After dinner, while Aduros and Luna attended the younger sisters court, Celestia and Marcum walked the palace gardens. Pausing briefly at a stone stand, she mused 'Marcum, you know I let Discord go."
"I do."
She looked at him. "Do... do you think he's truly changed, that I was right to give him another chance?"
Marcum sighed, and shrugged. 'I... I don't know Tia. I don't think he's a bad fellow, I've studied up on him, and he never hurt anyone.' He looked into Celestia's eyes. "Why did you ever imprison him in the first place?"
Smiling bitterly, she began walking again.
"He was.... annoying. Not only to me, but to Equestria in general. He always liked to play tricks and such, but went to far when he snuck a bit of meat along with the salads at the evening meal. He didn't give any to me or Luna, but the nobles were disgusted and furious, as was I. The next day... well, you know."
She sighed, and shook her head. "What he did was horrible, no doubt, but... he did't deserve what I did. And even as mad as he was when the spell broke, he didn't do anything too horrible. But,' she smiled happily, 'I'm happy to see at least now he has a friend, you know.' Her smile faded. 'But... he wasn't the only one I hurt."
Putting a hand on her shoulder, Marcum asked 'You mean Luna."
"Well, her too. But...' pulling away, she walked further into the gardens. 'Marcum, Its time i told you me and my sisters secret.'
Marcum followed Celestia silently. After a time, the alicorn lead him to a odd bare patch on dirt. Sitting next to it, she said softly, "I... I already knew about humans before you came. Long before my little ponies wandered these lands, my father Solaris brought me and my little sister to this place.' She drew a ragged breath, 'and here, a human killed him.'
As she spoke, Marcum walked closer and stood beside her. And when she finished, said 'I know.'
Celestia looked up from the spot, and gazed at Marcum, shocked. "But... how could...' cutting her off, he continued, 'Its one of my peoples oldest stories.' He crouched down, examing the bare patch of dirt.
"The story of a four legged beast with wings and a great horn. Fur black as the night's sky, with a voice that shock the very earth, fire from his nostrils, and his hooves making lightning and thunder as they hammered the ground. But even he could not best what he faced. Scourge. No one remembers his true name, but he lived up to his new moniker with zeal. His atrocities making what your people did to us seem pale by comparison. For three days, Solaris and Scourge fought. But for all his power, all his strength, Solaris could not overcome the human. And on the third day, he was struck down. And as Scourge gloated over his newest catch, someone else appeared.'
Celestia looked down at the human, then her eyes following his movements as he stood up again, she replied, 'Who?'
Still looking down, Marcum shook his head "We dont know his name. Only that he came. A farmer swordsman. And he did what the beast god could not."
"What?"
He smiled sadly. "That day, as it has been before, that day a man slew a monster."
Celestia looked away a moment. And for time the only sound that could be heard the crickets in the grass, and the gentle breeze through the trees.
Smile warming, Marcum asked softly, "So, I guess I know your secret then huh? Quid pro quo and all that.”
As he began to unbutton the front of his shirt, Celestia looked down blushing furiously. He couldn’t want to…
Marcum chuckles filled her ears, and she looked up, confused. Shaking his head, Marcum drew a finger across his tattoo, and smirked as the mare gulped at the glimpse of his physique. Sighing, he rebuttoned his shirt, earning a pout of disappointment.
“This tattoo, the one you no doubt noticed as you were ogling me.”
Celestia cleared her throat, trying to regain some composure.
“Yes, what of it.”
Marcum sighed, and looked away, into the brush.
“It… It began with my father. He was a good man, at a time, but feared death. He made a very selfish decision, and involved me, Talios, and Aduros in his experiments, and in the process, killed himself and barred us three from Elohie’s embrace.”
As he spoke, Celestia’s eyes widened, and she whispered “Marcum… Marcum, what are you…”
Before she could finish, Marcum choked out a sob, and turned away crossing his arms.
“This… mark… It draws the excess energy from other living things, and that energy heals me, and rejuvenates me. I can’t stop it, and though it doesn’t hurt anyone…” he hung his head, and wiped his eyes, “I’m… a leech, a parasite. I’ll never age, my wounds will heal in instants. I’m a wretch…” He covered his mouth, trying to push back the bile that threatened to spew at his repulsion at what he was. Closing his eyes, he turned back, and bowed at the hip.
“Forgive me, Celestia…” suddenly, he fell to his knees, and prostrated himself fully, weeping. “Forgive this wretched creature. I have lied and deceived, though it only be a lie of omission. “ As he spoke, Celestia walked forward, and Marcum found himself looking at her hooves. Not even worthy of looking at her feet, Marcum turned his head to the right, and clenched his eyes tight.
Celestia said softly “Marcum, look at me.”
The human shook his head vehemently.
The mares eyes flashed, and her voice echoed through the garden “Now!”
Flinching at the sudden shout, the human slowly raised his head, not opening his eyes for moment, but as his head lifted, Celestia suddenly pushed her lips to his, and his eyes flew open. Trying to pull away, he was barred escape as a forelimb was firmly placed against the back of his neck. For a moment, there was nothing, no birds in the trees, no gardener or servants stunned into silence, no guards fuming in jealousy.
Pulling away, the goddess smiled and whispered, “My loves, my dearest Marcum… rise…” As he did, and stood fully next to her, her voice echoed through the stillness, “My closest friend and confidant, you bow to no one!”
Raising an imperial brow to the small gathering of equines, she said “Is that clear?”
Gaining a collective nod, she smiled, then turned back to a slightly stunned human.
“Are you sure your mark doesn’t hurt anyone?”
Gulping, Marcum nodded.
“I’m sure. The energy it draws… well, you’d have a better chance of draining the sea with a child's bucket then you would draining the life from another being.”
Nodding, she turned and said “Come then, my dear. We have much to do.”
“Do, Tia?”
“Indeed my love!” Giggling, she nuzzled the human as he walked next to her, and whispered “Of course, all of it can wait. Let us away to yon chamber my stallion.”
At this, Marcums eyes widened, and he halted, crossed his arms and shock his head.
“No no no. I cannot, and will not, perform such deeds unless you become my wife.”
Celestia jaw dropped as she looked at he human.
“Your saying you’d turn down a chance to sleep with a goddess for such a thing as wedlock!”
Marcum nodded, and grinned. “Eyuup.”