Pro Temerarus es Fautor

by Kromulus Regulus


Chapter Quinque - Fatum Fortuna Vocat

Chapter Quinque

Fatum Fortuna Vocat

“Fate Favors the Bold”

        The scene in Tiberius’ prior chamber of residence was tense. Princess Celestia had lowered her head so as to point her horn directly at the human; a menacing glow emanating from the tip. Luna had just barely raised herself to her knees, gawking in shock at the angered expression on her sisters face. She helplessly looked between Tiberius, Celestia and the four Solar Guards positioned behind the Solar Diarch. At any moment Luna could have stood and calmed things with an explanation. Her mind resisted however, memories of a thousand years prior flashing into her vision from the expression her sister held, holding her in place.

        “I need to get to the book,” Tiberius stated again, calmly. He had his AdkM75 pointed directly towards the Princess, holding firm in his standing position. His expression was cold, resolute, staring down the goddess as if her power meant nothing to him. “My world is dying, and this book holds the key.” He added after a silence, “Please.”

        “No,” Celestia stated firmly. “Ultra Universitas holds within its pages an incomprehensible amount of power, only a tiny fraction of which was used to bring you to Equestria. Fate only knows what you would do further to endanger my realm!”

        “One way or another,” Tiberius said as he gripped his rifle firmly, “I’m getting to the book.”

        “Over my dead body,” Celestia hissed.

        “Wait!”

        The sudden cry from Luna caught everyone by surprise. Even the guards glanced her way, swiftly looking back to the looming threat presented by Tiberius and his strange weapon. Seeing the opportunity present itself, Luna stood to all fours, glaring not only at her sister but Tiberius as well. “What has become of you?!” She said, then looked to Celestia. “And you, my beloved sister, why are you doing this?! Should it not be enough to allow the human to go about his quest? Surely saving his world from our mistake would be a just cause!”

        “Wait, what?” Tiberius briefly lowered his rifle, catching a glimpse of one of the guards moving forward only to raise it again. He kept his eyes on Celestia and her escorts as he spoke. “What do you mean by ‘your mistake’?”

        “That is none of your concern.” Celestia stated firmly. She, too, kept her eyes on the present danger. “Luna, look at yourself. Over the course of a few days, you’ve changed! Not only has your demeanor changed, but the way you speak, the way you think! Ever since this human came along, ever since you foolishly tapped into his memories, you’ve turned into a completely different mare!” The Solar Princess snorted, her wings flaring. “See reason Luna. Tiberius must be dealt with!”

        It was then that Luna saw it. It took her a few moments, but she noticed the subtle shivers across Celestia’s body. These shivers were not caused by anger, but by fear. The Goddess of the Sun was afraid! But of what? Tiberius presented no clear threat, even if he did use his weapon against her. Surely she’d be able to recover from that. No, it was something else. Something...deeper. “You’re ashamed, aren't you?”

        Celestia’s horn ceased to glow momentarily as she quickly looked to Luna, eyes wide. “Wha- NO!”        

        With the opening presenting itself, Tiberius did not hesitate. He quickly charged forward, past Celestia and slammed the butt of his rifle into the Solar Guard in his way. The pony quickly crumpled before him, Tiberius leaping over the groaning figure as he swiftly exited the room. Celestia watched, dumbfounded, then glared to her sister. “What have you done?!” She exclaimed, then let out a frustrated groan. With a swift flap of her wings, she had turned around and darted out the door. Her guards followed.

        “Godspeed, Tiberius,” Luna whispered. “Godspeed.”

She then extended her wings and with a mighty flap, flew out the open door to the hallway beyond.

***

        Tiberius’ breathing was heavy as he ran with all his might down the long corridor. The feeling that burned inside his chest was intense. It proved to be his guide as he came across a junction of three similar corridors, turning towards the right as he continued. Behind him, he could hear the heavy pounding of hooves on the stone floor, ignoring them as the conclusion of his assigned quest drew nearer. “Stop at once!” shouted a guard to his rear, but he ignored it, turning instead to his left down another junction. “Stop or we will use force!”

        “Go to hell!” Tiberius shouted, not looking back. He nearly ran into a wall as he came to a stop, quickly darting his head from left to right. The feeling was beyond description as it burned heavily across his body now. He was close. He took a deep breath, then ran down the corridor to his right, seeing a large, ancient door blocking his way. “Damn it all!” He exclaimed, seeing no visible latches to use. He had been led to a dead end, turning around to see a large form of white and rainbow slamming into him.

