Born of chaos and heartbreak

Chapters

beginnings
Congratulations your magesty
ascention
I love you
Tainted
Everything I did was for you
Heartbreak for all
What would he do?

beginnings

Tia screamed, her body trembled as she backed away from the lumbering monster before her. The Ursa Minor reared its blue head, roaring with rage as it approached the helpless princess. The sky above was blocked by the thick layer of foliage which blocked the young alicorn’s escape. If only she had her horn!

The monster grew closer, roaring its displeasure at the little teen’s presence in its forest. Tia was being cornered in-between two large oaks which stood resolute as she slammed against them as she fled from the monster. Tia pushed herself as far back as she could, as the monster came down to all fours and came ever closer.

The Minor’s nose came within inches of Tia’s face, it’s loud rasping breaths burned Tia’s face as she stood there, but she didn’t dare move, or even scream in case of inciting the beasts wild rage! Whatever the bear-like creature smelt obviously displeased him, as it bared it’s teeth and snarled at her.

Tia closed her eyes, waiting for the dreaded cold of death to wash over her young body. But it never came. She heard, over the loud breaths of the creature before her, a new noise. It was something she’d never heard before. It sounded like a horn, like the ones used back at Canterlot, but it was deeper and more growling.

The beast heard the strange noise too, with a confused grunt, it turned and looked in the direction the sound was coming from. Against the trunks of the trees, highlighted by the sun behind it, was a shadow of something monstrous. It looked tall, slim, and terrifying. The unseen creature gave out another loud horrible call, which sent shivers up Tia’s spine as she stared in horror at the approaching shadow.

The Ursa Minor obviously found the creature too threatening as it turned and barged away through the trees in fear of whatever was approaching. As soon as the thundering steps of the creature faded into the distance the shadow stopped its advance. Tia watched as it reached up to its neck and pulled. To her amazement, what looked like the creature’s head, popped off. “HA! I can’t actually believe that worked!” Cried an overjoyed voice as the cause of the shadow came into view. It was a pony.

More specifically a stallion, he was tall, slim, with a light gray coat and a darker gray mane. His eyes were a brilliant shade of blue. They sparkled as the stallion continued to laugh, throwing a large hollow log to the ground. Tia looked at it, realising that it was the ‘head’ of the shadow her and the Ursa Minor had seen. She gazed up at the stallion, who’s laughing was beginning to subside as he approached the princess.

The stallion grew serious, bowing deeply, he addressed the ground at the teen alicorn’s feet. “Your majesty.” he greeted, “Are you alright?” Tia looked at her saviour for a moment, still stunned by what she had seen. Nervously she nodded her head, when she realised the young male wasn’t looking up at her, she gave a tentative.
“Y-yes, thank you.” The stallion rose.
“Good.” He smiled at her. She smiled back nervously. Judging by his size, she would say that this stallion was her own age. “Come on your majesty, everypony’s been looking for you since you vanished!” Tia gazed at the departing creature, he saved her, not even asking for any kind of reward, and then offered to take her back to the town? How...noble!

Congratulations your magesty

The captain of the guard walked down the hallways, his mane -long and straight- flowed behind him in the breeze of his quick pace as he rushed through the castle. He came to a large oak door, on it was an emblazoned sun. Raising his hoof, the stallion rapped on the centre of the sun determinedly. “UP!” He shouted.

No response came from within. The stallion shook his head, giving a dry laugh at the laziness of the girl. “TIA! UP!” he gave the door another hard knock, and this time he heard some movement from within.
“You can come in Disc!” an angelic voice cried out as he waited. The stallion took the invitation, and pushed open the door to the princess’s chambers. Lavish furniture crowded the room, mirrors, wardrobes, desks and chairs all fit for the greatest rulers of Equestria, all cluttered the floor.

Disc began to walk into the room, and found what he was looking for. There on a stool, brushing her celestial mane with a golden toothed brush, was Tia. Though her full name was Princess Celestia of Equestria, Disc had never called her that. They were too close to be able to call her by such a formal title. Tia preferred it that way anyway. The two had met when they were teens, in the forest of Disc’s home town.

Everypony in the kingdom knew of the brave stallion who had charged in, with no regard for his own safety, and fought off a huge Ursa Major. But the two ponies in this room knew better, rumours were annoying little things, they always ended up embellishing the truth until, when you tell the truth, people believe it to be false! So the two had decided to let the rumours spread, after all they were what made Disc so famous that the king had granted him the honour of captain of the guard.

“You’re running late.” Disc said exasperatedly to his long time friend. Tia blushed, looked over her shoulder and disarmed him with a dazzling smile.
“I’ll be fine Disc.” She turned back to the mirror, speaking to the captain’s reflection while she brushed her long flowing mane with her magic. “After all, it is my birthday! I’m allowed to have a little fun.” Disc smiled.

“I suppose that’s true.” He said as he approached the princess. As he came closer, the alicorn’s expression changed. Her eyes drooped slightly, and a dreamy smile drifted over her lips. She knew what the stallion was about to do. “Well,” the captain said lowly. “This should be fun enough.” The princess turned around fully, and embraced the stallion as he kissed her.

The two stayed there for a moment, embracing each other in their secret romance. Nopony knew, nopony could ever know, or Disc would be discharged due to emotional attachment! Disc’s warm tongue danced with Tia’s making her shiver with delight. His hoof began to travel up her back, towards her freshly brushed mane. She expected him to run his hoof through it, or to stroke it. But no, slowly, and quite deliberately he pulled the princess’s mane.

Tia gasped out in shock, breaking the kiss. Disc laughed, knowing he hadn’t hurt her, only surprised her. “Come now! Don’t go being a baby Tia. We need to get going! Your father wants you.” Tia gave the stallion a playful push as she stood up.
“Yes, yes, I know.” Disc raised a surprised eyebrow. “He said to he would speak with me this morning at dinner last night.” The radiant alicorn explained.

Disc accepted her explanation and turned to lead the princess from the room. He got halfway across, when he realised she wasn’t beside him. In confusion, he turned back to look at her. There she still stood, beside her stool and mirror. A lost expression slowly growing across her beautiful face. “Tia?” the captain asked. Tia shook her head; coming out of whatever reverie she had been in.
“Coming!” She called as she trotted to catch up.

