//------------------------------//
// Part Four 
// Story: The Encore of Clover the Clever 
// by Ice Star 
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There was so much for Elysium to tell, I'm not sure if I understood everything she said, and what I did understand I wasn't entirely sure if I really believed everything. Queen Elysium used to consort with the other being that I saw, Stolas, who lives in the realm of Tartarus. She told me that Tartarus is accessible through a portal in the chasm I saw. She hasn't been to this Tartarus in a long time but when she was, Tartarus was divided into two parts based on major geography.

She did tell me that the little filly that continued to play nearby, Thōdan, was her daughter. Though, this little filly was not her only offspring. She had two sons as well, Lady Thōdan was the youngest of these and the most 'equinoid' as she put her daughter's appearance. The eldest son's name escaped me, but the other one, Lord Scorpan sounded familiar. Her sons, who were much older than their sister had gone out into the world. I think she could sense I knew what became of them: the one brother was locked in the solitary subset of Tartarus for his crimes. Meanwhile, Scorpan had begged for the forgiveness of his parents and had sworn himself to a life of chastity and meditation — a promise Elysium said that he was keeping, especially when it meant that he would be able to reunite with his younger sister. 

However, I was baffled by the appearances of the three. She showed me them in images of magic that bobbed just under the golden halo always aglow around her face. The eldest was a brute, a monster between a bovine and an equine, yet somehow more different and fiercer than either of those types of animals. Her soft golden projection of Scorpan showed a creature that walked upright, a tail like Starswirl, a mane like a creature that those in the Southern continent called a lion, and leathery wings like a bat. However, his long-muzzled face belonged to none of those creatures. Beyond not having a beard like his brother, Elysium said that his face was something called androgynous, which I understand nothing of. Were his upright-withers not so broad and his existence not spoken of, I would not know he was male. Why were they not Alicorns? This question only seemed to delight the Queen, I saw her eyes gleam slightly through her stoic demeanor.

"They are Reapers."

"What?" I said, so baffled that I swayed on my hooves and my mane moved with me. 

"Yes, my foals are immoral, though they are not gods — in time, I can teach you the distinction. Yes, each possesses an equinoid form that they may use, though little Thōdan clings to her form the most. Yet, Clover, they were born in worlds like this. The afterlives that aren't quite 'alive' by your standards, dear Clover. This gives them forms somewhat different from my own. Stolas and I are not of this world, we are of the Midgard that you walked." Elysium tossed her head, letting her long golden mane readjust. It was only then that I saw how her halo moved perfectly with her as a part of her, not some accessory containing the bulk of her light. Then, she continued. "Though our ability to travel between worlds does not alter us, he and I had no idea that conceiving, carrying, and birthing each of our foals here would lead to what you might call distortions — mutations that cannot be inherited. Stolas and I may no longer be together, but we have done our best to continue running these realms, judge souls, and raise our foals. So far, only Tirek and Scorpan have matured and trained enough to show their unique talent-magic. Scorpan can make temporary gateways from Paradise and Tartarus to Midgard and travel between the other gateways, where Cerberus is simultaneously housed in front of all gates to Tartarus on Midgard."

I blinked at her, rubbing at my temple where a headache would have normally been, only to not feel it. I had no idea what such deep magic was — realms, gateways, mutations, soul-magic, and Cerberus were all unknown to me. She spoke of inheritance in the most peculiar way too, as though it was not what you were given by kinfolk who had passed but something bodily. 

Elysium waved a forehoof about, pointing over the balcony and such to somewhere far below us both that I could certainly not see. "These realms may be parallel to Midgard, but we in Paradise and Tartarus are not dependent on its existence. When your planet is long gone, we shall always remain, and all of your souls with it. The conditions for souls are different here from what they would be on Midgard too. Though, none of that is what I really wish to speak to you about —  I know all of those matters are beyond you. What has been on my mind the most are the concerns of a mother — I worry about the education of young Thōdan. I'm afraid that since Tirek only took magic and Scorpan only followed him for quite some time, only Thōdan is left to learn the skills of a Reaper who guides the souls of departed mortals. Until Scorpan has rediscovered himself and is ready to one, I have found none who can help me with teaching my daughter magic. Scorpan is not fit for Reaper duties. Tirek is locked in Tartarus, where he belongs. What souls are not funneled and drawn to us are fetched by me, as I find myself bearing both the weight of both judge and psychopomp, when I was only ever to do one of those. I see that Stolas' teachings have failed and—"

"And what?"

