//------------------------------// // Shattered Wall // Story: How my Little Brother Became an Alicorn // by WiseFireCracker //------------------------------// “Of course, Princess Luna and I will take great care of this artifact, until the Elders judge it better to recover.” She rose from her throne and took a few steps toward us. Each step was punctuated by a clang of metal, between the armor she was wearing and the stony stairs before us. Each step resonated with one of my heartbeat. I did my best to appear regal. I did not think I really succeeded. Not next to her. She was taller than me, by at least one head. On even ground, I still had to look up to her. At this distance though, my senses were assaulted by a wide variety of new information. The flow of her mane created the slightest of breeze, comfortably warm. Sparkles flew out of the multicolor hair, adding to the ethereal aspect of her being. Her scent was reminiscent of a nice day of summer where everyone simply wanted to tan. Heat nested in my chest and in my cheeks, making me quite squirmy, so close to her. …I am checking out a pony princess... This is actually happening… again. Darn those are nice flanks! Status update: disturbed. She then proceeded to lean toward Tom, which… gave me… a nice… errh… view. She is definitely trolling me. “Then, Sir Blade, will you hand me over that cape?” Wow, Princess Celestia was good. Asked so nicely, by one of his favorite ponies no less, the demand was that much harder for him to deny. “Do I have to?” He pouted, his tone turning a bit whiny and pitiful. It hit a chord in me, but I suspected Celestia had more than enough experience in dealing with children. “Yes, it would be much safer with me. You would not want ill-events happening to your father’s cape, would you?” “No…” Tom trailed off, looking away not to see the calm encouragement in her eyes. If he did not see her, then he would not feel guilty for not handing it over. “Well then?” Celestia pressed again, still as patient and serene as ever. “…Fine…” He pouted, sighed and slumped, all in one swift motion. With a sad bite, he untied the knot keeping the cape on his back. The piece of fabric slid off his back, to his great regret. Then something strange happened. Just as the cape was about to hit the ground, an impulse went through my body, to reach forward, to take the item for myself. Magic seemed to radiate off from it in waves, an invisible temptation that rippled through the air and grabbed my attention. Want. “Oooh, shiny!” somepony cut me off, snatching the cape before I could make a move for it. “Pinkie, what are you doing?!” Twilight hissed, eyes narrowed at her friend’s antics. “Hey girls, try to guess who I am!” the pink mare joked, putting on the cape and posing. “Ah’m gonna get mah Cutie Mark!” I let out a nervous snort at that and a few ponies turned toward me in response. “ My apologies,” I quickly added. “Pinkie, that’s not a toy!” But her friend did not seem very focused on what she was saying. Rather, Pinkie’s eyes seemed lost, staring into empty space with a blank expression. “Oh, what is that door?” Twilight reached for the cape, intent on taking it off her friend’s back, but to the shock of most, me included, Pinkie… vanished into thin air… W-what? I blinked. The whole court seemed to just freeze in time. Nopony had the slightest idea of what had happened, I would bet my tail on it. Almost everypony. Next to me, a thundering stomp sent my eardrums on the verge of ripping. Pain literally threatened to split my head in two. In a blinding flash of light, Pinkie had reappeared next to Twilight, eyes woozy and going off in opposite directions in circular motions. “Oh girls, it was so strange. There was this wall, beyond the fabric of time and space and it-” “Pinkamina Diane Pie.” Princess Celestia’s voice filled the court room, even as she spoke much quieter than the Royal Canterlot Voice. “Please refrain from behaving in such ways in the future.” The mare was quick to offer a sheepish smile as an apology. “Okey dokey, your Majesty.” With a very small sigh, the princess called upon her magic, making her horn glow a golden light and enveloping the cape in the same aura. The artifact imploded with a small, ridiculous ‘pop’. Had I not been convinced that had to be a teleporting spell, I would have stared with wide eyes. “Now that this small problem has been taken care of…” The white alicorn turned back to us again. I had to fight with everything I had not to cower in shame for lying in her face. She knows. She’s just playing along. She has to. “Would you please expand on your reasons for coming here, Ventus?” Repressing yet another urge to show my guilt, this time by gulping loudly, I made a show of careful formality. “As you wish, Princess.” She acknowledged my statement with the faintest of nod, before returning to her throne. “I descended into Equestria in an attempt to retrieve my brother from your country before his stay had unintended consequences. However, due to the nature of his little trip, I had been unaware of his arrival in Equestria before recently. As such, I have yet to spend a complete day in your kingdom, while I believe a week has passed since Calx made it here.” “My faithful