        The impact against the door forced the air from his lungs. In the process, he lost his grip on his rifle, eyes nearly rolling to the back of his head at the pressure being exerted on his chest. He quickly found his grip on the situation, quite literally, when he thrust his hand upward and grabbed hold of Celestia’s horn. “Amf!” came the startled reply from the Princess as the pressure on his body lessened slightly. It was enough for him to collect himself momentarily, rearing his free hand back and clenching it into a fist. Quickly, he delivered several blows onto the side of Celestia’s head, each one seeming to have an effect as she eventually stumbled backward.

        “I was going to let you live,” Celestia seethed as she gathered herself from the sudden attack, “But now, I’ve changed my mind.”

        The look on her face told him everything. “Fuck me,” he stated calmly, seeing death rear its ugly head against him as Celestia lowered her horn towards him. She merely smirked at his statement. “Not today or anyday, human!” she declared, snorting as her horn started to glow.

        Tiberius looked off to his side, seeing his gun, quickly glancing back to the Princess. She noticed this, but just as Tiberius was about to leap for it one of the Solar Guards had appeared and stood on top of it. “Shit!” he cursed, then grumbled. “Some champion I am.” He felt himself press against the ancient door, feeling the cool metal even beneath his BDU. He closed his eyes as the air around him surged with electricity, a loud hum emanating from Celestia’s horn. This was it. He had failed, but at least it would be over quick-

        “Sister, no!” cried Luna as she spiraled into Celestia. Tiberius opened his eyes in time to pounce to his side, barely missing the two Goddesses as they slammed into the door. Luna held fast as Celestia struggled underneath her, she gazing to Tiberius. “Quickly, before she overcomes me! You need to open the door!”

        “How?!” Tiberius shouted. Luna rolled her eyes, her horn glowing as a field of magic surrounded Tiberius and lifted him in the air. The guards, meanwhile, stood flabbergasted, unsure as to what to do with both their leaders in such a dispute. Tiberius arms flailed, “What are you doing?!” he exclaimed. “Saving you!” Luna declared, then she shut her eyes. The magical field around Tiberius grew more intense, making him feel as if he was being electrocuted. Before he could announce a sudden onslaught of pain, he disappeared in a blinding flash.

*                *                *

        A loud POP echoed in Tiberius ears. He was now standing in a small room, his breathing heavy as he looked to all sides. He looked around him, seeing nothing but bland, metal walls all around. “Where the hell am I?” he asked to himself. The room seemed to be illuminated by something, but he couldn’t tell from where he was standing. It was just there, not even leaving a trace of his source as Tiberius turned a full circle. A soft click caught his attention, Tiberius looking straight ahead as a small portion of the wall folded open. Inside it on a pedestal was...

        “The book!” Tiberius exclaimed happily. “Thank you Luna,” he whispered then, looking to his rear as another light flashed briefly. This time it encompassed the entirety of the wall behind him. He watched as two portions of the wall began to slide apart, gazing up towards the ceiling first before lowering his gaze and seeing a very angry, very frustrated Celestia. Behind her he could visibly see a dozen or so Solar Guards holding down Luna. She glared at him with a manic expression and he took the hint.

“I’m going to kill yo-” started Celestia, only to gawk as Tiberius ignored her and ran towards the tome.”Arrrrggg!” Celestia shouted angrily, a massive flap of her wings causing a thundering roar to echo in the small room. Tiberius was stretching out his hand towards the tome, which by then started to emanate an unearthly glow. Celestia was just on top of him, forehooves outstretched as she reached for the human, her horn slowly lowering not to cast a spell, but to use it as a deadly weapon. It came within inches of Tiberius back, he feeling it slowly sink down through his uniform and down into his skin.

“Aaaahhhh!” Tiberius shouted in pain, just an inch away from the book as he rose his hand in mid-stride, slamming it down on the cover. He then felt the most intense pain of his life as a sickening SHHHLCK resounded in the room. His breath caught, gasping at first, then looking down to see the tip and a good portion thereafter of Celestia’s horn protruding through the center of his chest. He gagged, coughing up blood as he reached with his other hand to for the book. The horn sunk deeper, he felt each inch added as a painful, agonizing experience.

“Must-” he coughed, blood pouring from his mouth as he tried to move forward “-must save...”

He then collapsed, Celestia’s horn the only thing holding up the limp corpse. Celestia raised her head and with a quick snap of her neck flung the body into the wall. Blood stained it as it slid down in a heap on the floor, her attention turning towards the book. It’s glow had not ceased. “Now nothing can cross over,” she said, her expression still maddening. “Curse those changelings.”

Slowly, after a deep sigh, the Princess of the Day turned around and saw the tear-swelled eyes of her sister. She was sobbing uncontrollably, her body still pinned by the several Guards keeping her restrained. Celestia could only smirk at the sight. “Best this than bani- What the?!”

Her head quickly turned back towards the book. It had started to emanate a dark rumbling noise. The room started to shake, causing Celestia’s pupils to grow thin as she gazed around her. “What is going on?! I killed the human!” She shouted to the ceiling above, “I destroyed the only way the book can activate!”

No,” replied a voice from behind her, Celestia turning to glare at a dark, formless void. “You only delayed the inevitable.

Celestia roared in anger, lowering her horn and quickly charging her magic to its limits. The roomed shuddered violently as the book rose from its pedestal, pages flipping as the dark void before her collapsed into a human-like shape. With eyes illuminated with the fury of a sun, she released a stream of solar magic from the tip of her horn. The deadly ray impacted through the dark shape, striking straight into....the tome.

“Nooooo!” Celestia cried, “What have I done?!”

Saved us all,” the form said as it started to dissipate. It’s energy completely disappeared as the violent shaking in the room reached a dramatic apex, pieces of wall falling down on the floor below. Celestia glared towards the tome as its very form was blinded by the light it produced, she lifted a hoof to shield her eyes as it exploded in a ball of energy flinging her from the room. She slammed into her Solar Guards, releasing their hold on Luna as they lost their grip and were pushed in all directions. Her body hitting against the corridors wall, falling quickly onto the stone floor.

The large doors to the room quickly slammed shut, the shaking ceasing immediately. Luna stood up, tears still streaming down her face as she placed a hoof onto the closed door. She felt her hoof tingle, looking up towards the ceiling. “Tiberius,” she whispered. She then sniffled, releasing her hoof from the door as she turned around. She expected to glare at her sister, but her vision was blocked by something directly in front of her. She blinked once, then twice, looking up into the face of the man she saw die moment earlier. She could only gawk.

“Hey,” Tiberius said, waving a hand.

Luna then punched him in the groin with a hoof, grunting angrily as she watched the human crumble into a blubbering heap. “That’s for your memories, you stupid ape!” Luna shouted.

*~*~*

        Two weeks had passed since the incident in the holding room. Celestia had eventually come her senses from whatever madness had gripped her, profusely apologizing to Tiberius two days after the incident. Luna, meanwhile, had been more than accommodating to the human despite the brief “hiccup”. They had spent several hours together discussing the events of Tiberius life, Luna coming to understand the full significance of his memories and eventually coming to terms with their occurrences. Tiberius, on the other hand, was offered with an unparalleled experience into the life of an ancient being. Both had equally shared their struggles, pains and emotions. In the process, they became swift friends.

        Princess Celestia had soon decided that the proper punishment for Tiberius’ actions, at the behest of Luna who suggested it, would be to take away the human’s weapons. It was an extremely light sentence compared to the actions Tiberius had taken. Then again, it was only appropriate considering the two Lunar Guards had miraculously appeared on duty alive and well. With such an event and little explanation, there had been nothing else the Diarch could do other than ensure another situation not take place again. Both Tiberius and Luna attributed the miracle to the tome itself, while Celestia maintained a reserved opinion on it.

        The tome itself had been completely destroyed in the prior incident, leaving no traces behind of its existence. Even the holding room it had been kept it, considering the destruction that had been brought upon it, had been left pristine and untouched. With no way home, it was left to Tiberius to find his future in this new world. The only person, or pony rather, that had been remotely familiar to him was Luna. So he had decided to stay on the grounds of the castle, using his prior military experience to join the Lunar Guards. Such a move had been met with resistance at first, but with Luna’s permission and encouragement, Tiberius had began to construct a new foundation for his new life.

        Unbeknownst to either Tiberius nor the two Goddesses, however, the tome had opened a rift to multiple worlds. One had taken the form of an alternate reality, where the energies of the tome had collapsed and summoned the supposed savior of Melkos’ realm. The other was intended to send Tiberius back to his world.

        It had failed, instead taking something far more dangerous back to Equestria...