I trudged through the Everfree forest, my senses dulled to the surrounding woods. The battle I had with Black atop the tower played over and over again within my mind. What could I have done differently? I knew he was powerful, but how could I have been so careless?
How could I have refused to fight at full power?
No... I did fight at full power, but only at the end when things looked truly grim. Every other time, however, I didn't attack with the intent to kill. I aimed to maim him in someway, even the portal to the dark dimension wouldn't outright kill him, only contain him. He was threatening the very stability of the planet, and I fought not to kill? A battle of that caliber is nothing less then a condensed war, and lives are lost in wars. Why... why didn't I try to take his life? I stopped walking as I tried to gather my thoughts together, but it was no use. My mind was a wreck, a mess of questions I couldn't answer.
Why didn't I fight harder?
Why didn't I use more powerful spells!?
Why didn't I end it sooner!?!?
WHY DIDN'T I KILL HIM!?!?!?
I screamed in rage as I lashed out to the closest thing to me. A tree. My fist impacted the bark, and I watched as the tree splintered from the sheer force of my attack. It was an old oak tree, one that had stood for countless generations, surviving everything nature had thrown at it. Despite the feat of nature, it buckled under the sheer might of my wrath. The tree groaned in agony as it began to fall, crying out to its brethren for help to catch it. No help came, and the proud sentenial collapsed to the forest floor, creaking one last time in protest before falling silent.
I scowled at the fallen tree and continued on my way home, no worse for wear. I needed to reconsider my position in this life, this universe I called home. I needed to make a decision now, one that would forever change the tides of time.
Do I become the protector that this planet so desperately needs?
Or do I watch this planet and its inhabitants burn around me without care?
It took several more hours of walking until I reached my home once more. I wasn't in any rush. I wasn't looking forward to the talking to I was about to receive from Celestia. Not even a week ago she visited me when I was in the hospital, giving me a deed to the land. Not even a week ago when it seemed like she started to warm up to me.
And then Black came and put out the Sun.
I can't even begin to fathom what the repercussions of such an act may be. Would she blame me and try to put me down while I'm weakened? Will she hear me out, and give me a chance to explain myself? I don't think even the divines knew the answer to that question, but they were about to find out. I could see her through the trees, as well as Trixie and the elements of harmony, each equipped with their respective weapon.
I only had two tomes, each half empty.
I stepped into the clearing, staring at the assorted group. Celestia's face was unreadable, but the smaller ponies were not so afraid to show their emotion. I saw rage, confusion, fear... they were all afraid, afraid of me.
The standoff dragged on for minutes, neither side willing to make the first move. Just as I was about to break the ice, Celestia stepped forward.
"Care to explain what happened?"
So she was giving me a chance to explain, huh? I had one shot at this, one chance to win most of them, including Celestia, over to my side. If I failed that, then perhaps I should just let myself get imprisoned once again.
"It was an invader, a being of immeasurable power. I'm lucky to be alive all things considering. He almost killed me, and would have succeeded if not for some unexpected help."
They looked surprised by this. Trixie especially looked fearful, but still didn't move from her spot. I wonder what Celestia told her? She is her Princess, so I can't fault her for going to her for protection. She seems to be able to give it better than I ever could.
"You lost in a fight?" Celestia asked it not so much as a question, but as a statement. I must have left quite the impression on her. After all, it was technically the first battle I had ever lost since coming to Equestria.
"... Yes. With the help of an unexpected ally, we were able to return the Sun to its full power. The being that attacked, his power dwarfed my own. There wasn't any competition, and I was fully prepared to die fighting. I was lucky enough to convince him of taking the battle to the Badlands. Originally, he wanted to fight in a more urban environment."
Celestia's face paled at the information as did the rest of the ponies. Indeed, I couldn't even begin to imagine the casualties if it had come to that. My last attack alone was powerful enough to wipe out half of Canterlot. If I had used Apocalypse over a city, however... I dread to think what the results would be.
"I saw your attack after the Sun went out. It wasn't hard to miss, considering it was the only major source of light left. I could sense the power from here, the power of the Sun was within that attack, yet I could not influence it." Celestia closed her eyes, thinking on what to say next. "You've become much more powerful since you've been released."
Now that was a statement. "I have," I responded simply. I had no intention of telling her about the Displaced or my new trinkets. She had no right to know. "Regardless, it still wasn't enough."
Celestia exhaled deeply, her face looking old and tired. "I see... should we be wary of this individual's return?"
"... I don't believe so, not yet anyway. He wouldn't risk coming back here so soon, not after he was cornered by my accomplice. Said individual is chasing after him as we speak." Sorry Blood, but got to place you as a sidekick here. I need any leverage I can get to convince Celestia.
The Alicorn in question seemed to dwell on my words. "... If you prepared for another attack... would you be able to defeat him?"
I blinked in surprise at the question. "... I believe so, but it would be a close battle. I think I know what he is exactly, and how he operates. When he attacked, I wasn't sure what to expect. Now, however, I know what his powers are and I can use that to my advantage."
Celestia nodded in understanding, a small smile crossing her features. What she did next would baffle me and her subjects for years to come.
She walked away.
I stared dumbly at the back side of Equestria's sovereign as she turned around and made her way to the trail. She didn't even look back as she called for Twilight and her gang of friends to follow. They didn't question her orders, and soon the clearing was empty save for myself, and Trixie.
