//------------------------------// // Chapter 13: Reality and Sobriety Were... // Story: He Who Walks The Graves // by The Zealot //------------------------------// He Who Walks The Graves By: The Zealot Chapter 13: Reality and Sobriety Were… The drake, how could I have forgotten? I’m getting sloppy. I turned towards the now open doorway to see, indeed, the small fledgling dragon from the library proper, in his hand was an envelope covered in pink and purple hearts, but that was none of my concern. He had started to open his mouth, no doubt to alert others to my presence or try and stop me, but I quite simply wrapped him in solidified magic and stuck him to the ceiling, covering his mouth, of course. I was not cruel, though, the bindings would dissolve in but an hours time, enough for me to be long gone from Ponyville. I traveled through my shadows to the front of the building, stepping out the door and casually carrying the case that held the Elements, I kept walking out the way I came, heading for the horizon where the townspeople would no longer be able to see me. As I walked quite a few polite ponies either waved at me, or wished me a good day, to which I replied in kind. Quite a nice town, that Ponyville place. Of course, as soon as I was out of sight of the town I warped back into my new home. It was then that I looked around, my onyx and garnet throne room was nice, yes, but it was far too common. The candles and chandelier helped, yes, but it still looked too damn cliche. So, I decided to change it. Setting the Elements beside me I changed my form back to it’s proper kind before snapping my fingers. As I did the entire room changed, from onyx to marble, red carpet to a comfortable blue, an exact recreation of how it had been before, so very long ago. It brought a smile to my masked face, even though such a place could never exist again, not now, it was still pleasant to have memories come alive, some of them, at least. [1014 A.B. 8:12pm] ***** One time a thing occurred to me, right now, infact, and that was that my guest (Read, hostage), had awoken. How did I know? Well, magic is a wonderful thing you know. It allows many a thing, one of which was a sensor designed to alert me when the subject had awoken, which she apparently had. It was time to have a chat. I snapped my fingers and disappeared in a shroud of shadow, appearing not seconds later in the center of Ms. Carol’s room, surprising her if the gasp was anything to go by. I turned to look at her, for I had entered with my back to her, she was still lying upon the bed, which was understandable considering she had woken up not seconds ago. “Wh- who?” She stopped for a moment, her voice gaining clarity along with her eyes, a glare adorned her face as she looked upon me, how cute. “You, Reaper. What have you done with me! Where am I?” She asked of me, rage evident in her voice and body, how unlike any other experience this must have been to her. “Why, my dear, I’ve done nothing to you, that wouldn’t be proper now would it? As for where we are, well, I couldn’t just tell you the location, could I? Suffice it to say this is my current home, and let’s leave it at that. Heh, you might have even visited here at some point, perhaps not.” I replied to her, curt and polite as was my nature. True, I had taken her so that I might gain information, but that was no reason to be a crude and harmful captor, no, she was a guest in my home even if she wasn’t a willing on. “Why am I here, huh? What is it you want from me, you monster?” She questioned, and accused of me. Hatred in her tone, her face still set in a glare, truly she hated me for no reason other than what she had been told, perhaps I should change that. “Monster. A monster am I? So many times I have been called that, you haven’t the slightest idea. Tell me girl, what have I done to you, or to anyone at present that makes me deserve such a title? What reason have you for calling me such a thing?” I asked her, a simple question it was, all I wanted to know at present was what had colored her opinion of me to such dark tones, a simple question, yes. “I have reason because Celestia told me, told all of us in the guard about what you are, what you want.” That was her reply, quite simple really, ‘I think what I was told’ how truly sad it was. “Celestia told you. Well then, Ms. Carol, why don’t you tell me just what it was the old princess has taught you all about me?” Another simple question for her, a very simple and innocent request, yet even with my asking of it I saw the fire of hatred burning brighter in her eyes, she despised my very being without even knowing who I was. “She told us that you’re a monster, a creature created from the dark with the sole purpose of destroying pony kind! She told us that you delight in causing pain to others, that you are most joyous when others are in misery that-” It was there that I stopped her, a finger to her lips caused her to quiet almost instantly. “You have not even been told half the story. I am no monster, created from dark I was most certainly not. No pleasure do I gain from the suffering of others, no joy is there in misery nor sorrow. For pony kind I hold no ill will, no, that is illogical on so many different levels. For your rulers, however, there is a very special place in my heart, a special place filled with hatred and rage. For good reason mind you.” My tone brought fear to her, I could see it in her eyes, for hearing death itself in anger is always a horrifying sight. Many had given me this same look, one of terror and panic, simply from my voice alone. It seemed that had not changed. “Young dear, I have known the princesses for quite some time. For years before my imprisonment, we were the best of friends, them and I. However, there was a war going on. I’m sure you’ve read of it, seen it, perhaps in a dream? No, how could you. There was a war, a great war, and I gave my help to the country of Equestria for the boundless hospitality your princesses had shown me. We were the best of friends, but how time sours all bonds, the ties of family and friend rot away, as with all things. Sit down, stay for a while, I shall tell you of why I do as I do.” Around halfway through my speech I had removed my helmet, allowed her to gaze into my eyes, so weary and filled with sorrow that they were. My words could speak to her rational mind, my eyes would speak to her emotional soul, as was the way of things. And so I continued, telling her of my quest. [1014 A.B. 9:30pm] ***** I stood out on my balcony, I had left dear Ms. Carol to her own devices, left her with folders and documents that I myself had found so many years ago, the very documents that had caused my wrath to turn upon the royal sisters. Perhaps she would see reason, perhaps not. She knew where to find me, and if she tried to leave then a simple teleportation spell would have her ending up at Canterlot once more. As I was looking out across the forest, the setting sun causing such a beautiful scene that was unfolding in front of me, there came a knock at my door. “Come in.” I had no need to be elaborate, if she had sought me out then Ms. Carol had indeed seen reason, even in the face of all the lies that wrought havoc upon her mind, placed there by none other the Celestia herself. “I’ve looked over what you left with me. Thought on what it was you’ve said. As much as I absolutely hate to admit it, you are right. The princesses have lied to us all for so long, it needs to change, it needs to end. Please, Commandante, allow me to join you in your mission.” The voice of Sunset Carol reverberated through the room, easily audible over the low sounds of nature. Commandante, how long it had been since I had been called by title, so long indeed. I would, of course, allow her help, it was her will, of course. “So you have seen reason. Good. For now, rest dear Carol, tomorrow shall be your initiation, tomorrow all shall begin again. Much needs to be accomplished, and you have a very special skill set that I will be in need of.” At my words I could just barely hear the swishing of air signifying a nod, and hear the thuds of her hooves on the carpet, just before she left I called, “Carol, thank you, it has been too long that I’ve been without comrade.” I turned to her, seeing her smile before she fled from the room, quiet and light on her hooves as she returned to her quarters. I removed my helmet once more, why I had donned it in the time of respite I could not quite say, perhaps it has simply become such a constant companion of mine that I feel incomplete without it. I looked out, across the scene I had seen not moments before, this time without the filters of the helmet, the purifiers of the mask, I breathed in the forest air as the setting sun’s final beams shined upon my face. For the first time in so long, I had witnessed a sunset. [1014 A.B. 10:12pm]