student?” the princess called, her tone slightly inquisitive. “His statement matches with our own side of the events,” Twilight replied instantly, glancing between us and her teacher. “I see…” Celestia’s eyes fell on Tom, intense, more so than before. Whether dense, oblivious or just that confident, my little brother didn’t even flinch. A rush of newfound respect for him was born at that point. Now, I had to resist the desire to ruffle his unruly mane and put him in a glorious brotherly headlock. “In that case, I would like to ask you one more question.” Go ahead. I’m certainly not going to interrupt when you’re the only reason we’re not in a dungeon or a limbo between life and death. “How is my dear cousin Magnus?” I was shocked silent. “I… beg you pardon?” What the hell are you talking about? Who is-? “Your father,” she explained, staring intensively at me. “I would recognize that jaw anywhere.” Images of a tall and bulky red alicorn flashed in my mind. What the…? “I…” “Not to mention the magic in that cape is without a doubt that of the Alicorn of Strength.” Her crystalline chuckle reached my ears. “Yes, you two are definitely his sons.” I saw that same crimson alicorn, talking softly and comforting a smaller me. He nuzzled me, telling me everything was going to be fine. For a second, my heart flickered with joy, before horror started to crash down on me. The hell? The HELL?! “You have guessed well, Princess.” I bowed respectfully, as much as a show of respect than an attempt to hide my quivering lips. “Magnus is indeed our father.” My teeth were grinding together, beyond my control. A binding pain was circling my head, as more images flooded my mind. Suddenly, it was as if that alicorn had always been part of my life. Heck, I could remember in great detail the first father and son bonding activity I had with him AND Tom, but whereas the memories were heartwarming, I was all but at ease. I was scared shitless. Something was very wrong with my brain. Fake memories? Dad wasn’t an alicorn, what the hell? Besides, that cape was invented by Tom. It couldn’t have a legacy or be recognizable either! “Saaaaam…” My head snapped to the right, recognizing that whiny cry of pain anywhere. My worries were blown away from that very second, instead replaced by a very real fear for Tom’s health. I was by his side, wings lifting his chin toward me. His eyes were crunched close and his mouth was little more than a tight line at this point. “What’s wrong, buddy?” “My head hurts… real bad, Sam…” Tears started to gather in the corner of his eyes. Sirens and alarms started going off in my head. I was no doctor, but bad headaches could be very bad signs. “Princess!” I turned to her, unable to hide my distress. “Please, let us adjourn this meeting so my little brother may receive medical attention!” To my growing dismay, Princess Celestia closed her eyes mutely. She seemed to be mulling it over, debating whether or not this was important enough to delay her precious interrogation. Don’t you dare…! “Twilight Sparkle?” “Yes, Princess?” the lavender alicorn asked, eager to please. “Have you and your friends bring Calx Iugum to the infirmary, immediately.” “Yes, Princess!” Rainbow Dash saluted, half-way grinning at the idea of serving her leader’s instructions. A flurry of colors flew inches away from my form, creating just enough wind to brush my fur. A light of recognition lit up in my brain, telling me of such occurrences when I had been that same wind, a playful and free spirit tickling airborne creatures, teasing the earthbound ones with a rather cruel streak. I don’t understand… I don’t get it… “Don’t worry.” I heard a gentle and quiet voice, just as its owner ran past me. Yellow and pink. “We’ll take good care of you.” My neck twisted, so my eyes could follow her track. All six heroines were standing around my little brother. Compared to them, he looked so small, so vulnerable when he was not so boasting. The urge to protect him rose. Just as he was being carefully lifted by Twilight magic’s, Tom’s gaze met mine, his carrying pain intense enough to cloud it. It made me flinch. That usually lively face of his was crunched; muscles contracted less under his control than he’d like us to believe. Heck, if it had been anyone but me, I doubt he would have allowed them to see. To me, though, the words he could not say were crystal clear. “Stay with me, Sam.” There was no need for me to nod or even acknowledge them. It went without question that I would be with him. A certain princess thought otherwise however and made her opinion rather clear. “Ventus.” The word bore an urgent note to it, combined with a powerful order. “I need you to stay. There are still questions that must be asked.” Two of my hooves still suspended in midair, halfway through the motion needed for me to start following the mares and my little brother, I reluctantly halted my progression. My eyes were on Celestia, with nothing in them but a demand I knew she could hear. Her gaze never hardened, nor became more intense, as it already held the quality necessary for anypony to understand. I felt her compassion at my situation, as a small bout of warmth in my heart, but it was too little to help. Chiseled…. Cracking