The two left the room together, heading down the winding hallways towards the main body of the gargantuan palace. “Umm, Disc?” The royal mare asked nervously. The stallion glanced to his side at the mare he loved. She looked...worried.
“Yeas dearest Princess?” he asked in mock formality, knowing it would cheer her up a little.
“Stop that!” She laughed, mission accomplished! “Would you... could we... go on your rounds together?” Disc frowned at the odd request.
“Yes, I guess. We’ll go see your father, then we’ll”-
“NO!” exclaimed the royal mare. The outburst shocked Disc into a halt.

He stared at Tia, what was wrong with her today? It was her birthday; she should be happy, not this jumpy and jittery! “I mean...” Tia began nervously. “It’s my birthday Disc; could you let me come around on your rounds before we see the king? As a present?” Disc grimaced.
“Not much of a present really.” he sighed, “Well, if you really want, I don’t have a problem with it!” Tia beamed at him, and the two resumed their walk through the halls, Tia beaming, and Disc weary of his beloved's strange attitude today.

“You know...” Tia began thoughtfully, looking at the stallion’s long draping mane. “Your mane’s getting rather long.” Disc looked as his princess, raising an eyebrow.
“I should have it cut?” he asked.
“I think a short mane cut would suite you better.” The alicorn explained. Disc shrugged with indifference. But gave his beloved a quick smile to show he appreciated the opinion.

The first stop on Disc’s rounds was the guard barracks. Each stallion that had any kind of duty to the castle or the royal’s would sleep here, this early in the morning it was easy for some to oversleep. This was one of the more fun tasks Disc got to do in his day. To the stallion’s joy, three beds were still full. Their occupants obviously fast asleep.

Disc glanced at Tia, who looked at him with an odd expression. Disc couldn’t quite place the emotion it showed, so he dismissed it and winked at her to show that this was going to be fun. Puffing out his chest, filling his captain’s uniform as much he could. He bellowed in a loud and angry voice. “ALRIGHT MAGGOTS! GET THOSE FLANKS MOVING! THIS ISN’T BED TIME AT MOMMY’S PLACE, THIS IS WORK DARN IT!” Tia held a hoof to her mouth to stop herself from giggling at the voice that she had never heard Disc use before.

The sleeping stallion’s all jumped at the screaming captain’s voice. Two flailed wildly as they were pulled unceremoniously from their dreams, while one simply fell straight out of bed and onto his head. Laughing at the chaos before them, the two moved on, knowing the guards would now get moving.

Next on the list was the battlement’s inspection. The two of them walked lazily on the wall that outlined the castles boundaries. Tia gave a little push of the stallion’s shoulder as they walked. Disc gave her a little playful nudge back, nothing needed to be said, only appreciated.

Meeting in secret, spending the night in Disc’s own private quarters whenever they could, exchanging a note or two during a very busy day. This had been their life for the past year, and they loved it. Knowing that no matter how tough the day got, the night was theirs to share.

Disc would have kissed her then, with no one on the battlements it was the perfect place, but as he began to move towards her the door to the stairs that lay just ahead burst open. One of hoof maidens to princess Luna exited. The mare rushed, laden with royal garments, quickly approaching the travelling two. Tia and Disc parted to allow the maiden to pass. She did so, giving a quick “Thanks a bunch!” as she passed.

The two began to move again, when suddenly, the maiden behind them gave a quick shout. “Congratulations your majesty!” Disc glanced back, seeing the mare disappear into the next block of steps. Congratulations? Oh her birthday! Disc couldn’t help but think how stupid he was being. The shock of nearly getting caught had clouded his mind for a second.

Disc gave a happy smile to Tia, but she wasn’t looking in his direction. She was staring at the ground, a brooding and miserable look on her face. “Tia?” the captain asked. The alicorn bolted upright, plastering a wide smile on her face that Disc knew was false. Still unsure on how to address his love’s strange behaviour he kept quiet and continued on his rounds with her.

Finally on his rounds was the inspection of the marketplace just outside the castle steps. When nothing out of the ordinary seemed to be occurring, the two retreated back to the castle. Inside the hallway of the castle, the large wooden doors of the throne room towered before them. Inside was Tia’s father, the king of Equestria. “Well.” Disc said dismissively, “That’s the end of my”-
“Congratulation’s your majesty!” called a sweeper, just leaving after cleaning the hall. Tia gave the old mare an encouraging smile. Then turned back to Disc who tried to continue.
“That’s the end of my rounds. So now if”-
“Congratulations your majesty!” shouted the cook, cantering past towards the kitchens with her saddle bags bulging with carrots.

Disc gave a little frustrated sigh. Then not wanting to upset Tia, decided to make a joke. “You know! If it wasn’t your birthday, I’d think you were getting married!” He laughed, so did Tia, but only half heartedly. Disc’s own laugh died at the sound of misery emanating from his love reached his ears. “Tia? What’s the matter?” The princess gave a miserable sigh. Glancing up at the doors to her waiting father fleetingly. She took hold of Disc’s hoof and rushed off towards a small empty room just off the hallway.

ascention

“Disc! I’m sorry I didn’t tell you!” She cried the second the door slammed shut behind them. Disc’s stomach twisted horribly, what was going on?
“Tell me what?” Disk demanded, Tia looked miserable. “Tia what’s going on that I don’t know about?”
“I’m ascending...” She said miserably. The words meant nothing to Disc.
“What?”
“I’m ascending, it’s the final form of an alicorn, and then I’m going to be on the throne of Canterlot, I’m... going to be queen.” Disc’s jaw dropped.
“What?! That’s...that’s fantastic! Wonderful!” Tia gave a little smile at his words. “But...” Disc began, realising something ominous. “There... there’ve been no preparations for a coronation or anything. A ceremony like that would take months of planning.”

Tia sighed, finally she looked up from the ground. “Queens don’t have coronations only the king’s do.”
“I...see...” Said Disc, not understanding why. “So... why are you so upset?” he asked, advancing on Tia, wanting to hold her close in her time of need, to show her this was a good thing! Tia fell into his waiting forelegs, letting him hold her close.
“I...I can’t...” the alicorn stuttered. Disc soothed her, stroking her flowing mane lovingly. Tia’s forelegs were both against Disc’s chest, one crept up his body towards his face. Taking hold gently, she brought his eyes down to her level. “K-kiss me. Please, kiss me.” she whimpered. Disc obliged her, kissing her lovingly.

When Disc pulled away, Tia seemed less nervous. With a nervous gulp, she pushed away from her lover and stood up again. Without a word, she turned and headed for the door. “Tia?” Disc asked, still stood where he had held her. The princess’s shoulder’s sagged at the sound of his voice. She glanced over her shoulder, and with eyes filled with sorrow. She whispered in a cracking voice.
“It’s time for me to see my father Disc.”

