A sizable hourglass gracefully tips over. The minuscule particles of sand cascade downwards and settle at the base. The motion is unhurried yet unwavering, as the tiny grains are gently carried through the air in a flawless circular pattern. Celestia gracefully passes by the glass above before ascending the spiraling staircase, her steps purposeful and deliberate. She arrives at the balcony, which offers a commanding view of the majestic mountains' silhouettes.
The moon graced the sky with its presence as it painted the sky above in a gentle silver light. The night air gently caressed her face as she lay awake, staring up at the full crescent. It had been two years since Celestia had sealed her dear sister into the moon to save Equestria from eternal night, but she had never stopped thinking about her. Ever since she laid eyes upon her on the Moon, she couldn't get that image of her out of her mind. She wished to see her again, even more so now when all hope seemed lost.
Celestia stares up at the cluster of stars. It is hard for ponies to find their way in the vastness of space, let alone travel through it using only their minds as a guide. Even Celestia's ancestors had not traveled this far beyond their home planet, much less their home world, where she spent many centuries in seclusion learning the ways of the Equestria. Celestia closes her eyes while trying her best to block away the thoughts, feelings, and memories that keep flooding her.
She fixates on the moon. The moon's silvery glow embraces her with a gentle radiance, its luminescence spills over the majestic towers of Canterlot. Said moon illuminated their intricate designs, while its soft light danced across the cobblestone streets below. A cool breeze whispers through the air, playfully stirring her mane and sending delicate shivers down her spine before it fades away into the night.
Celestia reopened her eyes. She saw the moon now resting just at the base of the sky. Bestowing a deep white glow upon the land below it. Its rays extend outward, reaching the city beneath, and illuminating the buildings. The shadows cast by the colossal stone pillars stretch long across the roads and streets, creating a path between each edifice.
Celestia's horn emitted a radiant yellow glow. She shut her eyes as the moon gracefully descended behind the majestic mountains, making way for the sun to cast its bright orange glow upon the heavens. The once purple sky was now painted in blue, dotted with puffy clouds. The sun seemed to radiate as a new day for all ponies. Celestia was captivated by the sheer beauty of the scene unfolding before her. It was almost inconceivable that she was bestowed with the privilege of beholding such magnificence every day.
Raising the moon was certainly a challenging endeavor. Although she eventually mastered it; the journey to perfection required considerable effort and time. Celestia committed herself fully to refining the process with dedication and practice. Ensuring that each aspect was executed with care and precision. And by stars, she did just that.
"Princess."
Celestia looked over her shoulder. She saw a Royal Guard pegasus standing near the stairs, staring at her with a knowing look. Celestia frowned upon seeing her expression before turning away with a sigh.
"I know," said Celestia.
Celestia turned away from the balcony and followed Guard down the stairs. After a few or more minutes of walking the mares reached the throne room. As Celestia sat upon her throne in the center of the Sun Court, she eyed the petitioner's line with a perfect poker face of reserved interest. There were already well over one hundred ponies lined up and chatting amongst themselves as her secretary and guards arranged the first session of court. Celestia suppressed a yawn as she leaned over to the alabaster white unicorn sitting beside her.
"What time is it?" She asked, her tone pleasant and just loud enough to be heard only by the pony meant to hear it.
"It's ten-o-clock, Princess," the Royal Guard replied.
Celestia nodded her head. "I see. How many ponies have shown up for court so far?"
"We have one hundred and six in the room, and seventy-six outside," She answered, eyeing the clipboard in her magical grasp.
Celestia sighed while shaking her head. A year after sealing Nightmare Moon away, she found herself inundated with marriage proposals—over two thousand in just one year. To regain control over her personal life amidst the chaos, she enacted a law granting her the authority to choose her future husband, a decision made to quell the relentless requests for her hoof in marriage. This choice, while empowering, also weighed heavily on her heart as she navigated the complexities of love and duty in her royal life.
Celestia believed that by enacting a law that catered to her subjects' wishes but set for a time so far in the future that they would all have passed away, she could effectively sidestep their demands. She assumed that after seven hundred years, no one would remember or care about the law. However, she underestimated her little ponies' persistence and commitment to their beliefs, which proved to be stronger than she anticipated. Reassuring thoughts began to appear in her mind:
Just remember what mother told you, Tia. Just say no, and they'll go back to their kingdoms.
"Could you kindly begin the court procession? I do believe we are right on time," Celestia said, sitting just a smidge more upright.
"Of course, Princess," the Royal guard responded, shifting her attention to the guard stallion sitting to her left. "The Princess is ready to begin Day Court."
The guard nodded before turning to address the gathered ponies still talking among themselves.