My apprentice and I shared a look. She was as confused as I was, but there was more to it than that. She didn't know what to think of me anymore. She must have thought I was some kind of great and powerful being, unmatched in the field of magic. How ironic is it that, for the longest time, I held the same thought? Why wouldn't I? The power of my magic was unparalleled, and when mastered it became a force to rival that of Gods. For the amount of time I've been free in Equestria I have practiced and mastered this magic. I unlocked abilities that I had once never considered to be possible, allowing me to perform miracles.
I was a fool...
How is it that it took me so long to figure out my place in this world? Thinking back to the times I used the magic I realize very rarely did I ever do anything truly extraordinary with it. I was not some God living among mortals, but a boy which failed to realize the consequences of his actions.
I treated my magic like a toy. Raising the dead, antagonizing the Princesses... I really was the villain here, wasn't I? The thought alone terrified me. If I was the bad guy in this story called life than there wouldn't be a group of heroes who would stop me. There wouldn't be some divine intervention to force me back. There wouldn't be a soul who could alter my views. If I allowed myself to play the role of the villain, than this world would burn.
Fulfill your destiny...
... What was the ideal of Robin again? He understood the strings of destiny, and yet he didn't accept a destiny which ended in darkness. Here I was playing as this character and belittling his name with my actions. I would never change my personality, who I am... but that didn't mean I couldn't change my ideals.
My future was not so shrouded as others. I knew what would happen one day, and yet I did very little to prepare for it. Regardless of the reason being ignorance or denial, I knew what would one day occur. It was time to prepare myself, to ready my mind and body for the trials that would one day unfold.
"Robin... ?"
I was drawn out of my thoughts by the voice of Trixie, my apprentice. I looked down at the nervous mare, noticing the fear and unease upon her features.
"Are you okay?"
... But perhaps I wouldn't have to face that day alone. I had some semblance of a normal life, as abnormal as it may be. I had those that were willing to help me. However, relations would always be strained with me. I wasn't one to open myself up, but if I wanted to see the darkness defeated...
"... Trixie, did you know that my name isn't actually Robin?"
I sat across from Trixie at the dining table as I sipped from my mug. I decided that, given the situation, a brew of tea would work better than coffee. Trixie was cradling her own mug as she stared down at the wooden surface. No doubt she was processing everything I told her. It was a lot to take in, and the implications that went along with it were disturbing. I told Trixie almost everything. I left out one or two bits and pieces, but they were for her own benefit more than my own.
I more or less started at the beginning of my tale. I told her about my previous life, my ambitions and my goals. I told her all about my family and friends and what kinds of trouble I'd get into with them. I told her about the college I attended for two years and the degree I was aiming for. I told her enough to paint a picture detailing my life from the age of five to where I am today.
Trixie sighed and placed the mug on the table, looking up at me in the process. "Why didn't you tell me all this sooner?"
I snorted and set down my own mug. "Honestly? I didn't think you'd believe me. Either that or you would leave thinking I had gone senile. My story isn't exactly a normal one."
"So I've learned," Trixie mused, "but I still find it hard to believe that you transformed into another being when you arrived to this world."
"If you want me to tell you how that works than you're going to be disappointed. I have absolutely no clue what magic was used on me, if it even was magic. All I did was pick up a toy sword and next thing I knew I was falling into darkness."
Trixie squirmed in her seat for a moment, looking uncomfortable. "So... the old you essentially died?"
"More or less," I confirm. "While I'm not certain of this fact, I believe I abandoned my previous identity when I picked up the sword. Think of it as a contract, but one you can't back out from, even through death. The human from Earth is gone and has been replaced by Robin from Ylisse."
I glanced across the table to see that Trixie had returned to staring at the table. I sighed and tapped the hard wood, getting her attention. "What's wrong, Trixie? Something is clearly bugging you."
"Well..." Trixie began, playing with her hooves, "you talk like you don't even care about the old life you lost. Don't you miss you family?"
The sound of shattering glass filled the room, causing Trixie to jump in her seat. She looked at my hand to see the mug I had been drinking from had shattered. I looked down at my hand and flexed my fingers, eyeing the shards of ceramic that peppered my skin. My facade didn't change once as I looked across the table at Trixie, my eyes cold.
"Never... Never say, think, or assume that I don't care about the life I lost. I miss my family more then you could possibly imagine."
Trixie nodded her head rapidly, her eyes darting between my face and my bloody hand. I sighed and levitated a piece of cloth from the kitchen, cleaning the blood from my hands. "I think that's enough for today. I suggest retiring early tonight, because things are going to change. You have adequate experience wielding the four basic tomes of this magic, and we're going to put it to the test. From here on out we will be sparring with each other."
Trixie practically fell out of her seat in surprise. She looked at me in fear as the implications of what I said sunk in. "F-Fight!? I-I'm not a fighter Robin!"
"You are now," I rebutted. "The moment you took up this magic you took the path of a battle mage. did you actually think your skills wouldn't be put to the test? This magic was created for war, and that's exactly what we're going to be using it for." Trixie opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off, "There's no getting out of this one. Given recent events it should be obvious to you that I can't always protect you, let alone myself. Go to bed and get a good night's rest. You're going to need it."
Trixie sighed as she got off the chair and retreated to her room. It was only when she closed the door behind her did I allow the weariness I had been hiding to show on my face. I sighed as I got up from my own chair and made my way to my bedroom. Trixie wasn't the only one who would be progressing to the next stage of their studies. I would be practicing myself.
The rules held within the game of Fire Emblem didn't extend to me. I had the potential to grow beyond the boundaries of my 'stats'. I was no longer satisfied with becoming the most powerful mage on the planet. I had my sights on something much, much higher. I made my way to a lone chest in my room, hidden off to the side. I opened the lid and looked at the single book held within.
The Theory Of Immortality
I would become a god.