The Legend of Bucephoron

It only took Bucephoron a day to reach the cave where he had gotten his cutie mark. He climbed up the rocky cliff to the entrance and drank from the stream. The flowing water was as crisp as he remembered it. He looked up from the entrance into the sky. The sky was perfectly clear. Bucephoron realized that it had not rained since he had found the cave. In fact, he could only remember a few days since his exile that he had seen a single cloud in the sky.

For a time Bucephoron slept in the cave and only ventured out to forage. He had come to enjoy the cave. In a strange way it had become like a home to him, and drinking from the stream always gave Bucephoron a sense of accomplishment that he was reaping what he had created with his own four hooves.

At night Bucephoron would sit at the entrance to the cave and stare out at the forest and the night sky. The soft light shone white on the cave floor, illuminating Bucephoron’s white coat against the darkness further inward. Looking out onto the tranquility and beauty of the night comforted Bucephoron. He cleared his mind of the lingering shame and doubt that had returned after he fled Nimbus for the second time.

But soon Bucephoron grew lonely with nopony else around. As the days dragged on, he would spend longer walking down the path, hoping to pass by a traveler or wandering merchant. He longed for anypony to talk to.

One night, Bucephoron sat alone at the mouth of the cave looking up at the moon. Bucephoron looked out into the moonlit sky and sighed. By now he had seen this view of the forest dozens of times, and it no longer gave him comfort. Now the scene only emphasized how lonely Bucephoron had become with nopony to share it with. He looked down at the stream. His reflection stared back with weary eyes. He sighed yet again and dipped his head down to drink from the stream. While other nights the crisp taste of the water helped to clear his thoughts, this night it only clouded them with visions of his failure. Bucephoron slinked back into the darkness of the cave and lay down to sleep. His mind continued to churn with loneliness and doubt.

He lay on the stone floor looking out toward the entrance. Even though he closed his eyes and tried to drift off several times, he could not sleep. Bucephoron’s thoughts troubled him, and while attempting to fall asleep he sought a way to get rid of them. After hours of thinking, Bucephoron resolved that the only way he could rid himself of his current depression was to leave the cave and wander elsewhere. The cave, while familiar, now reminded Bucephoron more of his exile than as the place where he got his cutie mark. He had not even used his talent in the past month! With the resolution to leave the cave the next day, Bucephoron finally dozed off to sleep.

Bucephoron rolled over onto his back and felt the warmth of the rising sun on his belly. He scratched his chest with a hoof and stretched as he woke. Only after another five minutes of staring lazily out at the horizon did Bucephoron remember his resolution from the night before. He quickly rolled onto his side and stood up. Judging by his foraging trips, he would need to get an early start if he wanted to reach any other towns by nightfall. Bucephoron drank from the stream and ate the grass and nuts left over from the previous day, then rummaged around the cave for his saddlebags. He picked them up and put them on his back over his armor. The saddlebags had long been empty and felt light on his back as he pulled the strap tight. Bucephoron stepped carefully out of the cave and down the slope to the path. He took one last look at the cave, his cave, and strode off down the path.

The path away from Nimbus led north, deeper into the forest. Bucephoron trotted at a faster than usual gait. Since he wasn’t foraging, he didn’t need to keep an eyes on the trees and bushes beside the path, and this way he could go further than he had ever explored. Bucephoron kept down the wooded path as it wound through the forest. As the shadows of the treetops receded and the sun approached its zenith, Bucephoron came to a point on a riverbank where the path branched off in two directions. One path headed northwest following the river toward the mountains, while the other path crossed over the river to the northeast. Bucephoron stood at the riverbank undecided on which way to go for several minutes. However, something in his gut was telling him to take the left path. Bucephoron shrugged and trotted off parallel to the river. He looked along the riverbank. The riverbed was wide, but the water level seemed very low. The river gurgled as it flowed over large exposed stones in the riverbed. Bucephoron slowed up as he continued onward, taking in the pleasant noises of the forest.

