Twilight and the Spartan Stallion
Part 13: The Druid’s Prophecy

Scrape. Scrape scrap scrape. Scraaaape. Scrape-scr-scrape. “Hey, I think I found something.” The honey-colored mare said, adjusting her hat. “Come have a look’it this!” Pulling at her manila-colored vest to let some of the heat out, she switched from a shovel to a dusting brush. Sweeping back and forth with careful grace, she slowly revealed a… face?

“What is it, Daring?” A stallion leaned around her to see.

“I think it’s a statue! Or at least part of one.” Daring Do backed up so they could see it in better light. Spartan Shield’s face stared up at them, frozen in a silent shout of battle fury.

“I think we just hit the honeypot.” Grinned her assistant True Facts. Scratching the green check mark on his flank, he leaned and blew on the face a little. Dust particles rushed away, revealing a bit more. They turned and looked at each other, grinning. “If this is a full body statue,” he smiled broadly. “We might finally have something for the museum in Canterlot!” Daring was framing his face with her hooves already. He puckered his lips, expecting kisses, but wilted when he got none. Instead, she drew her hooves away like she’d been measuring him, and brought them to the face in the dirt.

“He’s life size. Or pretty close to it.” Daring said, scratching her chin. “Go get our brush set and spades. We’ll do this one ourselves.” She smiled. True Facts nodded, perking up again and dashing away to do her bidding. “Hm, wonder who you were supposed to be?” Daring said, smiling with interest.

Daring Do and her excavation crews had finally, after months and months, been allowed to dig at the site of what had once been the legendary Sore Saddle canyon. The place were the Battle of Moon’s Apex had taken place. They’d been finding a treasure trove of bones, ancient weapons, bits of armor, and even things like teeth and necklaces. (It seemed the Lunar Stallions all those centuries ago had had piranha-like teeth. Scary!) They’d been carefully cataloguing everything they’d found, but thus far hadn’t found anything particularly impressive. If the museum at the capital of Equestria was going to take stuff from this dig for display, they needed a dramatic centerpiece. If that was true, then this statue would be just the thing. With such a real face, complimentary of the late Greek and Roman eras of Equestria, he could serve as a way of telling exactly what ponies back then looked like. Early Greek era stuff was all wrong. The ponies of that time thought that only perfectly sculpted bodies were worth carving, so most of their statues looked about the same. THIS fellow though, oh-hoh-hoh, he even had an angry face! Daring Do had never known a statue with such an angry expression before. He was going to be the centerpiece for the greatest Greek and Roman era exhibit to ever grace the Canterlot Museum. The high of promised glory filled her eyes and she chuckled to herself.

“I’m back. Here we go.” True Facts returned with their leather-bound tool sets, unrolling one for her. Getting a series of stakes and neon-yellow tape, he marked a wide area around the statue so no pony would step on it willy-nilly. It would take a long time to dig up a life size pony statue without damaging it, so security was all the more important.

Daring Do leaned over the face she’d uncovered, smiling happily. “I can’t wait to get you out of there, and all cleaned up.” She said, chuckling. “I hear Greek and Roman stallions were pretty handsome guys.” True Facts rolled his eyes, smiling a little. Daring always talked to the relics she found when she was excited about them, like they might answer back. Leaning, the honey-colored mare dusted the statue’s intense eyes. They looked so real. Whoever had carved this must’ve been a stone-carving genius.

“I bet he was put here at the entrance of Sore Saddle Canyon to warn away intruders. Kind’a like the old city states did with statues of lions and llamasu’s.” said True Facts. “Maybe he’s supposed to look like a leader or something? Somepony in particular?” he rubbed his chin, scribbling in his notebook already. “If we get lucky and find a maker’s mark, we might even learn his identity.” He grinned in delight, writing things down as they came to him.

“Yeah…” said Daring Do vaguely, running the brush carefully back and forth. She smiled, imagining the glory to come when she showed up with an army’s worth of weapons and armor, along with this gorgeous statue. She’d become the greatest archeologist the recent world had ever known. She could just see it now! After a long silence she leaned over, favoring True Facts with a kiss on the cheek. He smiled coyly, pinkening. Then, both of them leaned over Spartan Shield and began to carefully excavate him.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
12 Years Later…
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Luna frowned upon her sister as she let herself into the night princess’ office. “I’ve come to apologize.” Celestia said, casting her gaze at the guards that stood on either side of the door. “I’ve used you.” She was forward and rather blunt about it.

“Leave us.” she dismissed Aegis Shield and Stalwart Hide from the room so the conversation would be private. “Pray tell, sister, why didst thou unleash a killing machine unto us in our own dining hall?” she said, rather angry.

“I’m playing a rather long plan, I’m afraid.” Celestia didn’t dare use the words ‘long game’ after her sister’s nose had been bloodied in the process. “Spartan Shield needed to get a good look at you in this era, to see that you were no longer Nightmare Moon.”

“So thou DID’ST set me up for pain!” Luna accused, standing angrily with a flare of her wings and pointing at her sister. “Thou art terrible!”

