//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Brotherhood // by SPark //------------------------------// “So... that led to The Black Stallion and your exile?” said Dusk solemnly. “Eventually, yes. We grew particularly close when we were in Coltstantinople, that was when we began to call ourselves brothers, but...” “It's Istanbull now,” said Solaris with a little sigh. Artemis shrugged and smiled. “It was Coltstantinople until my exile, I wasn't there to see the siege by the Minotaurs or any of what followed, so it will always be Coltstantinople to me.” “Be glad you weren't” said Solaris sadly. “Those were terrible times. But if you had been there, if I hadn't been so foolish and driven you away, the city might not have fallen. I never realized, until you were gone, how much of the empire rested on your shoulders. I was the face of the empire, perhaps more than I should have been, but you were its heart, Artemis.” “I never begrudged you the center stage, brother. I never wanted that. I just wanted recognition for what I did do. But that's all history now. Literally," he added with a ghost of a smile. Dusk looked between the two of them, each staring sadly at the other over his head, and felt suddenly out of place. He didn't belong there, separating them. They belonged together. They'd been together for a period of time greater than he could even comprehend. Even though he, too, was an alicorn now, he wasn't like them. He was suddenly very, very conscious of the fact that he, a relatively ordinary mortal colt, was lying in Prince Artemis' bed. Prince Artemis, Herald of the Moon, immortal alicorn god. With The Eternal Solaris, Envoy of the Sun, ruler of all Equestria, next to him. “Uhm. Should I... go?” Both alicorns turned to stare at him, surprised by the sudden doubt in Dusk's voice. “Do you want to go?” asked Solaris. “I... well...” “We won't keep you here if you'd rather leave,” said Artemis gently. “It's not that, it's just...” “Just?” “I'm just another pony,” blurted Dusk. “You're, well... gods! And you've been together for so long. I shouldn't come between you.” “Whether we qualify as gods or not depends in how you define the term,” said Artemis with a little smile. “We could debate it, if you like. But whatever we are, you are not just another pony.” “We're not perfect either,” said Solaris. “No. We're not perfect at all.” Artemis gently set aside his quill and regarded the papert in front of him with a smile. The miniature portrait of Solaris was coming along nicely. It would be the frontspiece of a lushly illuminated version of his Materia Medica, which he was making as a gift for his brother. It always pleased him to call Solaris brother. He couldn't quite remember when they'd begun to do so, but by now it felt natural, right. It wasn't literally true, but it captured the spirit of their relationship. His horn lit for a moment as he raised the moon. It was utterly automatic after all these centuries. And with the sunset it was time for him to leave his luxurious quarters in the royal palace and venture forth amid the ponies. Solaris was holding another ball tonight and Artemis had promised to go. He donned his regalia, admiring the black enamel work on it. He had designed this version of it himself, and was very proud of how it had come out. He'd designed Solaris's latest regalia as well. He was never happier than when he was creating some artwork or other, though he also enjoyed reading, writing, and organizing the ever growing library housed in the palace. Of course, his royal duties included a great deal of the paperwork that made the empire run. That was occasionally tedious, but there was a certain undeniable pleasure in a column of accurate figures--especially since they'd adopted the new numerical system borrowed from the neighboring Minotaurs. He'd pushed for that from the moment he'd encountered the Minotaur's elegant numbers; they were so much easier than the clunky Roanan system that they'd used for centuries. He mused happily on numbers and art as he trotted through the halls, absently returning the occasional greeting from one of his subjects as he passed. Soon he arrived at the grand ballroom. It was crowded with ponies, and he heaved a little sigh at the sight of the multicolored sea of them. Socializing was draining; he didn't know how Solaris did it day in and day out. Still, it had to be done, so Artemis braced himself and joined the milling throng. He could see Solaris, standing on the dais at the far end of the room, regally presiding over the proceedings. A steady stream of ponies mounted the dais to greet him. He spoke briefly to each one, and often shook a hoof or returned a small, almost-bow to those who bowed to him. “Your Imperial Majesty.” Artemis spun around at the voice, obviously addressed