"Attention! Day Court will now commence! Let us hear the first case of the day!" His voice boomed throughout the hall, silencing every-pony inside immediately.
Celestia took a deep breath and stared forward with a small smile.
Astral Shroud emerged from the dim confines of the lower deck. His gaze tracked the bustling crew members as they moved about with purpose. As he stepped onto the main deck, he paused momentarily, allowing the vibrant scene to unfold around him. The salty breeze rustled through the palm trees, and the rhythmic sound of waves lapping against the hull filled the air. Half a dozen men toiled aboard the ship, their laughter mingling with the occasional shout as they navigated their tasks.
Beyond the vessel, the island unfolded like a paradise—a picturesque tropical beach stretching before him. Soft powdery sand glistened beneath the warm sun, and lush green foliage framed the shoreline. Creating a stunning contrast against the azure waters of the ocean. The scene was nothing short of idyllic.
Astral disembarked from the boat. His boots sank slightly into the warm grains of sand as he trotted towards the beach. The lively chatter of the crew still echoed from the ship, punctuated by an animated bickering that piqued his curiosity. Something was amiss aboard, but for now, he relished the beauty surrounding him.
Astral followed the crew and Captain Gaggin toward the jungle. It loomed over the group, ancient and ominous like a massive beast waiting to pounce on its prey. They cautiously stepped into its mouth, submerging themselves into the claustrophobic undergrowth. Soon the group made their way uphill at a steady pace. After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at the end of the trail.
A concrete wall topped with curling razor wire extended from both sides of the gate into the jungle beyond. Lichen and moss covered the perimeter walls in various shades of green while creeping ivy grew thick and tangled through the wire. The steel doors creaked open on rusty hinges, and the heavy machinery streamed from the entrance. Two cats in soldier-like uniforms and military helmets stood at the gate, their spears held close. Captain Gaggin gave them a quick nod and entered with his crew. The guards promptly closed the doors and secured them with heavy locks.
Astral looked around the compound's interior. Dozens of soldiers were running around the steel diamond clearing, carrying loads of equipment the pair had never seen before. Groups of soldiers keeping watch were gathered around fires beneath the canopy that stretched over the perimeter walls. There was no sign of any foals around the area. But he knew in his heart that they were here. Somewhere.
Astral proceeded to follow Captain Gaggin toward a cabin and head inside. The interior of the cabin was surprisingly homey; there was a cheap carpeted floor with a mahogany desk covered in files against the black wall. The only light in the room came from a dim lamp on top of the desk. A giant Minotaur was leaning against the desk and puffed on a thick cigar. A black bipedal bull dressed in an open-buttoned dark red shirt with rolled-up sleeves, gray trousers with black line patterns, a green sash around his waist, and classic black boots complete with large bronze buckles. He also donned a large black and gold captain's coat over his attire.
"Hey boss," Gaggin greeted, taking his captain's hat off before half bowing his head politely. "Sorry It took us a long time to get here."
The black Minotaur's imposing figure loomed over the group. Casting a long shadow that seemed to engulf them in a palpable tension. His face was heavily worn with stress, and his eyes were piercing and cold. His heavy brow furrowed deeper as he scrutinized each face, the weight of his authority pressing down like a storm cloud. The creaking of the floorboards echoed in the silence as he paced, each step deliberate and filled with an unspoken threat. When he halted before Astral, the air thickened, charged with an electricity that made it hard to breathe.
Astral maintained his composure despite his heart racing. Refusing to yield to the Minotaur's fierce gaze. The silence stretched between them, a battle of wills where only the strongest would emerge unscathed. The Minotaur's cold eyes seemed to pierce through Astral's very soul, searching for any sign of weakness. But Astral remained steadfast, a silent challenge reflected in his unwavering stare.
"I don't recognize this one," the Minotaur growled, his voice like distant thunder rumbling through the tense air.
Gaggin glanced at his boss.
"He's a new member of my crew, boss. Our carpenter," Gaggin replied with a slight tremor in his voice, trying to mask the unease that threatened to overpower him.
The Minotaur briefly glanced at Gaggin before shifting his gaze back at Astral.
"Who are you?" The Minotaur asked.
"Ash, sir," Astral replied, his tone well-composed.
The Minotaur's narrowed eyes slightly deepened before turning away. He walked to a wall covered in maps and aerial photos. Astral squinted at a photo, trying to discern the obscure details under the flickering light. In three pictures he discerned a few foals, young mares and colts, their heads lowered with tears streaming down their cheeks. Some of them even had scars on their backs which he deduced were from harsh whippings, a grim reminder of past struggles.
