It was late when I stumbled into the library. Truth be told, I had not thought about it, until Twilight caught sight of me and quickly trotted over from the table where she had been waiting so anxiously.
“Are you alright?” She asked me a simple question, yet it was enough to cause me pause.
“Yes.” I nodded and took a step, only to stop, “No.” I looked blankly into the empty space between the two of us, “Do you have a shower?”
“Uh…yes?” She acknowledged, though by the tone of her voice, she was clearly surprised I had asked, “What’s the matter?”
“I…” I began, only for the words to die in my throat, “Give me a minute and I’ll explain. I’ve just got to arrange my house…”
Twilight stood at the bottom of the stairs of her Treehouse, as I marched up the aforementioned stairs with heavy footfalls. I felt like I was carrying a pony on my back as I slowly trudged upstairs, where I assumed her bathroom was; after all, it was not on the ground floor and I doubted it was in the basement! Sure enough, it was at the end of the hall, at the top of the stairs. It was so inconspicuous, I had simply never taken notice of it before.
Within was a bathroom much as would be expected in a modern, western home…aside from a few modifications. The tub was actually far deeper than what you’d see in the average human bathroom, at nearly three feet tall and the shower nozzle was a little lower by comparison, but being angled a bit more made up for it. Aside from that, there was a low sink, and a toilet that looked strangely like one back on Earth, a bit bigger in the plumbing perhaps? That was a fact that blew my mind from the very beginning. I tried to rationalize a reason for the similarities and even tried to think of a few alternative, more ‘pony friendly’ versions, but each time, I just ended up with a headache…
Aside from a small hamper - which I found odd seeing as the general lack of clothing ponies wear - and the book-print shower curtain, which actually oddly enough made perfect sense to me, there was little out of the ordinary about the otherwise slightly small master bathroom. That in itself, was enough to make me pause in thought.
However, the prospect of a relaxing shower quickly motivated me to get moving. With a quick slip of my hands, I removed my sash and in short order, my outer robes. I actually hesitated for a second at seeing analog water controls. Then with an obvious snort, I recalled how they functioned and quickly got the hot water flowing, before a startled and equally startling whinny caused me to leap aside. Twilight began to stammer incredulously, as I blinked my eyes and held my right hand to my heart, desperately hoping it wouldn’t leap from my chest. A few deep breaths later and I noticed she was blushing, even as she continued to ramble on.
“Twily?” I spoke her one-name drawing her attention to myself, as I gently flicked my earlobe. The expression was lost on her, only to earn a curious expression and another dose of Equish… “Ra’lang E’kuitii Langa, e’lo Danarii Langa.” I reminded her gently, before motioning toward my translator with my eyes.
Picking up the gray, metal broach, she quickly explained in a nervous tone of voice. “Sorry. I knocked, but you didn’t answer, so…”
“So you thought you’d come in and sneak a peek?” I teased her.
“No!” She exclaimed, however, her blush told me otherwise, “I wanted to make sure you were alright…”
“Twily?” I repeated, earning her attention once more, “What is the Danarian belief on nudity?”
She paused a long moment, thinking over the question. “Your species rarely shows any skin whatsoever, you prefer to be covered at all times.” She recited stiffly, as if from a textbook.
I inhaled. “This is true, however, we have shared minds.” I reminded her, earning a prompt nod, though it was clear she did not understand the implication of the words I had spoken, “What is the flesh?” I added with a raised brow.
“So…?” She began, curiously wondering.
“I don’t care.” I shook my head, “Just don’t expect much. We’re rather lackluster physically, hairless for the most part.” I began to remove my shirt before hesitating, “Just do me a favor?”
“Yes?” She prompted me to continue.
“Don’t go describing me naked to the rest of the world, alright?” I asked with a raised brow.
“Modest are we?” She giggled teasingly.
“A little.” I admitted, placing a finger beneath her chin and raising it up enough to drop a peck on her lips, “Only you can ogle me, alright?”
