AN: Kept you waiting huh? No? Okay then.
Something New and Old
'Thump'. "Uugggggghh."
The princess was having another bad session today, it seemed.
Quiet-Moon-Stone- Ahem, Sir Moonstone as he was known now - smiled in sympathy beneath his helm as Princess Gleaming Pearl dropped her head into the weathered scroll before her, groaning in frustration. It had been the third such reaction this morning to the writings, and he was pretty sure it wasn't to be the last.
The old kin shifted from his position near the stone door, armor clanking and groaning as he readjusted his position and moved from one paw to another. Leaning against the wall, he looked on as the Princess expressed her frustration further by raising her head of the table, looking at the Scroll again, and then planting it back down upon the cold surface.
He knew personally how the Elders writings and cryptic messages could inspire such feelings. Many times in his youth he had silently cursed the seemingly obscure and pointlessly complicated advice given to him by his Grand-Sire-Elder. He had wondered sometimes if they did it on purpose.
From the continued groaning and shifting , it seemed the Princess had come to a similar conclusion.
It had been a few cycles since the young Bright-Stone-Pony Princess had approached the Kin in order to understand the Stone. Such a interest had been unprecedented in the Elders Memory and one from a member of the Empires Royal family to boot, and there had been some fierce debate amongst the council as to how much could be shown and understood by one not of the Kin. In the end, they had decided to assign a few elders to tutor the young pony, in the hope that they might further the Princesses understanding.
Speaking of which. 'Thwack!!'
"Ow!!" The Princess cried out and and stared angrily at the offending cane, touching the spot on her head where the blow had struck. " That's was uncalled for!" Cried the Princess, glaring at the one holding the cane, " How dare you strike me-" 'Thwack!' "Ow!" The Princess squealed, grabbing her hoof now and glared sullenly at the bruised spot, and back at the offending party.
Small and shrunken, Elder-Grand-Long-Tooth stood barely above the Princess in height, the old Kin seeming shriveled and frail compared to the young and beautiful pony. This seeming frailty, however, belief the fact that the Elder was, by his reckoning, almost 300 cycles old, and as such was revered amongst the Kin. Ancient beyond belief, the Elder had lived through the Day The Sky Fell, the Discordian reign, and the Rise of the Empire, and was one of the few who remembered the Kins ancient heritage. This age and wisdom, however, did not deprive the elder of a fiery and stubborn attitude, and many Kin feared his anger and irritation. And the Poor Princess was his latest target.
Snorting, the Snow White Kin tapped the scroll with his cane, albeit with less force, and looked at the pouting Princess sternly through sunken eyes beneath wrinkled and scared fur.
"If thoust wishes to act like a pup, then this one will treat you like a pup." The elders voice croaked from his wizened face as he lowered his can back down upon the stone with a decided thump. "Also, remember that this scroll is older than your entire family line, and probably older than your Crystal Empire as well. So try not to damage it with your tantrums, or you may try to replace it yourself if you wish."
" But I wasnt..." protested Gleaming Pearl, but stopped as the Elder raised one writhered and shrunken brow. " Yes, Teacher." She mumbled, and looked back down upon the scroll with a sigh, and resumed studying in silence, sighing every once in a while as she wrote down her notes.
Across from him, on the other side of the room upon a stool, the Princesses handmaiden winced in sympathy at her charges plight. A slender, velvet colored mare, she was one of many servants employed by the royal family, and one, Moon suspected, was on the payroll of Lord Ravensburg. He wasn't surprised, the chief spy master of the Empire probably wanted to keep a close eye just in case.
Moon noticed that the maid glanced at him now and then, looking up from her knitting to look at his frame from the corner of her eye, as if looking for his reaction beneath his helm. Probably wondering if he shared her amusement and worry, or just nervous and anxious at the giant Kin in armor. He smiled, and nodded at her, his scarred face slightly visible through his visor. She flinched, and looked back down in a hurry, seemingly embarrassed or uncomfortable looking at his scarred muzzle. He sighed inwardly, and settled back against the wall, annoyed.
