//------------------------------// // Negatio Tenebris // Story: A Means to an End // by Vanguard_Of_The_Night //------------------------------// A Means to an End By Vanguard_Of_The_Night Chapter 2: Negatio Ténebris The night seemed like a dark abyss filled with many tunnels in the sky all filled with a light at each end. Each tunnel offered a journey and a hope at the end of the arduous quest. Some were closer than others. Some were farther away. But the practical knew the light of hope in the sky was unattainable. Celestia knew there was no hope for her. There was no light at the end of the tunnel. These thoughts weighed heavily on her mind, as she stood on the balcony outside her room. The one time she revealed her pain and burden her very mind revolted against her. The image of his face made her stomach turn. Celestia never wanted to see that face again. That face reminded her of her loss. That face reminded her of her weakness. A single tear slowly fell from the corner of her eye. If revealing how she felt brought up such things in her mind, she did not want to reveal them anymore. The mind is the only true safe place a person possesses, and this possession is all the more sacred to one who cannot die from old age. To be trapped within a mind that tortures you as hell tortures the wicked, that would be a fate she knew she could not bear. She decided to bury those feelings again. She refused to be weak in her own mind. Celestia took a deep breath in an attempt to control her emotions. With newfound resolve, she walked back inside her room, and laid down to rest. The sheets now dry from her cold sweat earlier seemed slightly sticky. Nevertheless, she slid deeper under the sheets to find her comfortable niche in the mattress. Her breathing relaxed, and she closed her eyes to sleep. For the rest of that night, she slept more soundly than anyone else in the castle. Celestia rose early the next morning, and stretched with a big yawn. She had fallen asleep on her right wing during the night, and now it tingled with the fire of imaginary needles pricking her slumbering wing. She didn’t care. Her nightmare was gone, and she thought, if she continued to bury that moment in time in her mind, she would be rid of it for good. Like every morning for the past thousand years, she started with a quick shower, brushing her teeth, fixing her hair, and finally raising the sun. When she raised the sun she had felt a sense of security. The sun was warm and comforting. It helped her realize that she was still herself. She was still Princess Celestia. With her morning routine done, she trod off to go have breakfast with her sister. The dining room was a room of complete elegance. The room was clad with marble floors, terebinth pillars along the walls, a chandelier of diamond that hung overhead, and, in the center of it all, a long hoof hewn cherry wood table. Although it was intended to have one sister sit at each end, neither of the two wanted to sit so far away from each other. So, on a weekly alternating schedule, one sister would sit with the other on her side of the table. This week, to Celestia’s dismay, it was Luna’s side. Not that she didn’t like to sit with her sister, she merely didn’t like that there was a mirror on each side of that end of the table, which forced her to watch herself eat. “Good morning, Lulu.” Celestia said as she approached her sister who had been waiting patiently for her to arrive. “I am doing well, Tia. Though I must admit I have been rather tired after night court lately. This increase in appointments has lead to me having less time to tend to the dreams of resting ponies.” Celestia took her seat next to her sister, and attempted to not look into the dreaded mirror. For a brief moment she thought she had seen something out of the corner of her eye, but dismissed it as a shadow playing a trick on her. “We will have to see if Twilight can help with the workload. She hasn’t been a princess long, but I think she is ready to handle some of the lesser responsibilities. It would help free up both our schedules, and give her some more recognition from the public.” With a big grin of relief, Luna replied, “That would be a great boon sister!” Celestia smile, merely glad the Luna had been kept busy long enough last night not to notice her nightmare during her duties. For it to go unnoticed must have meant she was greatly overloaded. This was to Celestia a great relief. To have to explain that to Luna would merely serve as a problem. She didn’t want to relive that night. She just wanted to forget about it all. The two sisters chatted about a few trivial things afterwards as they waited on their breakfast. Shortly afterwards their breakfast arrived via a sharply dressed butler. He silently placed the salads in front of the princesses, and, as silently as he had come, he left. Celestia was greatly pleased that she could now