.........................................

The opening of the door’s echoed throughout the cavernous throne room, the hinges creaked as they held the weight of the mighty wooden panels. Silently, Disc and Tia entered the room. As soon as they had passed, the doors swung shut behind them, the bang of their closing made Disc jump. What was wrong? There was something in this room, the atmosphere had immediately taken a hold on him. Was this why Tia was so upset? This...tension that Disc had come to associate with...death.

At the far end of the long cavernous hall, stood the two thrones. The solar and lunar seats of power were dazzling to behold, one made of what seemed to be flowing gold, and the other of some dark black material embedded with onyx gems. Upon this darker throne, sat the king. His black fur made him seem one with his throne, showing how he belonged there and nowhere else.

As the two approached with the silent and miserable Tia in the lead, Disc could see he king’s eyes were closed. Only when Tia came to a halt, did Disk. And when the movement of hooves died to silence; the king spoke. He didn’t open his eyes; he only addressed the blackness of the inside of his lids. “My daughter! Happy birthday my dear.”

“Thank you father.” Tia bowed down at the kings words, as did Disc, slightly nervously.
“Captain... Is something wrong?” Asked the king, disc couldn’t understand how he could tell he was there if he hadn’t opened his eyes.
“N-no! My king!” He blurted out.
“Then why do you stand before us, I sent you to bring my daughter, and now you have, you may leave.” Disc looked to Tia beside him, who raised her head without glancing at the stallion.
“Father!” The king’s head tilted towards his daughter, his eyes still closed. “I wish for Disc to stay.” She requested.

The king’s eyes opened.

Filled with the shining brilliance of every star in the night sky that he had once controlled, the eyes stared down at the determined face of the princess. Then they glanced at Disc. Immediately the gaze sent shivers up the captain’s spine, not out of fear, but of awe. Even through his glance, the king’s magical power radiated from him and seeped into every pour of the earth pony captain.

“Do you know? Captain? What will happen here today?” the king asked.
“Yes my king! Tia-Princess Celes”-
“Let us not pretend that you are so formal with my daughter Disc.” interrupted the king, finally showing a small smile for the first time in this meeting. Disc blushed scarlet, what did he mean? Surely he didn’t know about him and Tia? Or was he just referring to their friendship? “Yes, My daughter is to ascend today, and become the queen of Equestria like her mother before her.” The king gave a smile to his daughter, who did not return it out of silent misery.

“It’s fitting...” mused the monarch. “You saved my daughter’s life that day so long ago. You saved her before she could reach her current state as an alicorn.”
“I saved somepony who needed help sire, nothing more.” explained Disc, trying to sound slightly humble.
“Yes, most certainly you did, but with her horn not yet manifested, she would have surely died if you had not come to her aid.” The King stood, slowly descending the marble steps from his throne. “So I say again, it is fitting. For you, the stallion who helped reach her last stage of evolution, to witness this next stage, the greatest stage.”

Disc wasn’t sure he liked all of this talk about evolution, what was he talking about? What was going to happen to Tia for her to become Queen? The king’s hooves echoed as he came down to their level and approached his daughter. “Tia?” he asked, Disc had never heard his king call the princess that before. Tia looked into the shining eyes of her father. “Have you spoken with Luna?” he asked of his other daughter, the one who had taken the role of the night watcher from him.
“Yes father.”
“And?”
“She said she hopes to see me soon.”

What?! Where was she going?! Disc stared horrified at the exchange going on before him, where was Tia going? “Is there anypony else?” the king questioned. Tia’s eyes shot to Disc, but pulled back as she realised what she was doing. Disc noticed the movement, so surely the king would. Surely enough, the black furred and mane’d king glanced at the captain. “You wish to say goodbye to your friend... that is fair enough.” GOODBYE?! Disc’s mind was reeling with questions, but his shock froze his lips and stopped his lungs from pushing out a single sound.

“I already have father.” explained the princess. No she hadn’t! She’d just...kissed him. Disc realised, that had been her way, her way of saying goodbye to him. No! He needed to know what was happening, now! He opened his mouth to speak, but the king of Equestria cut him off.
“Very well my daughter, please kneel.” Tia did as she was asked. ‘No! Wait!’ Disc’s mind screamed at him to stop this, whatever this was!

“With the powers of the sun, the moon and the stars, by the power of the alicorn race, the heavens above and the valleys below. I bestow upon you my daughter, the final stage, to re-unite you with your mother, to give you the power to govern us all in your own way.” The tip of the king’s horn began to glow. Small bolts of blue electricity jumped from his skull to the tip of his horn and mixed with the quickly growing ball of florescent green energy. With these words, Tia raised her head, revealing her chest to the king, while he lowered his point at her exposed breast.

“NO!” cried Disc. He threw himself between the alicorns, glaring at the king, who for the first time showed emotion. His face exploded into shock at his captains actions. “Sire! You’ll kill her!” the grey stallion protested. The king looked from his captain, to his daughter just behind him, who now whimpered.
“Disc, please, this has to be done!”
“What?!” screamed Disc in utter disbelief. “You’ll let him kill you Tia?”
“He’s isn’t killing me, he’s allowing me to ascend.” She explained.

“Looks a lot like DEATH to me!” growled the captain, turning back to the king. “Why sire? Why are you doing this?” he pleaded with his monarch. Who sighed, and allowed the magic to subside.
“Tia, please.” He said sadly. Disc felt himself being picked up by magic; he recognised the tingle of Tia’s cloud against his fur. “What?! Tia! Put me down!” The Princess did not oblige him. Slowly walking through the throne room, her eyes filled with tears at the sound of her love fighting so desperately against her. “TIA! I’m trying to save you! Put me down Tia!”

Finally they reached the doors to the hall beyond. Yet again they creaked open by some unseen force, allowing the princess and her prisoner of magic to pass through to the hall. Yet again the approached the abandoned room they had been in before. Only when the door was shut, did Tia finally let Disc back onto the ground.

I love you

“WHAT IS HE TRYING TO DO TO YOU?!” the stallion demanded the moment he was free.

“He is still your king Disc...” Tia tried to bring out her beloved’s loyalty to the monarch, but his frustration prevailed in repelling the attempt.
“Tia!” His eyes frosted over with Tia as he stood there. “What’s happening?!” His voice cracked, as he fell into silence. Tia gazed at the stallion she loved, she barely ever saw him cry, only twice: When his father abandoned his mother just before Disc came to Canterlot, and when his mother died. The alicorn mare couldn’t help but feel a sense of honour, knowing she meant so much to bring a tear to the pony’s eye.

