The last sun

“Ivy… hey Ivy, wake up.” Ivy moaned as her sister’s voice penetrated her silly dreams. When she opened her eyes, she began to moan even harder.
“What, Fleur. It’s still dark outside.”
“No, no. I mean yes, it is, but it’s not early in the morning anymore. It’s just the clouds that are still so dark. But at least it stopped raining.”
Ivy opened her eyes once again and looked behind Fleur to the clouds outside.

Indeed, her sister was right. The darkness did not come from the night, but from the clouds. She got off the couch on which she had slept and walked to the window.
“They are clouds indeed…” Ivy said with disbelief. She had never seen such dark clouds before, except maybe in the dreams she used to have about the old lands and the eruption. But these were not clouds created by a volcano. They were floating high in the sky like a dark blanket trying to shield the earth from the sunlight.

“Man, if those clouds break we’ll droooown…” Fleur said.
“Yeah… but it’s not raining. Not yet.”
“Or not anymore.”
The reply did not come from Fleur but from a man’s voice behind them. Junai was standing in the doorway, making Ivy uncomfortably aware of the fact that she had just gotten out of bed.
“Yes, maybe so. How long since it stopped raining?” She asked.
“Oh, a few hours maybe. I’ve already returned from the mansion. We can go as soon as you two are ready.”

Ivy wasn’t sure about that. With dark clouds like that in the sky…
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? I mean, what if we end up in another downpour like we did yesterday.”
“Well, I’m willing to take that risk. And if we leave now we should be able to reach the castle before the night falls.”
Junai did have a point and considering what he was going to hear when he arrived there, Ivy didn’t want to delay it too long, either. So she agreed with him.
“Okay. I’ll have some breakfast and then we’re on our way.”

Her breakfast existed of a few simply slices of bread with some yummy raspberry marmalade that Aline’s mother had made. While she ate Junai and Fleur prepared some food they could eat along the way. It was still dry when fifteen minutes later they left the little cabinet and Junai closed the door behind him.  He had left a small note for Alines parents if they would arrive before he was back.

While they walked to the road Ivy noticed how dark it really was. It was all so quiet, too. She could hear an own hoot somewhere in one of the trees. The animals were probably thinking it was still night. She was sure it were just the clouds, though. They were so dark, but she could clearly see the shapes of clouds among them. It was as if they were spreading from a spot not far from them, and they seemed to expand into all directions.

“It’s weird, isn’t it, the weather. I can’t remember ever seeing anything like it.” Junai said.
“Yes, I agree. I’ve never seen this before around here, either. Maybe it’s a storm approaching.” Ivy said.
“Well, I certainly don’t hope so. Imagine clouds like this becoming a storm… that won’t be pretty. And I’m not sure the mansion is strong enough to withstand that, either.” Junai said, while looking and the clouds with a depressed glare in his eyes.

“Well,” he said, trying to lift his mood, “what about the news Aline wants to tell me. Is it good or bad news?”
“I can’t say. Honestly.”
“Oh come on! You’ve got to give me something. Or do you want me to worry all the time until we arrive?” Ivy shook her head furiously. She couldn’t tell. A thing like this… How could she possible spoil it?
 “Okay, okay.” She admitted finally. “It’s a good thing. But that’s it. You shut up now. No guessing or anything. I’ll deny everything you say.”
Junai smiled. “That’s fine. Now, let’s hurry. Now I’m curious about what it could be!”

“Are you feeling okay, Câlin?” She asked the little girl.
The girl only nodded slightly, which she took as a yes. Today… It would all start. She was following the other and Him from a distance. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed it before. Everywhere where His hoofs touched the ground the vegetation just died. The grass, the plants… It just went brown. It frightened her. Was that what he was planning to do to this world?

He had had a long talk with Câlin in the morning. She wasn’t allowed to be anywhere near so she had no idea what it was about, but she guessed it was about Câlin’s role in His plan. What it would be, she didn’t know. Well, she would see soon enough. They were on their way to the castle now. The dark clouds were her creation. She had never guessed she would be able to create such dark clouds, but for Him, she had done it. It was hard to keep controlling them, to keep the rain from falling. But He didn’t want any rain now. Not yet.

Câlin was walking a bit more eager than before now. Was it because they were heading towards the castle? Was she hoping to see Twinkle Star again? She probably was. Câlin had not mentioned her name ever since they left the Old Lands, but she was sure Câlin was constantly thinking of her.

They were walking through the forest close to the official road. They didn’t want anyone to see them and warn the queen. It had to be a surprise, even though she was sure He could beat Regina any time even if she was warned. So there had to be another reason why He made them take this route, she just hadn’t figured out what it was, yet.

She was so lost in her own thoughts that she had not noticed the other had stopped walking and she almost bumped into her.
“Why have we stopped?” She asked after carefully avoiding the other whose eyes seemed to have turned bright red with a mysterious thirst for something far ahead.

“They are close. Regina’s daughters.”
“What? Who?” They couldn’t have been that close or she would have noticed something as well, but she didn’t sense anything. Even little Câlin was watching curiously, and she knew Câlin had an extremely keen sense of noticing people even from far away. But He seemed to have noticed as well, as He only stared in the direction the other was looking in, too.

