Bring About the Fall Colors

Khaalida, Queen of Espeor, Gatherer of Mystics, Deity in her Own Right…. Was completely stunned by the creature that was put before her hooves.

“Found this one trying to sneak into the royal coffers,” one of the guards said, with a snort.

“Not trying, you dolt. Succeeding,” the creature replied, in a haughty tone.

Khaalida peered closer, her own magic stretching out to brush against the creature. With a start, she realized it was shapeshifting and illusion magic blended together in a way she had not considered. The shapeshifting changed the form, yes, but the illusion made it seem something completely different. So many layers of disguise!

“Mother, what’s going on here?”

Khaalida turned her head to see Sidra joining her, along with Morana and Rusalka.

“I thought you three were supposed to be in the training yard,” Khaalida said dryly.

“That was before all the shouting,” Rusalka said softly, but with a tinge of humor.

In the few turns of the moon since Rusalka had joined them, she had picked up on some of the humor that the trio passed around. The foal had grown larger, starting to fill out her lanky form.

“The shouting really wasn’t necessary,” Khaalida sighed, turning back to the guard.

“Alrighty then. Dispel your magic, and let’s have a look at what we have here.”

The creature glared at Khaalida, but faced with two deities and a demigod the illusion faded, before the edges of the creature blurred, shifting back to it’s natural state.

Despite being rid of the magic, the mare before them was strange. Curving white horns, as well as a long bushy fox tail set her apart from the average Quirlicorn. In fact, Khaalida had only seen one other with a fox tail in her memory - Sirona, the High Healer of Torre. To her memory, Sirona had a kitsune guardian, so she assumed this one had the same.

“What brings you to Queensbreak, stranger? And on the eve of the Equinox at that,” Khaalida asked, Sidra and Morana drawing closer to her side as they looked down upon the strange Quirlicorn.

“Let me out of these ropes and I will tell you,” the mare replied with a grin. “No matter,” she added, as she shook off the ropes that had become too loose during her transformation and stood of her own right. “Your guards are more keen than I gave them credit for. Not many would see through my illusions.”

Khaalida snorted softly. “My main guard has trained with my Mystics, Stranger.”

“That explains it. Should have known challenging the coffers of the Queen of Espeor was not a great idea.”

“What is your name?” Khaalida asked, becoming more curious about the strange mare. She ignored the warning look from Sidra, but Morana looked more curious and amused than anything.

“She’s not likely to tell you,” Rusalka piped up. “She is curious and annoyed, but not afraid of you. Not really.”

Khaalida beamed with pride at Rusalka’s use of her Empathy magic, and gave the youngster a nod.

The mare’s eyebrow flicked up, gaze turning to Rusalka with more interest.

“She’s one of those born with magic?”

“Yes, as am I,” Sidra said, stepping between the two. “And a deity at that. So how about we start talking?”

Another bang echoed through the hall. “It’s that time again!” a voice called out.

Khaalida looked to see Halo, one of the servants of the deities, walking through the doors.

Halo barely paused at the scene, and simply gave it a snort.

“Aberfa sends her regards, but we have work to do,” Halo said, looking over them all. “Can this wait?”

Khaalida sighed, looking at her guards.

“Put her somewhere safe for now,” Khaalida said. “And keep a good eye on her,” she added, before walking down the steps to where Halo waited.

Sidra gave the newcomer a suspicious look, before following. Morana stood there with Rusalka for a few moments longer, studying the fox tailed mare. Seeming to find what she was looking for, Morana smirked and gestured for Rusalka to follow as she too went to join Halo.

Pip huffed, looking around the bare room. ‘Safe’, sure. More like barely not a prison! She had seen cells for murderers nicer than this. For all the hullabaloo about Khaalida and her vast lands and great fortunes, this was crap.

“Their mistake,” Pip muttered, “for not blocking my magic.”

She pulled her power together, a plan forming.

First, she pulled together her weather manipulation, calling in a fierce storm. As the thunder began to roll overhead, she wove together sound manipulation and combustion manipulation, blowing her own exit through a wall, but making no sound.

As she stepped through the opening, she wove an illusion in her wake that she was still there, and the wall was still fine. In a storm like this no sane Quirlicorn would be outside, and if they looked in through the door, she would be there, sound asleep. At least long enough for her to make her escape.

“Brilliant plan, I must say,” a voice said, and Pip flinched.