Her humored giggle was all the acknowledgement I needed. Without a flourish, I stripped off the shirt and pants in quick order. I blushed only a little as I grinned, holding my arms out as I turned this way and that. Her eyes quickly fell upon my groin a little skeptically.
“It’s not at all how I’d imagined it.” She stated rather blandly.
“Is that I all I am to you? A piece of flank?” I puffed out my cheeks a little, teasing her.
“No! No, not at all!” She exclaimed in shock, completely missing the joke.
“Twily…that was a joke,” I said with a smile, reinforcing what I had said, “I’m aware you’re just curious.”
She rolled her eyes, clearly not believing that she had fallen for such a trick. Then, she suddenly gasped. “I thought you’re male?” She exclaimed.
I looked down to my manhood. “The last I checked I was…”
“Then why do you have mammaries?” She pointed a hoof to my chest in confusion.
I then looked up from my groin to my chest. I had indeed put on some significant tone working with the apples, and no doubt from my recent escapade too. Trailing from my pecks to my biceps and triceps, I realized I was in much better shape than I had thought. I suppose too many years living on ships had made me a little softer than I had thought. Now, I had above average definition across the board. No huge amount of mass, Danårians rarely bulk up the way that humans can.
Finally, after checking myself out, I chuckled. “Well then, I have added some muscle tone, haven’t I?” I remarked, while Twilight still stared at me, expecting an answer, “Oh, yes…I assure you, I’m male. Danarii and our kin are born with them male, or female. Though males’ are non-functional.” I promptly lifted a finger to make a point, “However, unlike you, I do not have a thick coat to keep me warm, so if you don’t mind, I’m jumping into the warm water!”
Without further ado, I did just that and man, did hot water feel good right about then. So much so, that as it poured over my shoulders and down my back I sighed…alright, I purred. It felt good damn it! Apparently, Twilight thought it was cute, because she started giggling once more as she stood just outside the shower.
“Enjoying yourself?” She finally asked over her giggles.
“So-ho-oh much!” I exclaimed, “I really needed this, you know?”
“What happened?” She asked me finally.
The tension reemerged and the silence was palpable for a moment, as I ceased moving under the water. I sighed and regarded the water dancing about the bottom of the tub, as it formed streams down into the drain.
“I…” I hesitated.
“It helps if you talk about it, you know?”
“Yeah.” I sighed again, “Satos and I had a fight. Rather, I told her what I thought of her.”
“And…?” Twilight prompted me once more.
“I said some things I never thought I would…” I admitted painfully, a tear mingling with the water pouring down my face, “I love you. I always have…you know that, right?”
“Of course, Asto…what did she say?”
“It wasn’t what she said, it was what I said.” I shook my head, “I told her that I wouldn’t follow her, that I didn’t need her. I told her that she was backward and out of place. I-I told her that I didn’t need the Federation anymore…”
“Asto, I…”
“The funny part is I meant every word!” I laughed, but it wasn’t the funny har-har laugh, it was the funny, ‘my heart just got run over by a train’ laugh, “You know, there was a time when I would’ve never let you look at me naked. There was a time when I think I would’ve wondered if I were mad for falling in love with a member of another species, and this is coming from a guy who lived with aliens for five years, on an alien world…”
“Paretha?” She recalled, shocking me about what she had glimpsed of my mind.
“Yeah.” I nodded, “It was a nice place. Weird, but nice. My first day there, I watched one female rip another to shreds over breeding rights…something about their males being property? I remember thinking to myself, how can I live with these savages? These aliens?” I swallowed nervously, “I did it. I even ended up having a lot of fun too, but in five years never did I think of a Parethian as a potential partner…but you? Not a problem.” I shrugged, “Damn, I had a tougher time getting over my own guilt than falling for you…” I sighed loudly, “Am I mad? I mean, is there something wrong with me?”
“No, Asto, there’s nothing wrong with you.” She declared demurely, “I can’t imagine half of the things you must’ve lived through. Half the places you’ve been… What you’ve lost. I’ve never lost anypony close to me.”
