There had been quite a lot to discuss in the two years since Corvo had returned from his second trip to Equestria. He still kept quiet, and with a mask would watch things both afar and close by, all the while behaving inconspicuously in high society. Corvo was now a famous, unseen figure of controversy, roaming the city of Dunwall, of which whomever there spoke against him would disappear; sometimes it was justly, and others it was not. It was his responsibility to keep the assassin-work secret and distant. He would, in short, go out of his way to kill those he deemed "unworthy to live" in absolute secrecy: criminals, corrupt politicians, et cetera.
"A madman," they would call him. "A very secretive person with the right sense of justice," would say many others. Yes, the labours of the Wandering Stranger—that is what they called Corvo—was very peculiar topic to discuss among the people, though ever popular it remained. "What he does he thinks it to be right," say the wise, "but there is more malice in such acts than one could guess."
His work was never in vain, fortunately for him. Corvo reduced the country's crime-rate by eighty-percent, at the cost of his good, secondary name replaced by both fear and worship. But he did not mind, and kept on striving forth. He was even accompanied by the Outsider, who, non-specially, only witnessed the slayings for entertainment.
But nothing else worth noting happened within that time period. It was only after two years—after Corvo supposedly killed both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna to save his own world—that another adventure begun, throwing he and the ponies into more entanglements of work and worriment.
This story, precisely the following string of events concerning Corvo, takes place two years after his visit to Equestria. Believe me when I say that I'm only here to recount what is essential, and have left out the unnecessary parts, although I anticipate that you, the reader, may not agree with my effort or assurance, and even make light of it. I'm actually at a lost, you see—as the narrator for this story I find it impossible, even inconceivable, to describe the whole of this narrative exactly as how it should be. In hindsight, how is that even remotely achievable? I find it that no matter how well you explain a certain idea, a little, trivial idea that has tormented you for who knows how long, no matter how many pages you write describing the idea, no matter from how many angles you attack it in the hopes of a proper explanation, at the end of the day there will be a tiny fragment, perhaps at the center of your idea, of which only you will understand, because even if people stress that they understand your idea, only you can truly know it. So again, I'm at a lost, and as such I'm resolved to concede to the perplexity of this story.
I could tell you that the story takes an interesting turn two years later, but interesting to whom? "Why should I, the reader, spend my time studying such redundancy? What is so notable about what you write or tell me?" And so I apologize for whatever perplexity, to whatever degree, may strike you during your reading process, especially if you are the one who puts in the effort to find some general sense in the general senselessness. It would be strange for I, the narrator, to demand clarity from you, the reader.
But I will defend the significance of this story, namely for conveying an idea that more or less resembles its inception. This took a long time to write—longer than expected—and with a lot of uncertainty, but the end product is, perhaps, in my opinion, at the very least digestible. Take of that what you will. Once you complete the final chapter please feel whichever way you like, you may even disagree with my statement that the story deliberately conveys a particular idea, but I implore you to not forget anything important.
But I'm rambling, which is even further evidence of my "narrator's confession," or whatever you want to call it. Let's start.
* * *
"Thank you," said Corvo, thrusting the letter he had just received into his blue greatcoat's pocket. "Mr. Arbmos, it was?—If memory serves me right."
"Right," said the man, dressed over in a bright grey frock coat. "Edwin Arbmos."
I will add a brief (hopefully not too-out-of-place) note here on Arbmos. The man was of the intelligent, undecided sort. He was thoughtful and strangely absent-minded. He was portly-looking, strongly built, and rather tall. There was a strange fixity in his gaze at times. Like all somewhat absent-minded people he would sometimes stare at a person without seeing them, and at times would speak effusively and at length. He was always well and even elaborately dressed; he had already some independent fortune and expectations of much more.
With that being said, a light in Corvo's eyes flickered as he scanned the gentleman, all while feeling the wax paper in his coat. "I saw you at the previous lecture," said Corvo. "The lecture in March, two months back, about the mathematical predictability of neurotransmitters. I believe you were the professor?"
Arbmos nodded briskly, and Corvo added: "Of course... hmm... ah, University of Dunwall, staff of the chemistry department—brain chemistry. I'm quite skeptical of the theories you proposed, if only by my own experience; but what is science if not asking the fundamental questions? Knowing that, thank you again for this diploma of recognition."
"Not a problem at all," said Arbmos. "I recognize that you had private incidences to attend, and not enough managed time to make public appearances to receive awards. And while I humbly accept any and all forms of criticism regarding my own work—heh, heh—you deserved it for such a marvellous discovery on your unique theory of time."
"It is convenient that you were the host, being able to hand me the paper in person, while informing everyone else," said Corvo, ending with a chuckle. "And a third time—thank you!"
Corvo was glancing all round him: the many men and women dressed in expensive attires, the butlers and maidens pacing all about long hallways to serve, and the plethora of tables which bore wine and food. He had been lucky to have received an invitation to such a prestigious party as the Unmasked Ball: a get-together of people with famous, superficial status, all of whom could discuss any future decisions for the city's economy; and, at the end, there would always be an honouring of the most important person there, and a meeting afterwards in secret. Everyone in general was much happier now, and more could rest even. But an eerie hunch was continuously hanging on the edge of his mind, since he had first arrived.
"Corvo," said Arbmos. Corvo nearly flinched from his thinking, and looked at the professor with sharp eyes. "How old are you, if I may ask?"
"Thirty-one. And I will be thirty-two in August." He wandered down to the main foyer, with the professor at his side, asking: "What brings it up?"
"Nothing, really," replied Arbmos. "I just wanted to know because—well, that award you got—the Noble Karma Prize—is only one of many. The Unmasked Ball is something entirely different, usually reserved for people aged at at least fifty."
"It is the hardy toil that most must struggle through," said Corvo, filling a cup at his side with wine from a marble fountain. "But to me the mathematics are easy; they are just numbers, so why the stress?"
"That is a very interesting response, ve-ry interesting," said Arbmos, gently pulling at his beard. "But what would you be willing to do? What evils?"
Corvo nearly choked, swallowing the wine in his throat with an effort and raising his brow. "I, um..." he started, placing the glass back on a table nearby. "Evils of what?"
"Do you not have to make any sacrifices, harmless or otherwise?" asked Arbmos. "Nothing?"
"No, nothing. Just a lot of... paper work."
To Corvo's surprise, Edwin Arbmos looked darkly at him, bearing a hard stare. "Corvo," said the professor, "all science requires strict sacrifices. Some are too arbitrary to count."
"Arbitrary?" said Corvo with a dubious air. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean that all works relating to physics happen with random magnitudes," replied Arbmos. "Sometimes there are breakthroughs, and sometimes there are not. Well, I only met you two or so days ago, I think." And suddenly his face brightened, and he smiled and tightened the bow-tie of his suit. "But I don't know you enough to hand in adequate sayings."
"If chemistry is your field, do you know anything about applied physics?" asked Corvo almost wearily.
"That is mostly your ground. But I know a thing or three on nuclear physics in particular." The two men looked over the grand room, as if expecting something to come out of the thin crowd of people, then they looked back to each other. "I already gave you that 'fancy' paper that says how great you are—heh, heh. But do not get too arrogant. You are still required to make a speech."
"They chose me to speak?" said Corvo in a whispering voice. He coughed. "I am honoured, truly."
"That is great and all, but what are the details?"
Upon hearing the question, Corvo reached into a back-pocket of his, and drew forth a small piece of linen, with uneven threads sticking out on all sides, and with lines of different shades. "Time," he said. "It is theoretical, but it also helps us discover much about, say, quantum physics and its proportions with the universe."
Arbmos looked down to the small piece of woven cloth dubiously. "That thing does not look theoretical. Heh. It is very tangible by my observation."
Corvo looked thoughtfully at the linen in his palm, fingering it. He put it back into his pocket and hummed in thought. "It is only a placeholder; or an example to explain the theory, I would say."
"I see," said Arbmos. "But I will leave it to your explanation in a few minutes; for it is almost midnight, and we need that important person to inspire us, of course."
