• Published 20th Apr 2013
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Our Chaotic Tranquility - Edensola



Eve the draconequus embarks on a journey with a showmare to the Crystal Empire, unaware of the harsh truths that await her in the near future.

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Chapter 8: Reality - Part 1

CHAPTER 8: REALITY - PART 1

Hidden away in a sealed off room in an unknown location was Eve, shackled with enchanted cuffs. The room appeared to be quite fortified considering the fact there were many unfamiliar markings that decorated the walls of her supposed cell; and Eve felt the marking's strange effects taking place. Her magic was useless here, and she was at the mercy of her captors. The baby draconequus's mane was raggedy, and looked like it hadn't been combed in ages. Eve just looked up at the ceiling with tired eyes; singing a soft melody to herself. She wasn't singing any song specific, she simply let the words come along. And as she sung, it wasn't long after that the door to her room would slowly creak open, revealing two celestial guards obviously unhappy to see her.

"Up..." One of the guards stated simply.

Eve nodded to him as she slowly climbed to her feet. She knew whatever they asked she'd need to comply with; considering the fact she had no magic, which made her powerless. Eve made her way over to the guards, stumbling every few steps; and as she arrived, they didn't hesitate to shove her along out of the room and into the long narrow hallway that led throughout this mysterious corridor. Which didn't make identifying this place any easier.

What was this place? It looked far too fancy to be some ordinary prison. Or was she even in a prison? Perhaps she somewhere else entirely.

At that moment, one of the guards with irritation written all over his face; shoved the baby draconequus to the floor, causing Eve to slam her head on the ground. "Tch!"

His fellow snapped at him angrily. "What're you doing!? The princess said we weren't allowed to harm her!"

The assaulting guard just looked to his comrade with an annoyed glance. "This monster comes and ruins the festival then attacks the princess! And now she's getting special treatment?! She should be banished, not taking up refuge in our very own city! Didn't you see what she's capable of? We have to put an end to this right now before she brings harm to anypony else!" The guard then unsheathed his spear, pinning down the baby draconequus with another of his hooves and preparing to deliver a gruesome finishing blow.

Eve's expression didn't change as she laid on the marble floor. She simply eyed him with her head turned a little; and as she saw that pointed tip aimed straight for her head, she wanted nothing more than for him to shove it right through. The baby draconequus imagined that was mercy compared to being forced to live through another day. Ponies were such peaceful creatures usually; they created a society that was much near perfection, and Eve didn't fail to notice she brought out the worst in them. Murder; it must've seemed so foreign to ponies beforehand. The idea of having to kill another, and now here was a pony about to kill her here. Did she truly bring out this inner beast? Was she truly such a monstrous threat to them? If so; then kill her and get it over with, so she could finally stop worrying about all this nonsense and they could return to being themselves. The baby draconequus smirked amusingly at him. "Well you better hurry up mister."

And she probably shouldn't have said that; seeing as the guard was about to strike, but there was a moment of hesitation in him due to her words. He looked at the draconequus with a flinch as she'd said that. Is she baiting me? And that single moment of hesitation was all the other needed to tackle his fellow to the floor.

"What're you doing you moron!? If you do that; you'll be the one getting banished!" He snarled; then rising back to his hooves as he made his way over to Eve and got her back on her feet in annoyance. He looked back at his fellow guard on the ground. "It's not our call! But I do agree, this monster has already shown what she's capable of, Princess Celestia should just banish her and be done with it." He looked down at Eve; shoving her along. "I've never seen something so violent."

The guard on the floor climbed back to his hooves angrily as he grabbed his spear and made his way over to Eve's side; groaning. "Because other 'things' have some level of decency."

Eve winked at him playfully. "Hmhm..."

__________________________________________________________

As Eve looked around the area she was being led through, she still couldn't tell where she was. It seemed she was somewhere that was fit for royalty considering the fact the guards were upset she was brought here, and the architecture was proof enough this place was of high stature. She had her ideas but she couldn't really guess any place where they'd take her besides the crystal castle, it'd have made the most sense.