“The weakest two. And another one. A male.” The other replied.
The weakest two… Well, that had to be the youngest two, Ivy and Fleur. She had no idea who the male could be though, but he probably didn’t matter.
“What shall we do, Master?” The other one asked Him.
He didn’t reply right away. Of course it would be wisest to just travel around them, if they wanted to keep their surprise act up. And that would not be too hard if they kept walking through the woods.

“We will pay them a small visit. Better to get rid of them right away. Regina will not know until we tell her.” He said.
He walked on but slightly in a different direction. It was starting even sooner than she had thought.

“So Junai, will you guys be able to make a pretty mansion for me, too?” asked Ivy.
“Of course! But I won’t be in charge anymore. I will start making connections with the trade route to expand the route to one of the new villages we are planning to build. It will be great for everyone who lives here. But my pal Disco will be in charge then. He’ll make you a great mansion.” Junai replied.
Well, that was good enough. She had never met this Disco guy but she was sure he was capable. But Junai’s words made her think of something else, too.

“So, I guess the quiet days here are coming to an end, right?” She asked.
“Yep. Soon this country will be booming with lively villages and you’ll be able to purchase the most exotic items right in your own market. Won’t that be wonderful?” Said Junai enthusiastically.
“Yes, I guess so…”
 It would be nice, of course. And it would be great for all the ponies in the country and that was the most important thing. But she had always liked it. The seclusion, the silent fields… Would that all be gone?

They were walking on the main road now, and it was leading them through a small forest. It was filled with puddles and mud from the rain from last night. Her entire legs were soaked and dirty, and she was longing for a tub with hot water. But it wasn’t even noon yet, and they still had a long way to go.
“Blech, I hate this mud! I swear, I will never ever travel again when it rains!” Fleur complained, when Junai suddenly stopped.

“What is it?” Ivy asked. Junai pointed to the trees beside them.
“I think someone’s coming. Don’t you hear that?”
 Ivy listened harder, and she realized Junai was right. She heard the cracking of branches and the sound of hooves touching the ground. It were at least two ponies, but who would walk through those woods? No one lived around these parts, yet.

But soon enough she saw the shadow of a pony approaching. But what she had first thought to be a shadow was in fact a pony itself. He was huge, she realized with a shock. And she had never seen a black pony before. But then she saw his huge feathered wings that were resting on his back and she almost fainted. She was instantly reminded of the stories her mother had told them about Illuvia, the pony that had killed her sister before her very eyes. But he seemed so huge, so grand somehow. He was terrifying but at the same time she couldn’t remember ever seeing such a magnificent creature.

“What is that?” Fleur asked.
The pony was getting closer and closer. It seemed as if his darkness was absorbing the little light that was still left in the forest. She couldn’t help but stare at him. Therefore it took her a few moments to realize that he was followed by a pony who was so much like him and yet so very different. Her bright yellow coat seemed to glow like pure gold, somehow, but she felt sicker and sicker as the pony approached. So much darkness, such hatred… And it came from both of them. It took all her effort to keep her mind clear, to not get lost in this swirling darkness.

But a little further behind there was another pony. Dark blue. She was… different, somehow. Dark, yes, and she possessed the same aura that came from the other ones. But it didn’t make her feel sick. Besides, the blue pony was accompanying a little girl…
“Câlin!” Ivy yelled and Fleur gasped as she noticed the little girl, too.
“It’s Câlin!”
She instantly realized who these ponies must be. They had to be the ones that had kidnapped the girl. They were so evil they just had to be.

“What have you done to her! Give Câlin back!” She yelled, and the black pony finally stopped walking. He was standing on the road now, too, and his blood red eyes stared at her.
“We have done nothing. Câlin is with us of her own free will.”
“You liar!” Fleur yelled, and at once all color left her face. She looked as if she was choking on something. “Be silent, you. Câlin is with me because she chose to do so. Besides, as her father I think I am allowed to say where she will be, do you not think so, princess Ivy?”

Her father? This… was Câlin’s father? Fleur was gasping for air now, and Ivy realized she had to stop this, now, or her sister would actually be out of air. But right when she wanted to say something, he seemed to release her, as Fleur suddenly breathed heavily.
“Are you all right?” Ivy asked her sister, who managed to nod.

“You… kill them.” The black winged pony said to the golden pony that stood beside him.
Her heart was beating loudly in her throat. She didn’t want to believe it at first. The pony wasn’t moving, how could she do anything to them? But then she remembered the story of her mother’s sister who had killed her cousin by just using her powers. And this pony possessed powers to do such a thing, she did not doubt that.

Junai jumped in front of them, breaking the trance of fear in which she had lost herself.
 “Run, Ivy, Fleur!”
“B…but…” She stammered.
“RUN! Go, now!” She didn’t want to leave Junai, but she knew she had no choice. Her only hope was to get away from them. So she dragged her sister on her hooves and they began to run as fast as their legs could take them.