Stacking The Deck

Log 3

Oblítus has been both forgotten by time and mind. History itself has left behind its once magnificent idol. The life of that seapony was said to be sinless and selfless. The prophets speak of all he gave to preserve the world: his sister, his home, and the greatest sacrifice of all, his life. Oblítus died, leaving his legacy of light and love for all to treasure, surely without him the world would not be as it is today. He forever shines as an image of incorruptibility and justice for all the world to admire. My condolences and praise belong to this predecessor of a future filled with friendship and joy. If ever a pony deserved the warmth and freedom of a heaven, if one such place existed, it would be Oblítus.

Scraping and shuffling could be heard at the forest's core. Only a day had passed since the eternal banishment of Peccatia. The place in which the ground had unlocked at the command of The Council was the very place chosen by Oblítus to erect his sister's tombstone. The seapony of miracles past both rejoiced and grieved at his kin's passing. Whilst he was burdened  with the knowledge of the nature of his fellow mermare's death, Oblítus still found the insight to take joy in the fact that she would be no longer fear the continuous hauntings of such a imperfect world.

The entity of honor elected to assemble the relic of his sibling's life. Without aid of magic or supernatural abilities, he chose to do this, much to The Council’s agitation. The party of ponies wished for the ceremony of the timeless stallion's sister to move with haste, for awaiting the end of the structure's construction was the deed required to be enacted to ensure the security and control of The Council.

"Oblítus," the Head Chancellor appeared at the immortal's side. "We must act swiftly, the fate of the world is in our hooves. Time is slipping away, I implore you to see reason. With the passing of every second we are allowing the demon who possessed your beloved sister to gain more power and preparation. Do you not see the folly of your ignorant actions?"

A heavy sigh came with the gaze of Oblítus as he now faced the alicorn. Behind him stood the all but complete alter of his late sister. The eyes of the figure locked upon the chief justice with a look of mixed emotions.

"Ignorance. Do you not see the ignorance of your own decisions? Honor is all that holds you and your associates back from bringing about destruction and ruin. It is for the same reason I have found tolerance, love, and forgiveness for my sister. Honor is that which I refuse to live without," Oblítus retaliated without emotion. "I will finish my project and ensure my kin receives forgiveness and justice for her actions. Not a moment before will I consent to your orders and carry out the punishment you find justifiable. Death is a capital punishment to be delivered by time and the natural order," Lassus dared not to test the currently calm seapony. For lying inside his single soul was magic matching the majesty of the entire Council.

With that he resumed the finalizing of his gallant memorial. The minutes stretched on as The Council's impatience grew. At long last the grave was complete, gleaming with the radiance of sunlight and gold. A statue of precious metal, cooled into the shape of a swimming seapony, Peccatia. An expression of meditation and inner peace was shown on her face.

The plaque embroidered upon the base of the tombstone read, 'Hither stands the image of a pony unafraid to voice her opinions and make her imagination become a reality. As her actions depict both naivety and care she will forever be immortalized by this monument, a symbol of reconciliation and forgiveness. We are not to forget our past mistakes and move on, but to learn from our infractions and strive to seek the light and purity of righteousness. Peccatia has passed, leaving her legacy for us to learn from. Omnia guide us.'

"Come now," Lassus beckoned. "It is time."

"Indeed it is," a sigh followed Oblítus's response. "Now, let us act swiftly and be rid of this dark business." Both ponies then rose, each taking flight towards a mountain crowned in black. Gliding hundreds of meters above the ground, silence stretched as both progressed towards the home of Avar-Fortis.

From the very same balcony upon which the first draconequus was morphed, Avar-Fortis patiently awaited the arrival of his executioner. The distant flyers broke off, one taking a new route unto that which would bring him to his celestial company, whereas the remaining continued along the path to the housing of the demon. The elephantine dragon chuckled at the dramatically graceful landing conducted by the knight of honor.

"Even after hundreds of years the flare for emphasis and drama you have not abandoned. Such loyalty is remarkable," the once great king mused.

"Upon the decree of The Council, I hereby sentence you to death. Stand now for the crimes you have committed against Praeclaritas and its inhabitants," Oblítus's eyes fell upon Avar-Fortis with loathing and tears.

"You come bearing a tone cold and official, yet tears come much to your aversion. I understand your sorrow in taking a life, I too once felt that irrational side of emotion. Barring you alongside your honor, you carry the heavy weights of morality. It must be such a burden, such a curse," Avar looked up into the sky in reminiscence of the life so long ago when he too belonged to those constraints.

