Memories of the past Part 2
One thousand years ago
Realm of the Draconequi
In a white flash of light, the orderly spirit arrived in the realm of his kind. The draconequi domain was a large realm that contained the realm of every draconequus that ever lived; most of them were empty now. Realms within the draconequi realm were like houses that could have multiple rooms as while. The specific area he was in was called the Neutral Zone: a gloomy and empty stone room with black walls, and a stone table and seats in a corner. It used to be where draconequi would meet. It was where friends and family would come chat and start conversations with others. Now it was a hollow room with little activity. It reminded Concord of the tragedy that made this once happy place become so bleak. Nonetheless, this is where everyone ended up after leaving the presence of the world.
The smile on Concord's face that he put on for Celestia vanished, and he breathed out a sigh. "Home sweet home," he said, not so cheerfully. Even though this was his home, he already missed his time on the world with Celestia. But he had his duties, and that was enough to get him moving. Just then, he realized someone was seated at the table.
Concord went over to the table. There lazily seated on a stone chair was a draconequus: he had the head and neck of a timber wolf, the torso of a buffalo, left leg of a frog and a cow hoof for a right leg, a long golden tail of a pony, wings of a dragonfly and a cockatrice, and the claw of a lobster for a left arm and a sickly green dragon claw for a right arm. He stared at Concord with his green ghostly eyes.
“Hello there, Migrate,” Concord said, “World treating you well?”
The spirit of nature gave a smug smile back. “It has.” His voice was deep and thick. “Haven't seen your face around here for some years."
Concord crossed his arms in an indolent manner. "Well, I have my priorities. Something you seem to lack, considering how you spend your time wasting away sitting here."
Migrate fiddled with his dragon nails, no longer looking at Concord. "And look where they've brought you,” he said, ignoring Concord’s second statement. “It's no secret why you're here. We all saw what you did; very naughty of you." He laughed like a thick toned hyena.
Concord was relented to continue the conversation. Knowing Migrate, he'd just make this one big joke. Migrate never cared about anything. Everything that didn't concern him was either a joke, or not worth his time. “I hardly suspect my actions to be 'naughty'. And I will not take your utterance to any significance. Especially from one who has no understanding of righteousness.”
“Tsk tsk.” Migrate shook his head slowly in disappointment. “What happened to you, Concord? You had more class than this. Now you’re... iffy." Migrate picked at the barnacles on his crustacean lobster arm, still not looking at Concord. "The world sure has changed you and your judgment. That’s why I don’t hang around cities, and more near the small towns and the forests. That’s where most of the fun stuff happens.”
Concord brushed off Migrate’s words from his mind. “If you think you can provoke me to admitting wrongdoing–"
Migrate finally brought his attention back up to Concord. “I’m only speaking fundamentally.”
“Humph.” Concord rolled his eyes. “Indeed. Well, as much as I’d love to catch up, I have important business with Conjure.”
“Ah, I know." Migrate sounded subtle. "He is most displeased with you at the moment. In fact, I can’t recall the last time he was this irate with one of us. Looks like you’re up for the conventional lecture by Conjure this time. Unfortunately for you it might be more... harsh.”
Concord was sure Conjure would be harsh on him; he didn't expect anything less. But if he had to defend his claim from Conjure, then he was ready to do so.
“I—Ahhg!” Concord fiercely clenched his tentacle in pain. He fell to his knees from shock. His arm stung and burned at the same time at a rapid pace. The pain grew more and more intense by each second. He squeezed his arm tightly, hoping for it to cease. Then, the pain slowly faded, and it was gone. Concord took a hastily breath before confronting the indifferent looking draconequus.
“Well... that was dramatic.” Migrate said.
“Dramatic? More like excruciatingly painful! It felt as if my tentacle was just cut off!”
“...You look fine to me.” Migrate said, not really caring.
Concord studied his tentacle: he moved it around; he stretched it, coiled it, and flexed it. It felt completely fine.
“Anyhow, where was I... ah, yes, Conjure. Well, not much more to say; you’ll soon meet him. What I’m curious about, Concord, is how you can live with the thought that you had completely lied to your best friend?”
Concord looked back up at Migrate with a crude expression.
