//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Divine Indifference // by Orthoros //------------------------------// Atlas set down his recently filled-to-the-brim saddlebags on his bed. The time for him to leave had finally come and now all of his preparations were complete. Due to the fact that he hadn’t figured out how to store things in hammerspace, he had to do with only one saddlebag of equipment he could take with him, so he had carefully selected the tools he would most likely need. At least he was able to make them bigger on the inside, thanks to a spell he had learned from Doc Brown way back when, but the space was still extremely limited. He opened the hidden door that lead into his secret lab with a sigh, intent on taking one last tour before he left. Although he had spent relatively little time in this place compared to the cave system close to Vanhoofer, it had still grown on him. He went through each room, remembering the various magical experiments that had taken place in them and the new spells that were created after many failures together with Starswirl. Incidentally, Atlas’ room and lab would become the property of Starswirl, as to not leave the expensive equipment to collect dust. It would be a fitting workspace for the newly appointed court magician, a title the sisters had been persistently attempting to push onto Atlas since their crowning. Much to their dismay, however, this title actually required the consent of the appointed individual. So, while they could force as many titles of nobility onto him as they desired, they could never appoint him to the post without his agreement. The last room on his little nostalgia trip was what he always considered his office. Aside from the giant hardwood desk which had been the centerpiece of the room ever since it was built, every single available space had been filled with drawers over the years. Despite the large amount of space these drawers took up, however, none of the space went to waste, the innumerable papers on magic theory filling each and every one to the brim. A good eighty percent of their contents was never made public as most of the spells were either too dangerous or simply too complicated to commercialize, essentially making them military secrets that were now in Celestia and Luna's possession with Starswirl as a proxy. Using his magic, Atlas pulled open one of the drawers in his desk and pulled out a trio of sealed envelopes, each of them containing a letter. He took a quick glance at them and left one of them that was addressed to Starswirl on the desk, making sure it was clearly visible where its intended recipient would find it. Nodding to himself Atlas turned around, taking the remaining letters with him with the intent to deliver them to their recipients personally. He returned to his room and strapped on his saddlebags, the letters floating along with him as he left. Stopping in the doorway, he looked back one last time before closing the door on another chapter of his life. As he made his way through the basement of the castle he was greeted by the occasional guard or servant which he, for once, actually replied to without grumbling. Even the bowing was accepted by him, instead of making his distaste of it apparent. He was making his way through the halls of the castle a lot slower than usual, taking some time to admire the art hung along the walls which was illuminated nicely by the late afternoon sun. His destination was the main gates, intent on just leaving without too much of a procession. However, even if he didn’t tell anypony when he’d leave exactly, he just knew that there was no way that he wouldn’t run into some concerned friends. Turning the last corner he walked into a large reception hall with large open double doors at the end, his suspicion turning into truth as he spotted a trio of ponies standing in front of them. “I thought you’d be waiting for me,” Atlas smirked as he trotted up to them. “How could we not?” Celestia asked, a serene smile on her face. “You didn’t make it easy to figure out the time you’d leave, but I managed to figure it out,” Starswirl said casually. “I can’t believe that you’d just leave like that!” Luna said annoyed. “After all my pleas for you to stay, you’d even go so far as to just leave without saying goodbye?” “I didn’t want to make a scene,” Atlas said. “I was also afraid that you’d try some unsavory things to keep me here…” “I would do no such thing!” Luna sputtered. “I don’t want you to leave, but that would be going too far, don’t you think?” “Seeing how you almost clung to me every free second you had this past week, I wouldn’t have put it beyond you,” Atlas retorted with a raised eyebrow. “Well, I still don’t want you to leave… none of us do, actually,” Luna said, shrinking into herself. “I would much prefer for you to stay here with us, yes,” Celestia said. “But I do understand that you have your reasons for doing this.” “I don’t really care either way,” Starswirl chuckled. “I just wanna