Fallen (Original)

The same day:

Celestia calmly walked up to her bedroom door but when her hand touched the handle she felt an ice cold chill. She turned it and as her door opened a smaller chill rushed out. Inside she saw a nobly dressed man with snow white hair and equally pale skin, whom looked to be the same race Ark, her soon to be nephew was. “Who might you be?” She asked in her usual calm tone as she looked over him.

“I am Isaac. Arkantos’ uncle.” The man said as he turned to her, a calm and almost heartwarming smile on his face. Despite the chill of the room his sincere smile warmed her slightly. “I’m sorry but I don’t know your name.”

“I’m Celestia, a pleasure.” Celestia said, extending her hand.

“Likewise.” Isaac said as he shook her hand. “I’ve noticed around the castle everyone seems a little wary of my presence. But you on the other hand…” He trailed off for a moment, “Forgive me for babbling. I’m just not really used to all of this yet.” He chuckled.

“That’s quite alright. Would you care to take a seat?” Celestia suggested with a quiet laugh.

“That would be nice.” He smiled. “Before you came in I was looking over the picture you have, if I may ask who is the other woman in most of them? You both seem quite close.”

“That is my sister Luna. She and I have argued in the past, but we are quite close now.” Celestia said.

Isaac laughed, “That sounds like my own family.” He said. “All the fighting and bickering… But we came through when we needed to. Always…” He sighed quietly, his demeanor changed slightly as he was hit with a small wave of depression. “I do miss my own brother… I wish he had listened to me.” He shook his head. “No… No, as much as I hate it, without it he wouldn’t be here… It’s sad that a tragedy for some can turn into a great moment for others.” He looked up at Celestia.

“I can understand completely. There are events in my past that have made my personal life more stressful… But to my servants and people it was a victory, a miracle.” Celestia said quietly.

“At least you and your sister were able to reunite. That’s a victory in of itself and something I’m sure you’re grateful for.” Isaac said with a small smile. “Just as it’s a victory for me I am able to see my nephew get married, and to someone he actually loves no less.” He laughed, “It’s truly a wonderful sight, knowing that even with what he’s gone through in the past few years he’s able to pick it all up and continue on. It gives me a little hope that maybe everything I taught him didn’t go to waste in trying to impress people.”

“Indeed. We can only teach our children to survive… Hope carries us the rest of the way.” Celestia smiled.

“That it does.” Isaac nodded. “And from what I’ve seen you’ve raised your own daughter well. She’s intelligent, quick on her feet, and quite powerful in her own right.” He laughed again, “I’ve never seen anyone else take that much out of Ark only for him to come right back for more. He’s always been the dominating one in his life, but to see the tables turned that’s a sight I never in all my years expected to see!”

“Oh she’s not my daughter, just my student. But I assure you, her parents are very proud, as am I.” Celestia laughed.

“You’d be surprised to find out what a student truly thinks of their teacher.” Isaac chuckled as he pulled a small glowing necklace out of his shirt. “I was surprised the day Ark gave this to me with a note that read, ‘For you daddy.’ Even to this day this is the most important thing anyone has ever given me… I can say with complete honesty I’d die before I would part with this.”

“He must truly mean a lot to you.” Celestia said softly, placing a hand on his.

Isaac nodded. “I never had any children of my own… I wasn’t too surprised. My brother was always the fiery charmer. Though in truth I never minded that… No one really enjoyed my coldness.” He sighed.

“It’s never too late.” Celestia teased.

Isaac chuckled. “I don’t think I have it in me to chase any ladies anymore. Especially when all the ones who wanted me in the past just wanted money… What a sad time it is when greed is more important then love.” He sighed.

“Well I already have that.” Celestia laughed.

“Oh really?” Isaac teased.

“To be honest, life around the castle does get dull on occasion.” Celestia grinned.

“Oh.” Isaac said as the realization dawned on him. “Oh my.”

“Indeed.” Celestia laughed quietly.

“Well… This is an unexpected turn of events.” Isaac said with a small laugh. “Though unexpected doesn’t mean unwelcome.”

“Well the best things in life are usually surprises.” Celestia cooed.

“Yes. They are.” Isaac said softly as he grabbed her hand. An ice cold feeling shot up her arm and chilled her entire body. Celestia shivered.

“Is something wrong?” She asked.

“Not at all.” Isaac said with a warm smile. “Are you too cold?”

“Cold is a strange sensation for me.” Celestia chuckled. “No not necessarily.”