But eventually as she was led down the halls; Eve saw a dreaded figure she'd actually hoped she'd never have to see again. Standing at the far end of this particular hall waiting for them, was Princess Celestia herself. Eve glared a little, her nose wrinkling, twisting her features into an annoyed expression. "What're you doing here? Miss Pony Princess...."

The guards utterly offended by such a display shoved the baby draconequus forward.
One of them stating in annoyance. "Show some respect!"

Princess Celestia then stated in an angered tone herself. "That...wasn't necessary..."

The guard protested in defense, "But Princess! She-"

Princess Celestia continued; not hesitating to interrupt him. "I understand, you don't need to say anymore. I do thank you two for 'escorting' her here. But please leave us for now, I'll be fine from this point on." She then smiled softly at them; shooing them away with a hoof. Not meaning to be rude; just telling them that she no longer required their assistance.

And the guards took no offense to it either, saluting their princess with a smile and nodding to her silently. And as they turned to leave, they didn't fail to give one more disgusted glance at the draconequus.

Eve stuck her tongue out at them.

Princess Celestia then looked down at Eve with a smile. "Do forgive them little Eve, they tend to get a little hasty in such situations. They really are quite protective, and you've regrettably built quite the reputation."

Eve looked back at the princess with a disinterested look. "I don't mind...but what do you want with me?"

Princess Celestia smiled softly. "You'll see soon enough, now come come." She made her way over to the little draconequus, pushing her along softly with a hoof. And Eve didn't put up any resistance as she walked alongside Princess Celestia. She wondered where the princess could be leading her, but there was also something else she was curious of.

Eve looked up at the princess curiously. "Uhm..where are we?"

Princess Celestia stated almost immediately afterwords. "Canterlot; my city."

Eve cocked a brow. "Canterlot?"

Princess Celestia nodded. "Mhm; I took you here after your little display at The Crystal Empire."

So now she was somewhere entirely different? That wasn't very pleasing news. Eve's expression sunk.

__________________________________________________________

Eventually the two of them arrived at a large chamber door.

And as Eve looked at it, she felt her heartbeat accelerate rapidly. Of course this door must've lead somewhere quite important seeing as it was sealed by some sort of magical barrier. Princess Celestia however deactivated the barrier with ease as the door creaked opened soon afterwords, pushing back the gathered dust into the air. Eve coughed as she squinted a little patting the dust away with her paw. But as she'd eventually opened her eyes to see what was inside; it caused her to look on with awe.

She'd never seen something so beautiful in her life.

It was a vast room madeup of nothing but stars and endless space?
It was like a world entirely seperate from the one they were in.

Princess Celestia was delighted by this reaction from the little draconequus as she moved her along further into the room with a smirk.

Eve found herself mesmerized, practically hypnotized as she made her way inside. She looked around as she even took a few steps ahead of Celestia; unable to hold herself back from that feeling of exploration as she made her way deeper inside.

Princess Celestia smiled. "This place shall reveal everything to you little Eve."

Eve looked back at Celestia; somewhat confused. "Reveal everything to me?"

Princess Celestia nodded. "Yes; it's time you've come to realize your destiny."

Eve felt a little overwhelmed by those words. "My Destiny? What're you-..." She paused, thinking about the situation as the realization came over her. "You're the special somepony miss?...."

Princess Celestia smiled. "I am."

Eve shook her head; puzzled. "Then why? W-Why did you-"

Princess Celestia interrupted her. "You dream of becoming a part of pony society. Do you not little Eve?"

Suddenly the door to the chamber shut behind the princess, locking the two inside.

Princess Celestia then flapped her wings flying a little overhead, raising her forehooves to the air and casting a spell of her own. "You wish to live as a filly does. To be able to go to school; to learn, to love, to live in harmony. You wish to be a part of that perfect world, and you've chased after it for your entire life, whether you know it or not."

Suddenly flooding the room like a vast database was a multitude of scenes captured like images.
Images of a world that never was.

