Celestia

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It is easy to discern the difference between my homeland and Equestria. I know that after a millennium of rigorous care the vast wasteland that I consider my home has greatly improved, but it has not even regained half of the beauty my brother and I snatched from it. While in Equestria trees and lush vegetation propagates rejoicing its inhabitants with its beauty, at home nothing but moribund and sinuous branches delight our sight. Green meadows on which young ponies can jump and play with joy flourish almost everywhere, while we have to be content with sterile grounds on which not even the remotest vestige of grass has been witnessed in centuries. Happiness is not a rare resource in this land, and I can´t help but feel envy. Was that the reason why I agreed to assail Equestria and its joyful inhabitants, apart from the pleasure of serving my brother as he would have served me in a common quest? I can´t be sure, and damn it, I don´t want to. The things we did… There is no day in which I don´t regret every single action, every single crime. Though we both were equally guilty, I committed one more sin than him. The vilest sin of all: betrayal. I condemned my brother to an eternity in Tartarus while I remained free solely because of my election of siding with the Royal Sisters. I was redeemed, seen as a hero before the pony kind. When I returned home their reception was quite different. There was little they could do, in fact. Still weakened and consumed, their most optimistic hope was for me to bestow them a benevolent death. Instead, I confer them what was legitimately theirs; their magic. I would be lying if I said that I expected them to be as indulgent with me as I had been with them. Fragile, despondent, and alone, I simply desired to die. The culpability corroded me as venom, slowly flowing through my veins while poisoning me with impious patience.

But they did not take revenge for what I had done to them, not even taking advantage of my frail state to perform their finishing move. They offered me a gentle gesture of forgiveness, a redemption I did not and I still don´t deserve. I could say that if I have come to Equestria is seeking for that exemption.

Canterlot is a beautiful city, irrefutably. It has suffered many changes through history. I have even heard that it was once destroyed by some creature with unimaginable power and subsequently rebuilt. My brother and I once knew the responsible, but I can´t remember his name. Anyway, that is not important right now.

The sunbeams bath the golden roofs and reverberate in blinding shimmers. The diverse towers rise with majesty until reaching the very blue sky. The mountain onto which the city rests appears to have been formed precisely for hosting it. Like bees circling their hive, numerous flying artifacts soar cutting the clouds, entering and departing from what seem to be harbors. I have never seen such transports at home. The flags placed over lots of buildings dance along the wind. They are mere confections of fabric which aren´t meant to represent any emblem, but I presume they are simple decoration. These ponies are quite blusterous for the most mundane issues, but that doesn´t suppose a problem to me. The erected constructions have been built with maximum décor, polished until achieving an impeccable marble surface, and this is given in every single example my eyes see.

I espy at least three different waterfalls originated in the metropolis and plunging into a river on the base of the mountain. They pale when I compare them with the enormous origin of that water right behind the walls. I have never seen such amount of water in a thousand years. We don´t need that much at home, but the wonders it has done with the land are astonishing. The mere surroundings of the city are upholstered with such vigorous grass that they could shelter more life than what I´ve seen in the healthiest areas of my distant home. I hope someday we´ll be able to raise a metropolis like this. Someday…

And finally, two edifices which I can´t help but identify as my destination. I have traversed inhospitable lands, I´ve fought avid monsters, I have defied the limits of my own body in order to arrive here where I stand; flying before the city which shelters the mares who have occupied my thoughts for five dawns and sunsets. And now I feel the abrupt impulse of backing off while they don´t know that I am here. Our relationship is in precarious balance, and what I am here for might result in its fall. Yet I must do it.

My heart beats uncontrolled, so I try to assuage it. I inhale great breaths of air and then proceed to exhale them. One, two, three times. When I have finally soothed, I dare to enter. I cannot face the idea of walking by the city; becoming object of everypony´s eyes and with the risk of being arrested by the guards, so I go directly to the castle. Gargoyles aren´t precisely what ponies are used to these days, although a millennium ago they were quite gentle with me. But mentalities change, especially after crisis like the one these poor creatures have recently experienced, and I prefer not to take any risks.

Avoiding the sentinels is insultingly easy, but I´ll accept any facility presented to access the castle. From the distance I couldn’t discern the ponies roaming by the streets but now I can see them as clearly as they could see me. Fortunately, the busy pedestrians don´t appear to notice the flying figure above their heads.

I feel the temptation of wandering around the avenues embracing the joyful atmosphere, but I have to remind myself that I have a task to carry out. With great pity, I am forced to ignore the bliss that reigns everywhere I look. How could I possibly ever consider destroying such beauty?

I land before the wide stone steps that lead to the door of the castle. I can´t help but giving a glance at the sumptuous garden, whose land has been gifted with some of the rarest plants my eyes have ever laid upon. A sinuous fissure that transports water connects at least three ponds which much to my surprise don´t contain any vestige of animal life as one would expect to see. As I land a group of birds escape in flock before I can distinguish any of their species. They disband occupying different branches of the numerous trees as they observe with curiosity the newly arrived intruder. I feel something similar to a smile forming on my lips. Now I realize that it is the first time I grin in all these days of exhaustion. Remembering the desert I had to traverse makes me inexorably thirsty. I look around, ensure no one is watching me and direct to the water in order to satiate my impious avidity. I fall on my knees and start drinking.

This must be the most glorious pleasure of all I have ever experienced. My parched lips effusively thank me for the refreshment as I took anxious gulps of the crystalline substance. Once satisfied I dispose to resume my commitment. Despite the well received rest, my body feels heavier than ever when I attempt to straighten, yet that is not an impediment to get up. I indifferently clean the last drops from my mouth and direct my attention to the castle.

Now again, what is the reason of my distress? We are equals, aren´t we? I made them a favor; I saved their land. Of course, I saved it from myself and he whom I call brother. Perhaps I fear their reaction. “Hello, I´ve heard that Tirek recently escaped, stole every inhabitant´s magic and took over the land before being defeated again. Would you mind to free him so I can take him home with me?” That surely will convince them.

I sigh with resignation but unable to move. What if they decide that they were far too indulgent with a beast like me, and that I should share a cell with my brother as well? I can´t decide whether Tirek would be delighted for seeing me sharing his sentence or simply furious because of my presence there.

I repeat to myself that there is nothing to be afraid of. In the worst case I´ll simply take down Celestia and Luna –and any other guard stupid enough to face me- and flee to never return again. But I have made a promise, and in favor or against their will, Tirek and I shall meet.

I gather as much determination as I can find and slowly yet firmly approach to the gates. Once I am close enough of them I can discern that the stone wall´s perfection was nothing but a mirage aroused by the distance. Sinuous cracks crawl by the stony surface; some of them of major prolongation and wideness than others. The two wooden doors are covered by numerous slots, enormous pullers and a ridiculously big knocker. I grasp it with the intention of giving it the use it was designed for, but I am suddenly interrupted.

“Who are you?”

“The actual question would be: What are you?”

I turn around to see two guards, so alike that I´d swear they are twins. Once more I have to remind myself how similar ponies look to each other. Unicorns it appears. They are holding spears and have adopted a defensive position leaving a space of a meter between them and the end of the weapons. If they wanted they could simply sink the blade in my throat; if I wanted I could drain all the magic of their bodies leaving nothing but a defenseless pair of shells. But as they don´t seem to be willing to do so (at least by now), I will show them the same conviviality.

“In answer to your question, I am Scorpan, come from a far away land. Do not fear; I don´t intend to cause any harm. And I am a gargoyle, in case you ´re interested.”

They seem hesitant, but their weapons don´t.

“And why did you come here in the first place?” One of them asks. Apparently they don´t know who I am. I would have comprehended that my appearance was a matter of ignorance, but not my name. I cannot risk assuming that this oblivion is collective and not solely given in these two ponies. I simply hope Celestia still remembers me. And if she didn´t, I am sure that Tirek´s escape was an ideal reminder.

“I would like to request an audience with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.” I respond.

They share an inquisitive look, meditating the question. And me; well, I am prepared to act at the sight of any imprudent movement from their part.

The white one nods solemnly and the brown one follows his example. Then they look back at me.

“Alright visitor, come with us. But don´t try anything weird, you hear me?”

“I wouldn´t dare.” I respond with a little condescension.

They seem to be slightly disturbed by my reply, but if they are they won´t tell me. The white one pushes the gigantic door and opens it. I attempt to advance, but the brown guard rebukes me with his arm. The white one steps forward and then he leads me inside. The brown one is placed behind me, leading my steps. Clever. One of them behind, one of them in front of me so that I can´t perform any suspicious movement. Perhaps I was underestimating them.