"Did you retrieve new slave batches?" The Minotaur asked.
Gaggin placed his hat back on his head.
"Sorry boss, but we lost those little brats before we could grab 'em," Gaggin replied, rubbing his nape with a paw. "But we'll get more next time."
The Minotaur lowered his head.
"That's what you said last time," he muttered, his voice dripping with frustration. "My patience is running thin with you. Have I made an error in allowing your survival?"
Gaggin's crew darted uneasy glances at one another, their confidence shaken.
"What? Of course not," Gaggin replied. "We just need more time to find another island. Heck, if we go over to the equestrian lands, we could—"
"That's out of the question," the Minotaur interrupted him, glancing at the captain with a glare. "You know as well as I do who resides on those lands. Mixing with them would invite unwanted attention, including hers. I've said it once and I'll establish it again. That territory is off limits."
Gaggin rolled his eyes.
"Fine. But you have to understand boss, finding islands with ponies in them is not easy; these seas are heavily patrolled, and the villagers are well-protected," Gaggin said, raising his paw for the gesture. "Even before we met and took a job under you, we were beating our heads over this. You can't expect it to be done in one day."
The Minotaur fully turned around to face Gaggin.
"The situation necessitates that it be done, quickly," the Minotaur replied, his tone unwavering. Gaggin sighed with a shake of his head.
"I'm just giving you the facts, boss," Gaggin replied. "And the fact is, we need more time. Otherwise, we won't have enough ponies to finish what you're trying to do."
The Minotaur glared at Gaggin for a moment. He took a deep breath before returning to his seat behind his desk.
"When will you and your crew begin your next sail?" The Minotaur asked.
Gaggin shrugged his shoulders.
"Tomorrow morning. We just need to resupply our food and water supplies and we should be ready to set sail when you give the command," Gaggin replied.
The Minotaur nodded his head.
"Good. Then you all should be leaving tomorrow morning as soon as possible. Dismissed," the Minotaur replied with finality.
Gaggin and his crew bowed in response and turned away to the exit. Astral trailed after them.
"Not you!" The Minotaur rumbled, pointing at Astral. "Stay."
Astral froze where he stood and glanced at Captain Gaggin and his crew. Astral nodded towards them, silently asking them to continue without him. They immediately started out of the cabin one by one. Jude halted her pace for a moment to briefly glance at Astral before continuing along with her crew through the doorway. The door closed behind them as Astral stepped up to the Minotaur's desk with his paws clasped behind his back.
"You wish to speak with me, boss?" Astral asked.
The Minotaur glanced up at Astral with narrowed eyes.
"Are you aware of what we're doing here, Ash?" The Minotaur asked.
Astral shook his head.
"No, sir," Astral replied.
Silence hung between the two for a brief while. Astral stared back down at the Minotaur, waiting patiently for any further instruction. The Minotaur let out a low snort and stood up.
"Here in my kingdom, there are rules; rules that can not be broken," the Minotaur stated. "If you wish to keep the peace between me and those who work for me, you do as you're told. Loyalty and respect are both required in this hierarchy. Do you comprehend, Ash?"
Astral blinked, taken aback by the words.
"Yes sir," he answered, nodding his head in understanding.
The Minotaur's sharp eyes locked into Astral's.
"This isn't some game or some joke, boy. I don't know where you come from or your background, and quite frankly, I don't care," the Minotaur added with anger laced in his gruff voice. "What I'm working on here is bigger than you can imagine. So if you wanna survive on my turf, follow the rules with no hesitation. Do as you're told, without question. And if you ever even think of stabbing me in the back…"
The Minotaur reached under his desk. Astral's eyes widened when the Minotaur pulled out the skull of a cat, placing it down on the desk's surface. Astral stared back into the skull's empty eye sockets as the Minotaur placed his hooves on top of it.
"Then that." The Minotaur pointed at the skull with his other hoof. "Ash, will be you. Am I clear?"
Astral shifted his gaze back at the Minotaur. His heart raced, but not from fear; it was a surge of adrenaline fueled by purpose. Normally if anyone else was in his shoes, they would be terrified of not just seeing the skull but the consequences that would ensue if they defied their superiors. But Astral wasn't scared at all. Sure he was horrified to see the skull lying there, but his determination to stop whatever oppression and operation that was happening here overcame his fear. He was also internally smirking with the knowledge that if the latter knew what he was under his disguise, he wouldn't be threatening him.
But he'll keep pretending to be a weakling for a little while longer.
"Crystal, sir," Astral replied with a nod.
The Minotaur gave Astral a cold stare. He slowly removed his hoof from atop the skull, his large frame casting a shadow across Astral's face. The black bipedal bull folded his arms.
