Post by wanderingmagus on Apr 11, 2014 17:16:34 GMT
The Queen gave no reply to Laserbolt; he would find the answer to his own question, in time. She nodded to Schakolad with a smile, feeling and sharing his joy at receiving such a simple yet profound reminder of what he lived and fought for each day. She let North Wind go his way, though she looked on sadly as he went. She would not force him to accept comfort, but her heart reached out to him all the same. She understood the pain of continuing on even after all those you had deemed the best of friends were turned, corrupted, or murdered in the most gruesome manner, the burden of watching over an entire race and kingdom for eons on end, often alone or feeling alone in her struggles, with memories that others could scarcely imagine. She smiled at the budding friendship, understanding and love between one she had considered a Sister and a Daughter, and one who had suffered and endured so much, now finding hope and joy where he had nearly forgotten it.
But for now, Her attention turned to Bane, the last of that Ancient empire. "Can you be certain that your home is still safe? For you know as well as I that a Liar of Liars, through no choice or desire of her own, walks the earth with the power to cause even the eyes of the Enemy to deceive Himself. But perhaps this time I might offer an alternative. I have told you that much has changed, and that there is much to discuss. As this situation has become urgent, allow Me to show you what I meant in full."
Her eyes shone with rainbow light, not the eyes of a Changeling Queen or a mortal Pony, even a mortal Pony with the powers of Celestia and Luna. It shone of the powers of the Makers.
*****
They were in a vastness, a void that was not silent, nor dark, but Nothing. A nascent universe, created in the spur of the moment. The One standing beside him in this empty world was in the form of the alicorn he knew and admired, yet Her aura was now the very Concept of Temperance.
"Much has changed, Bane, my friend, said the alicorn quietly. "The same day that I freed this portion of the Changelings from their eternal curse of hunger, Chrysalis revealed to Me My true heritage, the true heritage of all True Alicorns. I am Mi Amore Cadenza Equestria Avalon, the Fourteenth Tarot, Princess of Binds and Joy, Concept of Music and Harmony, a Daughter of the Father of Alicorns, The Maker, and the Mother of Alicorns, Fauna Luster."
As She spoke, the music of Her voice echoed through the new universe, forming stars and galaxies of pure Song. She reached out a hoof as vast as the heavens, caressing a newborn world.
"In My youth as a Concept, I had many, many Siblings. Mortis, Concept of Death; Justicia, Concept of Justice; Rota Fortuna, Concept of Fate; Celestia, Concept of the Sun; Luna, Concept of the Moon; Morningstar, once Concept of Beauty, fallen and become the very Concept of Evil, imprisoned in Tartarus for all eternity. We were the Creators, the Makers, but We worked with the Destroyers and Shapers, the Draconequui. The Father of Draconequui, Havoc Typhon, and the Mother of Draconequui, Entropy Typhon. Their Children, Destruction, Anarchy, Pandemonium, Strife... and Discord."
Time seemed to have stood still in this world, listening to the words of its Maker.
"There was a... disagreement. Mortals would call it a war in the heavens. We were cast down, or sent, into the mortal realms for Our own safety, some of Us. Celestia and Luna went first. Discordance consumed both His Father and Brother Destruction, and pursued Them into the World. Galaxia followed after. And I... I do not remember, and neither does Chrysalis know. Only Our Parents may know what occurred. But Rota Fortuna is unpredictable, and She does not always flow in a straight line; I arrived without my memories, born of a virgin, not as an alicorn, but seemingly as a mortal pegasus. By this time thousands of years had passed since My Sisters and Discord had arrived. Wars had been fought, Discord frozen in stone, Celestia and Luna regained Their memories and a portion of Their power as Concepts of the very Night and Day. And I think They knew who I was. But seeing that I was frightened, and of an innocent mind, They kept My past a secret from the mortal that I was, and allowed that self to learn and come into My power, limited though I was, and still without knowledge or memory of the truth behind the truth."
A single tear fell from the Goddess's eye.
"Then the Day of Discord came. Chaos had grown too much. The powers of Havoc and Destruction and Discord combined were released once more upon the world, in the claws of a mad god. I fled into the Everfree Forest, to the Hive of the Changelings, seeking their aid against this omnicidal, fallen counterpart. It was then that Chrysalis revealed to Me My true nature, and I was Awoken to My power. The burst of Harmony instantly satisfied all the desires and cravings of most of the hive, but a select few would not accept My help, and Chrysalis least of all for reasons unknown to Me. She left me to the Angel-Winged Changelings, My Children, and to all who would come unto Me for safety and comfort and peace. I am a Maker, Bane. I remember the First. I remember the Ancient Empire as if it were yesterday, for Awakened True Alicorns never forget: that is Our curse and blessing. I remember every face, every name, every moment. I remember its glory... and I remember its sins both. But this also do I know: even the Sight of the Makers, in this current Incarnate form, even the Sight of the Shapers in Discord's form, cannot now see past the Lies and Deceits of the one who was called Applejack, now Saint Liarjack the Kind. And if We cannot see through those Deceits, then I know and remember that every sensor and detection spell, every tripwire and trap, every device and enchantment of the Ancients would not be able to detect her if she wished to cloak herself so."