They guide me through endless corridors. The floor is carpeted with a pink and smooth texture my tired feet vehemently express gratitude for. The walls are sporadically interrupted by sumptuous windows of colorful compositions by which the sunbeams go through in diverse tones. Blue, yellow, green… Those vivid colors bright my mood.

I wonder how big this castle (or should I say palace?) is. I bet it could host thousands of servants, guests, or families. In its many years of service it must have given shelter to an endless amount of members of the royal lineage, as well their respective servants.
My conjectures are abruptly cut when turning on a corner we appear before a huge arc that leads to the throne room. I discern Celestia in the background of the room, sat on her throne as she appears to be devotedly reading something. We are too far for her to notice any of us, which I thank. I wish I could postpone our encounter as much as possible.

As we advance beneath the arc I notice an unusual feature. The doorstep presents some cracks which ascend by its sides to the superior part. They don´t seem to be product of the pass of time, but a great force. Then I realize that there are some vestiges of splinters on the sides and diminutive rests over the carpet we are steeping upon. As if something had dragged the aperture. I know few who could do such thing.

He was here; Tirek was here. And judging the state of the door, he was not exactly a gentleman when he arrived. I don´t believe he employed his magic; since he was a kid he always enjoyed bragging of his strength, a characteristic I couldn´t compete with. I suppose some things never change.

Only once we are only a few meters away from her, I can finally identify the object which is hoarding her absolute attention; a letter. She is so plunged in her lecture that the white guard has to cough to divert her attention from the piece of paper. In the moment her glaze lays upon the guard and immediately after over me, I can distinguish how the base of her serenity lurches. However, I appear to be the only one to perceive this; I deeply doubt that Celestia herself has noticed that her lips have slightly contracted and her pupils have shrieked, along the heavy exhalation that has left her snout.

The guards remain in a respectful silence waiting for Celestia to formulate the same questions they set me out before. Now I will see if I am right about her memory.

“Guards”. The two stallions erect at the pronunciation of that word. Her voice sounds with firmness and calm, a perfectly opaque mask to the uneasiness that must be struggling to find a way out of her serene demeanor. I suppose she must be quite experienced in that ambit. “You have my permission to retire now.”

One of them gulps and questions with unease:

“Are you sure, your highness?”

She slowly nods as a warm smile that even comforts me spreads by her visage.

“He is an old friend, you don´t need to worry. Please, leave.”

Simultaneously the couple assents and prepares to leave the room. However, when they are about to leave the arc where a door used to be, Celestia exclaims.

“Wait”. They instantly turn around like a sophisticated and infallible machine without a second thought. “Please, notify my sister that I require her presence. Don´t worry, it is not an urgent matter, but bring her here.”

No other word is needed before they leave once more the room in the search of the mare of the night.

Once we have been left alone, Celestia abandons her throne and descend the short stretch of stairs that separate us. I cannot help but think how different our situations are. Her aspect is incorruptible; the years have been gentle with her. On the other hand, I am drawn as a remnant of silk that served as aliment to the moths. There is little left of my former young vigor. I am too old and tired. Of course, that was my sole decision; the decision of restraining the magic consumption. All the magic I possess is the one I wasn´t able to return to my people one thousand years ago. It´s better in my body rather than in a cadaver I suppose.

It´s been a long time since I met a royal, but I still remember the procedure. I kneel my right knee upon the smooth carpet. It´s touch is comforting. I lay my hands hand over my left knee and lower my head.

“Princess Celestia” I say with all the humility I am able to collect, which frankly, is much.

“Prince Scorpan” I heard her saying. I cannot hide my surprise by her statement. As much as for what I am seeing. In the moment I raise my head to look at her, I am able to see her bowing before me. The ruler of Equestria, one of the most powerful beings on this world, for whom the Sun is a toy to control, is exposing her respect for someone like me. I can barely contain my stupor, but her giggle makes me realize she is as sagacious as me.

We stand up again without retiring our eyes the one from the other.

“I fear I don´t hold such title, your highness. You can simply call me Scorpan.”

“Thus you can direct to me as Celestia”. She responds with a smile. After all, she remembers me.

I give a glance around the walls of the enormous lounge. I have seen so absorbed by her that I had not even observed my surroundings. The stained glass that adorns the room reminds me to the one I saw on my way here, but these are different. They appear to represent events, possibly related to Equestria´s history for what I see. Among the most interesting ones I see one representing the so called “Spirit of Chaos”, whom my brother and I had the “pleasure” to meet. Powerful as my brother and eloquent like me, he was quite an interesting… I cannot call him friend or even companion but a mere acquaintance. In fact, he appears to be the protagonist of this gallery. I see representations of his reign, his defeat and what appears to be a repetition of the image dedicated to his defeat but with six ponies on it. I have no idea what this can mean. The same ponies can be seen in many other images, such as combating a dark mare who slightly resembles to Celestia. I feel the temptation of inquiring on them and their meaning, but for some reason I have the hunch that that could be inappropriate.

An absurd thought overcomes my mind. Why aren´t neither me nor my brother there? Was Celestia trying to hide the calamity we were so close to perform? Perhaps as a signal of respect towards me? Anyway, musing about such a pernicious idea is the last thing I should do right now.

“Interesting gallery.” I mutter. I immediately bite my tongue. However, her discrete chuckle proves she does not seem to feel reviled due to my words.

“It is certainly interesting, Scorpan.” She sentences with an affable tone. “They may appear to be old, but this ones where shaped quite recently. After a little incident with the palace’s art.”

“May I ask something?”

“Go ahead.” She says without vacillation.

“All of this happened after my brother and I or later?” Once the question is pronounced, I feel the stupidity it oozes. Yet, she does not seem bothered to respond.

“Except for Discord, all of this succeeded your arrival.”

Once again, a heavy silence of discomfort reigns in the atmosphere. Damn it, I know for what reason I am here, thus she probably knows as well. She has proven to be quite perceptive; it would be foolish assuming she ignores the purpose of our meeting. Abandon your cowardice and do what you have come for, Scorpan!

“Celestia… I must confess that our already eroded friendship is not the only motive of my visit”.

She sighs with resignation before responding.

“You heard about Tirek´s recent escape, didn´t you?” Her voice is quiet and weak, yet not for that less respectable.

“Despite the distance that separates my home from yours, I am afraid I have. Tirek and I are profoundly connected, and in the moment his magic consumption began once more I perceived his actions again. If I ever snatched magic from anyone he would sense it as well. I felt how he grew stronger and stronger, more and more powerful as every second passed. The third day after I noticed the first perturbation, he had already doubled any amount magic we had ever achieved together. I suppose that when you don´t need to share, ambition can become quite a powerful force, mightier even than what he was. I knew you would not be able to stop him when he acquired the power of a creature that contained much more power than a regular pony. Then is when I feared he had finally obtained the Alicorn magic he had yearned for so long. But eventually I sensed his might reaching an unprecedented level, much greater than what I could ever conceive, an unfathomable power. In that very moment I knew that this world was at the mercy of an implacable and insatiable beast which knew no match. But somehow you stopped him. In an instant, I felt how all the vigor he had gathered dissipated from his body until leaving nothing. As if he were…”

“…Dead.” Celestia says, knowing how difficult is for me to say that. As I said, she is really sagacious. “Is that why you came for? In order to confirm your brother´s decease?”

The effect her words have on me is similar to what a gelid blizzard would do to a lizard. I feel my blood freezing by that glacial coolness.

I nod solemnly. Her answer is a profound sigh that makes me think about the worst possibility of all.

“There is no existing force in this world to constrain the power he possessed, Celestia. Be honest with me. Did you kill my brother?”
Each one of my words is sheered with frost.

She escapes from my inquisitive eyes and begins wandering by the room, avoiding by all possible means eye contact. I sincerely doubt I would be able to bear her glance either.

“You err in that, Scorpan. There was a way. I wasn´t present to behold its execution, but I know who was”. Celestia directs a furtive glare at the stained glass; the one with the six ponies and six jewels.

“Are you insinuating that six mere ponies were capable of standing up against my brother, even when not even you could?” I sound more outraged than what I intended. But I can´t help it; I can´t stand this kind of fallacies.

“They were not six mere ponies, Scorpan.” She replies, not even the slightest trace of reproach can be heard in her sweet serene voice. “They possess which can possibly be the mightiest bond I´ve seen in my vast life. With it they have overcome tribulations and defeated foes of fearsome power.”

“You haven´t answered my question yet. Did they kill my brother?” I can perceive as well as she must be doing how my patience is wasting.

“They didn´t. He is still alive… for now”. She responds with such brutal frankness that it shivers my bones.

