December 9, 1005,
Celestia was trying to hold court, but found it incredibly difficult to focus. Her mind continued to wander back to the events of just over two hours ago. The discovery of the changelings, Shiro actually saving one of the creatures, and then, in her anger, she didn't even see Jynx there. She hurt one of her ponies, possibly even... No, she'll be fine. She has to be. Her steward had dealt with the last petty squabble while her thoughts were elsewhere.
Why would he do that? She asked herself again. It made no sense to her that someone that made it their life’s purpose would protect a monster. Then again weren't dragons considered monsters? Yet Spike was far from the aggressive, greedy beasts his kind were known for being. Of course Laalia was a different kind of dragon altogether so she couldn't be associated with the others. Could a changeling be taught to be a good, productive member of pony society? What if what most changelings were good? What if she had ordered the death of innocent beings. As these thoughts raced through her head a voice sounded in her head. It was a message from the lead surgeon. Jynx was dead.
Celestia was overcome with grief. She killed one of her own subjects. No, she murdered an innocent pony, one she called friend no less. She remembered Shiro's threat as he followed his wife to the hospital.
“Everypony out.” She commanded, “You will let no one but Shiro in.”
“Sister?” Luna knew her sister well enough, she knew what just happened, “What are you doing?”
“The punishment in Equestria for murder is death.” She said, pain clear in her voice, “Are we above the law?”
“He was trying to protect a monster.” Replied the night goddess.
“Just as I protected you when you were seen as a monster.” Celestia said quietly, “Leave. What ever Shiro does in here is to be pardoned.”
“Please, Tia, let us help you.” Luna begged.
“LEAVE!” Celestia said.
Luna knew whenever her elder sister used the royal Canterlot voice the discussion was over. In a flash if indigo light Celestia was left alone... until the door was thrown open.
“CELESTIA!”
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
I glared up at the murderer as she looked down at me with a sad expression. She seemed to regret her crime, but that didn't bring my love back. Nothing would bring her back , so I was going to settle on revenge.
She descended from her throne and tried speaking, but no sounds came out. I didn't want to hear her voice anyway so I drove my fist as hard as I could into her jaw. It felt good. Watching her body fly threw the air and land in a heap at the base of her throne was like a drug, and I wanted more. I walked up to her and slammed my back leg into her ribs feeling one give way and give an audible snap. She gasped for the air my kick robbed from her.
“I-I'm Jynx... with a 'y'”
“Well, Jynx with a 'y', it's a pleasure to meet you.”
Memories of my beloved Jynx flashed through my mind.
“I should be dead right now, you know that. Nopony survives being impaled through the stomach. But here I am.”
I jumped on top of her and wrapped my paws around her throat, squeezing.
“Will you marry me?”
“YES... YESYESYESYES!!!”
“And do you, Jynx Charm, take Shiro to be your husband. To love him and hold him, to remain faithful to him and to support him in his endeavors, forever and ever?”
“I do.”
Her tongue rolled out of her mouth as her eyes rolled back into her head.
“Um, honey... I think we're about to find out if he's a foal or cub.”
“I really like what you told Waya. I wish more ponies thought like that, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”.”
My grip loosened as a new wave of tears fell. This wasn't what Jynx would want. Celestia gasped for air and her eyes shot open. She looked up at me with confusion. I growled and delivered one last punch to her skull, sending her head slamming into the floor. I wanted to kill her so bad, but I knew Jynx would hate me for it. Instead I left her broken and unconscious as I stormed out of the throne room. I ignored the glares from the guards and Luna on my way out, but I heard the rush as they ran to the bitch's side. I didn't know why they didn't try to arrest me, but I didn't really care either. After all I had to tell my son that he will never see his mother again.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
I opened the door to our suite, the same one we always had every time we were in Canterlot. Everyone was in the living room, all sitting on the opposite side of the room as Pinkie and Phoenix. I knew it was because they were afraid of the baby she still held. It was the first time I was disgusted with them. I slammed the door.
