The cold mountain winds were unforgiving, with barely any heat to find comfort in and the constant pounding of the snowstorm outside never letting a moment of silence and rest settle, this was the state that Bold Ideals was in. Trapped in a small cabin in the middle of what seemed to be an endless tundra, a white hell of snow that covered everything and left nothing to stand or mark.
Left to freeze, to rot, forgotten even. It all crossed his mind, yet he showed no sign of clear regret, a hint of fear perhaps, but he’ll persevere, knowing something greater was about to come.
So he stayed still, biding his time as he waited patiently as the snow around him dulled his sense to the point that he didn’t notice the pain that slowly but surely chipped away at the little heat and chance at survival.
Just then, as if gods decided to answer his prayers, he heard a rippling effect, paired with a portal that opened out of nothingness right before his very eyes, leading to everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
Out of it came a single white alicorn. She stood tall, fearless, and likely indifferent towards him. Her purpose seemingly being righteous, but he knew better and this only served to give him confidence in what he was about to say.
From his position in the room, he began taunting her and the ponies she cared about. “So is the Lunar Princess not going to tend to those suffering in her realm? Has the Princess of Love finally learned to be indifferent to those that don’t deserve love? Is that why they refuse to come with you? Or did the Spirit of Harmony feel shame, knowing that those that she bestowed her blessing to bring change were bested by a simpleton?”
He saw it, every little word he spoke, it dug-, no, it stabbed at the very conscience of Celestia. Because deep down, she knew there was a hint of truth to what he spoke, even if it wasn’t reflected in her stoic demeanor.
“Even when death herself is at your doorstep, you are still as persistent and revolting as the day we met you,” she remarked, sitting down opposite tp where Bold Ideals was, seemingly being unaffected by the weather as she refused to show any signs of sympathy to the pony before her.
“Well, this is the consequence of a pony making history, isn’t it?” He replied, a small giggle of insanity escaping now and again as the conversation would move forward.
“Well, even I reap those consequences, unlike you who runs and hides away from them,” the hue in her magic started to become much richer as she continued. “So tell me, are you god-fearing?”
He saw it, the small but significant smug grin that labeled Celestia’s face, he was now being tested. This did not of course slip his grasp, and he continued to stare, to look up in defiance to the former sovereign.
“No, no I’m not,” he replied. “And I refuse to kneel before an idealistic, beyond unreasonable perfectionist ruler, a narcissistic creature who is only able to see after the facts...”
This response seemed to be just the response that Celestia expected, as new heights of pain were being given to Bold Ideals as a bolt of magic struck him. Yet despite that, he held back his cries of pain, unwilling to give Celestia that satisfaction.
“For more than several millenniums, I have planned this carefully crafted future of stability for this world, and you are just at the tail end of that process yet somehow, you posed a threat greater than even the villains of the old and new!” She exclaimed, continuing to pour magic into the spell she had struck him with.
“And it’s a miracle that your students and the geniuses of old and new refused to stand up against you, an opportunity that one like myself gladly welcomed,” I retorted, which only served to anger her even more.
“Even Twilight doesn’t know the full scope of your plan for ‘the future’, and I could see it with my own eyes, that I was right all along and you’ll be forced to watch the tower you have painstakingly and meticulously built crumble with one small explosion,” I said with one last sly grin before I closed my eyes to took in the bulk of what she was about to send my way.
The pain I was experiencing suddenly raised to a height as Celestia poured every ounce of her magic at simply hurting and making sure this pony experienced heights of pain no one should have experienced, but still refusing to kill him. This went on for a little while, with the stallion seemingly having lost track of time, but eventually, she suddenly stopped herself.
...
In silence, she looked down at the justice that she served, even if it was in a cruel sense.
“The only problem with moving faster than light is that you could only live in darkness. I am that light, none shall cross nor pass before me, only by bathing in my light does life strive. Without me, you and everything you stand for is nothing.” She said, extending her wings to look as imposing as possible.
This served to do the opposite of what she wanted it to do. Invigorating the stallion only served to get under her nerves.
His laughter, although unjustified, only served to infuriate her further, at least until he spoke again. “He-he, so… I’m guessing the good doctor and the setting student had finally cracked my code?”
His grin… his overall stature, the basic fact he existed, it taunted Celestia to no end, it’s all she could see from him, what he represented, a loose cannon. And this remark only fueled her flame as she gripped him by the throat with her magic, levitating him to look at him directly in the eye as she suddenly stood, without a care for his wellbeing.