Bucephoron continued walking at a more leisurely pace for another hour before the path crossed the river at a wooden bridge and kept north. Soon the trees thinned out and the forest disappeared to reveal a great open plain. The hills and mountains of the far north rose abruptly along the horizon. Their perpetually snow-capped peaks shone bright white against the bright blue of the sky. The peak of Mount Helicon rose high above the others. Bucephoron kept north, and within minutes he began sweating under the hot metal armor. He pressed onward. After another hour and a half the walls of a town came into view as Bucephoron went over the top of a small rise. His heart leapt. The promise of hearing and speaking to ponies again spurred him on, and he galloped toward the stone walls of the town.

As he neared the town, he slowed as he saw a group of three armored ponies standing outside the gate ahead. They were all sitting beneath the shadow of the wall leaning up against it. As Bucephoron approached, a large earth pony with a coat of red ochre stood up wearily and walked toward him. “Halt, who goes there?”

Bucephoron removed his helmet and told them his name.

“What is the reason for your armor?” The guard pointed at Bucephoron’s barding. Bucephoron grinned sheepishly. He had almost forgotten about it.

“Oh, that. I assure you I am no military stallion. I come from Nimbus. The armor was merely to protect me from any dangers in the forest.”

The guard stroked his chin. “From Nimbus you say? Curious. You are the second pony in as many days to have come from there.”

Bucephoron’s was shocked. He could remember few ponies who ever left Nimbus, let alone who would travel this far away from the village. “What?”

The guard replied, “Yes, another pegasus like yourself in fact. A mare, grey coated and with a pale blue mane and tail. Why, is she a fugitive or something?” the guard chuckled.

Bucephoron shrank at the mention of fugitives. “N-no,” he said. “Look, may I enter or not?” His mind was racing.

The guard looked flustered. “Oh, yes, of course. I’m sorry for all the fuss. It’s just such a curiosity to have two ponies arriving from Nimbus.” Bucephoron nodded. “Welcome to Tritopolis,” the guard said smiling as he stepped aside. Bucephoron walked through the gate, but he was still thinking on what the guard had said. The guard’s description was an exact description of Graupel.

Bucephoron walked through the streets and alleys of Tritopolis trying to find the other pony from Nimbus. Trtiopolis was still a small town, but compared to Nimbus it was a veritable metropolis and Bucephoron got lost several times. The streets of Tritopolis were not simple dirt paths but had been paved with smooth stones. His hooves clacked as he walked down the main street. Other ponies nudged past as Bucephoron moved purposefully through the crowds. He craned his neck to get a better view. Most of the ponies were earth ponies, Bucephoron noticed.

After walking to a wide plaza at what he thought was the center of town, he caught a glimpse of a light blue tail swishing around a corner onto a sidestreet. Bucephoron made his way closer to the edge of the plaza out of the general flow of the crowd and ducked down the same passageway. Finally out of the crowd, Bucephoron eyed his surroundings. The passageway was short and led to a dead end. It was also deserted. However, Bucephoron noticed a door in the two story building at the end of the street. His stomach lurched with every step he took toward the door. He had been so wrapped up in seeing Graupel again that he never really considered what he would say when he met her.

Suddenly he remembered he was still wearing her armor, and that he had left her knocked out. What had happened to her? Was she exiled as well, and was that why she had come to Tritopolis? If she had been exiled, her first reaction to meeting Bucephoron again would probably be to return the buck to his face. Bucephoron stood at the door mulling over how he would approach Graupel for so long he didn’t notice when a mare stuck her head out of the second story window and called to him.

“Oi, what’re you standing in front of the door for?” the old mare yelled down at him. Bucephoron didn’t react. He was still lost in thought. “Hey lad, I’m talking to ya! Yer ears working?” Bucephoron still didn’t respond. Suddenly he was knocked from his thoughts when a horseshoe collided with the side of his head. He clutched the impact point with a hoof and winced as he looked up.

“Ow, what was that for?” he yelled up at the mare.

“I was tryin’ ta get yer attention. Worked, didn’t it?” the mare winked at him. “Now then, whaddya doin’ standing around like that?”

Bucephoron blinked. “Oh. I’m looking for a mare that I thought went down this street.” Bucephoron gave a description of Graupel.

The old mare thought for a second. “Hm. Well I didn’t see her come this way, but she might be in the tavern.” The mare pointed at a sign hanging above the door. It had a green lyre in the center that was flanked by two stylized wheat stalks. Bucephoron nodded and thanked the mare. He opened the door and stepped into the tavern.

