The Wolf and the Unicorn

The following days passed in a blur.  Most of my free time was spent learning from Discord, and there was an absurd amount of history to learn about myself.  He had started with the most recent bits, as they would seem more familiar to my mind.  As he lectured, I could feel connections forming in my mind, one idea or concept flowing into another.  Things that seemed alien at first quickly felt familiar.

Strangely enough, he chose to sit on the pedestal where his petrified body used to stand while we talked.  I never did ask, but I think it was knowing the sights and sounds of the palace gardens for a millennium made it seem like home.  As he spoke, the discomfort of sitting on the hard stone around the pedestal quickly disappeared.  Some days he used great verbal flourishes to make my past thrilling and heroic.  Others, he spoke very plainly, somber even as he described how our family fell one by one until only Discord, Themis, and I remained.

It was the mortality of my family that drove me away.  Not that we could die, but the fact that over the endless years we dwindled.  My brother Alexion passed from a tragic accident while he was fighting a magical clone of himself.  Apparently getting run through by a sparring sword is lethal, provided it is the sword of a god.  Dear sister Sirona perished trying to heal the world while I was away.  That was what broke me.  Her death was directly my fault, and I knew it.  Instead of a short jaunt to the mortal realm, I returned to Equestria to create something to balance the universe while I spent a few eons as a mortal.

The fact that I had created the object of my own mortal death was a bit of a shock to put it kindly.  The Worldstone was the physical manifestation of my power and will in the mortal plane.  While I was away, the stone would regulate the balance of the world, help calm the weather, make sure the species and planet survived.  At least that was the plan until it was discovered by a group of caribou that believed they could use it to return their fallen god to reality.  I remembered Aeron, he was necessary back in the raw days of the world.  Even back then he was a psychotic god, even for the god of slaughter.  Through him, the caribou believed they could gain immortality through honorable death in battle.  Fucked up viking mentality if you ask me.

Thankfully, I was smart enough to safeguard the stone until I could return to Equestria.  I wasn't smart enough to figure out everything though.  Through breaking the balance of the world, the northern tribes were breaking the seals placed on the stone, and my power.  A god's blood was the last thing to begin Aeron's reformation.  Even though I was just a vessel back then, it was enough.  There was one other major kink in the plan though.  To regain my full power, I would have to return to the great tree and touch the Worldstone again.  Until then I would be a shadow of my former self and would be an easy kill for my insane brother.  What bothered me the most was Discord's final words for the night before disappearing in his trademark flash of light.

"Remember those games we used to play as children, Dungeons and Soldiers?  You are balance and can sway to either side with a small push.  Control yourself brother of the smallest of things can cause the end of everything."

It would have been nice to have him say that Luna and Celestia were standing behind me for the last few minutes.  I was listening to intently to what Discord was saying that I never heard them approach.  It took everything I had not to jump to my feet...erm...paws when Celestia cleared her throat.

"Good afternoon, Hex.  I hear you have been spending an inordinate amount of time with Discord...your...brother."

The distaste in her voice was certainly audible.  Then again, I was away when the Chaos Wars had happened.  One more thing to feel guilty over since my hand in the direction of the world was missing.  Thankfully, Luna came to my rescue.

"Sister, don't be so hard on him.  It's not like he could choose his family.  From what we've heard from Discord, we could have dealt with far worse gods in the war."

Naturally, Luna would have to turn to me and ask the one thing I didn't want a reminder of.  Her dark eyes drilled into me as she spoke.

"Of course, WE are still wanting an explanation to how you returned in such haste and why you attempted to slaughter Discord, our royal guards, and myself.  Out of curiosity, why haven't you returned to your human form my love?  Don't mistake me, I do like your new look, but claws are no substitute for fingers."

Talk about being put on the spot.  At least she broke up the stress a little bit by using the royal WE to imply that her sister wanted to know, along with the cute little wink at the last part of her speech.  It was so hard not to laugh as Celestia blushed after a few seconds, the meaning of Luna's words finally sinking in.  So I wouldn't be too rude, I stood and turned to face the Royal Sisters, completely forgetting how I towered over them now.  If I focused my magic, I could shrink myself slightly, but it was too much of an effort at the moment.

"Well, Dearest, that is a long story that I don't know fully.  I woke up at the base of the worldstone naked and unarmed.  Everything for a bit after that was a blur, but at some point, I ended up surrounded and being attacked by the damn Caribou.  The axe is apparently part of my will as a god, as for the torn robes and cloak, I have no idea.  Anyhow, like Discord was saying you eavesdroppers, I have to stay as balanced as I can or I can swing one way or another.  Killing as many as I did swung me toward the darker side of things.  It changed my behavior and actions.  Instead of judging evenly, I judged on the darkness within creatures.  Don't get me wrong love, but you have nearly as much dark as I."

She just stuttered, flustered at what I had said.  Thankfully between Luna's lack of words, and the silence from Celestia, it let me flow into the next bit.

"As for getting back to Canterlot, I just willed myself to be here.  I might have misjudged a bit considering the bits that came through with me.  At least I hope I miscalculated.  If not, that was kind of a dick move.  Not as flashy as Discord, but effective.  Hell of a shock tactic I have to say.  Don't think I could do it for anypony but myself though.  Sorry about the mess by the way.  And for nearly killing everyone...pony."

I leaned forward and kissed Luna on the nose before booping her with a finger, making sure not to use a claw.  Since my return she had shied away from them.  Understandably to be honest.

"My fingers are a bit of a lost cause though love.  If I had any option I would, but it appears that I am stuck like this.  I'm sure we could find something fun to keep you occupied though."

Celestia stood there, stunned and turning a strange shade of pink as I teased her sister with a little nip on the neck.  Canines barely grazing skin above her jugular through her fur as a soft growl rumbled out of me.  I know I'm going to get my ass kicked for this, but I had to...

"Stop standing there Celestia, if you see something you like, come get some."

Apparently the grin on my face wasn't enough to show the joke.  That or it was scary.  Either way, it ended up with a golden clad hoof heading straight for my face.

Son of a fuck...