“For now? What do you mean for now?” My teeth are grinding, my claws closed in fists, my body tenses as a predator´s before pouncing over his prey.

“Scorpan, I want you to comprehend this.” Her voice rises over mine, and for an instant, I feel fear. I remember who I am talking to; the solar princess, she whom dictates the course of days and nights, she whom could eradicate me with insulting ease. She stares at me, as I attempt to hide my woe. “Tirek has committed crimes not only against one sole individual or city, but to an entire nation. He drained the magic of thousands of innocent without the least unease. Elders, children… He did not care whom he was stealing from. He plunged Equestria into a greater chaos than the spirit of chaos himself ever did. At least he never intended to kill anypony. And after his defeat, the only penitence he received was returning to his former captivity where he had been secluded during the last millennium. My subjects now are aware of his capabilities; they know what he will do if he ever has the chance. Something similar happened after Discord´s escape, but it solely affected one town. I was forced to protect Discord´s statue or else the citizens would have killed him without second thoughts. Isolating that information was child´s play compared to this. Because, whom would I be hiding this information from, if he took the totality of Equestria´s magic? They want to ensure he never causes any harm again; they need to ensure he will never hurt them again.”

She takes a deep breath and exhales the air slowly. I can´t react to something like that. I have only felt this weak once in my life.

“Will you yield to their demands, Celestia?” I ignore the origin of my sudden bravery, but that doesn´t keep me from employing it.
She hesitates before answering.

“I… I don´t know. Sentencing the death of somepony, no matter his actions, is the absolute antithesis of what I believe in. I´ve had the chance to reap the lives of my enemies every time they were defeated, and instead I offered them benevolence. Sombra, Discord, Nightmare Moon…”-with every pronounced name her eyes point at one stained glass each time.- “And for some time, it worked. They had disappeared; they had been expelled and never heard of again. I never regretted my choice, never. That is; until the recent months. They reemerged more powerful than ever, and I was unable to defend my subjects from them. If it hadn´t been for my faithful apprentice, Equestria would be a sterile wasteland without daylight, harmony, love, joy or magic. I cannot permit that to happen. I must not allow it.”

Her voice reduces to a tremulous murmur as she attempts to hide her visage behind her bushy mane. I feel the imperious need of approaching to her, and even though all my instincts and senses reprehend me not to do so, I rest my hand upon her back.

“I comprehend how you feel, Celestia. Look at me; I made the same mistakes once, and you can contemplate what succeeded them. My ravaged home and the memory of my culpability have snatched many hours of my sleep, but you don´t have to be tormented by those pernicious thoughts.”

She is strong, probably the strongest mare I´ve ever known. She proves it once again raising her head and looking at me directly in my eyes. Her purple twinkling eyes enrapture me. I feel my heartbeats becoming more promiscuous, and that sensation is not welcome. No. I can´t afford those feelings, either now or ever. I cannot fall in that trap.

“If only it were so simple, Scorpan.” She lays her hoof upon the claw that reposes over her. “If only I could know what to do with your brother. Keeping him captive during all of eternity, or else concluding his suffering for the relief of my citizens.” The grief that ballasts her words concusses my shivered heart. However, it as well enlightens my mind.

“What about a third option, Celestia?”

Her expression alters in order to display as much curiosity as skepticism. I take it as an indicator for me to continue.

“I could take him, far away from your kingdom. Take him home, safe from your ponies.”

“My ponies?!” She seems more reviled by the mention of her subjects than by the proposal itself. Celestia retires my claw from her with impious coarseness. “It is him who must be isolated from them! Scorpan; Tirek ravaged cities, snatched innocent´s lives, consumed this land. We could throng a complete cemetery with the deceases he is responsible of since he broke free.”

“I had no idea he had killed anyone while he was powerless.” I respond with a tangle of surprise and incredulity in my throat.

“He had to nourish during his weakened state, didn´t he? Despite being a magic thief demon something as mundane as alimentation was one of his afflictions. And how could he obtain food from others? He stole it, Scorpan. And since ponies most times are “reticent” to bestow it, he limited to terminate the impediment between his objective and him. Several disappearances had been denounced during the last months in the Canterlot´s slums, and until now I hadn´t basted those events.”

“He was always an innate survivor.” I chunter.

She turns around abruptly. Her sudden movement causes her substantial mane to wave, yet without the grace or serenity that usually accompanies her. I meet her eyes once more, but this time they flash an inexorable wrath that makes me dread for myself.

“Are you defending his actions? This is innocents we are talking about! The ponies for whom you betrayed your brother!”

I feel the rage augmenting inside me, freely flowing through my veins making their way to my mouth.

“Don´t you dare to name so!” I exclaim.

Her brief shudder proves she did not expect my reaction. However, her humor does not alter the slightest trace. She contemplates me, with her absorbing and penetrating glare. She sees me as a foe to destroy, a potential adversary whose following movement cannot be anticipated. Would I be lying if I told I knew it myself?

The silence among us is imperturbable; breaking it would be sacrilegious. Thus here we stand, sharing profound glances ignoring the world that surrounds us. As two docile devotees in a church, we maintain a solemn quiet, only interrupted by the distant hoofsteps of some inhabitants of the caste echoing through the wide corridors.

This quietude is a disguise to the fervor that stands between us. So, I uncloak it.

“I am going to take Tirek with me, and I do not want to hear any objection. If you know what convenes you, don´t stand in my way.”

I can hardly recognize the voice that comes out of my mouth, and neither can Celestia. She has never seen me like this, the same way I have never witnessed her once her serenity has been broken. Now, it has undermined.

“Is that a threat?” Her eyes dazzle, defiant. Curse those eyes; I would gladly snatched tear them right now.

“It is a warning. Now, step aside. I do not need your consent to liberate Tirek on my own.” No emotion is perceived in my voice.

“It appears you have forgotten about Cerberus.” She responds nimbly.

“The custodian of Tartarus? Please…” I say derisively. “It is simply an overrated mutt. Bedsides, can a dog bite if his guardian isn´t
there to order him so?”

The words that flow by my mouth without the least musing remind me of who I used to be before arriving to Equestria with my brother. The brother that dammed mare is keeping me from releasing. She is an obstacle, a mere tribulation in my quest. Why would I require her permission to see my own brother? Why would I bother requesting her acquiesce when I could simply take what corresponds me? She is nopony to give me orders.

I perceive the sensibility urging me not to commit anything imprudent, but my unleashed emotions overpower that weak voice
contemptuously.

“Scorpan, I insist in you departure. Forget what we have discussed today and return to your home. I´ll decide what to do with Tirek on my own.” She says cutting. Her response is surprising. I didn´t expect her to profess such display of disdain. What right does she have to repudiate me? She will listen to what I have to say.

“No” I object, as the ardor of my fury increases. “I will not leave if Tirek does not accompany me.”

“Scorpan, don´t oblige me to do this.” She mutters. It is not a plea, yet I perceive the sadness it carries.

“Do what?” My mouth is unable to stay shut by this moment.

“Guards!” She exclaims looking at the arch where a sumptuous door used to be. The same stallions that guided me here emerge from the corner and before I can realize they have already promptly passed by my side and prostrated before her.

“Yes, your highness?” One of them asks with the most servile voice I have ever heard.

“Accompany our guest Scorpan outside the palace, if you please.” No tone of petulance or pride can be discerned in her voice. She
is genuinely remorseful it appears. I regret not being able to sympathize her.

“As you wish” the other guard responds. They firmly hold my arms, but I do not even attempt to oppose resistance.

“Is it so, Celestia? You are going to hide behind your guards? You used to be a combater; I remember those days.”

“Please, take him out of here” she burst out, once again her calmness staggering.

Aware of the effect my words have had onto her, I persist.

“Your defenseless subjects were completely dependent of you and your sister´s care. I think I´ve heard you defeated a dement demigod in order to protect them, didn´t you? What have you become? Another princess, contemplating the placid lives of her vassals from the top of her crystal castle. Days continue their course, and you begin to wonder what purpose you are serving. How many battles have you leaded during this millennium? How many occasions have your citizens had to laud your glory justly? You are nothing but a shadow of who you used to be. I cannot believe that I once admired you.”

Each spoken syllable is one more stab in her heart, and the way her teeth chatter, her lips contract and her eyes widely open are proof enough of this. My body is now driven by the dementia that has proliferated in my mind. Forget me, dear mother, for what I am going to do.

A dreadful smirk gradually expands by my mouth.

“It´s time you remember your origins.”