“Ascension,” she began. “Is the final stage of an alicorn’s corporeal life.” Though he understood the words, Disc couldn’t understand what Tia was talking about. Before he could question his beloved Tia, she continued. “An alicorn is born, as an earth pony, they then develop the wings of a Pegasus as they grow older. You know this.” Disc nodded, remembering how they had met, when the princess had only her wings, and her horn had not yet grown. That seemed like... a lifetime ago. Maybe because it almost was for him, he was no longer the stallion he was back then. He remembered how helpless she had been, how he had charged in and saved her, back when she had needed him. Why couldn’t he save her now?

“Ascension is when, one alicorn –my father in this case- uses the majority of his power, and transmits it into another alicorn.” Tia continued. Disc stared through his dripping eyes, his jaw beginning to gape as he listened. But nothing could have prepared him for what Tia said next as she looked at him with sorrowful eyes. “The resulting power the second alicorn receives destroys their physical form, and we become a spectral being, both singular and universal.”

Disc stood stunned, his legs began to shake, eventually giving out and bringing him tumbling to his knees. “Y-your physical form...destroyed?” Tia... would be gone? Forever? How could the king, any father! Do something like that to their own child? Tia’s heart broke at the sight of her stunned lover.
“Our bodies are designed for this eventual build up of magic. We are, as a race, the only creatures able to do so and break apart into the next form.” She explained miserably.
“B-but... why? Why? WHY DO YOU HAVE TO GO?” Disc pleaded, bitter tears now streaming down his face as he begged the mare he loved to answer him.

Tia’s gaze dropped to the floor, no longer able to look him in the eye for causing him such pain. “My mother, she went before me, and her mother and father before her. Once I’m gone, Luna will grow up and have children of her own, then my father will ascend and join me and my mother. And then the cycle will repeat itself.” A hard pounding noise shook Tia into looking at Disc on the floor.

His hoof was against the ground, beneath it a small crack in the wooden floorboard proved that he had just punched it in frustration. “But, why can’t he- your father...” The question hung the air unfinished, waiting for Tia to answer.
“Because, he needs to live to teach Luna how it’s done.”
“But can’t he teach you how to do it?” Disc asked miserably, still with his head and hoof to the ground in sorrow.
“No, I’m solar. Only lunar alicorn’s can ascend other alicorns.”
“That’s stupid!” Disc shouted suddenly. He slammed his hoof down again causing the crack to grow slightly beneath his strike.

With every second that passed by, Disc’s heart grew more fractured, at any moment it would threaten to shatter completely. How could Tia do this? How could she leave? And be so matter of fact about it! “I-I didn’t tell you because...” the princess began, “B-because I hoped, that if I didn’t mention it, it would never come, maybe it would just keep being put off and I could stay here...with you.” Disc shuddered at his love’s words. They hurt far more than anything he had experienced in his life. Knowing she felt this way, and that she was still going to go through with it!

Disc stared at the wooden panel beneath him, his tears cascaded down to the ground and splashed back up at his nose. “Why?” he asked again. “Why? What’s the point of being immortal if you’re just going to die anyway!”
“We don’t die Disc. We simply break away from the physical realm and become one with the magic in the world”-
“AND HOW IS THAT ANY DIFFERENT?!” Disc screamed, his head snapped up, revealing his bloodshot eyes. “HOW IS IT ANY DIFFERENT?” he demanded again. “You’ll still be gone! I won’t... I wouldn’t be able to... I’d never...” in his hysteria the stallion couldn’t finish any of his reasons. He bolted to his hooves and rushed towards her.

“Come away with me!” He smiled encouragingly his eyes still streaming. “Come away, to a place where... we can be together! Just live with each other, we don’t need to be here!” Tia’s heart sank even more at Disc’s actions. Inside, her heart felt like it was made of lead; it pulled hard, weighing her down in everything she thought and said.
“Don’t ask me to do that Disc...” She begged, her eyes brimming with newfound tears of heartbreak.
“Why not?” Disc clung to the idea as though it were all that kept him from drowning in a sea of misery. “We can go, over the seas, to the other lands, we can go and find a place no one knows us!”
“Disc...” Tia wept. “I-I can’t, it’s what’s expected of me! It’s what my father wants; it’s what... it’s what... it’s what I want!”

Disc’s body sagged at her words. “You don’t mean that!” He persisted. Tia closed her eyes, flinging her head away from him as far as she could, still held by his outstretched hooves. “Tia...” The stallion whispered.
“I’m sorry!” she cried, then sprang ahead, breaking his hold on her hooves as she did. She began to canter out of the room, swinging the door open with her magic and slamming it behind her.
“TIA NOOO!” Discord cried, he charged after her, knowing in his heart it was too late. By the time he opened the door and ran back into the hall, he saw her beautiful flowing tail whip around the door of the throne room and slam the door behind her.

“TIA!” The stallion cried, charging to the door. He slammed it hard with his shoulder, yet the panel didn’t budge an inch! “Tia!” He cried again, his voice distraught as he knew what would happen on the other side of the sheet of wood at any moment. The stallion fell to his knees and gazed through the keyhole set in the bras handle. He saw her, she had stopped running now the door separated the two f them, and was now slowly making her way back to her waiting father.

Disc slammed his hooves on the door, pummelling it with all his might, he put his lips to the open hole in the wood and called to her. “Tia don’t do it! Please! DON’T DO IT!” He could tell she could hear him, the way she kept her head hung low, stopping the temptation to look back. “Tia! PLEASE... I LOVE YOU!”

Inside the throne room, Tia froze unable to believe what Disc had done. They had told each other they loved them, but only in secret, and in the solitude of their secret meetings. Now Disc was shouting it out for the whole castle to hear! Her head snapped up to stare at her father just ahead. The king didn’t even look shocked in the slightest possible way.

Tia couldn’t move her hooves, she had thought she had been prepared for whatever Disc could throw at her. She had deluded herself into thinking nothing could shock her, but now Disc stood mere feet away, screaming his love for her, and that made her unable to move. The thought of leaving him tore her heart in two, but she also knew that this was what awaited all alicorn’s and it was all as painful for them as it was for her.

“Celestia.” said the deep voice of the lunar king. Tia focused on her father, who began to move towards her, his horn beginning to emit its vibrant green glow. “My dear daughter, we must do this now, before he gets in again.” Obeying her father without question as she always had. Tia took a deep breath, and with a heavy heart, stood tall awaiting her father’s magic. Closing her eyes, she focused only on the voice of her beloved, she envisioned his face determined that he would the last thought this body would ever think of!

