//------------------------------// // Temptations of Salvation // Story: The Legend of the God-Hunter // by BobThePlaneswalker //------------------------------// Rei stood in his unicorn form at the entrance to an office within a luxurious hallway. He had a scruffy beard and a cloak with its hood pulled up. He raised a hoof and knocked at the door. It opened to reveal an elderly Polastus. “Might I be of assistance Sir?” he asked. Rei pulled the hood down. “It's been a bit, Polastus.” “Sir Olrick!” Polastus exclaimed. Rei shook his head. “It's Rei. Just call me Rei.” Polastus nodded and invited him into the office. He showed Rei to the student chair and listened as Rei explained to him all that had happened since he had found the elements. When Rei had finished, Polastus slumped back into his chair and shook his head. “I'm sorry Rei. I'm so sorry.” Rei exhaled. “'Tis not thine fault.” “What of me, though?” Polastus asked. “Why hast thou sought me out?” “Thou art the leading expert on the soul and its connection to these latent magical energies,” Rei replied. “I beg thee Polastus, usest thine knowledge to tell me all that thou canst about what resides within me.” Polastus took a deep breath. “Why dost thou desire that knowledge?” Rei furrowed his brow. “Because I want to cleanse our world of it.” “Promise me,” Polastus muttered. “Promise me that thou wilt heed whatever warnings I give this time.” “Dost thou truly value mine word, after what has happened?” Rei asked. Polastus shrugged. “If nothing else, it shall provide a little comfort.” Rei nodded. “Thou hast my word then. Thy warnings shall be as commands to me.” Polastus nodded and brought Rei to a specially equipped exam room. He gathered a team of his most distinguished peers. Together they executed with care and determined precision a series of examinations. They took breaks to disappear into another room so that Polastus could gather their deductions. When it was finally over, the sun was just beginning to venture its way into the sky. Polastus dismissed his exhausted peers and pulled a chair next to the table. When the last of Polastus' peers had left, Rei rolled towards him. “What hast thou found?” Polastus looked up from the stack of papers in his lap. “Art thou sure that thou art ready to hear? 'Twas an arduous process for one to endure.” “Do not grant me thy concern Polastus,” Rei said. “I need nor deserve it.” Polastus gave a respectful huff. “It looks as though Harmony has sectioned away a large portion of thine soul with the Elements of Ambition.” “What does that mean for me?” “It is effectively as though thine soul hast been returned to the state that it had been in before that section was birthed. The only difference is that thou still hast thine memories. The soul is separate from memories. The two merely grow in concert.” “How strong is Harmony's magic?” Rei asked. Polastus shook his head. “'Tis a delicate balance.” Rei pressed a hoof to the bridge of his snout and exhaled. “Suicide?” Polastus sighed. “The containment is so strained. The risk of that part of thee breaking free is extremely high.” “Have I any other options?” Rei asked. Polastus shook his head. “This exercise has ruled out all other options I know of.” “So, 'tis to be my burden for eternity.” Polastus nodded. “It would seem that way... I am sorry Rei.” :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: An old tavern formed around Twilight. She recognized it. It was the tavern she had stayed at before she made the final leg of her journey to find Rei. Rei entered, hung his coat on the rack, and sat at the bar with a book. The bartender looked to him from his work with the dishes and smiled. “Getting a little chilly up there Victor?” Rei rolled his eyes. “If I didn't know any better Barnabas, I'd think you were a busted record player.” Barnabas chuckled and propped himself on his forelegs. “What will it be today?” “One glass of Johnny Trotter Blue please,” Rei replied. Barnabas smiled. “Letting the purse strings loose are you?” Rei shrugged. “You have to live a little sometimes, don't you?” Barnabas nodded. “Johnny Trotter's definitely livin.” Rei huffed. “If you say so.” Barnabas pulled out a glass and brought the bottle down. He studied Rei's book as he poured. “What's for reading?” “The Musings, Papers, and Theories of Rammit Koren Caltroth,” Rei replied. Barnabas shook his head and whistled. “You sure do read some strange stuff Victor.” Rei smiled. “When you read as much as me, you've gotta go to some weird places to find new material.” Barnabas finished pouring and slid the glass to Rei. “Why don't you try some of the monthly material?” Rei chuckled. “All that pop culture nonsense? No thanks.” “Oh it's not all bad,” Barnabas said. He motioned to a stand of magazines. “Like Ponies Magazine, that one's weekly. Latest one has an article on the accomplished and amazing Twilight Sparkle of Equestria.” He brought it over and slid it in front of Rei. “Huh? Huhhhh?” Rei tried to hold his glare through Barnabas's prodding but he broke into a laugh. “Fine.” “Aaaahhhhh!” Barnabas celebrated. “Two bits my good stallion.” Rei poured out some bits and headed off to the corner booth. He sipped from the glass and set the magazine down in front of him. On the front there was a picture of Twilight. She had a graduation cap on her head, smarty-pants in her right hoof, a disgruntled Spike in her left, and a horribly forced grin on her face. “Twilight Sparkle, huh?” He flipped to the article and