All was silent in the hive after the ponies failed rescue mission, all save for one room to the side and off the beaten path. Inside I lay on the floor my bag laying at my feet with my iPod and speaker out and playing ever so softly.
I couldn't resist chuckling with just how much the song actually fit my situation. As i listened to it I did my best to marshal my thoughts. To separate what I knew before today and what had changed but it was all in vain their was no longer a barrier between Timor and myself. Countless hours passed as I lay their eventually doing my best to just lose myself in the song. I had just about succeeded and even started to sing along when the soft sound of hooves on stone and a tentative mental probe seeking entrance brought me crashing back to reality. Without even opening my eyes I motioned Chrysalis in with a wave of my hand saying.
"Come in Chrysalis you need not seek permission in your own home."
Their again was the sound of approaching hooves and nothing more until I felt something warm lay along beside me. The silence stretched on again seeing as I really wasn't in the mood for conversation and Chrysalis seemed to be at a loss for words. Eventually the song reached its end once again and I put away my things slinging my bag across my shoulder as I silently made my way to the door, driven by the familiar urge to move in some way. I had just reached the door way and was fixing to continue on my way when a soft voice sounded behind me.
"You cant run away from this Thomas."
"And why cant I Chrysalis?" I yelled spinning around and pinning her with a angry glare. "Why cant I run from this when I've done nothing but run all my life and its worked out just fine?"
I knew what she said was true and my anger was wrong but that is how I reacted. Their was another tense silence as we both glared at one another waiting for the other to yield. Chrysalis was the first to yield with a tired sigh and a shake of her head.
"You cant run from this Thomas." Chrysalis said in a tired tone "because this isn't something chasing you, its inside you and will drive you mad if you don't deal with it."
We stared each other down once again with Chrysalis giving me a tired glare while I tried to think of a witty come back and a reason to maintain my anger. Only to have it slip away with a long heavy sigh as I went back across the room and sat next to Chrysalis saying.
"Ok you've got me here so what now mastermind?"
"Speak"
Was all I got in return earning Chrysalis a confused glance before she looked at me like a moron and motioned for me to get on with it. So with yet another tired sigh I heaved a mental shiver and tried to once again marshal my thoughts, this time with a little more success. Everything started out slow as I tried to focus and my thoughts would slip through my fingers like water through my fingers, though given time it all became easier. Everything cleared and calmed in my head and I could think clearly. But just as I tried to speak my mind was completely dominated by a pair of piercing red eyes, my body went rigid and then everything went black. When I came back to I was no longer in the hive but a vast expanse of white as my dragon self. Needless to say I was confused as to where I was though my confusion disappeared when I saw the black alicorn that stood before me in this plane of white.
"Hello Timor long time no see." I said glaring at the creature across from me now fairly certain of why I was here. Earning a chuckle from the alicorn as he lay down across from me completely at ease without a worry in the world.
"Their is no need to be so course Thomas." He said earning himself another cold glare as I snorted in annoyance and waited on him to continue.
"Thomas you and I need to talk...."
"Oh no I don't think so" I roared actually startling the avatar of fear himself. "If your going to try and wrestle control from me you will do it directly you wont pull any tricks on me." Timor gave me a cold even, glare before breaking into uncontrollable laughter causing me to growl in irritation. Timor's laughter seemed to stretch on forever finally subsiding and then stopping with him saying.
"Oh Tomas you truly are a fool aren't you, can you not feel the change since we were struck by the Elements of Harmony?" As he spoke Timor seemed to flicker in and out of existence if only for a split second, before he vanished and then appeared directly in front of me hovering at eye level.
"Look into my eyes Thomas and tell me what do you see, what has changed?" He said his voice commanding as his eyes seemed to dominate all I could see, until they were all I could see. I was afraid to look into those depths for fear I would never return. But as I looked I saw not the angry glaring eyes that have dominated my nightmares ever since I was a child. Instead their was pain, compassion, sympathy, and most notable of all was pure, genuine, honesty. This alone surprised me beyond words. And then to add to my confusion I found myself compelled to listen to what he had to say and thought that maybe I had misjudged this creature. Slowly things returned to normal leaving me looking at Timor in a new light as he settled back on the ground making himself comfortable with me following shortly after.
"So will you listen to what I have to say?" He asked as I shook my head in agreement and he let out a relieved sigh. "Very well I believe a history lesson is in order then little one. For you see in the beginning of time their were three alicorn's, their was Faust the author of fate, Gaia the creator, and Titulus the dark." As Timor spoke the area around us changed and shifted, to where we were floating above a grassy field as three alicorn's I've never seen before walked by and he pointed them out as he named them. The first being Faust with a coat so white to rival Celestia's, with a mane and tail of a light red and the most beautiful blue eyes with a purple quill and ink well for her cutie mark. Walking beside her was Gaia his coat a deep blue, similar to his flowing mane and tail as they twinkled with stars and galaxy's just barely visible in the mid day sun and a image of a swirling galaxy for his cutie mark. His turquoise eyes only leaving Faust when she would glance his way with a knowing smile and a wink. Walking alongside him was Titulus his coat a solid black, with a dark grey mane and tail his cutie mark being two crossed scythes of pure white.
