|
As her hoofbeats strike the glowing ice, the stone stirs. Each pelting of her weight across the surface of the steppe, each flicker of ice as it flashes in the midnight light and flies up in her wake, ignites the spirit within the stone. It climbs the atmosphere slowly, hovering at first only slightly above the earth. But as she grows closer, it flies farther and faster. The song increases in intensity as the stone rises in altitude, until at last the chorus is as encompassing as an organ in a locked room, and the bright stone seems to be nothing but a star.
And then the stars fall.
All at once they drop from the auroran sky to hit the earth as little sugary droplets of light and cold flame. They rest on the ground around Ophelia like freshly fallen flakes of snow. The essence of the stone is everywhere; in each and every fallen star which lies on the ice looking just as if it were plucked from the sky. They are no giant beings, no burning, engulfing monsters of space. They are little lights to brighten the night. They are memory. They are peace.
And as they shine their light and dance in the blue illumination of the steppe, they create pictures. Picture of memories and moments, each of which adding a new note to the symphony of her beckoning. Every moment of her life is suddenly displayed before her across the vast stretches of the steppe. The beauty of it all is overwhelming; the gravity of the situation intensified. The trickster in the ice flashes the life of tortured young mare before her eyes; slowly and painfully, drawing out each moment in a single star, repeating days and weeks and single seconds that tore her apart.
And then there are happier times: Moments as a filly with her sister, days spent with Tinek, and nights spent on a journey. But of them all one stands out the brightest- the moment where a small, glowing stone broke to pieces to deliver unto her a gift.
As the future plays itself out it becomes reality. The stone, risen from the earth and fallen from the sky, fragments and releases a magic stolen long ago. The magic of memory entwines with her soul; the glittering pieces of shattered rock fly to meet her and catch themselves in her mane. And though the transfer complete, the worthy found at last, the stars stay for a few moments more. For a time, her life continues all around her, dancing in mirages of light.
Then all is black and the night is still. The song ends at last and the trickster's mind rests for eternity, its magic settled in the heart of its match.
[[Congratulations! Ophelia has been granted the magical upgrade to prevent her mind from being tampered with by the magic of the lost stone. The blue shiny stone has shattered and wrapped itself in her mane and tail, and will sparkle in moonlight. The stone may be permanent if you wish, or can fall out when she first uses her magic.]]
|
.svg/2000px-Google_Chrome_icon_(2011).svg.png){kind=icon}
