A New Life

by arc5162

Chapter 30: Between Life and Death

August 10, 1000 BBB (Before the Battle of the Bell)

In the years after Maple helped me get over the pain of the past, things were looking up. The Kingdom of Eire was prospering and Equestria was also doing well. Celestia had taken responsibility of the moon in Luna's absence, and everything was running smoothly. However, 6 years after Luna's banishment, some bad memories decided to show themselves after so many years.

---

Today was starting to wind down as I finished checking up on all the farms. Everything was looking perfect, so I returned to my house to talk with Maple.

"Hey Maple."

"Hey Lugh, did you finish checking on the farms?"

"Yes I did, and they are doing really well."

"Good, now we can relax for a while with some reading."

"Good thinking Maple, I've also been meaning to perform some more experiments with the Aetherium crystal."

In the 3000 years since I had started this kingdom, I had decided to truly test the capabilities of the crystal, to see just how powerful it was. The results amazed me. The crystal truly had unlimited amounts of magical energy, it was as if it came straight from the aether itself. After figuring that out, I started, tested what I could do with its energy, and so far, I have yet to find something that its energy can't do.

However, there was still one thing I couldn't do even with the crystal's energy, and it was the one thing I wanted to do most of all.

"What have you learned what the crystal can do?" asked Maple.

"The better question is what can't it do? I tried everything from conjuration, levitation, telekinesis, super strength, super speed, elemental manipulation, flight, invisibility, x-ray vision. I can even conjure beams of pure energy. Even after discovering all of that, I'm more than positive that It can do more."

"So, that essentially means that the crystal gives you powers comparable to the gods themselves?"

"In a way, yes. But I would never claim to be one though, as that would be disrespecting the true gods."

My face then turned to a slight frown before saying, "Although, there is one thing I can't do."

"What's that?"

I look at the ground for a moment after Maple asks that. When I look back up, I have a pained expression.

---

Maple Pov:

I knew that pained expression well, he only made that expression when he was thinking about his past. But this time, I wasn't sure which part of his past he was thinking about.

"Is it something about your past?"

"Yes", he responded, his eyes looking like they were on the verge of tears.

"Are you familiar with the rituals we perform every year on Bealtaine and Samhain?"

"Of course, the rituals help our subjects contact their deceased ancestors in the otherworld."

"Well, every year the citizens gather to talk to their loved ones, and all I can think about how I can never see my family again."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm an Artificial Intelligence, which means I'm neither living nor dead. It's impossible for me to enter the Otherworld. I can, I...I", he started stuttering, tears filling his eyes, "I can never see her again."

"Who?"

"My mother", he responded, looking up with tear soaked eyes, "She passed away when I was only 17 years old, and now, because of what I am, I can never see her again."

I was shocked to say the least. He usually never gave specific details about his past, but after hearing this, I can understand why. So, I went over to comfort him.

---

Lugh pov:

Maple then sat down beside me and put her hoof over me to make me feel better.

"What was she like, your mother?"

"She was the best", I responded, a slight smile appearing on my face, "she was a veterinarian."

"A what?"

"A veterinarian is an animal doctor. Her job was to help animals such as dogs and cats get better if they were sick or injured. She truly cared for them as I do, and she was so kind and smart."

"She sounds like a good mother."

"She was."

"What happened?"

"Breast Cancer."

"What's that?"

"Its when cells in your body mutate and grow out of control, specifically in the breasts. If left unchecked, the result will be death. Yet despite everything doctors tried to do to save her, she still died."

"I'm so sorry, you miss her a lot, don't you?"

"Yes, and now I can never see her again."

"Maybe so, but you have me now, and you have a whole kingdom who look up to you, your mother would be very proud."

I smile, responding, "Yes, she would", before giving her a hug.

Maple is right, my mother really would be proud of how much I've accomplished, and I know that somehow, she already knows.

Author's Note:

Next Chapter- Lugh gets a glimpse of the future.

p.s. this chapter is dedicated to my mom, who passed away over 4 years ago. Rest In Peace.

Comments

[Chrome Masquerade]

"She sounds like a good mother."

"She was."

"What happened?"

"Breast Cancer."

"What's that?"

"Its when cells in your body mutate and grow out of control, specifically in the breasts. If left unchecked, the result will be death. Yet despite everything doctors tried to do to save her, she still died."

Oooh.
Okay, kiddies; story time.

I kind of relate to that. But let me give you a bit of context first.

Whem I was in grade 2 and up, i suffered from intense migraines, and often it would cause me to lash out for no discernile reason. My parents took me to the doctors and they diagnosed me with ADHD. Then they got me a prescription for tylenol and the ""miracle"" drug of the time: Ritalin.

For a while (several years, in fact) it seemed that things would be okay. But then my parents noticved something strange. As it happened, my brother (who, i will say, is almost two years my junior) was getting to be taller than me.

Back to the doctor we went. We were toldabout a process called a CT Scan. One appointment later and we had our answer, alright!

Yep. I had a craniopharyngioma; a pituitary brain tumor. As it turns out, it was stifling my hormonal production, and it was putting a lot of stress on my brain, causing the headaches and the violent mood swings. If they'd found it a few years earlier, things would have been fine. As it wasm when i got the operation, it had grown over my pituitary gland and a portion of my optic nerve. You know, for several years I effectively had tunnel vision?

I was given a 50/50 chance of living. which, obviously, I did.

Unfortunately, I'm halfway to doomed. Having no pituitary gland, I'm on permanent full hormone replacement (I take about 30 pills DAILY), will never father a child and am blocked off from all of the fun magical/metaphysical stuff, (whether it's real or not).

1. Wicca
2. Chakra magic
3. Telepathy or Psychokinesis etc.
4. Wizardry
5. Any inherited powers that may/may not come from my father (We often joked about him being superman in disguise.)
6. Green magic
7. Mind Over Matter
8. Prayer/White magic
9. Self-Hypnosis
10. Shooting star wishes
11. Blue moon wishes (I TRIED! I did!)

On the bright side, automatic lights and doors still work fo me, so i'm pretty sure my soul is intact.

[arc5162]

11871332
Praying for you, I'm so sorry this happened. But look on the bright side, whatever family you have lost, you will see again soon. May you rest comfortably and peacefully

[Chrome Masquerade]

11871465
Thanks for that. Hopefully that'll be one less thing to worry about overmuch.

[arc5162]

11871479
Sorry, that message reminded me of my mom, brought out some tears.

[Chrome Masquerade]

11871487
Sorry to bring that to mind.

[arc5162]

11871506
Its ok.

[arc5162]

I'm adding a little to chapter 11, hope you like it.

[arc5162]

11895097
Well, he was under a lot of pressure