To the north

Winter had gone by incredibly fast. Not only had spring come early that year; time had passed so fast Ruki had barely noticed winter had begun when she noticed the early flowers popping up from beneath the diminishing snow. She had no idea why this was; she had always been of the opinion winter lasted too long. Maybe it was because she had been kept so very busy with practice and studying. Maybe it was because of all the fun she had had with Yuuro. Or maybe it was because of the upcoming trip she was dreading so much.

Yet here it was; the sun was higher in the sky, the snows were slowly melting and the rivers were flowing again, carrying the ice and snow away. She would have rejoiced at the sight of all this if it hadn’t meant her having to leave the home she had grown rather attached to the past few months. Spring was here, and it meant the start of their journey to gather the last two stones.

It meant the start of a journey destined to do two impossible things; one, to get the stone from the breach and two, to get the stone from her home land. She dreaded the last more than the first, even though the first would force her to climb to the depths of the earth. She rather faced that than facing her father. What would he say? What would he do?

So often during her time in the east had she pondered to go back to Batafurai… but she was never able to force herself to. She had disappointed her father so much… Her mother had written him a letter to tell him about their meeting in ZoroAster and all the things they had gone through there. He had written a special letter to her, but it was still unopened in her bag. She didn’t dare to read it. She just tried to distract herself with studying and practising.

Ruki had become rather skilled with using her mind powers. Like her mother, she could do the most difficult things, though not yet with the ease Taira seemed to do it. Transferring thoughts, memories, emotions or simply power to an object out of her body was not difficult at all anymore. Showing someone a memory, while difficult, was something she had achieved as well. Creating a shield so large it held the entire castle was also no longer beyond her, though she had never tested how long she could keep it up.

Her grandmother had been scared by her progress. She had achieved so very much in so little time… even the strongest of her ancestors had taken years to achieve great things. Even her mother Taira had spent years learning under Aras before she could do what she could. And Aras had not been the most patient or forgiving teacher, either. Now her grandmother was worried Ruki would not learn just how powerful these powers that she wielded were. Would it not lead her astray? Would she realize how rare her abilities were?

Ruki did not share her concerns. These powers… they did not just simply come to her. They had not just spawned the moment she had set a hoof on eastern soil. They had always been there, deep inside, growing as she grew, adapting to her every thought and emotion… and now finally she was able to use them in a way she had always been meant to use them. Surely there was nothing wrong with that? She knew how much effort they cost her… every night in bed, she lay exhausted and dreamt endless, dreamless sleeps.

Ruki shivered as she looked at her mother making her way through the snow. While spring had come early in the Friendship Lands, up here close to the border of Kin things were quite different still. Snow covered the earth, and a cutting wind tried to break through their warm cloaks and hats. Even Yuuro, who by all means should have been used to this cold, was shivering and looked utterly cold.

Ruki’s entire body was cold, all the way to her bones. She had grown too accustomed to the warmth of the more southern regions. Even the thick layer of snow that lay in the Friendship Lands but a month ago was welcome instead of this wind. Here, there were only a few rocks. There were no trees to shelter her from the wind. “Maybe we should find shelter somewhere!” She shouted, but she doubted anyone had heard her.

“You’re right Ruki, we should. This looks like it might end up like a storm.” Yuuro agreed, but no one else had heard her.
Yuuro trotted towards Hikary and Ruki saw them talk, but she could not hear what they were saying either, so she just looked around once again, noticing the snow and the rocks along the path they were following that would lead them to Kin. Ruki couldn’t even remember how she had reached Kin all those years ago. Was it along this road? Probably not…

The small light on her right was first not even properly visible in the snow. Was it a star? No… that could hardly be, it was only mid day or so. When she looked again though, the light was definitely there. A small lull in the snow storm made it clear the fire came from behind a window… and the smoke in the air came from a chimney.
“A house over there!” Ruki yelled. Thankfully, everyone heard her this time, and a few moments later they were on their way to the house.

Taira knocked on the door, and but a moment later a grey haired elderly lady opened the door. As she saw the travellers, she opened the door further.
“Oh please, come in! It is no weather to be wandering outside!” She said as everyone entered.
When she was in, Ruki noticed they were standing in a large room. On one side was a hearth in which a nice fire burned. Against one wall stood a piano, and above it hung a large painting. Under the window next to the door stood a large couch.

“Please, sit down. You must have been caught in that terrible storm!” the woman said as she took their coats. “Oh, yes. When we left the inn this morning the sun was shining and it promised to be a beautiful day. We had not expected this.” Hikary answered. “My name is Hikary, princess of the Friendship Lands. This is my older sister Taira and her daughter Ruki, and that is Yuuro, prince of Kin.”