Celestia wilted, looking at the floor. “It was cruel, I’m sorry. But, if his war wounds are to heal, they must be ripped open first to let the infection drain out.” Her words were rather sickening, but Luna considered them. “He was raised to be a killing machine, yes, but in this era there is no place for him. I had to expose him to you early in his healing so that he would understand there is no more war, no more enemies, for him to worry about. Even his greatest foe,” Celestia said, gesturing to her. “Has come back from darkness and made amends with Equestria.” Luna’s tea set tray slipped out from under the kettle and cups, raced-across-the-room-CLANK! Celestia yelped like a kicked puppy, holding her nose. “Lulu d’at ‘urt!” she said, mewling at the pain.

“Next time thou shalt include me in your plans, yes? Especially when they involve pacifying one of the most fierce warrior stallions in Equestrian history?” Luna said acidly. Celestia nodded, checking her nostrils for blood. There was none, but it still hurt a little.

“Forgive me?” Celestia said softly, coming close to nuzzle her. Luna accepted said nuzzles. “I’ve grown used to ruling alone and not sharing my greater plans with anypony. I won’t do it again with you, promise.” The dark alicorn smiled, nodding her approval. “The next time we meet Spartan Shield, it shall be on your terms. Does that sound good?” Luna took the olive branch and nodded, forgiving Celestia at last. The solar alicorn sighed. Finally all was right with the world.

“Perhaps when he is done with his community service we shalt go visit he and Twilight Sparkle in Ponyville.” Luna said thoughtfully. “Deliver his monies, even. That would show that we mean well, and he would be less likely to try and trounce us.” Celestia chuckled a little painfully, nodding.

=-----=-----=-----=-----=

Angel Bunny was not happy. Not. Happy. It was the crack of dawn and there was a massive armored stallion on the stoop of his home, banging on the door and shouting about druids. He rubbed his temples and sighed inwardly. He knew this day would come at some point.

Fluttershy gulped, going to the door and slitting it open a little so she could peer out and greet her guest with one eye. “O-oh, hello there Spartan Shield. Nice morning?” it came out like a question.

“Ah! There thou art!” he beamed at her. “I come seeking thy wisdom, wilt thou have an audience with me?” he adjusted his breastplate a little, throwing out his chest to look as impressive and upright as possible.

Taking a few moments to screw up her courage, Fluttershy slowly opened the door. He stepped back as she stepped outside. The crisp dawn air was chilly, despite it being early July. It would not warm up for several hours. “Uhm-m, I usually don’t get guests so early.” She said softly, her mane hanging out over half her face.

Spartan’s face fell, and he shouldered his satchel a little. “Should I return another time?” he asked. “When?”

“Oh no, I wouldn’t want you to run back and forth to see me.” Fluttershy said a little fretfully. She did so hate to inconvenience others. It just wasn’t right. “You said you… wanted to ask me something?” her voice was whispery and meek, but it sounded wise and sagely to Spartan. Like a mare that never shouted because she just didn’t need to. Ponies surely stopped whatever they were doing when she spoke, to hear her vast wisdom.

“Yes.” Spartan came to his front knees, a bowing motion.

Hold it right there.

There was written signpost in his face, held by Angel Bunny. He scowled up at the stallion, who blinked down at him. They leaned briefly into each other’s faces, studying each other. “Oh, Angel Bunny. This is Spartan Shield.” Fluttershy said softly. “Twilight says he comes from a long time ago.” She said it rather vaguely, for Fluttershy didn’t know all the details. Something about being turned to stone and sitting in a museum…? She’d not been assertive enough to ask for more.

Angel Bunny nodded slowly. Of course he was from a long time ago. Just look at the way he was dressed. That armor. Those wrappings. That sheer muscle. He wasn’t from anywhere around here, and he wasn’t from anywhen around here either. Still wearing the same stoic frown, then rabbit turned his sign over and scribbled on it with a marker.

She knows not her powers. What do you offer to awaken them?

“Ephor…” Spartan Shield said, backing off a bit. So, the druid’s animal companion was her guardian. Well for course, that made sense. Her affinity for animals would of course spawn a guardian for her as such. An Ephor was an oracle’s guardian and keeper, in his time. “Forgive my intrusion. I’ve brought worthy trinkets.” Leaning and shifting his weight, Spartan Shield heaved his heavy satchel from his still bandaged shoulder. It made a sound of shifting metal. Angel Bunny tapped his big foot a few times. Fluttershy looked from one to the other, confused. Soon the massive ringing of metal filled her ears when Spartan threw down his bag. It burst open when it hit the ground, streaming bits and colored gems into view.

“Oh my.” said Fluttershy, gasping. There had to be at least forty gems there, all of them odd shades that one didn’t normally see. Blood red. Sky Blue. Forest Green. These were finds, not just anything you could dig up wherever you like. “Pretty…” said the butter-colored pegasus, smiling a little nervously. “Are those for me? How come?”

“I have come to have the future foretold to me.” Spartan Shield said, speaking to both of them but looking at Angel. “Shall I wait outside?” he asked.