Oblítus found it simply remarkable. To even contemplate the pure cruelty and malice such a creature could emit was extraordinary. It baffled the merstallion into a state of absolute discomfort and disgust. This creature had forced him to witness his own sibling's destruction and brought down an entire race of his own descendants, out of only one possible explanation: jealousy.

"Your jealousy and anger has brought ruin and ailment raining down on the very race you spawned. It is truly astonishing how any creature, soul or otherwise without, could introduce such terror unto a world with simple prejudice and without provocation." At this gross statement of misunderstanding the master of both the mind and magic laughed.

"You ponies," his speech was interrupted by a need for breathe and moment to wipe away a tear of amusement. "You understand so little. You believe my actions are based upon selfish desires and imperfection. That, my friend, is precious thinking. As you were a young spawn of a thing at the time you surely would not remember the conception of the world. So allow me to enlighten you. It is true your power and authority surpasses mine, but you know not why. Of all the secrets and puzzles of the world I would at least expect you to solve this puzzle. Alas, I am unsurprisingly disappointed by your lack of knowledge and maturity."

"I am not here to discuss the dealings of the past, but instead to take a course of action against your sins and to deliver justice," the seapony attempted to keep himself from listening to more of the silver tongued liar's verbal corruption.

"Yet again you fail to heed my words. You are here to discuss the past in its many imperfections. My actions are behind me, and the past is behind both of us, it is a simple matter of length. And then there is the matter of The Council, who were deemed righteous enough to govern us without bias or corruption, yet look at them now. Dictating my life as much as yours or your sister's. It is elementary. Facing the facts, The Council was given their power to decide the paths of the afterlife. Now they interfere with everyday life to ensure I do not act upon my own desires to fulfill the will of our forebearer, Omnia. You cannot deny the truth of my words. I have forced the world to face the prophecy, to walk the sacred path of destiny Lassus and his followers claim to be living," Avar stopped but for a mere second to refuel his lungs before continuing.

"I am here only to deliver your sentencing and--" Oblítus strived a second time to stop Avar twisted words.

"Terror you say I inspire. What is it they produce then? Hmm? Control, enslavement, selfishness, oppression. These are only some of the terrible traits displayed by those power mongrelling criminals. Notice how they have a Head Chancellor, he alone can shift the decision of the entire council, proving how rather than allowing free will and liberty, he has transformed the world into a monarchy. You being here demonstrates my point in that they seek now to deal death rather than await our day of judgement. Now what say you?" The demonic deity of the dark arts concluded, awaiting the response of the contemplating Oblítus.

"Without execution you would bring forth catastrophic events and disasters beyond reckoning, your immortality proves that," a deep breathe of exasperation educed from the king as Oblítus spoke. "Your actions would remained unchecked and without judgement, until our hoof would be forced down upon you. We are simply stopping further destruction and evil from spawning."

"And whose place is it for them to judge the living? Our queen gave them the power to befit the dead with their fate, tell me, how could our world be saved from destruction and evil? The Council doesn't wish to end it, they wish to silence and minimize it. To make our world equal and balanced not good and pure," Avar-Fortis delivered his final attempt to make the enchanted pony see.

"And without order and balance, our world would tear itself apart. No longer will you delay your judgement, arrest yourself and give in to justice," the scaled unicorn dictated.

"You cannot be saved, you have become one of them. I had hoped you were like your sister, intelligent and understanding. I see now your blindness and corruption. So be it, deliver your 'justice,' but know with time you will see I was right," Avar-Fortis stood erect now, arms outstretched and his head raised high. "I implore you, follow the orders of The Council watching us at this moment. Murder me, fulfilling their wishes and scarring my heir eternally," Avar-Fortis gave an ample show of teeth because he stepped to the side, stopping Oblítus dead in his actions.

The small draconequus looked puny standing next to his great great great grandfather who towered over his miniature figure. Oblítus dropped his raised forelegs and glided to the defaced creature before scooping him up. A moment of revelation came whilst Oblítus looked up at Avar-Fortis.

"You did this? You've cursed this child to deformity and mutation. He is six years of age!" Oblítus shouted, his eyes filled with tears of pity and shame for the old wyrm.

"He is heir to my throne and power. Within  him my legacy lives, reflecting the gross spawning ground for oppression and sin our world has become. The brilliant Praeclaritas of light and liberty you see never existed. Since it's founding it has been damned. It is written this world will fall, fall to a power beyond that of The Council, you, or I. Omnia gave you and The Council magic to oppress me. She knew that which was to be kept secret, I knew our world has been poisoned, slowly dying to the illness of sin that it was conceived with. For with the world's growth and evolution, grows its death, like a thief in the night. Coming without warning or symbol the end will be," he explained with his right hand snapping out and clasping the seapony's throat.