The tavern was modest, and walled by white stone worn smoother than the exterior of the building. A light green unicorn stood behind the bar at the far end of the room. She waved at Bucephoron as he walked in. “Hello, fine stallion, and welcome to the Lyram Viridi!” Bucephoron was taken aback. He was not expecting the barmare to have such a perky personality. He smiled and returned her greeting and walked toward the bar. As he crossed the room, he heard a shout from the right side of the tavern.

“There you are!” Bucephoron turned toward where the shout was coming from. He saw Graupel walking down the stairs from the inn on the second story.

Bucephoron looked startled. “Me? You were looking for me?”

“Yes,” she replied coolly. He noticed her usual smirk had returned to Graupel’s lips after the brief shock at seeing him. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“You have?” Bucephoron blinked and his ears went flat. In that moment he could not decide if it was good or bad, but figured it was safer to assume bad “Why?” Bucephoron said warily, ears still against his head.

Graupel trotted over to him. “Well you kicked me in the face and took my barding, for one.” Right, Bucephoron thought as he looked down and realized he was still wearing Graupel’s chest guard. “Anyway, that’s not why I’m here,” Graupel continued with a slightly softer tone. She motioned for them to sit at a nearby table.

“Look,” Bucephoron held up a hoof and frowned, “I just want to get something clear right now. You came all the way here to find me, so it must be something important. So I’m guessing I’m either being allowed to return to Nimbus, or Tyrannus has decided that I should be executed or something. So which is it because if you’re here to arrest me, I will fight again and this time, I’m the one who’s more protected.” Bucephoron felt his latent anger bubbling up again as he spoke and pounded on the bronze chest guard.

Graupel shook her head. “It’s neither of those. I’m here on official business but it doesn’t involve you. I came to find you because... because I wanted to apologize. Graupel sighed. “Now can we sit and talk?”

Graupel’s sudden apology left Bucephoron unable to form a response He just nodded and the two pegasi sat down. The unicorn barmaid called over to them cheerfully, “So do you two want anything?” Her perkiness and Graupel’s unexpected apology completely dissipated any anger that was left in Bucephoron. He waved the barmaid away but Graupel spoke up.

“Get me a hefeweizen,” she called looking up. “By the alicorns I’ll need it,” she grumbled to herself. The barmare brought the foamy mug over with her magic and set it on the table. Graupel tossed her some coins and took a gulp from the mug before she spoke again. “When you came back to Nimbus, I first assumed you were a pompous fool. But by the time you bucked me at the end of that day, I could see how desperate you were. And I pitied you, trying so hard to redeem yourself. But I started noticing things after that day. The drought’s kept on getting worse. We’ve had no rain since you ran away again, and the water stores are getting low. Tyrannus tries to deny it, but the fact is that Nimbus is going to run out of fresh water for the crops soon. And then I realized something. You didn’t just want to find the spring for yourself. You wanted to find it for all of Nimbus, didn’t you?”

Bucephoron listened to Graupel’s speech in between her gulping down more of her drink. As she went on, he realized that she was right. A big part of his return was to redeem himself, true, but he slowly realized that some part of him had also wanted to provide water to Nimbus. He thought of his father and mother still in the village, and of the plight that they were now facing and worried. He even thought about the other foals who used to torment him and felt sorry for them. Nopony should have had to starve and suffer like that. There had to be something that could be done.

He watched Graupel through her entire speech and looked solemnly into her eyes after she finished. “Graupel, I promise if there is something I can do to help Nimbus I will find it.” Bucephoron pounded a hoof on the table to emphasize his conviction.

Graupel smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. It was the same conviction that she had seen Bucephoron display at Nimbus. With that drive and determination, Graupel was sure that Bucephoron would find some way to help Nimbus.

The barmaid interrupted the two ponies as she came over to the table. “Anything else I can get you?” the mare asked. Graupel ordered another beer and the mare took her mug away. Bucephoron asked for one too and sipped at it after the barmaid had brought it over.

