The White Shadow Chronicles

Candles burned in a circle around the alicorn. The shadows in the wall danced around her, creeping about in their own dark ecstasy.  The alicorn, Star Struck, glared her solid golden eyes into the darkness in front of her, and began to speak in Latin:

“Omnes Ave Gloriosae Nocte

Venite ad me tua fervida ater

Loquere ad me sine fuga

Iuro enim Nyx ego pugnant”

A shimmering image of a beautiful mare appeared surrounded by darkness. Her gleaming white eyes buried into Star Struck’s soul, leading her to tremble with fear but also excitement. The mare, another alicorn, gleamed at Star Struck’s presence.  “You are here. Good, we can begin the ceremony now.” She flashed her black horn at Star Struck’s body.

Star Struck rested herself on the barren rock she had been standing on. Her pregnant stomach was grossly enlarged. She was going into labor right there. The candles flickered and everything went dark. Star Struck took a deep breath and pushed. The black mare watched and helped her. Star Struck looked up at the night sky, tears from the agony in her eyes. Nearby, her husband watched.

Aster was not allowed in any way to participate in this amazing event. Wizards like him were not permitted to participate in any affairs of mares giving birth-only other mares were. To him, it was pure horseshit. He had begged his wife to help her when their child arrived, but she called him a blasphemous old fart.

Aster and Star Struck were a witch-wizard couple of a religious cult hidden in the Everfree forest. The religious cult of witches and wizards was divided by whom they had the most respect for, in Houses, also called Chapels, each belonging to a spiritual deity they, as a cult, believed in-

• Eos, the spirit of the day

• Nyx, the spirit of the night

• Novula, the spirit of creation

• Eris, the spirit of chaos

• Harmonia, the spirit of harmony

Aster and Star Struck were Head Wizard and Head Witch of the House of Nyx.  All they basically did was head sermons or songs about how wonderful Nyx was. And oversee training of the witches’ apprentices. Star Struck was heavily devoted to her faith. Aster, however, was not.

Aster hated the orthodox means his wife had taken in this faith. All she talked about was Nyx: “Nyx being supreme ruler” “Nyx is the best spirit ever” and other nonsense. He wished they could talk as a married couple. She never said to him she loved him, at least not since their wedding.  She refused to back him up when the elder witches of the House insulted him or called him blasphemous. Okay, maybe Aster didn’t sing to Nyx or pray to her. Still, he spent his time casting spells, reading and researching magic, and all other aspects of witchcraft. He clearly didn’t feel it necessary to sign and dance to the night sky.

Aster watched the black strange mare help his wife and finally withdraw the baby, who let out little, innocent cries. He smiled. Their new child was a filly. She looked absolutely perfect in every way. She had a white blonde mane and her coat was diamond white. And the most exciting feature of hers-her rainbow prism eyes. She was blindingly beautiful.

The black mare studied her. “I suspect much from this young filly…nothing good of her to come, though.” Star Struck looked up at her in shock. “What do you mean, my Lady?” she asked as she cuddled the child in her arms. The black mare looked up from the child and into Star’s eyes. “I warn you…take care of this young filly, or she’ll go down the wrong path.” Aster stepped forward. “When you say the wrong path, it doesn’t necessarily mean the worst path. She might become a military leader. Or a queen. She doesn’t have to be a witch if she doesn’t want to.” The black mare glared at him with mild hatred. “Watch your tongue, Aster. She must become a witch and she will enjoy it.” Aster was about to protest, but held back. Star Struck looked at her daughter warmly. “You will be the best witch in the entire forest…to serve Nyx through and through…”

Aster rolled his eyes. He actually wanted to care for and respect his daughter, not follow his own selfish desires for her to follow. The stallion walked over to his new baby daughter, and licked her on the head. ‘I’ll teach you what’s proper, my dear..you will become what you want to be…’ he thought to himself. ‘I won’t let Star Struck or this mare tell me or you otherwise…’

He left the room. The black mare rose and vanished into the sky-the night, she thought, gleefully, would rise again.