“Oh, I'm sorry Spartan Shield. I can’t tell the future. I’m just a vet.” Said Fluttershy shyly, hiding behind her mane a bit more and looking to one side. She watched Angel Bunny gather up the gems and bits back into the bag, tie it, then haul it inside. “Angel, what are you going to do with that? Uhm… if you don’t mind telling me?” she said, looking over her shoulder. She looked back at Spartan Shield, who remained on his front knees in a pony bow. What was going on here?

Angel Bunny returned shortly after with a box of matches and a silvery, covered bowl. Fluttershy leaned curiously over it as he placed it on one side of her stoop, went inside, and came out with another one to place on the other side. Spartan Shield, still bowing, retreated a few steps as though to be out of range of something. “I thank thee for thy time and patience.”

Angel scribbled on a new sign. What do you ask of the oracle?

Spartan Shield looked up at Fluttershy, who was watching the whole scene with rather frightened curiosity. “I wish to know my future, and let me be guided through its upcoming hardships. Please tell me of my oncoming trials.” It was tradition to be vague, because the oracles were always vague. But they were never, ever wrong.

Angel Bunny struck a match, pulling the lid off the first bowl. He dropped it in, and white smokes began to slowly snake out like cigar smoke. Dashing to the other side of the stoop, he did the same. A hazy, light blue smoke poured from that bowl. The twin smoke stacks intertwined slowly, back and forth like living things.

A thousand years, the Bunny family had done these rituals; each generation teaching the next as they carefully followed the bloodlines of the oracles. But, Equestria had long since forgotten about them. T he station of Ephor was little more than reason to play the part of a pet these days. He never thought he would actually pull out the relics his father had given him to do this, but… times had been strange since his little Fluttershy had become the Element of Kindness. The overlap in station had been fine since her powers were dormant, but now somepony had come asking directly. He could not turn him away after such a bountiful offering. It was protocol.

The white and light blue snakes of smoke wormed slowly this way and that. Spartan Shield sank to his belly before Fluttershy, bowing his head. The frightened Pegasus looked back and forth, unsure. Then, the smoke flew up her nose like it was alive! She gasped, rearing up and flaring her wings open. Angel retreated to one side, keeping watch.

Fluttershy’s back arched and her mouth gaped open while her pupils contracted. Then, she flung herself forward onto her belly as her mane covered her. Scraaaaping her hooves back, she gave an audible moan as the fumes took hold of her, removed her inhibitions, and awoke long dormant powers brought down by her family’s bloodline. She gave a shriek, writhing about and pitching herself onto her back. She lost a few feathers and whinnied helplessly, gagging a bit and then curling up into a ball to shake.

Spartan Shield watched silently, his face stone-like. It was strange, the little nuggets of the old world that had never faded. He was thankful this was one of them. Rabbit aside, of course. There should have been half a dozen stallions watching over this poor burdened mare. But, to see such a rare mix between druid and oracle must’ve made the rare exception that animals watched over her. He watched her writh about, shrieking as though in potent heat, mane bannering back and forth as she did so.

Fluttershy stomped again and again with her front hooves as her mind unraveled from the real world and went sky high, into something she couldn’t have imagined. Some sort of higher plain. She could see. She could SEE! She babbled and drooled, then flopped onto her back with a glazed expression. Angel Bunny gestured Spartan to come forward. The stallion did so eagerly, very careful not to touch her as he leaned his ear over her mouth. Fluttershy whispered to him, her eyes seeing nothing at all as her lips moved. The druid spoke her prophecy. He spoke the words aloud, for every phrase had a pause between it and the next:

“Violence begets violence…”

“A weeping mare loves…”

“Fear not a blue box...”

“Plant a tree with love...”

“Honor the gods...”

“Honor your love…”

“Forsake thy anger...”

“Embrace in the night…”

Spartan Shield listened attentively, committing every single word to memory. Prophecies tended to be vague, he could not afford to mix up any words or phrases. Not even the order they came in. He would’ve written it down, but that would’ve been blasphemous. Closing his eyes and nodding slowly, he took a deep breath before standing. Angel Bunny hopped about, covering the two silvery bowls to stifle the smoke coming out of them. After he’d put them away, he made a shooing motion at the massive stallion. He bobbed his head, and turned to go.

Fluttershy gave a quiet moan, and Angel Bunny cocked an eyebrow. Hopping quickly to Spartan, he pointed with effort. “Oh? Of course.” He bowed reverently and went back to the stoop. Nosing the door open, he gathered Fluttershy upon his back and took her inside. Depositing her on a couch gently, he pulled a quilt over her. Angel Bunny nodded, scowling his approval. “Farewell, Ephor.” He said as he pulled the door closed behind him.

Angel nodded just once, before turning to check on his mistress. She would wake with a splitting headache, and probably be viciously hungry. Making doubly sure that the silvery bowls were well-hidden under the floorboards, he went to the kitchen to toss a salad. Fluttershy was always firmly under his foot, but in seeing to his hidden sacred duties it was his job to take care of her. Until she felt better. Then it was back to business as usual. Oracles never remembered their trances, and it was still early after dawn. Fluttershy wouldn't even remember she had a visitor if he was lucky.

End of Part 13