sounds started grated my ears. Their provenance was unknown, but their echoes were not. Nails on a chalkboard, aluminum under your teeth, an incessant ringing… The more I thought about Celestia’s order, the stronger they became. I was needed here, apparently. Great. I had to stay and entertain decadent nobility while Tom wanted me by his side. This is so pointless. Why don’t they just roll over and die while I go see Tom? It wouldn’t be so troublesome. I’d get to do what is truly important. “Ventus,” Celestia said, with a hint of steel behind her tone. Her gaze had hardened this time, with her delicate brows lowered and her expression stone-like. In a shadow looming over her head, I saw hellish flames and a harsh light, burning and searing straight through evil. It was aimed at me. And for her to be so guarded so suddenly… there could only be one cause. Can you read my mind, Celestia? If you do… then really, just send us back home. It’s all I want from you and your little ponies… This is turning into a disaster… Just… help us… “I will do as you say, Princess.” I bowed, biting back the urge to scream my anguish and my guilt to the world. Right as I had finished talking though, an invisible pressure was lifted from my shoulders. I understood quickly when my fellow alicorn spoke, this time with a peaceful voice. “I thank you for your understanding. This is simply too important of an issue to let go unresolved.” Yes, of course. Rarely had I felt this venomous about obeying authority before. Still, I couldn’t let this be more transparent. “Yes, of course.” Princess Celestia glanced to her left, where a pale blue pony held a quill in his mouth, over a scroll. I saw the glint of acknowledgment in the scribe’s eyes. So did that mare. She turned back to me, stared straight at me and solemnly opened her mouth to speak. For some troubling precious seconds though, I could have sworn she had almost choked on her words. “Please, tell me. How old are you?” The question made me blink. I had to admit, that wasn’t the kind of thing I thought I would be questioned on, unless I wanted to visit a bar. Random number under a thousand… “I will turn four-hundred and twenty-six on the day of the next solar eclipse, Princess.” My vision blurred. A mare. I could see a mare. Not that mind-blowingly sexy Celestia, but a simple, tomboyish mare with a straw hanging on her lower lips. I thought she was pretty, with a crescent moon Cutie Mark and a cream colored coat. It… suited her. Remarkably, she had this aura… this part of her that grabbed the gaze and held it on her. No, I was wrong. It was not a mare, but the image of a mare, seen through a cloud of dust that changed shape and form. An endless void, whose only goal seemed to swallow the light of the stars, surrounded the cloud, made a blanket of magic over my shoulders. I still had hooves, wings and a horn. I was alone though. Alone with just a few glimpse of a possible friend for sole company. Suns moved in the dark sky, moons turned red then blue and winds brushed against the face of endless planets. The passing of time had lost meaning. It could not be defined anymore, but I knew I wished it to end, to change… oh so many times. The void outside was a great reflection of what was inside me. But I was also wrong, in that I thought it was just one mare. Dozens of ponies, of all sizes and colors, flashed before my eyes, each more unique than the next, each close to my heart just through timid observation. They called to the winds, look at the sky with tenderness and asked for a little favor. Always granted, for they saw the sky as a great place. Each thought was a little fragment of kindness to rub on that gaping wound in my being. A little more loved, a little less lonely. Was it cheating? Yes, but what my parents hadn’t known wouldn’t shame them. I suspected Mother knew of my meddling even then, but kept quiet. Besides, though forbidden, I was simply helping ponies with their lives. What did it matter that I granted a few some extras for the duration of their short lives? Every single one of them died of old age, years before my descent into Equestria. Oh Elders, I was going to start tearing up. Why did I have to think of th-? THE HELL?! “I… see… and your brother?” The question flew right over my head. I could not process it. The world was spinning around me, too big and too small, oppressive and free, unstable and unmoving... What was going on? What was happening to me? What is the meaning of this? I’m… what’s my REAL name? Which one is it? It’s… huh… Sam Miller…right? RIGHT?! “Sixty-three.” Something lit up in her gaze, something tragic. Princess Celestia seemed… distressed. I barely caught her words, as my attention was almost entirely on my own troubles, but I caught them nonetheless. “That long?” “Yes.” And I knew what to say next, through some exercise of magic or an incredibly subtle intuition I had never known to possess before. “I apologize, but the Elders had voted an intervention irrelevant to your reign.” For the first time, perhaps in a pony’s lifetime, the mask of the immortal goddess slipped, showing a deep pain I was also starting to understand, yet could not discern the reason behind. A shadow passed over her