Inquire Within and I Shall Speak True
The Book of Water: The Heart of Winter
A Story by TalonMach5
Inquire Within and I Shall Speak True
Looking up from his meditation, he growled at what he saw. Narrowing his eyes at his accusers, he sneered, annoyed and infuriated that they thought to judge him, he who ruled all above and beneath the Earth. Glaring at the darkened mirror before him, he saw the accusing eyes of ten thousand staring back at him. Rolling back his eyes dismissively at those who thought to cast judgement upon him, he turned away from the darkened mirror's cloudy surface.
Returning to his meditation, he tried ignoring the piercing stares of the faceless multitude beneath the dark glass of the mirror's surface. Slowing his breathing, he drew in his breathe through his nostrils, and paused before releasing it back out past his pursed lips. All around him he felt the comforting thrum of the Earth pulsing along the ley lines that crisscrossed throughout his domain like a spiders web. Slowly he felt his earlier anger melt away as he lost himself within the hymn that the Earth was singing to him. Now at peace, and completely removed from his rage and fury, he lost himself to the throes of the song of creation, as he became the center of his realm, the Domain of Earth. It was here that he knew calm and true peace, and here there was nothing that could touch him.
But before he could add his baritone voice to the siren song of creation, he once more felt the accusing eyes break through his meditation, piercing his soul.
"Damn it all to Hades!" he roared, opening his eyes as the verdant magic flames composing them flared to life.
Turning to face his accusers, the Slave King tightened his right hand into a powerful fist. Ignoring the squeal of metal rubbing against metal his false arm was making, he drew back his arcanum fist, fully prepared to reach into the mirror's depths to pull a soul from dark glass before him, so he might bring forth the first of many judgements against them.
"Beloved," he heard a gentle feminine voice say.
The speaker's calm and gentle tone threatened to extinguish his rage, and he felt his anger redouble. How dare she! he fumed, annoyed that even this was being denied to him.
"Wife, why have you disturbed me as I meditate?" he coldly replied, not caring for a moment how his callous response might hurt his tender hearted spouse.
Worriedly laying back her ears, she paused a moment to allow his hurtful response to her concern for his well being roll off her pained heart, before replying. "Husband, we sense thou art somehow discomfited," she said, worried that in his rage and anger, her beloved might relapse back into his formerly weakened state.
Normally he had no desire encouraging his wife's inquiry into his private affairs, but until he resolved the issue of the mirror, he feared that he might not be able to return to his meditation and the peace that was found within it. Burying his face within his metal hand, he felt its cool surface against his pallid flesh and felt slightly better. Drawing his hand down along his face, he gently pulled against his greying beard as he ruminated on a proper response to his wife's concern.
Deciding there would be no harm in revealing the cause of his frustration to her, he turned to face his wife. Although he was quite familiar and well acquainted with her beauty, even now it still threatened to captured his nonexistent heart. He supposed as he gazed upon her comely face and radiant form, had his heart still beat within him his chest he might have found it refusing to beat as he basked in her presence. Seeing her in all her glory and beauty quickened his pulse as he found desire for her drying his mouth. Pushing back these unwanted hunger, he steeled himself as he gestured towards the dark glass before them.
"It's the mirror, wife," he said pointing accusingly at its polished surface.
"What of the mirror, beloved?" she asked puzzling why something as innocuous as a mirror could cause such discomfit for someone as powerful as her husband.
"They mock and think to make a fool of me," he accused, giving the mirror a dark glare as he thought over the possible punishments he could give these mortals who thought themselves capable of judging him in the least.
"Who seeks thy discomfiture, husband," she asked, worried that he had indeed relapsed to the vile curse that had nearly claimed him. Feeling sorrow that he was so unhappy, she drew him to her side with her wing and held him tightly. "Beloved, when we wed thee, we swore to thee we woulds't keep thee safe from all thy enemies. We shan't allow thee to suffer any further by thy wicked and unfeeling tormentor's cruelty."
