Atonement

I leaned against the wall, looking down at the marble floor. The waiting was killing me, and if I was lucky someone would soon be doing the same thing.

“It’s been too long.” I heard the familiar feminine voice call out from my left. She was angry, and with good reason. I was dressed in a light leather armor, and my hair was cut short. I looked no older than nineteen, but that was a side effect of what I had become.

“That it has.” I called back, looking up to see the angry faces of Celestia and Luna.

“We want our land back.” Luna said, making me chuckle. She had always been more straightforward.

“Take it.” I said with a weak smile.

“We will use… Wait, what?” she said, almost making me laugh. Almost.

“I said take it. I don’t want it. I never did.” I said, ending my lean and walking away from them, towards the windows.

“Then why did you seal us away?” Celestia asked, the confusion obvious in her voice. I sighed.

“I was angry. Angry at Discord for putting me in that position where I was almost completely unopposed. I was angry at you for letting me live. But most of all, I was angry with myself for making the decision that, in the end, has brought us here.” I said, the sorrow apparent in my tone. I thought back to the moment that started me down this path, so long ago. I heard a sigh from behind me.

“Do you really expect us to believe that story? You’re a liar and a manipulator by your very nature, and I will not fall prey to your tricks, or to the tricks of any servant of chaos!” I heard Celestia yell defiantly. It made no sense to me, as there was nothing to defy.

“Please sister, I find no deceit in his words. It seems he truly wishes to atone for his sins.”

“Silence, Luna!” I heard Celestia yell, loud enough to even make me wince. “Your lack of wisdom is what brought us here! If you hadn-” I couldn’t stand to hear anymore.

“It was a lack of foresight on both your parts. No one could have anticipated what happened, and arguing and placing blame on each other won’t change anything, nor will it bring anyone back.” I said, my voice monotone. I sighed again, more heavily as I grasped the mask that had become my crown. “I have been waiting for four hundred years for you two to return. Four hundred years, I have worn this accursed mask to try and keep me in touch with what I really am. Four hundred years, I have walked these empty halls, with no desire or will to do the things my predecessor took joy in, for they bring me nothing but more pain.” I said, walking towards them, still staring at the mask. It was in the shape of a wolf’s head, and only covered my face from the top lip up. What can I say, I’ve always been a sucker for super-hero type get-ups. The mask was enchanted. When I wore it, my chaos powers left me, and I was a werewolf again. In all the years I’d been wearing the mask, I’d come to be able to control my wolf form completely, unless I went into the blood rage.

Then it was game over for everyone. I heard a giggle from in front of me, and I knew Celestia was mocking me.

“More pain? Please, don’t act like you feel anything anymore. You’re nothing but a cold hearted killer who can’t make up his mind about whether to act like he feels bad about it or not.” She said, making me wince slightly, but I didn’t falter.

“Then explain to me why you’re still alive.” I said, looking up to the two sisters. “Enlighten me as to why a clod hearted killer such as myself wouldn’t simply end his greatest threat when he could. Tell me why they would wait patiently for their return, and then talk with them, unarmed at that.” I said, shooting the sister of the sun an evil glare.

“I-I…. I don’t”

“Exactly.” I interrupted again. “I didn’t kill you,” I said, snapping my fingers. In a puff of smoke, a sword appeared in my hand. My sword. The one I had used to get this far. I twirled it so that the blade was pointing towards me, and dug it slightly into my chest. “because I want you to kill me.” I finished. The looks on their faces was priceless. They were confused by my actions, as I knew they would be.

“I-I-I don’t understand…. Why would you want this?” Luna asked me. I sighed.

“I’ve destroyed this world beyond recognition. I have slain those who trusted me, and for what?” I ask rhetorically. “For immortality and the ability to fuck with reality? For power? For money?” I shook my head. “No. I did it for hope. I hoped that, in the end, I could die happy knowing that Rainbow was alive, but all I got was smoke and FUCKING mirrors!” I yelled, my temper getting the best of me, as it always did. I took a deep breath. “This is the only way I can think of to make up for my mistakes. I know it won’t change what’s already happened, and that it won’t bring them back…. But it’s what I deserve.” I said, locking eyes with Celestia, who began to slowly approach me.

“Do you truly wish this?” she asked, slowly walking closer, until her face was in mine. I nodded.

“I do.” she nodded back, and placed a hoof on the pommel of my sword. She was about to push it in when Luna spoke up.

“Wait! There’s another way!” She yelled, rushing towards us. Celestia seemed confused at first, but a look of grim understanding soon crossed her face.

“You’re right sister, but it is dangerous.”

“He wishes to atone for his crimes. He wishes he could undo what he’s done. Let him.” she said. Now I was confused.

“I’m sorry, but what are you talking about?” I said, lowering the blade. The sisters looked at each other and nodded.

“This might sting a little.” Celestia said, before driving her horn deep into my chest. I gasped for air as I felt her horn penetrate my lung, and even coming out my back. When she pulled it back out, I looked at her with eyes pleading for an explanation as my vision began to fade.

“We needed blood for the ritual, and we can not transport you if you yet breathe.” She said as her voice began to fade from my hearing. I nodded lamely and placed my mask upon my face. If I was dieing, I was dieing in full gear. I fell onto my back, and my vision faded to black.

I was dead.

Again.

I drifted through the void of death for a time, wondering if I’d been betrayed. I could feel the darkness close around me, the fires of hell coming ever closer. But then I felt something different at my finger tips. I felt grass, and could smell fresh fruit. But there was one thing that my senses picked up that caught my attention more than anything. It was close, and it seemed far louder than I knew it was.

A heartbeat.

I awoke again, gasping for breath. I found myself in what seemed to be an orchard. I stood to find green grass beneath my feet, and fresh apples littering the ground. Then I heard a voice, and my heart froze solid.

“C’mon Big Macintosh, we still got a ton’a apples ta buck!” I remembered the accent well. That voice, along with many others, was burnt into my mind.

“Applejack…..”