"There you are, Corvo the Undearest," said a harsh voice in mockery. The two of them turned to see a woman, coming upfront as usual to insult men she disliked; and at the moment, she was reminding Corvo how much he did not want to see her.
"Good to see you, too, Holley Whistle," said Corvo, crossing his arms and sighing. "Why are you here?"
"They invited me," said Holley. "But I suppose they let you in here out of sympathy. You never could accomplish anything, Corvo. Not with that improbably massive ego of yours." She gave an unpleasant face, glaring at them with sarcastic eyes.
"A big ego?" said Corvo, disliking her even more. Holley Whistle always had a bad view of Corvo from the moment she saw him. She detested all the things he could do, and what praise he got from older folk. As a fifty-five-year-old lady, and a clever tradeswoman, she thought she had everyone in the city figured out; that is until Corvo became more well known as a deductive helper and took the attention off her. And his young age certainly did not lessen her distaste for him.
"Quite funny of you to say that, really," continued Corvo. "When was the last time you were asked to speak in front of everyone at the Unmasked Ball? Never, was it?"
"What!" she exclaimed hotly. "Speakers for the Unmasked Ball is a privilege reserved for the greatest minds. You did not get picked. What ever do you do besides play chess all day?"
"Other than study fourth-dimensional physics and human anatomy, aid the justice system as a detective, and innovate in the ways we think of the universe, I have no idea!"
Arbmos laughed at the remark. "It is true, however, Mrs. Whistle," he said. "I was the one who gave Corvo here the official words. It will be very special, I would hope."
"Did you discover that the Earth is round?" snorted Holley, much to Corvo's annoyance. "A little late, hmm?"
"A little late to be jealous is what I would say," he answered.
"Does not matter!" she said, turning to walk away. "I will see what you have done, Corvo. If you were my husband, I would poison your tea!"
"If you were my wife, I would drink it," said Corvo quietly.
Arbmos laughed to himself, and shook his head in disapproval of the situation. "You have enemies, Corvo?" he asked.
"Yes," he said. "I guess I do, however undeserved it may be. All of these problematic faces at a prestigious party that happens once a year, and they treat me like I am the problem."
"If you have not noticed, you are one of the youngest persons here," said Arbmos. "But I do agree: it is like everyone has already forgotten about the fundamentals of liberalism."
"Sure," said Corvo slowly, not quite paying attention. His mind was set on all the people round them heading into a single point of the mansion, like an army of ants heading back into their hole.
Arbmos gently nudged Corvo's shoulder and gestured by pointing his eyes towards a large, arched frame in the wall, open and leading into a larger and brighter room. From within there more voices rang. "All the speeches have been presented, and the awards given," he said, "come then, it's your turn, I believe, at the end of this Ball."
"Well, let us see if there is any interest there," said Corvo.
I think it's fair to take a step back, that is, a two-year step back and see just what led to the trouble that is soon to entail the characters.
* * *
"Farewell, Princess Luna," said Corvo with a stone-cold face. He backed out from the small window that was thrust into the dungeon; and all went black.
Luna's vision began to shift to grey, despite the darkness all about. Her breath was cut, and her mind was too scrambled to think at all. She felt a stiffness go throughout her limbs, and finally settle into her heart, where it stopped beating. The strangled gasp she let out faded. And even though there was nothing but her in the most unexpected vacuum, a chill wind came upon her face. She finally exhaled a single time, and everything within her went blank—very temporarily.
The cool air in the room immediately became hot. A great golden flame appeared, destroying all shadows afterwards. The light was like a sun trapped into a small box, expanding to break free. But the second it happened, it also disappeared, encompassing whatever was there, in the trap, and teleporting it out.
Usually when one loses breath, one would be in a deep sleep for quite some time. Luna, with her unexpected asphyxiation, widened her eyes the moment she saw a colour other than black. She jumped up and gasped desperately, hitting a fore-hoof against her chest. There was no easing into the awakening; all of her senses returned in an instance. She was on a slabbed floor, with pillars spread thinly about her.
"Great timing for a comeback, huh," said Celestia as the last light emitting from her horn died down. "Normally I'd ask if you're okay, sister, but I know you must be in a bit of mental shock."
"Tia?" said Luna, as if she hadn't seen her sister all her life. "What in Equestria happened! And how are you..." she ended in a sharp inhale.
"I saved you just in time, though I had to wait for Corvo to get far away enough from that room," explained Celestia, casting a sharp glance all round the foyer, as if expecting a sudden intruder. She looked to Luna and said in a soft voice: "Thank you for not losing faith."
Luna, without meaning to, found herself hugging her sister and breathing heavily. "You were supposed to be dead," she said with a bowed head.
Celestia felt tears wet her chest. "I'll give us a minute to cry for each other," she mused, almost shaking herself, hugging Luna back and closing her eyes. "But I was always fine. My greatest fear was your situation. Do you have any idea what I would have done if Corvo... killed you?"
Luna stepped back and furrowed her brow, though she smiled weakly. "I'm not sure. But please let's not dwell on unnecessary nightmares. I just want to know how you're standing!"
"Corvo was much too optimistic in his plan," said Celestia. She paused for a moment to choke back a stutter. She shivered and wiped her eyes. "When he invited me to that commemoration for tea, I knew that it was a trap. He knew that I was aware of it as well. But in the tea? I considered every possible outcome. I avoided the poison under his notion and pretended to be dead. Only two guards and one of the detectives that was hired from Ponyville I told."
"But how did you avoid it, how did you know?" asked Luna impatiently. "Surely he would make a plan for that as well."
"I'll explain later. But listen: I'm terribly sorry for putting you through this, Luna, but it was to get Corvo to leave. We have to head out either now or very, very shortly." Celestia quickly wandered down the wide hallway and looked through a window, noticing how pale and dark the sun had become. It lazily hung just above the red horizon of mountains.
"Don't be!" said Luna. "I just have too much of—ah, I can't explain it now—but it's built up. I can't explain—"
"Me too," whispered in Celestia.
"Right! But why all the unseen delay?"
"I did this so no other pony would be harmed," said Celestia. "I needed to give Corvo the idea that I truly was defeated, and that you were as well. Now he's leaving, though Twilight will most likely go after him if she knows that you died—supposedly died, I mean. But don't worry. Based on how you would need the help of another alicorn or two to raise the sun for the next following day or so, I ultimately came to the conclusion that you'd see Twilight more often. Corvo would probably get you separated, and Twilight would go after. But by now he's left, I think."
"What makes you say that?" asked Luna.
"The smoke! You see it coming from that forest there, see? Come with me!" said Celestia in a sudden sharpness, pointing with a hoof far away. She spread her wings and took off at blurring velocity.
Luna had hardly noticed the mismatched detail at the distant patch of green before she tried her hardest to follow. There was an apparent explosion, but only one with the keenest eyes could have spotted it from Canterlot Castle.
* * *
When both Corvo and Arbmos had reached the center of attention, a large crowd was already waiting there. A golden chandelier hung high above the open room, amid the rounded walls. There was a large slab-stage right under it, with two small sections of stairs on both sides. Behind the high stage was a wall of red and gold curtain. The number of people present was uncountable at first.
Edwin Arbmos was expected to step up the stage the moment he set foot in the room. Just by walking and settling his hands on the marble podium he received many unnecessary claps.
"Good evening!" he said aloud. "Oh, apologies. Good night, as it is." There were three or four faint laughs. "Today marks the tenth anniversary of the Unmasked Ball, where we get the most prestigious and clever people of our time, get them together to be social—finally!" There were more laughs. "And from then on we try to revolutionize in how we think of the world. But it is not just about proving your worth. It is about making friends, sharing ideas, and..." He paused and circled his wrist. "Well, normally I would have a third point, but I do not. Whoever told me to say these lines must have been having an affair at the moment." The laughing was even greater now, and lasted longer. "Sorry, sorry! Too many jokes! Let us get to the serious part. Fair ladies and noble gentlemen, tonight we have who is perhaps the youngest person yet to be speaking at such a place: Corvo Attano!"