“Oh, your highness.” The pony said, bowing.
 “Oh please, there is no need to bow for us in your own house!” Hikary said immediately.
“But…” the old woman objected, but Hikary insisted.
“Please. You are already giving us shelter.”
“If… if you insist, my lady.” The pony said as she got up. “My name is Cairis, and this is my husband Reuben.” The pony pointed at the male pony, who was also elderly, who just entered the room.

As Cairis introduced everyone to her husband and trotted off to the kitchen to make something warm to drink, Ruki sat down on the couch. She gazed around the room, and her eye fell on the picture above the piano. It was a large painting, and Ruki got up to inspect it closer while she heard Reuben explain that he and his wife had lived here for almost fifty years and that they guard the border and they were growing too old for the job.

The painting showed her a snowy landscape with nothing in it except for one tree. The earth looked cracked and broken, with large stones thrown everywhere. In the sky, though, hung a soft curtain of mint green and soft purple colors. Behind the curtain twinkled a few stars in the early evening sky. She had never seen such a wonderful thing before.

“This is gorgeous…” She whispered.
 “It is, is it not?” Reuben said. Ruki had not noticed he had come to stand next to her.
“What is it?” Ruki asked.
“It is an aurora… northern lights.”
“I have never seen it before… does it happen for real?” Ruki asked, unable to believe that such a gorgeous thing could fill the dark harsh sky that floated far above her.

Rueben laughed. “Oh yes! It happens a lot, actually. Have you never been in the north before, lady?” he asked.
“Oh, I have… But I can’t remember ever seeing it before.”  
“Then you have not gone far north enough.” Reuben added.
“He’s right, you know.” Yuuro said. “The auroras… the northern lights, they only shine in the far, far north. In Kise, Kin’s capital, you can not see them. Not even in our most northern city can you see them.

But beyond that… you can. If you travel beyond the most northern city, in the darkness of the Cold Valley and beyond, you can see them… the shining auroras that light up the skies.”
 “Did you ever see them?” Ruki asked.
“Oh, yes. Twice. Once, when I was really young, my parents took me and my siblings north to see them. They said a royal pony of Kin can not think of ruling the country without seeing the Aurora. And once I was with my older brother on a trip, and we saw them. They are truly beautiful.” Yuuro answered.

“I’d like to see them once.” Ruki sighed, wondering how they moved and how the light changed over time. “They say that if you want to see the most wonderful Aurora’s, you have to stay very close to the breach.” Reuben added.
 “Why is that?” Ruki asked, wondering how the breach could possibly influence such wonderful images in the skies.

“I’m not sure, but it is said the Aurora shines brightest right above the breach and in colours it usually is not seen in. That is where my grandfather once made this picture… in the north, close to the breach, while he was on an expedition for the queen. See? Here you can see the breach in the distance.” Reuben said as he pointed towards a small gap in the painting.
“Ah…” Ruki whispered, realizing that was the breach. She had just thought it was a crack in the ice.

Cailis came back, carrying a plate with hot drinks for everyone.
“Oh, thank you so very much.” Hikary said as Cairis handed her a cup.
“Oh, please, your highness, there is no need to thank me. It is only the normal thing to do; we have helped so many travellers over the years. You are not the first to be surprised by a storm like this; things clear up in the south but the winter still reigns here. Do not worry though; she will disappear soon enough. Are you on your way to the capital, if I may be so bold to ask?”

“We are.” Taira replied immediately. “We are visiting queen Katine and prince Stanno and princess Togli. We want to ask permission to queen Katine to let her son Yuuro here stay in the Friendship Lands longer. He has been an important asset to our research and is becoming a member of our family.” Ruki did not know why, but her temperature was rising when her mother said that.

Cailis smiled. “I see. Well, I am sure Katine will approve. Ever since princess Togli had given birth to another girl… Katine is content. The coming of that girl to the royal family has surely lifted the queen’s spirits. And those of the people too.” Ruki remembered she had been told Togli was in fact a cousin of her mother; the daughter of Regina’s sister Regala. She had married Yuuro’s oldest brother Stanno, and they had two children together… Ingvilda, Stanno’s heir and the young Aina. She would meet them soon, along with the rest of Yuuro’s family.

“I am happy to hear my niece’s influence had such a positive impact upon this country.” Taira said.
“I am anxious to see how she is doing.” Yuuro added. “I have not seen my family in a long time.”
Ruki sighed as she stared out of the window. As the snow hammered on the windows, the conversation went on, but Ruki failed to pay more attention. Once more, her thoughts drifted back to the tasks that lay before her.

Yuuro, Hikary and her mother were all there. This was a task they took on together, not alone. Yet then, why did she feel so alone right now? After facing the depths of the breach… she would have to face something more horrible. The death of her home country, which she had been running from for so long. And once she would go back, it would be gone forever.