“Shir...” Started Dash.
“All of you should be ashamed of yourselves.” I said, making them recoil a little, “Cowering in fear of an infant. Razor's more dangerous than that child. At least he has claws and magic. Thank you Pinkie, and Phoenix for being the only of our friends with an open mind. I especially expected better from you Fluttershy. You're the Element of Kindness, but where's that kindness now?”
I was furious. My own friends acting the same way as her. I didn't even care that my harsh words made Fluttershy cry. She was acting just like the others anyway, so she deserved it just as much. Of course Rainbow Dash got mad at me. She flew up in my face.
“That thing's a changeling. They're evil.” She said, “Pinkie told us what happened, but that doesn't give you the right to take it out on us. We're all worried about Jynx, but you're not helping. The doctors will fix her up and she'll be back good as new.”
“She's dead.” was all I said, and the room became silent with the exception of Dash hitting the floor.
“Wh-what?” She said.
“Jynx is dead. Murdered by Celestia because of her prejudice. The same prejudice you're showing.” I said harshly.
“N-n-no.” Rainbow eventually said, “No, that can't be true.”
I looked over at Midnight. He just stood there frozen, only his tears moving. His face was only pain. The rest of what happened was too painful to remember. Everything was a blur of pain and grief, as we all cried, supporting each other.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
December 12, 1005,
I dressed Midnight in his suit. He was taking the news hard. It was as if he just withdrew into himself. He didn't speak, cry, or do much of anything. He barely ate. He would just sit there staring at nothing as if he were a golem. I was afraid I was going to lode him, too. I was afraid I already did. Even Razor was unusually quiet and subdued. He knows what happened I think.
“OK, come on Midnight.” I said.
I grabbed Razor and the three of us left the house and headed toward the the field the funeral was being held in. Every step was torture. As if every foot fall just made it that much more true. I kept hoping that I would wake up in the hospital or something and all this was just some terrible coma dream and Jynx would be by my side again, but I knew better.
We arrived at the field and found all our friends already there. Dash was trying to console her parents. I hadn't seen them since last Hearths Warming. I saw Pinkie with a bundle in a harness on her side.
“Hi, Pinkie.” I said.
“Hi, Shiro.” She said.
“What's that?” I asked pointing to the bundle.
“Oh, right you were never properly introduced.” she took the bundle from her side and showed me a little white filly with a pink mane, “Princess Luna let me adopt her.”
“Pinkie is that the changeling baby?” I asked.
She nodded with a small smile, “I named her Surprise. You know after that pegasus me from those stories about us from Earth. I thought it was a nice name, so... Shiro, I'm a mommy.” Tears formed in her eyes. They were tears of joy as well as sadness.
I smiled for the first time in three days. I was happy something good came from this. I'll admit that a small part of me wanted to blame the child for Jynx's death, but I quickly push that ignorant thought from my mind
“And a fine mom you'll be.” I said. I was amazed the kid could already transform, “Raise her well.” I suddenly realized something, “How do you know it's a filly?”
“Uh,” Pinkies eyes widened and shifted back and forth, “I just know. Mother's intuition.”
I could tell she was hiding something, but decided not to press her for information yet. It was then that the chariot brought Jynx here. Two earth ponies in black lifted my wife's body and gently placed her in the low wooden platform. One by one we gave our final farewell. I looked down at my wife as she laid peacefully wrapped in cloth with only her face showing. She looked so calm and content.
“I'm sorry, my love.” I said, “I'm so sorry that I couldn't protect you. If I had been more aware of my surroundings this never would have happened.”
I moved on to let Rainbow say goodbye to her sister. I sat down beside my son. He still wasn't responding. I had hoped he would snap out of it when we got here, but he still sat there almost catatonic. I was starting to really worry that he would never come out of it.
After everyone said goodbye an older unicorn stallion stood in front of the gathered ponies and myself.