*****
*****
Ah didn't sit around that there house, usin' mah Ultimate Deceit. Not at all. Nope. Wasn't doin' it outta courtesy. Pa never said ta knock b'fore enterin', an' Ah didn' feel guilty 'bout breakin' that rule. Jes' wanted ta give Bane a li'l surprise party, that's all. Wasn't waitin' ta warn him about ol' Dashie comin' 'round on Master's orders. Nope.
But for now, Her attention turned to Bane, the last of that Ancient empire. "Can you be certain that your home is still safe? For you know as well as I that a Liar of Liars, through no choice or desire of her own, walks the earth with the power to cause even the eyes of the Enemy to deceive Himself. But perhaps this time I might offer an alternative. I have told you that much has changed, and that there is much to discuss. As this situation has become urgent, allow Me to show you what I meant in full."
Her eyes shone with rainbow light, not the eyes of a Changeling Queen or a mortal Pony, even a mortal Pony with the powers of Celestia and Luna. It shone of the powers of the Makers.
*****
They were in a vastness, a void that was not silent, nor dark, but Nothing. A nascent universe, created in the spur of the moment. The One standing beside him in this empty world was in the form of the alicorn he knew and admired, yet Her aura was now the very Concept of Temperance.
"Much has changed, Bane, my friend, said the alicorn quietly. "The same day that I freed this portion of the Changelings from their eternal curse of hunger, Chrysalis revealed to Me My true heritage, the true heritage of all True Alicorns. I am Mi Amore Cadenza Equestria Avalon, the Fourteenth Tarot, Princess of Binds and Joy, Concept of Music and Harmony, a Daughter of the Father of Alicorns, The Maker, and the Mother of Alicorns, Fauna Luster."
As She spoke, the music of Her voice echoed through the new universe, forming stars and galaxies of pure Song. She reached out a hoof as vast as the heavens, caressing a newborn world.
"In My youth as a Concept, I had many, many Siblings. Mortis, Concept of Death; Justicia, Concept of Justice; Rota Fortuna, Concept of Fate; Celestia, Concept of the Sun; Luna, Concept of the Moon; Morningstar, once Concept of Beauty, fallen and become the very Concept of Evil, imprisoned in Tartarus for all eternity. We were the Creators, the Makers, but We worked with the Destroyers and Shapers, the Draconequui. The Father of Draconequui, Havoc Typhon, and the Mother of Draconequui, Entropy Typhon. Their Children, Destruction, Anarchy, Pandemonium, Strife... and Discord."
Time seemed to have stood still in this world, listening to the words of its Maker.
"There was a... disagreement. Mortals would call it a war in the heavens. We were cast down, or sent, into the mortal realms for Our own safety, some of Us. Celestia and Luna went first. Discordance consumed both His Father and Brother Destruction, and pursued Them into the World. Galaxia followed after. And I... I do not remember, and neither does Chrysalis know. Only Our Parents may know what occurred. But Rota Fortuna is unpredictable, and She does not always flow in a straight line; I arrived without my memories, born of a virgin, not as an alicorn, but seemingly as a mortal pegasus. By this time thousands of years had passed since My Sisters and Discord had arrived. Wars had been fought, Discord frozen in stone, Celestia and Luna regained Their memories and a portion of Their power as Concepts of the very Night and Day. And I think They knew who I was. But seeing that I was frightened, and of an innocent mind, They kept My past a secret from the mortal that I was, and allowed that self to learn and come into My power, limited though I was, and still without knowledge or memory of the truth behind the truth."
A single tear fell from the Goddess's eye.
"Then the Day of Discord came. Chaos had grown too much. The powers of Havoc and Destruction and Discord combined were released once more upon the world, in the claws of a mad god. I fled into the Everfree Forest, to the Hive of the Changelings, seeking their aid against this omnicidal, fallen counterpart. It was then that Chrysalis revealed to Me My true nature, and I was Awoken to My power. The burst of Harmony instantly satisfied all the desires and cravings of most of the hive, but a select few would not accept My help, and Chrysalis least of all for reasons unknown to Me. She left me to the Angel-Winged Changelings, My Children, and to all who would come unto Me for safety and comfort and peace. I am a Maker, Bane. I remember the First. I remember the Ancient Empire as if it were yesterday, for Awakened True Alicorns never forget: that is Our curse and blessing. I remember every face, every name, every moment. I remember its glory... and I remember its sins both. But this also do I know: even the Sight of the Makers, in this current Incarnate form, even the Sight of the Shapers in Discord's form, cannot now see past the Lies and Deceits of the one who was called Applejack, now Saint Liarjack the Kind. And if We cannot see through those Deceits, then I know and remember that every sensor and detection spell, every tripwire and trap, every device and enchantment of the Ancients would not be able to detect her if she wished to cloak herself so."
*****
*****
Ah didn't sit around that there house, usin' mah Ultimate Deceit. Not at all. Nope. Wasn't doin' it outta courtesy. Pa never said ta knock b'fore enterin', an' Ah didn' feel guilty 'bout breakin' that rule. Jes' wanted ta give Bane a li'l surprise party, that's all. Wasn't waitin' ta warn him about ol' Dashie comin' 'round on Master's orders. Nope.