Still scary. Stone it.
He tried to not make others uncomfortable, but his wounds and size made it hard. At 44 Cycles old, he still towered over most Kin, Tall-Winged-Bird-Lions, and ponies, his bulk muscled and Steel-Fur only made it worse. His scars didn't help. Wounded in the War against Sombra, his body was ravaged by scars and old burns. The left side of his muzzle was permanently damaged, the nerves melted and burned so throughly that he couldn't smile or feel that side. His right ear wasn't much better, being a scarred, shredded mess even after all these cycles. Often, during training or guard duty, he often heard and saw Ponies and Griffons looked at him and whisper, sighing or staring in obvious discomfort or mixed awe at his scarred bulk.
Sighing internally again, he looked back towards his charge, and saw her sighing and groaning to herself as she struggled to comprehend the scroll before here. Not much progress today it seemed.
It had taken much convincing on the Empires to allow the Princess to be tutored like this, as the Elder had been quiet reluctant to share any of the Kins secrets, even with a member of the royal family and the councils urging. It had taken even longer to convince him to allow the Princess to bring a guard and one of her servants along to the sessions. But, eventually he had caved, though Moon suspected it was more because the Elder had been charmed by the Princess's genuine interest than any convincing on Ravensburgs or the Emperors part. Pearl has a nack for charming people with her genuine interests and personality.
Though perhaps, Moon thought to himself with amusement as another sighed escaped the young mare, She might be regretting her decision to learn under this particular Elder.
At first, the lessons had gone well, with Pearl seeming to absorb the Elders instruction like a sponge, and the Elder offering, what seemed to Moon, purposefully forced praise. However, they appeared to have hit a road block in her studies of the Stone within recent months. The Princess had grown more and more frustrated at the seeming lack of progress, and what appeared to her unhelpfully cryptic advice on behalf of the elder. This particular session, seemed especially bad, as they had barely been at it for an hour before another roadblock.
Finally, after ten more minutes of sighing and frustrated groaning, Elder Longtooth sighed, and tapped his can on the stone floor, signaling the Princess to stop her studies. "Fine, tell me what is troubling you Princess. All that hemming and hawing is distracting and you obviously have questions." As soon as the Elder was done speaking, Princess Gleaming Pearl seemed to simultaneously relax in relief and then tense, and leaned forward, slamming her hoof upon the table, her eyes seemingly blazing with frustrated curiosity.
"This scroll makes no sense!!!" She exclaimed, tapping the offending piece of parchment. "It says that the Stone is different from stone, but it is also the same thing, but different. And what does it mean when it says, draw the water from the Stone, there is no water! Stone can't produce water!! And draw the Life from a stone and make it grow?!? What's that even mean?!? And furthermore," Pearl cut off the Elder as he was about to speak, and tapped the scroll harder, seeming to grow more frustrated by the second, her carefully groomed mane growing more frayed as she ran her hooves through it, and eyes growing wide. Moon chuckled to himself, amused to see the normally polite and graceful Princess it talks about growing Crystal from a pebble of granite. That's literally impossible, even with magic!! How can you grow Crystal from a pebble, theres not enough-"
"Enough." The elders voice cut through the tirade like a knife, and his cane tapped on the ground sounding like a gavel. "The problem is now clear." The maid jumped, leaping to her hooves in shock. Gleaming Pearl froze, mouth open mid sentence, practically standing on the table. Moonstone blinked, having never heard the Elder like this before. He sounded... exasperated?
"It seems that we have reached the limit of your education at this juncture." croaked the Elder, pushing his cane at Gleaming Pearls chest, pushing her off the table, " the problem is obvious." Gleaming Pearl seemed stunned, allowing herself to settle back down off the stone table. But then Moon saw her shake herself "So you agree?" She asked, seemingly excited to be right for once in her instruction with the Elder. The Elder nodded, his shriveled face stern. " Yes, the problem is quite clear." He repeated, and moved towards the door. The Princess looked bemused, watching the Elder leave with a stunned expression.