“We are here to bid farewell to Jynx Charm. In life she was a brilliant scientist and inventor, and the youngest mare to graduate with a PhD from Canterlot University in over 300 years. When the Void was opened on our fare nation, she helped to protect it. Even though she was several months pregnant she defeated the great demon dragon Nidhogg. She was a wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend. Everypony knew of her quick wit and cheerful demeanor even in difficult times. She called herself the luckiest and unluckiest pony in Equestria, but we are the ones who are the luckiest and unluckiest. We were lucky to have had the honor to have known such a brave, kind, and intelligent mare, but unlucky to have her taken from us far too young.”
He walked around the wooden platform and stood on a raised pedestal behind it.
“In the time before, the gods decreed that all that are born would eventually fade. But the gods saw sadness in the creatures they ruled and saw to a way to ease the pain. It was thus that the essence of all living things was given form, and the soul was created. When the body passes so shall the soul pass from the world and join the souls of it's ancestors in the fields of Illum. So the soul may take form, we commit it's broken vessel to the heavens. May you run free for eternity.”
With the conclusion of his speech a spark flew from his horn to the platform Jynx rested upon. As the fire caught Octavia and her band played a moving melody.
I watched the fire consume the one I loved as I listened to the music that so perfectly matched the feelings that filled my heart. I did the only thing I could, I remembered.
Our first meeting in the Everfree after she crashed.
Making me her guinea pig.
The injury she got at the construction site.
Our first night together.
Asking her to marry me.
Our wedding.
Razor's birth.
Adopting Midnight.
Finding out about my disease.
My disease. The realization hit me like a kick to the gut. Jynx was gone, and I was going to follow in less than a year. What would happen to Razor and Midnight when I died? The thought of leaving them alone darkened my mood even more than it already was. It seemed I would have to tell everyone about my impending death after all. I had to make arrangements for my sons. Stone and Kitakaze would take them, but I wasn't sure if they could handle Razor. Dash wasn't responsible enough to take care of herself much less kids. I shook my head to clear those thoughts. There would be plenty of time later.
The fire burned for exactly an hour. It was always made like that. Where my wife once laid was nothing more than a pile of ash. It was over. She was gone. The only place I would ever see her again was in my memories. As everyone else left, I stayed.
“Shiro?” Pinkie said softly, “If you want to stay here for a little longer, I can take Razor and Midnight for a bit.”
I just nodded my consent. She really was a good friend. She was always put others before herself no matter what. I knew she was hurting to, but she put her own pain aside for me. I was going to have to find a was to thank her some day.
The worst thing was that by ancient law, if any being that is executed by Celestia it's soul sent strait to Tartarus. It was assumed she would only kill those that are true evil. Knowing that my wife's soul was being tormented was the most difficult to bare. She was suffering because of Celestia.
I sat in that field for who knows how long lost in thought. It wasn't until I heard the familiar pop of a teleport spell that I came back to myself.
“We're sorry for you loss.” Luna said sitting beside me, “We only pray the changeling shows itself to be a good citizen in time. At least then something may come from this.”
“Thank you Luna.” I said, “Not only for sparing the child, but for letting Pinkie be her mother. You made her dream come true.”
“Thank you, Shiro, for sparing my sister.” Replied the moon princess, “But I must ask, why? She told us to pardon anything you did to her, so why did you not kill her?”
“I wanted to,” I said, “but revenge solves nothing. It wouldn't bring Jynx back and I would have lost you and Twilight as friends. I need my friends right now. I'm going to need someone to take care of my kids when I'm gone.”
A bag fell in front of me.
“Then come my friend.” She said.
“Where?” I asked.
She flared her wings out and said, “To the pits of hell so that we may pull your love from it's fires.”
um...is everything supposed to be italic?
1386755 Oops. fixed it.
... fight time?