"I hope you understand the gravity of your decision," the Minotaur growled before sitting down behind his desk. "Now get out."
Astral turned away from him and strode out of the office. He surveyed the area around him, finding no signs of his crew. He turned to his left and saw a path that stretched beyond the area he was in. He started toward said path and walked forward.
Apartments lined the dirt path as Astral walked. Cats and Minotaurs could be seen gracefully navigating the busy sidewalks, moving with purposeful steps. Astral turned to his left when he saw large cages filled with young dirty foals chained together, being guarded by two Minotaurs. Some of them were earth ponies while the others were, surprisingly, unicorns and pegasus. All of them shared a strange collar strapped around their neck with a red gem embedded in the front. Astral deduced that the collar must be some kind of cancellation device that stops the ponies from using their magic.
Those who weren't confined within cages were either dutifully serving their masters or tirelessly toiling away. Astral observed two young earth pony colts laboring under the weight of sleds loaded with heavy crates. The colts strained with every laborious step, their small frames quivering as the rough straps of the sleds dug deeply into the soft flesh of their shoulders. One of the colts, his brow shimmering with sweat under the harsh glare of the sun, paused momentarily to catch his breath. He reached up with a trembling hoof to wipe the moisture from his fur, his chest rising and falling rapidly, before he mustered the strength to push onward through the relentless toil.
Astral perked up upon hearing a child's high-pitched scream. He quickened his pace to follow the source, rounding a corner until he stared ahead. In the distance, he saw a widespread clearing where a crowd of cats and Minotaurs were gathered. At the center of the cleared space stood three earth pony colts tied to a pipe plunged into the ground. Each of them screamed in pain as a trio of Minotaurs lashed their backs with whips.
Every strike sends wave after wave of pain throughout the ponies, making them cry out louder than before. The crowd laughed mockingly in amusement. The only ones who weren't laughing among them were Captain Gaggin and his crew. Captain Gaggin stared sympathetically at the sight, a deep frown on his face. His heart went out to the ponies. The feeling extended to his crew as well, who remained silent, watching silently with concern.
But there was nothing they could do.
Astral watched the young colts being whipped with horror. Back in his previous life as a human, he had read stories and watched documentaries of black people's lives as slaves. How they had to work six days a week from sun up to sundown, working in the fields and having food sometimes not suitable for an animal to eat. And if necessary by the masters, they would be punished by either being hanged or given thirty-nine lashes.
A system log suddenly materialized in front of him.
[ Notice ]
[ The trio of young earth pony colts are being whipped. If you wish to stop this without causing a fight to ensue between you and the three Minotaurs, then you must handle this calmly. Use your mind to think of a way to stop their oppression peacefully. ]
Astral studied the words on the screen intently. He silently agreed with the system; no matter how much he wanted to punch those three Minotaurs for whipping those poor colts, he couldn't act rashly. He lifted his head when the digital panel vanished and started forward. Walking toward the three Minotaurs. Captain Gaggin and his crew blinked in surprise when they saw Astral marching towards the bull trio.
"Hey! They had enough," Astral yelled.
All of the Minotaurs immediately stopped beating the colts and stood up, glaring harshly at Astral.
"What did you say, punk!?" One of them barked, taking a menacing step toward him.
"They had enough abuse," Astral repeated. "I won't be able to continue their work if you proceed on beating them like this."
"Who gives a crud, we can do whatever we want," Minotaur 1 gritted out.
"Yeah! What are you gonna do about it, huh?!" Minotaur 2 mocked, crossing his arms over his chest.
Astral ignored the comment and focused on Minotaur 1.
"Does it require thirty-nine lashes to punish these slaves?" Astral asked.
Minotaur 1 huffed, glaring off to the side.
"Yeah, so what?" Minotaur 1 snapped.
Astral arched a brow while folding his arms. "Then, how many times have you guys lashed these three?"
The three Minotaur's faces became pale. All of them exchanged glances with each other, showing shock and surprise. The trio shifted their gaze back at Astral.
"Forty-two," Minotaur 2 replied.
Astral slightly tilted his head.
"Then what do you think our boss will do when he finds out that you three were responsible for putting his slave workers out of commission?" Astral challenge. The Minotaur trio stepped backward in fright at the threat.
"H-He would h-have our heads," Minotaur 3 squeaked, shaking visibly. Astral nodded his head.
"Exactly," Astral remarked, gesturing his paw at the young colt trio. "So I suggest we let these young colts lick their wounds. Once they heal in time they'll work harder than they did before, and not repeat the same mistake they made that led them here."
