//------------------------------// // Chapter 57: Sorrow // Story: Chaotic Harmony // by shirotora //------------------------------// December 9, 1005, Celestia was trying to hold court, but found it incredibly difficult to focus. Her mind continued to wander back to the events of just over two hours ago. The discovery of the changelings, Shiro actually saving one of the creatures, and then, in her anger, she didn't even see Jynx there. She hurt one of her ponies, possibly even... No, she'll be fine. She has to be. Her steward had dealt with the last petty squabble while her thoughts were elsewhere. Why would he do that? She asked herself again. It made no sense to her that someone that made it their life’s purpose would protect a monster. Then again weren't dragons considered monsters? Yet Spike was far from the aggressive, greedy beasts his kind were known for being. Of course Laalia was a different kind of dragon altogether so she couldn't be associated with the others. Could a changeling be taught to be a good, productive member of pony society? What if what most changelings were good? What if she had ordered the death of innocent beings. As these thoughts raced through her head a voice sounded in her head. It was a message from the lead surgeon. Jynx was dead. Celestia was overcome with grief. She killed one of her own subjects. No, she murdered an innocent pony, one she called friend no less. She remembered Shiro's threat as he followed his wife to the hospital. “Everypony out.” She commanded, “You will let no one but Shiro in.” “Sister?” Luna knew her sister well enough, she knew what just happened, “What are you doing?” “The punishment in Equestria for murder is death.” She said, pain clear in her voice, “Are we above the law?” “He was trying to protect a monster.” Replied the night goddess. “Just as I protected you when you were seen as a monster.” Celestia said quietly, “Leave. What ever Shiro does in here is to be pardoned.” “Please, Tia, let us help you.” Luna begged. “LEAVE!” Celestia said. Luna knew whenever her elder sister used the royal Canterlot voice the discussion was over. In a flash if indigo light Celestia was left alone... until the door was thrown open. “CELESTIA!” --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- I glared up at the murderer as she looked down at me with a sad expression. She seemed to regret her crime, but that didn't bring my love back. Nothing would bring her back , so I was going to settle on revenge. She descended from her throne and tried speaking, but no sounds came out. I didn't want to hear her voice anyway so I drove my fist as hard as I could into her jaw. It felt good. Watching her body fly threw the air and land in a heap at the base of her throne was like a drug, and I wanted more. I walked up to her and slammed my back leg into her ribs feeling one give way and give an audible snap. She gasped for the air my kick robbed from her. “I-I'm Jynx... with a 'y'” “Well, Jynx with a 'y', it's a pleasure to meet you.” Memories of my beloved Jynx flashed through my mind. “I should be dead right now, you know that. Nopony survives being impaled through the stomach. But here I am.” I jumped on top of her and wrapped my paws around her throat, squeezing. “Will you marry me?” “YES... YESYESYESYES!!!” “And do you, Jynx Charm, take Shiro to be your husband. To love him and hold him, to remain faithful to him and to support him in his endeavors, forever and ever?” “I do.” Her tongue rolled out of her mouth as her eyes rolled back into her head. “Um, honey... I think we're about to find out if he's a foal or cub.” “I really like what you told Waya. I wish more ponies thought like that, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”.” My grip loosened as a new wave of tears fell. This wasn't what Jynx would want. Celestia gasped for air and her eyes shot open. She looked up at me with confusion. I growled and delivered one last punch to her skull, sending her head slamming into the floor. I wanted to kill her so bad, but I knew Jynx would hate me for it. Instead I left her broken and unconscious as I stormed out of the throne room. I ignored the glares from the guards and Luna on my way out, but I heard the rush as they ran to the bitch's side. I didn't know why they didn't try to arrest me, but I didn't really care either. After all I had to tell my son that he will never see his mother again. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- I opened the door to our suite, the same one we always had every time we were in Canterlot. Everyone was in the living room, all sitting on the opposite side of the room as Pinkie and Phoenix. I knew it was because they were afraid of the baby she still held. It was the first time I was disgusted with them. I slammed the door. “Shir...” Started Dash. “All of you should be ashamed of yourselves.” I said, making them recoil a little, “Cowering in fear of an infant. Razor's more dangerous than that child. At least he has claws and magic. Thank you Pinkie, and Phoenix for being the only of our friends with an open mind. I especially expected better from you Fluttershy. You're the Element of Kindness, but where's that kindness now?” I was furious. My own friends acting the same way as her. I didn't even care that my harsh words made Fluttershy cry. She was acting just like the others anyway, so she deserved it just as much. Of course Rainbow Dash got mad at me. She flew up in my face. “That thing's a changeling. They're evil.” She said, “Pinkie told us what happened, but that doesn't give you the right to take it out on us. We're all worried about Jynx, but you're not helping. The doctors will fix her up and she'll be back good as new.” “She's dead.” was all I said, and the room became silent with the exception of Dash hitting the floor. “Wh-what?” She said. “Jynx is dead. Murdered by Celestia because of her prejudice. The same prejudice you're showing.” I said harshly. “N-n-no.” Rainbow eventually said, “No, that can't be true.” I looked over at Midnight. He just stood there frozen, only his tears moving. His face was only pain. The rest of what happened was too painful to remember. Everything was a blur of pain and grief, as we all cried, supporting each other. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- December 12, 1005, I dressed Midnight in his suit. He was taking the news hard. It was as if he just withdrew into himself. He didn't speak, cry, or do much of anything. He barely ate. He would just sit there staring at nothing as if he were a golem. I was afraid I was going to lode him, too. I was afraid I already did. Even Razor was unusually quiet and subdued. He knows what happened I think. “OK, come on Midnight.” I said. I grabbed Razor and the three of us left the house and headed toward the the field the funeral was being held in. Every step was torture. As if every foot fall just made it that much more true. I kept hoping that I would wake up in the hospital or something and all this was just some terrible coma dream and Jynx would be by my side again, but I knew better. We arrived at the field and found all our friends already there. Dash was trying to console her parents. I hadn't seen them since last Hearths Warming. I saw Pinkie with a bundle in a harness on her side. “Hi, Pinkie.” I said. “Hi, Shiro.” She said. “What's that?” I asked pointing to the bundle. “Oh, right you were never properly introduced.” she took the bundle from her side and showed me a little white filly with a pink mane, “Princess Luna let me adopt her.” “Pinkie is that the changeling baby?” I asked. She nodded with a small smile, “I named her Surprise. You know after that pegasus me from those stories about us from Earth. I thought it was a nice name, so... Shiro, I'm a mommy.” Tears formed in her eyes. They were tears of joy as well as sadness. I smiled for the first time in three days. I was happy something good came from this. I'll admit that a small part of me wanted to blame the child for Jynx's death, but I quickly push that ignorant thought from my mind “And a fine mom you'll be.” I said. I was amazed the kid could already transform, “Raise her well.” I suddenly realized something, “How do you know it's a filly?” “Uh,” Pinkies eyes widened and shifted back and forth, “I just know. Mother's intuition.” I could tell she was hiding something, but decided not to press her for information yet. It was then that the chariot brought Jynx here. Two earth ponies in black lifted my wife's body and gently placed her in the low wooden platform. One by one we gave our final farewell. I looked down at my wife as she laid peacefully wrapped in cloth with only her face showing. She looked so calm and content. “I'm sorry, my love.” I said, “I'm so sorry that I couldn't protect you. If I had been more aware of my surroundings this never would have happened.” I moved on to let Rainbow say goodbye to her sister. I sat down beside my son. He still wasn't responding. I had hoped he would snap out of it when we got here, but he still sat there almost catatonic. I was starting to really worry that he would never come out of it. After everyone said goodbye an older unicorn stallion stood in front of the gathered ponies and myself. “We are here to bid farewell to Jynx Charm. In life she was a brilliant scientist and inventor, and the youngest mare to graduate with a PhD from Canterlot University in over 300 years. When the Void was opened on our fare nation, she helped to protect it. Even though she was several months pregnant she defeated the great demon dragon Nidhogg. She was a wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend. Everypony knew of her quick wit and cheerful demeanor even in difficult times. She called herself the luckiest and unluckiest pony in Equestria, but we are the ones who are the luckiest and unluckiest. We were lucky to have had the honor to have known such a brave, kind, and intelligent mare, but unlucky to have her taken from us far too young.” He walked around the wooden platform and stood on a raised pedestal behind it. “In the time before, the gods decreed that all that are born would eventually fade. But the gods saw sadness in the creatures they ruled and saw to a way to ease the pain. It was thus that the essence of all living things was given form, and the soul was created. When the body passes so shall the soul pass from the world and join the souls of it's ancestors in the fields of Illum. So the soul may take form, we commit it's broken vessel to the heavens. May you run free for eternity.” With the conclusion of his speech a spark flew from his horn to the platform Jynx rested upon. As the fire caught Octavia and her band played a moving melody. I watched the fire consume the one I loved as I listened to the music that so perfectly matched the feelings that filled my heart. I did the only thing I could, I remembered. Our first meeting in the Everfree after she crashed. Making me her guinea pig. The injury she got at the construction site. Our first night together. Asking her to marry me. Our wedding. Razor's birth. Adopting Midnight. Finding out about my disease. My disease. The realization hit me like a kick to the gut. Jynx was gone, and I was going to follow in less than a year. What would happen to Razor and Midnight when I died? The thought of leaving them alone darkened my mood even more than it already was. It seemed I would have to tell everyone about my impending death after all. I had to make arrangements for my sons. Stone and Kitakaze would take them, but I wasn't sure if they could handle Razor. Dash wasn't responsible enough to take care of herself much less kids. I shook my head to clear those thoughts. There would be plenty of time later. The fire burned for exactly an hour. It was always made like that. Where my wife once laid was nothing more than a pile of ash. It was over. She was gone. The only place I would ever see her again was in my memories. As everyone else left, I stayed. “Shiro?” Pinkie said softly, “If you want to stay here for a little longer, I can take Razor and Midnight for a bit.” I just nodded my consent. She really was a good friend. She was always put others before herself no matter what. I knew she was hurting to, but she put her own pain aside for me. I was going to have to find a was to thank her some day. The worst thing was that by ancient law, if any being that is executed by Celestia it's soul sent strait to Tartarus. It was assumed she would only kill those that are true evil. Knowing that my wife's soul was being tormented was the most difficult to bare. She was suffering because of Celestia. I sat in that field for who knows how long lost in thought. It wasn't until I heard the familiar pop of a teleport spell that I came back to myself. “We're sorry for you loss.” Luna said sitting beside me, “We only pray the changeling shows itself to be a good citizen in time. At least then something may come from this.” “Thank you Luna.” I said, “Not only for sparing the child, but for letting Pinkie be her mother. You made her dream come true.” “Thank you, Shiro, for sparing my sister.” Replied the moon princess, “But I must ask, why? She told us to pardon anything you did to her, so why did you not kill her?” “I wanted to,” I said, “but revenge solves nothing. It wouldn't bring Jynx back and I would have lost you and Twilight as friends. I need my friends right now. I'm going to need someone to take care of my kids when I'm gone.” A bag fell in front of me. “Then come my friend.” She said. “Where?” I asked. She flared her wings out and said, “To the pits of hell so that we may pull your love from it's fires.”