“The fact that Celestia believed every lie you told her amuses me. ‘It could be many things, my dear, but Discord is not one of them. He knew his place and yet he chose to stray from his path.’ Ha, I could turn the Crystal Empire into a jungle, convert its people into thirteen tribes, and Conjure wouldn’t even bat an eye.”
Migrate’s mockery was getting under Concord’s scales. “If that’s the truth, then why don’t you go do it?” he said intimidatingly.
The smug smile on Migrate’s face vanished. “I have better things to do than waste my time messing with mortal societies.”
“Such as?” Concord said with a sly grin. It only made Migrate’s expression darken.
“And what exactly are you failing to prove?”
“You won’t do it because you see no sense in messing with mortals. What point is there in muddling with their societies? It’s not going to do you any good, so why do it?”
Migrate rested his chin on his claw. “And there’s the answer that you have failed to observe. Discord took over the land because he can do it, just like how I can change the nature of plants and animals, or how Passion can mate with any creature she wishes. The Main reason I won’t do it is because it goes against nature. A jungle could not survive temperatures up there. Now you could say I can create a frost jungle, but that would... say... that’s actually not a bad idea. I should write that one down.” He smiled to himself, looking off to a distance in thought.
Concord was about to interject, but remained silent. Migrate spoke the terrible truth. Their powers were not bond to any laws or rules. They could do anything their hearts desired, all except for the one thing that Concord had just done. The truth is he did get in Discord’s way, but what harm will less chaos in the world do?
Concord let out a sigh, deciding to change the subject. “Tell me, Migrate. How is Passion doing nowadays?”
Migrate’s attention was brought back to Concord. “Hasn’t changed much since you left.”
“Still alluring mortals with her charm?”
“You know it.”
“Hmm. Then tell me, Migrate. How does it feel knowing that your beloved Passion has had just about every living creature inside her?”
Migrate formed a devilish grin. “Actually, I find it to be quite attractive,” he said with a lustful tone.
Concord could not believe what he just heard. A sickened look grew on his face. “You're repulsive!”
“Hey, spirit of nature; can’t help myself. When we mate, it arouses my senses to smell the stench of a thousand creatures around her—”
“ENOUGH!” Concord exclaimed. “I do not wish to hear your and Passion’s foul copulation. In fact, you’ve wasted enough of my time. I have business to take care of." With that, Concord spun around and walked up to the black wall. He raised his tentacle and just stared at it, remembering his little scene back there. What was that all about? It puzzled him, but he snapped his tentacle to open the portal to Conjure's domain. A pitch-black vortex absorbed the wall in front of Concord, beckoning him to enter.
"Be sure to tell me how it all turns out, would you?" Migrate said.
Concord ignored him, and stepped inside the portal.
Moments later, Concord was now introduced to a new room, one that seemed to never end. All around him was darkness; it was like walking through the void of space; empty, yet the realm was filled with the flow of magic; all the different colors and sparkles they gave off were all unique. It wasn’t just a few, there were at least a thousand different kinds of magic, and each flow of magic had its own unique style. There were so many to see it would take too long to count and describe what each magic flow looked like. The fluid magic moved in the same direction as Concord’s. It had been so long since Concord had step foot in this realm, and to see the magnificent magic again, astounded him. However, he was not here to observe, he had business to take care of.
The path before him was a small bridge that was made out of dark bricks. It led him to a rounded rocky platform. All the magic met at the tip of a large crystal pillar. In each corner of the platform there were four empty thrones. One was made of dark iron with antlers on the top of its head. Another one was made of brown leather, with two small round pillows that rested against the arms. There was a throne made out of wood. But it wasn't pretty to look at: it was covered with bark, infested with bugs, and the seat was thick with green moss as cushion. It was not curved out to be a throne, but as if it grew and looked like one—sort of. The last one was made out of marble and decorated with diamonds and pearls; the head of the throne had a golden symbol of two masks, one smiling, and the other frowning.
At the end of the platform, in front of the pillar was Conjure, lying on a bed of crystals. The first noticeable thing was his size. He was twice that of an ordinary draconequus. Conjure had a green scaly body, with a fire orange mane all the way down his spine to the tip of his long tail, forming a tuft at the end. His rear legs were hooves, while his front legs were claws. A long unicorn’s horn grew upon his head. He held a hard yet unreadable face on Concord the whole time.
Concord kneeled before the head of his order. “My lord. You called, and I answered.”