And Eve couldn't help but look on in disbelief as she watched those scenes. The life she wanted, the life she'd chased after for so long, was right here, all around her. It was as if she were looking into an entirely different world, looking through another's eyes and watching herself live in this ideal world, this perfection. And she couldn't look away, she could only stare as she felt that weakness overcoming her again. Everything she wanted seemed within her grasp, yet so far away at the same time. Did this world actually exist? Or were they just fragments of a world that would never be?

Wishes in a far off place, with a never ending distance between them.

In one particular scene, she was going to school. She even seemed to be friends with three little fillies, and they regarded her as they'd regard each other, as close friends. Eve looked on at this scene in heartache; in an eternal craving, wishing she could just go there, that she could just escape to that world.

She seemed so comfortable, so goofy, so innocent; so happy.
Pranking them, hanging with them, playing with them, it all seemed so natural.

Then she looked at another scene, one where she was making her way through the small town of Ponyville. And she wasn't afraid, she wasn't worried about concealing her identity, she was even wearing a bright turquoise hoody. And as she made her way through that small town, she'd even stopped to help an elderly pony with her bags happily. And that elderly pony regarded her with a smile, simply stating "Thank you deary," almost immediately afterwords. Eve couldn't help but look on in fascination; lost in the scenes before her.

But those moments of happiness were short lived as Princess Celestia cut in, "But do not be confused little Eve; for none of this is real, nor does it relate directly to your memories. These are simply wishes of yours; wishes reminisced in past dreams. Your memories however, portray quite a different tale. A tale I'm sure you're already most familiar with."

And that false world, almost as quickly as it appeared, was gone. Shattering like glass before Eve's very eyes.

The baby draconequus fell to her knees looking at where those scenes once were with a solemn expression. She picked up one of the pieces; wanting to look at that world again, to simply sit there forever and witness that false reality, to watch herself be happy. She gathered up some more pieces; pieces of those images she could actually touch as if they were a real thing, as they crumbled to cosmic ash in her paw and claw. And she looked at the ash flitter away like dust in the wind.

Princess Celestia then casted a similar spell; revealing an entirely different set of scenes, scenes that were true.

And these were the ones that were real. Scenes that Eve felt she could recognize, and as she looked upon those images, her head throbbed painfully. She could feel her brain swelling as the familiarity returned to her. She knew these scenes, she could recall living through these different events. That was the thing; she was actually remembering. These were memories.

Princess Celestia was showing her memories to her, restoring her through this incomprehensible process.

And Eve could feel it, as if a vast amount of knowledge was pouring into her brain. She looked around, step by step her life was slowly returning to her. How such a thing was even possible she couldn't pertain. But the process wasn't as heartfelt as she'd hoped, for after seeing her life through a world that didn't exist for her, she now realized such things truly were shattered dreams. For all she saw in these memories was more pain; recalling bitter moments one after another.

Like the last time she saw her real parents leave her in that cave that day, to go off into the vast world by themselves, to migrate to wherever they'd gone, leaving her alone to fend for herself. And she couldn't stop herself from scowling as she slowly turned; looking around at all these memories that surrounded her.

All she was was sadness, and her pathetic acceptance of it all.

But then there was the special mare, the mare of her dreams. The one who even now, couldn't stop the baby draconequus from revealing that childish face, that longing expression. The schoolmare that felt so mysterious to her. There was Cheerilee, it was actually her, and as Eve looked upon that memory; it seemed so long ago that such things had occurred for her. "Momma?....." And Eve slowly made her way over to the memories of where she'd spent time with Cheerilee, reliving those scenes in such vivid detail as she ran her paw over them. She was speechless.

Even if that world Princess Celestia had just shown her was perfect, this, this was still her most cherished memory. This was the greatest thing that'd ever happened for her. She wanted to be with Cheerilee, and as she remembered her adoptive mother, she felt those same emotions she felt long ago whirl within her. "Momma..." She looked happy, and she gently ran her paw and claw down the ethereal surface of that memory as she'd imagined what it'd be like to finally reunite with her.