With a quick movement I release from one of the guard´s gripping. Before he can react, I deal him a strike directly in his jaw. His head rises before he collapses, still conscious. Celestia and the other guard observe the scene stupefied, unable to react. Just what I thought: her combat reflexes have ossified. I oscillate my arm with the stallion obstinately tied to me, his arms languish and drop him while my arm is still raised, which causes him to fly in straight line until crashing against the carpeted floor. I presume his
landing has been remotely soft.

“Scorpan, stop this immediately!” Celestia blurts out. However, she stands still, waiting for something. Why isn´t she doing anything yet? Remorse? Fear? And if it were fear, does she dread for her or for me?

I ignore her. The guard whom I punched painfully stands up, rubbing his chin, in which the mark of my fist has began to take form. I cannot help but feel pride for the strengths I still remain. But they are not enough to combat Celestia. I am truly surprised that my
mind can still process any rational thought.

Two incandescent spheres of a refulgent orange emerge from my claws. The guard I propelled stays onto the floor, struggling to get up. His tremulous limbs serve as a weak support. Though pathetic, I cannot help but feeling certain admiration for his pertinacious nature. However, respect does not exempt the fact that right now we are adversaries. Finally, limping, he erects.

The guard who is the closest to me unsheathes his sword and brandishes it menacingly before me.

“It is time you start being of some utility.” I chunter mockingly.

Their determined expressions are rapidly erased when they begin floating in the air approaching to me, covered in an aura that shares the same exact characteristics than the magic in my hands. They kick and struggle, defenseless in their brief transversal that leads them to me. My jaws wildly fall down, and then and only then Celestia is able to react.

“NO!”

Time slows for both of us. From the stallion’s horns a feeble blue light flows, waving like the water of a river. The pale blue tone is an ephemeral feature, before it adopts the same tone that my magic. My eyes close, sensing the pleasure that accompanies the just acquired power. I can sense my bones cracking, producing me an unbearable yet brief dolor, followed by an immense wave of ineffable delight. My arms thicken, abandoning their skinny state until becoming the pair of logs they used to be. I feel higher; every muscle in my body screams in joy for the just acquired strength. I am unable to believe how much I had missed this sensation. I still remember it even if it has been a millennium ever since I experienced it. I have been deprived of exerting my function as a magic stealing demon, and now I finally feel complete. My mind shatters, the rationality plunges in an ocean of oblivion, my purpose here is substitute by the desire of consumption. All I can think about now, is taking as much as possible. And Tirek will be glad to see me, he shall be. Together, we will take this reign; their castles will fall; we will rise. There is one mere obstacle.

“Scorpan, what have you done?!” Celestia exclaims appalled.

Their bodies, now lifeless shells, precipitate against the floor. The colors that once imbued life to their eyes have faded. Their
respiration is the only proof of their survival.

“I will take my brother with me, Celestia. Now get out of my way!” I now notice that my voice has changed as well.

“I can´t let that happen Scorpan.”

My eyelids contract in fury and from my mouth emerges a choleric scream.

“Then DIE!”

A lethal beam surges from my hands in her direction. She limits to protect herself with a magic shield. When my attack impacts,
her transparent protection sparkles in blue.

“Scorpan, I implore you to stop right now.”

I roar and jump in her direction propelled by my wings. I land before her and shoot joining both hands. She casts the same shield spell, which effectively protects its invoker, though I perceive it has began to crack.
“Reason, Scorpan! Return the magic you have stolen and there won´t be any further repercussions.”

I describe an arch with my right claw as I try to rip her sweetly white skin. I will not desist until her untainted coat is stained of crimson red. She nimbly evades my strike backing off. If she believes she is extenuating me, she is completely wrong.

“You don´t know how powerful I am. I don´t want to harm you!” Her voice suggests true charity and not just meaningless threats. But
I don´t want to stop.

“Hurt me? You underestimate me, Celestia!”

I fire with both claws and this time she is not fast enough to summon her shield. She is thrown by the room and lands at the feet of the stained glass windows. Yet she gets up with insulting easiness.

“You are who is underestimating me, you fool! Stop this right now, Scorpan, before you harm somepony else!”

“That is what I want!” I can hardly recognize the thunderous voice that surges from my throat. It is a portentous scream rather than
an evocation of a rational idea. I am losing control over myself.

Once more, I pounce over her, but she easily eludes my attack by taking off again. The impact against the glass is slowly painful. Fragments of crystal cut my cheeks and forehead. The rest of them hurtle against the gardens. I retire my head from the hole of the window as the crimson I ached to see in her slips by my visage. However, the wounds quickly regenerate. I look back at Celestia and see her expression. It is easy to perceive that her patience is running out.

“By the moment the only one who has been injured is you.” She points out with a smile of condescension.

“SILENCE!”

My doubts about this demented idea are beginning to flourish, but I shall not falter. Even if she is a demigoddess and I am an emaciated elder with the uncouth magic of two mere unicorns and the little I remained from my last manhunt a thousand years ago in Equestria. Tirek will be free of his shackles, and so I´ll be of my tortuous culpability. Once she has bitten the dust.

Two beams erupt from my palms, which she easily avoids, as I intended. Before she is able to react, a third an unexpected attack impacts against her right wing. She emits a loud scream that resonates in every corner of the room and spreads by every hallway. As the fallen idol she is, her wounded body crumples from the air and crushes against the floor. She is defenseless, but it won´t last. So I move on to the next and final step.

I unfold my bat wings and use them to take impulse. I jump and hover upon her. She is downed, temporally. She continues struggling to get up, but one last impact on her torso is enough to dissuade her. She mutters something unintelligible when I kneel before her for the second time this day. Quite curious, how an action can have so many diverse significances in different contexts.
She remains recumbent, heavily breathing. I intuit that last strike hit her lungs. I position upon her, and then I meet her eyes; her wroth yet beautiful purple eyes.

Her pupils cringe when my claws press against her neck. She attempts to inhale, but strangulation is not what I have in mind. My claws sink in her flesh, and the gesture is rewarded with her blood. Crimson red gushes from her sweet throat, dyeing her coat of the tonality of death. Her legs spasm, her front hooves surround my wrists, futilely trying to separate them from her. As much as she fights on the outside, as much as I fight inside me. My mind is split in two; one yearns for her death, another begs me to stop. And while their discussion continues, life slowly fades away from her. I want it to end this now; for me and for her.

“I am sorry Celestia; this was never meant to end this way.”

She coughs and the consequent drops of blood bedraggle my face. I sense their heat, and for some reason I find no bother on it.

“I…” She tries to say. Silence is my sole answer.

“I lament… it had to be this way as well…”

Her eyelids fall, extinguishing the last glimmer of the vitality that slowly escapes from her. She has died at my bare hands; I have killed my old and only friend for who has repudiated me for so long. I sigh, as I feel my eyes whelming with tears. I close them, in order to contain them from flowing. I wish I could have saved them both. But life is never fair; destiny is morbid and cruel.

My thoughts are abruptly interrupted by a white light, whose incandescence is vigorous enough to penetrate my closed eyes. I open
them startled, and find their source.

And for a third time today, I feel dread.

Her blank eyes contemplate me, irradiating such a blinding brightness that I have to protect my vision with my hands. She straightens, throwing me against the stone walls. The impact is dry and painful. I rub my head trying to mitigate the burning dolor, when I see her floating before me. Her wings are immobile, rigid as iron, yet she still maintains in the air. A white aura gleams
around her, and what could be beautiful is in fact terrifying. And there is nothing I can do but beholding.

“You fool! Did you truly believe that with the magic vilely stolen from two unicorns you would be able to stand up against who your brother couldn´t even cerebrate to attack before consuming the power of an entire nation? Are you so desperate?” Her voice makes the walls shake, tiny pieces of rock falling with every spoken world. I´d be surprised if the castle didn´t collapsed, actually.

If I could I would affirm, but no words dare to leave my throat. She is completely right. And for my fatuity, I will assume any punishment she has to offer.

“I will have to think what to do with you, Scorpan. Thank your gods that death has always been an antithesis to everything I believe in.”

I outline a languish grin, recognizing the irony.

The light intensifies, wrapping everything in sight in white. Her white silhouette fades as well, and suddenly, there is nothing but darkness.

Tirek Part I

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Gleaming, as enrapturing as lethal. Flare succeeded by darkness; the sun settles in the firmament, while the moon slowly manifests its beauty. Your presence in this realm is always welcomed, Scorpan.

I feel the heaviness over my shoulders, the weight of the provisions I have acquired. I consumed most of them during my haul, but I have not wasted the least bit of them. I can´t afford it.
I stand before the cave entrance; my feet claiming with pain after the little rest I offered them in the last hours. My wing´s state is not any better; they were the first ones to succumb to exhaustion. But here I am, finally, at home. At least what I can call “home”. Mother and Father used to tell us that wherever you feel loved can be refuge from penury. This great, vacuous, fetid cave is anything but snug, but I still dare to qualify it as a home. Thanks to the company.
I am about to step forward, yet I can´t help but hesitate. A month has passed since I left it, under my brother´s command, and now that I am back the culpability flourishes once more. There is no reason why I should permit guiltiness to haunt me; I have not committed any crime yet.

