Adrift Among the Clouds
It’s been a thousand years since I’ve last seen my family. Since I’ve seen my real family that is, not my adopted father. But that would likely be due to the fact that they were killed a thousand years ago. I find myself missing them sometimes, which I think is strange as I can barely remember their faces.
I lived in the village of Thermoplyneigh with my mother and father. They were great warhorses, along with the rest of my people. Though I suppose the numbers of the Equestrian war-machine proved better. Yes, despite what ‘Her Royal Highness’ wants everypony to believe, the entire world was not called ‘Equestria’, let alone this particular continent. Has your precious queen ever told you how there has been peace for so long? *sigh* There were free ponies once, but not anymore it seems. Am I bitter? I suppose I am a bit…
But let’s return to the story at hand. It was the Battle of Thermoplyneigh Pass, during the Great War of Equestria as it is known today, though back then it was called The “Pacification” Wars (to be said dripping with heavy sarcasm). I wasn’t present at the battle as I was a young colt at the time, only five years old. I could hear the fighting, however. After a sudden silence, those of us left in the village heard the thundering of a million hooves, it was the invasion force coming to wipe the rest of us out. We knew it was the Equestrians as our army only numbered in the hundreds, and our marching isn’t nearly as loud.
I hid when I heard the Equestrian army coming. I know what you’re probably thinking, that I’m a coward and I should’ve fought. No, there’s nothing wrong with fear just so long as you use it. I used it to survive that day, and many days after. After three hard years of eking out an existence in the ruins of my once great village, I finally caught a glimpse of hope in the form of a passing mercenary pony. I didn’t trust him at first, but then I didn’t have much reason to.
I was hiding when he came into view. I overheard him talking to his buddies about how the war was almost over; this shocked me as I had thought it ended a couple of years ago. He spotted me and gasped, I guess he didn’t expect there to be anypony left alive there. I was wearing my father’s helmet with a three-sided blade mounted on the forehead, all I had left of him, and charged the stranger with it. My feeble attempts at defense were easily deflected by his armor, and I think he was amused by them as well. He told me that I had guts. He was part of the Queen’s ‘clean up’ force, and he was there to check for survivors and terminate them. However, instead of killing me, he adopted me much to my surprise. He talked about how he didn’t have a son and I could make a great warrior one day. So, I hesitantly followed him back to his camp.
The next couple of years were spent training for battle, as that’s all a mercenary’s life was back then. When I was fifteen I was presented with my own set of armor and told I was ready to join my father, for that’s what he was at that point, in battle. We amassed many a victory in many a distant land all in the name of Queen Andromeda, the mother of young Princess Celestia, and much to my displeasure. Yet we did it anyway, because bits are bits regardless of the payer.
It was during a vicious battle against some chimeras that were none too happy about the regime change when tragedy struck again. We were entrenched and pinned down, yet holding. We came up with a plan; the rest of our unit took both flanks while my father and I took the center. We were doing well until one of the chimera bastards snuck up behind my father and ran him straight through the chest with its spiked tail. I stared in disbelief and gathered the wits required to strike down the offender. The rest of the mercenaries were mopping up what was left, the battle won. Yet, I couldn’t help but feeling as if we lost. I knelt next to my dying father, and cried. It felt like forever as I sat and listened to his labored breathing. He couldn’t even get out a single word; I knew it was because of a punctured lung. When his last breath finally escaped his mouth, I screamed in despair. I kept screaming and crying until I was hoarse. I had to be dragged off of my father by the other soldiers. I still haven’t quite gotten over it.
After that I left the soldiering game, and decided to settle down. Thus I began my journey. I disposed of my armor, except for the wings, and I travelled the world for hundreds of years, searching for a home. I’ve visited every city many times throughout the years; Cloudsdale, Las Pegasus, Manehattan, Fillydelphia, all of them inhospitable towards a lonely old soldier. I’d walk along and watch as others looked upon me with disgust. So, I kept walking, and flying from city to city.
