Far outside the crowding and cheers about the Dark Tournament, Twilight and Cold Blue resolved to back to solid form within an empty tower overcasting the mansion and the earth ponies down below. The alicorn stepped out of the puddle and flared her wings out in full, screaming out as the maroon smoke cascaded out of her eyes.
The siren was just as quick enough to envelop the room in soundproofing and isolate Twilight from the sheer levels of idiocy outside. With just as much grace and measure in full, he danced around her, keeping all her rage channeled in one direction, upward.
"Why is this happening so fast? All this failure and we haven't even found her yet!" She stomped and raged, a tempest of magical energy surging off her in waves, blowing her hair and cloak in a violent wind. "They're gonna kill each other and she's not even here!"
"I'm certain there are reasons at play we are unaware of." He tried his best to urge her to listen, making sure not to test the Pale Mare's rise. "None of us weren't prepared for the possibility of the Dark Tournament. They were stupid not to realize the risks. You did what you could, Twilight, and we've already made progress."
"What kind of progress?" Her rage turned to him, only to soften at his closeness and strong stance against her dark magic. "I... I..." She fell into his arms and covered her face with his shoulder. "Why is this happening again? That wendigo is always so many steps ahead of us."
"It's not your fault." He whispered, hugging her close. "Now we know where they stand..." His hand raised to her mane and brushed it aside. "... and where our quarry will be. Everything will follow the history books."
"But at more cost?!" She raised her head, glaring into his eyes. "Why are you being so calm about all this?"
One of his hands raised to her chin, caressing it, and looked deep into her eyes. "Because I... I trust you to make things right."
She leaned against him, her brow furrowed with the weight of her past disappointments. "How can you say that, after all the times I've failed?" Her voice was a whisper flavored with apprehension, a gentle reminder of the scars she carried. In moments of weakness, it can be easy to forget that failures are not definitive endpoints; rather, they are chapters in the ongoing story of our lives.
He chuckled softly, a comforting sound amid the chaos that unfolded outside their window. "Somepony once told me that fate is a matter of chance," he explained, his gaze drifting to the turbulent scenes beyond the glass. "We can't control what happens, but we can prepare for the worst." His words encapsulated a profound truth about these unpredictable events, and while we may not steer the ship, we certainly can adjust our sails.
"So, if they fail?" she asked, her eyes searching for reassurance. This poignant moment spoke volumes; it was not just about her own failures but about the collective burden of expectations and the fear of letting others down. "What do we do then?"
His unwavering confidence brought a faint blush to her cheeks. How does one respond to such assurance? A smile graced his features, the corners of his eyes creasing as he replied. "It will take time." He grinned, holding her close. "But we will have our chance."
Her breath caught in her throat, and a shiver ran down her spine. This was not the first time he had spoken to her this way. Speaking to with the experience and weight of how long they've known each other. Starlight and Silver were still unaware that Twilight and Cold Blue spent fourteen hundred years in the mindscape, alone with each other. However, this often slipped from Twilight's mind until the siren spoke to her like this.
The Pale Mare's power softened in Twilight's eyes, her worries slowly falling away. He knew how to bring her comfort, to ease the anxieties that plagued her. The warmth of his body radiated against her, a calming contrast to the chaotic environment they witnessed. "Okay..." She whispered.
His hand caressed her cheek, his gaze tender and reassuring. "We will fix this, together."
Twilight couldn't help but smile, a tender expression that portrayed the flicker of joy amidst the shadows of her past. In those seconds, the weight of pain and suffering she had endured felt almost trivial, the burdens of memory washed away by the simple, yet electrifying touch of another soul. It was a significant turning point, a reminder that even in her darkest moments, connection could provide solace and strength.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice soft yet laden with gratitude. Her heart danced in her chest, an echo of the hope that blossomed between them. It was a moment suspended in time, where the trials of their blighted paths seemed to dissolve, replaced by an unspoken promise.
"I trust you, Twilight..." It was a declaration that offered her a lifeline, a tether that would pull her back from the precipice of all her fears. His hand intertwined with hers, "And in exchange, I will stand beside you, a light in your darkness."