1386887 Nope, going to hell to have tea with the queen of England
Nice. I personally would like, ripped her wings off though, but that's just my tendancy to wish horrible, permanent pain on those who wrong me greatly. Can't wait to see what happens next.
1386903 ...
Go shiro,find jynx and get her back in here NOW!
1386903 best response too a comment ever :P
edit: this chapter made me cry :'( looking forward to the next one.
1386943 You asked.
throughout the reading of this chapter, I had OLD SNAKE playing....and it was almost suitable....
1386968 I know, that's the problem
Go shirk save june and make something happy in this story!!!
1387060 oh iPad and ur auto correct. I ment go shiro save jynx and make something in this story happy!!
1387060>>1387067 Why are they called smart phones again?
1387082 at this point I have no idea. They are just a traitor to my spelling...... Most of the time
Quick question... I just thought of this IF this disease only affects Cats couldn't shiro with his theoretical Chaos Magic shapshift to something not of the cat family? I mean its Chaos magic it is the stuff most... well nightmares but sometimes dreams are made of. But this is me just thinking out loud. You already know how your gonna save him or just let him die I don't know.
1387283 Chaos Mages, like unicorns, have fields of magic that they are best at. Shiro is best with illusions and conjurations. He's not very good with shape shifting, or transforming things. He could make himself look like something else. Although Razor seems to be natural with those kinds of magic, he's too young to control it. The chaos magic could act on its own to transform him (like in the beginning), but that's beyond his control. So unfortunately that's not an option.
Well, time to go to hell and back for the woman he loves. I think you broke him. Hehehe.... he... wait.... hang on a second! The prophecy!
A face of evil on an innocent child,
A prejudice anger shall be riled.
A once proud noble, in rage consumed,
Lashes out, a loved one doomed.
From the deepest fire the lovers emerge,
by bloody claws the black sun purged.
The gates of darkness shall be released,
The land of harmony overrun with beasts.
.......... You sneaky mother bucker.
1387354 OMG! It's spooky how well it fits ain't it
1387401 How far in advance did you plan this?
1387436 Before I even posted the first chapter
Remember if hades tells you to leave and not look back to save your loved one..
FOR THE LOVE OF ZUES DO NOT LOOK BACK!!!!!
ps. make sure to bring cerberus a snack he has three mouthes to feed and playing gaurd dog dont pay very well....
1388669 I was thinking more along the lines of Virgil
Either way is fine long a cerberus gets his snack..
He tends to get a little angry when hes hungry.
1388724 and he's always hungry.
Tartarus yeah he is look at my avitar. if you look closly you can see a speck that when magnified is a person!!
Well, I can't say I didn't see this coming...Maybe it's just that I'm finally putting my talents to work and understanding your mind, but I actually expected this. Going after Jynx? Definitely something Shiro would do.
The fact that Luna suggested it? That makes it all the more fitting. Then again, I do have a special preference to Luna over Celestia already.
Even though I expected it, you still managed to write it out extremely well, and for that I applaud you. I mean, it's kind of hard to write a scene that someone is expecting and still please them.
The music was a nice touch, and I enjoyed it thoroughly, because sometimes a bit of music is all that is needed to set a proper emotional tone.
Now, as for that prophecy...The first half is coming to fruition quite clearly, and the last few lines of the first half...those are quite troubling. Sounds to me like Shiro and Luna won't be able to close the Gates of Death that lead to Tartarus once they are opened. Granted, in the old myths there had to be someone inside of Tartarus to close the inner doors as someone closed the outer doors from the mortal world...
The second half of the prophecy...parts of it are obvious, but others not so much. Okay...sorry for the rambling...I tend to do that when mythology is involved, and your story is steeped in it, even if some of it is made up, you do seem to take and mold the old stories to your will.
Anyways, as always, fantastic work!
1389065 There may be references to Asian culture, but there are just as many references to Greek, Norse, and even Native American, and African cultures. I'm a lover of the various cultures of the world, Asian just happens to be one of the richest and most varied.
