//------------------------------// // Chapter 30: Between Life and Death // Story: A New Life // by arc5162 //------------------------------// August 10, 1000 BBB (Before the Battle of the Bell) In the years after Maple helped me get over the pain of the past, things were looking up. The Kingdom of Eire was prospering and Equestria was also doing well. Celestia had taken responsibility of the moon in Luna's absence, and everything was running smoothly. However, 6 years after Luna's banishment, some bad memories decided to show themselves after so many years. Today was starting to wind down as I finished checking up on all the farms. Everything was looking perfect, so I returned to my house to talk with Maple. "Hey Maple." "Hey Lugh, did you finish checking on the farms?" "Yes I did, and they are doing really well." "Good, now we can relax for a while with some reading." "Good thinking Maple, I've also been meaning to perform some more experiments with the Aetherium crystal." In the 3000 years since I had started this kingdom, I had decided to truly test the capabilities of the crystal, to see just how powerful it was. The results amazed me. The crystal truly had unlimited amounts of magical energy, it was as if it came straight from the aether itself. After figuring that out, I started, tested what I could do with its energy, and so far, I have yet to find something that its energy can't do. However, there was still one thing I couldn't do even with the crystal's energy, and it was the one thing I wanted to do most of all. "What have you learned what the crystal can do?" asked Maple. "The better question is what can't it do? I tried everything from conjuration, levitation, telekinesis, super strength, super speed, elemental manipulation, flight, invisibility, x-ray vision. I can even conjure beams of pure energy. Even after discovering all of that, I'm more than positive that It can do more." "So, that essentially means that the crystal gives you powers comparable to the gods themselves?" "In a way, yes. But I would never claim to be one though, as that would be disrespecting the true gods." My face then turned to a slight frown before saying, "Although, there is one thing I can't do." "What's that?" I look at the ground for a moment after Maple asks that. When I look back up, I have a pained expression. Maple Pov: I knew that pained expression well, he only made that expression when he was thinking about his past. But this time, I wasn't sure which part of his past he was thinking about. "Is it something about your past?" "Yes", he responded, his eyes looking like they were on the verge of tears. "Are you familiar with the rituals we perform every year on Bealtaine and Samhain?" "Of course, the rituals help our subjects contact their deceased ancestors in the otherworld." "Well, every year the citizens gather to talk to their loved ones, and all I can think about how I can never see my family again." "What do you mean?" "I'm an Artificial Intelligence, which means I'm neither living nor dead. It's impossible for me to enter the Otherworld. I can, I...I", he started stuttering, tears filling his eyes, "I can never see her again." "Who?" "My mother", he responded, looking up with tear soaked eyes, "She passed away when I was only 17 years old, and now, because of what I am, I can never see her again." I was shocked to say the least. He usually never gave specific details about his past, but after hearing this, I can understand why. So, I went over to comfort him. Lugh pov: Maple then sat down beside me and put her hoof over me to make me feel better. "What was she like, your mother?" "She was the best", I responded, a slight smile appearing on my face, "she was a veterinarian." "A what?" "A veterinarian is an animal doctor. Her job was to help animals such as dogs and cats get better if they were sick or injured. She truly cared for them as I do, and she was so kind and smart." "She sounds like a good mother." "She was." "What happened?" "Breast Cancer." "What's that?" "Its when cells in your body mutate and grow out of control, specifically in the breasts. If left unchecked, the result will be death. Yet despite everything doctors tried to do to save her, she still died." "I'm so sorry, you miss her a lot, don't you?" "Yes, and now I can never see her again." "Maybe so, but you have me now, and you have a whole kingdom who look up to you, your mother would be very proud." I smile, responding, "Yes, she would", before giving her a hug. Maple is right, my mother really would be proud of how much I've accomplished, and I know that somehow, she already knows.