They sat in the tavern for a while, nursing their drinks. The conversation drifted to smaller talk of how Nimbus was faring and what Bucephoron had been up to. After an hour had passed, Bucephoron brought up a matter that was nagging at him.

“But Graupel, what brought you to Tritopolis in the first place?”

“No, actually. I was sent by Tyrannus to barter for some food from the neighboring towns. I just figured that I might look for you while I was here on the off chance you were here.”

Bucephoron blushed and turned away to look out the window. As he did, he noticed the sun was getting pretty low in the sky. His mind turned to more practical matters.

He called the barmaid over as he took another sip from the mug. “Excuse me, miss, is there an inn near here that I could-” he was cut short as the green unicorn started chattering.

“Oh, certainly, there’s actually an inn right upstairs. Prices for rooms are very reasonable and it’s got lots of open space right now,” the mare said quickly. Bucephoron thanked the unicorn, partially to cease her bubbly chatter. The barmaid bowed and walked over to assist another patron.

“I actually just finished getting a room in the inn when you walked into the tavern,” Graupel said. “If you want I can see if they’ll lay out another straw bed in my room if you can’t pay for your own.”

Bucephoron rummaged through his saddlebags and brought out all the bits he had. A measly three bits clattered onto the table. The barmaid sauntered over. “Oh goody, that’ll be just enough to take care of your drinks.” She walked back to the bar. Bucephoron lowered his head and gave a sheepish smile. Living in the cave for so long, he had forgotten about needing money.

“Thanks.” Bucephoron let out a nervous laugh. Graupel smiled warmly at him, this time only slightly from pity. They continued sipping their drinks into the night. When they had finished, the barmaid took their mugs and they went upstairs to the inn. Graupel got the old mare running the inn to bring more straw into her room. Bucephoron set up a bed across the room from Graupel’s and the two pegasi quickly went to sleep.

As the two pegasi went upstairs, the barmaid continued to man the tavern. As it was now past dark, there was only one customer remaining in the establishment. It was a salmon colored unicorn. The mare wore a thick cloak that draped down to the base of her tail. The barmare went to the patron as she sipped the last of her drink. “Would ya like anything else?” The barmare asked cheerfully. The other unicorn shook her head, staying quiet as she mumbled a response and placed two bits on the table. The barmare frowned and gave her a concerned look, but took the bits and the cup and walked back over to the bar. The salmon unicorn uttered a quiet thank you, donned the hood of her cloak, and walked out into the cold night.

She walked through the quiet dimly lit streets of Tritopolis until reaching the north gate. Silently she walked out of the gate, nodding to the guards as she passed. The mare continued north on the path for a few miles until she was out of sight of Tritopolis. There, she doffed her hood and her horn glowed with a pink aura. Engulfed in magic, the unicorn’s coat lightened from its salmon color to a soft pink, her horn extended, and wings formed at her sides in a flash of white light. Nertia, now having removed her magical disguise, removed the cloak and took off into the cool air with a beat of her wings.

The alicorn flew up and back to Mount Helicon where she and the other alicorns lived. Nertia landed at the mouth of the cave high atop the peak that formed the entrance to the mountain’s chambers. Nertia entered the entrance hall and was stopped by a black figure.

“Is he the one?” The figure stepped out of the light into the natural soft low that pervaded the hall. It was a black male alicorn, with a pale yellow mane and tail that sparked as it billowed. A lightning bolt cutie mark stuck out brightly on his otherwise dark flank. His deep voice echoed around the chamber even as he whispered.

“Yes, he has proven himself to have great determination. And his heart is most certainly in the right place.” Nertia walked over to the black alicorn. The two walked down another hallway to a room on the edge of the mountain. They gazed out over the landscape. Small villages showed as small flickers amid the forests and plains before them.

“Do you think we are making the right decision?” The black alicorn asked.

Nertia turned to him. “I do, Fulgur.”

“But the others here, they oppose the plan. My own sister opposes it.” Fulgur’s head dipped. “Sometimes it is enough to make me doubt.”

Nertia put a hoof on Fulgur’s shoulder. “I have heard your arguments with Bronte. But it is necessary. We cannot continue to deny the ponies out there the ability to care for themselves. We are letting them suffer out of selfish greed, a lust to hold onto a power that should be free to all. If the others do not see this, then we must show them.”

