Hoarse Words
Chapter 8: 8. Maud/Sombra (Browneyedbagel).
Previous Chapter Next ChapterThis cave opening was unfamiliar to Maud Pie; it had apparently sprung into existence overnight, and just the faintest expression of curiosity shaded her muzzle before she got her features back under control. The glittering blue crystals were aesthetically pleasant, and she regarded them with a faint smile as she plunged deeper inside. She found a charcoal grey stallion with a curving red horn at the end of it. “King Sombra,” Maud said, her voice free of inflection as she identified the former ruler of the Crystal Empire.
“Help me,” he said weakly, struggling to stand.
Maud knew that she should alert the authorities, but something in the way he'd asked for help … he sounded sincere. “You won't hurt my family if I take you to our farm?”
“You have my word,” Sombra replied, his red eyes studying Maud's form.
9. Discord is Star Swirl the Bearded (Chienne1).
Princess Celestia strolled the gardens of Canterlot Castle, the grim expression on her muzzle and shoulders slumped at an awkward angle told the story of yet another sleepless night; without having made any conscious decision to do so, her hooves brought her to the statue of Discord. Most were uneasy about it, but Celestia wanted to keep a close eye on him.
Especially …
Her eyes drifted back to the castle; one light, of course, still shone. Star Swirl, working late into the night, perfecting the many spells that he had created. One always eluded him, but he was determined to crack it.
Celestia sighed. He had to be aware, on some level, of the connection. She'd wanted to bring it up many times, but … what would it do to him to know? That a sliver of Discord's soul had escaped before the Elements had completed their work and was infesting him?
That it was that sliver that gave him his power.
That it was that sliver that she was truly in love with.
Slowly, she made her way back to the castle, wondering where the sliver would go when Star Swirl finally died.
10. Filly Vinyl Scratch (Divine Path).
“Does it speak?” Lady Blunt asked; a sceptical look formed on her muzzle as a pale-coloured unicorn entered the kitchen wiping the sleep from her eyes, doing her best to stifle a yawn.
“Not often,” replied Octavia, wishing that, just for once, her mother wouldn't be so rude about her guests. Lady Blunt, the finest musician of her generation, had made it abundantly clear that she did not approve of her daughter's choice of best friend. What was the point of paying for the finest education in the land when you were studying with dilettante like that?
“What, exactly, is she?” Lady Blunt stared after Vinyl as she disappeared into the living room, clearly not wishing to become involved in another argument between the two.
“She's … Vinyl.”
“That's hardly an answer.”
“She's my friend. That should be all that matters, Mother.”
Before she could offer yet another acerbic reply, Lady Blunt's ears were filled with a note-perfect rendition of Stradivari's classic sonata Canticum Solis et Stellarum, often considered the most difficult of his works to master.
And yet an eight-year-old wastrel had done just that.
“Maybe she isn't so bad,” Lady Blunt said, a half-smile on her lips.