“I suppose it is about what I would ask you to do that worries me, and I am afraid I might be put in a situation that would require making the toughest choices. The kind that is difficult but necessary; sometimes, the right choice this the one that is painful to make, the one that will leave me feeling regretful even if it is the best option. And the worst part is, I don’t know what form that will take if, or when, that time comes.”
*sigh* “Maybe it’s best not to think about that for now. No point in getting worried over something we cannot control. When it comes, we’ll deal with it the best way we can, like we usually do.”
Sen grew quiet, recalling the night his mother and father told him to run. Was it like this for them? Saving their child’s life even if it meant they would lose theirs? Or the uncertainty of a life away from the village with no one to turn to for guidance? Even now he wondered if running away was truly the best outcome out of a terrible situation. He hated the implication of such a thing and dreaded the possibility of being put in the same scenario as them. But he was certain of one thing: the welfare of his friends. As long as they were safe, he knew where to steer his choices.
As for Lin, perhaps her feelings on making the right calls couldn’t be easily described in words. It was simply something she felt inside like warmth welling up. It starts tense, but seeing a positive payoff would be the equivalent of the floodgates opening and with it, the tension that was building up earlier releasing, giving way to a cooler, more relaxed state. Or at least, that was what she imagined it would be like. It felt good, not quite like fire as Omen says, but there was warmth, and she smiled upon hearing what the Ki'Nathar said. It was a kind of validation, even if it wasn't quite the same.
The longma got to see what she remained behind for, and there were still some lingering questions. However, maybe that could wait for another visit. When she saw Omen looking around and probing herself with her tongue, it brought something to her and her brother’s attention. Where did Shrimp go? They would have to remind themselves that a young creature could harbor great curiosity, and they would very much act on it. Fortunately, they wouldn’t need to look far to see him with the newly arrived creature and a newly formed sibling.
“Hey, uh... maybe we should go and grab Shrimp, huh? It’s about time we head back home and make our final preparations.”
“Let’s try to make this quick and not disturb Mother and her guest too much. I think the important part where one of your formless siblings is giving form is done.”
The two quickly made their way to Mother, but just as they were close, they tried to tiptoe close and silently gestured to Shrimp to come close. If that didn’t work, they’d try whispering; anything that didn’t draw a lot of attention to themselves would be preferable. Unfortunately, being among a few beings and not much else didn’t leave a lot of room for them to be discrete. Whatever they were doing would catch everyone else’s attention by default, and they weren’t exactly good at hiding it.
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“It is definitely a time long past, even we aren’t sure how far back our civilization goes. No contact with other races means we aren’t even certain if there was a point that we existed alongside ponykind but were unaware of it. Frankly, it is a matter that we would need to ascertain to determine certainty. But back to your question, we, as Hyracotherians, originate from the Neighgaean Sea. The region lies in the west, but if we were to trace our movements, it would be more accurate to say we come from the east, past a vast ocean or two and likely another large landmass.”
“It might pose a challenge to identify where we came from specifically, as modern maps may not have our home on it. Then again, it would be difficult to even mark our path when we were too focused on a crisis, watching the end of our civilization happen before our eyes. Charting a route… it wasn’t the first thing on our minds.” Magus chimed in, having recalled the result of the catalytic event that caused them to… choose the life that led them to become buried, separated from their physical forms, and disembodied for lifetimes. In hindsight, there was regret in his mind, wishing he had chosen another way.
“Past circumstances aside, the Neighgaean is a region known for many smaller islands within a large sea. With it, each island or group of islands formed the territories of major city-states led by their respective governments. It was a time of turbulent relationships between major groups, but we still found ourselves enjoying the benefits of trade and a shared culture despite disagreements with each other. And perhaps fortunately, the sea was present to keep us from outright invading and claiming the others’ territories. Maybe with some maps, we could see if some part of it remains today.” Even now, Legatus also added his part, feeling a little more comfortable sharing some information in his area of expertise. He was more focused on the relationships between different city-states, the kind that would be relevant in a military setting. However, without conflict or related topics, his knowledge and its applications felt more limited in scope, more so now that it was considered long outdated.
Though there were some notable conflicts within the region, the golems knew peace in their time. It was a period of cultural upheaval more than a moment of open war. Novel discoveries were being made, and scholars lively debated with each other about the merits of novel ideas. There was the occasional violent discussion, but a beating would be resolved with more bruised egos than broken bones.
However, if prompted to trace their path from their homeland to Equestria, it would be a much more difficult task. The changes in geography and the times meant that old knowledge may not be able to translate well in a modern setting. A map may help, but an archaeological dig site marking an approximation would be a first step. However, even Scriniarii and Legatus saw this to be a circular problem until one had given an educated guess. After all, if there was no guess on where they likely originated, then it would be difficult to find a dig site.
“Well, it is nice to have some confirmation that our senses and emotions remain intact. I was concerned that not everything stayed the same. I mean… it would be awkward to find aspects of myself missing and only realizing it when I needed them most.”
Vates groaned and rolled her eyes sideways at Videntor’s… attempt… at humor. It seemed that being separated from the others also meant their personalities were becoming more distinct. A far cry from the more monotonous version of themselves when they spoke in unison; the golem preferred their current predicament over an existence as a very minuscule hive mind, even if their choice was brought about by a sense of obligation to stop their past from repeating itself. Now? She had the urge to slap her fellow golem on the head. It was a reminder that despite their advanced age, their minds were not caught up.
Aside from that, she and Videntor watched the changeling mix up a concoction of nostalgia. There was already one in a barrel, and if it was there, maybe even ponies and changelings felt the urge to experience the longing of things long past, happy ones preferably. Even the two weren’t exempt from it, and she wondered if the feeling was more than just something she felt deep inside. Perhaps it could be more…
“Thank you very much!” The two picked up their mugs, looked to the changeling, then the liquid contents, and drank. Vates took in each sip slowly, attempting to gauge just what nostalgia might taste like. As for Videntor, he just downed the whole thing, making himself appear to be a lot thirstier than he looked. The former began to feel the warmth of the sun, the seawater spraying over the shoreline at the temple where she performed her rituals. Those days were slow, sometimes difficult, but she still remembered them fondly. Guidance - it was the word that best described her role, even as that diminished and gave way to more grounded study, causing the waning days of blind belief.
As for Videntor, he remembered more simple things. Long walks along the sea, a few sessions at the agoda spent in study and debate. Even simple comforts like food were enough to bring a smile to his face. But after a moment, it turned upside down, the light in his eyes dimming. There was a tinge of sadness and longing, and he grew oddly quiet; his eyes stared into something imperceptible from far, far away.
“Huh… I… did not know I could feel so strongly about…. I-I’m sorry.”
“What is it?”
“Just remembering my father and mother. Spending time engrossed in studies, I never considered having children. I always dreamed of being able to discover something big, something everyone would use and appreciate, but that chance never came. And then, our whole world felt like it came to an end, and every minute felt like hours. Seeing what I had, those things reminded me of what could have been and what I lost. It all goes back to my parents, and I miss them, more than I thought. Wig Woggle? Apologies if my reaction to your drink was inappropriate for your establishment. Could I have a moment alone? I'll just be over there by the corner.”
