//------------------------------// // making amends // Story: Apocalypse: Worlds End or New Beginnings // by Blue dragon 116 //------------------------------// All was silent as I walked down the many corridors of the castle lost completely in thought as my feet took me where ever they may. And through out my wanderings I got periodic updates from Chrysalis and the changelings throughout the city. Shinning Armor had awoken a few hours ago suffering from severe magic exhaustion but was otherwise unharmed. All the known nations of the world had agreed to aid us in battle against the horsemen. And Celestia had left the infirmary heading for parts unknown Chrysalis following her example shortly there after. And despite my borderline hatred for the solar monarch, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Her people were on the brink of extinction and her only help is a arguably unstable creature from another world. Who once shared his body with one her oldest enemies and greatest fears, and couldn't even use the powers granted to him by said enemy. But that still didn't help make her distrust of me any easier to live with. I was drug from my brooding thoughts by two things, the first was a cool evening breeze brushing against my scaled hide, making me shiver slightly and look at my surroundings. The second was the quite sounds of crying and a sobbing voice coming from deep in the castle gardens off to the side. Curiosity getting the best of me I began to follow the sounds deep into the gardens. To a portion of the gardens that obviously saw few visitors and yet all was still clean and tidy, as if it were tended regularly. And finally as the sobs became louder and the voice almost comprehensible I rounded a bend to a sight I never thought I would see. What stood before me was a immaculate clearing framed on all sides by flowers of every color of the rainbow. In its center stood a tall statute of a alicorn with her head hung low and legs bent. As if she were listening to the sobbing pony that lie on the stone bench that stood a few feet away from the statue. The sobbing pony to my surprise being Celestia. "I don't know what to do anymore mother." She croaked her voice strained and barely above a whisper. "Man has returned to Equestria, and if that wasn't bad enough he was sharing his body with Timor. And has brought evil created by Timor after his banishment with him, said creatures being tartarus bent on destroying everything we hold dear." I quietly crept forward as she spoke surprised in a way. I have seen this mare completely calm, seething in rage, and crying in despair. But this was different this fear, this emptiness in her words went so much deeper than plain despair. It was the sound of a soul at the end of her rope, not knowing what to do to make things right and protect the ones she loved. "Everypony else trusts him and I cant get past his association with Timor. What if he truly is what he claims to be, a lost soul simply trying to survive. And right a wrong he had no control over. I want to believe that is true but what if he is just a monster waiting till I drop my guard to strike when we are all weak." Celestia's voice finally broke and she broke down in heaving sobs. Just as I reached the bench I shrank down and hopped on, doing my best to keep my hooves from making any noise while my mane and tail lit up the area around me. "If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion princess." I said quietly having to bight back a smirk at the startled eep that escaped Celestia before she regained her composure. " I truly want nothing more than for your home and you ponies to live on despite the horrors I have unwittingly unleashed on you. Not only that I wish for a place for my child to grow healthy and strong, and to have a better live than I did. Surrounded by those who love her and care for her, instead of in constant fear of what may come to kill her next. I am willing to right here right now undergo any test you wish to administer to prove the purity of my intentions." While I spoke I kept my eyes facing forward not even looking over once until my chin was wrapped in a golden glow and turned to face Celestia. And nothing was said we simply stared into each others eyes. Hers searching mine for any sines of malice, ill intent or lies. While mine simply tried to convey my sincerity to her as best they could. Finally the silence was broken when Celestia heaved a heavy sigh and looked at the statue for a long moment. "I believe you, I believe you truly wish to help us." Celestia said turning to look back at me as she spoke. "But I still have my doubts and will be keeping a eye on you Thomas." "That's good princess." I said chuckling lightly. "I would call you mad if you didn't have doubts everyone does but know this. I will give my all to ensuring that the creatures that call this world home will live to see another day, even if it kills me. For greater love hath no man, than this. That he would lay down his life for a friend." With that said I bid the princess fare well and left her to think on what was said. For a short while I roamed the castle grounds unmolested, though I did get odd looks from the guards and castle staff. One would think that they would have become accustomed to the three forms I frequented during my stay here. Of course everyone has made the connection between I and the terrible events that plague this place by now. So there fear and apprehension are understandable, I just hope with time their views of me will change. But the peace I had found and my train of thought was lost after I rounded a corner and heard a familiar voice yell. "Thomas wait a second please." With a tired sigh I turned to see Twilight trotting towards me a hopeful expression on her face. while her friends followed behind her at a more relaxed pace, their expressions more guarded or apprehensive. "What do you want Twilight?" I asked doing my best to keep my expression neutral, but failing to keep the irritation out of my voice. Making Twilight visibly cringe while her friends just glared at me. "Well we just..... we all..." Twilight stuttered glancing up at me only to look away once more, only to at me once more and repeat what she did before. This cycle of babbling probably would have continued into the foreseeable future had one of her friends not taken the initiative. "What Twilight is trying to say darling is we are sorry for treating you like a monster." Rarity said the smile on her face obviously forced and her kind tone faked. "I still think her is a monster." I heard Rainbow Dash mumble under her breath. Earning a very slight nod in agreement from Rarity as she continued to speak. Completely oblivious to the fact I heard Rainbow and saw her agreement. "And we would like to thank you for helping out where you can." Rarity finished her disdain for me slipping into her voice slightly in the end. Making me laugh for a moment catching them all by surprise. "Come now you sound upset that i'm not the heartless monster of a creature you thought I was." I said shifting through forms of those that the ponies had to defeat to preserve their precious harmony. Only silence followed my statement as the six just stared at me slack jawed. "You shouldn't be thanking me just yet, if you live to see the coming week then you may thank me." I said turning and began to walk away. Only to be stopped by a flurry of feathers as Rainbow Dash shot in front of me. "What do you mean 'if we live to see the coming week'? Is that some sort of threat." She growled as she dropped into a aggressive stance and glared daggers at me. "I have locked the Horsemen in Tartartus for the time being. And I don't even know how I did it in the first place so there wont be any repeats, but one thing is for sure. They will not be happy about it when they get out." I growled leaning down to stare eye to eye with Rainbow. "And they will escape in two days at most, and when they do they wont wast time. They will come full force for us and destroy everything in their path." Rainbow continued to stare at me her expression conflicted and uncertain. I snorted in annoyance flames leaping from my nostrils and startling Rainbow out of my way. "Ill leave you to think about that for a while." I grumbled and moved on. Throwing myself into any task I came across for the rest of the day. Which consisted of me, the princesses, Chrysalis, and the other world leaders making final preparations for and waiting on the Horsemen's inevitable return.