Fulgur smiled and looked at the pink alicorn. “You are right Nertia. We are doing this for the good of all ponies.” The two sat and looked out upon the great hills and valleys below.

The light of the morning sun shone harshly through the window into the room. It bathed the walls in a bright glow, and as Bucephoron awoke the white penetrated the interior of his closed eyelids. Bucephoron shielded his eyes with a leg and rolled over as he abruptly awoke from his slumber. “Ugh, can’t somepony turn off the sun for just a bit longer?” Bucephoron whined face down in the straw.

Graupel, who was already wide awake and sitting on her bed, stifled a giggle. “What, ten hours of sleep isn’t good enough for you?”

Bucephoron begrudgingly lifted his head slightly and looked at her. “I’ve been sleeping in a cave. This is the best night’s sleep I’ve had in months.” Bucephoron lay on the straw for another few seconds before grunting and slowly lifting his body up onto his hooves. The two pegasi went down to the tavern together and had a small breakfast of apple slices and cheese. Graupel paid for the meal just as she had paid for the room. They went back up to the room and Graupel began putting on her saddlebags. “You’re leaving already?” Bucephoron asked.

Graupel turned to him. “Yes. Tyrannus will want me getting back to Nimbus as soon as possible. I still need to go get a cartful of oats to send back.”

“Oh, okay,” Bucephoron frowned. Graupel was one of the first ponies Bucephoron had seen in months and the first pony since fleeing Nimbus that he had any sort of acquaintance with. The prospect of further loneliness reared its ugly head in Bucephoron’s mind at the thought of Graupel going back to Nimbus. He desperately wanted to just spend more time with her. But deep down, beyond the loneliness, he recalled the conversation the two pegasi had the night before. If he was going to bring help to Nimbus, he would need to focus completely on his goal. His frown hardened into a steady expression of determination.

Graupel smiled warmly at Bucephoron’s hardened expression. She trotted over to Bucephoron and put a hoof on his shoulder to comfort him. He smiled briefly at her touch. Her hoof moved up Bucephoron’s neck to caress his chin. “Look, I know what you’re capable of, and you’re the only pony I know who has a chance at solving Nimbus’ problems. Tyrannus’s plan has just been to send out ponies like me to get short-term food supplies. But that isn’t going to last us forever, and from what I’ve heard walking through these streets Tritopolis is feeling the effects of the drought as well. We need a true solution and I know you’re our best chance of finding it.”

“Thank you Graupel,” Bucephoron smiled. Just like the night before, she had given him further resolve and confidence. “I promise that I will return one day with some way to get Nimbus through the drought.”

Graupel smiled and finished getting her things all ready for her return trek. She helped put Bucephoron’s saddlebags on his back before replying. “And I promise that I will always be waiting for you.” Graupel gave Bucephoron a quick peck on his cheek before turning and heading to the doorway. Bucephoron’s face went flush and his wings flapped twice involuntarily. She turned back in the doorway one last time and smirked before trotting down the stairs of the inn.

Bucephoron stood alone in the middle of the room slackjawed for a few minutes. After his heartbeat returned to normal, Bucephoron shook his head. He had not realized that Graupel cared this much about him. Now he certainly could not risk returning to Nimbus empty-hooved. He reached down and gave the strap on his saddlebag a quick pull with his mouth until it was tight around his middle. With a steady gait, Bucephoron walked down the stairs, waved cheerily to the barmare, and left the Lyram Vindi.

Bucephoron got as far as the central plaza of Tritopolis before he realized that he had absolutely no clue on where he should be going next. He milled around the plaza before deciding that he would continue to the north away from the town. However, as Bucephoron went along the main street toward the north gate, he noticed a crowd was moving in the same direction. Curious, Bucephoron asked the nearest pony where the crowd was going.

The stallion scoffed at Bucephoron. “Don’t you know? Khresmoi is giving consultations tomorrow.”

Bucephoron was bemused. “Who is Khresmoi?” He raised an eyebrow.

The stallion’s eyes widened in shock. “You mean you have never heard of Khresmoi? She is only the most important unicorn in all the land! Khresmoi is an oracle, bringing us the wisdom of the alicorn Nertia herself!”