"Faust and Gaia became lovers and soon Faust became pregnant which was a cause for celebration for them" Timor said the Scene before us changing to show Faust and Gaia smiling with Titulus glaring at them in the background. "But for Titulus it was a cause for outrage, for neither Faust nor Gaia realized Titulus harbored feelings for Faust and their love felt like a betrayal to him. And as time passed Titulus became more irate and unbearable, and Faust came closer to term. By this time the three had created the world we know as Equestria with all the races already here plus one." Here the scene changed again to show the three standing on a hill crest looking down on thousands of gathered creatures. Their were Ponies, Griffons, dragons, and all the other creatures native to equestria but their was one that shouldn't have been. Their amongst the creatures I've known for most of my life to only be legends stood men and women of all shapes, sizes and colors bowing before the alicorn's.
"Time passed and all seemed to settle the fouls were born healthy and strong, and even Titulus seemed to be in a better mood. Until one day without warning Titulus attacked Gaia and Faust destroying most of the home the three had built for themselves. The battle was long and catastrophic as countless lives were lost or ruined in the crossfire. Then just as it seemed the fight was at an end Titulus fled to what is now the everfree forest his anger and hate warping the land into what it is now and all those who dwelled within as well. The first to fall were the changelings Titulus's anger warping them from creatures of immaculate beauty and finesse, to twisted shells of their former selves fueled by rage. The next to fall was man going from calm and peaceful like the ponies to barbaric warmongers attacking everything on sight. It was only after these two races fell to his influence did Titulus return to Equestria. And with the army he made of the two races he waged war on Gaia, Faust, and the other races seeking to destroy them all and remake the world in his image."
Here again the scene below us changed to show wars and fields for as far as they eye could see littered with the dead or dying. The final Scene showed Titulus facing down Faust and Gaia with two terrified fillies cowering behind them. The battle was short and decisive with Gaia and Faust being victorious and destroying Titulus. But the victory came with a price and it was Gaia's life, the last thing Gaia did before he died was banish man from Equestria and fashion two creatures from Titulus's power.
"He created Discord the avatar of Chaos and myself avatar of fear as guardians of his children." Timor said smiling as the scene below us changed to show his and Discords first meeting with filly Luna and Celestia. Though it quickly died as the scene changed again to show Faust watching the four of them play together, but with a far off look and her smile didn't reach her eyes."
The scene fast forwarded again stopping at random intervals, for instance showing the days they got their cutie marks and then. It stopped on a day to show young Celestia and Luna Standing before a disheveled Faust with Discord and Timor on either side.
"Daughters it has come time for me to leave" Faust said her voice week and trembling "Discord shall rule until you are old enough to take the throne and Timor shall be your guardian." Their was nothing said by the young princesses, Celestia looked fit to cry but kept on a brave face, while her younger sister was crying and sobbing begging her mother to stay while Timor curled around her and did his best to console her.
"Now Luna their is no need for that" Faust scolded weakly " You must be strong for our little ponies they need leaders who are strong." Luna slowly stopped crying and looked up to her mother with blood shot eyes and did her best to give a confidant smile.
"That's my girl" Faust with a week smile "Be strong my daughters" And then with a flash from her horn Faust was gone. Then a few seconds later both princesses burst into tears and fell to the floor in a heap.
"Time went on and Discord took the throne and the princesses eventually returning to their routines." Timor said his voice taking on a darker tone as he went on. " But eventually a problem arose, ponies began to see me as a monster and I fell victim to the same vices that later spawned Nightmare Moon." Once more the scene below us changed and focused on Timor. The farther along the scenes went the harsher Timor became until it focused on one night. Beginning with Timor leaving Luna crying on the floor and then striking out against Celestia screaming and ranting about taking the throne for himself. The battle was short lived with both Discord and Celestia against him Timor was quickly overpowered and banished to tartarus.
"And the rest is history" Timor said his voice soft and dejected as he stared at the floor. Their was a long drawn out silence as the scene below returned to normal and I thought on what I was told.
"Ok now that I know your history what now?" I said watching as Timor shook his head and sighed heavily.
"We cant stay as we are, two ancient souls in one body we will destroy each other fighting for control." Timor said as I gave him a confused glare.
"Two ancient souls?"