Disc watched the king beginning to make his way to Tia. The stallion recognised the blue sparks that shot up the monarch’s horn, and knew that it would soon all be over! “SIRE!” He tried to protest, but the king continued to move forward, unperturbed by the captain’s cries.

Disc’s chest was heaving in panic, what could he do? He watched as the magic built up until the king’s power began to pulsate with streaks of blue against its bright green surface. The king stopped several feet away from his daughter, he lowered his head until the tip pointed at a perfect parallel to the ground. “For Equestria!” the king cried. Tia’s eyes opened, she looked over her shoulder, and to the door where Disc knelt just beyond.
“For Equestria.” she echoed hollowly.

Realising this was the end, Disc screamed, not a word but a simple beast like scream. His chest felt like it exploded at the sight of his love stood ready to leave! He wouldn’t let this happen! But how could he stop it? He slammed against the door again, but it didn’t move. He sprang to his hooves and tried again. He found the seam between the panels; he backed up then jumped into it. The doors parted slightly for a second. Revealing Tia, slowly being lifted into the air by the glow of the king’s green magic.

The ball of green seemed to compact, growing smaller and smaller, condensing itself. Disc’s blue bloodshot eyes watched as, the ball suddenly blinked out of existence. For a wild moment Disc thought the attempt had failed, his heart soared, Tia was going to stay! Then, from where the ball had been, shot a beam, one single continuous beam of green flowing magic. The stream of green energy struck Tia in the chest, she didn’t cry out. She didn’t scream or squirm in pain. She simply hung in the air, her wings unfurled and spread wide as she floated there.

“NOOOO!” Disc ran from the door, heading to the furthest point from across the hallway. He turned, and without hesitation, just like all those years before. He charged with the single intent, of saving her! The grand double doors rushed to meet him, the stallion lowered his head, and prepared for the pain. Surely enough it came in waves as his shoulder exploded in protest as he slammed into the door’s causing them to burst open.

Not waiting for even a second, Disc charge towards the two alicorns. Tia was beginning to shimmer with a green tinted glow. Was it nearly over? Not caring for his own safety, he reached the two of them. The king –unable to stop the spell at this stage- stared in horror as the stallion approached from the side. Only an instant before he did it, did the king realise what the stallion would do!

Disc bent his legs as he ran, hugging the ground as he sped onwards. With all his strength, as he reached the point of no return, the captain jumped. The stallion sailed through the air. Tia’s eyes opened, just in time to see him sail into view. Tia opened her mouth, trying to call out to him, to somehow stop before it was too late. The grey furred pony closed his eyes, unsure of what would come next.

But she was safe now, Tia would be safe. That was all that mattered!

The stallion began to fall back to the ground, arching through the air, and in what seemed like in slow-motion for the two witnesses, passed into the beam of magical energy.

Tainted

Immediately the connection between Tia and her father was broken. The princess fell a few feet and crumpled on the floor. Ignoring the pain that flared up in her hooves, she bolted back to her feet and stared at the spectacle before her, unable to believe what Disc had just done.

It was obvious that the contact with the king’s magic was different with Disc than with Tia the instant he touched it. The magic held him in the air as he screamed and writhed as though his coat had caught fire, his hooves scraped at his body as he began to glow with the same green hew as Tia had before him. His eyes grew wide as the blue irises spread wide in fear and pain.

“Father!” Tia screamed, “Stop! Stop now!”
“I’m trying!” Cried the king, his brow furrowed and sweat beading down his face as he fought his own spell’s hold on the stallion. When nothing happened, Tia unfurled her wigs ready to fly up and save him. “NO!” her father ordered. Tia looked at him, her heartbreak obvious in her eyes. “We don’t know what’s going to happen! Keep back Tia!” Tia did as she was told, and with her heart shattering at the sight, she turned her gaze back to her screaming and flailing beloved.

Disc felt as though he was dying. The constant stream of magic burned his insides; he could feel it lapping up at his stomach as though he had swallowed boiling water. Through a haze of red pain, he looked at his hoof which was fast beginning to burn. Before his eyes, his foreleg was beginning to warp; the fur began to malt away leaving his skin bare and red as it burned beneath the magic. Disc gave out newfound screams as four small long something’s began to sprout from his hoofs tip, four small long digits. The hoof itself began to crumble away as his foreleg’s calf began to pinch and become skinnier.

“TIA!” Disc screamed as his body began to distort out of its usual shape. His neck grew long and slender, from his skull erupted two horns. The pain was excruciating, as his bones reshaped themselves and new found body parts erupted from his body, tearing his skin apart to make way for them. His armour’s straps snapped, and they fell down to the ground with an ear shattering clang, leaving the stallion bare. His body’s fur began to taint, discolouring into a dark reddish brown.

“FATHER!” Tia demanded of the king, “STOP THIS!”
“I can’t Tia!” The king protested, his eyes staring at the screaming stallion in horror. “I-I can’t...” He echoed hollowly. The glow around Disc began to intensify, building to a climax which burnt the eyes of the two alicorns, forcing them to turn away with cries of anguish. Suddenly, without warning, the screams ceased. Tia turned back to and stared at the spot where Disc had hung in the air. There was nopony there.

The princess’s vision fell to the ground, and saw the creature. It had a long, snake like build, its hind legs looked like those of both an alligator, and a goat. As her gaze travelled up the creature that lay before her on the ground, she saw a large red lizard like tail sprouting between his legs which curled into a deadly tip. On its back lay two wings, one the bright blue of a Pegasus pony, the other a large black leathery bat wing. She couldn’t see its face, or anything behind the two wings that covered his upper half like a blanket.

Tia looked to her father, who stood there with horror in his eyes. “H-he...” Tia choked. “He tried to stop me...” the king nodded his mouth remained closed and his eyes fixed on the creature between him and his daughter. “What happens?” Tia asked, unable to stop the tears as they began to seep from her eyes and fall to marble floor of the hall. Her father carried on staring at the creature.
“H-he isn’t an alicorn, he’s a normal pony, his body isn’t meant for such power...”

A gasping breath began to seep out from under the wings, as the creature began to come out of whatever slumber he had been in. Tia took a step towards it, her father tried to protest, but was shot down by the glare his daughter gave him. “Disc?” She asked; her voice shaking as she took a trembling step towards the mismatch limbed figure.