During my travels I stopped at a few libraries to read history books and see how things have developed in Equestria. Apparently, Queen Arrina Helia, had died long ago during the Great War, and Celestia had banished her young sister to the moon and pronounced herself regent. For a long time I had been under the impression that the old Queen still ruled. It didn’t really change my opinion on Equestria, or my life much for that matter. I never really gave it much more thought.
After another couple hundred of years of travelling and protecting the occasional ungrateful pony from danger, I began to grow tired with what the world had become. Eventually, I happened upon a small village known as Ponyville. I wasn’t originally aware that it existed and so the way I happened upon it was a bit unconventional. I was drifting along on the breeze with my only real friends in the world; the clouds. I had made some friends in the past, mostly fake, some real. Unfortunately, I outlasted all of them. So, as I was floating with the clouds I had heard a noise from below. When I went to investigate, I saw a young filly sitting alone by a river. I later learned that her name is Apple Bloom. I landed near her and asked why she was crying. She developed a look of shock when she saw me. I wasn’t surprised; my appearance has put that look on ponies’ faces before. I waited for her to calm down before repeating my question. She told me she was sad because she didn’t have her cutie mark yet, and almost everyone else in her class has. I had asked if they were important in her village, and she replied that they were important for almost everypony in the world.
Once again, I failed to notice how much things have changed over the years. I snapped out of my reverie and told her that I don’t have my cutie mark and I’ve been around for just over a thousand years (has it been that long already?). This remark only seemed to send her into a deeper pit of despair. I did my best to assuage her irrational fears about cutie marks, though I don’t think it worked. I told her that she ought to get home, it was getting late and I had spotted a manticore in the area earlier. After she was on her way, I decided I should visit this village. When I arrived, the stores were just closing up for the day. I walked along, taking in this new town, when I heard a voice call out, “Oh great, a filthy drifter!” I looked around for the source of the offending voice and saw it had come from a filly wearing a tiara. Great, I had thought, more royalty. I had thought this town was going to be the same as the others. Then a pink pony that smelled faintly of cotton candy gasped when she saw me and ran away. I didn’t really expect different. I just flew to the clouds above at that point and slept until morning.
When I awoke I decided I may as well get breakfast, and flew down to the bakery. I noticed the town was eerily quiet. When I opened the door to the bakery it was very dark inside. I took a few steps in when suddenly the lights flew on and I was hit with a wall of sound. In confusion, I tackled the first thing I saw. After I took a look around, I noticed that it was a surprise party. I stated that I only wanted breakfast, and apologized for ruining whoever’s surprise party. The pink one then told me that it was a party for me. This left me dumbstruck as I hadn’t had a party in my honor since I was young. Apparently, it was a ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ party. I never expected nor did I receive such kindness from any friends I’ve had, much less did it make sense to see it coming from complete strangers. Eventually, they got me to let my guard down a bit. I’m glad too; I ended up having fun much to my surprise.
I noticed they had a young dragon so I told the story of how I lost half of my ear, in a fight with a dragon. This made him nervous as if I was going to take it out on him, so I patted him on the head and took a swig from my personal flask. I only drank from this, and it was always filled with alcoholic cider. I developed the habit some years ago.
My first day in Ponyville was spent at a party in my honor, thrown just for coming into town. Maybe this place wasn’t so bad after all. I was asked many times how I could be a blank flank. I simply stated that as I have no special talent, I am sort of good at a lot of things. I told them it wasn’t really a big deal where I was from, and when they asked I told them of my youth. The sad tale seemed to kill the mood, so I told a joke that seemed to get more laughs because it was bad than because it was funny.
After the party I went to the library to see what else had changed via some history books. The librarian, a Miss Twilight Sparkle if I remember correctly, told me they didn’t have any. Apparently they did have a lot of dusty old tomes regarding Starswirl the Bearded. I met him once; he was a bit of a jerk. She told me that if I wanted to know the history of Equestria, then I should travel to Canterlot and speak with Princesses Celestia and Luna. I asked Miss Sparkle if Celestia was still the same stuck up little filly that enjoyed sending her sister to the moon. Miss Sparkle was indignant at this remark, and stated that Celestia banished Luna once when she tried to overthrow Celestia and that Luna has reconciled her mistake and returned. So I decided I really should go to Canterlot, and possibly reconcile my own differences if possible. I’ve lived too long to still hold grudges.
