//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: Hello Father // Story: Paladin // by The_Pariah //------------------------------// Chapter 9: Hello Father. Artemis leapt at Paladin as he lifted the knife, sending the pair tumbling. Artemis raised a hoof and plunged it straight into Paladin's chest, the rest of his body disappearing as it contacted with Paladin’s body. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Artemis stood in the darkness of Paladin's soul, small fires surrounding him. He turned slowly, watching as small sparks burned quickly before snuffing themselves out into quiet hisses of smoke. Slowly, flames leapt into existence, forming a path. Artemis walked carefully down the exposed path, cocking his head, curious that his hooves made no sound when they touched the surface below him. He paused as the path came to a stop. Narrowing his eyes, he staggered back as a shadow loomed out of the darkness. Deep, baritone laughter echoed around him. "Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you Artemis." "How do you know my name?" Artemis' voice seemed tiny in comparison to the thing’s bone-shaking report. More laughter filled the space around him. "How do I know you? How could I forget you? The prodigal son who refused to do his father's will all those millennia ago... and millennia ago the one who disobeyed my will." The shadow loomed forward, revealing the face of an ancient dragon, his scales a deep blue, his yellow eyes radiating a cold, malign presence. "Hello son, how have you been?" ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Paladin lay twitching on the ground, Pariah and a dripping Celestia staring at him awkwardly. Pariah glanced at the sodden princess, before dropping his gaze to Paladin, a smirk now on his lips. "What are you thinking?" Celestia glared at him, unimpressed. He shrugged. "That you look cute when you're angry." His smirk grew larger. She stared at him. "I can't tell whether you're being serious." His smirk was now as large as it could go, and his always shifting eyes shone with mischief. "And that's the way it should be." Celestia remained unamused. "Are you flirting with me?" "I don't know, am I?" Celestia groaned. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• "Father? As in, Thanatos, Lord of Death?" "Do you have another father?" Thanatos looked at him, amused. "Well, no, but still! I thought you were to sleep forever." Thoughts floated through Artemis’ head, a scene from his past, many millennia ago... --- Lightning cracked outside the cave, as Artemis lay on his bed, his mother sitting next to him. “Tonight, I think I’ll tell you about your father.” She smiled warmly at him. Artemis nodded eagerly. His mother chuckled softly, and began. “In the beginning, there were five beings. Faust, a goddess, even amongst her children of gods. Next, were her two sons, Solace and Thanatos. They were as different as night and day. Where Solace was calm and collected, Thanatos was hot-tempered and rash. Where Thanatos was strong and menacing, Solace was lithe and friendly. Solace’s Alicornian form allowed him great feats of magic, whereas Thanatos’ draconic form gave him strength. Then, there was the pair’s wives. Aria was a kind-hearted mare, who cared more for those around her then herself. Then, there was Shiva. Shiva claimed the ice and snow as her own, and was as cold and mean-spirited as the elements she owned. The very air around her seemed to shiver with fear. Both were Alicorns, both had prodigious talent, but that was where the similarities ended. Aria focussed only on healing magic, where Shiva focused on offensive. But I digress. Together, with the Elements of Harmony, they forged the Spell Of Creation, and created the planet Equis. Four of them descended onto the planet, but Faust, being nigh on omnipotent, was forced to stay in the higher realm. As the Spell Of Creation worked its way across the planet, creating life at an exponential rate the four watched, and were content to let it work on its own, without interference. Over the years, both Solace and Aria, and Thanatos and Shiva produced children. Solace and Aria had two children, Celestia and Luna. Thanatos and Shiva also had two children, in their first, a creature of ice and snow they named Windingo. Then there was born a child who was a strange amalgamation of fire and ice. For a while, Thanatos pondered a name for the child, then Windingo smiled, and simply said ‘Artemis’.” She prodded Artemis’ stomach. “That was you.” Artemis giggled, and his mother continued. “By the time of Artemis’ birth, ponies had evolved to a high level, but the three tribes had not yet united. Thanatos had been assigned to death, and his children multiplied, looking over the realm of death. But as Solace prepared to unite the three tribes, and ensure a peaceful existence for all, Thanatos struck. His hatred of his brother had festered, and bloomed in darkness. In that same darkness he raised an army, based on his first child. As the main force struck the Castle in the Clouds, home of Solace, Windingo and two of his best soldiers struck the three tribes, weakening them and casting them from their homeland.” Lightning struck outside, and she paused for a second. “They drove them to the land now known as Equestria, where they cornered them. As Windingo prepared to finish them, strange magic was formed, and slew him and his lieutenants. When this news reached your father, he raged out of control. He attempted to kill Solace, but his army had lost, and he was surrounded. Solace locked him in a deep sleep for his treachery, and Solace cast himself deep into death as self-punishment. Neither of them knew, but a prophecy was made...” She was cut off as a voice rang through the cave. “Shiva. You are surrounded.” Queen Aria strode into the cave. “Surrender.” Shiva turned. “You would attack me, and my young child?” “If it is what is necessary.” Aria grabbed Shiva by the throat. “Tell him the prophecy, then we go.” Shiva sighed. “Fine. The Lord of Death shall wake, The whole of reality his to take. The Warrior will die, Below sacred earth he shall lie. Time will continue, regardless of pain, And slowly but surely, Magic's love will wain. But it will not be the Warrior's final rest, Saved by the magic that resides in his chest. Distraught and disheartened by his lover's hate, The Warrior will break. Upon the Warriors shattered cry, The land he calls home will begin to die. Shiva, the Queen of ice and snow, Will be cast down from her throne. The seer ascends, the black sheep returns, The parents mend, the Warrior yearns. Upon black flesh