"That is so cute!" A voice echoed behind them, breaking the scene. Twilight and Cold Blue flipped to find the source only for the voice to continue on the other side of the room. "But it's also kind of stupid." The siren and alicorn turned around to see the source, only for the voice to be in the other corner. "I mean, you're the heroes here and yet filled with so much doubt."
With a determined growl, Twilight focused her thoughts, her lavender horn illuminating with a shimmering aura. She cast a scanning spell, an ancient technique that would allow her to perceive magic signatures and detect the source of the voice. As the spell unfolded, Twilight's ears flicked left and right, adjusting to the various frequencies that danced upon the air. The voice transformed from a mere whisper into a clearer sound, and she soon realized that it belonged to an old mare, her tone laden with wisdom yet punctuated by an unexpected vibrancy.
What bewildered her the most was the age and weight in the voice, countering so hard with their incredible speed. Every time both of them locked onto the source only for the voice to speak from the opposite side of the room. They couldn't even hear the old mare's movement, no sense of magic or a flap of a wing.
"How long have you been there, and why didn't we sense you?" Cold Blue finally spoke, his gaze piercing the dark corners of the tower.
"I was hiding here first, singer!" The voice laughed, echoing out in front of Twilight, before knocking the alicorn to the floor without hurting her. Jumping back, even far faster than they could see them. "You two wanted to escape the world below... so did I."
"You were here before us!?" Twilight cried out, her mind reeling at the idea. "Who are you?!"
"Oh, please, you were just so wrapped up in yourselves," a voice scoffed, moving impossibly fast, a blur swirling around them in plain view. Cold Blue barely registered the impending danger when he was knocked off his feet. In that same moment, Twilight was sent spiraling into the siren's arms with little effort. The whirlwind of grayness and sound slowly came to a stop upon defeating both of them. The alicorn was left slack jaw upon seeing the figure in front of them.
With a cane that seemed to prop her up against the weight of her years, she advanced slowly but resolutely. This was no ordinary elder. Her appearance was a stark contrast to the polished images preserved in the gilded history books. The once-vibrant coat that once dazzled the earth ponies under her was now marked by the grays of age and the matted tangles of her long mane that flowed like a waterfall of gray over the floor. Each heavy step she took carried not just the burden of her body, despite the incredible speed she was displaying before.
Draped in an assortment of politically familiar attire. Her yellow vest, once a symbol of hope and prosperity, was now faded and frayed, accompanied by dirty blue pants that told tales of countless debates and tumultuous rallies. In the future she walked the line between reverence and rebellion, embodying a defiance that spoke volumes amid a world that often sought to tidy history into neat, digestible narratives. Yet now this earth pony mare was nothing more than a cranky old almost unfamiliar soul. However, her iconic ruff that crowned her neck, was an integral part of her identity that Twilight couldn't ignore, There was no denying it, standing in front of them was the very pony they were looking for, Cenior Puddinghead.
"Cenior Puddinghead is a horrible pony!" Smart Cookie declared, her voice amplified by the echo of her frustration. The bar, often a sanctuary for hearty laughter and tales of camaraderie, was thick with tension as she expressed her grievances. Her declaration hung in the air, as heavy and potent as the drinks she had been consuming.
At the bar with her, Red Steel, the silent guardian of the group, maintained his usual stoic demeanor. His eyes flickered towards Smart Cookie, occasionally betraying a hint of concern as she downed cup after cup, the glasses precariously balanced on her head. Red Steel's presence was a comforting shadow, ever ready to intervene should the situation escalate or the tipsy mare lose her footing.
Hermes, on the other hoof, was his usual boisterous self, unable to curb his enthusiasm when it came to Smart Cookie's impassioned rants. "Ha! You tell 'em, Smart!" he hollered, raising his own glass as if in salute. He tried his best to keep on her good side. Every time she turned away, Hermes couldn't hide the open fact. "This bitch is crazy..." He whispered to the buffalo.
"Shut up, Hermes." Smart Cookie growled, her eyes glazed over and red.
"Sorry, ma'am!" The griffin saluted.