The process was surprisingly easy for Princess Celestia, and as she looked at the baby draconequus get lost in her own fascination and moments of nostalgia, she couldn't help but smile. This wouldn't have been possible without her sister's help; and so she took a moment to thank her. Hmhm, it works marvelously dear little sister.... She then lowered herself to the ground as she smiled at Eve. "The world you sought to reach, is not possible little Eve; that is what you needed to see. That the world you dreamt of is an impossible dream, that you will never be a part of our society."

Those words caused the baby draconequus to freeze, as she looked at Princess Celestia wide eyed. And although the princesses's words stung, she found truth in them. As she recalled the looks of the ponies and other races back at the stadium she couldn't deny that wasn't very surprising at this point. That world of her dreams she'd just been shown, was nothing more than a false reality, impossible to achieve, impossible to reach. The world would never accept her.

At least, those were now her beliefs.

Princess Celestia then slowly began to trot around Eve, circling the baby draconequus. "I imagine this was hard to accept when you'd first realized it. But little Eve, now that you've had your memories restored to you. Now that you know that your greatest treasure is a pony. What will you do? Do you still wish to bring down the society we've established? Do you still wish to shatter this world of perfect harmony? The world your adoptive mother lives in? The world Zecora lives in? The world Trixie lives in? Do you still wish such things upon all of us?"

Eve's eyes widened. Did she?

What was she to do now that she recalled her fond memories of Cheerilee; the pony who was fully inbetted into the society she'd wanted to be a part of? The society she now despised for shunning her? She didn't want to hurt Cheerilee. She didn't want Cheerilee to see her as some horrid monster, some evil villain. She didn't want to disappoint the mother she'd forgotten anymore than she already had. But there were also those she despised, those like Twilight Sparkle; the one who'd left her to perish in the realm of nightmares. The one who'd caused her to forget her precious mother.

Although Eve was the one who took Applebloom and Spike she couldn't help but be angry with Twilight. Even now that mare was still causing her some problems. But still; how could she bring down the society Cheerilee lived in? Even Zecora was now steadily becoming a part of this society. Eve even found herself caring for Trixie. But what was she to do then? What was she to do now that her dreams were nothing? Now that she knew she could neither bring down this society or be with Cheerileee? What was the point of anything? That's it, there was no point. There was nothing for her, she couldn't bring down this world, nor could she be a part of it. There was nothing for her here, absolutely nothing.

But Princess Celestia disagreed, as if she'd already known what the baby draconequus was thinking. "You will be its defender."

Eve cocked a brow at the princess; confused. Defender? Why would she choose to defend this world that shunned her, that was stupid. Even if she loved Cheerilee; the world didn't even need defending. It had enough defenders. So what was this pony princess talking about?

Princess Celestia pulled up an image of a familiar figure. It was noneother than a changeling. "This creature, is one known as a changeling. They're monsters Eve; but unlike you, they don't hold any connections to this world of harmony. They would be the ones to see it crumble, their entire race. You will be one of harmony's defenders. You will take up the mantle where others cannot, and help vanquish these creatures, permanently. You see this world now for what it is beneath its beautiful shell. You lack purpose; and I am offering you one. A purpose to protect your mother, a purpose to protect the society you've loved and cherished. And from the shadows you shall be rewarded with the greatest gift of all, the gift of knowing that you're doing what's best for the perfect world." Princess Celestia smirked at the baby draconequus.

Eve took a few steps back, shaking her head. "What? N-No. I can't do something like that miss." That was crazy, was she actually implying what she thought she was? Eve liked the changelings, they were like her. She wouldn't do it. She didn't want to become a catalyst for something such as this. If this princess required her aid for something like this, then that only meant one obvious thing; that she had much to hide. Of course a perfect society couldn't just rise up out of nowhere, there must've been many sacrifices down the line. But was this her purpose, to be the sacrifice for this world? She didn't think so. "I won't do it."

"I had a feeling you may still be harboring doubts about your destiny." Princess Celestia then began trotting around Eve once again with a gracious smile. "Little Eve; have you ever questioned what happened to the rest of your race?....."

Eve cocked a brow at Princess Celestia once again, stopping in her tracks, listening.

Princess Celestia continued. "Of course, there was once a time where the draconequus were a more common sighting in Equestria. There was once a time, when all the races of Equestria had given them a chance to live side by side with all."