wings, the dragon king flies, With his last unicorn breath, the Warrior chooses Equestria's demise.” Shiva was dragged away, as Artemis watched... --- Artemis shook his head, dragging himself back to the present. Thanatos shrugged. "I'm still trapped, with only a small influence on the physical world. But I am returning to this world, and soon. But you already knew this." Artemis nodded. "The prophecy." "The prophecy." "So, is this your doing?" Artemis gestured to the fires around him. "No, no. This is what happens when one of my offspring forms a bond with a mortal creature. Said creature grows used to the lack of negative emotions, and when my child leaves, the emotions rush back. The sudden rush of negative emotions overwhelms the poor mortal, and they are driven mad." "But, is there a way to reverse it?" "Of course. The windigo simply has to absorb the extra negative emotions. Not that many could do that, though." Thanatos sighed. "I lost many children that way." "This isn't that much negative energy... Why would I struggle?" Thanatos grinned. "That's not the negative emotions." He pointed a claw into the distance, revealing a raging firestorm the size of Equestria. "That is." Artemis felt his jaw drop as he stared at the approaching force. "Oh," was all he could muster. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Pariah stood outside the doors to Celestia's private bathroom, Paladin's now-still body laying next to him. Sighing, he began to think about what he had said inside. He hadn't meant it, of course. "One mare alone holds my heart." He mused. "Now, if only she paid a little attention." The door swung open behind him, revealing a now-dryer, and regalia clad, Princess of the Sun. She strode past him, Paladin's body clad in the amber glow of her magic. Her lips were now lit by a small smile, and her smug voice echoed behind her. "Come on, we're heading to Twilight's old room. That should be a nice surprise for him. Oh, and you can tell me about this crush you have." Pariah stared at her for a second, before an admiring smile reached his lips. Well played, my dear, well played indeed. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Artemis struggled to contain the power of Paladin's hate. He had already maxed out Paladin's magical storage, and his was well on its way to be being full as well. Thanatos watched with an almost avid attention, before he sighed. "Well, as much fun as this has been son, I'm afraid I must depart. The destruction of reality doesn't wait for anypony-- You know how it is. But before I go, I best kill you." Artemis turned part of his attention to his father. "What?" Thanatos shrugged nonchalantly. "It's nothing personal, I just can't have you interfering in my quite diabolical plot. Especially seeing as you're the only one who knows the prophecy." "Actually, there is another. And Father, attacking me would be a bad idea." Thanatos placed a claw on either side of Artemis' head. He flinched, but did not back down from the aggression. "All that is required for me to finish you, is to squeeze my claws. Your head will pop like a balloon." Artemis shrugged. "You seem to forget that I'm standing next to an incredible amount of raw power." His grin was lit by a small fire that had begun to burn below his face. "Watch this father." The flame erupted into a full-fledged fireball, before sending an unbroken stream of fire straight into Thanatos' chest. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• In order to maintain pace with Celestia's long strides, Pariah had begun to canter. His voice was low, as to prevent anypony but the princess from hearing. "Her name is Silver Star. She's an earth pony with a short blonde mane and-" "A silver coat, I know her. She serves in my Royal Guard, ranked-" "Lance-Corporal. You know her?" Celestia nodded slightly, the graceful smile never leaving her lips. "I know everypony that serves in my Guard. She is quite serious, and single-minded in her pursuits. I've never seen her smile, even when she was promoted." Pariah chuckled. "She thinks she's ugly when she smiles. But I think she is the most beautiful creature in the world. We've hung out a few times, and we were childhood friends. I've dropped hints, but either she doesn't notice them or doesn't care." Pariah's ear drooped a little. "I think it's that she doesn't notice them. She is fiercely loyal to her comrades, and she often thinks with her heart. I remember it fondly--she once dragged a guardspony to a hospital after they were both wounded attempting to break up a domestic dispute." Celestia grinned at him. "You should meet with her sometime this week and confess your feelings." Pariah nodded, and his previous calm demeanour returned. He glanced at Paladin's body, still suspended in Celestia's amber magic. "So, what're you going to do with him?" She looked directly ahead, her gaze unwavering. "I shall have to think about it. I do not believe he is in his right mind, but his actions still worry me. I will have to speak with Twilight." ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• The fire pushed Thanatos back. He planted his feet, but the flames still managed to force him to recoil. "Enough." He roared and a stream of darkness erupted from his mouth, meeting Artemis' fire. "You think you could beat me so easily, you whelp?" Artemis grinned, and a stream of ice mixed with the fire. "Are you not proud of me father?" The mixed stream pushed the darkness back, and Thanatos looked at him, worried. "Oh, father, I haven’t even gotten started yet." Six balls of fire broke off from the massive storm next to Artemis. They sat there for a second, growing in size, before flying at Thanatos and exploding in great conflagration. Artemis stared as his father collapsed in front of him. Thanatos climbed to his feet. "I'm impressed Artemis.” Shaking some imaginary dust from his body, Thanatos grinned. “Really, you almost hurt me. Almost.” Spreading his wings, he stretched his body out, with several large ‘pops’ echoing from his bones. “Huh. You actually loosened me up.” “How? How can you be standing?” Artemis stuttered. “Really child? You think that you could beat the Destroyer so easily?” “Destroyer? Who’s that?” “Me, or at least, I will be soon.” He flapped his wings a few times. “Have fun son. There’s a storm coming, and everything will fall beneath it’s rage.” Using his wings, he launched himself into the air. “I will finish what I started all those years.” He flew off, leaving Artemis standing still. With nothing else to do, or say, Artemis turned, and continued to absorb the great source of fuel before him.