come with you, whatever it is you’re doing. I’m sure it’s some batshit crazy stuff, which means you’ll be having fun without me.” “You’re the court magician now, you have to stay,” Atlas smiled. “But yes, what I’m gonna do will be like nothing else you’ve ever seen before…” “So there really is nothing we can do to make you stay?” Luna asked. “Unless you can magically solve the issue I’m trying to fix, then no,” Atlas said. “And I seriously doubt you’d be able to, even if you tried.” “So then this is really it?” Luna said. “You’re just gonna leave like that?” “Pretty much, yeah,” Atlas shrugged. “I’m not much for big goodbyes and stuff. Besides, we’ll see each other again. I’ll just be gone for a bit…” “I’d hardly call a thousand years ‘a bit’,” Celestia said. “I’m sure you’ll manage without me from here on out,” Atlas said. “Actually, I’m kind of betting on it.” “I’m sure we’ll all try our best, after all there’s a lot at stake,” Celestia replied. “At least that’s what you keep telling us, without telling us what that is, exactly. And no, ‘everything’ isn’t exactly a valid answer.” “As I’ve said before,” Atlas looked at his friends in turn. “If all goes well, you’ll never have to find out.” “Then make sure that we don’t,” Starswirl nodded. “Make sure to triple and quadruple check your formulas and theories, and only apply them when you’re definitely sure they work.” “Yeah, I know,” Atlas rolled his eyes. “I’ll make sure. Promise.” “I’ll also not be against receiving mysterious letters containing schematics for new spells, you know?” Starswirl said with a cheeky grin. “I’ll see what I can do, but don’t expect anything. I was planning on not writing at all, to be honest,” Atlas replied. “Also, something has been bugging me.” The sisters and Starswirl perked up at Atlas’ statement. “This is the main entrance to the palace, why is there nopony here?” he asked eventually. “There are usually ponies and guards everywhere.” “We had it cleared out,” Celestia admitted. “We thought you’d come through here because it would be more difficult for us to stop you with so many ponies around.” Atlas blinked a few times, realizing he had been outplayed. “Ha, would you look at that! I think that’s the first time you got one over me, Celestia.” “I’ve learned from the best,” Celestia said, giving a small flourish. “With that, I think I have all the proof that I need to know that you’ll be fine,” Atlas nodded. “But I really do think now is the time for me to go. I have to travel far and I plan to get somewhere before night falls completely.” Atlas went in for a hug with his two adopted daughters, which they happily returned. Luna was reluctant to break off, but eventually she followed her sisters example and stepped away to make room for Atlas to pass. A hoof shake with Starswirl was next, the two sharing a look that said more than any speech ever could. With his business finished Atlas turned towards the wide open doors in front of him, looking towards a particular mountain range that could be seen in the distance. “Oh, that’s right,” Atlas suddenly remembered something. “I still have to give you these!” Atlas’ saddlebags magically opened and the two letters floated out from them. Each of the sisters received one, both taking them up in their magic and eyeing them curiously. “You could consider these my farewell letters to you,” Atlas explained. “A last gift from me to you. They contain very specific very important information about a few… things. You have to understand that these are for your eyes only, so under no circumstances are you to share the contents with each other.” “I… I promise,” Luna replied, looking at the letter with trepidation. “So, is this the last move you’re going to play?” Celestia asked, curiously turning her letter around in her grip. “Let’s just say I’m manipulating the board in my favor with those,” Atlas said cryptically. “You’ll understand once you’ve read them. And remember, no sharing,” he reminded them once more, shooting a pointed look at Starswirl who immediately seemed to get what Atlas meant. “Alright then, I shall take my leave now,” Atlas said. “As I said before I’m not big on goodbyes, so I’ll just say: ‘See you later’.” With those scarce words, Atlas turned around and started walking, leaving behind what he considered his family. They looked after his disappearing figure until he couldn’t be seen anymore, savoring the last few moments they’d have to see him before eventually returning to their duties. Atlas, however, was already thinking about what he would have to do going forward. He had been planning his next steps carefully over the past decade, but he was still headed into the unknown. He had done what he could to ensure that everything in Equestria went as it should, so the only thing left to do was to liberate it from the iron grip Zeus had on it and give hs all to make sure it didn’t disappear. He’d have to succeed, no matter what the cost. He would save Equestria, even if doing so required his own destruction.