I stand silently as my predicament unfolded, patiently waiting as the seconds slowly tick by. Surrounded once again, it reminded me of the first time they abruptly came into my tower and escorted me to court, a rigged trial that I had expected and played along with. Of course, this time around, it won’t be as simple as an escort, not with me actively being reluctant to go on an easy note.
I had hunkered down in this old, unassuming shack in the middle of what seemed to be an endless forest that stretched on for who knows how far, seemingly trap with no way out, and with each moment, I can hear them closing in, adamant with their advance towards me.
But soon, it won’t be the only noise they would make through their trek to capture me. The surroundings that encircle this shack weren’t empty of surprises, after all, the little open fields, forestry, and other marks of nature were all laced with magical traps courtesy of yours truly, designed and made to make this a lasting impression. Soon, I could hear the first bangs of black powder going off as illusionary spells and crystals were discharged to accompany it, filling the surroundings with what seemed to be the heinous sound of bloodshed screams that served to truly make this experience stand out. I could hear in the distance the rumbling of dozens, if not hundreds of soldiers who were in disarray, likely from the scenery I had provided them with, no doubt expecting their mission to be a straightforward one.
For the first time in this whole ordeal, I will admit, I was beginning to wish they would have just killed me on the spot the first time around. Now, however, as I realize that I have poured too much into my endeavor that trying to forgo it would simply be a waste on my part, I prepared myself to face the consequences head-on.
I stand accused of treason not because of actions, but because of implications. I am a menace to the status quo and everything that Equis stands for, be it harmonic or naught in nature. I am sent to be killed because of the things I have done, a destiny I have forged, because of what I stood for, although some may not see it, I have started something through my endeavors, something greater than even myself, and I take pride in knowing that fact.
I hear the echo of a thump as I am roughly dropped back down into my room, being imminently locked behind as I spot four guards standing at the ready. Looking around, I realize it wasn’t the same room as before, but still had the same layout that gave me that bit of semblance for me, not at all cramp-like what I expected.
...
A bit of time had passed, and during that time, I discovered that they gave me a new ring over my horn to subdue my magic, it was much more efficient than the crystals they had provided earlier in my stay. With that in mind, I did try my luck in levitation, and to my surprise, the ring seemed to “negate” certain types of magic, levitation being one of the exceptions, to some extent. Still, it was a pain to try and exert too much magic, I thought it was a regulator of sorts, but, I didn’t have time to ponder on that as I noticed a book provided to me, skimming over the passage to pass the time.
Silently, I read a small portion of the passage, being reminded of how I had gotten to this point in time. ”Thus, fate is like a sister to time, and although both are cruel in aspects to be said, one can’t simply defile them head-on. Both seem to work as one, where time is an eventuality, fate isn’t a set-in-stone concept as some are led to believe.”
‘Oh God, I think I’m losing my marbles…’ I thought to myself, slowly realizing the amount of BS that I have seemingly made up just to present myself as a pony of higher intellect, a cut above the rest, so to say.
“What are you thinking about?” A voice suddenly asked.
As I turned my head out of instinct to its source, it came as a delightful surprise when I realized it was the monarch of Equestria herself, although I did not quite catch her entering the room, I still decided to give her my form of welcoming.
“Ah, what brings the monarch for a visit, I assume you are here to condemn my actions? To prove a point? Or are you here for something else?” I asked, eliciting a sly grin to test her patience, taunting her to some extent.
To say that she’s no different from the rest would be a false statement in itself. Her achievements are a testament to her uniqueness, better fortune than most, and her general ability, qualities that she and her fellowship share and often compliment, are things that most, myself included, both admire and envy.
Her reaction to my suggestive taunts was much more composed than what I had anticipated. I had expected it to some degree, but I could tell that she had layered her flurry of emotions so deep just to speak to me in a straight fashion. Truth be told, I take great pleasure in the extreme reactions of others, be it somber or not. I find it enjoyable, even if I shouldn’t, such emotions I think reflect a very nature shared by all, somewhere deep down at least.
“I prefer sovereign,” she replied, approaching me with eyes that seemed to have a predatorily gaze over me. “And I’d ask again, what are you thinking about?”
With genuine curiosity now crawling in the back of my mind, I gave a face before reluctantly giving a reply to her question, not that I wished to deny her that.
“I think... I miss the times gone by,” I simply and honestly replied.
I let it hang for a moment, reminiscing on memories I didn’t realize I was making. “Back then, I didn’t have the pressure nor the image that was provided by the majority, but I always lived with the prying eyes of someone else. After that, I wanted to become something greater, to be different from an ever-growing stale world... sure, Celestia has her merits but compared to the possibilities I could ponder, I think she has done the bare minimum of what’s necessary, but now... after arriving at this point, a point I didn’t even think I’d reach... well, I’m just lost for words.”