“Tiaaa...” came a low growl from beneath the canopy of wings. “T-Tiaaa.” The wings began to unfurl from around the figures head. Pulling back towards his back and tucking themselves back in. From beneath his stomach, the creature pulled out his arms to try and push himself up. Tia jumped at the sight of his hand, it was yellow and taloned like a griffon’s, this was horrible!

“Disc, I’m here!” cried Tia, as she rushed to his side and fell to her knees beside him. The altered stallion raised his head, only to reveal two horns, one a dear’s antler, and the other the twisted blue horn of a goat. Tia breathed deeply, trying to stay calm for the sake of her beloved Disc who lay before her. At least his face looked the same, though slightly more curved; his face still resembled that of the Disc she knew. She reached down and took hold of his face. “I’m here...” She repeated.

Slowly, the lids that covered his eyes, fluttered open. Tia had to bight her tongue to stop herself from jumping. His eyes were a shocking red, set into orbs of dark yellow. The eyes f a demon. One pupil was smaller than the other, adding yet again to the unbelievable mayhem that was Disc’s body. As his eyes met the soft pink of his beloved, Disc’s lips parted, showing a forked tongue of a snake and a long singular fang. “Tia...” He whispered weekly. “You’re ok!” He sighed in relief and tried to push himself up.

As his hand searched for a place to push from, his eye’s caught sight of the large lion paw he now had. He screamed in surprise, collapsing back to the floor as he swung his arm away in fear. He rolled onto his back and held his arms up to examine them! Yet again he let out a terrified scream. “Disc! Please calm down, we can sort this out. Just give us a minute.”

“WHAT HAPPENED!” Disc cried, scurrying across the floor away from Tia not wanting her to see him like this. He pushed himself to his mismatched feet, and stumbled back until he fell against one of the pillars at the side of the hall. He threw his hands out to catch the solitary stone column as he fell. He slammed hard against it, the slam echoed out across the cavernous room. Tia stared unable to believe what she was seeing.
“Disc...” She whispered in a doleful voice.

Disc was panting hard, his chest heaved hard as he stared down at his limbs, horror spreading his across his face. “W-W-What’s happened to me!” He whispered. In answer of his question, the king began to approach the tainted stallion. The creature’s eyes snapped towards the approaching black monarch, glinting with anger and dislike that terrified Tia to see, a look she had never seen him use.

“You have taken the magic meant for an alicorn.” The tall black king explained. “You have been tainted, your race has never been meant to hold that much power. Now that you have taken it instead of Tia, the magic has tried to make you evolve to a spirit state.” He scanned the creature’s body, “You cannot reach that level of evolution, so now your body has changed and warped itself to accommodate the magic that flows through your veins...” The king’s voice died for a second, as he prepared his next words carefully. “The magic of a god.”

Disc’s eyes shot to Tia, who looked on miserably as the two most important men in her life spoke. “B-but...” Disc whispered, Tia’s eyes seemed to shine as he looked at her. He tore his eyes away and looked to the king. “But Tia is still here, so it didn’t work?” The king looked angered at the former stallion’s defiance.
“I suppose so.” His eyes shot to his daughter and he sighed. “I cannot gather that much magic again, it would take years before I’d be ready to try once more.” Disc’s twisted heart soared. He shifted his weight ready to embrace his beloved. But as he moved, Tia took a step back in instinctual fear. The sight made Disc stop.
“T-Tia?” he asked, his voice quiet and worried. Tia tore her gaze away and looked to the ground. “Tia! I-It’s still me!” Disc smiled, and felt the long knife like fang prick his lip. He gave a startled cry and his paw shot up to his lip. When he pulled it away, the yellow fur was stained red.

“You may believe you’ve succeeded Disc.” The king boomed. Disc’s eyes shot back to the king, his temper rising quickly. This was his entire fault; if he hadn’t wanted to send Tia away then Disc wouldn’t have needed to save her. Disc would still be the stallion he once was, Tia would be happy, Tia would be able to look at him without fear or disgust! “But believe these words, for they are true!” The king’s voice began to rise. “It will take a few years until I can cast the spell again, but when that time comes, I WILL help my daughter ascend, and YOU!” he came to a halt before the twisted form. “Will not interfere a second time!”

Everything I did was for you

Disc’s scarlet eyes closed, unable to believe after everything he had done, he had only bought Tia a few years at most. From beyond the darkness of his eyelids he heard the king continue. “You are hereby stripped of the rank of ‘Captain of the guard!’ you are hereby ordered to leave Equestria. A tainted and disloyal creature as you cannot be allowed to live in this land!” Tainted? That was an understandable name. Disloyal? No, he wasn’t disloyal; Disc had done all this out of loyalty, loyalty to his feelings, loyalty to his heart, loyalty to Tia!

“You...” Disc purred. He felt the atmosphere change as the king heard his livid and poisonous tone. “You call me tainted?” His eyes flew open, and the reds of his eyes flashed menacingly. “Yes, I am tainted! But that’s from what you’ve done.” His eagle hand against the pillar curled into a fist, his talons scraped against the stone, gouging out four little trenches into the column as they came together. “You’ve done this! You made me like this! Your need to take Tia away, you inability to change tradition through your own stubbornness.”

Tia looked up from the ground and looked at the two; she’d never heard Disc speak like this, with such venom and loathing in his usual sensual and calm voice. Disc began to stand, his new height making him tower above the king. “You couldn’t see Tia didn’t want to leave. You couldn’t possibly consider she had reason to stay!” He took a step towards the dark alicorn, who took a step back defensively. “I’m disloyal?” The creature asked, taking another step to him. “Only as much as you.”

“That’s enough!” Ordered the king, but there was no authority in his yell. The creature continued to advance, making the king retreat further back towards his throne. “I should kill you!” Disc mused. He heard Tia gasp with horror, but ignored it. “I should end you here and now for what you’ve done today.” He brought his lion paw high above his head, unsheathing its deadly claws. The king grimaced and closed his eyes in preparation for the strike. A small knick against his face made him jump; he opened his eyes and put a hoof to his cheek. When he pulled it away, blood -vibrant against the black of his hoof- was speckled over it.

He looked up, and saw Disc leaning back, looking at him. “But I’m not that kind of pony...” He stopped, looking down at his hands. His mouth curled horribly and he let out a sarcastic chuckle. “Or at least I’m not that kind of Thing.” His head rose again to look at the king. “But then again... It’s not Killing when somepony transcends... is it your majesty?” Tia realised what Disc was thinking she took a step forward towards him but the king flung out a hoof.
“Stay back!” Tia froze yet again, torn between her father and her lover. Which would she side with, how can she stop all of this? If she allowed her father to succeed, Disc would be banished and she would never see him again, but she couldn’t let Disc send her father to the next evolutionary state!
“After all your highness,” He purred as he approached the king, stretching out a clawed paw, which exploded into a plume of green fire. “You seem to love the idea so much, why should you wait? What if I could send you right now?” He stretched out his hand towards the head of the king.