“It hurts.” I stated plainly, not knowing the words to convey the pain that gripped my chest at that moment, “…but you know what hurts more? Denying yourself love.” I chuckled internally at the irony of that statement, the number of times I had done just that, “Trust me, and do me a favor, if anything should happen to me-”
“Don’t talk like that!” She snapped at me.
“Twily, please, I love you too much to see you wail over me.” I choked down the lump in my throat, “Promise me, whether we adopt, or its with another stallion, that you’ll raise a little filly or colt of your own someday? I want you to have the opportunity that Karai and I never did.”
“Alright, if it means that much to you, someday we’ll adopt a little one.” Twilight acquiesced.
Then, I finally laughed (in humor). “Imagine that! Poor kid, mother’s a princess and father’s an alien!”
Twilight joined me in laughing, as the water beat gently upon my back. That sound of her whinnying laughter lifted my spirits, like even the hot water couldn’t. Not even my dark mood, or the prospect of the repercussions of my own actions could stop that smile. True to her name, she had lightened up my day, if only a little. That is the reason I loved her with all my heart! I love your laugh Twily, don’t you ever stop, not even for me…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Isn’t it odd how and when epiphanies strike? So often at the most innocuous times? Napping under a tree, flying a kite…taking your marefriend out for lunch. There was one that threw her for a loop, our reversed cultures again. She had expected to have bought me lunch, before I explained to her how it worked in mine. She finally convinced me to let her pay this time, I shrugged mentally – after all, I couldn’t win every time, now could I? Now it was on our way back from our meal – thank goodness that the local restaurant had occasionally hosted foreigners, so I wasn’t completely out of luck – when a sudden commotion came from the outskirts of Ponyville…again. Really, if it weren’t parasprites, or an Ursa Minor, I shuddered to think what the town would do with a calm, peaceful day! The sound of a dog and running ponies drew my attention. Ponyville didn’t have too many canines, I think Winona was the only one, now that I thought about it. However, what I saw made me do a double take.
As the group came closer, they rounded the outermost houses along the road to the Ponyville Hospital and I was shocked to see a pair of stallions, chasing a mare. Both stallions were tan, with matching black manes and I swear, had I not looked twice, I would’ve sworn to have been indistinguishable. The mare was a light blue, with a pale, almost white mane, and just so happened to be barking like a dog. I gave Twilight a glance out of the corner of my eye, letting her know my plan and to stand back. I promptly took a step forward, lowered my stance and readied my hands. Now, an earthbound pony doesn’t have that horn to watch out for, but an earthbound mare was often heavier than a unicorn or pegasi stallion. In other words, a freight train on hooves.
As I braced myself to be rammed, the mare dug in her hooves and ground to a halt in front of me. Her eyes bulged wide and her jaw almost dropped, before she whipped her head back to look at the stallions close behind.
“Please…help…” She barked. No, literally, she barked and my translator translated the usually unrecognizable sounds. I recoiled in surprise, before she leapt up on my chest, recognizing my comprehension, “Please…help…me…”
I looked up, over her shoulder at the stallions that had slowed to a trot, before back down into her pleading, violet eyes. My features momentarily softened, before I gently lowered her back down onto all fours.
“Thanks for the help, Mister Tau Niem.” The pony on the left said with a nod of his head; Apparently, I’m subject of some gossip?
“I didn’t do anything.” I shrugged.
“She didn’t hurt you, did she?” The stallion on the right asked, eyeing the quivering mare contemptibly.
“No, I’m fine.” I responded simply, “She does have a name, I presume?”
“Screw Loose.” The right stallion replied, her ears folding flat at the sound of his voice.
I promptly lowered my hand toward the gray brooch atop my robes, with luck I could ascertain just what the devilry was going on here? Finally, I gave a nod and looked into her eager, though frightened eyes.
“Do you know your name?” I asked her, but he ponies around us recoiled in shock, for my words sounded to their ears as barks.
“Don’t tease the poor thing…” Twilight said, gently reproaching me, only to earn a critical gaze from me.