Held fast between the downy softness of her wing and luxurious silken coat, he felt relief for the first time since the multitude within the mirror had sought to censure him. "Luna, thank you," he softly said, nearly surrendering to his wife as she held him to her.
Feeling her cheeks flushing from his unsolicited praise, she pressed her head against his shoulder. "Beloved, tell us of who it is that dares to harass and harangue thee, and we shalt smite them for their crass impertinence!"
Pulling away from her embrace, he gestured once more to the mirror before them. "Can't you see them starring at us?" he said, looking into the glass's dark depths. "Accusing, judging me, as if they had any right to do so."
Puzzled by his response, Luna looked at the mirror and was unable to see anything beyond their reflection looking back at her. Tilting her head slightly to the side, she tried to no avail to see what it was that her husband was seeing. Unwilling to admit defeat, she drew upon her magic, and channeling it through her horn she released a spell upon the dark glass hoping to reveal its hidden secrets to her. But as far as she could tell, the mirror was simply that, a mirror. Her magic showed it held no magic of it own, and beyond the dark glass it was made from, it was simply mundane.
"My apologies, husband," she said, desperately wishing she could see that which was agitating him so. "I see naught but ours and thine reflection within, and mine spell divines nothing magical within the glass."
When he heard her words, he felt relief. Perhaps he had only imagined their eyes staring back at him from the mirror's cloudy depths. Truly their were few to none more skilled in magic then his wife, let alone magic pertaining to the Domain of Shadows. And if she with all her power could perceive nothing, then he was fairly certain what she said was true. Resting his arcanum hand against the mirror's cool surface, he looked into its depths trying to spy his accusers once more. When he could see none, he closed his eyes in relief. Finally he could return to the peace and serenity his meditation offered him.
Turning towards his wife, he was about to offer her his heartfelt thanks for calming his uneasy mind, when he sensed them looking at him once more. Turning around, he glared at the mirror before him with all the fury he could muster. The flames within his eyes burned like balefire as he frantically searched the mirror's depths for the mortals who so foolishly thought they could mock the Slave King and get away with it unscathed.
Concerned with her husband's erratic behavior, Luna placed herself between the angry deity and the mirror in the hopes of calming him down. "Come, beloved," she implored, looking up into his anger filled eyes with concern as she gently nuzzled him. "We beseech thee, dearest, pray pull back thy ire, and allow us to tend to thee."
Breathing heavily from the great strain his anger and rage had placed upon his body, the Slave King breathed in deeply as he turned to his wife. Gazing into gentle turquoise eyes, he found himself slowly drained of his furious anger. Exhausted from the trauma he'd placed upon himself, he sat down upon their bed, and lowered his head in defeat.
"Wife, what would you have me do?" he asked, tired of fighting against the gentle correction of her tender heart and compassionate spirit.
"Tell us, beloved," she said, sitting besides her husband on the bed. "When thou searcheth the mirror, what dost thou seeth?"
"I see their searching and accusing eyes," he replied, his voice nearly a whisper, looking away from the hateful mirror which mocked him so.
"Who's eyes dost thou seeth?" she asked, with equal parts curiosity and concern. Wondering who it was real or imagined that could cause him such duress.
"I know not whose eyes they are, yet I see them all the same," he answered, turning to look Luna in the face.
"Perhaps, husband, if thou placateth the evil spirits which accost thee so, they mayest leaveth thee in peace," Luna suggested, hoping to bring balm to uneasy and troubled heart.
"Yes, wife, perhaps you are right," the Slave King agreed, deciding her suggestion had merit.
Standing up, he approached the darkened surface of the mirror and stood before it. Drawing himself up to his full height, he stood before his accusers boldly, before offering them a derisive sneer. "Alright," he commanded, with all the power of the Earth within his words. "Say your piece. Ask your questions, and I shall not stay my answers. Speak your minds, foul apparitions, begone, and trouble me no further!"
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I have a few questions for the Slave King. Has he ever encountered an emu? Has he ever defeated one in Glorious combat? If he has, did the battle shake the world with it's intensity?