You pathetic liar.

I destroyed my true home, the place that saw me grow. They were weak, they were not deservers of the magic they possessed, and the natural order stipulated that it must belong to whoever is worth it. At least that is what I used to think. Nowadays… I don´t know what to believe in.
Tirek will kill me. He will savagely beat me until the last thread of life has abandoned my body. It wouldn’t be the first time he does something like that. And in my case it wouldn´t either.
But he has shown to consider me his equal, somebody who he can rely on, unlike our very own parents. Perhaps I can gain his consent.
I take a deep breath and walk inside the cave. The first thing that inexorably impacts against me is the stench that it houses. I had almost forgotten how it was like. The putrescence of a thousand corpses is what I can associate it with. I am likely to be right.
I advance thought the profuse chambers formed after years of erosion. Some rats, two judging their shrieks, run away from my path. The floor sloshes once in a while. I doubt that what I am stepping onto is water. The darkness is omnipresent, not even allowing the faintest glimmer of light to pierce the shadows.

Unnatural obscurity from where she observes us. She is here; this realm belongs to her. But I am stronger.

Fortunately, my sense of smell is as sagacious as any predator´s, and a period of one mere month can´t erase what years have outlined. Tirek´s odor is unmistakable, even in the most impious darkness. The perfect guide for an adrift traveler. I follow its instructions, with my hands always in front of me ensuring a safe walking. I palpate the irregular stone walls, sensing each one of their cavities and fissures. I feel the touch of something creeping by my hands, something with many legs. I grab it, squeeze it and devour it without any tact. Why should I have it? Besides; its flavor is worth it.
I turn in a corner, feeling how the space between the walls shrinks. I contort trying to fit in the diminutive area. Some fragments of stone detach with my advance. However I can do it without any major tribulation. Now I notice my eyes have been closed during my paces. With this ominous obscurity it is difficult to discern such a trivial fact.
It is not trivial at all, though. In the very instant my eyelids separate I am able to see what I had yearned for since I entered the cavern. The precious light radiates in a fine line in the distance, a shortening distance with every second that goes by. I remember it perfectly. The chamber in which we had settled had numerous entries, and this is one of them. After all this time, I am finally going to see him. I am…

A Traitor.

My heart shivers, as a chill descends from my nape to my tail. My feet become one with the cave and assimilate a rocky state. Solid, ferrous, they do not respond to my commands.

“Tirek is your brother” I think. “He loves you, as much as you love him, and despite what it may look like, he is not a mindless brute. He will attend to reason.”

Once this is said, I feel a feeble fortitude that urges me to move on. I regain the conviction I had lost and reach my destination.

Oneiric illusions, a limpid mantle behind which she is occulting. We are not alone.

The sunbeams bath my grimy visage in the moment it abandons the narrows of the path which took me here. I introduce the rest of my body through the fissure and feel the sentiment of liberation that comes with it. I open my arms and stretch myself, filling my lungs with the fresh air that enters by the humongous hole of the ceiling of this section of the mountain. At least here the stink is innocuous.
The zephyr caresses my bushy coat, transmitting the heat of the summer. I look up through the aperture of the ceiling and contemplate the sky, conserving its violet tone. Discord´s influence upon Equestria has not been purged yet, but the damage he caused should be repaired in a matter of weeks, days being optimistic. I direct my sight below and analyze my surroundings. Everything is similar to what I remembered, though the fact that this cave has hosted someone can be easily perceived.
I advance thought the lounge cautiously, looking for my brother. There is no other place where he might be, especially if he is expecting me to arrive early, as we had agreed in the moment of my departure. One side of me, however, finds rejoice in his absence knowing the task I have self-imposed. But fortunately, it is a soft voice which can barely exert any influence on me.
I locate the rudimentary beds we composed with leaves, straw and small branches. Almost unconsciously I crumple upon it, act which is followed by the immediate gratitude of my inferior appendages. I let escape a sigh of relief as I sink in the itchy material. My eyelids feel the temptation of closing, and that force is a formidable foe.

A dead warrior is unable to die again.

“You are truly incorrigible, Scorpan” Proclaims a deep voice of undetermined origin. It echoes across the sheers walls, resonating in every corner of the complex ramification of tunnels.

I can hardly hide my surprise when that statement reaches my ears. Suddenly, all the lethargy I was beset by dissipates. I react as a string and straighten from the bed. Still sat upon its unpleasant surface I turn my head anxiously seeking for who has talked. Finally, our eyes meet.
He stands before me, with a corpulence that has intimidated all kind of creatures, our parents included. His crimson skin is dotted by the sunlight that enters through the ceiling, yet this only confers it an even more fearsome appearance. The mop of black hair that wildly extends by his body has increased since the last time we saw each other. A side effect of isolation, I presume. It is tousled and tarnished by the grime of the cave. His two horns adopt a curvature at the three quarters of their length, resembling to a devil like those of ancient tales. Grant him some centuries and Tirek will be able to figurate among them. His eyes confirm this. Composed of the purest blackness and solely importuned by two yellow dots. And they are being directed onto me.
I irretrievably feel how dread ascends by my dorsal spine, pounding on every vertebra.

“After returning from what probably is the most arduous moment of our mission, after a month of uncertainly fearing for you, consumed by the constant sentiment of culpability by not having offered myself to serve this commitment, this is what I am offered in exchange? A quiet, scornful entrance?”

He loved you, and you betrayed him.

My composure languishes with every syllable of despise. Abruptly I feel like a kid being reprimanded by his older brother, as he accustomed to do. It would strengthen my character, he used to say. In this moment I fear his lectures have fallen into oblivion.

I get up hobbling, without breaking the visual contact. My hands join in a gesture of bitter culpability. I look to the ground with grief in my movement.

“I am sorry, brother, I truly am. Please, forgive me for my disrespect” I achieve to shamefully mutter.

Under any other circumstances I would not feel this way after affronting Tirek, but knowing what I am about to reveal to him… This is only a premise of how he will sense.
I feel the touch of his sturdy hand grasping my arm. It produces me a dull pain, but I know that if he were truly furious he would have broken it, thus I feel relief. Right after he pulls from it dragging me in front of him. His other arm closes surrounding me while his hand descends to my forearm and closes trapping my hand.

“I have missed you, Scorpan, I really have.” There is no reproach, disdain or petulance in his words. His statement is sincere.

My left hand lies upon his shoulder.

“So have I, Tirek.”

“However, and despite the joy that brings your arrival, we have other issues to discuss.” He promptly says. I limit to nod.

We split and he initiates his way with me behind. I don´t even know where he is heading to, but old habits are difficult to forget.

“Patience is a virtue, brother, and both of us are aware of this fact.” He suddenly says. “A month of inactivity has been a torture, but finally the time to act has come. The wise warrior does not charge in battle blindly; that has cost numerous defeats to foolish fighters through history. Learning the weaknesses and strengths of your adversaries is fundamental. Only after that, victory can be ensured.”

“I couldn´t agree more.” I convene.

Tirek is right; he hardly ever errs. Home was an easy conquest since we had had an entire life to become familiar with it. In an unknown reign, whose rulers and inhabitants hide in the mist of our own ignorance, it is certainly different.

“What have you been doing during my absence?” I ask.

“Given that I could not consort a proper strategy without knowing the field, nothing much. I´ve spent the last days gathering aliment and observing our surroundings. I have as well overseen your activities, and knowing that you have not consumed the least fleck of magic was reassuring.”

“When I am commanded something, I fulfill it. I thought you knew me better.”

“I never said I distrusted you. Simply, I interpreted that lack of activity as a sign of welfare.” He sentences, no emotion in his voice to be perceived. I shiver when I hear that tone.

He continues his path until reaching the center of the chamber. From the gap between his horns an incandescent orange sphere is born, similar to a tiny sun. A shine which shares the same characteristics materializes upon the cracked ground, illuminating every corner of the room, just like his scream did before. Tirek solely knows the significance of subtlety when it is indispensable; if not he never doubts in exhibiting his might. Sometimes I have the hunch that it is meant to be a reminder to every creature, perhaps even to himself, of how powerful he is. I can assure I´ve never forgotten.
Once the sparkling brilliance has dissipated I can see what it has conceived. A rudimentary wooden table has appeared before us, with two glass cups of wine onto it. An amphora, extremely similar to those we used to utilize at home, lies between them. Two large thrones are placed on the extremes of the table, with little distance between them.
As I´ve said, Tirek does not know the meaning of subtleness.
He occupies the greatest chair of both and accommodates to it. His four legs easily adapt this new position, much to his relief. This seat reminds me to the same our parent occupied at home, before their overthrow in our hands. Without uttering the least word, I follow his example and sat down in the other chair. The straw has no comparison with this. I sink the conformity of the throne while my hands find support on the armrests. I had always wondered how sitting upon Father´s throne would feel like, and I had the chance to discover it a few years ago.