“You really can… understand me?” Screw Loose bounced, before wagging her tail like a dog, until I nodded, “I am…Screw Loose…”
“Why are these stallions chasing you?” I inquired.
Surely, to the ponies that were now staring on, it must’ve looked absurd; here was the resident alien, barking at the local mad-pony. Everyone knew who Screw Loose was, as occasionally she escaped from the Hospital and ran throughout town, until they eventually caught her.
“I ran…” She answered simply.
“Where? Why?”
“H-hospital. They close me in…tie me up…call me names…”
“Why do you act like a dog?” I finally asked bluntly.
“Can’t stop…made to bark…”
“By who?”
“Shadow…” She shuddered, tears coming to her eyes.
I bent down and wrapped my arms around the poor mare. Her breath caught for but a moment, before she threw her forelimbs around me too and proceeded to cry into my shoulder. I stroked her mane, hushing her as my own father had when I was young. Eventually, her tears lessened and I pulled my head away from her and looked up to Twilight. I almost forgot the settings, before I tossed the broach to her.
“Twilight, I need you to carefully look into her mind. I think someone did this to her.”
Twilight nodded in response, before returning the broach to my waiting hand. As Twilight approached, I gently pushed Screw Loose back just a little. Upon seeing Twilight, she recoiled a little, before my hands held her tight.
“Screw Loose?” The mare returned her frightened gaze to me, “Listen, Twilight is my friend,” – I said, abridging a rather complicated relationship – “she’s going to look into your mind. Help you if she can.” She looked to Twilight nervously, then to me, back to Twilight and finally back to me, before nodding timidly, “She’s the Element of Magic, trust me.”
Releasing her, I watched as Twilight approached the mare with great care, before placing her horn upon the other mare’s head. The two other stallions watched on in bewilderment, as the unicorn’s entire focus was placed upon her horn. I could vaguely feel Twilight’s reactions to whatever she had found within and whatever it was confused her, stumped her. A reaction I found most disconcerting, as did she. Finally, pulling her head away, I reached over to steady Twilight. Whatever she had done was draining, if her stumbling backwards was any indication. She smiled at me weakly, before glancing over at Screw Loose. Resetting my translator, I approached the mare, whose eyes had glazed over. Just as my fingertips touched her shoulder, she shook her head violently.
“My mind is free!” She exclaimed with joy, in a language unknown to all but myself, her voice booming unnaturally loud as she bounced to her hooves.
“Screw Loose, can you lower your voice?” Twilight shouted, half deafened.
“Sorry…” Even her whisper seemed unnaturally loud.
“Uh, better…I think?” She remarked, before turning to me, “Tau Niem, what language-” She began, only to notice my hand shaking at my side. Glancing up to my face, I had blanched… “What is it?”
I swallowed nervously. “Twilight Sparkle, things are bad,” I said meekly, not taking my eyes off the other mare, even as I turned my head toward Twilight, “Get a chariot, we need to be in Canterlot, an hour ago.”
“What is it? What language is she speaking?” Twilight finally placed a hoof upon my trembling hand.
“Go, now! There’s no time for words!” I barked at her, causing her to leap back, “I’m serious, go!”
“I-I…” She stammered, before bolting off.
“Y-you’re scaring me…” Screw Loose shook, inching back away from me.
“I’m sorry dear…” A cold chill ran down my spine, “We’re going to get you help.”
“I don’t understand, what’s going on? Why are you looking at me like that? What did I do wrong?” She stammered, begging for answers while tears came to her eyes once more.
Into the pits of hell I dance, death and darkness… I cursed within my own mind. Not giving myself the time to think upon what a stupid plan it was, I threw myself at her enveloping her in another smothering embrace. “I know you don’t,” I cooed, “I don’t understand it either and that’s what scares me.”