Slave King, I have a question for you. Is it weird for you that Sapphire wants to mate with Ignatius despite being siblings? Other than Zephyr and Suzaku, do you have any particular lover that you remember ever since your ascension as the Slave King?
Luna and Celestia, I have a question for you. How were the pony tribes and the Zebras were created? Also, have any of you taken a mortal lover before?
To Lord Ouroboros, have you ever married/mated with Celestia, Luna, Zephyr, Suzaku, or Minoa?
To Lord Triton, what's the Suzaku special that you were offered when you pretended to be one of your subjects? Also, why do you and your female knights abstain from carnal relationships while the male knights visit the brothel once they achieve the majority of age?
To Celestia, what happened during the First/Second/Third/Fourth ages of Equestria? Also, was there any reason as to why the gods were amorous during the first age? Finally, what happened to the heroes that confronted the Slave King?
To Suzaku, are there deities or mortals that you bedded in particular that you have a soft spot for? Also, have you ever "loved" a female before, like Zephyr? Finally, how much do you enjoy the affective nature of Rey?
To Lady Zephyr, why did you created that ritual about male griffins having to mate with you in order to marry outside the clan? Is it to keep the genes within the clan or was it a test of character to see if they would rather be loyal to their mate?
To Discord, what crimes did the god from Tartarus committed to be sent to the Pit?
To Zephyr and Suzaku, was the childbirth of your children difficult?
To Melody, have you ever had a lover before?
These are all my questions. My apologies if they are intrusive or inconvenient.
Holy crap, this story's alive!
My first question is to all of the Slave King's children. What would be the first thing you'd ask for when your father finally acknowledges you?
My second question is for Nightmare. What are some of the fondest memories you have of your master?
My final question is for Suzaku. Are you terrified of what may happen to you or your kingdom when the Slave King discovers what you've done?
Sweet baby jesus I thought this was gonna be the "hey guys i've lost my motivation for writing/I hate the fandom now" admission. Thank goodness thats not the case. This is easily one of my favorite stories and I'd hate to see it go.
Oh hey this isn't dead.
That's nice.
Lady Luna, I have a most important question for you. What is your stance on "dark magic?"
To The Slave King:
How far are you willing to go to get what you want?
What kind of man do you think yourself to be?
Do you believe your own answers? Does/Would your wife belive them?
To the Slave king: Do you think you will ever acknowledge your children as...well, yours? Do you want to? What's your opinion on Sombra's recent actions?
To Luna : After your husband recovers his strength do you think he'll continue looking to you for aid (when and if he admits he needs it)? Also on a different note, Have you though about what children with you husband would look like? What would you call them?
To Suzaku: Do you think the Slave King will be willing to listen to you if he ever finds out about you know what?
To the great lord the slave king, to what do you attribute the dubious honor of being the most trying of matters in thine long lived life? And dost thou remember thy homeland fondly?
To the lady melody, what is your favorite tale to tell or song to sing for your lord?
To lady Luna, if there is one wish you could make that would come true, what would it be and how much are you willing to give.
Oh, I just saw this update right before bed. Such a tease that you are.
Slave King: How much does this world's inhabitants (gods included) know about the world that you and other travelers hail from? Humans have been mentioned a few times, but it has been fleeting information surrounded with mystery.
Speaking of home, would you go back if you could? Not as a permanent stay as you have so too much that ties you here, but just to see the home world once more. Who knows, perhaps Earth hides deities of their own that have been hiding beyond the veil of human eyes.
Luna: The sky is deep and is it dark. What lies beyond your flickering stars that bring light to a traveler? Perhaps they light the way for some other soul on a distant world.
To all deities: Will there come a time, when great powers like yourselves are not needed in this world? When mortals break through the glass ceiling and expand to the heavens. Travel boldly where no being has gone before.