frame. Literally. My eyes shot up to the sky, toward this dark silhouette, indistinct while in front of the setting sun. Wings extended, it glided in our directions. Aristocrats and citizens of all kinds were all turned toward the balcony, as I was, trying to catch a glimpse of the newcomer’s nature. Some did, as small smirks and smile found their ways on their faces. Her hooves hit the ground silently, one last extension of her wings slowly down her landing to a slow and graceful exercise. More regal than I could ever manage to be, her dark fur and mane eclipsed nearly everything else. Recognition hit me like a speeding bullet. My knees almost buckled. I could not help it. I had been prepared before seeing Celestia, I was not prepared for this. “It is nearly time, Sister,” Luna spoke clearly, with the slightest of disappointment in her voice. “I know…” The older alicorn took a deep breath, hardening her resolve. “I have observed… and I believe this one speaks the truth, Tia. The veil has been disrupted and all signs point to it being two alicorns’ doing. We must prepare for what will inevitably come next.” I sucked in a terrified breath, halfway acting. “Princess Luna…” I said with a bow. “Have our actions…?” “Yes, with two new forces of guidance amongst our midst, we must be ready for the appearance of a new power of disruption.” W-why is she also supporting my story? T-that can’t be right. She… wait… did she even hear it? She wasn’t even close to us! Heck, I doubt even the guards at the door were close enough. I stared at the Princess of the Night. This wasn’t making sense. I… have I managed to get SO lucky as to guess PRECISELY how this world works? No way… that’s just wishful thinking. But why didn’t Celestia call me out? She has nothing to gain by protecting a liar like me. Honestly, without her implicit support, bronies would be screaming bullshit at their… screen… It dawned on me. The show… “It is unknown to me what the punishment for those two will be, Tia, but I doubt the Elders would punish them in a way dangerous for our kingdom as well.” My heart squeezed in fear, even as my brain roared in triumph. I… I get it. I wasn’t lying… Since this is the show… I’m as good a source as any to reveal the backstory behind other alicorns… I’m a credible source enough as it is… So it’s real. Bronies will accept it as real, so suddenly Celestia always knew that… I made myself older by more than four hundred years… and Tom’s now more than half a dozen time his real age. I’m a moron. For someone that had understood the deeper physics behind the world, I was somehow not ridiculously panicking. In fact, my heart had slowed down to a snail’s pace. Calm had washed away everything, making it… eerie. Everything was so slow… would never make even the slightest bit of progress... just one throne room filled with unmoving dolls. What I say goes, unless someone’s more likely to be right. Basically, I can shove my headcanons down other peoples’ throats. Wow… I feel like a fanfic writer. The world felt… damp, too old and distant to be real. With an unfocused gaze, I shot a look at the assembled ponies. All of them were transfixed. All of them were all so pointless. Well, it’s only canon so long as it’s accepted by the larger fanbase… I think? Maybe? Who decides what goes and what doesn’t? Dolls. Puppets for the amusement. What of the fanfics? Do they count? This is obviously the show… right? So whatever monstrosity some write, it won’t reflect back on here… it can’t. Breaking the Fourth Wall is a thing. I could get Pinkie to shatter it and then, there goes the idiots. Not a problem anymore. But… what of Retcons? “Please, Ventus, step forward,” Princess Celestia asked with an imperative tone. My hooves moved without my accord, not that I cared much. I had other things to think about. My survival and Tom’s depended on my ability to think straight. And so, I obeyed her order mechanically, in the same matter of robots and livings dolls I had mocked those foolish cartoon characters for being. I heard her words, her explanations and her excuses for doing this, but her message was entirely lost on me. Her voice was just a muddled background noise to me. I nodded, to whatever she had asked, face betraying a suitable amount of anxiety. “How courageous of this one,” Luna remarked in passing. The Alicorn of the Night placed herself behind me and I heard the sound of wings being opened. In front of me, Celestia was towering over me in all her glory, betraying nothing of her nervousness. On the ground, searing red lights flared so suddenly I had to divert my gaze in pain. It had happened distressingly quickly, forcing my eyes closed, of course, but also making me realize I was trapped in a circle of glowing symbols and runes. My hooves were glued to the floor. A slight pressure circling my ankles told me all I need to know. I was being restrained. “This is a spell designed to reveal one’s true form, Ventus,” a princess -- which one I did not know -- tried to tell me, over the ethereal melody of the runes on the ground. “If you are what you claim to be, then no harm will come to you. If not…” Crystal clear. Despite my mental protests, I could do nothing more than nod and gulp down, eyes shifting