The king’s eyes showed a sense of fear for the first time Tia had ever seen. Yet she still stood frozen, unable to move for shock. Slowly, Disc’s new lion paw fingers began to wrap around the king’s face. He parted his fingers so he could see his dark eyes. The fire began to seep into the king’s face, though it didn’t burn. How unfortunate. He deserved to suffer! After he tried to steal Tia, he deserved to suffer!

Disc leant in close. He looked into the fearful eyes of the king. “Don’t be scared. It’s not dying at all is it? You were singing its praises only a moment ago!” Disc glanced at Tia, though she looked terrified, she still looked as radiant as ever in his eyes. Disc leant in closer, taking his lips to the king’s ear. “No one will take her away from me! No one! With you, transcendence dies, and she’ll never need to leave.”

And with that, the king’s veins began to gleam from beneath his skin. The tracks of blood shone vibrantly green, prominent against the black of the king’s fur and skin. Soon the magic pouring into him began to climax and finally burst the physical form of the king. Disc felt his face disintegrate from beneath his fingers. The light intensified to a blinding blast that filled the hall with its radiance.

Tia stood staring, unable to look away as she watched in horror. The light burned her eyes slightly, but she didn’t even blink for horror of what was transpiring. When the light died, and her vision came back. All that was left was Disc stood panting, a scorched patch of marble at his feet. Slowly he turned to Tia, and gave a shaky smile. Tia stared at him, slowly, she stuttered a command.

“Bring him back, Disc bring him back!” Disc’s face fell. His eyes grew from happy to serious, as he looked down at his hands. The hands that had just committed treason of the highest order. He quickly bolted away, and slid up against a pillar to the side of the hall. His legs felt as though they were suddenly made of lead, he could barely move them! “Disc!” Tia cried taking some rushed steps towards the fleeing creature.

“Don’t come any nearer!” Disc shouted over his shoulder. Tia froze a few feet away. “Dont...please, not like this!” He looked to his clawed and talon’ed hands in disgust. He glanced at the stained-glass window just ahead of him and caught a glimpse of his face. Those twisted eyes, his grotesque horns, how hideous he was! There was no wonder that he had just done what he had, this face the face and body of a monster!
“Disc?” Tia whispered on the verge of losing herself to sobs. “Disc, bring back my father, we can still fix this, just bring him ba”-

“NO!” Disc shouted quickly, cutting Tia off mid sentence. He slowly glanced around the pillar, peeking out from behind and showing his face to his beloved. “Don’t ask me to do that. He’ll take you away, I-I can’t... I won’t!” A green tear seeped from his eye; it spattered the floor and burnt it like acid. “I can’t...” He echoed hollowly.

“Disc, we need him back, after everything you’ve done, we need someone to help us lead our people!”
“EVERYTHING I’VE DONE?” Disc exploded, giving into the animal rage that seemed to be constantly brewing inside him. He spun out from behind the pillar and stood against the light of the window behind him. “Everything I’ve done was for you! For us! I did this all to let you stay here in peace!”

A sudden look of realisation spread across the tainted pony’s lips. “We could do it!” Tia frowned at his mood swing. Disc took a few ecstatic steps forward. “Think about it Tia, I can be king, and you can be my queen. It’s not like I’m inadequate now, I’m...I’m... I’m like a god!” He boasted, his chest puffing out proudly. Tia’s eyes were fixed on the warped face, the closest thing that resembled her old beloved Disc. She couldn’t help her voice from cracking as she asked.
“You’re not inadequate NOW? What do you mean? You were never inadequate Disc!”
“Yes I was Tia, I was just a earth pony, now I’m stronger than a king. I can ascend an alicorn and still feel power running through me!” Disc raised his hand, small discharges of electricity prickled across his spindly fingers as he flexed them impressively.

“You’re a goddess Tia, you deserve the best.” His fang gleamed as he smiled. “Now I can finally be that for you! Far more than just Disc!” Tia’s soul seemed to freeze over, this was unbelievable. This wasn’t Disc talking! He would think like that.
“b-but ‘Just Disc’ was the stallion I fell in love with! Not a power crazed creature with his face!” tears ran down her cheeks, her makeup began to run, adding black to the pearly tears as they made dark trails down her fur. “Come back, come back to me Disc!”

Disc took a step forward, his red eyes still gleaming with his new god like power. “I’m here Tia, it’s still me!” As though he were just a mirage, Disc began to swim out of focus. He shimmered for a moment, then with a pop. The old Disc appeared and stood before Tia. “See!” he smiled; his teeth the way they once were, devoid of fangs or any other abnormalities. His mane was shorter than before, had he ensured it was shorter? Heeding Tia’s words from earlier that day? Just to convince her better?

Heartbreak for all

Tia fought every urge to rush to her beloved, now as normal as before, her muscles twitched with longing. He was here, as he once was, his fur bare with his armour stripped and strewn across the floor. He nodded encouragingly, willing her to believe him. But she knew. Deep in her heart of hearts, though it gave her pain beyond belief by not accepting it, she knew it couldn’t be true. He was only manipulating the world with his powers.

Disc took a step forward; his hoof made a hollow clunk that echoed out around the throne room “Tia, we can be together, forever now! No death, no ascension, just us, for all time!” His eyes seemed honest, his smile; genuine. He truly believed it could happen. Inside her mind Tia felt a voice asked ‘Why couldn’t it happen?’ He was here as he was before, and he was now strong enough to live alongside her without the worry of death. Disc’s mortality had never bothered Tia, but now she thought about it. This could be better!

As Disc waited with baited breath, his eyes glinted, shifting from their beautiful blue, to the dreaded red of the monster Tia knew to be behind the false face. Taking a deep breath, swallowing her longing to be with him so much; Tia stayed resolutely still. Staring down Disc. “I-I...” She tried to speak but a lump the size of an apple had seemed to form in her throat. Disc’s face fell at her hesitation. Seeing his face so crestfallen, so miserable, made Tia’s heart ache. But this needed to be done.

