//------------------------------// // I Met a God Today // Story: Silent Ponyville Side Stories // by SamRose //------------------------------// I Met a God Today Summary: Ever wonder what became of The Colt from Silent Ponyville? A short look into the mind of a Sociopath in his jail cell and why he's still alive. Tick, tock, tick, tock. The clock beats to a rhythm but it holds no time. The precious beats tell me the time is still flowing though. There's no need to know how much of it has passed. Tick, tock, tick, tock. The clock is an old friend; though I don't always know he's there he is always waiting for me. It's comforting to know he has the patience to wait for me to need him. He'll be waiting for me when I need him again. But I'll be leaving him again soon, I'm sure he understands. He can't help but understand. Tick, tock, tick, tock. I rise. It's time for me to wander. My friend will wait once more as I begin my walk. I wander away, not too far, but my desire has me moving. I walk to the forest I've known all my life. The familiar trees welcome me back to their depths. They've always felt like a second home to me. Not that my home ever felt homely. The woods were always my get away. These woods are empty now. They used to be filled with so many friends. They all left a long time ago, but I still visit in memory of those friends. I reach the old picnic table, wearing away with age it's starting to rot away. No one has taken care of it in my absence, but I don't mind. This table played host to my parties before anyone knew I liked to throw parties. Balloons lay scattered around, long since deflated. Old streamers line the trees, confetti is scattered amongst the leaves and grass. So many parties were thrown here, so many of my friends would I invite. They loved my parties, every moment of them. This table would often become covered in the remains of a good partying day. It's been so long since I saw it re-painted that wonderfully glossy deep-red color. All that remains are the old stains of parties long since gone. The memories of our games are strong though. My favorite game was always surgeon, a game that always required a high level of skill and precision. My friends loved to make it harder on me too, by squirming and trying to escape my hold, but it was all in good fun. I would take them apart and see what made them tick inside. Then we'd have the ingredients to make the most wonderful snacks for all our friends; my mouth still waters at the deliciously salty, though slightly bitter, taste. Tick, tock, tick, tock. Time is slipping by now. I can see the clouds starting to form and they'll be blocking Celestia's sun soon. I can tell from the formation that they're preparing for a rain storm tonight. I still have business to deal with elsewhere, so I should continue moving before it gets too late. I don't want to get caught in the downpour. I begin to leave the forest. I don't know how much time has passed, but my body seems to be moving as if on instinct. This particular path is one that has become ingrained into me over time. While I try not to do the same thing twice over the course of a few days, this is the one thing that does not change. Leave the forest I soon enter a realm of empty of darkness. It's been devoid of anything for as long as I remember it. I don't know why it was made so desolate, but it seems nothing can be built here. Everything is darkness, from the floors to walls and the sky. I reach the edge of the dark realm and I sit down. Before me sit the gates of the gods, separating me from them. I wait here every day, I've gotten the timing down; if I wait here I'll see a god. As if on cue, the brilliant light flares up. The light that tells me a god has made itself known. Its figure appears in the light, it silhouette a shadow of its true self. It comes forth and stands before, standing behind the gate of the gods. I smile at the god. I can't see too well into the bright light so I squint my eyes just to see what I can. Metal crashes to the ground. I hear the god give a loud angry huff before I see the figure raise its front leg and kick something, followed by the loud cry of metal scrapping along the ground. The god then turns and walks away, taking his light with him as the world returns to the darkness. My vision clears, once more able to see everything that resides in the darkness. At my feet I see the food that has appeared before me, a bowl of brown mushy gruel, a gift from the gods. I give my thanks to the god as I then began to eat the food I have been given. It's not the most delicious food I've ever eaten. No, that particular dish will always have a special place in my heart. But for what it is, it's a good meal. I finish every last speck of what's in the bowl. Once I finish, I give my thanks to the god. I've always enjoyed getting gifts, this one, even as simple as it is, is no exception. Tick, tock, tick, tock. I finally leave the darkness. Another god won't show up for a long time now so I can go back to finishing what I need to. The road appears before me from the darkness as the world returns. The road splits before me, but I know which way I'm going. One will take me to the forest I've already been to, so now I must head for the city. It doesn't take long to reach; the cityscape is always a magnificent sight. The buildings tower over me as I walk its streets. Shops of all types litter every corner and fill the world with bright colors and signs. I walk past the memories of ponies once gone by, going into a store I remember well. Up and down the aisles, past the memories of items I saw long ago. I know what I'm looking for today. I stop before a little red book, one I know quite well and enjoy very much. I pick it up and walk out of the aisle to the register. I give my memory of the cashier the memory of my money and they accept it happily. I carry the book out of the store, opening it to read the contents. It's a cook book, one filled with many types of recipes. My favorite section is the desserts. I've memorized every recipe in the book and I love just to refresh my memory. Stir the eggs and the flour, add in the sugar, add milk, add flavor. Cook in the over till the centers are dry. The book never mentions my favorite extra ingredient, but that must be because it's such a secret for something to taste that good. I found it