She stiffened in my arms, my words doing little to ease her fears. I couldn’t blame her, whatever was going on scared me. I admit it, the words she was speaking she should’ve never in a million years have heard of, let alone known. Though my translator contained them, even I had never dared speak those words. They sounded foul and sinister upon my ears, like metal upon blacktop, or the screams of children, mixed with the growl of a bear or large cat at the same time. They spoke nothing but evil.
“What’s going on here?” The stallion on the left, all but forgotten, finally spoke up.
I looked up from the trembling mare’s head upon my shoulder. “Suffice it to say that Screw Loose is anything but ill of the mind.”
There was a sudden popping noise from behind myself, as both myself and Screw Loose looked up to see Princess Luna standing before us. She regarded me, but only long enough for her eyes to notice the frightened mare in my arms.
“Sister sent me.” Luna explained simply.
“We need to get to somewhere safe. Somewhere shielded from evil.” I stated quite simply.
“Canterlot is where we head.” Luna appeared somewhat cross, perhaps I had interrupted her but a moment ago?
She promptly crossed the distance between us and enveloped us with her wings. I can only imagine that she teleported us, because when she parted her wings once more, we were in the main hall of Canterlot Castle. Except for the fact that Celestia and Luna were now both staring at us.
“Princess!” Screw Loose exclaimed once more in surprise, earning a timid recoil from both princesses.
“Tau Niem, what’s the meaning of this?” Celestia looked at me in equal parts surprise and fear, as Twilight walked up next to her.
“That sounded like Dark-Speak, sister.” Luna remarked.
I looked up to the two elder princesses in surprise. “No…” I remarked, my eyes widening ever so slightly in fear, “No, such a thing does not exist.” I proclaimed.
“It does.” Celestia informed me frankly, a tremor of ice riding up my spine.
“What’s Dark-Speak?” Twilight looked first to Luna, then to Celestia.
“It’s the language of demons.” I stated, slowly looking up to the young princess, “It’s a language that does not exist.”
“Clearly that is not the case.” Celestia remarked not unlike a mother to a child.
I jumped to my feet in a rage, tears filling my eyes. “It’s not true!” I screamed at them.
“There’s a gate not too far from here, where Cerberus resides.” Luna stated calmly.
“So that’s what the rumbling noise was…” Twilight remarked about her experience returning the massive three-headed gatekeeper.
“That it was.” Celestia nodded.
The whole time I was shaking my head. It started out as a subtle thing and was rapidly growing into a violent shake, along with the volume of my muttering. Simply chanting a mantra of; “No, it cannot be…”
“Tau Niem?...Tau Niem?” Celestia called out to me, but I was unable to hear it, as the horrible truth of the situation dawned on me. Eons of folklore and myth, stories half-history and half-nonsense suddenly became plausible in my mind. It was said they came from the bowels of the shadow itself…“Tau Niem?” A pair of golden shod hooves on my shoulders suddenly snapped me out of my stupor.
“I am sorry, Princess…” I mumbled, half rooted in reality.
“What ails you?” She asked me with concerned eyes, “What do you know that disturbs you so?”
“I know that language…” I admitted, still largely detached.
“I assumed as much.” She remarked plainly, as if expecting more.
I suddenly looked deep into her eyes, completely lucid. “That is the language of the Jakial.” I revealed drawing a gasp from the Solar Diarch, “Each translator made in the Federation has that language. It’s so that we never fall victim to their evil.”
“What are the Jakial?” The three other mares all asked timidly at nearly the same time.
“Jakial is ancient Danårian, it means, ‘the Reviled Ones’.” I turned my head back toward the pale blue mare, which was once more trembling in fear, “They are monsters.”
“I-I’m n-not a monster!” She weakly exclaimed, the dark language a sharp contrast to her claims of innocence.
“No, you’re not,” - I looked to Celestia - “but the ‘shadow’ that attacked her was.”
“Nightmare Moon?” Screw Loose squeaked.
“No, this is older, primordial.” Celestia shot a careful glance at her sister, who nodded with her eyes, “Nightmare Moon was not in fact a demon.”
“Celestia,” I gently called out her name, drawing her attention, “I think that we should prepare for the exorcism.”