"You're gonna love this, Red..." She swung over and ran her hands up his shoulder. That was another note that Hermes couldn't ignore. This was the first time he ever met her, but Red Steel seemed to know her almost too intimately to be casually about this. "We take Cenior into an alley... and bash her brains in against the wall! You can watch them go splattered!" Her words were so cold and callous, seemingly too much for the buffalo as he pushed her off, but didn't leave or even seemed all that offended. The griffin was confused by his long-time friend's lack of care. "Why not, Red?!" Smart Cookie paced the wooden floor with the confidence of a performer on stage, her steps graceful despite the mounting effects of her intoxicating drinks.
"That mare always wanted to make things so complicated!" she continued, growing more animated with each passing moment. The patrons of the tavern turned their attention to her, a mix of amusement and concern flickering in their eyes. Smart Cookie pointed an accusatory hoof towards the ceiling, her passion spilling over like the drinks she had consumed. "Every time we try to achieve something, there she is, complicating matters! It's like she enjoys watching us scramble!"
Twilight had noted to them about Smart Cookie's reputation in determination and common sense, tonight she had transformed into a whirlwind, swirling around the bar with tales of bureaucratic blunders and convoluted plans that had led to nothing but frustration. "And don't even get me started on her new 'innovative' ideas!" she exclaimed, throwing herself off the stage and into Red Steel's arm.
He kept his normal silence, rolling his eyes and putting her down on a chair. His mouth mumbled like words were coming out. However, not a single syllable could be heard by the griffin. Hermes didn't have a chance to ask what wrong with Red Steel. Instead, Smart Cookie answered for him.
"Don't patronize me, Red!" She yelled, pushing him away. "You're the childish one!"
The buffalo sighed and took his seat on a table.
"You know I'm right, Hermes!" The mare called out.
"I-I... never said anything." He was caught off guard as she wrapped her arms around him.
"Well, you're his new best friend, right?!" Smart Cookie ran her fingers down his sides and over his hips. "Or are you screwing him?!" Hermes blushed, his face growing warmer as her hands drifted dangerously close to his inner thighs. He stammered and tried to push her away, his protests falling on deaf ears. The crowd was no help either, their laughter and jeers drowning out his pleas. "No surprise, most earth ponies here are hiding their kink of buffalo!" She laughed as he fell out of her arms and onto the floor.
"W-what?" Hermes couldn't believe the accusation, his mind reeling from the implications.
"Just kidding! Just kidding!" Smart Cookie waved it off before leering her eyes back at the buffalo. "Though, I'm not fully wrong when it comes... to Pudding's son... And you brother." Her words instantly shook the buffalo out of his seat with wide eyes.
"How... How do you..." Red Steel couldn't find the words. As if it had been so long since he spoke properly. He covered his mouth, forcing the words to stop leaving his lips. Turning away, he marched out of the bar, leaving them both utterly confused.
"Three words..." Hermes was left gasping. "That's the most I've gotten out of him."
"Don't let it bother you, kid." Smart Cookie leaned against him, her head leaning on his chest. "I've known him for years." Her breath reeked of alcohol, the stench of her drunkenness making the griffin gag. "We go way back-" SHe was stooped as the griffin shook her.
"Please, tell me everything! What's his favorite food? His favorite drink? His past?! Why won't he speak to me?!" The griffin demanded so loud. "I need to know everything!"
"Okay, okay, settle down, Hermes!" Smart Cookie chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She slid into the seat next to him, her playful demeanor radiating warmth and also something else. With a swift motion, she poured herself another drink, the amber liquid glistening in her glass. "It's gonna cost you."
Hermes turned beet red, his characteristic eagerness getting the better of him. "I-I can pay in bits!" he squealed, vibrant embarrassment spreading across his features at the unexpected banter. However, that facade faded as her hands traveled from his chest, down to his pants.
"Not that kind of payment, idiot," she smirked, taking a sip from her drink and leaning her face towards his beak. Her playful challenge hung in the air, her enthusiasm infectious. Just as Hermes reached out for help, seeking solace in his trusty friend Red Steel, the unexpected happened. Smart Cookie, who had clearly enjoyed more than just a few sips, succumbed to the evening's libations and flopped backward onto the floor, finally unconscious. The suddenness of it all caught Hermes off guard.
The laughter around them faded into a blend of concern and amusement. Red Steel, who had been observing from a distance, gave a soft smile and turned away. "That mare could never hold her stupor." His voice was as quiet as a whisper, but the words were clear as day. His eyes trained at the mansion in the distance. "Little brother, Blue Bull... what have you done now?