end her hunger pains. The princess lifted the fork next to her plate with her magic, and took the first bite. She experienced an explosion of flavors, for her salad was filled with a variety of fruits and vegetables. She was greatly pleased with this morning in general. Everything so far had gone right, and there was a semblance of balance in her world again. She devoured another bite full of salad, with a smile. Though, to her dismay she found herself looking at that dreadful mirror. Even though she hated that mirror, she decided to not let it put a blot on her day. She was better than that. However, after taking a good look at the mirror her hair stood on end. The image did not reflect her outward self, but it revealed the inward Celestia. Her hair had dulled, and lost all radiance. Her eyes were blackened, and she cried tears of blood. Her wings were broken, and her coat sullied. Her heart raced in her chest just like in the dream. She closed her eyes for a moment, and hoped she just had a minor hallucination due to her stress of late. She was greatly mistaken. The image that first clenched at her heart disappeared in a whirlwind of darkness, only to be replaced by the face that, with one glance, could break her to her very core. The face smiled and revealed blood caked incisors. Then, as those blood caked teeth parted, he spoke venom into Celestia’s ears, “You can’t bury me, Tiaaaaaa. Hehehehehahahahahah!” Celestia’s mentality snapped. She barely retained enough composure to tell her sister she was going to the ladies room. Sweat poured off her brow. Her heart almost felt like it was going to break. She burst into the bathroom, and was thankful no one was there. She took three deep breaths to calm herself down, the turned on the faucet to wash her face. The ice cold water stung her, as she splashed herself with her hooves. Still wet she reached with her magic for the hand towel, and dabbed her face until dry. She had started to calm down; nevertheless, when she opened her eyes she saw the stigma of her past in the bathroom mirror. “Cold water can’t wash me off. You can’t get rid of me, Tia. You’ll never be rid of me,” the apparition in the mirror spoke. “You’re not real. You can’t be real. You were sealed away a millennia ago,” Celestia stammered. “I am real. I am very real. You may have sealed me then, but that is no matter to me now. I will devour your soul from the inside out!” Celestia’s grew cold from the malicious intent of the ethereal specter that laughed in her face. The laughter grew louder, the stall doors began to slam themselves, the mirror shook, and Celestia fell to her knees holding herself. “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! You’re not real! You’re just in my head,” the petrified princess yelled, as she quivered, visibly shaken by what she had seen. “Sister? Who are you yelling at,” the lunar princess inquired. Luna drew quickly to her sister sensing something was amiss. “What happened sister? What is going on,” Luna probed. Celestia’s eyes clenched tight. Every muscle in her body was tense. “Celestia, open your eyes. All is fine dear sister,” Luna cooed. Then, as a child who is comforted by her mother, she slightly relaxed from the fetal position she had curled into. Prompted by her sister, Celestia opened her eyes to find the bathroom was pristine. The mirror revealed only her and her sister in the restroom. He was not there. Everything was still, except her. Even with her sister’s hooves comforting her she found herself shaking violently with fear. Hot tears lingered at the corners of her eyes, like a man who waits on the edge of rooftop before he finds the courage to end his life. “Celestia, for the last time tell me what is wrong,” Luna nearly demanding in a motherly tone. “It’s nothing sister! I am perfectly fine,” insisted the solar princess. Celestia stood quickly, and wiped the tears from her eyes. She released the embrace from her sister, and tried to feign a smile, like she would to anyone else. However, Luna was not so easily fooled. She knew her sister far too well. “You are most certainly not fine! Why are you crying? Does it have to do with yesterday? Or is it something else,” Luna questioned. “I don’t want to talk about it! It’s none of your concern!” Luna attempted to block her sister from leaving the room, but Celestia stormed past her with such force that she was unable to stop her. She knew she could not stop her outside for risk of causing a scene, which would eventually leak out into the public. She decided to question her sister later that evening, and postpone her nightly duties. It might even be a good idea to inquire for Twilight Sparkle’s help, Luna thought, and, with that thought, she trotted off to write Twilight a letter. After she stormed out of the bathroom, Celestia found herself walking with no clear direction. She knew that court was to start in the