In Spirit Golden

by Meridian Prime

Appendix I: Original Writeoff Version

“I must admit,” Solar Swirl said, the deliberate lightness of his tone coiling like a springtrap, “I find myself curious as to why a young pegasus mare whose name and mark imply textile work knows about confidential research that I have spent decades working on,” he paused, eyes narrowing, “And, for that matter, why she cares.”

If the beautiful mare across from him was intimidated, she did not show it. Her unnaturally white coat gleamed in the lamplight, unmarred by the dirt and dust of the world outside. Her slight smile never wavered. “I did my research.” Above the disarming smile, her sharp green eyes were hard as flint.

“That does not explain,” he said coolly, “why you care about bond magic.”

Gossamer Loom gestured at the parchment lying between them. “We know that the emotional bonds between sapient beings have power. We know that because this country was founded on it, scarcely over a century ago. And yet we haven’t the slightest clue how it works, how to control it.”

His frown tightened. “I am aware—”

“You worked alone,” she interrupted, “This is about bonds, emotional investment is needed. Nopony else had that. But I do.”

He leaned forward. “You still haven’t answered me. Why do you care?”

Silence. The lamplight flickered.

“...I have never understood other ponies,” she spoke at last. “I understand what drives them. I just don’t understand why.” For the first time, her smile vanished. “It’s… frustrating. I can mold ponies however I please with a well-timed word or glance, but I cannot grasp how they connect. It’s unpredictable. Unknowable.” Her eyes bored into him. “I want to know. This ritual will let me. I just need you to cast it.” She slid the parchment across the table.

Solar Swirl contemplated it for a moment, before wordlessly lifting it in his magic, bringing it into the light. After a minute, he set it back down again.

“The ritual is… sound.” He eyed her.

Her smile was all teeth. “I did my research.”

He glanced down again, then gave a sharp nod. “You have yourself a deal.”

---

Solar Swirl looked out upon the array that might help him complete his life’s work, unlock secrets his vaunted predecessor never could. He breathed deep, lit his horn, and cast.

Instantly, Gossamer stiffened, eyes staring up and out into the darkness.

“Oh,” she said softly.

“What?” he asked urgently, “What do you see?”

“It’s beautiful,” she said distantly. Her lip curled.

“Show me!” he demanded, eyes darting around—and suddenly he could see. He barely noticed as the air left his lungs.

All around them, stretching through the air and on into the horizon, glowing threads of golden light filled the sky and dropped down towards the earth. The small town, dark and empty a moment ago, was lit up even brighter than the heavens. Ropes threaded from house to house, and in each dwelling a shimmering ball of light—he looked down. His body shone.

“Oh Elysium,” he whispered, the long-forgotten feeling of reverence stirring in his chest. “It’s beautiful.”

“Yes,” he turned, blinking in surprise. He’d almost forgotten about his companion, but there she stood; barely visible through the golden glow, surrounded by glowing thread. “It really is, isn’t it.”

And then she reached out a hoof to one of the threads, and pulled.

He blinked, gaping, as with a firm tug the golden light went taut—and then snapped.

“W-what are you doing!?” he cried out, leaping towards her—but fell back as he hit the still active array. He watched in disbelief, and then horror, as one by one the golden threads connected to her vanished—and the shining light of her soul grew dimmer and smaller. Finally, the last thread dissipated, and Gossamer stood alone.

The self-inflicted damage had not been kind to her. Her unnatural beauty was gone, wispy turquoise hair turned a stringy green, alabaster coat a dull grey. And yet he could see her face, in the dull light of her broken soul.

She looked happy.

“Why?” he whispered, legs rooted in place.

She smiled. “I can understand it now. I can control it. And I want no part of it.” And with a terrible wrench, she pulled the light from her soul.

The world twisted around her, and Solar Swirl collapsed.

Dimly, he saw Gossamer approach—she looked withered, pockmarked and burnt, fur gone and skin black. Her smile was all teeth. Her face lowered to his own, and he knew no more.

Author's Note:

As the title indicates, this was written as my submission for the 9th March 2019 Writeoff. The prompt was "Through A Mirror, Brightly".

Although this is technically the original piece, a great deal of the expanded version came from cuts I made to this due to the 750 word limit.

Comments

[silvadel]

I thought this was going to be the origin of Chrysalis.

[Meridian Prime]

10094797
Thank you! Glad you liked it.

10094878
Well guessed.

[Ice Star]

I must admit, I’m a bit lost as to what transpired beyond Loom and Solar’s meeting and the talk between Tia and Starswirl. Your writing is on point; I think I’m just exhausted from pushing out a lengthy contest entry between being busy offline. Apologies for that.

[Meridian Prime]

10115998
I mean it is a bit purposefully obtuse - do you want to give it another crack when less tired, or would you like an explanation via PM/spoilertext? And I'm glad you thought the writing was good at least!

[Ice Star]

10117579
Spoilers/PM would be good because I'll likely enjoy getting to dissect the story from the intended angle without usual comment section constraints. I tend to have lengthier responses and such in 'em too.

[Meridian Prime]

10117596
Alright, I'm going to go with spoilers so that anyone else in your situation can get a handle on what I was going for.

For future readers, in case it wasn't obvious: the following will give away the entire story.

So, the basic premise of this is that it's Chrysalis' origin story. Gossamer Loom is Chrysalis pre-changeling, and this is how she and by extension the changelings themselves come to exist.

Now, a lot is left deliberately ambiguous, room for the readers to provide their own interpretation of events, but the things that are set in stone are as follows: Gossamer Loom wanted this. Why? Who knows. I tried to layer in hints that she's... not exactly a normal person, with a normal view of the world, and a pretty sociopathic view of other ponies, but I think it's more effective that we don't really know why she's so twisted, just that she is. As for what specifically happens - the ritual is a success. It allows 'bond magic' AKA love/friendship, the things that connect ponies to each other, to be visible, tangible things. Gossamer then rips out her bonds, and her actual capacity to bond, which is basically like ripping out your own soul. This turns her into the pockmarked, jagged horned wreck that is proto-Chrysalis, and she proceeds to lay waste not just to her partner-in-spellcasting but the entire town; salting the earth so to speak.

The snippet from the griffin general's diary is intended to be a clue to what's going to happen, and the Starswirl snippet was a neat way (or at least I thought it was) to explain Starswirl's unexplained obsession with the Magic of Friendship.

I hope that all makes sense! Let me know if there's anything off/wrong.

[Ice Star]

10117631
I did think that Loom as important and picked up on her being unusual. Solar himself felt a bit like a red herring in a story that wasn't deliberately focused on those kinds of elements, and it was mostly him that puzzled me when Loom was already set up as suspicious clue of a figure. The ritual did sound like it ended poorly and Loom was transformed in some way, but Solar just...dropped off from focus and that had me a bit confused.Thanks for clearing that up.

[Meridian Prime]

10118506
No problem! In some ways you're not wrong about Solar? But I still wanted him to matter as a character, other wise the ending loses a lot of its impact, I think.

[Ice Star]

10124190
It does have that impact once you figure out what's happening. The mystery tag might be worth adding since it does require the reader to use clues and deductions to solve the plot.

Adding it to a few more groups could also help get it some love. It's too nicely written to languish.

[Meridian Prime]

10124906
Those are both solid ideas. Thanks!