Conjure stared down upon the spirit with deep blue eyes. “Rise, Concord,” Conjure said. His voice was noble and firm; the tone was like the sound of echoes in a cave; far off his voice was deep and powerful, yet when heard up close, it was light and gentle.
Concord obeyed and rose. He formed his posture in a respectful manner. His heart beat quickly, but he masked his emotions. Conjure studied him for a moment. As if he was trying to spot out any sign of fear in him. “Before I began, I want to express my surprise that your arrival is subsequent to your usual routine; not late, but past my and your own expectations.”
Concord made a short bow. “Yes. I’ve had some farewells to take care of first, and then there was Migrate’s warm way of saying ‘welcome home.’”
"...I see." They were silent for a minute. Then, Conjure spoke, “You know why I've summoned you here.”
“I have a few guesses, sir." Concord spoke intoned.
Conjure glared at him. “That wasn’t a question.”
“Uh... right, ah ha,” Concord laughed nervously. Already this meeting was turning out badly.
“Do you play me for a fool, Concord?”
The question stunned Concord. “No, sir. Never.”
“Then why do you pretend that your actions did not actually occur, or that they have done no harm? Why do you deny yourself of wrongdoing?” his voice grew darker. “Why did you break the code? Betrayed us? Why?”
Concord felt he was shrinking from Conjure’s words. He squirmed from the inside, but he still held his posture. “I-It’s just my nature, sir. Bringing order to the world is my duty, and if I may add, I do it with honor and dignity.”
“Yes... yes you do,” Conjure said reluctantly. “But what you did is not your manner of doing things. You know when enough is enough; never going over your bounds. But this... this disobedience; this rebellious behavior. It is alien to me. If you had done this millenniums ago I wouldn’t be surprised. But since you did it now, as the spirit of balance, it astounds me, Concord. But do you know what truly mortified me?”
Concord knew this was coming.
“It was the creation of those... those elements! You crafted magical artifacts that could take down a draconequus and or an Alicorn.” Conjure clenched his claws, an awful screeching sound came from his nails being dragged on the crystals. “And what enrages me more is that you could only do this by one way. You stole my magic!” the magical flow—and Concord as well—shuddered from his outburst. Concord tried hard not to shiver, but now and then his body would twitch. “This deed is unbearable for me to accept. You were my loyalist subject, Concord. And you disregarded our code for what? What do you have to gain from your audacity?”
Conjure’s anger was always something to fear for him and the others, even if he never did anything, his rage was intimidating enough. But Concord had to defend himself. "Sir, what I did was right for the sake of the ponies—"
"Good for the ponies, not for the world! No matter how many lives may suffer under Discord, you had no right to help them."
Concord gaped at his lord. He didn’t dare to ask. "Sir... You're saying that I should've stood idly by and watched as Discord wreaked havoc?"
"That is exactly what you should've done. Discord was spreading chaos in Equestria, and you should have left him to do his business."
Normally that’s what he usually did. But when it came to Equestria there was something—or someone—that got him to interfere. A thought suddenly came to him, something that enraged Concord. "Sir, what about Celestia and Luna?"
Conjure raised an eyebrow. "They follow their own paths. The alicorns are not bound to our code. What does this have to do with you?"
"What would have happened if Discord killed them?" Concord said with a dark tone. The very thought was ludicrous. Neither Conjure nor Gladhoof would allow such an act to commence. Yet Conjure remained silent. His face was hard to read. Concord waited for his Lord to answer, but his silence sparked the worst in Concord's mind. "You... You would've let them die in cold blood?"
Conjure finally spoke, "Why do you think Gladhoof tried so hard to stop them? Because he knew the risk they were taking."
Concord was completely paralyzed. His best friend could have been murdered. And Discord would have gone unpunished? NO! That, Concord could not stand for. If she had died, he would have avenged her by taking Discord’s own life. No bloody Tartarus what the code said! “What justice is there in any of this!?” Concord exclaimed. He felt a fire start in him; it boiled inside and raised his temper.
Conjure was calm, not taken aback by Concord’s outburst. “I can understand why you’d be enraged by this. And as spirit of order you have the right to not like what Discord does. But you’re now the spirit of balance. And as such, you need to learn that everything happens for a reason.”
“So I’m supposed to just let them DIE?!”
“No!" Conjure retorted. "You could’ve stopped them from interfering with Discord, but instead you joined them!”