next half hour, but she felt too high strung at the moment to present herself to the public. She decided to take a quick stroll around the castle. She needed to get away from everyone. She knew he shouldn’t be here. She knew he couldn’t be here. The seal she cast was an impenetrable magic seal of the highest class. The only ponies who knew this spell was Celestia and Luna. Therefore, she knew it was logical to deduce that no one could have freed him. Could this really all be in my head, she pondered. This thought weighed heavily on her mind as she walked through the decadent corridors of the castle. Silence filled the hallways, except for the sound of Celestia’s hooves on the marble floor. There were a vast amount of hallways in the immense castle, and several times she had forgotten how many there really were. She found that there were even some whose destination she had forgotten. Normally she would have walked down one just for the excitement of exploration, however, she felt as adventurous as Fluttershy is brave. Celestia stayed on the main path, and continued with her walk, while she tried to sort out in her mind what to do next. I can’t be viewed as weak in the eyes of the public. The people and the politicians would have a hay day for lack of a better term, she thought. More importantly what should I do about him? I don’t even know if he’s real. He may just be in my head. Luna didn’t see him, but I could. Maybe I’m going insane, Celestia pondered heavily. It scared her to think that she might be succumbing to the stress buildup of over a few thousand years. However, she could think of any other reason why she was saw him in her dream and the mirrors. She shook her head, as if she was shaking the very thought from her mind. No. There must be another reason because of this. I am not crazy! I am perfectly fine, she thought, trying to provoke a courageous resolve in herself. She was only mildly successful. Until she had found out why, she would continue to be plagued with a sliver of doubt. Regardless, she knew she had spent too much time away from the court, and she began to trot back to the throne room. On her way back, she noticed an all too familiar unicorn that seemed to be running as fast as the famous earth pony Secretariat, and this pony did not look pleased. “I swear Celestia! What am I going to do with you? Two days in a row you’re late,” the astute secretary stated in a matter of fact tone. Quick Note’s berating almost made Celestia laugh. Though she felt horrid, like her whole world was falling around her, she knew she could always count on her devoted secretary to keep her on task. Celestia offered a quick apology, and told her that she merely needed a moment alone. “I don’t mind if you need to postpone something Princess. Just please tell me next time,” Quick Note said with a smile. On the surface, the secretary seemed somewhat fanatical, but deep down she was heartfelt and kind. She merely expressed her care for the princess in a somewhat coarse irregular manner. “I promise my little pony.” Celestia stated. Every time Quick Note berated her it brought a smile to her face. She could forget about everything else, and just focus on the task at hand. Quick Note gave her a short report of what was going on in Day Court currently, and led her back to the throne room after sending a message to the guards of their impending arrival. The walk they took was short, but filled with conversation of the daily life of Quick Note. Celestia hated awkward silence, and was interested in the life of the secretary she called friend. The two of them talked incessantly until they arrived at entrance to the throne room. “Thank you for coming to get me Quick Note,” Celestia stated with a much more relaxed poise. “Oh, I was just doing my job Princess, and please call me Quickie,” the secretary stated with a friendly wink. Celestia shared a light chuckle with her friend, and then proceeded into the throne room. Even though she was an hour late, the amount of work she had missed this time was minimal. For the rest of her day in court she listened to the needs of the people. Young ponies in love who wanted to be wed, others who had disputes over money or land, and legislatures who wanted to write more and more laws were merely a portion of her day. By the end of it all, Celestia was greatly exhausted. She thought since the workload was light in the morning it would be an easy day, however, she was terribly wrong. Celestia slowly walked back to her room in the castle, after she decided to skip out on dinner with her sister. She wanted to avoid any questions about this morning as long as she could. She was exhausted, and decided that she was needed to sleep. The guards outside her room saluted her as she walked to the entrance of her room, and she nodded her head in acknowledgement before entering. Even though she was tired, she knew she