Displeasure crossed Elysium's features, though her beauty was not marred, only made sharper. How plain it was that the queen did not enjoy this interruption but she still answered me in a level tone. "Stolas taught Tirek and Scorpan all he knew about magic, which included much even I did not know — oh, Clover, we used to be a marital Union of Justice instead of a divorced one. Stolas used to be my other half, and what I did not know, I could count on him for. Tirek had reached an important moment in his Reaper training, halfway to graduation where he was to have his first duties. When Tirek was questioned on whether he wanted to officially be a Reaper and guide the souls of the departed, he refused and persuaded his younger brother to go out into the world to 'make something of themselves' as he told Scorpan — though, Tirek only had interest in shaping the destruction of others."

"I was, well you see... what were you going to say before I interrupted you?"

"You got here on your own, Miss Clover."

"Yes?"

"Did you know that you're very lucky? Normally, a spirit gets lost without the direct aid of myself, Stolas, or a Reaper — and Scorpan is not yet fit to finish his training. Life and death are precious and not to be thrust into the hooves and claws of those who bring disarray to either. Since the imprisonment of Tirek, I have been the one who has been primarily placed on psychopomp duty. Souls wander about your realm until one of us finds you, and that is not so timely anymore. It is rare and inefficient for this to happen. For the living, it can be dangerous, since if they come too close enough to where they can traverse borders between realms... well, they explode."

"Is there any way a living mortal could survive?" Do I want to know? Will I even believe it? It was stupid to ask.

"One. There is only one theoretical way for a mortal to survive and that would be if a god, not a Reaper, were to give them access to my land of Paradise, Stolas' land of Tartarus, or one of them the natural gates to Tartarus — and does not stay a safe distance at the Midgard border. However, the creature in question cannot be either living or dead. Only a Reaper or an Alicorn with a similar talent like Stolas or myself can guide the dead and as I said before, if this creature were alive they won't find themselves like that for much longer."

"B-but how do they survive if they are dying?"

"Well, Miss Clover, they will cease the progression and become immortal beings, for their form is neither living nor dead, so it must adjust. Think of it as upgrading something by exploiting how the universe governs itself. The world moves not unlike a program in the magitech the world used to have, and some creatures find ways to cheat those programs."

"Has that ever happened before?" I whispered. My knees were knocking at the thought of how utterly forbidden that sounded. 

Elysium's muzzle wrinkled up like somepony remembering a time they were sick. "Yes, unfortunately, though not by either myself or Stolas bringing a dying mortal here. We know better than to do that. One of us is more likely to forget how to breathe. At various points in history, there have been cases of less than a dozen creatures in the history of the world who have found gates to Tartarus, gone past the natural barrier of Midgard into the otherworldly portion, and survived. This is part of why we need Reapers so much since they help with gatekeeping."

"Are... are there any that were ponies?" I asked breathlessly. 

A deep sigh left Elysium, one that made me think that perhaps her kind could tire even in their mature states. I know the godlings could. "Three. One is from the land of Qilin; his name in your language would be Chosen Curio and he is always most troublesome to deal with. Two are from the Southern continent. Their names are Geschätzt Herz of Kaldblodstraversberg, and Schadenfreude of Flankfurt. Neither of those names will wind up spoken of at anypony's royal courts. When this type of accident happens to a sapient creature, it is almost always to somepony who you would expect to be wandering alone, and the type to not make any world-shaking lifestyle changes after immortality. While there are those that are more unequipped than the average mortal to become even an accidental mortal, none have yet to join us." 

I could not even bring myself to stop and ask her what a 'magitech' was. "But isn't immortality... well... it's..."

"Incomprehensible to you?"

"Yes," I admit and hang my head. Elysium turns and faces her kingdom. I silently watch her clear blue eyes looking at all below her and her castle's balcony. The only sound is the wind and the filly's busy playing, which still has not ceased.