She regarded the light blue mare in question, as she thought of what to do. However, to the younger two mares, it merely looked like she was showing concern for her. Not to say she wasn’t concerned, just that was not what weighed on her mind at that particular moment. Looking up, she clopped her hoof for her guard, who promptly appeared.
“Please see to it that Miss Screw Loose is not disturbed.” Celestia decreed, before adding, “No pony is to speak with her, is that understood?”
“Perfectly, your majesty.” The uniform guard nodded.
She looked to me uncertainly, before I smiled reassuringly. As she trotted off meekly behind the guard, I wondered just how it was that they all looked exactly the same? Then I caught myself doing it, distracting myself rather than deal with the issue at hand. It’s what I always did and I hated it. Suddenly, I decided no more. I breathed deeply, before turning toward Celestia abruptly.
“Celestia, there’s one more thing…” I spoke up, before my eyes promptly fell to the red velvet carpet at my feet in shame.
“Oh?” She responded with a raised brow that I caught as I looked back up to her.
I nodded. “Two things, actually.” I diverted my eyes for a moment, before hardening myself and preparing for the plunge, “Of the more mundane, if it can be called such?” I absentmindedly wondered aloud, before turning back to the task at hand, “I want to inform you that I am renouncing Satos as my clan-head.”
For a moment, she looked stunned. “Why do you tell me this?” She asked me plainly.
“Because the two of you made an agreement regarding the punishment for my actions and I am relieving her of her responsibility. I will see to securing the bits I owe you, as soon as I’m able.” I pledged honestly.
“That is not necessary, truth be told, the monetary compensation was her suggestion.” Celestia revealed.
It was not entirely surprising, such was commonplace in her time, to pay off an offended matriarch. However, if Celestia was so willing to forgive and forget, then I was curious why Satos had offered?
“Regardless, I still feel obligated to apologize somehow.”
“You already have.” She smiled at me and it almost burned, especially considering what I was about to reveal…
“With all due respect, I insist. If nothing else, I will assist Ponyville in some way.”
“If you desire to contribute to your hosts, I shan’t try to dissuade you.”
“Also, I have a request?”
“Yes?”
“I would like your blessing.” I requested, my head bowed to her.
“I am no god, and even if I were, I didn’t think your people believed in them?”
“No, that is not my meaning.” I glanced to Twilight, and her majesty noticed, anticipating my request with a smile, “I wish for your blessing as Twilight Sparkle’s Matriarch. I wish to officially court her.”
If I had not seen her blush before, I would’ve been worried that some spell had fallen over her, as her entire complexion lightened slightly. She regarded me in complete awe. Indeed, even Luna’s brow rose in muted surprise.
“Twilight is no longer my student, and even if she were, she could of course do as she wished.” Celestia only smiled brightly.
I looked down at my feet, my face contorted in pain. The pain of the mind, that of shame. What I was about to say, I had not spoken, even to myself, for fear…fear of what resided within. “Before you agree, I think I should speak this to the three of you.” I regarded them each for a moment. Twilight grimaced, correctly assuming what was coming, and Luna too, appeared a mix of downcast and nervous, leaving only Celestia oblivious to the truth… “I have one last secret I must reveal…”
She then took notice of both her sister’s reaction, as well as that of Twilight. “Yes?” She prompted me and if I didn’t know better, there was a trace of frustration therein.
“I have performed murder.” I revealed, drawing a shocked gasp from her, as I lowered my eyes to the floor once more. Her silence prompted me to continue, “It was after the murder of my wife.” I mulled around on the words for a moment, before continuing, “I allowed the darkness in my heart to take over and I killed our attackers, not to defend others, but out of hate. I ceased to think and only killed. I bathed in their blood until there was no more and when it was over, I could not tell friend from foe.”
Silence reigned over us for a long while. It was unbearable. I wished for something, anything. Any sign of her reaction, but I dared not look up. Finally, her voice broke the silence. “Why do you tell me this?” Her voice contained no trace of emotion whatsoever.