I trailed off, and from there, she continued that train of thought, much to my surprise. “And somehow, things had become much more complicated, even if it’s the same world, isn’t it?”
I chuckled involuntarily, nervousness crawling with it. “heh, yea, you could say that.”
“So why?” She asked, drawing ever so closer to me with each step she took. “Why complicate things?”
I stared at her, my expression having a visible shift, judging from her reaction. As if I was reminded of a dull but ever so prevalent memory, I presumed she was talking about my escape, abusing the hospitality that Gallus showed me.
“Would you believe me if I said I didn’t know?” I asked, genuine intrigue at what her response might be.
For a moment, she thought over it as she weighed her words wisely before speaking again. “I… I simply can’t,” she said, bringing dismay in the process. “Not with what the stories around you have to say, not to mention the things you’ve done and their extent.”
I sighed, “I understand... and truthfully, I’d have love to discuss philosophy with you at another time,” I said, a small smile appearing for a moment to accompany it.
“Oh Celestia,” She muttered, “philosophers...”
I chuckled at her mumblings, I was probably older than her yet we lived in drastically different leagues of our own. And only now did I realize, she probably stood half a head taller than me. Time has gone forward since then, no more is Equestria ruled by two, it was now ruled by a single mare.
‘Oh, just having to look up, isn’t it great?’ I thought. She probably had this growth spurt with her ascension as a ruler, which goes to make you think about how we all grow up and earn our place in this world.
“So why the long face?” I asked with a grin, completely disregarding the reasons as to why she came here in the first place.
“The magic that one possesses, well, magic as a whole is directly linked to fate isn’t it? You know that as fact, you’re smart and had enough run-ins with villains twice as more powerful as me, yet I am portrayed as the most dangerous compared to them,” I added.
My confidence grew as this went on, knowing that I had waited for a long time just to say what I was about to tell her. “Isn’t that what a cutie mark is? A near literal representation of fate, of destiny. The lack of magic, or a cutie mark for that matter, would mean an uncertain fate, at least that’s how I’d like to portray it. How about you and your friends? Do you think you were brought upon by fate?” I asked.
A smile of kindness adorned me as I spoke my next words. “Truthfully, I have nothing against you, in particular, it’s just that a new era brings new heights to reach, but with new heights comes greater risks, and the greater the risk, the greater the fall becomes. Alas, the work I have made could be interpreted in many ways, things to complicate the status quo, things never seen nor even heard of before, something to challenge the present, a means to beat fate. Or simply a new way of life.” I said, waving in a dramatic sense to accompany my point.
“So, is that all? Your work simply being a means rather than anything else?” She asked curiously.
As she said that, I realized we both sat up straight now, her horn glowed with a soft hue at the ready as she tried to untangle my motives and understanding, giving me the little sympathy that she could, something that I appreciated.
I suddenly began putting some thought into it. “You know, Equis always ran on the principle of magic... every villain, every species, everyone was bound to that principle… so what happens when you take away that pillar, the fundamentals, from which an entire world, an entire society, operates from.”
I saw her about to speak, confused at the sudden change in direction, but she did not expect my outburst.
“NOTHING!” I shouted, standing up in the process out of rage. “They all refuse to let go of the fundamentals, the basics, even if it means staying the same. An entire world would brush off my entire view just because they can. They’d set it aside because they could, not because they should. And they hate me for bringing up the possibility, let alone the introduction of a suggested solution... it saddens me, that such a single-minded approach is taken because of said fundamentals. Magic is an integral part of this world, something that, most would see, could bring many great things, but the darkness it was once used for is near-forgotten in time.”
Her reaction was evident, a face that showed a bit more sympathy for my plight. “I see... so what do you plan with your work? From what I could gather, there all unfinished. Except of course for the other nine that you got published.” Twilight said, taking a breath of view to make her point. “Besides, I’ve written a few books myself, and even I can’t finish everything I’ve started, much less continue your work with how I last saw it.”
Now that I think about it, although I had a plan for how it goes about, I thought it was better to just tose an idea around her head. “Maybe, maybe. And if that’s the case, then I’d like it if they were set aside somewhere, like the Royal Canterlot library maybe, just to collect dust. I won’t be able to finish any of them at this rate, but I’d just like my books to be kept safe, sealed and locked away, but safe nonetheless.”
For a moment, I thought she had accepted what I just said, but it was far from the truth, judging by her sudden shift in mood. “B-but, they could be of great opportunity for Equis! For the future of everyone! You still have a long way to go until your death, a life to be lived, I could even pardon you! You just have to continue your work or just work under me.” She protested, desperation seemingly growing at what could be the loss of a great asset for her.