The frozen island, far from any civilization had been a place of many reveals as of late. So many details that Starswirl didn't want to leave anymore. This couldn't be more prominent than standing in front of the grave of the true king of the wendigo, while being entrapped by the arrival of a far more ancient and powerful being. The old wizard loved surprises, but this took the biggest slice possible. So many questions could be answered at this moment if he could only find the right words to poke this god level entity with.
Hollow Prince was just as amused by this unicorn's bold claim about him. To dare accuse him of by the literally son of god in a sense was strange. Truth be told, he never knew his father or mother fully, coming into being after they had left the mindscape long ago. His only consonant was in his isolation which had only been broken merely recently in the grand scheme of things.
Realizing both of the two had been left paused for a solid ten hours of unflinching silence by Starswirl dropping Hollow Prince's full titles, the captain could only cough hard to break the tension. Maybe to get things moving or at least allow him to finally sit down and rest his single leg. "So... This is something!" He coughed harder, hoping to crack the walls between the two ancient beings. "Now that you both know each other, can we get to the important stuff?"
"Yes, sorry." Hollow Prince chuckled. "I've never met anypony that's had the guts to call me anything but a pony of no relation to a greater being." He presented his current form. "I choose this simple and sleek attire for a reason. To draw no attention..." His eyes narrowed on the wizard. "And yet, you saw through it instantly."
"Right?!" Starswirl laughed it off. "Let's just say ever since I became in tune with the Words of Chaos, seeing through the veil of your kind has been rather easy." He lowered his guard and fixed his hat. "It's why I was able to realize who Thule within seconds."
"Yes..." Hollow Prince rolled his three eyes. "I sensed the fight you had with him above and thought about checking things out... but I was busy at the time." He held up his hands to Starswirl and gestured around his form. "Your former student, Clover, as well as several others entered my mindscape, thus left me severally weakened. Even before that, my beloved Blood Diamond fought Nightmare Moon directly to force her into the fight with Ixion."
"Sounds like we've missed a lot back on the mainland." Fred looked back toward the direction of the airship, hoping the others were right.
"Indeed." Hollow Prince turned his head to the wendigo gravestone. "Truth be told, I'm not even finished healing yet. But when I sense you approached this grave, I just couldn't resist showing up."
"About that..." Starswirl finally found some words to question him with, though they were the right words he wanted to start with. "Rumor said that you often use Blood Diamond's body as a host." He stepped closer to push the issue. "However, his wounds would take longer to heal then your own."
"Exactly..." Hollow Prince slowly stopped and brought his hands back to his current form. "Oh, you wish to know how I am standing before you. You are clever." He laughed it off, knowing the wizard was already aware of his secrets. "The answer is quite simple." He held up his hands over his face and slowly dropped them down. Slowly the form changed from that of a pony of ambiguous species to a blank slate of flesh with no face at all or even the slightest of features. "This is my latest project... Unfinished but tested plenty." He slowly changed his form back to that of a pink stallion.
"Changeling DNA?" Starswirl questioned.
"Far more advance than Kray's poultry designs." Hollow Prince tilted his head. The only reason he would reveal this much is out of respect for such a wise wizard. "I dubbed them Doppelgangers."
"That is fascinating." Starswirl stepped even closer, taking out his notepad. "And the fact that you can switch forms without a single trace of magic at all, how did you accomplish this."
"Thousands upon millions of failures." Hollow Prince held up his hand against his other arm and tore off the flesh with ease, bleeding white instead of red or blue. "Still in the protype stage. The flesh is so fragile that the simplest wound can break it. Plus, no magic of light or dark can latch onto it unless another is providing the power." Despite his complains the wound healed instantly, but left his eyes slightly fatigued. "My latest version allows me to create my own faces and even personalities but it's still not as good as using Blood Diamond's body."
"Interesting, and I'm the mind transfer kill the soul inside?" Starswirl caught on even faster than Hollow Prince wanted him to.