Tirek takes the amphora and meekly serves the wine onto both cups. Then, he takes his and tastes it. I grab mine, but I do not drink from it yet.

“Enough talking about how glad we are to see each other. I consider that topic to be already exploited. Now…”

“You want me to explain you what information I´ve obtained, right?” I say before he can finish. He does not seem disturbed by this interruption.

“Evidently” Tirek answers, leaning back in his chair.

“Alright” I cough before commencing.

“For that I´ve seen, and you surely have as well, this kingdom is still weak after their last conflict. I suppose that when you fight a dement god who pays the worst part is the land itself. Even though three months have passed ever since, (according to the newly established calendar), his influence has not been completely purged from Equestria. Once in a while the gravity laws tend to be revoked, some creatures change of size, among other examples. Given that the course of days and nights was altered, and the madness that was imbued to the citizens, nopony can be certain of for how long Discord reigned. The last traces of his magic have deeply affected the grounds and the weather. Ponies can barely cultivate in most terrains, and they are forced to subsist on the commerce with neighbor reigns and the little food they can grow. One place called “Everfree” appears to have overcome these penuries and, according to most ponies I asked, it has always been independent from the rest of Equestria. Yet however, the creatures it hosts are too fierce and dangerous to even considering colonizing it. Most edifices have been lost by diverse motives, from natural disasters to reasons as bizarre as simply taking off and being lost in Equestria´s sky. Ponies are trying to locate and reposition these buildings, although quite unsuccessfully. The same can be applied to the search of ponies on the loose, still under Discord´s influence or how ponies here name it; “discorded”. Due to the magnitude of the tribulations they are standing up against, the three races have stepped aside their differences and joint forces to save their home.”

My exposition is suddenly interrupted by Tirek´s chuckles. He barely tries to hide it.

“Perfect, simply perfect. Their land is weak; dying. Fortunately, we are not interested in the terrain, are we? Now, go to the main point. What kind of magic can we extract from them?”

“I obtained information from the most reliable source possible. I befriended the official wizard of the Royal Court, who proved to be quite illuminating.”

“Befriended?” Tirek asks, ominously.

“I had to earn their trust, don´t you remember?” I sentence, cutting. I am not lying, nor telling the truth. It is better this way.

“Sagacious movement.” He responds, though I can´t perceive admiration or approval in his tone. He is wary, yet not paranoid. However, I can discern his distrust for me.

“Well, in any case, he taught me much about how magic works in Equestria. Apparently, there are three different races, principally characterized by the amount of magic each one possesses. The one with the most prominent magical abilities is the unicorn kind. Their horns permit them to cast innumerable spells: summoning, attacking, levitation, even time travel. They are certainly a powerful group. However, each individual specializes in one single field. According to my friend, there are unicorns who tailor clothing, who manipulate time, who compose melodies, etc. Only a few fortunate ones can master the sole concept of magic, among them my friend. Pegasi are the second group. Their inimitable ability to fly is their strength. According to my benefactor, they possess a specific type of magic that allows them to manipulate weather with their own hooves, although this capability can be imitated by unicorn magic. Their flight is fundamental for Equestria´s survival due to the responsibility of determinate the rains and thus of the vegetal life. Finally there are earth ponies, whose abilities appear to be the feeblest of all in what concerns to magic. Their talent is mainly directed to tending the land and inferior creatures. However, they seem to possess certain ability to control the earth and what it can conceive.”

Tirek drinks from his cup and exhales a sigh of satisfaction. I approach the wine to my lips and taste it, much to my throat´s relief.

“Thus Equestria requires the care of all its inhabitants in order to survive… Such a shame we won´t be so convivial with it.” Tirek says dreamily.

My wine chokes in my throat and I have to cough in order to expel it.

“Are you alright, brother?” Tirek inquires, genuinely worried.

“Perfectly, perfectly” I respond dismissingly, still struggling with my coughs.

You liar. That is all you know to do. Is that why you are here? Because you regret this moment? Is that the reason why you force yourself every night into watching this?
“Then continue” He says patiently.

“There is hardly much more to tell, I fear. Although, on second thought there is one more thing. Equestria has witnessed the rise of a fourth race, albeit its scarcity has conferred it a status of legend.”

Tirek arches his eyebrow with curiosity.

“They are called Alicorns. The main feature that characterizes them is the fact that they dispose of wings and horns alike. Apparently, they possess not only the magic of the three races, but their own particular kind of magic. One of the most instable forces of this planet; almost incommensurable. With it they dictate the course of days and night, raising both the moon and the sun every day. The unicorn I talked to, who personally knew them, explained that their magic equated to the entire land´s current population, nonetheless.”

Tirek primps his beard introspectively, with a blank expression on his countenance. However, for me it is perfectly legible. He is musing about an unexpected impediment. He always acts with resolution, as long as everything goes according to his plans, that is. When some kind of tribulation truncates his strategy he can only react in two ways; redesigning it, or else finally losing control over himself. Fortunately, his serenity has imposed.

“How many of these… Alicorns can they rely on?” Tirek inquires calmly, though I can perceive the inner battle within him against his own rage. If the answer displeases him…

“There are only two known Alicorns in Equestria. The same ones who stood up against Discord and accomplished victory. After that they assumed the throne.” I respond masking my dread.

Tirek slightly shivers after hearing that. He arches in his sit and relies both of his hands over the table. His medallion; the one I gifted him with, wobbles due to his abrupt change of position. Then joins his hands, crossing his fingers, and approaches his head to the just formed pose. He sighs and closes his eyes for a second before reopening them again. In his new glance I can perceive the determination they irradiate. Literally.

“Discord was an admirable adversary. Not even we were capable of stealing his magic. Fighting him would have been a poor and imprudent action, to say the least. Suicidal, more appropriately. However, I bet that with all the might this reign contains we can stand a chance against both of them.”

Suddenly, an audacious idea comes to my mind, a vile thought that if given a correct use could save the lives of millions. Because, how could I explain him that I´ve grown fond with this creatures? How could I express what they make me feel every time I see them working together in harmony, sharing their love for each other? Displays of unprecedented goodness, unselfishness, allegiance, integrity, joy and… that one sentiment impossible to describe with mere words. I have contemplated them; I have learned to appreciate them. They have shown me the true innocence and happiness of their lives. And the only one who has ever truly understood me, the last of my kind, the sole creature in this world who doesn´t repudiate me, is seeking their destruction.
Tirek would never agree to abandon our cause and return home. I don´t want to go home either. My only desire is being with him, wherever we go, but without harming anyone else. I am so tired of the smell, sight and touch of death…
Tirek takes the cup of wine decided to consume the scarce liquid it still remains.

“Tirek…” I say. I immediately perceive the trembling of my voice and use all my strength to soothe it. “Are you sure about this? Discord was… godlike. A creature of unmatched might. We both are aware of the rumors that surmised that he was part of the Celestials before his banishment. And they defeated him. I… I don´t truly believe that we can find victory in a confrontation with the Royal Sisters”.

During the only second that precedes his response I can discern how the factions of his visage contract due to the surprise.

“What?!” He exclaims with his thunderous voice. The entire cave quakes with fear.

“I am saying that we should not underestimate them. It´s basic logic, brother. If we both were incapable of defeating Discord, and they beat him in battle, what chances do we stand for against them?” I respond, as calmly as I can.

“Is it fear what I am hearing, Scorpan?” He questions. Tirek clenches the glass driven by his sudden fury. Incapable of bearing the might of his hand, it explodes in a million shatters. Fragments of crystal scatter by the chamber oscillating as they cut the air. When they impact against the wooden surface of the table I can see the blood they are impregnated with, yet no wounds are seen in Tirek´s palm.

Right now, our discussion is in a precarious equilibrium, and one more gust will be enough to plunge it into the dark void. Once it has fallen, I can´t ensure the integrity of any of us. I must select my following words with meticulous care.

“Not exactly. I am simply exposing my concern about this quest. Perhaps it overpowers us.” Only after pronouncing those words I notice my hesitation before answering. You idiot. I pray he has not perceived the slight doubt that preceded my explanation. But is there is one feature we share, is our perspicacity.

