he supposed, who he used to be... "Of course, Discord would probably know. He is as ancient as can be..." She sighed, "Yet, I don't know a pony stupid enough to try. It's not like he would talk even if he did know anything." This was a shock to Etherial, how could he have forgotten? Discord, that evil being of pure chaos. He knew him, and doubted that Discord would ever forget him, no matter how many millennia went by.
Though he doubted he had anything to worry about, as Twilight stated no pony was stupid enough to try and free Discord. He must still be a stone statue, even after all these years. "Discord? Who now?" He asked with false intent. "Oh yes, I have forgotten." He laughed, "Well so have I my dear." They both laughed at his joke. It was a calming environment, peaceful. He seemed comfortable talking with Ms. Sparkle. After the laughter had subsided, she spoke. "Discord is an ancient and evil being, who is currently taking up resident at Canterlot Castle, a solid statue."
(I published this incompleted, because the story is cancelled. )