to him, and nearly tripped. A distinguished looking unicorn mare stood there, bowing deeply. “You may rise,” he said, putting on the formal front that helped him cope with these occasions. He had the feeling he'd spoken with this mare before, but he had no idea what her name was. He was not very good with names. So many ponies came and went over the years. How was one expected to keep track of them all? “Your brother hosts a most congenial party, Your Majesty.” Artemis favored her with an aloof, regal smile. “Indeed he does.” “He is also extremely wise, they say.” “That is quite true,” said Artemis. “I have a... personal matter that would be greatly aided by his assistance,” said the mare. Artemis frowned faintly. Not this again. “I see,” he said noncommittally “I have, of course, applied to be seen during his public court sessions, but there is always such a crowd of peasants there, and my appointment is not for some weeks yet. I was wondering if perhaps...” “I am afraid that I cannot make private appointments on my brother's behalf. You will need to speak to his secretary,” said Artemis stiffly. “Oh. I see. Well, thank you for your time, Your Majesty.” She turned and made her way through the crowd, and it was only with great difficulty that Artemis refrained from glaring at her hatefully. Four more times that night he was approached by ponies wishing to gain access to his brother. Four more times he turned them away. Only once did a pony seem interested in him for his own sake, and that of course was Starswirl, who as always wished to discuss magic theory with the only other person in the empire equally obsessed with obscure academics. Artemis did enjoy the hour or so he spent chatting with the bearded unicorn, but the rest of the evening was pure torture. At last Solaris retired, and etiquette allowed everypony else to leave. Artemis fled the room immediately. Back in his own quarters he stood on the balcony and looked out over the sleeping city of Coltstantinople. Here and there a lamp glimmered; not all the city slept... but most of it did. As the wealthy and powerful returned to their homes more and more lamps went out. By the time the moon began to sink from its zenith towards the horizon the city was utterly silent, deserted. Artemis was alone. Completely alone with his night. He gazed up at the moon. Its image wavered as tears gathered in his eyes. He turned away from the empty night, away from the stars that few ponies ever bothered to gaze at, away from his lonely moon and ran into his chambers. For a moment, filled with jealous rage, his horn lit, lifting his portrait of Solaris to shred it to pieces. Then he stopped. That would accomplish nothing. He set the paper gently back on his desk with a sigh. “He has won again,” said Artemis bitterly. “He always wins. But someday, somehow, I swear I will beat him. Somehow I will make the ponies appreciate my art. Somehow they will love my night, I swear it!” “If we were perfect,” said Artemis sadly, “I would not have broken my ancient vow. I would not have give in to madness and become The Black Stallion.” “And if we were perfect I would have found some better way than exile to deal with my brother's madness. We are far from perfect, Dusk.” “But I still don't want to come between you...” Artemis smiled a bit at that. “Between us is exactly where you should be. You are the one who found the way to break my madness and bring me back to myself. You are the one who healed the breach in our friendship.” “Yes.” Solaris leaned forward and kissed Dusk gently on the nose. “We need you, Dusk. You complete us. You may not have been there since the beginning, but you are an alicorn too.” Dusk felt his breath catch. They really did want him there. Though some doubts still clung to him. “What about Bolero, then? He is an alicorn as well...” Solaris chuckled. “If he could possibly be pried away from your sister, I might consider trying a foursome. But no, It's not just because you're an alicorn, Dusk, that we want you here with us. It's because you're you. Prince Dusk Shine. Formerly my best and most faithful student. Now the only pony in Equestria who I can trust as I trust my brother. The only one who has come close enough to truly understand me. The only one I can let go my royal facade and simply be myself with. That is who you are, and why I want you here.” “Yes,” agreed Artemis. “We, well... We love you for who you are, Dusk, and for what you've done for us. You are a very special pony. You belong here.” He smiled and kissed Dusk on the cheek. Solaris wrapped his hooves around Dusk, and Artemis too pressed close to his other side and hugged him. “Dusk is what comes between day and night,” said Solaris with a smile and one arched eyebrow. “So between us is just where you belong,” said Artemis.