Princess Celestia once again brought up more scenes that caused Eve to be lost in astonishment.

In these particular scenes; she saw more draconequus like her. Younglings like her, with their parents at their sides.

Princess Celestia smiled. "But draconequus are creatures born with power, and power corrupts those who cling onto it. Such is the case with you draconequus; who grew corrupt over time, greedy, selfish, menacing."

And the scenes progressed as if Eve were watching it all take place before her, and what she now saw filled her with shame. Ponies and other races in chains, overpowered by the tyrannical draconequus, her race.

Princess Celestia's expression sunk. "And so it was with a heavy heart, we did what we had to, in order to ensure the safety of all of Equestria. To do what was best to keep the balance in our precious world." Her face then darkened.

And what the baby draconequus saw next, nothing could prepare her for.

Her eyes widened as tears swelled within them, and she looked horribly frightened. She shook her head as she backed away, attempting to run away from these scenes. But there was nowhere for her to run, nowhere for her to escape the horror she was now witnessing. She turned, but it was everywhere, the blood, the gore, the screaming & crying. It was an endless bloodbath, all laid out before her like some twisted nightmare.

She was now witnessing the slaughter of her own kind, the slaughter of her kin in days gone by. At the hooves of the ponies she'd admired. Frighteningly powerful ponies. "No...no no no no no no! Please! I-I don't want to see this!" Eve attempted to cover her ears but couldn't due to the bindings that shackled her. She could only close her eyes.

How was such a thing even possible? The idea that this world used to consist of such madness, that there was once a time when the races would attack one another like this, slaughter each other like this, was incomprehensible. And even her race, to have abused their gifts in such a manner, only to be cut down like nothing seemed insane. How could she make sense of any of this, and how could her mind wrap itself around such gory details all at once? This wasn't the world she wanted to come to accept, this isn't the world she wanted to live in. She wasn't ready for this yet, and she didn't know if she'd ever be.

Princess Celestia persisted however. "This is something you must see. This is the world you risk bringing forth if you choose to ignore it. Would you like that? Would you like to see kind ponies like Cheerilee; torn to pieces before your very eyes little Eve? For it will happen if you do not come to accept your destiny. You must do what we have done in ages past in order to ensure what is best for our world. Sacrifices must be made young one, and you are perhaps the first draconequus to fit such a perfect role. I have not encountered one such as yourself in quite some time."

Eve shook her head kneeling down and closing her eyes. "No! I don't want any part of this!"

This caused Princess Celestia's features to distort a little, revealing a fleeting moment of anger. "Now you will see this, and I will return for you within a short amount of time. I am certain we'll have come to an understanding by then."

Eve opened her eyes as she looked at Princess Celestia trot away from her, manifesting her own portal out of this place. Eve shook her head as she chased after the princess hurriedly, but tripping. As she looked at Princess Celestia leave, she cried out to her at the top of her lungs. "PLEASE! DON'T LEAVE ME IN HERE!"

Princess Celestia looked back at the baby draconequus with a saddened look. "As said; I will return shortly."

Eve cried out scurrying to her feet. "NO WAIT! PLEASE! STO-" And the portal disappeared. And the baby draconequus's eyes widened as she remained, forced to watch, forced to see this horror of the past take place before her. And she couldn't help but scream, not wanting to accept it. She couldn't accept this. She begged, screaming for some form of escape.

But there was none.

__________________________________________________________

As Princess Celestia appeared outside the chamber door, she seemed horrified by the aspect of leaving the baby draconequus in there with such scenes playing out before her. But the princess didn't falter, she simply attempted to block out the screams and cries she could hear from outside the chamber door as she trotted away down the hall.

"Forgive me little Eve. But this is the way it has to be. You will come to understand by the end of all of this."

__________________________________________________________

And hiding around a corner from the opposite end of a hall were three anonymous figures,
peeking to watch Princess Celestia leave.

One of the figures was sniffing like a dog then nodded, looking up at another.

Then another of the figures sighed. "Alright; let's move, we don't have much time."
And that voice was obviously feminine.

Author's Note: