The Watcher in the Woods Chapter 4 - What's Next to the Moon

>>The trout had spent all his life in this lake, and never had he seen a bug that looked so appetizing!  It was a strange bug to be sure, what with all the long colourful legs waving about and the shiny curved body. Something in the back of his mind told him that he should be careful of this insect, but the trout pushed that annoying thought aside, reasoning that a bug this shiny would definitely make good eating. And so with his mouth opened wide, the greedy trout promptly inhaled the bug and snapped his jaws shut.

 

>>So, My Little Pony, huh?

>>++Eeyep++

>>Your cloak folded up underneath you and your claymore leaning against a nearby tree, you sit on the riverbank near the castle watching a stick floating on the water’s surface. The stick in question is attached to a makeshift lure via a thin piece of cord you salvaged from the ruins. The cord ran from the stick up to a springy sapling you are holding, making this set-up your best chance at getting food.

>>So, If magic exists here like it does in the show, that probably explains the state of the throne room, huh?

>>++Eeyep++

>>Seems a bit convenient though, doesn’t it? “Why hasn’t the throne room decayed?” Magic. “Why does the sun rise?” Magic. “How are they able to build houses without opposable thumbs?” Magic. I wonder if the laws of physics here ever get tired of being told to shut up and sit down all the time.

>>++Speaking of magic, there’s some happening at the end of your line right now++

>>You let out a cry of surprise as the stick serving as a float suddenly gets dragged down under the water as the line is pulled taught. Rushing to your feet, you steadily walk away from the riverbank as you attempt to haul your dinner to dry land. Of course Mr. Fish is having none of this, so instead of co-operating like all good food should, your eyes widen as you hear the sapling start to splinter under the strain of the fight. Quickly you grab the makeshift fishing line and wrap it around your palm, wincing as you feel the cord dig into your hand as you start heaving with all your strength, hoping against hope that the line doesn’t break. Little by little, you steadily haul in the doomed fish until at last with a mighty heave, A big fat, flapping fish lands heavily on the riverbank just as you land heavily on your backside.

>>Brain? Tell stomach that food’s on its way just as soon as I prepare this fish.

>>++Prepare it? You don’t have a knife, how are you going to...Oh no, you are NOT using the Lawbringer to skin a trout!++

>>Oh alright. But what else would I...Hang on, what did you say?

>>++I said you are Not going to use your claymore to skin a trout! The blade would be too awkward and you’ll just make a mess of things. Come on, let’s head back. I think I saw a knife somewhere in the kitchens.

>>And so with your hard fought prize in one hand and your ruined rod in the other, you return the sword back to its harness, place your coat in the crook of your arm, and head back to the ruins.

       

>>To my faithful student.

>>Thank you for informing me of this event so quickly. My sister Princess Luna and her team have finished analysing the powder sample you have sent and have confirmed that is a rare substance known as axiomite. As your books may tell you, axiomite is a substance comprised of pure law and theory, created when reality first attempted to understand itself. As you also may know, Axiomite is only found in Aktur, the dimensional city of the Axio. Its discovery here in Equestria can only mean that the Elements of Harmony have summoned a being known as the Judge, and this “Anonymous” creature is most likely the Judge in its early stages. Even so, if you come across him again make sure to be on your best behaviour and to never use magic of any kind.

 

>>Yours Sincerely

>>Princess Celestia

 

>>”So...this “Anonymous” critter is actually the Judge...ain’t that an old mare’s tale?” asked Applejack

>>”Yeah, I know the one!” Laughed Rainbow Dash as she stalked her way towards the Cutie Mark Crusaders.  “They say he comes to bad little fillies in the dead of night and takes them away to his secret city, never to be seen again...ooOOOOOooo!” All this got was a few eye rolls from the trio.

>>”It’s also said...”replied Twilight as she paused to give Rainbow Dash a disapproving look before continuing “that especially law abiding ponies would receive pendants from the judje that would boost their talents exponentially. Starswirl the Bearded was rumoured to have obtained one.”