“Because, you deserve to know the character of the one you entrust Twilight Sparkle’s heart to.” I answered her honestly, still not looking upwards.
There was again a long pause, though not so long as before. “No, Tau Niem, why do you tell me this? What is its significance?”
I looked up to her confused. “I…I killed sapient creatures…”
“…And?” She had cocked her head to the side curiously, “What of it?”
Of all the reactions she could’ve had, callous indifference was not the one I expected and it shocked me beyond words. Truth be told, for a moment, I began to wonder if this were really her Majesty of the Day?
“Because such a thing is reprehensible…murder.” I exclaimed the first thing that came to mind, “The one that had killed my wife, died at her hands. The ones I killed were just soldiers doing their duty. I was not. I killed for blood, I lusted for repayment that I could never attain.”
“You feel remorse for killing them?” She prompted.
“Never.” I growled, “They killed my wife and many I called friends.”
“Then what do you feel?” She prompted me once more.
“I feel shame.” I sniffled, returning my gaze to the floor, “I became a beast and I killed out of wrath, not out of duty, or a desire to defend others. I felt such pain and the first - and only thought I had - was to make others suffer, too. I wanted them to feel my pain…”
Suddenly a pair of wings had enveloped me and Celestia’s ethereal mane was gently caressing my face. “Tau Niem, what you did was terrible, but war is a terrible thing. The fact that your heart now hurts, proves that you’re a good person. All who are forced to kill feel such things…each life you end, takes a little bit of yourself.” She calmly stroked my back with her wingtips, as she whispered consoling words into my other ear, “Now you must learn to forgive yourself. If you ever wish to be happy again, you need to realize her death wasn’t your fault and release yourself from this burden.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“NO!” Tau Niem suddenly pushed Celestia back violently with both hands to her chest, drawing shocked gasps from the three mares, “It was my fault, my cowardice that cost her life! I’ll not forget her and doom her to undeath while I yet live!”
“Tau-” She started, lifting a hoof, only for him to swat it aside with his telekinesis.
“No, I’m telling you, I’m not going to forget her!” He barked, incensed, his eyes bulging in rage, “You’re just like the others, they wanted me to forget her too! They wanted me to give her up! Well guess what, I’ve given up everything I am, but I’m not giving her up too!”
“Asto, you’re starting to scare me…” Twilight murmured.
“Don’t you turn on me too…not you too…” He shook his head gingerly, not taking his eyes off of her, as he slowly stumbled back and his voice faded with more than a twinge of pain.
However, before he could take more than a few steps, Luna touched her charged horn to his head and he suddenly slumped halfway to the floor, before she could lower him the rest of the way with her magic.
Celestia looked to her fellow princesses in shock. “What was that!?” She exclaimed, unsure of what had just happened.
“I…I think it might have had something to do with yesterday…?” Twilight proposed, drawing the attention of the two celestial sisters, “You see, he and Satos had a falling out…”
“Twilight, you knew he was ailing and you still brought him here!?” Luna barked incredulously, “He could’ve killed us all!”
“He would never harm a fly!” Twilight quickly retorted.
“He admitted it himself, the darkness of hate had taken him in the past and once it has, it never comes out!” Luna growled, her anger slightly startling the younger princess, but not enough to make her cow down.
“Enough, you two.” Celestia shot the two arguing princesses an accusatory frown, “What is done, is done.” She sighed heavily, Luna went to speak, only to be silenced by her raised hoof, “I am surprised that you of all ponies would have spoken against him now. Tell me sister, what do you know?”
Luna looked toward Twilight, whom took a half step forward. “His mind contains darkness the likes of which…I…” Twilight began, only to falter.
“His mind is like that of the Nightmare I became, sister.” Luna stated frankly, “Twisted roots of loathing and hate choke his mind-”
Celestia promptly interrupted her. “Why did neither of you tell me sooner!?” She exclaimed in anger, “Here I’ve had such a threat wandering…I…I…” As quickly as her rage came, it subsided. Her deep breath, the only sound in the great hall that registered. She took a long moment to regain her demeanor.
