Corruption and the Impossibility of Reconciliation
As green fire came forth from the bowels of the dragon, setting ablaze a papyrus scroll, the noise similar to a foal burping made itself known.
"Twilight, ya got a letter from Princess Celestia! Says here that she wants to invite you to Canterlot for...huh? A quick visit? That's all?" Spike the dragon, Twilight Sparkle's personal assistant questioned.
"Spike, Princess Celestia is one of the wisest ponies ever known. I've been dying to play a game of chess with her, because we haven't gotten to play together for months now!" Twilight responded, giggling at the drake's ignorance.
"Fine, whatever ya say Twi. Says here to get there whenever you can take the time out of your schedule, love to see you, missed you, yadda yadda yadda. I think you got some time on Thursday, right?" Spike asked, before he realized that the only remnants of Twilight was a burnt spot on the ground with a wisp of smoke ascending from it's place.
"....cya later, I guess..."
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A bright flash encompassed the golden room in a purple glow, as Twilight had just used a convenient method of transportation; teleportation. Although she already knew what Celestia's quarters looked like, it never ceased to make her in awe of the priceless treasures adjourned throughout her room in the castle. Golden trinkets lined shelves nailed into the walls, while pictures and ancient relics sat atop dressers dazzled in intricate designs.
The bed was made from Saddle Arabian silk, with golden fleece lining the sides, whilst a patio that led out into the fresh air on the castle sat perched at one of the highest points of the kingdom. Celestia sat, at another table that ran adjacent to the bed. Atop was a chess board.
"Celestia....you wanted to see me?" The purple unicorn gasped for air, after performing a teleportation spell with that much effort.
"Yes, my young student. Would you like a glass of water? Some fruit?" Celestia asked, gazing out her window.
"Um...no thank you." Twilight responded, eyeing some bananas sitting atop the counter. "What did you want to see me about, Princess? Is it an emergency?" Celestia shook her head. Twilight breathed a sigh of relief. "Good! I was hoping we could meet together some time, it's been quite some time since I've last had a nice chat with you!" she gleefully exclaimed.
Celestia chuckled. "Yes, it has been. But I've been meaning to talk to you about something..." she gestured towards the table in front of her. "Sit, I'd like to play a game of chess. It's been such a long time." she said, with melancholy just barely dripping at the end of her voice.
Twilight took a seat and sipped at a cup of tea placed in front of her. "I love chess! Such a great game..." Celestia reminisced, memories flowing through her. "Did you know that I've had former students, Twilight?" She asked, already aware that her pupil had been studying everything about her. Twilight nodded. "Then you should know that I once had a great unicorn as my student; her name, was Shadow Eclipse."
A little over a thousand years before the events of the Reformation of Discord, the Crystal Empire returning, or the Invasion of the Changelings, Celestia had taken the responsibility of being a teacher. A teacher that taught one student, an eager unicorn named 'Shadow Eclipse'. One so bright, so full of energy and hope.
Celestia had adored Shadow ever since she had set her eyes upon her. Her father, Revenant Shadow, had been part of a brigade that had been attached to stand by Celestia, devoted and loyal. The brigade had seen combat against the Minotaurs that had advanced on their country, but with Revenant's exemplary strategic thinking, they were able to repel the invaders. Revenant was awarded with several medals, but was also promoted to becoming a private guard, designated to stay by Celestia's side until dismissal or death.
Shadow's mother, however, was en absentia. She had left her father to look after her daughter, and left very shortly after her birth. She was unable to be found, yet Revenant had grown strong, and learned to be independent; he moved on, as did Shadow. After all, she had barely known her.
Years past, and Celestia had taken Shadow under her wing after seeing her potential; her father's strategic, battle thinking, while Celestia had armed her with the power of knowledge. Shadow had advanced in her studies remarkably quickly, while growing a personal relationship with her mentor. Before long, Shadow had started pursuing her own endeavors. She moved to start studying the art of combat magic, specializing in the arcane art of destruction.
However, this also involved tampering with the dark arts, forbidden because of it's ability to corrupt anypony unexperienced in protection spells, and change their way of thinking, to change them so they hated everything, everyone, and to slowly descend into madness. Shadow had thought herself to be immune to it's affects, and continued to dabble and learn from it.
Shadow had grown powerful, yet she still knew that no one could know that she was practicing the forbidden art; after all, she would probably be thrown into the dungeon regardless of her status with the princess. She practiced in secret, and by the time she was in her early twenties, she was an avid user that had become adept in the dark art.