The mare from earlier, the gray one with the foal, stood there with the aforementioned foal. “Good call, Rusalka. I didn’t think her fool enough to blow her way out,” the older mare said to the foal, who smiled shyly at the praise.

“Who are you?” Pip asked, glaring.

“Morana of the Cold Winter, and this is my charge, Rusalka,” Morana replied, “and you?”

Realizing she was quite caught, Pip sighed. This mare would not be so easy to trick as the guards were.

“I am Piroska, of the West Wind,” Pip replied. “But most call me Pip.”

Morana’s eyes glittered as she recognized the name. “I thought that was you. How did you end up caught, Piroska of the West Wind?”

Pip grimaced in annoyance, her tail flicking.

“I have robbed many a Queen, but none such as yours,” she admitted. “Next time, I will be better prepared.”

“Next time?” Morana smirked. “Who said there will be a next time?”

Pip felt a spike of dread wash through her gut. The cold look in the mare’s eyes was frightening, something that Pip had never encountered before.

At least, not in so powerful of a foe.

“Arfax, to me,” Pip said, and her Hawk soared down to her shoulder.

“Shade,” Morana called, and a large crow, nearly as big as Arfax, flew to hers. Another crow came as well, but landed on Rusalka instead.

Not even her familiar could help her here. They were simply outnumbered.

“Come, Piroska of the West Wind, we have things to do.”

Pip watched as Morana and Rusalka turned, walking away from her and back toward the entrance of the manor. She considered her options for a few moments, but looking at the pair she knew even Rusalka could prove to be a foe. And Pip didn’t fight battles outright, she fought them in the shadows.

So she followed them back into the light.

Soaking, and none too pleased, Morana led Rusalka and Piroska back into the warmth of the manor. Khaalida and Sidra waited, both looking amused by the turn of events.

“Pay up,” Morana said, shaking herself before moving to the warm fire.

“You bet on me?” Piroska said, sounding offended.

“Rusalka got it right,” Morana said. “Something magical to the outside. Sidra thought you were going to try and go through the interior.”

Piroska eyed them warily, moving closer to the fire. The storm died down as she released the magic holding it.

“How did you know when?” Piroska asked, almost seeming intrigued.

“You brought the storm on too quickly,” Khaalida replied. “I, too, have weather manipulation. I could feel it when the weather was moving too fast. You would have been better off using a bit of the magic, letting it grow in a more natural way instead of summoning it all at once.”

Piroska frowned. “Noted. Now what do you want with me?”

“This is Piroska of the West Wind,” Morana said, and Piroska saw Sidra and Khaalida’s eyes brighten with understanding and something… more.

“Good. We have work to do,” Khaalida said. “We have been tasked with helping break Summer’s grip, and bringing in the fall. Your weather manipulation will help us greatly.”

“Who said I was going to help?” Piroska said, stubbornly.

“Do you like being alive?” Morana asked. Sidra shot Morana a shocked look, but Piroska narrowed her eyes.

“Fine. What are we doing?”

Weather Manipulation was second nature to a mare who had grown up on the seas. Having such a valuable skill was perfect for getting yourself noticed and making it far…  though where she was now left a bit to be desired.

Piroska was none too pleased to be working alongside the deities and nearly deity. Khaalida also possessed Weather Manipulation, whereas Sidra and Morana had gifts better suited for providing assistance.

When Piroska felt herself flagging, Sidra was there giving her a boost of energy. Morana was using her Plains magic to encourage the winter plants to grow, and Rusalka wandered alongside using Pyrokinesis to…. Toast the leaves?

Whatever works, Piroska snorted.

Before long it looked a lot more autumnal, and colder winds brought shivers to the mares. Piroska felt both exhausted and energized, a strange combination after being subjected to energy manipulation. She followed along behind the others without a word, not even bothering to fight.

“Warm up everyone!” Khaalida called, gesturing to the blazing fire, which Piroska gladly sidled up to.

Familiars and Quirlicorns alike gathered around, the birds resting on a beam above them, cats curled up on the hearth… and did Morana and Khaalida have sentient cupcakes? No matter, it was warm, and soon hot cocoa was brewing.

“Seems you did a fine job here,” Halo said, seeming to appear out of thin air.

“You missed all the work!” Khaalida said, her voice pitched with outrage but a grin on her face.

“Have some cocoa, and enjoy the fire. It’s officially Autumn!”