//------------------------------//
// Villain 
// Story: Self-Fulfilling Prophecy 
// by daOtterGuy 
//------------------------------//

“Unfortunately, there is still a small snag,” Phoebus said. “This does not align with the original plan.”

“But my life will still suffice, will it not?” Starswirl asked. “I can still salvage this?”

“You can.” Phoebus drew out the last word. His tone was casual, almost dismissive as he trotted around Starswirl, stepping over the puddles of blood. “But it also means that we’ll have to change the script.”

“And what change is that? Was I not your so-called hero in the original conception of this scheme?”

“You were, but with the change in plans, we’ll have to give you a different role. Especially as the original target will be impossible to corrupt now.” Phoebus sighed. “Alas, I had hoped to include the Crystal Empire in the initial tragedy, but that is now impossible.”

“Then what role shall I have?” Starswirl demanded.

“As you know, the Corrupt Pillars, as we have called them, need a guide. With the original position unfilled, we need someone new to fill it.” He shrugged. “You never did specify whether you wanted to be famous or infamous.”

“... You would have me be the villain.”

“The lead, even!” Phoebus exclaimed. He wrapped his hooves around Starswirl’s shoulders, his weight pressing down on Starswirl’s back, a lazy grin on his face. “A shepherd for the monstrosities that will plague this land, pun intended. Top monster and—”

“Just hurry up to the part where you tell me what to do,” Starswirl interjected. He used his magic to remove Phoebus from his back.

Phoebus grinned widely. “Stab yourself with the final arrow.”

With no hesitation, Starswirl gripped the noted arrow in his magic and plunged the sharp end straight through his heart. He released a choked gasp in shock as it sunk into him.

“I can’t believe you did it.” Phoebus laughed; a sharp, maddening sound. “No, wait, yes I can.”

Phoebus began to glow, to change. A multitude of wings sprouted from his back, his mane transformed into strings of pure light. A halo appeared behind his head, an interlocking circle that twisted in on itself. He glowed brighter and brighter, an entity of light to blot out everything around it. The only thing that didn’t change was his eyes, a starry sky twinkling with euphoric bliss.

His wings enshrouded Starswirl. He was a presence bigger than him, greater than what he could ever hope to accomplish.

The Sun, Apollo.

“A single vision,” Apollo said, awe and bemusement in his voice. “That was all it took to set you down this path. The depraved depths of your soul brings me endless joy, Starswirl. Truly there has never been anyone as entertaining as you, our avatar.”

“This will work?” Starswirl asked, uncaring of Phoebus’s true identity and the pain coursing through his body. “This will preserve my legacy?”

Apollo smiled. It was a horrible, ugly thing at odds with his divine appearance. Starswirl saw the fall of civilizations in that smile, of strife for centuries to come.

“Preserve? No, Starswirl.” He engulfed Starswirl further within his wings, swallowing him within the light. “You will not preserve your legacy.

“You’ll make it.”