The three Minotaurs exchanged worried glances with each other once again. The crowd of both Minotaurs and cats whispered among themselves, discussing the situation. Minotaur 1 looked between his companions, nodding his head to them, signaling them to release the ponies. The pair nodded back before marching towards the three young colts and began untying the rope from the pipe. The three young colts collapsed to the ground in exhaustion after being freed.
Astral immediately crouched to their side. Looking at the trio's severe wounds gushing from their backs as blood through their coats. He glanced up at the three Minotaurs staring down at him.
"Where are their holding cells?" Astral asked.
Minotaur 1 clicked his tongue.
"Just keep moving forward down the path and go left. You can't miss it," Minotaur 1 replied.
Astral nodded in appreciation. He glanced down at the exhausted colts and leaned close to them.
"Hey, I know you guys are tired but I need you to listen to me okay," Astral whispered softly, speaking their language. "I'm gonna carry you, and I want one of you to get on my back."
The young colt trio lifted their heads. They stared up at Astral as he smiled warmly at them. The pony trio exchanged nervous glances before tremblingly rising to their hooves. Astral gently picked up the two colts under his arms, while the third climbed up and encircled his arms around his neck. Astral slowly rose to his feet and stared at the path ahead of him.
Astral stared forward with a smile still plastered on his face. After a minute of walking, he rounded the corner and found three giant cages close to a bar. One by one he carefully placed the young ponies inside before exiting the cage. He locked the door shut, then looked through the cage to see the young colts staring at him. Astral smiles at them and places his paw on the bars.
"I'm gonna get you guys out of here one day," Astral promised, once again speaking to them in their language. The three young colts blinked in surprise. "I promise."
Astral stood up and turned back to the path. The three young colts watched him in silence. As he rounded a corner, he was taken aback to see Jude standing in his way. Her paws firmly on her hips and a thoughtful expression on her face as she regarded him.
"Oh, hey Jude," Astral greeted, waving a paw at her. "You surprised me."
Jude slightly tilted her head.
"Why did you help those three?" Jude asked, a hint of curiosity laced in her tone.
"Well, with how exhausted they were, I knew they weren't in any shape to walk," Astral replied. "Besides, what else was I supposed to do? Do nothing and leave them in pain?"
Jude glanced at the ground with a frown. Astral noticed the change of her expression.
"Oh? I'm guessing you're used to doing that?" Astral asked, looking at her curiously.
Jude looked back at Astral with folded arms.
"You can say that," Jude confirmed. "Even if one were to intervene it would change nothing. They're all slaves at the end of the day."
Astral chuckled a little.
"I highly disagree," Astral retorted, smiling at her. Jude arched a brow at him. "No matter how small the act is, even if it is as small as an atom seed, it can make big changes going forward. Sure it may not happen today or tomorrow, but it will."
Jude shook her head with a chuckle.
"You sound so sure," Jude commented, smiling at him.
Astral grinned.
"I'm not," he admitted with a shrug. "But it's what I believe. I've seen my share of change throughout the years. It just takes some courage to take that leap."
Jude's smile dropped as she turned away from him. She took two steps forward until she stopped, looking at Astral over her shoulder.
"Gaggin told me to take you to your living quarters. Follow me," Jude said flatly. Without another word she turned and proceeded on walking forward. Astral trailed after her.
"By the way, does our 'Boss' have a name?" Astral asked, glancing at Jude curiously.
Jude glanced back at him with a stern look.
"His name is Toro Aterrador," Jude replied. "Steer clear of him. He's the last man you ever want to make angry."
Astral nodded his head. "Okay, I'll be careful."
Astral and Jude continued down the dirt path through the town. Unbeknownst to Astral, standing not too far on top of a building was the silhouette of a large griffin.
The griffin's white eyes watched Astral walk away with a glint of curiosity shining in them.
A/N: Hope you all enjoyed the fifth chapter, my little shimmerings. You ever watch your favorite show and tell yourself:
"Okay, one more and I'm done."
"Okay, one more."
"One more! JUST ONE MORE!"
That's the equivalent of what's happening here. I kept telling myself that I would release these chapters by the time I come back. But here we are. But anywho, I thought I pitch a little scene of what Celestia was doing and as you all have seen, a lot of stallions are asking for her hoof. Much to her annoyance. Now that Astral has found the raider's home base, he'll have take this carefully if he ever wants to get every filly back to their families. I've decided that I would add two arcs separate for both the father and his children. You will see once you read the next chapter. (If God wills), I'll be sure to get back into publishing more chapters for this story. With all of that said I'll be going now. I hope you all have a wonderful day or night wherever you are!
See you all in the next chapter, my little shimmerings!
