15. LIGHT OF EQUESTRIA

Marcus had been following the green light in the sky for a few hours since he had last seen Rune. He was just wondering how much longer it would be until he saw the city of Tartarus when all of a sudden the green light broke its directional flight and seemed to come crashing down.

"What?!" Marcus gasped as his eyes widened in horror. He couldn't lose the light now. He began running as fast as his mortal legs could carry him. The black armor weighed heavily on his body and he was tempted to ditch it but feared the arrows of the Cruentus people. The green light fell behind a tree line and was completely out of sight, leaving the sky much darker. Marcus pushed his legs harder and could feel his muscles aching. His side began to cramp but he pushed past the pain. He was running quickly through the thick trees now, his eyes searching for any light. Before he knew it, his feet were barely slipping off the edge of a deep ravine. The rocks gave way under his weight and he had to throw himself backwards to keep from going over. His breathing was heavy as he peered over the seemingly endless fall. Then he looked up.

Before him sat a city on a hill, surrounded by the deep ravine, protected by a massive moat. Griffin had been right when he told him he would know it when he saw it. It was the city of Tartarus.

Marcus' chest was filled with emotion and his eyes welled up at the sight. There were hundreds of tiny flames burning, giving the different places light in the darkness. Marcus wondered if one of those lights could be shining on Didyme's beautiful soul right now. She was so close. He might even breathe the same air as her tonight.

He started looking around for a possible passage across the great divide but instead the green light of equestria had caught his eye. Its green flames were burning brightly on the same side of the ravine that he was on. Had this been a falling star that crash landed here? Marcus had to go see for himself.

He walked the narrow space between the line of trees and the black void of the ravine, making his way closer to the bright green light. The light was so bright that it was hard to look at. Then Marcus heard what sounded like soft neigh, the stamp of hoof, and a deep breath being pushed out from two flaring nostrils. The green light outshined everything, making it unbearable to look upon. Then, in a soft slow manner, the green light began to fade.

There in front of Marcus stood a beautiful white steed with a mane made of green flames. The light of Equestria was a horse. Marcus could hardly believe it. The stallion stamped his front hoof against the ground a few more times, threatening to charge.

"Whoa there, easy boy." Marcus said in a gentle tone with his hands in there, as if signifying retreat.

The horse neighed again but louder this time. His black eyes were fixed on Marcus and every movement he made. Suddenly Marcus remembered something that one of the nymphs had said at the beginning of his journey… "What's the use? You'll never be able to tame the green flame any way!" He hadn't known what it meant when she said it, but now he understood. This horse had the ability to fly across the sky. This was his ticket to get across the deep ravine and safely land at the gates of Tartarus. It was his ticket to Didyme.

Marcus put out his hand and slowly eased forward, showing the steed that he meant him no harm. The horse nervously trotted backwards, and then took another step forward. He seemed to be debating whether or not to escape this foreign creature. Then the horse let Marcus come closer and his wet nostrils sniffed at Marcus' hand.

"That'a'boy…" Marcus cooed gently. He began to pat his shoulder and neck and was surprised that no heat came from the green flames of his mane. He ran his fingers through the lighted hair, calming the beast. After a few minutes of this the horse seemed comfortable with Marcus. So then he went around to the side and the animal and hoisted himself up onto it. The horse seemed fine with it and did not fight Marcus.

Marcus tapped the side of the horses belly with the heel of his boot, signaling him to go. The horse began to trot down the narrow space of ground next to the ravine. He quickly picked up pace and soon the trees to the side of them became a blur. The wind rushed through Marcus' hair and he reveled at the speed, he had missed being able to go this fast. Then in an instant, the horse kicked his hoofs against the ground and they were up in the air soaring high above the ravine.

Marcus' heart jumped. He had the feeling that a mortal might get while riding a rollercoaster or hitting a dip in the road in a fast car. He smiled. The sensation of flying was wonderful. Then he fixed his eyes on the city of Tartarus below. He was close now, so very close to his Didyme. He looked down at his blue light necklace from the first oracle. It had faded so much; there was probably a little less than ten percent of the light left.