“And for good reasons!” Concord couldn’t control his anger. Half the stuff he said he would never blatantly say at Conjure, especially in the tone he used. “The world was in need of a power that could protect it from evil like Discord. I know it was wrong to steal your magic, but it was for a good cause. No offense, but I don’t think you understand that order must always be in place, it should always be above chaos."
"Do not try to justify your actions!" Conjure snapped. "Have you learned nothing after becoming the spirit of balance—no, don't even answer that, it's clear to me that you certainly haven't! You think everything you do is right and just, while Discord's principles are folly. Though that may be true by mortal standards, realistically your pride and arrogance has caused more harm than Discord's actions ever could!"
If Concord understood correctly, Conjure had stated that his morals were equal to Discord's, and that he caused more 'harm' than Discord. What madness is this? "Harm? Harm? HARM!?” Concord could not help but shout. “Pardon me, sir. But I fail to see what harm has been committed." A deep hatred rose inside him, so deep that he would regret the next thing he said. "Because the way I see it, chaos is the last thing the world needs. Discord’s actions are in no way different from that foul beast T—”
“YOU DO NOT SPEAK 'ITS' NAME!” Conjure rose, eyes blazed with fury. The ground beneath Concord shook violently. All magic came to a sudden halt, and shivered frantically. Yet Concord stood firm, his anger feeding him the courage to stand up for what he believed. “HOW DARE YOU SAY 'ITS' NAME! HOW DARE YOU EVEN MENTION 'IT'! I THOUGHT I MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE PAST WOULD NEVER BE REMEMBERED! IT! NEVER! HAPPENED!”
“Never happened?” Concord hissed. “Tell that to Celestia and Luna. I doubt they could forget such a tragedy, especially seeing their own parents being murdered!”
Conjure snarled, his glistening white dragon teeth showed. Then, his horn started to produce magic: dark purple glittering smog like magic swirled around his horn like a twister. Concord could feel it; its essence stung his very core. And just for a moment Concord thought Conjure was going to unleash his fury upon him.
But then, Conjure closed his eyes, and let out a deep sigh. His body seemed to loosen up. The quake ceased, and magic continued to flow, again. Conjure laid back down and was quiet. Concord let out his own sigh of relief and remained silent.
“...You think they're the only ones that have lost loved ones?” Conjure said, his words were slow and sad. He opened his sorrow filled eyes. “We've all lost someone we cared for. Celestia and Luna lost their parents, Gladhoof lost his wife... my own brother." His voice cringed at that last one. "And you lost your parents, as well.”
The anger in Concord was fully extinguished, an empty feeling filled in its place. The mention of his own parents was a bittersweet taste in his mouth. He should've felt afflicted by the memory, but he had none, any memory he had of them were gone. Taken away from him by...'It'.
Concord lowered his head, no longer able to look at his lord anymore. "The truth is... I don't even remember what they looked like, sir. They were the first to be—as you put it—devoured by...'It'." Just the thought of the thing was hard for Concord to handle. The only reason he had the strength to bring 'It' up in the first place was because of his frustration with Conjure.
Now 'It' filled him with dread and despair. He brought his head back up to meet the sad faced kirin. His parents may have given him life, but it was Conjure who raised him into the spirit he was.
No one saw it coming, and nobody was prepared to take in another child; something like an orphan had never happened before. Concord didn’t know what would have become of him if Conjure had not stepped up to take him under his care. If he were scared, Conjure would comfort him. If he were hungry, Conjure would feed him. And if he wept because he thought he wasn’t strong enough to be a sprite of anything, Conjure would be there to tell him otherwise. Those were the memories Concord remembered.
Conjure was more a father than a Lord to him, and he knew Conjure felt the same towards him. Looking back now, Concord was mortified by his behavior and how rude he was. After everything Conjure had done for him, he repaid him by stealing his magic? This was the worst time to feel guilty for all the good that he did in Equestria. But to disappoint Conjure was a huge flaw for him. He couldn't take back what he did, but he could at least apologize. "Conjure... I'm sorry—AAAHH!" A piercing pain came from his chest; it took the breath right out of him. He had been stabbed! He could feel the weapon impale him from the back and come out his chest.
Conjure stood perplexed at what just occurred.