“Princess…” Twilight began, only to be silenced by Celestia’s hoof, much as Luna had been.
“I know why you said nothing, you love him. You wanted to protect him,” she said calmly, before an air of disappointment colored her voice, “This was a serious issue that you neglected to inform me of. Part of being a princess, is trusting in your sisters…us, Twilight.” Celestia motioned between herself and Luna, before turning her piercing gaze to her and shaking her head, “but you of all ponies? You who know firsthoof the danger of a Nightmare?”
“He’s not a Nightmare, sister…” Luna began, only to be bluntly cut off.
“Oh, then if he is not, then why didn’t you tell me?” She asked in exasperation.
“Because if you had seen the darkness within him, you would’ve banished him without a second thought!” Luna snapped, tears coming to her eyes. The elder sister actually gasped in shock. Such an outburst from Luna was almost unheard of, but there it was. The pain of a gulf dug between them more than a thousand years past, torn open and exposed. The younger sniffled, fighting back the tears, “Forgive me if I wanted to keep around the one stallion that might actually understand my pain…”
“I’ll just…” Twilight went to excuse herself, before the Princess of the Night abruptly turned to her.
“No, Twilight, stay.” Luna bade the yet younger princess, before turning back to Celestia, “You wanted her to join us? Then let her listen.” Celestia bowed her head in silent acquiescence, “The moment he locked eyes upon us, I knew what he was. I knew what resided in his soul. Even as he held me in a death-grip, ready to smash in my head, I knew what I dealt with. I won’t lie to you sister, sometimes he scares me shitless!” The two mares gasped, hearing Luna curse, the surprise even more so for Celestia, not having heard her younger sister swear more than a hoof-full of times in their entire, long lives, “but in his eyes, I saw myself. That alone chilled me to the bone, but also filled me with hope.” She turned her head and smiled to Twilight, “I had even considered asking what he thought of me…”
Twilight lowered her eyes, half out of respect and half in thought… Would she mind Luna being in her herd? Would he? He had mentioned their species being mostly monogamous… She then quickly banished those thoughts and turned to Celestia.
“Please, I know that he’d never hurt anypony without cause.” Twilight quickly tried to bring up some point, some fact that might convince her, before she remembered his oath he gave to the Solar Princess, “Do you remember his pledge?”
“I do.” She nodded softly.
“He promised you that he would not bring harm to any of your subjects!” Celestia nodded intently as Twilight explained, “For him, his people, their word is law. For him to break his oath would be like…” She stammered a moment, defiantly trying to find a proper example, “Like burning the face of Equis with the sun! He would never even think of doing such a thing! He couldn’t!”
The purple alicorn’s chest heaved, rising and falling as if she had run from Ponyville to Canterlot. The love and passion flowed off of her, to the point where one did not need to be an changeling to sense it. Indeed, seemingly without realizing it, she had come to hover over him in an almost protective stance. It was one that immediately clicked within Celestia’s mind…a part of her that was so ancient, she almost forgot it was there at all. She was suddenly reminded of herself, a much younger mare, hovering over a stallion of her own. She could only heave a sigh, knowing deep down that the only way any interference on her part would end, was at the business end of her young pupil’s horn…and though she had only a hint of doubt as to whether or not she could best her, it was there. A soft, knowing smile came about her muzzle, almost instantly allaying Twilight’s fears.
“I understand,” she said solemnly, “though that doesn’t change the fact I’m disappointed in both of you. I had hoped that you both trusted me enough to know I wouldn’t do anything without your consent?” She sighed a long sigh once more, “Very well. Twilight, take him to your room. He’s in your care.”
“Thank you princess…” She smiled, only to hesitate upon seeing her expression.
“However, I’m going to post some guards outside, as much for his protection, as for yours.” Twilight went to protest, only to receive a stern glare, “The alternative is he goes into solitary next to Miss Screw Loose?”
Twilight ground her teeth not so subtly. “Alright…”