Part 11. Making Choices.
Morning dawns and Tyler is half conscious, lying on the comfortable bed, lazy dream images drifting through his thoughts. Noisome Mist is massaging his back and shoulders as he watches a candle flicker in it's holder on his night stand. "Mmm, you're so good at that, Mist," he mumbles in his not fully awake state. "I'm so glad you found me. No pony else ever cared about me like you do. I'll never leave you alone again. You make every thing better, even the dark things. Mmmm...magic hooves," he mumbles again as a pair of forehooves work gently up and down his back. Then things begin to clarify as he awakens more from his comfort induced waking dream. Reason starts to return to him and he wonders when Mist got here. He opens his eyes and raises his head to look over his shoulder to see her.
All his morning dream stupor vanishes in an instant as he sees Sylvaan looking pleasantly back at him. Before he can say anything to her she tells him, "I'm on my side. You moved over here last night. It was so nice to hold you while you slept. Then this morning I wanted to make you relax so I thought I'd give you a little massage. I hope you enjoyed it, besides, you looked so tense. Also I enjoy listening to you talk in your sleep. You talk a lot about Noisome Mist. I look forward to meeting your Special somepony. We can all be together and happy." Sylvaan ends her little monologue, sounding innocent and sweet.
Tyler has a fluttering and uncomfortable feeling in his chest as he rolls upright and scrambles out of bed. A tightness now grips his chest and a wave of nausea hits him. As he stands with his legs braced outward so as not to fall he begins to pant shallowly and shake. Sylvaan sees his distress but has no idea or concept of what a panic attack is. "Tyler what's wrong? " Sylvaan asks with gentle concern to her words.
He says nothing, lost in his own thoughts of what might happen to Noisome Mist when she meets Sylvaan. It hadn't occurred to him that Sylvaan would go home with him. He thought she was just protecting him during his travels in the north. His thoughts reel, how could he explain her? What would Mist think of him? What would she think of the beautiful earth mare that was protecting him? His thoughts spin rapidly out of control. The room begins to spin as well. Sounds begin to fade out and little sparks show up in the edges of his vision as he finally passes out and falls to the floor.
Sylvaan watches Tyler stagger and fall to the floor. In an instant she is at his side. Awash in strange new feelings, she picks him up and hugs him to her chest as she sits on the floor. "Tyler, what's wrong? Wake up." There is true worry in her voice. She had just been enjoying the feeling in her chest that giving him a massage had awakened in her. It had felt soft and close. Now a new feeling replaced it. She is worried for him and that feels open, exposed and helpless. The physical form of a mare is proving to be a challenge for her. The things Tyler had called emotions are strong and hard to ignore.
Sylvaan feels helpless as she holds Tyler's limp form close to her. She notices he does not even appear to be breathing. "Tyler please, wake up," she says, the worry in her voice foreign to her own ears. Looking down she notices his heart shaped glass vial hanging across her foreleg. She gently lays Tyler out on the floor and carefully removes the glass vial from his neck. "This is what helped me," she says in a whisper. "Time to return the favor." She holds the vial in the crook of one front pastern and uncaps it with her lips. She then pours half of whats left on to Tyler's shoulder. Sylvaan quickly recaps the glass vial and once again cradles Tyler to her. Tyler gasps in a large breath of air, then another. He is breathing again. Slowly he lifts his head and comes to.
"Where am I?" he asks, dazed. "Why am I on the floor. What happened?"
"You passed out and were not breathing," He hears from behind his ears. He notices he is again being held by Sylvaan. Then the morning all comes back in a flash and he starts to pant and shake all over again. "Tyler please stop it," he hears Sylvaan say in a pleading tone, her soft voice adding to its sincerity. "You're safe. I don't know whats wrong with you."
Tyler gets angry at himself and the anger calms his panic attack. He collects his thoughts and while Sylvaan still holds him he says, "It's you, Sylvaan. I am terrified that if you come home with me you will harm Noisome Mist. I want you to come with me. I like you a lot. Like a big sister I never had, but I think you would be a danger to Mist."
Sylvaan hugs Tyler tighter and says reassuringly to him, "I would never harm the filly you love. I would protect her as I protect you. Tyler, I don't lie."
"I know, you wouldn't do it on purpose. Mist is different. She..." Tyler stops, lost as to what to say, not wanting to reveal Mist's ability, but knowing Sylvaan would find out anyway when she meets Mist. "Look, the sun fades Mist to immaterial, like a ghost. If you come into contact with her when she is like that I think you would harm her. Her body is sensitive when she is like that. It rips darkness from creatures. With what I saw you do to those changelings and Axle the gryphon I think there is a lot of darkness in you." Tyler's voice breaks up as his emotions fill it. He continues speaking through tears and sobs. "I think it would overwhelm Noisome Mist. I saw her get overwhelmed by a large timber wolf she passed through. She died at my hooves...strangely, after two hours she came back to life but I don't want to go through that again. What if next time she doesn't come back. I couldn't take it. Sylvaan, I'm scared. I don't know what to do."
Tyler hangs his head and just tries to relax his anxiety away, Sylvaan comforting him is having a positive effect. He is enjoying the contact of another pony, especially one that cares about him. He knows Sylvaan is struggling with emotions that are unknown to her but at least she is getting compassion right. Maybe she does not have the darkness in her that he is so worried about.
"I know what you should do, Tyler." Sylvaan says decidedly. "You...and I, should have breakfast. Then go and meet Raziel and make your trade, then start for home. I can see how badly you miss Noisome Mist. So stop your worrying about Mist and I meeting. I will stay away if you want me to."
"No, Sylvaan," he says, still filled with emotion. "I don't want you to stay away. I like you...A lot."
"Then we will cross that bridge when the time comes," Sylvaan says. "For now just concentrate on the things we have to do here. Things will work out. They have so far, haven't they?" She lets go of Tyler. Tyler gets up and notices that he has a warm and tingling feeling. A feeling of happiness. He looks for his heart shaped glass vial but it is not around his neck. He feels a little panic as he starts to cast his gaze about looking for it. Sylvaan holds up a foreleg with the vial dangling from it. Tyler sees it and grabs it with his magic and returns it to it's place around his neck. As he does this he notices it only has a little left in it.
"SYLVAAN!" he says sharply to her.
But before he can continue she says, "You fell to the floor and weren't breathing, Tyler. I didn't know what to do. That stuff restored me so I used a little on you. It got you breathing again," she says, her tone soft and apologetic.
Tyler sees genuine concern in her pale green eyes, so he wraps his forelegs around her. "That's what it's for. To help others. You did the right thing Sylvaan. I'm sorry I was upset with you. It's just that what is in the vial is very precious to me."
Sylvaan looks at the vial around Tyler's neck and asks, "What is it, Tyler?"
He smiles warmly at her. "Pure life energy. Love in a bottle."
They pack up the stuff Tyler had brought to the room, head down the hall to the dining area and have a nice breakfast of warm oat bran mash provided by the inn keeper and make their way outside to retrieve Tyler's pull cart.
Tyler is surprised to see Cory waiting for them. Sylvaan goes right up to Cory and rears up, coming down gently on his shoulders with her forelegs on either side of him. She gives him a good squeeze and says cheerily, "Hi Cory! Did you miss me?"
Cory, caught off-guard, starts to stutter a greeting. "Um...Ahh...Hey Sylvaan, Tyler. Good morning to you both." Tyler chuckles to himself, glad to see he isn't the only pony Sylvaan can get to come unglued. She is like a filly with a new toy. She is testing her emotional responses to other ponies and it looks like she enjoys this one. Poor Cory is at a loss as to how he should react to a gorgeous mare giving him such an intimate embrace out of the blue.
"Well?" Sylvaan whispers in to his ear as she still holds him in her embrace.
"Wha...What... What well?" Cory still stammers. Tyler is pleasantly amused at Cory's falling apart. The strong looking earth colt had seemed so confident when he first talked to Sylvaan yesterday. Now she has him fumbling for words like a young colt at his first Sadie Hawkins dance.
"Did you miss me?" Sylvaan whispers again into Cory's ear.
"Ah... Sylvaan, w..why..."
Tyler is on the verge of a laughing fit so he says to him, "Cory, just say yes."
"Yes," Cory says to Sylvaan tentatively.
Sylvaan releases Cory and returns to her own four hooves. She gives Cory a shoulder bump that makes him scramble for balance. "Ha ha! I knew it!" Sylvaan says happily "I Like being a mare."
Cory looks to Tyler Questioningly. Tyler shrugs and says, "She had a good night's sleep I guess. Now you understand what I said about her yesterday. I'm still figuring her out."
As Cory leads the way to Raziel's, Sylvaan walks beside him. They share small talk and little laughs. Tyler pulls his cart along behind them thinking how Sylvaan had been unpredictably dangerous around creatures like the changelings and Axle the gryphon and was now unpredictably social among good ponies and gryphons. He likes this new trait in her. Emotion is doing her good. He compares how she was when she first walked into his campsite in the forest. She seemed flat, unemotional and worn down then. Now she seems exuberant and full of energy, learning to be alive. He suspects Mist's energy from the tears were more than a little bit responsible for the change. He also thinks he might have something to do with it as well. He let her into his heart like a cherished sister, now she is reflecting that outwardly. He smiles in satisfaction as they reach the home of Raziel.
Cory bids farewell to Tyler and Sylvaan. As he walks past Sylvaan he watches her suspiciously, ready for some unexpected embrace or other sort of physical contact. Sylvaan makes no move and just looks at him serenely. Cory feels a little disappointed as he walks back toward the village center. He kind of liked the unpredictable nature of Sylvaan. He stops and says to himself ,"Two can play at that game Sylvaan. I can be unpredictable too." He spins around and runs back to Sylvaan and quickly kisses her square on the lips. He pulls back and looks her in the eyes with a bright expression, smiling widely. "He he he he he!" he giggles, and sprints off away from her.
Sylvaan stands surprised with a crooked grin and looks to Tyler and questioningly she says "Tyler?" Her look is one of divided decision.
"Oh no," he says. "I'm not involved in that. You started it with that embrace of yours and whispering in his ear. As I see it you have two choices. Forget it and stay here with me, or you can go after him and see where that leads. If you go after him don't...um...hurt him. I will be fine here with Raziel. Well...?" Tyler asks. Sylvaan's ears twitch randomly back and forth. It is evident to Tyler she is experiencing more unknown emotions. She looks down the street to where Cory had run off.
"I'll be back by noon," she says as she trots off into the village after Cory. Tyler hollers after her, "Cory is a good colt. Don't hurt him!" Sylvaan looks back at Tyler over her shoulder and gracefully nods her head.
Tyler stands in front of Raziel's home. It is an impressive stone structure. A small arched doorway is flanked by a larger one with double doors that are made of carved wood. Tyler goes to knock on the smaller door but before he can the larger double doors swing open outward. "Tyler, my good colt," Raziel says warmly "Welcome, come on in. I see you made it here just fine." The older gryphon stands looking at Tyler and his pull cart. He is quite the striking figure. His brick red body and jet black wings made him look rugged. He has a crest of black feathers on his head and halfway down his neck that give him an air of importance. "Bring your cart in, and lets get the business end of this visit out of the way. I am overjoyed at this visit my friend. I want to hear some stories of how you have been since the last time we met in Ponyville. As I recall I gave you some cloud bands so you could walk on the clouds like the pegasus ponies. Are they satisfactory?" Raziel says, getting a lot of pleasantries out of the way.
"Yes. Of course Raziel, they work perfectly!" Tyler says "Thank you again for those."
Raziel motions for Tyler to follow him into a back room. Tyler unharnesses himself from his cart, using his magic to close the double doors and follows Raziel into the back room. Raziel first uncovers a rectangular wooden box. In it are main flight feathers from gryphon wings. Tyler's eyes sparkle, looking at the array of colors. "I have enchanted the whole case of feathers against deterioration. Take the whole case Tyler, It's my gift to you." Raziel says "Now look over here," he continues as he walks to a slightly larger wooden case. Raziel grabs the wooden cover and removes it. Tyler instantly thinks of a coffin as he looks at the shimmering of white bones that fill it. "There should be enough ancient dragon bone here to make all the main parts and load bearing spars for your wings." Raziel says in a conspiratorial tone. "Make your wing set out of these and you will not be able to break them my friend."
Tyler scans the bones with analytical eyes. He can see how each part of his new wing design can be cut and shaped from the large and long bones in the crate. His old infatuation of flight is sparked anew in him. He hasn't flown since the crash that should have killed him. That crash had brought Noisome Mist into his life. She had saved his life when her tears healed his pierced heart and broken off horn. "So what have you brought to trade Tyler?" Raziel asks, snapping Tyler out of his thoughts. "I had to call in a few favors to get enough of these old bones." Raziel finishes.
Tyler glances sadly at his front hooves and says in a disheartened tone. "I couldn't think of anything of great magical properties. I only have one thing to trade. Maybe it's not even valuable." Tyler walks to his cart and using his magic he opens the hidden compartment and removes something slim and wrapped in cloth. He floats it over to a workbench and lays it down. Raziel comes over and looks at the bundle with a mix of skepticism and curiosity.
"Oh...What is it Tyler? Don't keep me in suspense. I'm old you know."
Tyler uses a fore hoof to unroll the cloth and there lies his old horn. Raziel's eyes flash wide open in surprise. "That's a unicorn's horn" Raziel says with shock and wonder in the tone of voice.
"Yes it is," Tyler says solemnly. "Is it of any value to you?" He asks.
Raziel ignores Tyler's question and asks. "Where and how did you get that?" Raziel's question is tinged with a bit of anger.
"That's a story for later," Tyler says firmly "Is it valuable?"
Raziel continues in anger. "I don't want anything you killed somepony for Tyler. I don't want anything you may have robed from a grave. I'm ashamed of you. I thought you were a good, decent pony!"
Tyler stops Raziel "Look, the only pony that almost got killed was me. The only grave that got robbed was mine, because I'm not in it. That's MY horn. Is it worth anything?" Tyler says firmly, visibly unsettled.
Raziel looks at Tyler with skepticism. "Tyler, I can see your horn on your head," he says flatly. "I saw you use it to close the doors and retrieve this horn from your cart, so I know it is real and yours. I also know if a unicorn loses his horn it doesn't grow back. So don't lie to me. where did you get this horn from?"
"I will tell you the whole story if you will just answer me. Is a unicorn's horn valuable?"
Raziel sighs, shaking his head "Of course it is. A unicorn's horn contains a lot of residual, usable magic. They are very hard to come by. Unicorns when alive wont part with them for obvious reasons and when unicorns pass away... well, ever wonder why a lot of them get cremated or buried in secret? Yes, grave robbers. Now where did you get it?" Raziel finishes exasperated at Tyler.
Tyler smiles. "So we have a trade?" he asks confidently.
Raziel looks sternly at Tyler. "Not if you killed or robbed for it."
"Yes!" Tyler shouts. "It's a deal. I did not kill or rob for it. Help me load up my cart and secure the crates. Then have I got a story to tell you." He says with enthusiasm.
Tyler and Raziel load the crates into the pull cart then secure them. They cover the load with a tan canvas tarp. Tyler is giddy with the thoughts of new hi-performance wings. Raziel can see this and is happy for him as well. Once the cart is secured for the trip back to Ponyville the two friends go up to Raziel's study.
Tyler is impressed with the large study. There are wooden cases full of books lining two opposing walls. They flank a large fireplace with iron dragon figures holding the andirons. A massive iron chandelier with wyvern figures hangs form the central beam of the vaulted ceiling . The wall opposite the fireplace faces south and has a large and ornate stained glass window that has beautiful scenes of Equestria and it's inhabitants enjoying the world around them. "Wow Raziel," Tyler says in honest awe. "This place is amazing."
"Thanks, now let's have this story of yours, Tyler, and you better not have built up my interest and curiosity for nothing."
Tyler and Raziel get comfortable on plush seats opposite each other and Tyler begins to tell him his part of the story from when he crashed and Noisome Mist saved his life to the point he kissed her on the cheek and left for Gryphon's Gate. Tyler left out all of the scenes that Princess Luna was a part of. Luna is special to him and she is special to Equestria. He takes guarding her confidences very seriously.
Tyler had started telling his tale at 9am when they had entered the study. It iss now 12:45 by the hands of the big floor clock aside of the fireplace. Tyler has finished his story and Raziel is looking at him with charmed enjoyment. "So," Raziel says in a thoughtful and metered tone "Your special somepony, Noisome Mist, is quite unique. You say her tears healed your pierced heart and restored your horn. That's alicorn caliber magic or maybe even stronger." As Raziel speaks his eyes are looking at a heart shaped glass vial banded in silver hanging around Tyler's neck. "I assume what is in that vial are the tears of Noisome Mist?" He asks Tyler. Raziel has used deductive reasoning. "What would you trade for what's left in it?" Raziel asks.
Tyler is surprised. "I cant...I wouldn't...It keeps her close to me. I only use it to help others in need. I would never sell it or trade it away. It's pure life energy. As such I think it should only be given. Never sold or traded." Tyler says this with pride thinking of Noisome Mist, then...Sylvaan. Where is she?
"That's is a very wise statement, young Tyler" Raziel says. "You should keep the properties of Mist's tears a secret. Many would seek to abuse this gift of hers." A small chime sounds from somewhere and Raziel looks to the stairway leading to the small door that opens onto the street. "Your friend has returned, Tyler. I'll let her in."
The door opens and Sylvaan comes trotting excitedly up the wide steps. One look at her and Tyler can tell things are going to get uncomfortable for him. Sylvaan stops and fixes her pale green eyes on Raziel. Raziel feels a strange sensation briefly, like he is falling backwards, then it is gone. Sylvaan dismissively turns from Raziel and looks brightly at Tyler. "TYLER!" she says with a wonder filled tone to her sweet and quiet voice "I really, really, like being a mare! Cory showed me-"
Tyler yells, "STOP! Sylvaan. I don't want to hear this." (Raziel perks to attention at hearing Tyler say the name Sylvaan)
Sylvaan continues sweetly. "But... Cory showed me twice!"
Again Tyler stops her. "Stop! Please, Sylvaan. It's nice you two hit it off so soon but could you just enjoy and keep the details to yourself, please! You know how I am." Tyler's voice is showing his distress at such an emotional topic.
Sylvaan smiles wryly. "Oh yeah. I'm sorry Tyler but now I am definitely never going back! I really, really like-"
"Yeah I know. please stop now. This is uncomfortable for me." Tyler says as he looks pleadingly at Sylvaan. He is starting to feel his heart pound and his ears get warm with a blush. Sylvaan nods her head to him and walks over to him. Once there she rubs her head on his shoulder.
"Sorry Tyler," she says quietly. "I will get you home to Noisome Mist. I know now how she misses you."
Tyler relaxes and asks in a hushed tone, "You did not hurt Cory did you?"
Sylvaan answers in just the same hushed tone. "No Tyler, Cory is just fine. Although strangely he fell asleep with a peaceful expression on his face after the second-"
"OK! I get it" Tyler cuts in.
"I like haylofts a lot now, too!"
Raziel is following Tyler's and Sylvaan's discourse with amusement. He knows how sensitive to emotional displays Tyler is and it appears Sylvaan does too, and is having fun making Tyler sweat. Although it seems to him she knows just how far she can go with it. He smiles and speaks up, changing the topic. "Tyler, can you tell me about this gorgeous mare friend of yours? She has quite the unusual name. I've only heard that name used once. It described an entity from-" Sylvaan snaps around so fast and faces Raziel that he stops mid sentence. Sylvaan's pale green eyes are fixed on him as she slowly and ominously turns her head back and forth, warning him not to finish his sentence.
Tyler sees Sylvaan's defensive stance and speaks up. "Sylvaan, what's wrong? Raziel is a good friend. Don't threaten him."
Sylvaan's mind seems to click into a new mode and she warmly says, "Tyler go and get your cart. It's getting late and you must meet the train in a day and a half. I will meet you in the street shortly. I will not harm your gryphon friend."
Tyler thinks of the train and home. Noisome Mist's kind smile fills his memory and he says, "OK, Sylvaan. You have a good point." He looks curiously at her. She knows that Raziel knows something about her and she stopped him before he could give it away.
Once Tyler has left the study Sylvaan turns her attention back to Raziel and walking up to him she says, "I am not that anymore." Her tone is soft and gentle. "Tyler used some sort of life energy contained in a heart shaped glass vial to restore me and give me this form. He awakened me as he passed by, carrying that vial. Because he is equine I was awakened as a mare. He used some of the contents of that vial on me and I became a true mare. I feel things now, I have emotion now. I am alive because of him. I adore Tyler and I will protect him as I will protect his mare Noisome Mist. I belong here now. But you should know...I have no remorse for sending dark souls to where I come from. You have nothing to fear, there is no place there for you. Don't worry about Tyler or Noisome Mist, they are quite safe with me." Finishing her little speech Sylvaan extends one foreleg to shake with Raziel. Raziel tentatively takes her hoof in his eagles foot and shakes. Sylvaan grabs him with both front legs and rears up on to her hind legs bringing Raziel up with her. She hugs him gently and whispers into his ear, "Thank you for taking good care of Tyler. He has taught me moderation." With her good by complete she releases Raziel and smiles warmly at him, then she trots down the steps and joins Tyler in the street.
Up in his study Raziel slowly shakes his head in amazement and whispers to himself.. "Incredible! Those tears do more than just heal. They have changed an entity of hell into a caring pony. I must meet this Noisome Mist some day."