couldn’t skimp out on formality. The guards would end up thinking they did something wrong, and be fretful all night about how to fix something that truly wasn’t broken. Once inside, she shut the door, and walked over to her nightstand, which was to the right of her king sized extra plush bed. She began to removed her royal effects one at a time, and place them in the appropriate drawer. Now that she was unclothed, as she would word it, she walked out onto the balcony. It was one of her favorite times of day, Twilight. It was the time between the rest of day, and the birth of night. This time of day always reminded her that she and her sister were reunited together. Thoughts of that day filled her with emotion, and, with those emotions in hoof she called upon her magic to lay the sun to rest. Her body glowed with otherworldly light, and beads of magic glimmered about her body. Her eyes were lit like fire, and, with her power, she lowered the sun so that the moon would rise into its’ place. “Seems you still have some power in you yet Celestia,” the shadows spoke from behind her. Celestia whirled around to see the intruder. To her great consternation, it was the one that tortured her, as a gluttonous sadist tortures a victim slowly savoring every drop of blood shed. However, this time Celestia refused to lose her ground. She was going to find out what was going on. “I sealed you away. You shouldn’t be here. In fact you shouldn’t even be conscious,” Celestia stated rather matter of fact. “Oh ho ho. Looks like someone found her a backbone. Surprising since every time there has been a treat to your ‘kingdom’ you’ve dumped the responsibility of protecting it on someone else,” he spat. His figure was barely made out through the shadows, as he spoke, but his red eyes pierced the darkness. “You are avoiding the question. Why are you here? You said you’re not in my head, but if you’re here physically then why haven’t you attacked,” Celestia probed. Her eyes searched his for answers but found nothing but hatred. “Hehehaha. Maybe I just enjoy seeing you squirm. Such is life. The weak must fall to the strong, and the only way to rule is through power. You and the others forgot that long ago.” “We forgot nothing. You forgot that a true ruler rules through harmony!” “If I remember correctly Celestia how did that work out for you and your little friends? Oh wait, that’s right. They’re all dead,” Nephilim reproached. “They died for the people of Equestria. They fought for something greater than themselves. And if I remember correctly Nephilim, you were never much on foreplay, so there is no way you’re here physically. You would have attacked me by now. What is it? An astral projection spell,” the princess inquired. Nephilim slowly stepped forward out of the shadows. “Seems you figured me out. I awoke not too long ago. Though your seal holds me in place my mind is no longer restrained. I’ll soon be free, and you no longer possess the strength to tamper with the seal. Your mental scars, which came from your own weakness called love, won’t let you summon such power anymore. Isn’t that why you could defeat Discord again? Or how about Nightmare Moon? Or that little vixen Chrysalis,” he spoke. “Shut up! I have more than enough power to defeat you! You will not harm Equestria!” she yelled out of anger and pride. The fact that he knew of her shortcoming meant she was already at a severe disadvantage. Her mind began to race with how to deal with the situation. She knew she was merely a toy to him in this state. He had complete control, but she wouldn’t just give up. “So then, since you have awakened, what of him,” Celestia probed. “Him? I don’t have the slightest clue as to who you are talking about. Seems your getting confused in your old age,” Nepilim prodded. “You know damn well who I’m talking about!” “So what’s his name then if I know it?” Tears welled in her eyes, as she began to sob. She couldn’t bring herself to say his name. The memory was too painful. That memory restricted all her hope, joy, peace and even her power. Her tears broke the dam of her will. She knew she was completely at his mercy. “Oh dear, ever the drama queen aren’t we? To put it bluntly Tia, your foal is dead. Seems the seal was too much for his infantile state, and it absorbed his life energy. I guess taking him as a hostage all those years ago truly did prove useless. About as useless as pretending to love you,” he coldly affirmed. Celestia’s world began to spin. Her stomach lurched, as she hit all fours on the floor of her room. She could see his eyes glaring down at her in satisfaction. He robbed her of all her will. The only thing she could picture in her mind was an image of her dead child, and with that everything went black. The last thing she saw was Luna and Twilight standing over her, and in that moment only one thing escaped her breath. “Ragnarok….” Chapter 2 End