Soon the horse touched down on the island that was Tartarus. He followed a dark stony path that brought them closer to the gates of the city. The air around them carried the slight undertones of sulfur. It was unpleasant and dreary. If Marcus could help it, he would not linger here. He planned to just go in and find Didyme and bring her back out. Perhaps with this horse now available, Marcus could get it to fly them back to the original water hole that was the gateway between the two worlds. He wasn't sure if this was even feasible but he didn't want to worry about that right now. The only thing that was important was finding Didyme.

As they drew closer to the city walls, Marcus saw a woman with white hair. She held up a mask that you might find at a masquerade ball to hide her face. The horse stopped in front of her.

"Hello," Marcus greeted. "I'm looking for the oracle; do you know where I can find her?"

The white haired woman slowly lowered her mask to reveal her face. To Marcus' shock and disgust, the woman wore a crown of thorns on her head, piercing the skin and letting blood trickle down. Her face was also streaked with bloody tears.

"I am the oracle that you seek." Her voice was just like the first oracle's in the upper world. It carried the undertones of the flapping of wings, an almost synthesized kind of sound.

"How did you do it?" She asked him.

"Do what?"

"Tame the green flame?" Her head tilted to the side, curious.

Marcus shook his head. "I didn't do anything really; I just let him sniff my hand."

The oracle smiled, wicked and lovely all at once. "It must be because he realizes you are from the upper world."

"What would that matter?" Marcus asked.

"You see, Marcus," He was surprised that she knew his name, "a very long time ago when the earth was still young, there was free passage between our two worlds. But because of your foolish ancestors, everything changed." Her demeanor became insidious. "When the war began between Orpheus and Aristaeus there was far too much destruction. There had been a great council with the leaders of the prevalent races that decided they would force the Cruentus and the Piceus people into the underworld and seal the gateway shut. They thought this would somehow minimize the damage if the war could be contained. They gave us no warning and no ability to choose which side of the gate we could be on when it was sealed. I was separated from my sister, the oracle you met in the upper world. We are the only two of our kind and now I shall never see her again." She almost looked sad.

"However, our minds are linked, much like the shape shifters of the upper world. We can hear each other's thoughts, and that is how I knew you were coming." She paused for a moment and turned her gaze back to the horse. "So this stallion has recognized your scent and befriended you. He is the only one of his kind here. The others that were like him were sealed off from him in the upper world."

Marcus was puzzled. "But I have never seen any creature like him in all my centuries."

Her beautiful face began to tremble as if she were suddenly very angry. "That is because you have killed them all. There were once Unicorns, Pegasus', and these Equestrian Lights. But your world has destroyed nearly everything that was beautiful. Now your humans and vampires rule the upper world. Poor beast, he has no idea that they are all gone. He flies the sky over and over again, searching for a way to escape to the upper world."

"But you are the gate keeper, you and your sister. Why couldn't you just open the portal again? You'd be able to be with your sister."

She laughed scornfully. "I do not make these rules, Marcus. Yet I am forced to live by them. There are laws of our universe that cannot be bent." Her eyes faded just slightly. "Now tell me, do you have a token for me?"

Marcus nodded and reached into his pocket. His fingers wrapped themselves around Didyme's red jeweled cross, such a familiar habit. He pulled it out and dropped it down into her hands from his seat on the horse.

She took the cross and nodded. "Very well. You shall enter the gates of Tartarus. But know this, she will not know you. She has forgotten nearly everything. Unless you can get her to recognize you, you will both be trapped here forever, never knowing of each other's existence. Your light has nearly died out," she said, indicating towards the blue necklace. "If you want to save her, I suggest you hurry."

Marcus nodded and tapped the horse with his heel again.

"No, the stallion stays." The oracle warned. "Only one may pass."

Marcus was reminded of the last time this happened when Corin hadn't been allowed to follow him through the gate. "Fine." Marcus said with distaste. He dismounted and gave the horse one last pat on the shoulder. "Thank you, friend." He whispered and put his forehead to the horse's forehead. Then he turned and walked up the path just a little further and saw the gates in front of him. They creaked open and allowed him to enter, and with a heavy clang, they closed behind him.