“What are you hiding, Scorpan? What intentions are you truly occulting?” His fury increases as the flames of an uncontrolled fire. His hands close around the borders of the table, slowly breaking it. I can hear the crunch of the wood as he maintains that position.

You are weak, Scorpan, in every sense. You could not deceive your brother, you could not stick with him, and you could not rescue him. You are not even deserver of breathing the same air he does.

“I am not hiding anything, Tirek, I swear. I…” My voice slowly dies. I deeply sigh and resume. “You are right, I am scared.” This is not completely a lie.

“Scared? Scared?! Dread is not what has brought us here, Scorpan. I never discerned any terror in you when we decided to crusade for power. I know you better than what you believe, brother. And I can distinguish your half-truths. Stop trying to trick me; your silver tongue never worked on me!”

Tirek bellows, revealing the monster he has only shown to our foes. Abruptly he gets up, flipping the table. When it impacts against the floor it is broken in half, yet still attached together. The amphora smashes against the floor, scattering the wine as if it were blood across the ground. Its destruction is followed by my glass, mockingly parodying a death.
Tirek takes the table by two of it legs, raises it above his head without the feeblest effort, and crashes it against the one of the walls, reducing it to a jumble of splinters, amputated wooden limbs and cracked boards. He stands contemplating the fruit of his unleashed wrath exhaling profound and choleric gasps, emanating smoke from his snout. His muscles are extremely tense; his veins palpitating.
He turns his head to me, making me sense the scorching heat radiating from his eyes. The creature which stands before me is an untamed beast, preparing to pounce over his prey without the least reticence, solely yearning for tasting its blood.
However, I am not a mere prey, I´ve never been. We both are hunters, despite what he might believe. Yet, in this instant, I am being consumed by a weakness which has left me simply helpless; even if he tried to fight back my own body would refuse. As if this were a nightmare.

Weak, both in mind and body. I almost feel pity for you.

His arm stretches towards me and suddenly my throat is confined inside his ferrous grasp. Reflectively my hands hold his enormous arm. My claws sink under his skin, but he barely reacts. I can feel his blood flowing from the wounds, how it slowly slips by his arm and eventually runs by mine. Not a groan, not a grimace, not even the slightest display of pain.
He slowly lifts me while I kick futilely, struggling to liberate from his grip. He approaches my face towards his, so closely I can feel his heavy and heat breath. His penetrating eyes scrutinize my visage, in search of something. I can sense my cold sweat advancing through my forehead and temples in wide drops. Until he finally talks.

“If you pronounce any other lie I swear you will experience by firsthand how strong I can truly be.” Tirek says with a particularly serene fury.

“I… I don´t want you to be harmed” I manage to say despite the strength he is exerting upon my throat.

His lips contract, revealing a line of white and sharp teeth. His eyelids slightly fall, composing a frown. It all happens in a brief second, before I am launched against the stone wall.
The impact is as harsh as I expected. The scarps of the cave only increase the pain as they sink in my back. I can perfectly discern the sound of a vertebra cracking. I am not worried about it; it will soon heal. As long as Tirek allows so.
The contact with the walls is brief yet intense. My mistreated body falls and hits the inexorable ground. My head reposes upon it and is actually grateful for that momentary pause. I don´t even attempt to get up; Tirek will be by my side before I can do it.
My thoughts are confirmed when I hear his resounding steps rising louder with each passing second. The walls themselves tremble with his advance, professing a perfectly comprehensible fear. Some fragments of stone detach from the ceiling and hit the ground reducing to smaller versions of themselves. That is what I can tell from the sounds I perceive, at least. My eyes are closed, but they discern the alteration of light when his shadow eclipses the sunbeams that comforted me with their warm touch. I find irony in the way he intends to block the Sun, but this is nothing but a febrile thought. I can barely raise my head nor separate my eyelids, yet somehow I gather the will to do so.
The first and only thing I can glimpse is the vision of his eyes, and once more I have to find the strength to look at him. Gradually, my sight returns, much to my dismay. His harsh countenance shrinks my heart.

He has you where he always thought you should be; beneath him.

However, in this dreadful beast, under that disdain and hatred I can still espy my brother.
I painfully cough with a growing smile on my face.

“I didn´t think… that proving your strength was necessary. That… poor table was a great example.”

I emit a brittle guffaw which only obliges my ribs to remind me my current and pitiful state.
Is that what I see in Tirek´s lips a grin? Perhaps the beginning of one. Whether it was or not, it has dissipated as rapidly as it appeared. I contemplate him with all the dignity I remain after being brutally beaten and aggrieved, though he had a reason to do so. Still, it is little but more than what Tirek apparently expected.
My conjectures are crudely interrupted as I feel my defenseless body ascending. I raise my head weakly to encounter his direct glare once again. His rage reverberates in each corner, as a pernicious aura composed by the purest wrath. My arms hang languidly, oscillating following a discordant pace. The taste of my own blood inundates my mouth, but that is the least of my worries. Tirek squeezes the metallic press that his hands are upon my shoulders, yet they are too numb to even notice this. If I have realized it is due to the way his arm´s skin is tautening. He pants once more with growing impatience and inquires again:

“What are you occulting, Scorpan?”

Though expected, the question is as painful as the first time. I am aware of what he is capable of; I know what he will do after an undesired response. How is it possible than both the truth and the lie will provoke the same dénouement? I acridly gulp and sigh. His penetrating glare does not hesitate, and I am incapable of continue this visual battle. Almost involuntarily my head descends afflicted by the grief of knowing my irrevocable fate.
Stubbornness will enrage him, the sincerity of betrayal will conduct me to the same morbid ending, and I refuse to retract and risk living without honor or worse, dying lacking it. The figure of Father extols before me, originating from an indulgent imagining. At first it appears to be product of my slipping sanity, but he gradually becomes more and more lucid, until he is finally here.

Daddy will not protect you, Scorpan. Noting can impede what has been sealed by the pass of time.

Father holds my chin tenderly and raises it so that I can look him in the eyes. I am not worthy of looking at him, but he appears to ignore this prodigious fact.

“Your brother believes you to be a traitor, and he repudiates you for it. Apparently he has forgotten about us; our influence has fallen into oblivion for him. Yet you are strong, Scorpan. Your will is mighty, more than what he could ever cerebrate. Guide him to expiate his sins, help him to mend his mistakes. He will attend to reason.”

Such a deceiver. The same precise image of his scion.

With the same quietude and peace he materialized, his silhouette attenuates before fading into nothingness.
I look back at Tirek, still holding me as a broken doll. His expression has not altered at all; solemn, grave and expectant. Has he perceived our visitor´s presence? All the facts point out that the response to such imbecile question is a cutting “no”. I diminish importance to this idea with excessive ease, and venture to once and for all give him the answer he last desires to hear.

“I don´t want to harm them.” I mutter, weakened by the heaviness of those words and not by the persistent physical pain which refuses to abandon me.

Tirek´s face composes an expression of skepticism, before returning to its former state of placid wrath.

“Them?” He drily says grinding his teeth.

“The legitimate owners of this land. They… they do not deserve this.” My grief strengthens with every spoken syllable.

Before I can realize, my back impacts once more against the ground, though much more gently than in my previous charge against the wall.
I erect in the floor and straighten upon my knees. Slowly, I place one foot onto it and crutch in order to finally stand up with a worn vigor and a decayed pride.
Tirek directs me one more glare, which dirks my flesh as a sharp dagger. However, my tenacity is able to combat him.

“Legitimate owners of this land…” He ominously mutters evading my eyes. It is not fear what I can discern in his vacuous expression, but a portentous indignation.

“Exactly.” I limit to respond, no emotion in my voice to be heard.

Tirek bitterly chuckles.

“They are ponies, Scorpan. They are mere mortal insignificant weak-minded ponies!” He burst out so abruptly that I instinctively recoil. Our very environment reacts with fright before his growing rage. I fear him too, but I cannot desist, not even if I wanted to.

“What have they done to you, brother? You were as disposed as I to treat them as they deserved. How could you possibly succumb to their crude ruses?!”

“I did not succumb to anything. They did not deceive me, nor tricked me into believing what they do. They solely exposed me another sight of the world; their world.” I answer abruptly. Tirek senses this as if I had spit him in his face.

“Oh, but you have. When did this benevolence for the lives of inferior creatures proliferate in you? In what moment did you begin to forget who you are?” Instead of talking, he is distilling corrosive venom that is already beginning to burn my flesh.

“I never forgot who I am. And it is truly insulting that you think so.”