>>”Talent boosting pendants!?” chorused the Cutie Mark Crusaders, their eyes as big as saucers. “Err...what’s a pendant?”Asked Applebloom. “Isn’t that like a belt or something?”

>>”It’s kinda like a bracelet, I think” replied Sweetie Belle

>>”Pfft nah, it’s a crown thingy!”

>>”Bracelet!”

>>”Belt!”

>>”Crown!”

>>”Bracelet!”

>>”Belt!”

>>”Crown!”

>>”Girls!” Rarity shouted over the noise, instantly silencing the three arguing fillies. “A pendant is a type of necklace, and I certainly doubt that your arguing is doing you any favours in procuring one.”

>>The trio mumbled their apologies before Twilight interjected.

>>Be that as it may, one thing I’m wondering is the fact that Princess Celestia warned us against using magic around him. Why would magic be such a bad idea?”

>>”Maybe you can read up on it like you always do.” Said Spike “If he’s supposed to be an old mare’s tale, why not look it up in fiction?”

>>It was at this point that a pink blur announced the presence of Pinkie Pie as she proffered a book to Twilight. “Here you go! Page sixty three!”

>>Wait...what...how?” stammered a flabbergasted Twilight, astonished at the possibility that somepony knew her library better than she did.

>>I read through the fiction section while you were working on that sciencey dirt stuff!” Pinkie Pie explained in her usual bubbly manner. “Go on, tell us the story!”

 

>>The snap and crackle of a cheerfully burning fireplace defined the silence of the bedroom as you sit on the plush black divan that has surprisingly survived time’s stubborn passing. The bedroom is minimalistic in decoration, with a soft four poster bed made with silken sheets of dark sapphire and silvery feather down pillows. The black carpet underneath the bed was bedecked with tiny silver constellations and moons, with the motif continuing throughout the azure walls and ceiling. A pair of high arched glass windows lead out to a balcony overlooking the forest below, and the small town of Ponyville peeking out beyond the treeline in the distance. An ornate brass telescope sits just inside, with its silver scrollwork slightly tarnished through its abandonment. A small roll top desk sits in the corner with dry unused sheets of paper yellowed with age. But the one thing that drew your attention to this room was the bookcase. Across the entire north wall is a built in bookcase holding hundreds of books, ledgers, and scrolls containing subjects of all kinds, from folk lore to natural sciences to tax law. Unfortunately you can tell that this treasure trove of literature is outdated by approximately one thousand years.

>>You can guess who this room belonged to.

>>Your claymore gently resting against the arm of the divan, you pour over a scroll that tells a story of the five powers that influence Equestria.

 

>>”...and so the four powers of Good, Evil, Law, and Chaos fought amongst one another for supremacy over the land for eons until a fifth force looked down upon the turmoil and wept at what it saw. And so it resolved to harmonise this land. Good became from mindless happiness and bliss to understanding of the true values in life and chose for its material forms the shape of the Pony Princesses, and chose the Sun and Moon to govern over so as to watch over the land day and night. Evil turned from mindless violence and self gratification to the will to fight in order to protect what matters most, and thus took the form of the Nightmare to remind all what lurks beyond. Law changed from oppressive commands and total obedience to the laws and communities that form the very foundations of civilisation, and became the Judge and created the Evermarching Battalion from the souls of the most law abiding beings amongst reality, and thus retreated to the city realm of Aktur in order to create the perfect city that all others shall be judged by. And Chaos changed from total anarchy and senselessness to free will and the creativity needed to change the land for the betterment of all, and it chose the form of the draconequus to show others the enjoyment there is in every moment. Once its work was completed, the fifth force became the Elements of Harmony, and they continue to this day to uphold the balance between the four powers as they changed from hated enemies to competitive rivals. And it is because of these four powers that we are able to know and appreciate what makes life enjoyable.”

 

>>Rolling up the scroll, you begin to wonder exactly why you were brought here, and for what reason these events have occurred.

>>Brain, I think that all this is bigger than we can ever imagine.

 

>>++Well it’s certainly bigger than you, Anonymous++