The sun sets
After a long day of talking with your companions and learning more about the other team than you ever thought you would, you are interrupted by a loud clink. The entire group turns its attention to the elder in the center, who has stood up once more and now floats in the center of the open expanse. They are framed by the setting sun and the space in front of them is darkened from their shadow for more than fifty yards out. Their voice booms across the field as they beckon you closer.
“Come now park yourself on the grass because the exposition bus is about to depart.” You still struggle with the elder’s strange speech, but you comply and move closer. Magenta smoke billows up behind you forming looming opaque walls.
“I pity you, for surely when you pledged your allegiance to a team you thought it was a simple scavenger hunt.” they seem genuinely sad and very serious until they add on: “Big oof.”
“Much like all stories, the origin of your plight begin long ago, in a galaxy far far a… even for my level of random that’s kitschy, much like all stories…blah blah blah origin of your plight bla blah blah. This story begins at a bit past the beginning and a little before the end of time.”
As they speak the smoke around you changes colors and you soon find yourself under a pale blue sky, surrounded by pale tan rocks. Lambent is gone. Before you can so much as stutter, a figure appears before you. A tall gangly navy lambicorn huffs and paws at the ground in frustration. They seem familiar but you’ve certainly never seen them before. The lambicorn’s matted fur sways in the breeze and you realize where you’ve seen those matts before. But it couldn’t be… this lambicorn looked so, you wouldn’t quite say normal but certainly less regal, compared to the Grimm you know. But even without the mask, the second set of eyes and the glowing stripes confirm this is in fact Grimm. A young one but very much Grimm.
“Where is she? Does she assume my time worthless?” the young Grimm stamps again, cyan flames erupting from each angry kick. You wonder who Grimm could be waiting for, if this event takes place as long ago as you’ve begun to suspect there weren’t many other Lambicorns around.
“I have a schedule, I have a planned lunch with Lambent and she destroys it. No regard for anyone save herself…” Grimm paces a top the large rock, still muttering about their lunch plans. Was this it? The reason for the dangerous animosity? A missed lunch date? Before you can fixate on this, a second figure appears.
“Do calm yourself Grimm.” The voice is unmistakably Nai’a’s. Just as airy and cold as you’re used to. Grimm snarls in response to Nai’a’s arrival.
“You are tardy. You have cost me my lunch appointment.”
“Oh what a shame, I do apologize. However I doubt you will require the appointment at all.”
This catches Grimm’s attention, and they jerk up to stare at the pastel Lambicorn.
“Why do you say that?” They growl, rising up to Nai’a who just gives another cold laugh.
“Oh you had not seen?” Nai’a seems to be taking great enjoyment from her torment. Grimm lashes out knocking her back to the ground with a harsh slam of their tail.
“Why must you be so violent old one?” Nai’a practically coos behind her smirk. Grimm lands beside her and swishes their tail frantically. Nai’a for her part doesn’t seem overly phased. “I suppose it is an issue with you older lambicorns. That and your insufferable sense of arrogance. Do you really believe you can help me with the dreams I am to bring? Unlike you I am not meant to inspire fear and anguish. I am to bring wonder, whimsy and joy. What makes you think you are able to teach me anything of value in relation to my job?”
Grimm doesn’t speak, they continue glaring at the other lambicorn.
“what has this to do with Lambent?” they move closer to her, now inches from her nose. Nai’a shoves them away and scrambles up.
“Your arrogance is the very thing that drove Lambent away.” She states coldly “You and your posturing, the constant ‘lay eyes upon me, gaze upon perfection,’ soured their mood. Have you forgotten how they feel regarding their own dreams? How they cry and long to be useful? No? It matters not if you remember, for they are already gone. They slumber now, hidden away Aurourae knows where. All because you would not hold your tongue.”
Grimm has been standing there, shocked silent by her words, eyes open wide. Wordlessly Grimm vanishes into a plume of green fire, leaving Nai’a by herself.
The younger lambicorn’s smirk drops immediately. She curls into a ball and sobs.
“excellent job Nai’a. You have pushed away the only one who might have helped you with these dreams.” Nai’a slams her tail around in a fit of rage. “I don’t need them! I don’t need them to fix this. And why must I lash out so? Lambent would never leave Grimm, the two are of one soul separated in two.” At this Nai’a sobs again and closes her eyes.
The smokescape shifts. The walls change to a pale yellow, as if the sky has been dunked in a dirty bucket of bleach. The scene changes to a pleasant beach of warm sand and bright blue sky. Palms sway gently in the breeze and birds call cheerfully. Then the breeze picks up into a violent whirlwind hurling sand everywhere. The sky fills with dark clouds and loud echoing thunder. The sea violently churns, turning a grey teal and slamming into the beach. The bird calls have stopped, turning to ferocious screeches. The darkening sky fills with swooping pterosaurs, multiplying with every clap of thunder or flash of lightning. A giant wave builds in the distance, rapidly closing the distance to the beach… roaring as it approaches.
And just like that it’s over. The scene fades and Nai’a opens her eyes. She swears and stomps, dust and bits of rock displaced by her sheer power.
“How can I be the first bringer of pleasant dreams when I cannot create more than a simple nightmare? Grimm will never respect me…”
The smoke fades and you find yourself back in the open meadow. The sun has been replaced by the moon and the stars dance across the sky. Lambent flicks the last few wisps of smoke away and speaks. “The conflict you have entered is an enduring one. Grimm and Nai’a have been fighting for a hot second. One hurt by her own self-hate, fueled to push those who cared away. The other mourning a long-gone mate, blaming themselves for the loss. Over time the two formed an uneasy relationship, cordial enough in public but constantly throwing hands behind the scenes. Grimm suspects Nai’a is hiding something. Nai’a wishes to fix her messed up dreams without Grimm’s knowledge. Each has become hellbent on their goal and has forgotten how to be decent beings. I hope this clears things up for y’all. But you best return to your leaders or somebody gonna get hurt. Reflect tonight and I will return you to your camps tomorrow.” They lay down to guard over you as you settle in for the night.
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