//------------------------------// // Chapter 16: Knowledge // Story: The Watcher: Rise of the Purveyor // by GnollReader //------------------------------// Zaeres and Twilight silently walked down the long corridor, each step taking them further away from princess Celestia and Spike. When Twilight could bear the quietness no longer, she finally broke the silence, "How much did you hear?" "What I needed to hear..." he stopped and turned to her, "Were you surprised?" "You weren't? She is asking me to..." Twilight turned her gaze away. "To spy on me?" the purveyor chuckled. "Why do you find that so amusing?" "Because it was to be expected." his reply was short, "If anything, I would have been disappointed if Celestia had not asked this of you." "And you're just fine with that?" Twilight stopped walking and gave him an incredulous look. The purveyor walked by her a few more steps before stopping, "Of course I am... After all, what information you can relay to her depends only on me... and what you finally do relay to her depends entirely on you." "Are you saying that you're going to intentionally give me false information?" Twilight narrowed her eyes at him, feeling uncomfortably reminded of their first conversation two hundred years ago, "And what is that last part supposed to mean?" "Twilight..." the purveyor frowned behind his mask, "Let me explain something... Back down that corridor, behind those doors sits the council of the deities of this world." "I know." Twilight replied. "Then let me increase your field of perception." Zaeres continued, "For the last millennia, the fate of this world has been decided behind these doors. Nations have risen and fallen by nothing but words, secrets and deceit. Borders have been changed at a notion and power has shifted endlessly by the few that sit there within. Every word spoken within the council has an effect, every grain of knowledge holds power here." He turned to her, "And now, my words will change this world too... and if it is either in three hundred years when you are officially recognized to take part, or now if you chose to become my mediator... Your words can change this world as well." Zaeres reached inside his robes and slowly, he pulled out an envelope that Twilight immediately recognized as her own, "By your own words, you wished to make as good use of the potential you were given as you could... and that you understood that order comes at a price." The purveyor handed her the envelope, "You said that you are willing to pay the price that Celestia is unwilling to pay... So now, I am giving you the chance to take matters into your own hooves." Twilight took the letter from his hands with a troubled expression, "I am giving you the chance to change this world... to finally step out of Celestia's shadow and give your own words weight. " he paused, "Twilight Sparkle, I am giving you the potential to make your own claim in this world... and maybe save it in the process." Twilight stared at the envelope in her hooves with uncertainty, carefully trying to compensate his words. Zaeres continued, "Let me be very clear on this. Should you chose to accept this position, all the consequences that Celestia foretold you will come true... you will be liable to me and me alone." he paused, "In exchange... I will give you something that you desire." "Something I desire?" "Knowledge..." he searched her face for a moment, "There are things hidden beneath the surface of this world that hold more power than you can imagine. Secrets of the past long forgotten and hidden from the gods of this world... hidden, even from Celestia." "But not hidden from you?" Twilight frowned, "Even if I am willing to do this, even if not for Celestia's but Equestria's sake... what knowledge could you possibly have that could make me betray our friendship?" "Friendship?" Zaeres voice was quiet, "Correct me if I am wrong... but should you not have learned enough by now to understand that her mere position alone will forever keep you distant to one another? That until now she has always led you down a path of her own planning? Are you willing to remain her student for all of eternity?" Twilight's ears sagged, "See it as you may, but do not mistake friendship for misplaced loyalty. Celestia has her own goals, just as you should have yours." Seeing that Twilight was not responding, the purveyor carried on, "As for your former question... I am not offering you knowledge to betray your old mentor, I am offering you knowledge in exchange for you discretion, and services... Knowledge that may help you to surpass even Celestia herself." Twilight's eyes widened, "Surpass?" she struggled to comprehend what he was saying. Zaeres studied her expression for a lingering moment, and when he spoke again Twilight felt as if the shadows around her had become even more foreboding. One sentence left his lips, and Twilight felt her heart come to a halt. --- "Damn that arrogant bastard..." Anathis fumed in her chair, "Making us wait like this! Who does he think he is?" "Patience, Anathis." Nithhogr chuckled and showed a toothy smile, "The Dorchadas may be listening as we speak." The deities on the lower levels and the queen of the changelings cringed at the words and looked around themselves with uncertainty. And while Luna only rolled their eyes in annoyance, Anathis struggled hard not to show that the idea actually did worry her. "Ha!" Anathis put on a defiant face, "Let him listen, I am not scared of him." "Rest assured that I am listening." the purveyor's impassive voice softly echoed through the large chamber, making the griffon deity jump in her seat, "I will return to you in person shortly. My mediator has arrived." somewhere on the lower ranks, the Dog Father couldn't help but giggle at the display, which earned him a glare of pure malice from Anathis. "Good." Strongwill spoke up with a steady voice, "Then we may continue this council once you and your mediator return." "Of course." Anathis ground her fist on her throne, "Damn that confounded..." she stopped, "Where are you going, Fin'gre?" The satyr deity flinched, he had detached himself from the other deities unnoticed and had been heading for the door, "Me? Ah... you know, just stepping out for some fresh air?" Anathis' eyes narrowed, "You're trying to get his services before the rest of us, aren't you?" "What?" Fin'gre replied with a nervous chuckle as all eyes were set on him, "Wouldn't dream of it, queen Anathis. But, now that you mention it... technically speaking, since me and the shadow guy are neighbors..." he slowly inched closer to the door, "I guessed... first come first serve?" There was a moment of silence as the other deities observed him, "So..." Fin'gre put on a nervous smirk, "Dibs!" and made a jump for the door. "Stop him!" "The griffons hold claim first!" "Nay, I say. The minotaurs!" Strongwill put on a grim frown. "What about us?" "Technically speaking, as one of the elder races... shouldn't we be the ones allowed to request his services first?" princess Luna asked with a raised eyebrow. The commotion inside the chamber continued to heat up, all of the deities claiming their right to demand the services of the void first, fearful of what their enemies could learn before them. Up on his seat, Nithhogr was barely holding back his laughter.