After I arrived in Canterlot, which I have never been to before as I had avoided the city, I was greeted by a large group of royal guards. I simply stated that I merely requested an audience with Princess Celestia, and if that is how they greet visitors then they really need to work on their hospitality. After being taken to the castle I had to sit through line after line, and fill out many papers. It was then that I realized there was a reason I avoided this place, too much bureaucracy. Eventually I was allowed into the court, where I had to endure yet another line. After the longest hour of my life, and that’s saying something, I was finally next.
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“Well, if it isn’t little Celestia. Last I checked you were just a filly, looks like the last thousand years have treated you well.”
Aranar Solus said, drawing many gasps from the guards and ponies wishing to suck up to her.
“Excuse me,” she said indignantly, brow furrowing, “do I know you?”
“What’s the matter? You don’t remember sending your armies to burn my village to the ground all those years ago?”
After this remark Celestia motioned for her guards to seize Aranar, and seize they did. He heard the Princess say that the royal court was closed for now while the guards dragged him away. They threw Aranar into the only jail cell and stood guard until Celestia arrived.
She dismissed her guards and said, “How do you know about that?”
“I was there.” Aranar grunted through clenched teeth.
“No one was supposed to survive.” She gasped.
“I am well aware.” Aranar narrowed his eyes at the Princess, “Believe it or not, I came here to forgive and forget but you are making that difficult.”
“How could you have been there? You’re not an alicorn.”
“I didn’t know it was illegal for pegasi to be immortal. I apologize for my mistake.” Aranar said sarcastically.
“It isn’t, and I don’t like your tone.”
“Yeah? Well I don’t like the life you’ve forced me into with your attempted genocide.”
“Look,” Celestia sighed, “I am deeply sorry for what happened but there was a storm coming and I needed all of Equestria-“
“How dare you call it that.”
The Princess ignored it, “United in order to prevail.”
“So then your definition of ‘united’ is the same as ‘dead’?”
“Absolutely not!”
A single hot tear rolled down Aranar’s cheek as sadness overwhelmed him. “Listen Your Highness,” he said without sarcasm, “I have had a very long and very hard life. Like it or not, it’s your fault. However, I don’t want more conflict. I came here to come to terms with what has happened.”
To Aranar’s surprise, Celestia unlocked the cell. “Would you like some lunch?”
Aranar felt his stomach growl and nodded. The two ancient rivals walked together as equals for the first time. Celestia invited Luna as well, stating there was an important lesson for her to learn in the dining hall.
After the three had their fill, Celestia asked Aranar what exactly happened to make him so bitter. So he told her.
"It's been a thousand years," he began, "since I've last seen my family..."
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After his tale, Celestia and Luna both had tears in their eyes.
“I am truly sorry,” Celestia muttered, “to have caused so much tragedy. Is there anything I can do to assuage your anguish?”
“No sister,” Luna interrupted, “It is my fault. If I hadn’t gotten jealous and risen up against you, the Unification War needn’t ever have happened.” She addressed Aranar, “Noble warrior, what do you request in reparations?”
“I merely seek peace,” Aranar stated as he choked down a sob. He had spent most of life thus far angry at the wrong person. He couldn’t help but feel shame.
“Then you shall have it,” Luna said.
“If you ever wish to visit, please feel free,” Celestia added, “We will be available for you to talk at any time if you wish to.”
“I am grateful,” Aranar replied.
“Before you return to Ponyville,” Celestia began, “I must ask. Why did you keep the wing armor, of all things? It doesn’t appear to let you fold your wings.”
Aranar smiled at this question. “Because it would take far too long to get used to not wearing it. I’m sure you know the feeling.”
“That I do,” Celestia said, remembering how difficult it was to become accustomed to Luna raising the moon. “I sometimes forget I’m no longer responsible for both the sun and moon." Celestia smiled at her sister, which was returned by Luna.
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After Aranar said his goodbyes to the Princesses, he returned to Ponyville, renewed, to live out the remaining eternity of his life in happiness and peace.