Im happy to see this updating again. Best of luck in working out your next chapter, Talon
To SlaveKing: If humanity finally becomes aware of Equestria in full extent, not just of the occasional straggler getting lost in equestria, finally arrives, what side will you pick? A Human conquistadore? A Human gone Native, and rebelling? A diplomat, or a researcher, or even just a civilian, trying to subdue military escalation as both sides seize eachother up?
To the fiery hearten clone of slave-king: Why pick the domain of earth to right the wrongs of world? Why not corral support for your cause in neighboring provinces? Why take on the behemoth by yourself?
From The Great Slave King to this, I've loved it. Sorry i haven't been here to support you more (shit happens) but i'm reading right with you. I have found a couple mistakes though, just re-reading the two complete entries and then coming into this once.
Pesky damn commas.
Anyways, the only things a writer needs more than caffeine and creativity is the conscious knowledge that their work is being appreciated.
But on a serious note, this is one of the best fanfics I've read on here. It isn't silly, it's funny without using memes or pop culture references and it reads and feels like an epic novel, jumping from the different sets and scenes to the different casts of characters. It's just marvelous
And the way you censor yourself and you don't, from the implications that come with sexual assault to the romanticized interactions between two gods and the near perfect way you show us a very real escalation in character development rather than just copy and paste and copy and paste or have events simply happen.
You are a marvelous author. Thank you for sharing with us and if at any time you should need a hand with editing or anything else I will gladly assist you.
I apologize if this comment is wierd, grammatically, spelling or socially speaking, as I am alone, it's late and i'm on a reading marathon.
Thanks.
a tipsy gentlereader
To the Slave king
You are an former slave yourself, why you allow others to fall under it's chains? Will you will ever acknowledge your children as...well, yours? Lastly if ''an god'' from the human world pops up would you welcome him/her in open arm(s) or let them suffer the Earth's wrath?
PS I love your work Talonmach5 i just spend the last 4ish days reading from the very beginning to where we are now.
To Celestia and Luna: Did you have any mortal or immortal lovers that are known in legend? Also, how come the two of you are the only deities that have siblings?
To the Slave King: How many different types of beast folk exist in Equestria and with whom did you sire each tribe?
To the Slave King: what would u do if a seemingly random wayfarer came to your kingdom pledged himself/herself to your service? Note: not any sort of intimate service, but as a solider. Second, and lastly, supposing that Lady Luna had not been the cause of your pain recently after your wedding, what would you do to the one responsible?
Lady Luna: why the slave king? As I understand it, you yourself are still not truly certain, correct? As a final question for you, my lady, what is the Slave Kings most lovable aspect from your point of view?
Discord: why?
Okay. Question time.
To Luna: Why did you want to be in a relationship with the Slave King, knowing how abrasive and cold he could be? That said, would you care if Celestia had wanted to share him with you?
To Celestia: Have you ever done anything of serious consequence that you aren't proud of? Also, why do you hate Discord so much? As a follow up - do you love to hate him, or hate that you love him?
To Lord Triton: How do you think the position of the Slave King would have changed if the Pantheon had not reacted so negatively to his ascension? Given that the Slave King was himself a former slave, does that give him a more legitimate stance on the issue of slavery than yourself? Lastly, is there any evil short of the return of the unmentionable one you can think of that could unite the Order of the Law Givers and the Order of Shadow in common cause?
To Discord: What is it about ponies that you love enough to accept imprisonment? As an aside, have you ever tried to romance Celestia?
To the Slave King: Why did you never try to populate your demesne with humans, assuming you had the power to do so? Also, why import human technology to this realm but not human philosophy? Are there no great human philosophers you admire, or would want to hold up as examples of your people's worthiness above the other races?
To Lord Ouroborous: So far it seems like the only dragons around have been colored dragons - what about metallic dragons, if they exist what do you think of them and if not why not make them? Also, do you think pony culture can change the nature of dragons raised among them? And why do you think the Slave King would ask for such a demand?
To Lady Suzaku: What is it about the Slave King that won't make you let go? Surely there are other, less callous men who could attract your attention, men who actually want you around? Have you considered maybe women are your speed?
To the Winding One: Is Princest wincest?