//------------------------------// // Chapter One: Awaken, The Dragon (Alduin) // Story: A Displaced Chaos // by Prince_Zodiac //------------------------------// Chapter One: Awaken, the Dragon He opened his eyes, rapidly awakening from the horrors of a nightmare. Then again, whether or not he actually slept was up for debate. After all, here he no longer needed sleep, no longer needed to eat, no longer needed to drink. Or, in more exact terms, he couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, couldn't drink. So did he dream? Or was it simply his imagination running rampant? The sun in the outside world was in a different position, so he supposed time had passed. But he only payed attention to the outside world when he had nothing else to do. Then again, he never really had anything to do, so perhaps he had indeed slept. But it didn't really matter whether or not he slept. He was still trapped, unable to escape. The stones that were once his scales were stiff and immovable. They had been for the past three thousand years. He had been here so long, he had begun to wonder if he had indeed been alive before he was stone, or if he had always been a statue they put in the garden. It was funny really. They admired him now, but so many centuries ago they had feared him. They admired the statute, and scoffed at the legend. After all, how could something like him exist? How could something be more powerful than the goddesses that ruled their land? But they weren't goddesses. They were embassies, much like he was. Their parents, perhaps, had been gods, but they were not. They were merely embassies for the heavenly bodies that orbited their world. Still though, even if they all knew that difference, they still wouldn't believe he existed. And he didn't blame them. After all, he himself questioned his own existence. The only thing that kept him on the fence was the legend. His legend. His history. They walked along the garden path. It amused him how the public was allowed to explore the castle so freely. Visitors consistently passed by him, some reading the plaque that summarised his past, while others just kept walking. He was nothing but a tourist attraction for the beings he once knew as enemies. Ponies, what interesting creatures they were. His sight drifted to the other stone statues in the garden. They depicted heroes, villains, and monstrous beasts conquered in the past. He wondered how many of them were really just prisoners like him. He knew at least one of them had been. Discord. The draconequus had been sealed away much like himself. Long after he had been of course, but at least he hadn't been the only one. Still though, Discord was free once more, and had been for a while. He had managed to somehow use the slight bit of conflict caused by three fillies to start up the process to free himself. When he had finally escaped, he briefly brought chaos to this land of harmony. And then he was defeated, returned to his prison within a couple of hours. He had gotten a good laugh from it, but was soon surprised to see the princesses take his statue away to free and reform him. And it had worked. Although he was still his chaotic self, Discord was now a friend of the ones he once ruled over with an iron fist. It was funny when he thought about it, and he did enjoy the occasional visit from the draconequus. He was, after all, the only one besides the princesses that knew he was real, and that this statue was his prison, and he, unlike the princesses, actually talked to him. He always looked forward to the next time Discord visited him, as he kept him updated about the events of the world. Still though, he hated not being able to see these things for himself. He would love to see Canterlot, to visit Ponyville, to explore the new world of which he had been missing. But most of all, he wanted to be able to see his home again, and see how his subjects had gotten along without him. But he would never get that chance. Or at least, he thought he never would. But as the day went by, fewer and fewer ponies visited the garden of which he was trapped in. Then, a familiar pony came into view. Celestia walked into the garden, slowly approaching his statue. What was she here for? She stood in front of his statue, and activate her magic. He felt something tether to his mind, and attach him to the embassy of the sun. “Alduin,” she spoke calmly. ‘And to what do I owe the pleasure your highness?’ Alduin replied. This wasn't the first time she had done this. She did it whenever she sought counsel for something she couldn't solve, whether that be an opponent she couldn't defeat, or a situation that needed to be dealt with. And, although he had no reason to, in fact he had many reasons not to, he would speak his peace if he deemed the problem severe enough. If not, he would tell her to figure things out herself, and to leave him be. He was never to sure why he did this. Perhaps because he didn't like the idea of countless innocents losing their lives. But that didn't matter now. She was here, she had a problem, and she needed his advice. Celestia flinched a little at his deep, gravely voice speaking into her mind. She had always feared him, one who was so powerful, he was the physical embodiment of destruction itself. Still though, he was a wise old dragon, that had gotten her through several situations that would have normally caused the country to collapse. She had considered freeing him on occasion, but the spell that petrified him did not originate from the elements of harmony, much like Discord. His imprisonment was due to the actions of her parents, and not even the elements could undo what they did. And so he was stuck, never to be free. At least, he never would have been if not for the artifact she held in her hoof. “An age old foe has returned, a centaur named Tirek. He is causing mass destruction, and must be stopped.” ‘And so you want me to tell you how to defeat him?’ “No, I already have a plan for that. I just need an… insurance policy.” An insurance policy? What did that mean? He noticed the artifact in her hooves. What was she planning? “Discord has betrayed us, and has decided to side with Tirek. I've called my student over and plan to give her my power, as well as Luna’s and Cadence's, to hide our magic from Tirek.” ‘Is that really the smartest idea? She won't know how to control that much power. You will.’ “Yes, but Tirek doesn't know of her existence. If she has the power, he'll be less likely to find it.” ‘And if he does?’ “Her special talent is magic. If it comes down to a confrontation, she'll be the quickest to adapt to her power, and have the greatest use out of it. She can emit more magic at once than Luna, Cadence, or I can.” So the plan wasn't as flawed as it seemed to be at first glance. Still though, there were many possibilities where it could fail. And that still didn't tell him why she was here. ‘Well, you seem to be handling things, so why are you here?’ “Like I said, I need an insurance policy.” She held the small artifact up, a smooth, round stone with strange markings, and rested it upon his prison. “This artifact is set to go off should my student fail to stop Tirek. I ask that you succeed, where she could not.” ‘Are you asking me to fight this, Tirek, should your plan fail? And for what reason would I have to do such a thing?’ “Because if you do, I can guarantee your freedom.” ‘Yes, but only if your student fails. And whose to say you won't turn on me the moment I defeat him? It wouldn't be the first time you've lied to keep your country safe.’ “Because I need your help.” ‘You've needed my help before, what makes this different?’ “You've helped me many times. I have reason to trust you.” ‘Yet I do not have reason to trust you.’ Celestia paused. He was right, what reason did Alduin have to trust her? He had done many things for her, but she had done nothing for him. She didn't have the right to ask him to trust her, no matter how much she needed him to. Alduin had no reason to believe she would keep her word. ‘Very well,’ Alduin said, bringing Celestia out of her thoughts. ‘I will help you. But if you betray me in the end, know this. I will not go quietly.’ Celestia shuddered at what that might mean, but nodded anyways. She turned and walked away, hoping beyond hope that her student would be enough. But unfortunately, she wouldn't be. Twilight and her friends were destined to fail, and soon the artifact at Alduin's feet began to glow. It shattered, and the stone around him cracked and split, then suddenly broke apart. Shaking off the pebbles and dust, Alduin couldn't help but grin. “Finally,” he said, hearing the sound of his own voice after being silent for so long. “I am free.”