Concord couldn’t breath; he was choking. The weapon could still be felt in him, warm blood filled his wound. With a shaky hand he reached down to grab the weapon that he felt stick out. His hand caught hold of nothing. Concord gave a dreaded gasp.
The worried expression on Conjure’s face was gone; he stared at Concord like nothing happened. When Concord glanced down to see the gaping hole in his abdomen, he was completely aghast to see no sign of any weapon. Worse, there was not even a scratch on him. This was just like with his tentacle earlier. “Wh-Why is this happening, again!?” Concord bawled, he still could feel the wound that was suppose to be where he felt it.
"You've experienced this already?" Conjure asked, curiously.
Concord still held onto his chest. "Yes..." It didn't last this long last time. He was in dire pain, yet he was perfectly fine from the outside.
"Ah, so you've already been introduced to your punishment," Conjure said.
Concord glanced up at Conjure. "W-What...? My... punishment?" he groaned.
"This is what occurs when the world is unbalanced, the spirit suffers with it. It's how you'll truly understand the importance of balance.”
Concord shook his head in disbelief. This was what Gladhoof meant about when he said there was a punishment. "You... You did this?" Concord cried out in pain from what felt like a dagger to his thigh. He fell to one knee in agony.
"Me? No. Not my doing. You fail to realize that this is what was expected to happen. This is the world’s way of punishing you for letting this happen. Its constantly shifting, and like it or not, Discord was supposed to be an evil presence in Equestria. He only had control for half a year until you interfered. Not only did you deliberately stop Discord's intentions, you greatly shifted the scale of good and evil in the world by imprisoning the Lord of chaos, and crafting the elements of harmony. It is no wonder you suffer this much, already."
Tears of pain fell from Concord's face. He's never felt anything like this before. "Why... Why does the world so desperately need this evil? Are the happy lives of ponies not good enough for it?!"
"That is no excuse. You swore to protect the balance and keep the scale of the world intact. But now here you stand subjected to treason."
"Treason?!"
"From the world's prospect, you are a traitor." Concord didn't hear much of what Conjure was saying. He felt like a dying soldier on a battlefield, slowly fading from his wounds. He became light-headed as if he was dying. And when everything started to grow dark, the pain vanished in an instant, and he was hit by energy returning to his essence.
He gasped, lifted to his feet, and took rapid sharp breaths. He would've been drenched in sweat if it were not for his dragon blood. He was relieved, yet horrified at the same time.
“Now listen to me, Concord.” Conjure spoke firmly. “What you have done is more severe than what you can comprehend."
Concord still had his hand clenched to his chest; the pain was gone, but it felt like the suffering was still there. “So, you want me to go destroy Equestria and free Discord?” The thought of it made him shudder.
“It’s not what I want, it’s what the world wants, that, I know. Also, it’s not as simple as you think it to be. You can’t free Discord and destroy the elements that easily. You are unable to destroy the elements; their power exceeds from you. If you try to do any harm to them, they will take you as a threat, no matter if you did create them.”
Concord stood in silence. There was nothing else that he could do but stand there. He can’t fight it, yet he couldn’t even think about doing something that Discord would have the pleasure in doing. He remembered how everypony was overjoyed with the end of Discord’s reign, everypony except Gladhoof. What did he and Conjure know that made this whole act seem like a crime? “With all due respect, sir. If it’s your magic that’s stopping me from destroying them, then why don’t you do it?”
“Because it’s not my duty to fix your mistakes. What would any of you learn if I simply mended all the troubles in the world? This is a problem you have to deal with on your own.” Concord expected he’d say that. There was a part of him that he didn’t want to acknowledge, but no matter how hard he tried, deep down he knew there could never a perfect world. The thought was depressing, but true.
“Now, was there anything else you wanted to say?” Conjure asked, with a subtle expression.
Concord’s face was deprived of any emotions that he felt. He slowly shook his head, wanting to just leave and be in peace.
“Then we have nothing more to discuss. You are free to go.”
Concord turned and left his lord, but he never felt free as he walked away. In fact, he dragged his feet, now feeling like the world had attached chains to his ankles. The title he bore was no longer significant to him. Now he faced the horrible truth of what it meant to create balance, and if he refused to cooperate, the world was going to make his immortal life miserable.
Concord took in a deep sigh. The first thing he wanted to do when he was reunited with his old realm was to have a drink or two, and maybe a few more. Everything is going to be just awful.