"Do you hear me?" The king shouted to The Council, watching from above utop a cloud of white. "The end will come and you will be reluctant to stop it! Omnia has cursed us all! Hahahaha! You are all fools, producers of your own demise!" His voice then dropped to a whisper at the beginning of his leech on Oblítus's soul. "Soon, you shall see, whether from here or the afterlife. My words will reign true and all hope will have faded."

Following Avar-Fortis's moment of glory came his sentencing. The king's mouth was agape and his hand fell from the stallion's throat. The scaled demon looked down, taking realization of the glowing covering his body.

"Ah yes," he congratulated his executioner. "You have played your hand, allow me to play mine," the king gathered what little essence he had left and blasted Discord safely away, stealing Oblítus's gift in the process. "My first card," Avar gave a demonic chuckle, absorbing the seapony's immortality. "The very ponies who demanded my death will now condemn you to the same fate," he hissed, completing his evanescence and his death.

The warmth of Tartarus welcomed him as fruition came to the first fraction of his plan. Wails of agony and pain rang throughout the hell as he began to devour the souls of every inhabitant of the underworld, save his previous ancilla, Peccatia. A laugh dark and demonstrative rattled the caverns of Tartarus, displaying the first of many victories to come of the now imprisoned king.

The castle atop which the knight of honor and righteousness lay began to crumble with its lord's passing. The black became brittle and began tumbling from the mountainside. The wounded and weakened seapony saint called out during his  tumble, crying out for help and assistance, the response was of betrayal and cruelty.

"We have interfered enough, the material world cannot be disturbed and brought off the path of the future," Lassus spoke, part in truth and part in reassurance. Oblítus was the only being alive who now challenged the throne of The Council, without him the world could now be controlled and assured safety under their rule. Within the next moment Oblítus fell to Purgatory, to await judgement at the hooves of those who had thus caused his death.

Anger, despair, and regret came. Avar-Fortis foretold that they would betray him--to his death. Here within the nothingness of space and time tears could not be shed, yet consciousness could still be achieved. Thoughts could still be forged and until their judgement, the dead would wait, an eternity if necessary. In the case of Oblítus, this would hold true.

It was with neither remorse nor hesitation that Lassus spun about, casting down The Council's power in a stroke swift and destructive. Unto the memorial of Peccatia it came, his will becoming reality in its eradication. On the spot the god-like entity turned yet again to address his fellow rulers.

"Today begins a new era," the smiling pony began with admirable alacrity. "As brothers and sisters we rise to the occasion, to grasp victory. Glorified this day will be, and hence I call a gathering of The Council. May we come together to discuss the fate of the world we may now call our own." He paused, taking in the faces of all the ponies affront him. Through the crowd of magic and flesh, he singled out a lone figure staring at him with eyes of curiosity and longing.

"Together we stand, unsung heroes gifted with the opportunity to ensure the prosperity of Praeclaritas for eons to come. With faith we go forth, trending the path of righteousness," the alicorn brought his right hoof over his head as he looked up to the stars. "Omnia guide us," the Head Chancellor terminated his proclamation in a moment. The next, cheers and praise rung out from everypony, everypony save for that one figure, lone in the crowd, knowing what was to come. The meeting of the centuries was on the doorstep, presenting its abomination, gifting its terrible decision upon the mind of Lassus.

Whilst Lassus left, preparing for the gathering, he could still remember the words of the wise dragon echoing throughout his consciousness. 'The end will come, and you will be reluctant to stop it. You are producers of your own demise. Omnia has cursed us all.'

Ever waiting, never moving. The Guards of Tartarus were bound by their code to want nevermore. Without personal desire or selfish need, they watched.

The body of Sidium was illuminated by the moonlight. Without knowledge of his existence one could continually go about  forever unaware of his presence in time or space. Whether it be standing as a statue, administering punishment to the inhabitants of eternity's prison, or exploring the depths of his own mind, this sentry expressed only indifference. Yet he alone, of all the guards, secretly felt a sort of longing.

For millennium Sidium followed the direction of the code in all its importance. But the world was born infected with flaw, haunted by imperfection. Having been the eldest of the soldiers charged with the Gate's protection, he had been the most vulnerable.

Generation after generation had come and gone, leaving only Sidium to teach its new students the way of the Guards. Honor, respect, dignity, selflessness, and undoubted loyalty were treasured by all the sentries, young or old. Despite his own  yearnings he continued to only live the life of a teacher and loyal soldier. However, with time grew his own faults and insecurities.