Knowing that she didn’t fully understand my motives, I decided to make a show. “You know, I already have my dying will, if it would be respected or not is another matter that I’m unsure of, but I do know this: even if all my works were to be completed and well-received, a great unlikelihood mind you, I would still refuse your offer, I refuse to work under you out of respect, as for others, I’d rather die than be an advisor to anyone, be it a traditional sovereign in name or not.”
And despite good reason not to, and much to my strain, I poured in as much magic as I could to my horn, lighting it up and casting an illusion spell to make the point that I was about to say stick. “From Ideologies formed, new economic systems would sprout to follow suit, and after that, a new way to wage war and form peace. Once the snowball of change gets rolling, a new world completely different from this one will flourish and, eventually, die out. Selfishness, or any other reason for that matter, is the key to change, without it, there is no ambition to flourish, that is what this era is lacking in.”
“This is the certainty of life, for change influences change, and when uncertainty is brought by change, it brings opportunities and challenges, and when that happens, competition will sprout and become a race of improvement. This is the true extent of our choices. For hard times create the strong, and the strong create good times... the sad reality is that the weak flourish in these good times, and once the weak reach a peak, hard times would soon follow through, as the cycle eventually continues.” Pausing for a moment to take in some much-needed air. I examined her expression, seeing that she was listening with intrigue.
“But enough about me, I simply can’t hog all of the attention, so now, I think it’s your turn, Your Highness,” I said, bowing in respect to the only monarch I remotely found interest in for that matter.
So she continued where her little protest from earlier ended. “Your books, I’ve read nearly all of them and some research with Spike on some other related topics,”
‘Is that so...’ I thought to myself.
“And I guess your earlier rant would have confirmed it, but you have an... ‘interesting’ stance. So it got my thinking, how come?”
“...” I thought about it.
“You know...” I began, pondering for a moment to remember an old story before continuing, “I don’t know if Celestia has told of these myths, but it was once said that a civilization, long before the time of Grogar, created the foundation of magic, yet they were themselves unable to tap into this gift but were not hindered with this setback, ingenuity being their greatest weapon.”
“I have, and they are nothing more than myths, tales that have no right to exist.” She said, her expression being steadfast at that claim.
“Yet the fact that this is knowledge not even known to at least a portion of the nobility just creates a greater intrigue. How many more myths have been lost to time? The history that wasn’t written by ink? Forever lost and destined to be repeated eventually.”
She spoke up again. “And by doing what is right and striving for it, we could avoid repeating, let alone committing horrible deeds.”
“And here I must say that coincidences are the result of unforeseen consequences. Do note of the word ‘could’.” I pointed out in her claim.
“And that’s what puzzles me,” She began once more, this time with a much more assertive tone. “You’re a pony of such... persistence, in so many ways, your books and the general image you have... to have you simply not fight at the courtroom, a room that would decide your fate. I just can’t see why you’d simply throw it all away!”
I smiled, finally hearing her true colors of curiosity. “Well, even if I said I didn’t know, I’d be lying to you. And truth be told, I don’t think I threw everything down the drain because... I believe that this is what’s best because unless you don’t change the status quo, change will eventually outrun you.” I said in a tone of solemnness as I gauged her reaction.
She then began to rise, slowly at first, but I swore that I saw a flame light up as the faint smell of smoke began to fill my nostrils. “Then why? Why go through the hassle of living a life... just to get yourself killed without a fight? So much for an endeavor... ended with so little effort. I know you didn’t try to kill anyone when you were in that shack, that was more of a defiant show, a show if nothing else.” She asked.
As genuinely as I could, I reached a hoof out and started patting her back, trying to comfort her as best as I could. “I didn’t throw anything away, as I said earlier, I have reasons,” I simply said.
“Besides, I believe this world is destined for a life like a Phoenix. There might be something new, and perhaps, more, waiting once that smoke settles...”
My work must’ve had a wider impact than I thought, judging by her reactions now. I am still unsure if she went through the hassle of reading all of my previous works, and her realizing the many things I have created through my works of writing and studies, I can only be humbled and imagine her desire to have me as an advisor or something of the like.
“It was my choice and thus, a fate that I bestowed upon myself through actions,” I said. Looking at her directly, I gave some more words of comfort. “I know what I did and although you might not see its true reach yet, I want you to respect it...”
Just then, the door was knocked on as someone seemed to call her name.
“Twilight? You in there? Ember and Thorax are here to see you for the evening.” The voice said, seemingly belonging to one, Shining Armor.
I gave her highness another smile, one she took with a bit of surprise. When no response came, the banging on the door became louder, which promptly told her she needed to do something.
So she shouted a response. “Hold on Shining! Give me a minute and I’ll be there.”
She then swung her head around to face me. “You know, there was one book that you’ve written that stuck with me…”
“And what would that book be?” I humbly and curiously asked.
