//------------------------------//
// Desires 
// Story: Snapshots 
// by Shingo 
//------------------------------//

Desire is something that is built into every creature. To live is to desire. A new born cries to show what it wants. Buildings, tables, even the food we eat is built by desire. And it is wonderful. It’s this very force that causes us to do what we do. All of the emotions that mortals can feel are because of desire. I’m wrong? Really now? Tell me, when you love somepony, what exactly happens? You want them. Want. That is the key word. And what causes a pony to want? That’s right, desire. But there’s another side to desire that most do not know about.

You see, there are two sets of drives built into living creatures: a life drive, and a death drive. These are known as libido and thanatos respectively. You know how I said that everything is built by desire? That is libido working. Desire can also destroy as well, this is thanatos. Deny all you want, but it’s true. Every creature has the capability to destroy. Ponies sabotage relationships, they ruin other’s financial abilities, and they can even destroy a family. All of that, is also caused by desire. Desire is life, but it is also death. It’s beautiful in its duality. And it is because of desire that I’m doing what I’m doing.


*


Two ponies were standing outside of a magical rune: a purple unicorn and a white alicorn. The rune was giving off a purple glow and a column of light touched the sky. All across the sky were deep purple cracks. They were slowly spreading across the sky as the two were standing there. The alicorn glared at the unicorn.

“Tell me something, monster,” she said. “There has to be more of a reason than desire, so why are you doing this?”

“Monster?” the unicorn asked. “Do I really deserve that after I’ve been your student for years? That’s kind of cruel, Celestia.”

“You’re not my student!” Celestia yelled. “She would never do something like this.”

“Very true,” the unicorn began walking forward. “Your student would never do this. But I’ve outgrown you Celestia. I’m no longer a student.” She stopped in front of Celestia with a smile on her face.

“The answer to your question is simple really,” she continued. “Just as a painting is completed as soon as the last brush stroke is made, so is life completed when the last breath is taken. And like a painting, it is most beautiful at its end. All I’m doing is bringing the world into beauty.”

“You’re going to take the lives of everything on the planet,” she said. Twilight continued smiling.

“And they will be beautiful when I’m done,” Celestia’s horn glowed.

“I will stop yo…” a purple hoof stabbing into her chest stopped her. Cracks similar to those in the sky were on her regalia. She looked to Twilight; the same smile was on her face.

“You really should learn not to talk before taking action,” Twilight pulled her hoof back, glowing arcane characters circled around it. “It gives your enemy an opportunity to attack. Take that lesson with you to the other side.” Celestia fell to the floor.

“How?” she wheezed. “I’ve lived far longer than anypony. I’ve survived plagues, pestilence, fires, and even time itself. I’m supposed to be immortal.” The pony in front of her chuckled.

“Stars perish,” she said. “Matter disperses, coalesces, forms into other patterns, other worlds. Nothing is eternal. That goes for you too. Alicorns may live longer, and they may be impervious to things that would normally kill most ponies, but they are not immortal.” Celestia attempted to stand. The cracks were moving along her body causing it to scream in pain. A hoof gently pushed her down to the ground.

“Shhh, don’t fight it. This is a good end. And you’ve never been more beautiful than you are right now.”