Bucephoron jumped at the mention of Nertia’s name. If these consultations were truly coming from the alicorn, he could find out directly from her where his path to greatness should lead him, and how to save Nimbus! Bucephoron started to run off following the crowd, but he caught himself and instead asked the pony a brief question. “Um, where can I find Khresmoi?”

“Her sanctuary is thirty miles northwest of Tritopolis, at the foot of Mount Parneighssus.” Bucephoron thanked the stallion for his information, and before the stallion could return his thanks, Bucephoron was galloping off through the crowd toward the north gate.

Bucephoron squeezed his way through the crowd at the gate and started down the path leading from Tritopolis. Beyond the cluster of ponies still in Tritopolis he found himself wading through a long stream of ponies on their way to see Khresmoi and the oracle. This was difficult, as Bucephoron was still fairly small. He had grown in the long time since he’d been exiled, but most ponies were still half a head taller than him. After pushing his way through a number of ponies and receiving a few angry looks, Bucephoron moved off to the side of the path and galloped briskly alongside the slow-moving traffic.

After going for two miles, the stream of ponies on their pilgrimage had thinned out and Bucephoron had caught up to those who had gotten an early start. His gait slowed and he panted heavily, sidling up next to an earth pony. The pony looked Bucephoron up and down. “Why’re you wearing out your hooves on this trail? If you’re that eager to get to Khresmoi so quick you should just fly over there.” The pony nodded to himself and pointed to Bucephoron’s wings.

Bucephoron gulped and caught his breath. After a few seconds, he spoke again. “I... I can’t fly. My wings... they’re too small.” Bucephoron was still panting a bit and took a canteen out of his saddlebag. The water, which he had gathered from his spring back in the cave, was still as refreshing as when he had tasted it back at the cave. Bucephoron was unsure if this was a product of his thirst or of the water but at the moment he didn’t care. He tilted his head back and filled his mouth with the cool liquid. Swallowing felt good as the coldness of the water rushed through his body.

The earth pony had turned back to the path and was looking straight ahead. Bucephoron’s ears perked up as he heard the pony mumbling, “What kind of pegasus can’t fly? It ain’t right.” Bucephoron’s ears went flat against his head as a familiar feeling rose in his gut. He scowled at the stranger.

Bucephoron tried to calm himself down. He took another sip from his canteen and the water helped satisfy him as it rushed through his body. Bucephoron also reminded himself that it was only a matter of time before he was no longer looked down upon. Nertia believed in him. Even more, Graupel believed in him despite witnessing his desperation and failure. Once they reached Mount Parneighssus he would get Khresmoi and Nertia’s advice and prove them wrong. Bucephoron held his head up and smiled. His pace quickened slightly as he calmed.

It was another sixty miles to the base of the mountain. Bucephoron kept pace with the lead ponies in the group of pilgrims and reached Mount Parneighssus at nightfall. From where the ponies began making camp, Bucephoron could see a circular structure with columns on the edge and a low sloping roof a ways up in the hills. That must be where Khresmoi made her predictions. In the cool night a light glowed from within the structure, along with occasional curls of steam or smoke. Bucephoron looked around at the other ponies who were arriving. They were all laying out straw mats to sleep on for the night. With no bed of his own, Bucephoron walked a small distance from the cluster of other ponies and settled himself down in the dirt. It was softer than the hard rock that he had slept on in the cave, but it was still uncomfortable. He sighed. It didn’t matter. Bucephoron was aching everywhere from the hike from Tritopolis, so he settled his head on the ground and closed his eyes.

Three hours later, a wooden staff embedded itself in the ground next to Bucephoron’s face with a clunk and his eyes jolted open. Bucephoron groaned. Wearily he lifted his head slightly and turned to look where the clunk came from. The staff had punched a neat round hole in the dirt. Behind it Bucephoron saw a set of three yellow-green hooves illuminated by the moonlight. He slowly craned his head upward following the staff. The missing hoof was holding the staff in place. Beyond it was the wrinkled old face of a unicorn mare. Despite the tired look of her face, Bucephoron felt a chill run through him when he looked into the mare’s eyes. The irises were red as blood and she was staring intently at him.