"Yes Thomas two ancient souls." Timor said matter of factly before he looked at me surprised. "You haven't figured It out?" I only shook my head no as I looked at him confused as I tried to figure out what he meant. Timor laughed and shook his head in disbelief and said.
"Tell me Thomas why are you always falling back on your dragon form, why are you most comfortable in that form instead of as a human?" I honestly couldn't answer him, I always felt more comfortable or safer as a dragon and never really thought on it much and I told Timor as much. And he simply shook his head in disappointment with a sigh and said.
"It would seem another history lesson is in order, and this time it will be your history instead of mine." As Timor spoke the area around us shifted once more to show a massive black dragon that looked exactly like my form but older, more intimidating. But what caught my attention was the women who stood before the dragon smiling as she relaxed at its feet in its shadow.
"The dragon you see before you is Gawain the first king of the dragons, and the women is your ancestor Elinor." Then the scene changed again going through different scenes with Gawain and Elinor until it stopped with the two facing each other in a beautiful field. Then they both began to glow with Gawain outlined in red and Elinor outlined in white.
"As im sure you guessed mating between these two species was nigh impossible." Timor said Chuckling " So they had to come up with another way to be intimate, so they shared souls." As Timor spoke the glowing light around both, which I guess represented their souls began to intertwine. Then they separated both souls having a streak of the others colors going through it. Then the scene changed again to show a blood stained battle field with Gawain on his side a huge gash running along his side and burn marks all across his body. Elinor was crying at his side dressed in blood stained armor as the dragon took his last shuddering breath and passed. Their was a long pause as Elinor did nothing but cry until Gawain's glowed red silencing Elinor's sobs. Then the light flowed forward and around Elinor and disappeared seeming to sink into her body. And just as it did a blinding white light appeared on the horizon and moving closer, passing over Elinor and when it was past she was gone.
The scene returned to white as I stared at Timor with a blank expression before saying.
"So your telling me I have the ancient soul of the first dragon king?" Timor just shook his head yes as I pondered what this meant only to draw a blank.
"Ok so apparently I have a ancient soul so what does that have to do with it" I asked earning a exasperated sigh from Timor and a shake of his head.
"It is because of the power of such an ancient soul that you were able to keep me locked away. Without it I would have overpowered and consumed you long ago." Timor said matter of factly as I suddenly became thankful for my ancestors soul. Their was another long silence as I thought over the implications of what Timor said and then said.
"Ok so what now, im not guna give you control of my body"
"That was never my intention Thomas, you see ive lived a long life and made many mistakes, more than I care to count." Timor said his head dropping in shame "So I propose a deal I relinquish to you my power to fight against the horsemen and you carry on my legacy, sound fair." I looked at him confused what exactly did he mean carry on his legacy.
"What do you mean carry on your legacy you arnt dead?"
"If I relinquish to you my power I will be no more." Timor said his voice taking a dark depressed tone. "And you will become the next avatar of fear on top of everything you already are. So tell me Thomas do we have a deal or shall we destroy each other in a struggle for control?" I opened my mouth to speak before I was stopped by a rouge thought making me wonder can I really trust him?
"All right Timor lets get his over with." I said eyeing him warily as he gave me a tired smile and his horn lit up and he seemed to fade and loose color. And then he looked me dead in the eye and mouthed thank you before he dissolved into smoke and enveloped me in it.
I came back to consciousness with Chrysalis standing over me with tear filled eyes that quickly flooded with joy as my senses had the same fate before she wrapped me in a bone crushing hug.
"I thought I lost you, you went rigid and you wouldn't respond then I couldn't feel your emotions and I didn't know what to do." She rambled on eventually dissolving into sobs with me doing my best to console her until I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. And when I looked it was the shadowy form Timor with a smile on his face before he disappeared to be replaced by another shadow figure this one much larger and darker. And I froze unsure of what to think as he looked down at me. Chrysalis must have felt my fear for she turned around and snarled taking a defensive stance over me as the shadow dragon leaned towards us. Causing Chrysalis to shriek and let loose a bolt of magic only to have it pass through it harmlessly. Then just before he made contact he dissolved to a formless smoke that disappeared down my throat and flooded my mind causing me to black out again. While I was out my dreams we filled with scenes of ages long passed and battles long gone.
I came back to consciousness slowly to the same scene of Chrysalis over me but with most of the hive on high alert looking for signs of who ever conjured those shades. Though I quickly called off the search and explained to a very confused Chrysalis what happened.
"So what now Thomas?" She asked giving me a confused look as I chuckled and kissed her lightly heading for our bedroom saying.
"Now my dear im going to sleep a lots happened tonight and we need to prep the hive to move in three days."
"Why will we be moving the hive in three days?"
"We will be at war in three days time Chrysalis and we must be ready."