read. Blah blah blah, straight A student, blah blah blah, fantastic singer, blah blah blah. He set the magazine down and rolled his eyes. What kind of garbage was Barnabas trying to pawn off on him? He glared and flipped through it. Happy little pony does things slightly exceptional. Nothing fascinating about that. He froze and squinted. Did that just say? He flipped back a page. It did! There, right in the center of the page, capital D Discord. He backtracked a few words. “Even with all these things to her name,” the article read. “Twilight Sparkle was just getting started. She just wasn't content with being the talk of Canterlot Castle, so she put herself on Equestria's map by defeating the conniving Nightmare Moon and freeing their long lost Princess Luna! Was that enough? No. She tossed in a decisive victory over the devious God of Chaos, Discord, too.” Rei's eyes doubled. He flipped back to the beginning and read. When he was finished he leaned against the back of the booth and stared off into his thoughts. Discord and possessed Umarak? That actually was pretty impressive... If she was that strong, maybe... Rei shook his head. No. Too risky. He sipped from his drink. He dropped Caltroth's book onto the table but the arm of longing pulled him back towards the article. Could it really hurt just to pop in and see what she's made of? After all, with a Captain of the Royal Guard for an older brother, element bearers as friends, and the study of magic as an obsession, she made a powerful asset for ol' granny Kilia. With this little one and Umarak in her supporting cast, Kilia might actually stand a chance. If nothing else, it allowed her to command the elements again. Not to mention that the bond Twilight and her little friends shared sounded much more reliable than the one Kilia had with Umarak. Rei scrunched his mouth. The bearers were so young though. Some of them not even a quarter-century old. Their bond was stronger, there were more of them, but even combined, their experience was such a small fraction of the Royal Sisters'. He grumbled and slumped into the chair. All this speculation would get him nowhere. What could it hurt just to have a little scrimmage match with Kilia and her band of merry mares? He'd been keeping the Elements of Ambition under wraps for quite a few years now. Heck, he hadn't even felt them in at least two centuries. He glanced between Twilight's picture and Caltroth's book as he bopped a hoof off of his chin. The right side of his lip curled up. Just scrimmage match. Nothing more. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Celestia's desk formed, basking in candlelight. Scattered across it was every letter Twilight had written on friendship. She could feel Rei trembling. Rushing through him was something so long forgotten, he barely remembered what it felt like. Hope. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: The memories stopped and Twilight's thoughts started crawling through her head as though she had just woken up. “Twilight?” Rei's voice resounded through her thoughts. “Rei?” Twilight answered. “Twilight,” Rei sputtered, “Twilight what are you doing here?” “I've come... I've come to help,” she answered. “Twilight have you any idea-” “You found hope, didn't you?” Twilight thought. “Hope that I could save you.” “It was temptation Twilight,” Rei answered, “not hope. Temptation made me reveal myself to you. Temptation made me risk the lives of every creature on the planet. Temptation made me put myself in the situation that allowed the God Hunter to return. All for a measly chance to be free.” “You believed in me Rei,” Twilight thought. “You were right to. I can save you. Friendship, can save you.” “No Twilight,” Rei thought. “It can't. I was fool. I thought the God Hunter was naught but a memory. That I could be rid of him. He's not. He's who I am. The creature you called a friend, he's naught but a memory. There's no going back.” “Rei, no. Stop it. I can help. I know I can. You just-” Twilight's body tingled. “What's happening? What are you doing?” “I'm sending you back to Canterlot,” Rei replied. “While I still have time.” Twilight resisted him. “No! I'm not giving up on you! Nopony has to die! Not even you!” “Would you sacrifice everypony you love to save just me Twilight?” Rei asked. “What?” Twilight thought. “Risking the lives of everypony you love, that's the price of trying to save me. You may put the God Hunter into remission, but so long as I am alive, so is he. If he comes out of remission, he'll destroy anything that's a threat. Kilia, Umarak, your friends, your brother, Cadence, all of them.” “I...” Twilight's resistance faded. “The true me is insane,” Rei thought. “I'm sorry.” :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Rei's thoughts dispersed and Twilight's eyes flickered open, mirrored by his. The crimson light was gone. It was just his dark blue eyes now. He held Twilight in his aura. “The Sister's resolve is strong Twilight. Tell them of this, of me, and you risk destroying that.” “Rei...” Twilight murmured. “I...” He smiled. “It's alright. Listen, check that branch just beyond the window at your desk. Looked to me like there was a very peculiar hole in it.” Little bolts of energy tickled Twilight's body. “W-Wha?” Rei's body trembled and two crimson specs flickered in the backs of his eyes. He clenched his jaw, forcing it to fade. He gave a subtle wave as his aura consumed her and he was drowned out from her vision. “Goodbye Twilight.”