“I can’t.” She said. Though spoken quietly, the voice carried perfectly over to Disc’s ears. He staggered back, as though she had screamed. For a second, his face rippled, a glimpse of the monster’s face flashed over his own, threatening to return.
“Tia I”-
“Please don’t!” Tia cried, her eyes clenching shut. “Don’t ask me to change my mind. I won’t! It hurts more than anything, but I won’t Disc!” She opened her eyes, they had seemed to have stopped crying for a moment, almost in acceptance for what she needed to say. “Not after what you’ve done.” She took a step towards the hurt stallion, his eyes finally filling with tears of sorry as he watched, still the green of the monster instead of the clear waters of a pony.

“The Disc I knew would never want to rule, he’d want to serve, to the best of his ability.”
“I don’t need to Tia! I’m a god now! I don’t need to serve anypony but you now! I’m the most powerful being ever! I can feel it! Think about what we could do to Equestria with all of this!” He stumbled to his knees. As his body made contact with the floor, his spell broke and he shattered back into the slender being from before.

“Listen to yourself!” Tia cried, looking down at his face in horror. “You’re not the stallion I loved anymore! You’re speaking like a tyrant, a power hungry demon! You’re...” She bit back trying to stop the word from spewing from her lips, but she couldn’t help it. Her lips silently, formed the words, but her lungs gave out for a moment. She licked them and tried again, this time she managed a squeak, as her lungs gave into hulking sobs. “A monster!”

Disc knelt there, his shoulders slumped he leant back on his feet, struck dumb by her words. Slowly he looked down to his palms. Slowly they clenched into fists as his tears spattered them and turned pink on his own flesh. “I... you... we could...” he couldn’t speak. “For you...” He choked finally. “Everything I did. Was for you!” suddenly he bolted to his feet. He spun and swung his fists into the pillar already scratched by his claws. With a thunderous crunch, the stone crumpled beneath his fists. “EVERYTHING!” he screamed, his voice giving in to bitter sobs.

Finally he spun back around and screamed at the princess. “I LOVE YOU! DON’T DO THIS!” Tia simply stood there, she didn’t say anything. She simply looked into the creature’s eyes trying not to let hers show her own heartbreak. When she didn’t respond, Disc straightened himself up. “This is your decision then?” he took Tia’s silence as a yes. “Fine.” He turned and walked towards the wall. Tia expected him to jump out of the window, or smash through the wall, but he did neither. When he reached the wall, he turned and walked past a pillar, breaking Tia’s line of sight.

He never appeared on the other side of the column of stone. The tension in the air seemed to break, Tia rushed to the column and looked behind it, yet there was nopony...no one... there. Slowly, she made her way back to the centre of the throne room; she reached the scorched patch of marble and stared at it. The black soot soon became speckled with clean spots as Tia’s tears cascaded onto it washing away the black dust.

The princess fell to her knees, and wept. She wept for the loss of her father, for the loss of the time honoured tradition of ascension and mostly she wept for the loss of her love. For the loss of Disc, her friend of most of her life, the love she had found so long ago, the love that -in her eyes- was now dead, swept up in the creature made of magic and chivalrous intent. Yet though the reason he became what he had was for such a noble reason, somehow what came of the deed was tainted and monstrous. Not just in its appearance, but in its mind as well.

The amour of her former lover lay only a few feet away, the sunlight cought on it’s polished sliver, and reflecting into Tia’s eye. She glanced over to the suit, sighing with sorrow in her heart as she stared at the only thing he had left behind.

Disc was gone; all that was left was that monster now.

What would he do?

Nopony’s sure why she has it. It doesn’t seem all that special. Just a normal, average suit of armour made for a stallion. Maybe it’s something special. “Is it her own?”
“Don’t be stupid girl! She’s an alicorn, that’s the armour of an earth pony! A stallion, not a princess!” the cleaner snapped at her daughter, helping her lug the large pile of laundry to the washing room.

“But mum. Why does she have it then?” the small filly asked curiously. The two didn’t realise where they were headed, and with the laundry blocking their vision, they didn’t see the dark furred alicron ahead of them. In their rush, they collided with the large mare, and the laundry fell to the floor.

“Oh dear!” the maid cried as she tried to catch them. She caught one sheet but knew the others were lost. Well, extra work for the cleaners then! As she stooped down to pick them up, she saw they weren’t touching the ground. A sheet of dark blue magic held them in the air. The two earth ponies looked up and saw who they had bumped into.

Princess Luna stood above them, her horn glowing softly, holding the sheets in place. With a smile, it glowed brighter, and the sheets all folded themselves before floating into the waiting arms of the maid and her daughter. “Thank you your majesty!” She cried, bowing to the dark princess of the night. The princess gave a small nod, and moved to allow the two to pass. They did so.

As Luna made her way down the hallway as before, she was stopped by the cry of the child. Luna turned to see her rushing back to her, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “You’ll know Princess Luna!” she cried. Her mother realised what the child had done, and rushed to catch up with her.
“Tallulah!” she said angrily.
“I just thought that she might know!” protested the little filly. Luna held up a hoof to the frustrated mare, showing it was fine.

“What is it I ‘might know’ little one?” she asked amusedly. The little mare bounced happily at the princess co-operation.
“That suit of armour! The one in Princess Celestia’s room, do you know why she has it?” Luna’s face fell at the question. The maid saw her reaction, she grabbed her daughter.
“Come along! We have a lot to do!” she ordered, sending the princess an apologetic glance as they left.

Luna nodded to her absentmindedly, thinking hard. She hadn’t been in her sister’s chambers for decades. Her incarceration on the moon had seen to that, but in her few years since she had been back, she still hadn’t gone to those chambers, it didn’t feel right just yet. But now the dark princess’s mind was a blur of thoughts and emotions.

She still had it? Even after so many centuries, she still had that suit of armour? Luna walked to the window in the hall; you could see the solar tower from here. Tia’s room was right at the top; she looked hard, almost as though there were a chance to see the suit from this far away. Of course she couldn’t.

After so many years, so many centuries to move on and find new love. Or simply to just come to terms with what happened, Tia had still kept his armour. She looked down into the gardens, littered with statues that looked like chess pieces from up here. She could swear she could see him, posed in that final act of fear as he pushed against the elements of harmony. What if he knew? What if the chimera knew that his beloved Celestia still had his armour in her room?

Would he change? Would he stop his chaotic ways? What would he do, after all he did, after how much he had changed, after his crusade against all that reminded him of Tia and Luna’s father. Luna couldn’t help remember how he used to be, that stallion, the one that time forgot, the stallion who came out of the Ever Free forest with her sister safe in toe. That heart must be there still, somewhere hidden away. What would the chimera do, if he knew Tia still cared?