The crowd gave a rousing applause as Corvo walked up the stairs. He rested a fist on the podium, and Arbmos remained at his side with his arms clutched together behind his back.
"It is very nice to see such lovely faces," said Corvo. "I am truly honoured to be, not only invited as one of the, I think, five-hundred or so guests out of the hundreds of thousands who hoped to come, but to be the very person to speak here, at the end. But why me? I guess it is because people's standards have lowered, eh?" The crowd looked at him cryptically, and exchanged whispers among one another. "Allow me to continue," said Corvo in a lower voice. "The reason I am here is to—"
"Speak louder!" shouted a voice from behind the room.
"The reason I am here is for the theory!" said Corvo again. "Like you all have heard for the past month or so, I have created a new theory concerning time, which will make us think more deeply about the universe, history itself, and how we as a society think of the connections between it all."
There were several scattered claps, though the people remained genuinely unimpressed. "Please listen up," said Corvo. "Time itself is a fabric called history, which is made up of varied time threads, all created by cause and eventual effect. And time threads are what connect time together. They are the reason why we have a today and a tomorrow. If we can learn to manipulate these threads, there is a grand possibility that we reach longer life expectancy."
A man in the front put his hand up and said: "But how does it work? How would you do it?"
"It is only theoretical," said Corvo disappointingly. "But we can control it if more research is put into that direction. I would be willing to take the part."
Arbmos quickly noticed that many people were either yawning or glancing at their watches. They were all starting to become bored; but he knew why, and he had not told Corvo until now.
"Mr. Attano," he whispered in, "talk about the Wandering Stranger."
"What! Why?" Corvo whispered back. "I thought this was to show scientific discoveries, not to talk about what is already on the newspapers."
"Yes, I understand. But the committee has already read over and talked about those research papers you sent me the month-and-a-half ago. Suffice to say, it did not impress them, and they were not too keen on letting you speak. But since you are a detective, too, they just wanted your words on the Wandering Stranger."
"The only reason I am up here is because of that?" said Corvo. He groaned in annoyance and straightened his back to look at the crowd. In an almost weary voice he said: "I will now talk about the Wandering Stranger. Any questions?"
Immediately half of the entire room raised a hand and paid more attention. Corvo picked an arbitrary arm: a woman clad in white: Raquel Ford.
"Do you think this lunatic will ever be captured?" she asked.
Corvo chuckled. "Do you not think it to be a little too soon for that adjective, Mrs. Ford?" he said.
"We are speaking of a man, who hides in the shadows, and no one ever sees him!" said another man to Corvo. "He kills people!"
"He only kills those who deserve it!" argued someone else from across the room. Several yes's and of course's later followed.
"And crime rates have dropped down significantly, and wars have ended!" shouted Holley Whistle. "He is a hero, if you ask me!"
"A hero for killing people in bloodbaths!" argued yet another woman. "How can you all support him?"
"I do not!" cried a man from the back.
Corvo rose both of his hands and shouted: "People! Allow me to speak! I think I know what you all want to hear." When he rested his arms the room was dead quiet. They were all listening intently. "I am a detective, yes. I have dabbled in this case before; but we are still leagues and rotations from capturing the Wandering Stranger. He never leaves any clues behind that can lead to the next politician he kills, or a famous worker, or whoever it would be."
"What say you on this matter?" asked Raquel Ford. "Is he for the better or for the worse?"
Corvo hesitated a moment. He tapped a finger to his side and danced his eyes about. "My opinion is... irrelevant," he said at length.
"Ha! And you are supposed to be the best detective!" said Holley Whistle. "You are probably like the rest who are in the blind justice system. You want to stop him, Attano? I bet you do! All he does is help the world be a better place; and when we have stupid lapdogs like Corvo that oppose the only good people, that is when we have a problem."
Corvo couldn't help but laugh in his mind. "The problems are the people's opinions towards this," he said. "If you lot would stop pretending to be so personal, then maybe we would understand this ominous fellow a little better."
"Pretending!" cried a man. "Unlike all the deadhead fools here who complain or whine about a killer, some of us actually do things. 'Pretending' you say?"
"Apparently Corvo is correct," said Raquel Ford. "All the crime scenes that I have read about were left practically unreadable. No one would be able to do anything. So why not stop lying!"
The room exploded into many arguments. People were now debating with one another, discussing rudely, and all looked away from the stage. The room was evenly split—either for or against the Wandering Stranger.
"That is enough!" interfered Arbmos. "We will end this speech on such short notice. Please gather your things and head home. The Ball will close shortly. Apologies! We are on our way now."
All the people froze and looked to the stage. Many were now confused or frustrated with what had become. Corvo sighed long but quietly and left the stage, walking past everyone with a bowed head. Many called to him, but he ignored and vanished from sight within a turn of a corner. The moment Arbmos disappeared with him everyone started to pack up and leave, and some still went on about the arguments.
"I cannot believe it!" said Corvo to Arbmos. "All of that anticipation for nothing. The speech lasted for thirty seconds before it strayed into disaster, and now it has ended. But worse of all, no one cared about what I had to say. They were all too interested in the Wandering Stranger to care."
"Corvo," said Arbmos, "I know you are frustrated, but at least you still get your prize money tomorrow—in coin."
"I am not frustrated, Mr. Arbmos," said Corvo in a low voice. "I am saddened. But I do not want to hang on such low ground. Here, take it." Corvo withdrew the wax paper from his pocket.
"Very well." Arbmos took the document to inspect it; then he folded the thing and stuffed it under his belt. "Will I see you soon?"
"Yes—I mean, hopefully."
And Arbmos bowed and left back from where they had come. But there was now a glint in Corvo's eyes. He glanced out into the people passing by, either now leaving or picking things up to take. Without anyone seeing him Corvo disappeared from that place like an invisible shadow.
* * *
"I'm sorry," said Discord. He held a straightened paw below his forehead to see afar. "The Outsider was part of this all along."
"Who's the Outsider?" asked Twilight in a choking voice.
"He was an acquaintance from a time long-forgotten ago," said Discord, looking back to Twilight. "But I'm not sure why anyone would do something like this. Even for me, that's cold. I'm sorry, Twilight."
"I know we have a lot of sadness going on today, but we can't let it falter us," said Celestia as she revealed herself from behind a tree. Luna showed herself seconds after, looking significantly exhausted.
"Princess Celestia!" said Twilight, running to hug her mentor, not noticing that she didn't even bow, unlike every other encounter with the princess.
"Twilight, save the tears for later," said Celestia. Twilight looked at her with watery eyes and nodded. "Where's Corvo, exactly?"
"He escaped," said Discord. "Wait, am I missing something here?"
"Yes, Celestia was dead," explained Luna. "Or, at the very least, she was supposed to be. She'll give a reason when we return to the castle, I presume."
"Princess Celestia, you have no idea how terrified I was," said Twilight quickly and solemnly. "You were gone and I thought you'd never come back, and I had all the stress put on me. I... thought I was going to die!" She began to weep into Celestia's chest. But the white princess smiled sympathetically and returned the hug.
"Fine, let all the emotions out for a bit," she said, sounding as if she herself would cry. "Discord, do you mind if you bring us back to the castle. It'd be quicker."
"Sure thing," said Discord. "With all of this crazy nonsense going on about, this old draconequus needs a bit of explaining!"
In a snap and a quick flash later, they all found themselves in the castle's foyer. Immediately afterwards, Celestia trotted up a widened, short stairway into a taller part of the room, and hunched down to look over a specific slab. She levitated it carefully from out of the floor. There was only white stone underneath.
"What are you looking for, Tia?" asked Luna.
"Oh, good," sighed Celestia. "Nothing. I was just making sure that events didn't repeat themselves."
"Why would they repeat themselves?" asked Twilight, still trying to get over her overjoyed emotions.