“Are you,” the old mare spoke slowly, “Bucephoron?”

Bucephoron was fixated on the two red eyes. It felt like they were staring deep into him, through him into the very heart of his being. He silently nodded.

“Good. Come with me,” The mare rest the staff on her shoulder and extended a hoof to pull Bucephoron up. Bucephoron felt like he was in a daze, unsure whether he was still dreaming. But he got to his hooves. He looked around at the other ponies camping out on the plain. They were all still asleep. When Bucephoron turned back to the mare she was already starting slowly up the hill, using her staff to steady herself. Bucephoron began following her, but froze as he noticed that her hooves were not making any noise against the path at all. Was this another dream? Unsure, he quickened his pace to catch up with the old mare.

Bucephoron guessed that the mare was the oracle. It would explain her knowledge of his name and her eerie appearance in the middle of the night. But why had she sought him out? As they walked up the hill, he bluntly asked the unicorn if she was Khresmoi. She nodded solemnly. Khresmoi’s silence made Bucephoron’s questioning seem awkward, so he remained quiet for the rest of the walk.

They arrived at the entrance to the temple. Khresmoi picked up her staff and nudged the door open. Bucephoron craned his neck to look inside where the oracle practiced her predictions. The inside was brightly lit with candles and torches around the walls, but the amount of smoke that billowed out of the doorway obscured his view. Almost instantly a sharp acrid smell hit his nostrils. He covered his muzzle with a hoof and coughed.

“What is that?” Bucephoron said around his hoof. Khresmoi shot Bucephoron a look that made Bucephoron shrink before turning back to the door. She took a deep breath, taking in the sulphurous smell of the temple’s interior.

“The smoke arises naturally from the earth at this spot, much like the springs which you dig up.” Bucephoron’s gut knotted for a moment. Another piece of information about him she had no way of knowing. “The vapors help clear my mind to commune directly with Nertia.” Khresmoi cocked her head slightly and cast a knowing glance at Bucephoron with one eye. Even in the soft shade of the night Khresmoi’s blood-red eyes stood out and made Bucephoron feel uneasy. “Nertia was the one who told me about you.” It was as if Khresmoi could sense the questions about her running through Bucephoron’s mind. She turned back to the open doorway and set a hoof over the threshold of the doorway. “She said there was something I that I should convey to you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must confer with Nertia. You may wait out here for my return.” Khresmoi entered the temple and shut the door. The soft click of the door resonated for a moment before the silence of the night returned.

Bucephoron sat at the side of the path staring intently at the temple door. All thoughts of sleep had disappeared from his mind as he thought about what Nertia could possibly want to tell him. Bucephoron hoped Khresmoi and by extension Nertia would tell him where to go on his journey, because he had no plan whatsoever. Any guidance or direction would help him right now. He waited for what felt like hours.

At least Bucephoron heard a creak from the door of the temple. He stood up and leaned toward the door as Khresmoi exited the temple, smoke pouring out of the doorway around her. She walked up to Bucephoron. Bucephoron’s eyes shimmered against the light coming from the temple as Khresmoi stood in front of him He was about to let the burning question loose from his lips, but Khresmoi silenced him. This particular prediction, she explained, could not simply be told. The act of relaying Nertia’s message was done through her magic.

Khresmoi’s horn glowed with a bright blue aura. She closed her eyes and her mane billowed like a flame the same color of the aura around her horn. When Khresmoi’s eyes opened, they had gone from the piercing blood-red to a pure white. Her voice boomed as she spoke. “Rise, Bucephoron! You must rise and reach higher above the earth than any pegasus has before! Only there will you find the solution to your woes.”

Bucephoron merely watched in awe. It was as if Nertia was speaking directly through Khresmoi to him.

The light that appeared to be radiating directly from Khresmoi’s mane faded, as did the aura around her horn. She blinked and her eyes regained their blood-red irises. It took a moment for Khresmoi to fully return to her previous self, but as soon as she saw Bucephoron she snapped back. She had Bucephoron repeat Nertia’s message to her to ensure that he had received it. “Good. Now go.” With little fanfare Khresmoi slowly made her way back up to the temple.