"It isn't as atrocious as you believe. You may not be as bright as your title of 'the Clever' would suggest but unlike most of the ponies you have known, you still possess the ability to learn. Though you may think nothing of it, many of your kind — you godless sort — do quite poorly upon arriving, no matter their ultimate nature. Those that are judged fit for Paradise have many wonders to know and reunions to cherish, and in time, they heal. But that can take decades of rehabilitation. So really, you are doing quite fantastically!"

"...Oh... thank you?"

"Now, I suppose you think that immortality is simply an eternity spent gradually shriveling and forgetting all around you as you descend into senility? Or are overwhelmed with something so deep and sorrowful that even the most profound ennui would seem cheerful? Maybe you are one of the types who think we are all eventually driven mad by boredom and become catatonic. "

"Yes. I do not know what all of those words mean... but yes, that is what I can imagine the existence of an immortal being, god or not." Gods were still such a new thing to even think of in their true meaning, and the realizations that came with it made me feel embarrassingly small. I shuffled my hooves and looked down with the weight of my awkwardness. Behind me, I could hear Thōdan laughing and playing.

"Well, it is not so, even for the accidents. Let us say you, Miss Clover the Mortal, were in this position. How old were you when you looked like this?"

"Like this?" I question looking down upon my restored youth. "I was oh, twenty-two? It's been so long."

"If you were an immortal," Elysium continued, "a true immortal, not some sorcerer's twisted fantasy or faux philosopher's attempted drabble you would not age physically past what you are now. And those accidents I speak of are true immortals, though their immortality was obtained by some fluke — immortality is not some kind of reward for the good, or the gift of attaining station. It is an entirely neutral agent. Your mind would mature somewhat, and adjust to being able to recall so much more, and your brain will develop so that the mortal conceptions you hold now have no bearing on their new biology and cognitive ability. There are certain sealing spells that can have a similar effect even after they are dispelled, but you will not be reduced to muttering nonsense simply for existing so long since you seem to underestimate this whole power as a fraud. Magic is capable of more than you realize, simply living can prove this but there are still vast instances recorded in my library where fates are kept recorded and lost knowledge can be found."

"You control fate?!" I exclaimed, horrified for this must be the greatest impossibility of them all.

"I do not control fate in any way, but I can record what has happened. 'Fate' as a closed entity does not exist. I know that heavy predestination is what you think of, yet it is all folly and even the World Tree will tell you so. Destiny is reserved for but a few serendipitous moments that are required to have the necessary components of individuals made whole and the work of prophecies come true. You will never find them elsewhere. Just because some ponies may have cutie marks that depend on one moment being shot from a roulette or they could spend the rest of their lives blank flanks does not mean this is universal. There is an example for you." Elysium laughed, and the sound was like a strong bell. I could tell by the way she looked at me that my confusion was somehow exactly what she wanted when she was speaking of secrets of the world that no soul in the Unicorn Court ever managed to uncover. "Do you not have texts that detail your history? It is like that. If you were like this, like my kind or the accidents, you would still be able to learn more, but not everything. What I mean by that is that my kind and — the natural and the unnatural — we are not omnipotent and omniscient. Even if it can seem like it, though I do not think that you have much knowledge about Alicorns to try and compare experiences."

"Well, not really..."

"The last change that would be made is hardly a change at all: the magic of somepony who went through this type of accident would be enhanced. I know not what else would happen but let us leave this at how glad I am that this will not be occurring ever again, if I can prevent it. A few abnormally powerful ponies who have not put such power to notable use is more than enough. Alas, only dear Cerberus has bilocation, and even that poor dog needs the help of Stolas, myself, and proper Reapers to try and prevent these accidents and more from ever happening again."

"B-but why did you bring me here?" I try to sweep my hoof in an arc but my hoof almost hits the orchid coat of Queen Elysium and none of the effect that I intended is kept when I do it.

"Do you really think that you are as evil as Stolas makes you out to be?"

"But I have not done anything worthwhile either! My whole life was spent under the might of another, I was bought and sold as many others in my time were you."

Elysium abruptly turns to me and faces me with a startling love so strong that I can hardly think of my next words. "Clover, you are not as clever as your name suggests, but you are not a wicked pony. Even the flaws of your time barely touched you."

"Why did you want to talk to me then? I know I still have to be judged."

