//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Fallout Equestria: To be an Immortal // by Lunafan1k //------------------------------// Chapter 3 As the sun set, the battle finally over, Ember quickly rushed to Kaleen’s side, holding her in a tight embrace, sobbing into each others shoulders. “I thought you didn’t make it!” They said in unison, earning a small bout of laughter from the both of them. “Where were you? What happened? I looked everywhere!” Ember said, relief flooding into him as he pranced around Kaleen before settling down next to the fire. “Well,” She began, “after I left, I ran into a slaver. Luckily, his back was to me. I was forced to take a different route, dodging many slavers along the way. My family’s trailer was engulfed in flames, and I could hear my sister, Morning Dew, crying out from inside.” She shuddered at the memory, “I used my magic to break down the door, I quickly found her huddled in the corner, the flames slowly approaching her. As fast as I could I placed a barrier around her and floated her over the flames to safety, then we ran with the rest of the group fleeing the slavers.” “Once we were a good distance away, we found our parents in the crowd.” Kaleen continued, “We saw your firewall surround the caravan, so we started making preparations to join in and help with the remaining slavers. Thats when two of the alicorns appeared. They bound us in chains and dragged us away into cages. We caught a glimpse of a third alicorn in the camp, and I saw you suffering from a magic flux, before we were all taken away to someplace not far from here.” “I’m just glad you didn’t have to see what we witnessed.” Ember said mournfully. “Say, now that I think about it, where is the Elder? And where did you learn that magic? I remember you mentioning a few new tricks, but of that magnitude?” Kaleen asked. “The Elder… The Elder was killed in front of us. To make us behave ourselves.” Ember swallowed the knot in his throat. “As for the new bout of magic, I felt a deep well inside myself -” “That was his raw power, brought forth by the will to protect you, his undying love.” Ethstar interjected, joining the group. Ember’s face burning red with embarrassment. “I don’t think he would be able to tap into that reservoir any time soon, not without the possibility of killing himself in the process.” “I have heard and seen many things,” Acura said from behind Ember, “But nothing compares to what you did today.” She glared daggers at Ethstar, “Should I be thankful you walk among us, or cowering in fear, wishing the slavers were still in control of my life?” At this statement the entire encampment fell silent, all eyes on Ethstar as he nodded and sat down on the ground in front of the fire, across from Ember, Acura, and Kaleen. “You need not fear me. I was never planning on doing what I did, but they went too far.” He said, turning to face Ember, Kaleen, and Acura. “That still doesn’t explain anything.” Acura chided, resting on her haunches next to Ember. “Well, it appears I have no choice,” Ethstar sighed. “My name is Ethstar, the God King, Watcher of Realms, and overall ruler of the universe.” “Ha. Ha. Not buying it.” Said Acura hotly, “The only Gods here are Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, and, if you haven't noticed, they died over 200 years ago.” “And that is precisely why I’m here. 2,000 years ago I visited this realm, still new and in its infancy. It was at that time I decided to place it under the rule of a God. I went amongst the villages and found two sister unicorn fouls, Celestia and Luna, with the most pure hearts and incredible magic potential, and took them into my care.” Ethstar said, gazing into the faces of those around him. “I trained them personally, teaching them control, much the way I taught you, Ember.” Ethstar nodded towards the young stallion. “They soon grew and began to govern the realm the way they saw fit, asking of my knowledge in troubling situations beyond their experience. I soon left them to their devices and let them run their course. I was immensely disappointed in them both when Celestia banished Luna to the moon, Celestia for not listening to Luna and Luna vying for attention. However, they learned from their mistakes and were happily reunited after the thousand year banishment.” “I came to pay them a visit once they were reunited, and congratulate them on a lesson well learned. That was the last I saw them,” Ethstar continued, “When I read into the past, I discovered that they died fifty years later, at the beginning of the fall of Equestria 200 years ago. I came here to bring them back, restore their bodies, make sure they cleaned up this mess, then welcome them to the Realm of Gods as true immortals like myself.” He finished with a sigh. Still troubled, Ember asked, “If your the overall ruler of the universe, and they were your personal students, how did you not notice their deaths for 200 years?” “Time passes differently for immortals. 200 years for us is but a small fraction of our eternal lives, no mortal can be asked to understand.” Ethstar said, “It was most surprising, discovering the events the way I did. I was in my grand hall, going about the business of the day when my mind wandered to my students. I was curious to how they were getting along after Princess Luna was freed. When I opened the viewing portal and witnessed this wasteland, I almost lost myself to my fury.” “And thats when you spoke to Aliana about their souls being trapped in their bodies.” Ember stated flatly, not noticing all eyes diverting to him. “And how is it you know my wife’s name? And the way of immortal souls?” Ethstar inquired, quite curious. ‘There is more to this than I originally expected, if he is truly what I think he is.’ Ethstar thought. “Umm, I know this is going to sound crazy, but I have been having very vivid dreams of exactly what you just described for several months now, always the same dream.” Ember said, rubbing the back of his head with a hoof. “And how does the dream end?” Prodded Ethstar. Glancing at Kaleen, Ember continued, “Your form changes, and you cover yourself as you are now. Then you pick up a sword that you hold with high value and place it across your back.” Ember looked Ethstar in the eyes, “Then you open a portal to the wastelands, but before you go through you move it to somewhere over the planet. After that I always wake up in a cold sweat.” Ember concluded, turning to hug Kaleen. “Your cutie mark, tell me what it means to you, and how you got it.” Ethstar said. “You know about cutie marks?” Ember asked, bewildered. Ethstar rolled his eyes, “No, I didn’t help found the laws of this realm.” Everypony stared at him blankly. Ethstar sighed, “That, my little ponies, is what is referred to as sarcasm.” Ethstar said slowly. “Hey! Were not stupid, this is just a lot to take in all at once!” Acura said hotly. “Yes, yes I know.” Ethstar chuckled. “But please, the origin of your cutie mark Ember, if you will.” “Well, several years ago the caravan was traveling through a narrow canyon, when a bunch of raiders attempted to overtake us. Since I was still a young colt, I was to be with the other non-combatants. I took notice, however, that Kaleen was not among us -” “I got trapped under one of the wagons and was too scared to move to safety.” Kaleen interrupted. “Yes… well,” Ember continued, “When I looked out the wagon I saw Kaleen under another wagon several trailers back. Bolstering my courage I ran out to her aid, using what little magic I could perform to defend myself. I managed to get surrounded but I don’t remember what happened after that.” “He had a magic flux, like this morning,” Kaleen filled in, “He summoned great flames and killed all the raiders, leaving the caravan untouched. He protected me that day, and he did it again today. He’s my personal hero.” Kaleen nuzzled a blushing Ember. “Yea.” Ember coughed to clear his throat, “After I woke up I had this horseshoe in a ring of fire on my flank.” Ember smiled, motioning to his cutie mark. “I also got my cutie mark that day,” Kaleen motioned to her flank, a red heart shaped shield upon it. “I fell in love with him that day, and swore to protect him as best I could in any way I could. I’m so happy to know he shares my love.” She finished, nuzzling Ember and giving him a peck on the lips, making them both blush and turn away. “Ok, one more question.” Ethstar said, reaching behind him for his sword, placing it across his lap. “Can you pick this up? Use any method you wish.” Ember looked at the sword, then at Ethstar, raising an eyebrow. He knew the sword was special, but in what way he did not know. Instead of asking more questions, he extended his magic to the sword, meaning to pick it up my the hilt. As he gripped it, he felt something brush against his consciousness, like a soft whisper. He tried to lift it, it was heavier than it looked, but with greater concentration he was able to will it into the air. Soon it felt as light as a feather, and he swung it around experimentally with great ease. *Clap…* *Clap…* *Clap…* Ember turned to Ethstar, “Bravo. You are the second being in the entire life of the universe to wield that sword, the first being myself. Look at your cutie mark.” Ember, confused, looked at his cutie mark to see the horseshoe glowing a bright blue, “That is not a horseshoe. That is the symbol Omega, it represents great power and the end of all things. This sword is the Omega Sword. Its true weight is more than enough to collapse this planet, but it seems you have a connection to it.” Ember tried to return it. “No no, keep it. Its yours until it deems you an unfit wielder.” Nodding in thanks due to speechlessness, Ember sheathed it across his back. The sword began to change, shrinking to the size of a one handed sword to be better wielded by a pony. “Do you know where your going?” Ember asked. “Unfortunately no. I chose a random spot on the continent and was hoping to have an adventure.” Ethstar said. “All I know is I need to get to canterlot, but that might have to wait.” “Why is that? Why not just fly back into the air and get their that way? Whats stopping you from fixing all this?!?” Demanded Acura, everyone shocked into silence. “You talk about having an adventure like the wastelands are a theme park! I’ve seen your power, you smashed an alicorn’s shield with one blow, raised the dead, and banished an entire army of slavers after getting ripped apart!” Ethstar sat in silence, waiting for the furious Acura to calm herself and listen to his wisdom. “Your right, I could fix everything in an instant.” Ember couldn't help but gasp, and Acura let a smug grin onto her muzzle. “Unfortunately, the balance of the world would become unstable, killing everyone as the planet ripped itself apart. Every divine intervention I cause deals a great damage to the planet. If its just myself, in this case getting gunned down and reviving myself, no damage is done. But when I opened the gate to the Nether Realm and took the souls of the slavers, a crack in space appeared. For the next 300 years strange occurrences will happen, disappearances and ghost stories to name a few.” Ember suddenly sat up, “Can you tell us about the alicorns? You spoke to one as if you knew what it was.” “Know thy enemy, you have much wisdom for one so young.” Ethstar chuckled. “I saw into its mind, the alicorns always travel in groups of three, and are all remotely controlled my a higher power, much like a God.” “So your saying that another God like yourself is reigning chaos in the wastelands?” Ember asked. “Yes and no. The power the creature is using is not its own, but the combined powers of the Goddesses of this realm. It somehow managed to drain the powers of the Goddesses from their bodies. If we reach the Goddesses and revive them while this creature is still in possession of their wills, they will be empty shells devoid of life and seal the fate of this realm.” “Wait, what fate exactly?” Acura asked, leaning closer. “You wont be alive for it, nor your children nor theirs. But the gap between this realm and the Nether Realm would collapse, bringing death and eternal suffering to those still alive.” “I would have been fine with ‘something bad will happen’” Ember muttered to nopony in particular. “Well I’m going with you.” Acura said, “I have no place to call my own anymore, those bastards murdered my family as we fled our home. Its time for some payback.” “I’ll help too.” Ember said, “If my destiny ties into meeting you, Ethstar, then I’m going to follow you wherever you go. You helped me control my rage, and its because of you I was able to save Kaleen’s family.” “Then I’m going with you, Ember.” Kaleen said. “I don’t want to spend another moment wondering if you were dead or alive. I won’t be useless either, I’ve been perfecting my healing magic and would be glad to help heal the wounds your bound to receive.” “Excellent! We depart in the morning. For now let us rest our weary bodies.” Ethstar said, standing and putting out the fire with a kick of dirt.