//------------------------------// // Chapter 30 // Story: After Discord // by Faindragon //------------------------------// The celestial goddesses. The princesses of Equestria. Give me power. Give me strength. I knew that I was followed up to the top of the tower. But I did not care, I was here to pray, and that was what I would do. Ignoring the black unicorn behind me did I sit down in the center of the tower, looking out over Trotholm. Celestia’s eye had embraced the city with its golden light. “Are we sure about this? Is this how it will end? Are we going to kill him, just to put a foal at his position?” “I vowed to cleanse this city from the taint you planted here Discord. I will not break that vow.” “But Trotholm have been fine all these years. The citizens live without fear, the foals grow up to be successful. Are we going to destroy that? Are we going to ruin this town?” “You will not make me change my mind, Discord. Whatever your plan is leave it. This town may be perfect in your eyes. That would not surprise me, you created the taint that coat it.” “Think about the foals. Are we really the one to force a broken city onto them? We know that it will take years to stabilize the town, are we the one to make them grow up with that?” “No, nopony is. I will have to make that decision, I have my own foal that will grow up with it.” “A foal that we at least left a letter, a letter that explained why. But the other foals? The rest of the city? They will not understand. Will they accept?” “They will have to.” I snarled at Discord now. “And what about us?” “How do you mean?” The only answer I received was a laughter. I noticed that the mare who had followed me sat behind me, could feel her eyes in my back. “Speak your mind.” “Oh, I’m sorry... I thought..” She stuttered, caught of guard by my words. “That I prayed? That I had not noticed?” “Something like that...” “I have not started yet, speak your mind.” “I’m sorry.. I should leave, it was not my intention to disturb you.” “You are not disturbing me. Stay if you want, company is always nice.” She trotted up from behind and sat down next to me. “I’m not interrupting then? You was going to pray?” “I will wait with my pray to the twilight, when the celestial eyes are in position.” “The celestial eyes?” “The sun and the moon, the goddesses eyes.” “Goddesses?” “Celestia and Luna.” “Who are they?” “It will take time to explain.” “I’m not on duty, will not be before tonight.” “You do not need to sleep?” “Do you?” “I find strength in my prayers, not in my sleep.” “Just let me know the story, if I can take a double pass then I can do tonight without sleep.” “Are you sure?” “Nope, but I still want to hear the story.” “Luna and Celestia, goddesses of the sun and the moon, life and death. I do not know how the story started, nor how it will end. The only thing I know is that during my grandfathers time in the army did a being attack Trotholm. The beings name was Discord, the god of chaos. In a single attack did he wipe out the alicorns that lived here, alicorns that lead the city in the goddesses name, alicorns who prayed to the goddesses.” “Like you do now?” “Exactly. I, and some others, are the only ones who know about this. The goddesses power raises with the power of the prayers. Discord made everypony forget about the goddesses, and soon they where powerless. I believe that all of this happened suddenly, the goddesses did not have any time to react.” “But how did you get to know about the goddesses?” she stared at me with curious eyes. I wondered if she believed me. “My grandfather was stabbed during a robbery attempt, the damages were lethal. He told me all of this on the deathbed.” “Oh, I’m sorry... I did not mean to bring up bad memories.” “No problem. It was so long ago.” We sat there in silence, watched the city move on its daily basis. If Warden knew something then it did not show on the daily pulse of the city. Everything was as it had been when I had left the city. I smiled at the sound of snoring besides me, the mare had fallen asleep. I had not even asked about her name. *^* “Luna and Celestia, goddesses of the moon and the sun, life-giver and life-taker. Help me in my time of need, help me during the final act of cleansing. Help me when the decisions gets hard, guide my hoof when the need is there. Protect your foals in the city, do not let harm seek out the ones who do not deserve it. Protect the small ones, let them sleep through the entire night. Luna, guide the spirits of the dead, give them your forgiveness. The body the soul leaves behind is corrupted, not the soul in itself. Celestia, forgive me for taking some of your foals from your side. Give them the last embrace, let them know that you love them. Celestia and Luna, lend me your strenght. Lend me the will power to finish this job. Lend me the power to refuse Discord entrance to my mind. I will stay in your service, now and until the end of time. In your name will I end this. In your name will I cleanse Trotholm from the filth of Discord.” *^* Luna’s celestial eye smiled at me, embraced me. I could feel her soothing touch against my back, could feel her confident fill me. Her embrace washed away my doubt, washed away my fear and my tiredness. I could not help but smile. My eyes wandered over Trotholm, a city now completely embraced by Luna’s grace. It was a beautiful city, but the heart of it was black as the night. The taint pulsated deep, would this night be enough to clear it all out? Would the corruption live here when it was all finished? Or would we succeed with removing it for good? “The taint will follow the city, we will not be able to free it.” Discord whispered to me. “How would it survive? We slaughter the ones responsible.” “And do we not enjoy it? For every pony we slaughter will the taint spread. They do not know what happens, their loved ones have a family member or friend ripped away from them. Is that how we stop the taint? By replace it with our own?” “We do not replace it with our own taint! We give the citizens of Trotholm the ability to chose their destiny, the destiny of the city.” “Are we really that blind? Do we not see it?” “See what?” “That this town is doomed. When we have slaughtered the ponies will the city be ruled by you? Or will somepony else take that position? Whatever the situation will they want power.” “I will not rule this city.” “Who will then?” “I do not know.” Discord just laughed. I ignored him. What would happen with Trotholm? The thought stayed there only for a second before it was washed away by Luna’s embrace.