But, it had not been without toll. Shadow had begun to think of how a monarchy could rule a country, and how easily the Princess could become a tyrant. Anyone could betray you, no matter how close you were to them. She became distant to Celestia, and started to question her rule. Celestia had brushed it off to the side, ignorant of the true intent of the questions. Shadow had never been one to follow rules, but Celestia trusted her to be loyal to her. After all, her father was a personal guard and she was her pupil.
The thoughts continued, and Shadow had turned bitter against Celestia, and her political power. No pony should be trusted with that kind of control, yet Celestia had been on the throne for an unimaginable amount of time. She also wondered about how, if Celestia was a god, why didn't she save the sick? The poor? Stop the wars? Shadow didn't understand, and continued to spite Celestia behind her back regardless of how they were related.
It was only a matter of time before Shadow had begun to plot to overthrow Celestia; after all, the king must fall eventually. Time reclaims all, so why not be the entrepreneur and lead forth the way of change? She used her father's legacy to gain contacts within the city, and use dark magic to convince those who would turn their heads to follow her ways. Within a year, an army had been assembled within the walls of Celestia's own fortress.
"But why would she turn against you? If she knew that dark magic would change her thoughts, why would she go through it anyways?" Twilight asked, shocked that Shadow could even think of rebelling against her mentor.
"I believe that she was envious of immortality, that she thought that my power could have been used for better." Celestia replied, followed by sipping her tea.
"Even so, couldn't you make her see reason? After all, there should have been some signs that something was wrong!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Shadow was a fast learner, adaptive and able to learn from everything. She was probably able to learn from my facade during meetings as well, Faust knows how I must conceal how I truly feel with the courts." Celestia chuckled.
` Twilight giggled. "Even so, she didn't falter once?"
"She secluded herself more and more, going out more often than staying home and studying. While out, she was recruiting for her army, and when home, practicing that damned magic." Celestia garnered a darker look. "Please tell me that you haven't been attempting, Twilight..." she added with a melancholy look.
"No! Of course not, why would I?"
Celestia breathed a sigh of relief. "That's relieving to hear, my dear student." Celestia closed her eyes. "If only Shadow hadn't.."
"What happened next?"
Twilight moved her Bishop to put the king in check, forcing Twilight to move into only 1 of 2 open spots. Celestia inspected the board, deep in thought.
"....tragedy."
On a cold, rainy night, only days before her 24th birthday, Shadow's father had been afflicted by an unknown disease, and no known cure could stop it. Her dad suffered in agony for what felt like years. She had begged Celestia for an answer, something she could use to save him. But Celestia had been silent. She had told her pupil that nature had taken it's course, and that interfering could just make her father suffer.
Her father died, and Shadow blamed his death on Celestia. She knew that the deity could very well have used her god-like powers to save him, yet she chose not to because it was the 'natural way'. Shadow couldn't believe Celestia; there was always another way. Dark magic taught her that everything had another option, that nothing only had two options. There was always a third.
However, Shadow didn't know what the third option was, and thought that Celestia knew. Although she had no proof that she did, Celestia was evidence that there was a way to live like a god, yet god was perfect. And Shadow knew damn well that Celestia wasn't even close to being 'perfect'.
Finally, Shadow turned bitter and angry towards her mentor, and made no effort to hide it. Celestia tried to comfort her, but to no avail. Shadow wasn't going to listen. Next to her dead father, Shadow had turned to face Celestia, the demon that had allowed her father to die.
"You know that you had the power to save him! He was your friend! He's saved your life, and stood by you in battle. And his reward? You, standing by his death bed, watching him die before your eyes! How could you, you monster?!" Shadow yelled, tears in her eyes. "Why do you get to live? Why are you the princess? Who gave you that title?" she moved closer to Celestia. "You never earned that title...the men that have sacrificed themselves for you, and died for your cause, those are the true heroes, not you and your cowardice!"
Celestia had accumulated many tears, of which were rolling down her face. "I couldn't have saved him, it was his time to go! He lived a long and happy life, what else could you ask for? Do you think I wanted to see him pass?!" Celestia yelled, now with tears running free. "I have seen many heroes and legends, come and go....each time, it never gets easier..." Celestia gulped. "Your father was no different..." Downtrodden, Celestia lowered her head.
"Then why, why is it his time to pass? You could have saved him, made his time later..." Shadow countered, with fire in her eyes, yet water on her face. "Why do you not take the opportunity?"
Celestia waited, with baited breath, for what felt like years. "Because....it was his time to go, and I refuse to interfere with the natural order."
Author's Note
Well, I actually wrote something else. Something that's ~~decent~~*, and has multiple chapters!
However, the next update could be anytime from later tonight, to next week xP
*...er, something that doesn't suck.