"I was just a bit paranoid," said Celestia. "Forget it." She turned to them with an analytical expression, as if she were trying to figure out the last piece to a hard puzzle. "I'll lower the sun. Right now, we need some rest—all of us."
"But what about Corvo?" said Luna. "Surely we cannot just forget about him."
"I never said we would," said Celestia. "In the morning I'll resume my thinking, but on my own this time. The rest of you will stay out of it."
All three of them were about to object, but they noticed how serious and threatening Celestia looked. It was as if she had control of the whole room and her words held all the power. Shivers went up each of their backs, even Discord's.
"I hope you understand," she continued. "Not to seem rude, but brutally honest: you'll all hold me back. Tomorrow morning I'll announce my return, though it needs to be hasty. Luna, continue with your night duties. Twilight, please go back to Ponyville. Its citizens need you, especially your friends. Discord—" she now said with a warm voice and faint smile "—go back to Fluttershy. She's your friend, after all."
A military uniform and hat magically appeared on Discord. He gave a salute and said: "Will do!" And he teleported from sight.
"That was fast," said Twilight to herself. "Anyway, if you need anything, just let me know, Princess." Her movements lagged a bit at first, but she breathed heavily and made her way to the front double door. "It's good to have you back," she ended in a callback.
Celestia, however, could now sense a loneliness in the room. There were no guards to be seen, nor any sound. None of the creatures in the gardens were happy, all torches and lanterns lacked flame, and hardly anypony visited. The castle had become deserted, save now for the two alicorns.
At length Luna said: "After all of this—after, say, a week from now—what do you plan to do?"
"I need to do some research," said Celestia.
"Research? What's the point?" asked Luna.
"Corvo is capable of dark magic," answered Celestia gravely. Her tone had dwindled into worriment. "You probably wonder why this seems to trouble me. King Sombra used it quite the while ago, and we beat him, when he was alone in that subject. But in the past few weeks I've been secretly thinking that Corvo can have serious after-effects, even with his absence. I only pretended to die and have him thinking that you too died so he would be satisfied and leave, so I could have time to think."
"Think on what? What after-effects?" said Luna. "I'm guessing that you're referring to his dark magic usage."
"You're right, it is," said Celestia. "It'll take a while; but for now, promise me one thing, okay? Promise me that you'll keep being safe. That's all I ask, since you're the most trustworthy pony I know." But a thought at the edge of mind came into play, and Celestia added: "Oh, and Corvo tried to burn down everything in both the Royal Library and Archives."
"Huh!" said Luna. "He attempted to burn all of the books and scrolls?"
"Don't worry. I set them to be fire-proof for another two weeks, I believe. Best I could do given the haste. I guessed that he would do something like that. It was a last-second decision."
"But how did you know he was aiming for such an act?" asked Luna
"Sister, you know who I am," remarked Celestia.
"Ah, of course. Nevermind," said Luna flatly. "Though you still didn't tell me how you avoided the poison."
"There was a spell that can make you immune to certain types of plants for a day," answered Celestia.
"But that's much too obvious."
Celestia laughed. "Just like when I played chess with him. Some minds just can't see the obvious outcomes that could ruin their plans."
"Well then, I suppose all is set!" said Luna, sounding out of breath. Today had been a lot to take in: her sister faking her own death, an ominous worriment, and everything that had happened before. She arrayed her thoughts in order of what to do. Luna would need to keep acting normal and not mention anything to anypony else. Something was definitely stirring up in the background; and she didn't like it for a second.
"Okay," she said again, but more softly. "I'll inform the others about your arrival—such as Princess Cadence and Shining Armor—tomorrow. I just hope that whatever you do is beneficial for us. We sure as tartarus wouldn't want anything to get out of control again."
"Luna," said Celestia for a final time in that hour, "I have a feeling that we'll see Corvo again. Either soon or years from now, it's an imminent situation that we're caught in."
Luna didn't respond. She knew she didn't have to.
* * *
"What a day!" yawned Corvo as he stepped through his entrance frame, closing the door behind him with a faint thud. He set what money was left in his pockets on the lid of a round crevice in his wall, hung his pale-blue greatcoat over the rack, and lit a candle that hung high on a mantelpiece over a hearth. His desk was piled with new information concerning more cases, newly discovered mysteries, and oddities. But Corvo paid no mind to those.
"And you return looking to be in the gloom," said a methodical voice. A second doorway opened, and the Outsider stepped in the living room.
"A little bit," said Corvo. "But do not bug me about it. A day is only wasted if you have learned nothing new."
"So what did you learn today?" asked the Outsider. "Any lecture on the fragile philosophy of only the keenest minds? Perhaps you have planned another drawn-out assassination of deceitfulness. Or did you just create something new, something powerful, and will use it to your incomparable desires?"
"Why not sing poetry for me while you are at it!" said Corvo. He lifted a heavy, grey jacket from a pin in the wall, and slid it on in a fidgety sort of way. He took his mask off the edge of the mantelpiece and fingered its glass eye, looking suspiciously at it. "All I did was attend a party."
"I bet it was nonsense, huh?" said the Outsider.
"No, not at all," said Corvo, equipping the mask on; its metal surface gleamed in response to the burning wick of the lit candle. His next words were deeper and more precise: "Just people."
The Outsider creased his brow in a mocking manner and smirked. "Stupid people?"
"One better not call others stupid, for it indicates that he does not think, and is trying to quickly resolve that person's background," said Corvo. "I will be heading out now. Watch if you like."
"You know that I take great interest in your life, Corvo," said the Outsider, "but why are you heading out now? You just came in not even one minute ago, yawning and describing the day as wearying."
"I was describing Corvo Attano's day," said Corvo. "The Wandering Stranger is heading out. That is what I meant to imply."
"Do go on."
"Sir Vladimir Elmer," said Corvo. He rested one of his shoulders against the wall and opened the door he had come in through, gesturing outside with a thumb. "He is a sociopathic criminal who has a record for robbing the vaults with the most coin in all of Dunwall and such. He is able to always talk the legal system into making things seem legitimate or accidental. He is a blackmailer and consistently commits manipulation under anyone's notion. Tonight he is missing; and chances are, he is plotting another vault heist. I will be there to kill him."
"Why has he not gotten a death row sentence yet if he is such a travesty?"
"My guess is that he blackmails the people into voting him as the non-guilty person. In a way, he is not guilty, since that is what the police say. And killing him would be a crime."
"But you could not care less," said the Outsider with a stretch of his back. "I understand."
Corvo was about to walk out of his house, but the Outsider caught him off guard, loudly calling: "Hold on!"
Corvo nearly tripped on his own feet from the sudden outburst. "Make it quick," he said, much to his annoyance, stepping back inside.
"There is a letter for you," said the Outsider, as if he had expected Corvo to already know.
This caught Corvo's interest. His peripherals looked out to the streets through the doorway, then he leaped in and closed the door. "By whom?" he asked reluctantly.
"It's anonymous," said the Outsider. "On the couch there, which looks towards the hearth and stool."
Corvo looked over to find a perfectly square piece of paper, folded three times and tied with a yellow ribbon. He carefully lifted it and hummed in thought. "This paper is unusually smooth, though it is not wax," he commented. "Maple tree, I would guess; but maple trees do not grow in this continent."
"Imported from across the sea?" opined the Outsider.
"They would only give it to me by mail, and I have no word of signified mention," said Corvo, "so no. There was also no shipment of any paper this month, according to my knowledge."
"And nobody broke in here to leave behind a letter; for I have been here all day, and none but you came."
"Even if you were not here, I could still know, since there are many tricks I left all round the house to determine if there really were a thief. For example, you cannot put too much weight on the carpet at the bottom of the threshold—say, by stepping on it. If you do, a copper wire would pull a wooden plank from beneath, moving the carpet. Once the culprit leaves, either he does not put it back and I know someone came in, or he does and I would still feel the shift beneath the floor. Not by the windows, either, since there are small pieces of paper in between their joints. If someone came in here by that way, even if the paper is put back, I could still tell by the specific angle. Do you get me?"