“It was, ‘The Banner of All Rulership’s’. it was kind of... enlightening, so to speak.” She then quickly thought of what she was indirectly implying. “N-not to say that you’re other books are uninteresting, just that, they’re all equally unique and compelling to read, but I was bound to have a favorite.”
Piquing my interest, I listened in carefully to what she might say. “Oh? And do explain, please.”
“Well, I can say that it was how you make parallels with your other books that got me hooked. How you ask the questions of probability and what not or even the simple conclusions you draw up at the end, how you see one’s bindings and freedom, opportunity, and ability. It was a very interesting perspective. Even if I would have to disagree with some of them in general.”
“Aw, shame…” I said, lamenting what she said about my book, “not to you I mean, but still, it’s humbling to know you’ve read them. Now that I think about it, I’m sure you picked up a few things from my recommendations that I’m sure you’d find to be interesting, your cup of tea, so to say.”
But before long, another knock came which interrupted our little moment.
“Twilight!” Came to the voice again, “Listen, sis, as much as I’d hate to interrupt whatever you’re doing in there, Ember is getting real pissed with waiting, Spike’s already having a hard time keeping her down and waiting as is!”
“Coming!” She responded while looking back at me in the process.
“So, you must take your leave, farewell,” I said. Now making myself comfortable for what was sure to be a long night ahead.
“Not yet,” she said, “I still have to ask one more question before I leave, whether you’d like to or not.”
“Shoot, go ahead,” I replied. “Can’t be a bad one.”
“Well, I wanted to ask again, why? Outside of fate playing its course, why go to the extents you’ve done?” She asked as she circled me for the first and final time in her visit. “You couldn’t have just up and done everything while having expected it all to burn, so there must be another reason…”
As her thoughts trailed on, this time, I was silent, hesitant to answer her question. Perhaps it was instincts, old memories resurfacing with a better perspective, a much more enlightened view. Even now, I still remember the day I decided to become something, to be the change that this world needed. Maybe I was naïve, maybe it’s misplaced, but I did truly believe this world has grown stale with too much reliance on magic, becoming an essential and fundamental pillar of this society, one that, to some extent, my works would try to blur out in context.
“Well, I know the alicorns are, to some extent, immortal, but I think that’s a partial ruse.” I began, mustering up the courage to make this confession of sorts, an answer to her question.
“...”
And he hesitated, pure emotions flurried inside him that kept him from admitting the core of everything he was worked for. “Because I loved this world, growing up it was a fairytale come true... but as I grew up, I saw that same word change under Celestia. And then, I had that realization, I realized that no one would do it because it was exactly what this world would grow to fear. So, I decided to do it myself, to become what is necessary for change to evolve, and so, I left my prints in this world, be they my books or my other works, because I love this world for what it truly is.”
“Is that so...” she said, letting what he said sink it, “well, I can certainly see where Starlight got some of her old motifs and mannerism from.”
They shared a brief and heartfelt chuckle over that remark.
“Well let me tell you this, you’re not the pseudo kind, you’d probably have a sort of idiosyncratic kind of rule, which I am more than willing to bet will be fruitful. Unfortunately, not everything could be fulfilled. Oh! and do tell them I sent my regards and that it wasn’t anything personal.”
“Sure will,” she responded to his request.
Standing up, she now made her way to the door to make her leave, and Bold Ideals gave her some parting words. Something that he hoped would stick if all else are forgone…
“We all make choices, but sooner or later, we’ll all eventually sit down to a banquet of consequences,” he said, staring at the leaving sovereign. “Well, I believe everyone should have a secret that they carry with them to their grave.”
And finally, before the distant closing of a door cementing the final moments of his life, Bold Ideals and Princess Twilight shared a nod, more out of respect for the other than anything else.
And when those doors creaked to a shut, he was now left to his sealed fate, having lived his life by his choices and work, followed through with his principles and the risk they brought. The cutie mark he bore was a constant reminder of his fate, a fate he has sown and chosen for himself.
Living by his ideals till the end, his bold interpretation of life and the world around him eared him both fame and infamy, and such did the consequences he bestowed upon himself, he believed he was destined for this, not to die just for a change to happen, but as a symbol of something untouched, ideas to be explored. He wanted this… his actions to mean something greater, to have significance for a time that hasn’t even begun.
He was a mixed bag, some say he was a pony with no significance, and others say that he’s the incarnation of what the legend of Grogar wanted to achieve, just with a new shade and tone. To him, it all might as well be prevarications, he was simply tired, too tired to even try and distinguish both, only his work held him together up to that point. His resignation is now in reach, and his final gambit is being played.
And so, the story of Bold Ideals is about to come to an end. Having lived his story the way he did, and so, He died the way he lived: Expecting to finally start living.