quickly between Princess Celestia and the few ponies at the edge of my vision. Luna was out of my sight, which might be fortunate as that was one less pony to see how terrified I was of the procedure. My cover story was slowly crumbling apart, but I could not fight the knowledge that I would be unmasked in a few seconds. Then the true shitstorm would begin. I almost squeaked when Celestia’s horn lit up a beautiful golden color. Luna yelled something, in an ancient language long forgotten of ponies and all equines alike… but this one struck a chord inside. It… resonated with instincts I never had before, found a goal in my mind I was starting to forget and inflated the things I knew were right about me. Then, the magical circle completely engulfed me. Suddenly, it wasn’t about being in Equestria anymore. Things were more complex and more simple than that. I was, then I wasn’t. Only a blinding light within. Only an enlightening darkness outside. No limbs nor wings, no horns and hooves, no fake alicorn, just Sam. That was who I was, Sam. Big Brother, occasional jerk, brony, geek, Sam. Me. I had no body, no material attachment anymore. I had… transcended “Ventus Vinco.” Ethereal noises echoed in the void and the frozen time. “Who?” I replied, vaguely confused. “You.” “But that’s not me.” “It is.” I was in the throne room. “The spell is done,” a motherly, tired voice said, letting out a sigh of relief. I was still a pony. “One’s true form… is as it should be.” Princess Celestia closed her eyes, letting a bit of her mask slip again, shaking off the last of a tiredness brought by the magical revelation. You’re… joking! Y-you… you INCOMPETENT IDIOTS! How could you fail so badly?! How dare you even imply I’m NOT HUMAN, BITCHES?! I suppressed a sob of pure despair. Oh God… I’m not human… W-what about Tom? I-is it just me or are we both…? One should not have to show such a stoic and polite attitude when they are so crushed. My façade remained the same. I kept up the mask. “That one is definitely no changeling, Sister.” “Yes… that is a great relief.” The white alicorn smiled, though it felt fake to me. “A visit from our family is always a source of rejoicing.” My head was spinning. Haha… ha… ahhh… I’m thinking of something else. NOW! I blinked. Princess Luna had somehow sneaked up in front of me without me noticing. Her eyes seemed halfdropped, but her smile had a charming quality to it that caught me off guard. What she did next baffled me. She bowed. “I welcome you to our kingdom, little cousin.” My brain caught on fire. I am both the luckiest brony alive and quickly becoming the one to be the target of the most insane amount of jealousy ever. “I… Princess Luna!” I shouted, too shocked to control the volume of my voice. “It is I that should be bowing at your hooves! I am naught but a youngster and an inexperienced foal in comparison to you and your sister!” The Princess of the Night chuckled and she patted me like one would a foal. “That may be so, but we have learned that a little respect and appreciation is a most precious gift.” T-that… hit way too close to home. Thinking of something else now. “…Thank you, Princess Luna.” I bowed in return, doing my best to sound profoundly humbled. “Such feelings from you are priceless. I hope to prove myself worthy of them.” Great. I’m becoming friend with Luna. The chords of my Suedom have started echoing in every corner of the Internet. Vaguely, I noted the sun setting against the horizon. The day was almost over and soon, it would be Luna’s turn to rule. As such, the sisters swapped places, Luna getting onto the throne while Celestia remained at the feet of the stairs, much closer to my level. My mind however, was miles away from such details. Plan A: I’m getting the hell out of the castle with Tom before I’m also labeled a complete Stu by the fanbase and prompt them to petition Hasbro to remove us from the timeline. Plan B: we hope for the best. It really wasn’t that complicated. All I had to do was avoid the worst clichés and I would avoid the brunt of the hatred. Of course, since Tom and I were both alicorns already, we were already in the red. Next, we should avoid the spotlight… Right, so, all I have to do is slowly eclipse myself, take Tom with me and stop gathering attention. Laying low, no meddling, no nothing, just be an average John Doe that lives in a forgotten old town in the middle of nowhere. Also, I am never speaking out loud again, for fear I accidentally create a pantheon or a devil or reveal that Celestia used to like tea or some crap like that. There, a solid plan that would limit the collateral damage. Unfortunately… Princess Celestia had other plans. I saw it coming, just by the way she placed her focus on her scribe, by the subtle change in her posture when she opened her mouth to speak, but the realization shocked me into silence at the crucial moment. I could not think of any way to prevent this. “In the face of evidence of our guests’ shared lineage with us, we wish to extend an offer of hospitality to our young cousins, so they may share our roof and our food, until their duties call them elsewhere. It is decreed in my name, Princess Celestia, Co-Ruler of Equestria and Alicorn of the Day.” …Well... fuck.