"All right," said the Outsider, "no one came in here, and it is impossible for that letter to have been manufactured from this place. Then what happened, Corvo? Are you not a detective?" he ended dubiously.
"Perhaps we should read it," said Corvo. He slowly pulled the ribbon off and threw it to the Outsider, who leaned forth to catch. "That is made of legitimately-gold silk, dyed severely with a deep purple. Very expensive. That can give us a few options to go by."
"The person is very wealthy, I would guess," said the Outsider.
"The most obvious to start with, though I think it to be the correct one," said Corvo. He flipped open the letter and read quickly. "This handwriting is extremely odd. It is neither left-handed nor right-handed. Instead, it is as if the person used both hands to write these words, and held the tip of the quill perpendicular to their face. No curves to speak of."
"Maybe it was written by mouth," remarked the Outsider, as if he were attempting to be humorous.
"Maybe," sighed Corvo. "I will read it out loud. Ahem! 'Dear Corvo Attano, do you know that unnecessary meetings do matter in the long run? Did you know that? You do now. I write this in condolence to your situation—or how your situation will be soon. I am hosting an awaiting in a castle.' There are also several letters down here: 'XKYOJKTIK OT KWAKYZXOG.'"
"Do you think it to be a riddle or some sort of hidden saying?"
"Give me a minute to figure it out." Corvo sat down uncomfortably and pressed his back to the couch. It mentioned that superfluous meetings matter. Does it reference to something that has happened in the past? It spoke of a situation; and from the context, this said future does not seem too good. Is it a death threat? Perhaps.
"Maybe they meant to threaten your life," said the Outsider.
"I just got that part down," said Corvo without moving his head. I will focus on those letters: there were two spaces, separating the two nine-letter-long lines from the two letters in between. But what would that mean? I doubt it has a correlation with the 'awaiting in a castle' part.
A minute-long silence hung in the air: Corvo was deep in thought, but with time he grew more still. "I know what it is, but I am aghast to just mention it," said Corvo at length. A shadow passed over him. "It is Equestria."
"Now that is a twist!" said The Outsider. "I bet someone—or rather, somepony wrote this to you. At the end it talks about an awaiting in a castle. Sound familiar?"
"But... no, no. Celestia and Luna are dead," said Corvo. "I killed them in the surest of ways. They were slain by me, as you saw. Unless it was a trick." Corvo huffed and shot up. "That is a massive problem now!"
"A contradiction?"
"But of course!" he said, jumping forth. "You saw those letters, huh? It is a Caesar Cipher. There were twenty letters overall. Just advance each letter by twenty letters from their respective locations on the alphabet, and it spells out: residence in Equestria. But what annoys me is why would someone make a cipher? Why not just spell it out? Either they do not know who I am and are expecting me to be unable to solve this message, or they do and have something else in mind."
"A simple cipher, I see," said the Outsider. "Well, simple to you—not simple to many others. But maybe whoever wrote this expects you to go to Equestria."
"Maybe," said Corvo, biting his nail in frustration. "But if it is the latter in my assumption, then I can only guess that the presumably slain Celestia wrote the code. It even mentioned a 'situation,' Outsider. What do you suppose?"
"I suppose that you are taking a grand leap in logic," he answered. "You are jumping to conclusions."
"That is what my job is half of the time: to take jumps in logic in case I wish to make real progress." Corvo rested his knuckled fist over the forehead of his mask and sat down on the couch's arm. In a low voice he said: "Once you rule out the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be true."
"That sounds somehow familiar," said The Outsider, looking up in thought. "Never you mind that. I still remain incredibly unconvinced. There are so many alternatives."
"I know," said Corvo. "I know of no one here who is aware of Equestria; therefore, it must be from there. But how would they send it if they do not have that sort of magic yet?" He rubbed his teeth together and sighed. "Listen, Outsider, this is an impossible situation. However, I am making the idea that Celestia did write this out to be superficial: she is merely a figure I use to represent Equestria. In all honesty, I too am unconvinced, but many things are possible. I just wish to get rid of that probability as quickly as I can."
"So if you are this adamantly convinced that this letter is derived from Equestria, are you planning on going back there? What about Vladimir Elmer, out there robbing people of their coin?"
"I will kill him later," said Corvo. "He will suspect the Wandering Stranger to come after him, as it happens to everyone. This includes setting many traps all round him, and tricking me into going to the wrong vault. I already predicted the outcomes according to his personality traits and his expenses. But that will wait for later. He is no murderer after all, so I am more concerned with this letter."
And he tossed it onto a nearby table. "But I would hate to digress any further. All I can do now is think." He threw himself on the couch and slid his mask off, looking at the high ceiling with crimson in his eyes.
"You will not go anywhere?" said The Outsider. "No late-night study sessions at the city's archive, like we did nigh three years ago? No hobby you have that can clear your mind? Nothing?"
"You do not know if I have a hobby or not?" said Corvo, sitting up. "I thought that you took interest in my life?"
"I watch over you when you kill criminals—when you are interesting. Your normal life is boring. I have other things to attend in my life."
"You are a millennial-old being who always talks about entertainment," said Corvo, half-smiling. "What can you possibly have in your life other than watch people whom you give your Mark to?"
"A long life has many secrets, Corvo," said The Outsider. "But how could you know?"
"Okay," said Corvo flatly. He used his Mark to light a low fire in the hearth before him. Soon the room's black shadows were noticeably stretched. "I do not."
Several more moments went by. The two just waited there: Corvo in his silence, watching the slow flames; and The Outsider was leant against the wall, studying Corvo. But eventually The Outsider grew bored, and said: "So is this what you usually do?"
"Sure, I guess so," said Corvo quietly.
"Good luck with living your life then!" remarked the Outsider. His feet lifted off from the ground, and a thin screen of black smoke draped round him. "I think I will leave you to it. Good luck. Find me when you get any progress done. Or rather, I'll find you."
Corvo paid practically no attention, as if the world round him were mute. While Outsider vanished, he kept his heavy gaze on the fireplace. Every flame seemed significant, like its own option to go by; but they overlapped, become withered, or vanished from sight when they reached their peaks. It confused him—the analogy he was trying to form in his mind was improbable.
Minutes turned into hours, and many hours surely went by. Weariness soon took Corvo, as at that point he fell into an uneasy sleep, troubled by what would become of his situation if he could not think fast enough.
* * *
There came three, identically-sounding knocks from behind the front door. Corvo opened his eyes quickly, as if he were deep in thought rather than sleeping. He turned round to look past the hallway. Three more knocks hit.
"Half a minute!" he called, getting up to his feet. The hearth's fire had died down into a very dim glow, and to greet him was the sunshine through the high windows. Corvo opened the door, and in stepped Serath, a good friend of his.
"You were still sleeping even now, huh?" said Serath, looking round the living room with his hands deep in his pockets.
"Serath, how did you know I was sleeping?" asked Corvo, exhaling and closing the door. He knew his friend quite well. Quite a few times they would ambiguously end chess matches in stalemates; but most times he would win. Corvo, despite admiring Serath's generosity in such dark times, had to constantly avoid even his suspicion of who the Wandering Stranger really was. They had been best friends for two years now, and Corvo would hate to have to end that friendship.
"It is an hour past midday, Corvo," said Serath with an almost teasing smirk. "You are never this late to wake up. But please, save that for later. I am here to congratulate you."
"The Unmasked Ball," sighed Corvo, unpleasantly being reminded of that night. "Yes, I... I," he stammered. "Sorry. Thank you kindly for coming by just to congratulate me. You did not really have to."
"Well, seeing as how you seemed to lose some sleep, I would guess that you are worried about something," said Serath. He swept an open palm over the couch's arm and chuckled. "Do not mind me."
"I really would not." Corvo cast a glance through the window, then looked back to the door. "I was actually going to head out. But as for the worriment you mentioned: it was only a late-night case."
"That is fine and all, but do try to maintain a decent sleep schedule," said Serath. "Well, if there is nothing that you need, I shall be taking care of my patients at the hospital. I am expected there in twenty minutes no less."