"That you do." There was that strange look in Elysium's eyes again. "Do you know why Stolas failed in teaching Tirek and Scorpan?"

"I do not."

"Stolas taught him only to want power, and to take it; though Stolas was never ill with his intention he failed to realize that all the time he spent designing torture for the damned and ruling them with necessary oppression was damaging his perspective of both teaching and his own sons. He never taught them what power really was, nor did he let Tirek dwell on it and grow with his power more mindfully. Instead, he thought Scorpan was weaker than he actually was and mistook Tirek for being driven. Stolas encouraged them to seek power endlessly and to topple all those who had, and it is what one of Tirek's goals became."

I wait to see if she will keep talking since I have nothing to say to this. I already knew of the creature that was her son from her tale. Instead, I am trying to hold that look of love in my mind. What could it mean? I have never had anypony look at me that way before. Even Platinum's gaze was clouded by the flaws of her nature.

"He does not appear to be so but Stolas was always the better teacher of magic than I am. Ultimately, that is why he taught Tirek, whose nature I should have noticed, and Scorpan."

Her tone is somber, without a doubt she misses both of them. There is a sudden sorrowful bowing of her crest as she dips her head. The filly, Thōdan, has come over to where I talk with her mother. She had created many flower crowns in the time, some of which had been transformed into thorns. I still did not know how she could see through that mane of hers. She nudged one of the thorny circlets over to me, looked up at me, and even though I could not see her eyes, the oddly serious look had turned into a small, shy smile that blatantly told me this was a gift.

"If that is true, then who will teach her?" I asked, as I carefully grasped one of the circles. "You said immortals still grow and age... and I know from watching the godlings that Starswirl raised with me, that they do in fact have their learning struggles and adolescent imperfections." 

Elysium's next look told me all as I looked at this little filly.

After a few nervous gulps, I stuttered out my response. "I... I cannot. You told me yourself. I am not as clever as my name suggests. I have seen wickedness and knew of your son, Tirek. My mind is not whole and I know not how to heal it. I have not been judged. I was barely a magical prodigy—"

"Clover," Elysium said with a fierce, hushed tone, her eyes fixed intensely on me. "I need you to look at me, no matter how bright my light is. You have seen oppression without becoming the oppressor. You have the patience that many would not attain even if they could attain multiple lives. The fragility of life is familiar to you and I cannot offer that as an authentic mortal experience to my daughter. My dear Clover, you are a pioneer in friendship, something that is priceless to teach my young one. You see me as someone beyond intelligible, while to me you are one of the many types of creature that I would love nothing more than to cultivate a friendship with. The misuse of power is something that you are horrifically familiar with, and it was from the abuses of power you knew that you were robbed of so much in your life. A loving family was one of those things — now, I invite you into mine as my daughter's teacher."

"No! You do not understand!" I was unable to bring myself to bawl here, not just from a lifetime of Starswirl's training, but also from the young filly so close by. "I am unworthy!" 

I watched as Elysium shook her head in a clear and strong no while her horn lit up. Moments later, when her spell faded, I caught sight of what she was holding. Floating in her magic was a long bottle of a deep purple substance that shone with a glassy light. The color was so dark that I could not make a guess at the color and detail of the liquids sloshing within. The bottle itself was wide and plump, like a showy vase. The stopper being shaped like a skull made me paw at the ground skittishly. "Wh-what is this?"

"This is the Decider's Draught," said Elysium with a creator's imperious pride. "When creatures do not have enough memories surfacing through Stolas' orb-sighting, we give them this which loosens up their whole life to make them... ah, how shall I say this? Grippier. The entry into the pavilion makes it so that the soul is in our realm — and in our realm, all memories of every soul are entirely unlocked just by being here. However, there are those that come across as constipated with the memories they have accumulated or need memory loss repaired so that Stolas and I can see the full picture, one with every piece exactly where it belongs. That kind of restoration is a power that Stolas and I have when we judge souls. For those who may yet show they are free of unforgivable acts, this brings out the cascade of the mortal life again so that you might make sense of your own existence and reclaim it. Will you see yourself, Clover? Shall you get the first glimpse of where your eternity will be?" 

With tears budding in my eyes, I gave a trembling nod and reached my forehoof out.