"For what little soul they do have. Most upon birth are more akin to rabid beast." Hollow Prince flowed out of an image out of seemingly nothingness, no magic could be seen by the captain. However, Starswirl could see something, akin to Lord Red's strange power of corruption magic, no surprise since this was the son of such. "For example, when 002 awoke he ripped open his cage and devoured the flesh of five of his other siblings before I could contain him." The images showed every words of his to be true, including the use of ice magic to contain the monster.
Starswirl was surprised to see this form of magic. However, the user of such was offscreen, but seeing as they were standing in front of the grave of the wendigo king there were only a few possibilities. Seeing a bolder choice of questions the old wizard went for it. "This is all wonderful news, but... is that Indigo Frost helping you contain the beast... or his son?"
"Not the king, his son." Hollow Prince answered honestly. "The father died the same night this place was consumed by fire and ice along with his lover when they were captured by the sirens." His eyes narrowed. "At first I chose to ignore them. Crisis Blue never knew I existed, so it best suited me to not get involved with the hatred happening above my labs." He flipped images around and revealed red snowflakes arrived on the island. "A few millennia later, the son arrived with a strange mare by his side. They found the corpses shortly and gave them the proper burial."
Starswirl understood why C. C. Frost could only be seen through red snowflakes as that had become his calling card. However, he found the mare with him to be a greater mystery. Static covered her entire form and from what he could see of Hollow Prince's eyes, this wasn't a purpose of the vision, but rather that her form was even being kept secret from him as well. Strange to see that even a powerful being like himself could be deceived. "Who is she?"
"That was the first and last time I met her. She barely spoke at all, not even when the wendigo asked her to speak. Only one name escaped her lips." Hollow Prince's voice grew serious, showing a rare side of concern.
"What was the name?!" the captain spoke out of term, breaking Hollow Prince's concentration.
"What matters is that C. C. Frost and the mare helped me in containing 002. As such, I was forever in their debt." Hollow Prince continued as if nothing happened, even when the captain's voice faded. "They offered me a place in the future they wished to forge. Saying things like how Aitym and Thule had been roped into their twisted cabal."
"I don't believe for a second you would ever join forces with either of those two." Starswirl smirked, knowing even he would turned down such a limited offer.
"True... Their minds are so limited to the expanse of godly knowledge in my reach." Hollow Prince held his hand to the sky and the image spliced into trillions of stars. Each one filled with endless possibilities. "They are but insects to the grand truth I have seen." He dropped his hand. "I would never join them, but I did offer them to test some of my doppelgangers."
Starswirl caught the slip of the tongue. "Test?"
"Yes, but they only accept two." Hollow Prince's eyes dropped in disappointment. "I received scans on them daily, yet I don't care what they do with them."
"Only two..." Starswirl brushed his massive beard. "And yet, neither were being used by Thule or Aitym. Very strange indeed. Unless..." His eyes widened. "Wait..." His eyes raised up as ideas processed. However, he didn't reveal to either of them what he was thinking. "Could that have been the angle? No, maybe the other way."
Hollow Prince rubbed his three eyes in amusement. He knew this wizard was a very curious pony, but to go through all possibilities on his own without just straight up asking him directly for the answers was most puzzling. "You really enjoy a mystery don't you, Starswirl?"
"Very much, and I can't let this one pass." Starswirl turned back to the captain. "Go back to the Titan AIrship and tell Lady Cat we will be staying a little be longer than expected." He held out his hand to Hollow Prince. "I will be having a nice chat with Hollow Prince for the next few days."
"Days?" The captain was shocked, but knew it was pointless to argue. "Alright, just stay safe. I don't think Lady Cat can take much more stress."
"She'll manage with plenty of attention from you." Starswirl assured him, not wanting to see his captain worried.
"Okay... and I'll send down your meals." The captain sighed and took his leave
"Thank you!" Starswirl shouted to him, seeing him vanish off into the distance. Turning back to Hollow Prince, he was glad to see the ancient being still gripping his hand. "Now, I would love to see your labs."
"Careful, you might my beloved Blood Diamond a little jealous." Hollow Prince's eyes glowed in a strangely unique form of magic only they could see. Starswirl assumed the previous powers had to be corruption magic, but this felt different. Maybe the even more rarely seen balance magic. "I would love for you to help in my research."
"As would I." Starswirl nodded and the two vanished together.