Corvo smiled and rolled his eyes. "And you stopped by here just for the quick talk. Again, thank you, but please go on. Dunwall needs all the doctors they can get. You are one of the few good ones."
A paleness went over Serath's face. He stretched his arms and looked round about. "Before I go, I must ask: did you get any more details concerning the Wandering Stranger?"
"You and I both know that he will most likely never get caught," said Corvo matter-of-factly. "I tried, but all this fellow does is kill and vanish. It is like trying to capture your own shadow."
"But even your shadow becomes defeated when you are in the dark," said Serath. He walked by Corvo in a slow gait, shrugging, as if not caring for a response. "Nineteen minutes now. My bad! Please, go on to whatever it is you were going to go to. And that is?"
"Out of the city, for I am called upon in the other isles," answered Corvo, buttoning up his coat halfway. "I know the clouds are low and grey, but it is not so bad to be outside."
"Hardly anyone is outside at this point." Serath scratched his head and sighed gloomily. "But what would I know? Most of my life, I am indoors. Whatever you will do, do not get struck by lightning!" he ended in a titter.
Corvo smirked and shook his head. "Chances are I will not," he said. But within him his hastiness grew every second. "Anyway, I shall inform you of what I find."
"And one more thing," said Serath. "Did you have someone else over yesterday?"
"No," said Corvo, slowly and suspiciously.
"That is odd," said Serath again, casting a glance over Corvo's shoulder into the dark corridor ahead. "The second door down there is open. It leads directly from an enclosed room to the living room. But some of the wrinkles on your attire tell me that you slept on the couch with the fire lit, for the latter glows dimly of a few hours of age. I am guessing that you were facing the hearth, and the scrambled letters on the desk here shows that you were exclusively working in this room. There is also—"
"Brilliant attempt at deduction!" Corvo cut in at once. "I left the door open from two days ago. As you can tell by the boxes in the back down there"— He pointed to several cardboard figures in a corner's shadow —"I would have placed them back in their respective places had the door been closed today or yesterday."
There was a hesitation in Serath's eyes. But ultimately he grew much too wary of the time and waved it off. "Never mind it then. I was just wondering. Goodbye, Corvo. May I see you again."
"You too," said Corvo in a friendly voice, watching his friend wander down the hill and into a street. "Be at peace." But in his thought he only grew more paranoid of whomever he would talk to. Did anyone from Equestria write that letter? Were they in Equestria? He hardly had the courage to trust anyone outside of his secret; and despite his best efforts at keeping to himself, his social status was much too great for any long-determined focus. Wherever he went his face would be recognized. It was only a matter of planning ahead—something he was very good at.
The first thing he did was hide. Corvo hid away with his mask for the entire day, while everyone thought he was actually out visiting other countries like he used to. The Wandering Stranger, who he now was, could only be still in invisibility as people walked by and ignored what he thought. And then the entirety of the day went by in an untouchable speed.
But now, by that point, Corvo remained in heavy thought until there was a waxing moon in the pale night-sky. Those hours were unique, however; for not a single echo of any voice, nor the radiance of any light was seen or heard. The city of Dunwall was in perfect harmony with the night: still and dark. No one was outside, talking, going on about their business. The high castles and fortresses up north were like tall, looming mountains, staring upon a field of ruins as a lifeless and wide tower. The whole place became, oddly enough, eerily peaceful under the weatherless sky.
Corvo was not a single bit reluctant to go away from his country and never look back. It was strange for him to be okay with such an act, but not a care was found. He noticed himself wishing to go somewhere else as of lately, growing weary and appalled at his dwelling and the faces there. He stood upon a leaning tower, cut into a broad valley, which stretched down into a vast field and connected into the city. The clouds began to clear.
"Could you answer me something?" said Corvo at a never-awaited length. His mind was altogether focused upon the forlorn horizon of the grey world to be concerned with the sheets of houses and buildings far off below. A chill wind started when his lips spoke, vainly attempting to drag his coat far off and up into the air.
"Yes, I could," said the Outsider. He reserved himself to be up against a wall within the tower's structure. "But will I?"
"Do you think that I should go back to Equestria?" asked Corvo.
The Outsider nodded his head with unchanged eyes, as if he had expected to receive the question. "Well, it would make me happier to see you do something, so go ahead. But you have not known about this letter for very long. Are you certain you want to go back without a concrete plan?"
"I am certain."
The Outsider slid a palm over his pale face and sighed heavily. "In all seriousness?" he said. "Corvo, the first time you decided to go to Equestria without a plan was understandable. You had no idea what you were getting yourself into, bore no knowledge of the place or its inhabitants, et cetera. But you went there a second time fully prepared. And now why such an inconsistency: to go there yet a third time without a well-thought layout of what to do? Pray tell."
"I do not have time to plan!" Corvo fell down to sit with his legs crossed, and slapped a hand to his forehead. "Every second I take up could perhaps decrease the time I have to..." Corvo hesitated. "To protect this city," he ended stiffly.
While the Outsider had his head bowed in boredom, something in Corvo's voice made him raise his chin in interest. He never saw Corvo stutter to announce the loyalty he had for everything round them. "I think that you should wait no more than ten minutes."
Corvo looked dubiously at him. "Huh?" he said, tilting his head. "You just went against the fact that I wanted to go to Equestria in such haste not a minute ago."
"Yes, but then I realized something," said the Outsider: "the reason why it took so long to go the second time was because you had no knowledge of Equestria. I now know why you are okay with going a third time: because you have already done your homework. Planning ahead should be much easier now."
Corvo practically threw himself up to his feet and looked long at the Outsider's black eyes. The rims of the moon hazed into the dark sky, shining over Corvo's hood and mask, and spreading a pale-greyness throughout the city. He was there, fully stood up, with a strange light about him. "Is that all the analysis you have?" he said.
The Outsider raised one eyebrow and lowered the other. "Yes. Going back there a third time should be easier," he said, "now that you are already aware of the workings of Equestria, which therefore equals to less time in planning. I think it to be convenient."
"But why would someone—maybe Princess Celestia—write this letter a little over two years after I tried to eliminate her?" said Corvo, his hand checking through his belt. Only my folding sword and a crossbow. I forgot the other things. Pity.
"Maybe she was waiting this long to throw you off?" suggested the Outsider. "Or, I guess, she tried many things for many, many months and finally decided to send you that cipher."
"But why a cipher so late?" said Corvo. "She knew that I would solve it in no time. She knew that waiting years would not help. She... probably even suspects of me returning." His voice grew hastier and quieter, as if he were speaking to himself. "She knows me quite well to predict that I would want to come back. But Celestia made that cipher to confuse me, I would bet. Does she have something else playing in the background: an underlying plan that I am oblivious to? What did she mean by that situational mention? She would not wait so long if it were not for the expected; therefore, I can safely say that she has some sort of predicament set for me. But to go through all of this trouble just to get to me? Unless..."
"Corvo, I am not a mute inspector," said the Outsider in a groan. "Well, normally I am, but not right now."
"I got it!" said Corvo, confidently looking to the Outsider, ignoring his annoyed remark. "There must be some other problem Princess Celestia is dealing with; and she wishes to have it solved—in some way or other that I have not figured out, that is. Think about it: why would she try to attract me so late? Celestia wants nothing but the well-being for her subjects and land; and when attempting to bring back a danger of which you are sure shall never return, you might as well shoot yourself in the foot. Therefore, I assume there is a second issue."
"Right," said the Outsider, sounding even more skeptical than before. "So would that explain the waiting?"
"I believe so."
The Outsider hummed to fill the silence in the tower, looking round in a guess. "But what about that letter?"
"That is something that I still need to think through," said Corvo disappointingly. "She would only wait so long for a good reason. If I were to place my coin on how well I understand Celestia's mindset, I will guess that she would start planning right away after I was gone. But the two-year hiatus means something else. That secret code, Outsider, is what I think to be a warning from her. Remember that this is all speculation."