“Augh-HU! So-… I’m guessing not.” He began struggling to take in air, flailing his hooves in some vain attempt to fend for himself.
“I- Agh- it won’t do you good Celestia-, I-it’s all gone, NOTHING is left for you, you think y-agh, I’d leave my unfinished works unchecked?.”
As if she couldn’t take it anymore, with all her might, she threw him directly at the cabin wall that tanked the impact by some miracle, and with a loud thud, he dropped to the floor, weaker than ever before.
“A new era calls for a new way, a new way to rule and wage over.” He said, looking over Celestia before coughing up a bit. “Having grown so dependent on magic... so little change in the system, and you don’t even try to address it, too busy mourning, regret, or simply being proud of ‘your’ work, and you still fail to address some common issues and disputes, granted, they are small in nature, but still, the point.”
He looked at Celestia, from his position, he was forced to look up to at least see her expression, and boy did he take his sweet moment to appreciate his little work.
Where one would expect Celestia to radiate warmth, he felt the opposite, as if to add to the already cold and dull outside environment that pounded each moment.
He tried to stand up, but in his current state, all he could manage was to look up to Celestia. “So much big talk, yet you are so ignorant to the things I say, ignorant to your wrongs as a pony, deluding yourself as a deity of sorts the likes of Discord...”
Slowly, Celestia drew closer to him again.
“Maybe you’re wrong, maybe I’m wrong… maybe it doesn’t even matter at all,” she said, reorienting herself to look at the unicorn before her.
“But I do know this: you should have already realized the wrongs with your proposal, seemingly growing much more delusional by the day. Equis doesn’t hold the capacity to support your ways and systems, let alone thrive from it, nature comes first, and you haven’t molded them yet to your cause, even if it was noble.”
And as if his plea for reason was ignored, he got another bolt of magic straight to the chest, launching him back to meet the wall of the cabin that still miraculously stood despite the strong force.
He coughed out blood but still seemed fine for the most part. “So much change for so little effort and all it takes is the prospect of something different, new, something better, and it all consequently hinders your plans for stability.”
Now as Celestia was approaching, he saw her face and knew that this was the time to pull an ace from his sleeve. One he planned would strike not only her heart but also her very conscience.
“And here I thought the Celestia, Sister of the Banished Princess, Mentor to the Sunset and Twilight, Sovereign for over a millennium, would have taken a page from history and the creatures that surrounded her.”
“What, do you mean?” She asked, her low tone of voice is unable to fully convey the pure aura that she radiated at the moment.
“C’mon Celestia, you know my days as a ‘teacher’ are over. That ‘Nothing stays the same for long but just because it changes, doesn’t mean its gone.’ rings any bells?” His face now contorted into one of seriousness at the question and quote he just said.
Celestia’s reaction was one that he expected, but it was such a subtle change that he had to squint a little to notice it. Regardless of that fact, he knew the next part would be better.
Soon, his once involuntary laughter of nervousness in between conversations blew into a hysteric laughing fit, one that Celestia did not find amusing but decided to keep out of. Both did not find it appropriate for the moment, but even in the heat of it all, a bit of laughter could spark a little of something more, and from it, perhaps, a better outlook as a whole.
Soon the laughter slowly died down, and with it, the illusion of the space surrounding him and the princess. Slowly, the cabin and the outside shifted from a cold isolated wasteland to a warm green scenery, just at the outskirts of what seemed to be a city that seemed to resemble the spirit of Manehatten. It did not surprise Celestia however, who seemed to have known a bit more than she let on and amply anticipated the entire thing.
“Well, we both know, even if the dream realm is Luna’s domain,” Ideals said, standing up as the previous blows and any damage inflicted upon him seemingly healed itself.
“It is still the conscious mind that wages over the details, and we both know I’ve been a lucid dreamer lately; we really should be past all of this passive-aggressive bickering we’ve had for so long.” He said with an all too familiar smile to alleviate some tension between the two.
And to welcome this change of tone, a chair, and some tea appeared out of nowhere, one levitating towards Ideals and the other towards the princess.
“Care to sit down? I’m sure you’d like some tea with it.”
Celestia opted to remain silent as she seemingly ignored the question, but she still took up the offer that he gave, and soon enough, both ponies had found a comfortable arrangement. All the while, both took their time to make up their mind for the oncoming discussion, one that might be a bit heart-to-heart.
“We both know old habits die hard, Ideals, and really, I would have thought you’d have grown used to this ‘mutual’ hate we have for each other.” Celestia finally replied, downing the cup of tea until it was empty, which promptly was refilled by itself.