“I know so!” He exclaims, trampling one single time with his mighty leg. The walls resound, detaching several pebbles from the sheer ceiling. For one second I dread that the entire structure will crumble and bury us alive. That wouldn´t kill us, of course, though it would be quite inconvenient.

“Your lack of ambition was always pronounced; you would never allow your full potential to flourish because of your weakness. Do you think I was never able to discern the compassion you showed towards our foes? I have barely impregnated my hands with blood solely to satisfy your puerile caprices. But what I would have never expected from you was such vile act as betrayal. I cannot say I am disappointed, however. To be disappointed you must have faith in someone first.”

He could have continued hitting me during hours until his knuckles bled. He could have broken my limbs, tear them apart. He could have ripped my heart off and showed it to me still palpitating. He could have committed unspeakable tortures, expose me to the greatest conceivable pain, but it all would pale in comparison to the use of the precise words in the correct order.

I feel how the lump of my throat tightens while my mouth dries. My tremulous hands turn into fists as I sense the impotence creeping like a snake, wrapping my body, twisting and usurping the control of my body.

So, so weak. Pathetic fool, you sicken me.

“You chose me over our home. You served me tamely, with honor and professing me the same respect I professed you. In equality and without an insulting hierarchy. And now, after all we have gone through, you do this?!” Tirek resumes, with a voice in which disdain, hatred and sadness coexist in perfect harmony.

Once again, I am invaded by a sentiment of agonic enervation. If he does not shut up I will crumble like a castle of cards. What is talking to me is not a beast anymore, but my brother, the last being who can still proclaim to love me. And now… I am broken by the devastation led by his words. If he vanishes, everything will be lost for me. There will be nothing left. Perhaps the ponies could embrace me once more, but at what cost? I am the monster who brought the death to their doors. I was his most loyal companion, his greatest ally. Indisputably, and without mattering the years that go by, I will always share blood with the demon whose arrival supposed their perdition. Occulting the truth would be easy. I have always been good at titivating insincere truths and sincere ruses. Lying in order to survive is plausible, but with the purpose of living? That is unconceivable. I cannot imagine a worst existence than a life erected over the foundations of a lie.

“You speak of betrayal, when you are too blind to see the truth about yourself.”

Those words erupt from my throat though I cannot recognize them as mine. I ignore what kind of mysterious force has taken over me, but the temptation to let it domain me is too powerful.

Tirek firstly appears to be surprised by what I´ve said. Rapidly, he regains his composure.

“What did you say?”

“Do not even try to hide it, because I was part of your betrayal. Tell me; what brought you here? What did you have to do to stand where you are today, accusing me of perpetrating what you jocularly call “your honor code”? Have you forgotten the tombs you´ve filled, the families you have torn apart? Your own family! I don´t know about you, but I cannot erase the image of the moment when you lunged against father, when you shot mother. I had to contemplate it, knowing that my choice to side with you until the end of our very own lives was irrevocable. I saw the man who raised me bleed, the woman embraced me as one more of her scions silently cry witnessing the deed of her two offspring. And you dare to judge me?!”

“I did what had to be done!” he bursts out. The little serenity that still remained inside him has finally vaporized before the burning hell of his fury. “It appears you have forgotten the pure desperation of living in a dying land, knowing that others can gloat over the joy they unjustly possess. I saw our people, whom in that time I consider worthy, live in agony while creatures as the ponies you so arduously try to protect lived in a prosperous land without any signal of misfortune. The gifts they possess are undeserved!”

“And who the hell are you to dictate who is worthy of life and who is not? Are you truly so demented”?

Tirek´s mouth immediately shuts, as he draws a grimace of desolation. The tense muscles of his neck relax, his fists liberate from their duress and his eyes try to avoid me for the first time in the entire day. His mere figure irradiates such an intense pain that even I feel its effects. However I stand firmly, without altering my posture or expression one single bit.

Tirek´s face directs its attention to the ground, or at least that is what it initially seems. His hand ascends to his neck until it encounters the medallion that has been swaying during all of our conversation with every shake of his body. His hand wraps it and moves it up until it is directly in front of his visage. I can perceive from the temblor of his fist that he has begun pressing it.

“You speak using their same words, Scorpan.”

My heart contracts with that statement. The despite they charge cuts my skin, and their grief inoculates my veins with a lethal poison.

“You are truly going to do it, aren´t you? You are going to abandon me, as everyone else has done.”

Tirek and I have been connected since my memory can recall. I could read his sentiments as distinctly as he. He would always stand up for me; he was my guardian, my protector. And so was I for him. Together we battled countless enemies and defeated every single foe which had the boldness to defy us. With every single feud we only grew stronger; both in spirit and flesh. The fires of war forged unbreakable bonds between us, which allowed us to sense the other´s might and misery. And in this very moment, Tirek´s dolor is unmatchable to any other sensation I´ve ever experienced, either physically or mentally.

“I… I am sorry, brother. It was never meant to end this way. But it doesn´t have to be like this. We can abandon our plan, move forward and never look back. This world is greater than any of us know. We can discover the wonders it contains, expiate our sins. But please, I implore you. Don´t obligate me to destroy another land. I cannot bear the odor of death anymore.”

Tirek´s eyes keep introspectively directed to the golden medallion, evoking thoughts I cannot read. His somber pose and the subsequent wait for his response are unbearable. I am too scared to execute the least move, even too afraid to even breathe. This decisive moment of musing is ponderous as any other. The expectation, disquiet, dread; all combined in a cumulus of pernicious emotions. I can almost hear how his sentiments and ideas settle down, as blocks of stone; oppressive, capable of crushing your bones if you placed beneath them. His heavy respiration is the only sound to be heard in the humongous cavern and all of its nooks. The entire world patiently waits in silence for his response.
Tirek raises his head, still holding the medallion without retiring it from his neck. He looks at me, and in the same instant he does so, I can augur his response.

“Do not ever attempt to drag me to the pit of your own cowardice, brother. If you have decided that the role you will play in this world will be as a traitor, siding with worthless equines rather than your own bloodline, so be it.”

“Tirek, please…” I say, as I feel something inside me crumbling. My eyes filling with tears are a mere manifestation of the devastation that ravages me.

“Enough!” he roars. “I want you to know; if your blood is not staining my hands, it is solely because once I felt proud to call you my brother. But not anymore.”

Tirek turns around, avoiding eye contact and proceeds to abandon the cave. Each step is an earthquake as he slowly heads to one of the numerous conduits that lead to the exterior. I contemplate him as he approaches to the widest cavity of all, feeling the tears finally manifesting by flowing across my cheeks. I try to dry them with my arm, but there is no use, as they continue emanating inexorably. It is a silent crying, yet at the same time as painful as a stab wound. Its dolor intensifies as the seconds advance, and like the injured one who palpates his cuts; my hands go unnoticed to the belt I was bestowed by Tirek a long ago. I hold it tightly, with such strength that I am afraid of breaking it, but I cannot help myself. It is my burning wound, and with time it shall be a permanent scar of this day, for that I will never allow myself to get rid of it.

Poor little Scorpan. I´d pity you, it you weren´t so pathetic. But why don´t you show it to your brother, huh? Demonstrate the weak despicable mash of ignominy you truly are.

However, Tirek stops. He leans his hand against the wall, giving his back to me. His neck falls in a stentorian sigh. I suddenly see my chance.

“Is this what you truly want?” I manage to say, interrupted by my own sobbing. I would like to restrain myself, but not even a god´s will would be powerful enough to do so.

“It is what you have obliged me to do!!”

He turns around abruptly, allowing me to see his face once more. It´s red tone has stirred, but that is not the only change I can discern. There is something in his eyes, something I have never seen before. A tremulous drop on the corner of his left eye, while on the right a second one has already begun to slide in its way to his chin. He notices the consternation upon my visage and tries to hide it, but he desists half the way. He then limits to observe me the same way I presume I must be doing.

“Brother…” I say.

“Not a word.” He cuts. “Now, listen to me, and do not dare to say a thing. I will leave now, and you will stay where you are. Once I´m gone, you can decide. Reunite with me in the battlefield where we had planned, or else… This will be our last encounter.”

Even if I wanted to say something my dry throat and paralyzed tongue would impede it. The only answer I can offer is a weak nod of assent, but the feeble ascent and descent of my neck proves to be enough for him. He responds with another silent nod before turning around and abandoning this cave forever. He walks into the tunnels, and I can distinguish his hulking figure for one last time before the shadows whose domains we invaded devour it. And for some inexplicable reason, I have the fateful hunch that he soon will be nothing but a persistent memory, eternal reminder of the path I´ve chosen to roam from here on.

Blood Ties

by Unimpressive Chaos Lord

Celestia

Tirek Part I