The Elder opened the door, and turned back towards the group, who looked on in stunned silence. " What are you waiting for, the Stone to grow a Beard? Hurry up." And with that, he exited the room.
The Princess stared in silence for a moment, then with a yelp, scrambled out of the room, taking the scroll with her. "Wait, Teacher!! What did you mean?!?" The maid followed, moving in a hurry to keep up with her charge, knitting forgotten. Stone chuckled, and moved after her, closing the door behind him, flooding the room in darkness.
Outside, the palace hallway was lit by the afternoon sun in streaks of gold and shadow as sunlight flowed through the windows. Lavish rugs and curtains hung from walls, suits of armor lining down the halls. Servants moved to and fro, heading to their work after their meal. They bowed as the Princess passed by, moving in haste almost at a run to keep up with the surprisingly spry elder, asking questions and for him to slow down and what's going on and why did he just leave and please slow down, her maid not far behind.
Moon chuckled, and jogged to keep up, moving deftly through the crowds of servants and maids. They bowed or curstied as he passed, recognizing the symbol of the Knightly crest upon his cloth tabard. A few maids started whispering and gossiping as he passed, staring out of the corner of their eyes. He nodded and waved, and they started, then turned away and moved towards their work, seemingly embarrassed and uncomfortable. He sighed again, and continued jogging to keep up with his charge, who finally caught up with the Elder, and was pelting him with questions, pausing every now and then respond to a Good afternoon Milady or Princess. The Elder ignored her, continued on his way, gruffly croaking every now and then to be patient and or " Take a breath, girl, or you will faint as you walk." Moon smiled, and hung back just a bit, watching.
It had been cycles since he had been knighted, by Grandmaster Hardbeak himself nonetheless, and he had been assigned to protect the capital and royal family. Cycles since he had been abducted by Slavers aboard that ship, and sent to Maretonia. Cycles since the War of Shadows, where he had been ravaged and broken. He often thought about that time, so long ago. State, his kin-Brother, slain upon the field by 20 shadow-slaves-beasts. Rolandia, that beautiful Griffon, who had broken his heart and soul when she told him the truth. Of the dark days, when he was not himself, and that little Crystal pony filly with the shattered horn. And the fate that befell her.
Moon felt the smile stain from his face. Yes, he would never forget that sight. Or Forgive.
He had been broken and forged anew amidst the tides of chaos and war. He thought he had lost everything, when in reality it was another chapter in his story. Now here he was, a new Kin, a Knight of all things, protecting a sweet Princess with a heart of gold/Crystal, serving the Emperor and protecting his home. Defending the weak and upholding the righteous.
Protecting his tribe. A good life.
"Here." The Elder stomped his cane on the ground and came to a halt. The Princess skittered to halt, surprised at the sudden stop. Moon blinked, coming out of his revelry, and looked around. They had arrived at the entrance to the palace basement, at the entrance to Pearls testing area.
Pearl blinked, looking from the entrance to the elder. " Um... the lab, teacher? Why are we..."
The elder ignored her question and moved forward, opening the door, and looking down the steps, started to moved down into the depths. "Come." He croaked afterwords, beckoning with his cane. Pearl followed quickly afterwards, the maid and moon following close behind.
The group moved down the steps, the air growing musty and damp as they descended. Soon, the corridor widened out, and they stepped in a large stone room. Ceiling, wall to wall, and floor were covered in stone, large pillars providing the foundation. The Princess turned towards the Elder, a question in her eyes, but he was already moving forward, heading to the center of the room. She huffed, and followed after, scroll in hoof, the maid and Moon following.
They soon arrived in the middle of the chamber, and finally, just as the Princess seemed likely to explode from curiosity, the Elder turned towards her, and pointed his cane at her chest. " The problem," he croaked jabbing the cane at her muzzle, " is you."
Stunned silence echoed through the chamber.
Finally, after a minute or two of silence, Pearl spoke. " M-Me?" She stammered, poining a good at herself. "What do you mean, me? How is it..." She stopped as the Elder held up a with paw, and pointed at her head. " You are the problem, because you do not see. You will not see. For you, there is impossible. Therefore, you are the problem."
Pearl seemed stunned, but spoke again. "Teacher, what does that even mean? I don't see? What... what's that even mean?" The elder sighed, and turning, pointed a gnarled hand at a stone pillar. " What is that?" Pearl blinked, looking at the pillar and back, unsure. " A.. A pillar?" The Elder nodded, still pointing. " That's what that is. But what is it?" Pearl tilted her head, confused. "A... stone pillar?" " Exactly," said the Elder, taping his cane on the ground. "Stone. It's stone. Good stone. Strong stone." The Elder walked over, and tapped the stone pillar with his cane. " But it is also so much more."
The Elder beckoned with his cane urging the Princess forward. She stepped, hesitantly, moving forward. The maid made to follow, but the Elder held up a paw, stopping her in her tracks.
Pearl moved forward, unsure, and stood next to the pillar. The Elder grabbed her hoof, and placed it upon the pillar. "What do you Feel?" The Elder asked, looking at the Princess beneath shriveled eyes. Pearl hesitated, unsure how to answer. "Stone..?" She queried, earning a sigh fro the Elder. "Yes, that is what that is." He said, lifting his cane, " but not what this one asked. What do you Feel?" Confused, Pearl looked back at the pillar, then back at the Elder, who sighed again. " Can you turn Stone to Crystal?" He asked, raising a brow. Pearl nodded, which seemed to satisfy the Elder, who nodded. " Good. How?"
Pearl blinked, lowering her hoof slowly, as if not sure where the question was going. Moon was also confused, but kept his peace. Pearl hesitantly said, "Magic?" The Elder nodded again, tapping his cane. "Yes, that is how you do it. But how do you do it?" Pearl opened her mouth, an answer on her lips, but the Elder shook his Snow White head. "No, this one is not ask for the science. This one his asking how. How do YOU turn Stone to Crystal?" At Pearl confused expression, The Elder elaborated. "Do you think about the steps? The Science? The process? Or do you do it naturally, without thought, without doubt?"
Moon saw recognition flash across Pearls face, and he smiled. The Elder saw it too, for he nodded. "Yes, you simply do. Without fear or doubt or impossible. That is why you are the problem. You look at the scroll, and you think impossible. You think about the Water of Stone and Lightning, and you think impossible. You see the Life of Stone, you think it cannot be grown. That," he said, poking at her heart, " is why you are the problem."
Pearl, hesitantly, faintly, nodded, and said, "I, I think I understand-" "No." croaked the Elder, taping his cane once upon the Stone. "You understand. Or you do not understand. There is no Think. Or try. You do, or do not. Understand?" Pearl nodded, more sure this time. "Good. Now answer me." The Elder tapped the stone pillar again.
"What do you feel?"
Pearl closed her eyes. The maid fretted, standing next to Moon and trotting in place. Moon placed a comforting paw on her back, trying to reassure her. She looked up, surprised, and he smiled beneath his helm, trying to seem reassuring. Surprisingly, she looked down, almost embarrassed. Moon sighed,
again, and focused back on to the Princess. Silence stretched on, the minutes seeming like hours.
Suddenly, the Princess glowed. The Stone... moved. Moon gasped in his helm, feeling something... twist the air.
The Stone Moved.
"Good. You feel the Stone?" Pearl nodded. "Good. Now, change it."
Silence.
The glow went out.
The wall across from them exploded outwards, Bulging as if water in a bag, and then ripped. A giant Crystal Pillar exploded outwards, growing into the ceiling and floor, and continued to grow, rippling and grown and flowing like water.
Finally it stopped, and a giant wall of Crystal remained, bright and beautiful, impactin the place above and the foundation below. Pearl stared. Horrified and awed. The maid squealed, shocked. Moon felt his jaw drop.
The Elder smiled.
AN: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-
So this was supposed to come out a while ago, but, in the words of our QM, how about we don't.
@Questor, take this needlessly long trash. Yeh. My apologies to all.