“That hate aside… where has Discord been? shouldn’t he be keeping an eye on me?” he asked.
“No idea,” she honestly replied, “last I heard, he went to a place beyond Equis, to do a bit of research about something, Shining was pissed of course...”
‘You don’t say...’ he thought, being able to at least relish the supposed headaches that befell Shining.
“Well, I can tell you this for sure, your student is a special one, a great actor while being a greater leader.” He said, his praise seemingly having caught Celestia off guard.
“What’s that supposed to imply?” She asked, still looking around the room while silently being thankful for the change in topics.
He looked at another part of the small room before out of nothingness, vague memory bubbled and popped out of nowhere, revealing memories of the past, seemingly belonging to Celestia and those she cared for.
“She’s a peculiar one, not as old as you, so not as wise as some would like her to be, but still knowledgeable enough, even knowing forbidden knowledge from a completely alternate universe. You know which one I’m talking about, the same one that Star Swirl theorized about, concepts away from this world, and she can mask it all with such an act that it even fooled me the first couple of times… and yet despite her intellect, she is soo… something, she is truly fortunate .”
“And why is that?” she asked, “Is it because she has friends? While you’re here being a hollow representation of what you say you are.” Her remarks of belittling him aimed at proving an earlier point.
“Exactly,” he responded, having no qualms about agreeing with the sentiment. “She has friends to remember her, or maybe vice-versa, she’ll have to learn that eventually the saddest part in life isn’t regretting or contemplating, but realizing that there is an eventuality, that even testaments and memories fade, and so does everything else.”
Being patient enough, Celestia would be rewarded with what Ideals would follow it up with. “Like her, like you, like me, maybe like everyone else... all lives that have been ‘lived’, there had been something to pour our hearts in, to dedicate ourselves for…”
“You know, it reminds me about one of your books,” Celestia interrupted, “‘Souls’ I think the name was, heartwarming no doubt, from how you talk about choices and the will to move forwards to even the simple complexity of consequences. I could tell that the times haven’t been kind, going by the fact that there are only those few and far between that still talk about it, one of the smaller things I could respect in your nine books is the message they convey, even if you are writing for an era that has yet to happen, a pony ahead of your time, so to say.”
He remained silent, taking in the compliment as he reflected on his thoughts. “I could have done so many things, the opportunity... point is that it takes a lot of effort to do these things, to make and decide between choices I mean.”
For a moment, he had to catch his breath, looking around as if he was anticipating something. Taking his time to gather what he was about to say next, all the while the princess listened with great intent.
Rarely did Celestia, in recent times, ever have the opportunity to simply listen to those around her speak about something personal, more so if it is something also enlightening for her, and she cherished each passing moment of this conversation. Like listening to a story, she found it entertaining, even if she knew it would have a bit of a darker ending.
“I am too tired, I mean it, Celestia, too tired to make a choice now. I made my final act when I tried to escape, to run, but now, I am at the tail end of my life. The same cannot be said for you and everyone else, ask anyone and they’d always prefer to be a hero, or more appropriately, to be a ‘good’ soul. No one wants to contemplate the morality of things or even something along with the like, because if we did, it would reveal a lot of things, and one of those things is the necessity for change. Change is inevitable, we both acknowledge it but we approach it differently. I pursued a life of challenging the status quo, to be something, a change because ultimately, it is the greatest symphony anyone could accomplish.”
“And how are you going to do that?” Celestia objected, “You won’t be around for long and you’re likely too late to do anything to note. My regards to your soon death, nothing personal of course.”
“Appreciated. And to answer, maybe so, but my symphony’s will live on, even without my name, in one way or another, I made a mark in this world through my books and the ideals I will leave behind, a little something to take solace in if you ask me.”
“Maybe so,” Celestia agreed, now contemplating with herself thanks to the things that Ideals brought up.
The silence was deafening, usually, dreams don’t last this long, at most, they usually last for a little over half an hour, but for Celestia, there seemed to be these bursts of silence until the next conversation in between the hysterical laughter of earlier. It unnerved her, despite coming into this dream with confidence and the backing of Luna and Cadance, she is still left at the mercy of this pony. It was his dream and his to make off and Luna could do only so much for her at this time.
“A little too much, yet a little too less… it is unfair, don’t you think?” He asked.
“What is?” she inquired.
“Life and Death…” he said.
“heh,” Celestia chuckled to herself, “tell me something I don’t know... well, I do think it is unfair sometimes…” she replied, agreeing with the sentiment in whole honesty.