"Very original," said the Outsider flatly. "But I prefer to wait this out and see where it all goes. What say you now, Corvo?"
"If I were to go now—" Corvo paused and sighed pessimistically. "If I were to go now, they would most likely attempt something very ugly. And the last thing I wish to do is to start a fight, however it may eventually end. I think I must go in there stealthily at first to gather adequate information regarding this stuff."
"I will send you now," said the Outsider. Oddly enough, he spoke in a lighter tone. "I cannot watch too closely, however. So that means you must return to the initial point of where you appear as a signal for me to bring you back. In other words: it is like last time."
Corvo unknowingly took a step forth, despite him not needing to. His reluctance to go was weighing upon his choice; but an even greater fear of remaining where he was seemed to be overwhelming. He pressed a fist over his chest—where his heart was—and briskly gestured for the Outsider to continue.
"You look very unwilling, Corvo," he said, "and incredibly saddened by this decision."
"I will think things through. As of now, I solemnly swear to not get cau—er, killed."
"No fun at all," said the Outsider, shaking his head. "But who am I to judge in the most impromptu moment?"
* * *
On the surface, it was nothing more than a culmination of high stone walls interconnected with one another to form Canterlot Castle, with overly-polished glass panes of multi-coloured reflections, great towers that watched like silent sentinels, and endlessly-flowing banners of white and gold all round the peaks of the castle and about the gardens. It truly seemed like a lovely place for residence; everything looked to be merry and promising.
Inside the castle, passing by the plethora of hallways and double doors, a very clear and cool mood lay in the air. It was neither ever too hot nor too cold, being the perfect place to get lost while wandering. It was as if a musk of paper and books lolled high up under the ceiling, especially near the Canterlot Royal Library. It was, as is the castle overall, very nice to see—all down to the pleasant smell and the subtly calming light.
But all of that stuff which the castle bore was now at the back of Corvo's mind. Despite the white light which invaded every corner of the buildings and rooms—and armor-plated guards gaited by every now and then—Corvo was an invisible shadow, whom no eye could perceive for even a second. From motionless chandelier to the clean, marble beams within the walls' heads, he flew by with literally no sound.
The sun was halfway across the weatherless sky, leading Corvo to sneak round the place for as slow as possible, seeing all that he could, and awaiting the night. For he had arrived in the morning, and intended to leave in the dark. But a grim nostalgia was set upon his shoulders. He felt uncomfortable and cross being in Equestria again after so long; but, at an odd unison, a voice in the back of his mind bit away at that uneasiness.
From an indoor ledge and with his back pressed to a great window, he thought: At this time, Celestia should be finishing her royal duties. That is, she would, if two years has not changed what she now does. But that is more specific towards my mission; for right now, I will focus on the basics. According to the tracks I saw, no train passed by since six days ago. No clouds that I can see from here, and none again for a few kilometers off. But does that mean not many pegasi have been doing their jobs as of lately? An alteration in schedule? Yes. I suspect that Celestia has grown just a tad bit more insecure of her surroundings. That must explain the place being more laden with guards and no clouds to block the view. But perhaps I am overthinking it.
Corvo waited unseen in the darkest places of the castle, casting his sight all over the hallways and just how many guards would wander by with stiff necks. It was as if everypony there were expecting something.
The patience soon paid off. As the last rays of light slanted down the many lips of windows, and a shadowy air grew about, dim, hasty hoof-steps drew up from the north. At first Corvo made out only one pony, but soon followed more of a ragged combination of thumps. There were two ponies, coming closer at a constant pace.
From a nearby angle a pair of alicorns emerged: Celestia and Luna—both to the incomprehensible surprise and furious concern of Corvo. He remained bent on his knees and watched from afar, keeping his head low. A sudden, almost motionless shock filled his heart. He grew tireless, frustrated, and confused. A reminder washed over him of how he said before that Celestia wrote the letter, that she was responsible for something or other, but that statement never convinced him personally. Secretly he was hoping to be wrong. He did not want to believe it, but the two ponies he most ambiguously resented were alive and well.
"We are finally here," said Celestia.
"I believe so," said Luna. "Can you tell me why we are in front of the Royal Library, and what do we plan on doing here?"
So that entrance leads to the main library, thought Corvo. Odd that the door's aesthetics have changed. Still, a lot can happen in two years.
"We are going to study," said Celestia restlessly. "Remember the after-effects I mentioned those few years ago? Well, the more I hung on that, the more I thought it to be true. And after much secrecy, I'm finally willing to tell you what may eventually happen."
"The only thing we all took from you were vague clues as to what you were chasing after," sighed Luna. "These past some years have been peaceful. Too peaceful, as a matter of fact. You mentioned this mysteriousness lingering around Equestria last month, and ever since we have been planning out this private meeting of ours. Now you can inform me of your discoveries after so long."
"I will," said Celestia. "Dark magic isn't something you want around for very long. Truly horrific things may cause other horrific things to resurface or emerge. But please, let's discuss this further in the library with an open book." She grabbed the door's golden handle with her magic and pulled back slowly. The two sisters temporarily stepped to the side as the library's distant pillars and books were revealed to them. The ceiling was high and arched, with many books placed within the walls, and many more shelves scattered in an organized fashion. Amid it all were long tables and wide chairs. They stepped inside and Celestia abruptly pulled her magic back to slam the door shut, but with as little noise as possible.
On the last second of reaction Corvo lit his Mark, bent time, and slipped in as fast as possible. When time resumed, he was lain upon a ledge where the highest pillar's head met the curved ceiling. The entrance door sharply locked its hinges in place. The first thing he heard was the echoing ticks of the clock hanging above his shoulder. He didn't bother for the time, however.
With a flick of their horns' light the two alicorns lit several dozen candles all about them, which hung aimlessly on pedestals or shelves. All possible light was used. Their burning wicks caught Corvo by surprise; he gazed at two ten-inch, parallel candles at either side of the main door, and his glass eyes gleamed in response. Celestia set down what looked to be an old book. It was grey, had a single black one in the center, and nothing else. For what seemed to be so important, the cover was very plain.
"Dark magic is essentially an entity of its own if we look at the technicalities," said Celestia in a low voice. "Remember what he heard back at the Crystal Empire, and our prior knowledge of how King Sombra used it? Remember that it spread those dark crystals? Sort of like a ripple in a pond, if you get me."
"I do," said Luna. "We know that Corvo used dark magic—or, at the very least, some subclass of it. But if that's the probable case, then what would be the specific effect?"
"I figured it out." Celestia swam through the papers with exact precision, landing directly on the one-hundredth page. There was a wall of text only. "I'll cut some time here: this talks about the effects dark magic has when a similar sort of thing is around it. Or maybe it could happen later on in the same location. Dark magic seeks its own power; therefore, I fear that we may have... can you guess?"
"Freed more dark magic?" said Luna, tapping her chin. "No, I do not think it would work like that. Remember back when King Sombra was attacking? It was reported that Twilight utilized dark magic. Even you demonstrated it to her. So why are they suddenly attracting now?"
Celestia hummed to herself, rapidly reading over the black ink. "No, something was different that day, though I'm not sure why. My guess is that the Crystal Heart was weakening his powers, in a way that would cause interference. But if some other dark magic came along that was unfamiliar with the Crystal Heart—a sort of type that was immune—then we would have a problem."
"Did Corvo know about this back then?" asked Luna. "And what do you think will happen now, according to this logic?"
"To answer your first question," answered Celestia solemnly, "I doubt Corvo knew. It was never his plan. His motivation for wanting to end us remains a mystery. As for the second question, we'll need to investigate further. Tomorrow morning I'll be heading to the Crystal Empire."
"But wait, Corvo arrived two years ago. If his magic would cause a reaction to Equestria's dark magic, why has nothing happened yet?" Luna took a glance at the book, then back to her sister. "Why all the sudden attention now?"
