//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Brotherhood // by SPark //------------------------------// “What else changed?” “Ponies changed, I suppose is one way to put it. Or the way we related to ponies changed. We were worshiped as gods in the early days. Neither of us ever thought it might be otherwise, to be honest. But the dragon wars began to change things. As did the peace that followed.” “Change things how?” “You've studied history, Dusk. You should be able to answer that.” “You mean... things like philosophy, when ponies started to think about the nature of the universe, and gods, and ponies?” “Indeed. Trade too, and the growth of cities. Ponies became more cosmopolitan. The word itself hails from around that era.” Artemis smiled. “When you're a primitive tribespony, living in a little village, and your god is right there, performing miracles every day, you don't question that he is god. But when you can travel the world and see that your god doesn't seem to have anything to do with the rest of it, well... what kind of god is he?” “But ponies still... I mean, you're both still worshiped today.” “Yes. And we don't try to prevent it, in part because there's a certain truth to it. I am the Herald of the Moon, Solaris is the Envoy of the Sun. We are gods of a sort. But not the sort they used to think us. We are not infallible. And in many ways we are more like mortals than we are unlike.” “Trust the two of you to wake up and immediately dive into philosophy,” said a new voice. Solaris sat up and stretched, yawning, his mane somewhat more disarrayed than was usual for the normally perfectly groomed prince. Dusk found himself flushing again. “Uhm. Good morning.” “A very good morning indeed,” said Solaris with a certain smug serenity. Dusk blushed more. “Uh...” Artemis laughed. “He has a delightful blush, doesn't he, brother?” Solaris chuckled gently. “Among his many other attractive qualities. Though I'll admit I didn't choose him as my special student because of the blush.” Dusk debated trying to pull the blankets over his head. Or perhaps he could simply die of embarrassment. He didn't exactly regret waking up in the morning sandwiched between the two most powerful, most interesting, most intelligent, and most attractive ponies in Equestria, but having them team up to tease him was more than a little unfair. “Little things like a potentially brilliant mind, a great magic talent, and a highly inquisitive nature had a lot to do with it,” said Solaris, his smile gentling a bit. “And given that latter I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to find the two of you up to your eyebrows in philosophy first thing in the morning.” “We weren't really discussing philosophy as such,” said Dusk, finally deciding that hiding under the covers wouldn't help, so he might as well just plunge forward. “That was only an aside. Artemis was telling me how you two used to be enemies, then started to tolerate each other, and then became friends.” “Oh ho! Well if that's how he told it, he's left out some of the best parts,” said Solaris with a wicked grin. “Oh sweet Faust,” said Artemis, burying his face in his hooves. Dusk noticed that Artemis was suddenly blushing too. “We were enemies, that's quite true. And we tolerated each other as allies for a bit, but before we settled into friendship our relationship had another, rather more... interesting phase.” Artemis walked amid graceful marble columns, lost in thought, while the newly risen moon threw long shadows across the marble floor of his temple. Or perhaps it might more properly be called a shrine. It was modest, as such things went. The larger Temple of Artemis was amid the great city of Roan, that he and Solaris had founded together. His priests were to be found there, and his worshipers mostly came there. The temple of Solaris stood near it, where Solaris himself dwelt amid his worshipers. But Artemis had always needed a little more space than his ally. He didn't know how Solaris could live with ponies always underhoof. In the quiet he easily heard a hoof-fall that was not his own. He turned and found Solaris standing there. He looked magnificent, as always. He was still taller than Artemis, and his build a little heavier. His mane and tail were currently fairly short, not quite so much following the current fashion among ponies as setting it. He wore a golden helmet, but it was a decorative piece now more than true armor. As were the golden shoes that adorned his hooves and the golden peytral on his chest. Artemis had such regalia as well but here, in his solitary mountaintop refuge, where only the most devoted of his followers ever ventured, he seldom wore them. He had let his own mane and tail grow a bit longer. They still sparkled gently with starlight, the only thing that marked him as something other than mortal. He felt suddenly inadequate next to Solaris's magnificence. “What brings you to my temple?” he asked, trying to keep his voice neutral. “Nostalgia, I suppose,” said Solaris. “It's the vernal equinox. And I haven't seen you in several years. I thought I'd make sure you were still around.” “I am. I do not remember our old meetings so fondly that I miss them, though.” “No?” Solaris's tone was gently teasing. “Why not?” Artemis snorted. Why would he enjoy listening to Solaris gloat? Oh certainly he had occasionally gained the upper hoof, and he'd gloated himself readily enough back then. Still, they were not fond memories. But “I prefer more civilized times,” was all he said. “I'll admit I mostly do as well. Yet civilization is sometimes... tame. Boring even.” Solaris stepped closer to Artemis. “I suppose it is. But what alternative would you offer? A return to living in the wilderness, cropping grass and gathering berries? Or should we take up our old battles again, and lay waste to the world?” “No, I don't want to step backwards, Artemis. I want to go forwards, into something... new.” Artemis gave Solaris a quizzical look. The other alicorn was standing very close now. “Something new. I suppose you have something specific in mind?” “I do indeed. Something I learned from my little ponies, so perhaps you do not yet know of it. Or perhaps you do.” Solaris was smiling. It was a smile a little bit like the old smirk that Artemis so hated, but there was something else in it. Something that smoldered like lava in his amethyst eyes. Artemis found himself feeling strangely uneasy beneath that gaze. He took a step backwards. “What do you mean?” he asked. “Tell me, Artemis, how do I look to you? What do you see?” He turned, fanning his wings, arching his neck with proud, graceful strength, his mane flowing around him. Artemis felt his mouth go suddenly dry. “I... I see a magnificent god,” he said softly, unthinkingly. “Which is much like what I see when I look on you, Artemis. The stars are in your hair, and no other being in the world is so well matched to me. No pony is my equal. Save you.” “I... I don't understand.” Solaris stepped closer again, and this time Artemis didn't step back. They were nearly touching now. Solaris looked directly into his eyes. “Surely some pony, somewhere, has offered you worship of a different sort, have they not? Offered not just prayers, or offerings, or incense. Offered to worship you more... intimately.” Artemis found his heart was beating faster, and a flush crept into his cheeks. “There have been a few such, yes.” “And if you accepted, did you find it fulfilling?” “I...” Artemis was blushing in truth now, remembering. “No. No I didn't.” “Nor did I. Worship is not what I want. A pony eager to serve at my feet... No. I need someone to match me. Someone to challenge me. Someone like you, Artemis.” He took one more step forward and their horns touched, sliding against each other in a gentle caress. Artemis shuddered. When not shielded unicorn horns were supremely sensitive. He felt as though that touch raced through his entire body, setting it aflame. Looking into Solaris' eyes he suddenly wanted to do as Solaris had said, to match him, to challenge him. He wasn't sure if it was just because he wanted, yet again, to somehow win, or if it was because of the electric heat that had filled him at Solaris' touch, but either way he knew he had to answer that touch. So he moved forward himself, sliding his horn along Solaris' and then away as he tilted his head and kissed Solaris with heated passion.