“You know, there are a few things I grew tired of while living in the north as I did before…” He started.

“I’m listening.” Celestia said, crossing one leg over the other.

“As strange as it sounds from me, I don’t enjoy snow all too much… nor the night. I’ve seen enough of it to last me ten lifetimes.” He continued. “Dark for all the winter… Then one solitary day… the most magical time for all of us that suffered through the darkness.” He smiled up at her. “Do you know what that solitary day brought?”

“What?” She asked with a growing curiosity.

“The morning sun.” He said softly. “Most take the day for granted, it always comes and goes. But through the years of living in silence and darkness, you begin to appreciate those things. I lived my life just waiting for the next chance to see that light, and I never found myself disappointed by it. I couldn’t take the slim twenty four hours I had in the light for granted. So I used it every time to what I was capable of. We all did. It was one of the few times our lives didn’t seem so grim. When we were able to stand up and fight off the creatures that stalked us during the long nights. And when we were finally able to see each other without the flicker of a torch or flame. When warmth entered us, and when light caressed our beings. Though, for some it was just the day… no for all of them it was just a time of light, for me it was a time when I could be happy. It reminded me off the days I spent with my nephew… and the days I spent with my brother. The time when I didn’t feel so cold inside, a time when I didn’t enjoy the cold like an old friend. When I wanted warmth… no when I craved it but couldn’t get it. I loved the sun… I loved the warmth and light it gave, and I wanted to feel it constantly. But I had a small sick feeling that if I did find what I wanted, I’d grow to hate it. And I’d want to go back to the cold again.” He sighed. “When you are as cold as I few dare to come near, and even fewer dare to stay.” The room seemed to warm but his entire body seemed to grow even colder, a light steam seeming to rise from his body as though it was too cold even for the heat to want to be near. “I’m sorry for rambling on, it’s just sometimes hard to let go of the little pleasures life has to offer.”

She was about to speak but was cut off as he spoke up again.

“Things like the laughter from a child… Like watching him produce his first flame. Like watching your family come together in the darkest times, and in the brightest.” He chuckled softly, “Things like tending to a broken bone after he fell from a tree or teaching him how to care for himself if you couldn’t get there in time. Or even watching them grow up and return home.” He sighed.

Celestia quietly listened on.

“Did you know, when he came back after his first… time. I guess it could be called, he couldn’t sleep without nightmares consuming him. He was always so restless and finicky. He’d flinch at the slightest sound. But, seeming him now… you wouldn’t know. He’s so calm with her. I guess it is true, love is capable of banishing the darkest things from a person.” Isaac sighed. His gaze shifted down.

“It is indeed. That is something I can drink to.” Celestia said as a pony approached them. “Would you care for some tea?”

“That would be nice.” Isaac nodded as he looked up again. “It’s been a few years since I had any tea.” He chuckled. He let go of Celestia’s hand and put both of his in his own lap.

“Is there anything that might make you more comfortable?” Celestia asked.

“No, I’m quite comfortable. Thank you for asking though.” Isaac smiled warmly again. “And thank you for listening to my ramblings… It’s something I’m known for.” He joked.

“Nonsense. If we weren’t allowed to talk about the past, there would be no history.” Celestia laughed.

Isaac chuckled too, “I agree, and without the past there can’t be a future.” He said, his gaze returning to her. Celestia simply smiled and returned the stare. His smile widened slightly and he gently grasped her hand, his cold aura again meeting her warm one. “It’s nice to finally see my nephew get married… I expected to die long before I saw any of my nephews or my niece...“ He stopped and let out a sigh. “Well… it’s nice to see at least one of them lasted so long…”

“Isaac… I know something else is troubling you I can feel it.” Celestia said.

“I can’t let go of the feeling that something is going to happen to him. Fate hasn’t been too kind to our family as of late…” Isaac sighed.

“He’s safe here. Well… I’d assume he’d be safe anywhere.”

“That’s the thing… safety makes us let our guard down…” Isaac muttered, biting his lip in thought.

“I’m sure he’ll be fine.” She assured.

Isaac nodded slowly, “Yes… yes I’m sure he will be. I have to go get myself prepared for the wedding… I need to find the gifts I’m going to get both bride and groom. It’s always so hard…” He said, lightening up a bit.

“We’ll see each other soon I presume?”

“Yes we will. Goodbye for now Celestia.”

“Likewise to you too Isaac.”