"That's what confuses me," said Celestia. "Things like this have happened before in pony history, though such events are beyond my memory. I think that there might be a trigger, or maybe there wasn't enough, or something. In any case, remembering back to this information two years ago, I had to study it."
"Unless," added Luna in a slow voice, "King Sombra returned, and he is deliberately waiting."
Celestia's eyes became clouded with fear, something that Luna had hardly ever seen. But before any of them could comment further, they heard several taps from a distant shelf. The two alicorns immediately turned to see a dark figure standing there, tall and still, with an arm against the bookshelf's lateral wall.
"What a tragedy," said Corvo venomously. "Not only do I see you damned princesses alive, unknown to me for so long, but it appears you have other problems to deal with now."
"Good to see you—with the joyous names, too," said Celestia calmly, as if expecting him to appear. Luna, however, stood on all fours and watched him intently. "Settle down, sister."
"But... ah... this is different, huh?" said Luna. She exhaled and dwindled back to her seat. "Last time you came I attacked right away, and everypony else was quite shocked. Now all is normal."
Corvo, within all doubt, was confused in the most unpleasant way. They were neither angry, nor scared, nor anything remotely wary of his presence. Luna just watched him, and Celestia went back to reading the book before her. It was as if they expected him.
"Last time I nearly had you both in permanent graves," said Corvo. "I show up again and you hardly care. I am suspicious. How come? Did you predict that I would come?"
"No," said Celestia, not looking at him. "You just revealed yourself now. I would never have known."
"You want me to believe you?" said Corvo. "Did you not send me that cipher?"
Celestia's ears perked. She cast a glance over him and raised an eyebrow. "Say again?" she said.
"The letter," said Corvo again. "An awaiting in a castle? Here. Residence in Equestria? This situation, which seems to be what you are in right now. Care to explain?"
"I should be asking that final question," said Celestia crossly. "You mean to say that you got some sort of message, and think that I sent it to you? Well then, when did you receive it?"
"Not too many days ago," said Corvo. He began to grow extensively worried. "So you did not write it?"
"Interesting," remarked Celestia. "We were just talking about you, though I'm sure you were eavesdropping just now. Would you like to know the details?"
Corvo tightened his jaw, gripped the flat sides of his mask roughly, and pulled it off. He flipped his hood back and slid the mask upon his belt. "What is wrong with you?" he asked, even more annoyed than before. "I almost killed you two years ago, and all you care about is giving me unnecessary information? How strange can one get?"
"Plenty," said Celestia flatly. "But we have some talking to do. What I was discussing concerned your past actions. I think you would find a lot of curiosity in this."
"How do you know that I will not try to kill you again?" he asked dubiously.
"Try to be a little optimistic, will you," said Luna. "You just mentioned some message that you have received, and that it led you here. But I personally will confirm that none of us had to do with anything concerning some nonsense of a secret cipher."
"Well sooth," said Corvo. "Then let us have a conversation!" He suddenly rushed to the table, though neither of the princesses flinched. He sat across them and rested an elbow on the wooden surface. "Neither any stalling nor subtle lies. Truthful but quick," he added.
"First thing's first," said Luna: "why did you try and kill us?"
"You know of the Outsider, the supposed spirit of chaos like your Discord?" he asked. Corvo wanted to get rid of any doubt as fast as possible.
The two of them nodded slowly.
"Good," continued Corvo. "He was able to, as I would say, send his mind into the future. He told me that he witnessed a war between my country and Equestria."
"You don't seem that terribly convinced," interrupted Celestia. "Excuse me. Please continue."
"I, uh... I-I thought of things," he stuttered with a sigh. "Sorry, but I cannot continue—not with you two so calm and collected to see me again. I need to know what is going on!"
"And we are just as surprised that you didn't try to kill us again," said Celestia. "We'll explain shortly. Please continue."
"Very well." Corvo nearly stumbled upon his next words, for he spoke them in great speed. "There was a war coming. Why? It was revealed that, many years from now, multi-dimensional magic would be invented, however it is going to work. Somepony here would accidentally come to my country and start a war. The end result shall not be pretty, I would guess."
"How admirable," said Celestia almost contemptuously, as though she wished to end the conversation right there and now. "You wanted to protect your world by killing us. Understandable, but only under certain circumstances. You could have at least informed us so long ago."
"Such diplomacy can be tremendously complicated," said Corvo. "But it does not matter now. The reason I came back was because of the mysterious letter, coincidentally at the same time where you decided to reveal this 'dark magic' business concerning me. That is why I am not attacking now: because I feel the need to learn of it, and of that letter. It spoke of giving me condolences in regards to an upcoming situation."
"Oh, I see now," said Celestia. She took a deep breath and stared hard at him. "Listen to me, Corvo, for these next words are crucial. When you arrived and later on used your magic, it caused another sort of dark magic here to react. For a while now we thought that the last evil ruler of this bad sort—King Sombra—was defeated. But due to your usage of that unique mark right there, we believe it to be some dark magic: like a positive in mathematics. King Sombra's was negative. A positive and a negative, when together, just equals a negative."
"A little tasteless on the analogy," opined Corvo. "Anyway, are you saying that there can be another evil at work? If so, then why that message?"
"We are almost as clueless as you are," said Luna.
"Of course," agreed Celestia. "Corvo, we still need to reveal a lot of things; but we mostly want to know of this letter."
"It was a cipher that said residence in Equestria," he said, rubbing a palm over his forehead. "I thought that it was written by you. The writing style—might have been magic."
An aghast expression abruptly washed over Celestia's demeanor. She ground her teeth and looked back to the front door, as if dependently wanting for no one to come through. She quickly stared at Corvo and said: "I think I'm right then. When you left Equestria, something may have followed you there. My hypothesis is that the entire time you were being stalked unconditionally. I think that letter came from your own country. Somepony out there is possibly working against Equestria under notion."
"Now that I go over that educated guess, it makes some sense—if I knew more." Corvo ran his thoughts over any possibilities with what he had heard. "So you think that I activated some sort of evil entity in Equestria?"
"Uniquely so, yes," said Celestia. "By you alone; but don't let that discourage you. See, the reason I think something followed you was because of your magic's attraction. It was as if all the things that are happening now were timed accordingly. Unfortunately for you, but perhaps your own place may be in danger."
Corvo stood up, looking round him with deep eyes. "So I reckon you may need some help with the progress?" he asked.
"It would help," said Luna wearily. "But we are still unsure of you."
Corvo was about to respond, though he involuntarily hesitated. Something in his mind held back all possible curiosity of what they were discussing. He would hate to admit it, but a supposed evil stalker frightened him. Was something really following him for over two years, and he did not know of it?
"You have my word," said Celestia softly.
Corvo looked at her sharply. "Word on what?"
"That if we ever somehow manage to get into your world, that we will not start a war," said Celestia again. "That if somepony here, or I myself gets into wherever it is you live, that I'll look over anything that can trigger a war and stop it. For any reasonable cause, I'll do everything in my power to prevent this imminent war if possible."
Corvo felt lightheaded. A warmness spread about him, something that he had not felt for a long time. "Why such haste for that sort of promise?" he said, but quickly realized that those words had no purpose. "But thank you. Right now, though, I am not sure who to trust."
"Wait, wait," said Luna. "We are sure that some sort of dark magic is around Equestria again, all because of Corvo. It might affect Equestria and his own place. But at the moment Tia had adequate enough information on the matter and decided to reveal it to me was the exact same time Corvo obtained a letter motioning him to come here. Is it me, or is that a very odd coincidence?"
The library went black. Every single lantern and glowing flame puffed out in an instance. There was no sound, no movement, and no light. Even the extremely faint noise of the chill wind outdoors became mute. And for a lasting minute, none of them said a word.
Celestia lit her horn, conveniently but not too bright. The three were surrounded by darkness, and all they could see was the table before them, the old book, and the silhouettes of several high shelves.
"I never though I'd say this," she said, "but glad to have you back, Corvo. I fear that this wasn't a coincidence, and that something very, very bad just occurred. And worse of all, everything that I said might have come true."