Slowly, the room was filled with the low but audible sobs of someone. Well, out of the two of them, Celestia knew straight away something was probably amiss with Ideals. It wasn’t every day that she would have the privilege of being with someone on their death bed, let alone their final dream of sorts, even if he was a rival to Equestrian interest. She always had a motherly instinct, and although this was different, she decided she’d do a little of something to help him in his final moments.
“Do you want an honest answer?” he asked, despite the heavy tear, his voice was seemingly unaffected by it.
She smiled, knowing what her answer would be to him. “I’d prefer you’d be honest, for your sake. I’m only here to listen, after all, an alicorn could only do so much you know.”
A small smile made its way to his tear-ridden face. “I was so naïve, so wise, so… indifferent.” He said, his tears increasing in volume but still changed nothing.
“I am at the end of the line, aren’t I?” He asked Celestia, one she faced with hesitation. “I won’t have a day after tomorrow… so many choices… opportunities, yet they all lead to something so… typical, different in their respects, but essentially the same things…”
Silence reigned supreme as the last words hung, dangling to be finished. Bold Ideals looked up, trying to hold himself together while also seemingly looking up to nothingness.
Celestia on the other hoof could only listen, part of her refused to help while the other half saw what she was doing was out of respect, believing that lending an ear was what she could only do to help the stallion. Although deep down, both knew that they could do more, they just simply deny it and refuse to do it.
Soon, the scenery changed once more, what was once a room of a cabin now turned into nothingness, replaced with what seemed to be the scenery of a moonlit night, the stars shining as they seemed to be atop a cloud overlooking a far distant land.
Taking a deep breath, he had resigned himself before, he must once again do it again, steeling his resolve, he accepted things as they are, but deep down, he had other swirling emotions to keep hold of.
Sighing, he opened his eyes, taking a sip from the tea that he has kept suspended since the beginning of their little chat, and looking at the open space before them.
“That’s the impressive thing about life and death, through it, the very concept of choices is born, and with it, the path of time is forged through the will that comes from making choices…”
Taking a deep breath, he smiled at Celestia, truly grateful for the time she had allotted for him.
“Well, as a friend of mine once said, ‘live long and prosper,” he said, reminiscing the parting words of Solemn Vow. “And usually I’d wish the same for you, I only hope you don’t live long enough to see what you fear come true... well, I’m not sure if the hard part is done… accepting things I mean, but I’m guessing this is where we part ways.”
Celestia, who was silent for quite a while, returned the smile, believing it was the least she could do.
“It was nothing at all,” she said, genuinely being humbled by his remarks. “And if this is where we part ways once again, I bid you farewell, and may whatever lay after death bless your soul... I still hate your guts and what you have written, respect it in some ways, but still hate it.”
“Don’t hate the player, hate the game.” He responded. Both shared a sly grin after that remark.
And then, everything went blank, just darkness, well, not pure darkness. It was that part of your sleep after dreaming, well, it would be short with the upcoming moments.
Now, he slowly woke up, a light headache persisting as small rays of sunlight alerted him that it was already morning. A dream, it was all that was.
‘I’m growing much more delusional by the hour…’ he thought. The memories of last night were vague yet memorable to some extent, but nothing of note, at least for the things to happen now.
Sitting upright in the bed that he slept on, he wasn’t tired, at least not physically, yet somehow tears ran down his face. Quiet mourning for the day ahead. The sun shone like any other, but his death sentence would be done in the evening. He had some spare time, and he planned on spending it all on reading some books, if not that, then public opinion surrounding him.
From his vantage point, he looked out the window of his room. Opening the windows to let in some fresh air, the outside was less than ideal, instead of a massive crowd denouncing his works as he expected, it seemed like any ordinary day, with ponies and different creatures going about their day. For him, it didn’t fully bother him, but deep down, he knew something was amiss if things were this mundane.
Looking to his side, he saw a paper and pen, and as if something pushed him through, he levitated both and began writing an extended portion for his final will, amongst the things he would outline in this “final” paper of sorts, he would hope his obituary would layout everything he has done in life, both the good and bad, even referencing the few and far between that would help in it. It was all he could do now was try and make something stick.
Because in all the times, only now did doubt creep in, but he couldn’t do anything about it except wonder what happened. He may have been prepared for his execution, but the implications after his death were still something he couldn’t fully grasp, and so, he wrote with a silent heart and looked on outside the window with an uneasy and bated breath.
It was still early in the day, no reason to get so worked up; but only now did he doubt ever take hold of him to do something about it, unsure if his final gamble will even work.