1389092 Yes, I mold them to my will. I am the MYTHOMANCER!!!
or not
make sure to pay the boatman
OMG this is so going to be like Orpheus without the bad end i hope....
1389121
Now...since you are going to Tartarus...will you meet Charon? The ferryman is honestly one of the coolest figures in Greek and Roman mythology, especially since there are so many views on what he should look like that they may even outnumber the number of forms the Gods have been given.
And....it took me a moment to realize you meant mythomancer haha
1390090 Is it OP if everyone is OP?
1390096 I already have an idea for that
1390203 Yeah... all kinds of craziness in this story.
1390338
Good...ideas are good haha
I think that I am going to stroke-out, my BP is so high...
1391442 His power has a down side. You'll find out soon enough.
Sir, you have made me cry, for that I commend you. When Luna spoke with Shiro at Jynx's graveside, I ROARED my approval I hope I didn't wake my neighbors...
I was sad. I felt a tear welling in my eye as I started playing the sad music. I did a double-take when I read the end.
Now I'm sad because I can't find my sunglasses.
The worst part is seeing the ad at the bottom for cremation and funeral services. I have never once cried in the past 7years. That is until today of course
*WARNING! SOBSTORY INCOMING*
Before finding this webpage, I had not cried in a year or so. See, my cat died.. she just lay there one day, not moving, hardly eating what we put before her...(And I would have stayed up, with you all night, had I known, how to save a life...) come morning, I found her wrapped in a blanket, cold as ice ontop of her favorite chair in the whole world....
Then, a few months later, we had to put down our other cat. She had had this weird infection in her left ear, and it produced some sort of black stinking goo. It wasn't all that bad, we'd clean her ear regularly, heh, against her will if you would, but... it had spread. Into her mouth. To top it off, one or more of her canines had a hole in it and, well, I think we all know eating with hole-y ( HAH I MADE A POPE-JOKE) teeth hurts like a firetruck. So we went to a vet to see if they could do anything for her, but . . . all they could do was guess how much time she had left. A very short while, as she couldn't eat anything at all at that point. Some days to a week, spent in agony. So we did the only humane thing we could, and we-
we asked them to gvie her an overdose of sleeping drugs. I held her in my arms as she faded away.....
anyways. I ran out of tears for some time there, but roughly a year later, I found the brony community and joined it. I found out about fan fictions because of this guy on youtube, what was his name AH yes, Azekahh or something similar. And these pieces of art, could somehow moisture deserts long dried out inside of me. These stories opened up a heart I had shut from the world, and they are wondrous things. I felt like posting this after coming to this chapter, and yeah... onwards, I guess.
OH GOD THE FEELS! this was a really good chapter.
off to tartarus. (idk if i spelled that right) if i was able to jump into this story, celestia would probably never be able to use magic again, not dead, but forever severed from magic. she is up on my kill list next to carolina for killing caboose. still a great story, but it's getting too sad for me. it seems it's getting better, but still.....
1386982 i, unfortunately, had to listen to psychostick: the hunger within. not the best song to listen to for a sad chapter.
Love one die by goddess, No problem, just go to the Underworld and get her back... ROADTRIP!
Holy shit Shiro. You fucking made me all emotional, and you made me cry. I've not cried since Twilight lost all of her friends to Discord. Even Twilight's little "Oh why" song in Magical Mystery Cure didn't make me tear up, though it came close. Just... holy hell. Jynx had better come back, or I Pinkie Promise I'm never going to read anything you write ever again.
Guess its a damn good thing I've still got several chapters to go yet.
There is som much emotion within this. So much sadness...
Wait, going into a afterlife to get a love one? It's Dante Inferno time!
So much sadness and feels! It's not far!!!
3671404 So which ring do you think Jynx is in? Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, or Treachery?
I still want you dead, but now I'll use a butter knife instead of a spork
Trust me, its an improvement
Ummmm, what?