out myself, but I won't share unless someone asks. It's my personal favorite recipe. I stop in front of the city's largest building, a tower that rises about the city to view the surroundings. It's a favorite tourist spot and it's magnificently built. I enter the building and begin my climb to the top. It's a long walk to the top but the trip is always worth it every time I visit the city. It takes me a time that I don't know before I finally step foot on its observation deck. The entire city can be seen from this view; the forest, the clouds being built up for the storm and even the river just before my house, a glorious view of my whole world. The memories of ponies enjoy the view as well, gazing out in awe. It's certainly wonderful just to spend this bit of time seeing everything. Tick, tock, tick, tock. As I leave the tower, the clouds have grown dark and begin to cover the sky. I can longer see the sun. The rain begins to pour slowly. I make haste to try and escape the rain so that I won't be caught in the downpour. I reach the city's edge soon enough, but it's too late. The rain is coming down as a torrent now. Lightning streaks across the sky illuminating the world for brief periods of time; many a pony have gotten lost and gone missing in storms like this. I do my best to head in the direction of home, fighting the wind and rain with every step. I remember the way home though; my hooves have walked it so many times before that they don't know any other way. It's a battle to walk, but I'm determined to make it. Home is just within reach and I can overcome the challenge before me. The wind howls in my ear overpowering almost all other sounds. It's good for the land but I need to make my way out of this storm. Once I get out of the storm I'll be in a warm house. There will be a nice warm fire waiting for me, a shelf filled with all the things I've purchased over the days, mementos of days gone by that I remember fondly. This storm is just an obstacle that is wasting my time. I will defeat it and be with my belongings soon. Tick, tock, tick, tock. I stumble past the river as the storm begins to calm down, slowly passing by overhead. The last few trickles hit my nose before it's gone. I'm before my wooden shack that I call home. Alone by itself in this plain, but it's where I stay. I look up into the now cloudless clear sky, looking into the night that has fallen. The moon has risen and is in full view today. The stars shine so brightly and the moon looks beautiful. I can see the mare in the moon again tonight. Her beauty resonates within me. I remember her tale so well, that after a thousand years she will return to bring nighttime eternal. I would like to live in a world where the night lasts forever. The sun is bright and hot, where the nights are cool and gentle. The night has always given me a sense of comfort. Parties are the best at night, especially my kind of parties. Other ponies may like the day, but the night is where I feel the most comfortable. I sit outside a little longer, enjoying the moonlight. Tick, tock, tick, tock. Inside my home I put the memory of the little red cookbook on the shelf, next to the memories of the others books I've memorized. It brings a smile to my face to see my collection. I turn and greet the friend I left behind that day; he welcomes me back home with the rhythmic beat. I sit by the warm fire that burns in my house, enjoying the crispy warm flames. Tomorrow is another day, but I don't feel like sleeping. I just want to enjoy the comfort before me. Tick, tock, tick, tock. The clock beats to a rhythm, but it holds no time… ----- "…And you're telling me this prisoner never leaves his cell?" Celestia asked the guard that had handed her a note from the prison that held this prisoner. It was their yearly mental evaluation of him. "Yes your highness. He's also never been given any items or time outside of his cell. The guards believe that everything described in his evaluation are from the pictures he has painted on his walls in his own blood." The guard explained. "…I see…" Celestia said, not sure what to make of the letter as she rolled it back up. "Your Highness…I know how this is going to sound…but the Prison has asked for special permission…to allow them to execute this prisoner." The guard hesitated to explain it. "W-What!?" Celestia said in shock, "They know I've strictly forbidden executions of anypony! Why would they ask me to make such an exception!?" The idea of accepting an execution request made her angry. She hadn't allowed an execution in over 400 years, seeing any of her subjects killed made her stomach twist. "Well…your highness, it's not just for his heinous crimes. He's convicted of foalnapping, imprisonment, cruel and unusual torture, murder, cannibalism…but not only that, he is unknown to anyone. In all his times of being imprisoned he's never once had a visitor. Not only that, he's never revealed his name. He's only known as 'The Colt' amongst the staff and guards." The guard turned his head as he spoke of The Colt, holding back his anger at the very thought of what he's done, "He would not be missed if he was executed." Celestia stared in silence at her guard. She gritted her teeth. She knew if there was any pony that deserved death, it was that one. His crimes were the most severe that any pony born this century had ever seen. She had personally seen worse in her one thousand years of life, but she could never convey that to her subjects. "…I'm sorry, but I can't accept this request." Celestia turned her head away, closing her eyes to hold back her anger, "Even if he's committed murder, even if he is the most deserving of death…to kill him would make somepony else a murderer. Forgive me for allowing him to live, but I can't allow murder of any kind." "…As you command, your highness." The guard bowed to Celestia, before walking off to give the prison their answer. He left the throne room, closing the door behind him, leaving Celestia alone for the moment. Celestia let out a soft sigh as she looked up at the ceiling. "…There have been no wars or atrocities for several centuries now. I want to keep this peace for as long as I can. Even if that means leaving some alive that would be better dead." Celestia closed her eyes in thought. "I only pray that the families that have lost their loved ones can forgive me…"