Chapter 2: Introductions

Celestia sat in a chair next to her sister while Twilight sat in front of them ranting about scientific theories. Every now and then she would smile and nod, pretending that she was listening. But inside, she was thinking about Otium and his reaction. Sure, she was a little agitated at first when he literally waved them away, but then she remembered his dull, tired eyes and stopped herself.

She knew that look: the look of one who had seen so much horror, so much death. She felt the same way whenever one of her little ponies died, but when she saw him it was like he wasn't really there. Like the life had been drained out of him. And the amount of sorrow she saw in those eyes...it was overpowering, to say the least.  She had to fight the urge to cry when she saw them.

What he needed was somepony to talk to, somepony trustworthy and understanding. He needed a friend. She spoke up, "Twilight?"

Twilight stopped ranting and turned to the solar diarch. "Yes, Prin–Celestia?" she said.

"As much as I'd love to discuss theories with you, I believe it'd be best that we do  something about Otium, wouldn't you agree?" Twilight blushed slightly.

"R-right, sorry," she stuttered.

"Don't be,  I know you're just excited," Celestia smiled.

"What do you propose we do, sister?" asked Luna. Celestia smiled at her sister.

"All in due time, but first; Twilight, could you gather the Elements?"

–––Hours Later–––

"Are you sure about this, Princess?" Applejack asked.

"It does sound risky," added Rarity.

"Why don't we just smack some sense into him?" Rainbow Dash suggested.

"If what he said is true, then I don't think smacking him is going to help things at all, Rainbow Dash," replied Twilight.

"Pfft, I could take him..." Rainbow Dash mumbled.

"Ooh, ooh! Do you think he 'd want spotted party hats or striped party hats!?" exclaimed Pinkie as she bounced in front of Twilight.

"We're here," Luna announced as they stopped in front of the clearing. Despite it now being daytime, the clearing was still just as dark as before. There was little sunlight, and the few rays that made it through were dim and scarce.

To their left lay the same light blue gear from before, as mysterious and inviting as ever. Fluttershy hid behind Rarity as they approached, wary of any unforeseen danger that the gear may present.

"So, this is it?" Rarity asked. The three alicorns simply nodded.

"Lame," said a very bored Rainbow Dash. Twilight flashed her a stern look before returning her gaze to the oversized gear.

"And what do we do now?" asked Applejack.

"We do this," Twilight walked up to the gear and placed a hoof on it's surface. The gear responded with a TICK before it's marks flashed, blinding them all. Eventually, the light faded. And when it did, they were gone.

The group fell to the ground with a THUD.

"Oww..." groaned Twilight as she got back on her hooves. A chorus of groans and grunts resounded throughout the area as the others got up.

"Everypony okay?" Applejack asked.

"Yeppers!" Pinkie announced cheerily.

" 'S all good," said Rainbow Dash.

"I'm alright," Fluttershy replied.

"Fine. Filthy, but fine," Rarity stated.

"We are unharmed," Luna announced.

"I'm fine," Celestia said with a smile.

"Good ta hear. Now where in tarnation are we?" Applejack asked. At this, the others took in their surroundings. It was night and there was nothing but desert around them for as far as the eye could see–well, almost nothing. Directly in front of them was a small hill with a ledge illuminated by the light of that same blue, crater-ridden moon.

And atop that hill was their entire reason for being there: the mysterious cloaked male. His back was turned to them, and a  dark blue violin was resting on his shoulder. In his other claw was a bow with a similar color scheme. They watched and listened with intrigue as he began to play.

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The sound of sniffling and a balloon deflating caught Otium's attention. Curious, he turned around to see what the noise was all about and was immediately greeted with the sight of eight tearful, sniffling ponies.

"Th-that was beautiful!" Rarity exclaimed, wiping her tears with a hoof.

"W-where did you learn it?" asked Twilight with a sniffle. With a single clap and a flash of light, a box of tissues appeared in his grasp.  He walked over and offered each of them a tissue before responding with a simple, "Secret." He crossed his arms and stared at them from underneath his hood. He let out a sigh.

"I wish to...apologize, for my behavior the other day. It has been millenia since I've had any outside contact, but my actions were uncalled for. Can you forgive me, Princess?" Otium asked.

"Of course, I hold nothing against you." Celestia said with a bright smile. Otium let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, I appreciate it." said Otium.

"So, Mr. Otium, what exactly are you? If you don't mind me asking." Twilight asked.

"Just Otium is fine, and I don't exactly know what you would call me. My form is that of a human, but..." Otium shook his head. "Nevermind. Just call me an Immortal."

"A human!?" Twilight exclaimed. The others eyes were wide as dinner plates. "But that's impossible! They died out millenia ago!" Twilight declared.

"Yes...I am well aware." Otium said, his face darkening. Celestia placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulders.

"Breath, Twilight." she instructed. Twilight did so, and after a few moments, she was more calm. Celestia turned back to Otium. "Now, you said that your form was human, which we can all see, but you claim to be Immortal. I don't think you're lying, judging from what you told us last time and the...evidence, you provided, but how come we haven't heard of you until now?" Celestia asked.

"That...is a long story. One I would rather not tell. At least, not to those whom I barely know, my apologies." Otium answered. Celestia smiled and nodded.

"Very well, I won't pry. But I do expect an answer at some point, understood?" Celestia said sternly. Otium nodded.

"Might I be so bold as to ask what the state of the world is currently? Last I saw, the Triumvirate were still trying to rebuild." Otium asked.

"The Triumvirate!? You mean you've been here since the Cataclysm!?" Twilight exclaimed once more. Celestia's ears folded back at this news.

"You...you've been alone...that long?" she asked, her kind heart making her feel terrible for not knowing this man was alone for so long right under her nose. "How could you stand such a thing?" she asked, incredulous.

"I'm...strong of mind, I guess you could say. Though a few centuries of sleep here and there didn't hurt either." Otoum admitted. Twilight snapped out her shock long enough to return to being excited. She zipped up to Otium, having summoned a notebook and quill in less than a milisecond.

"What were things like back then? What was the social and economic structure like? What was the education system like? Where did you live? What–" Applejack shoved her hoof into Twilight's mouth.

"Twi, calm down, yer overwhelming the fella," Applejack said sternly. Twilight removed Applejack's hoof from her mouth and gave Otium a sheepish grin.

"Eheheh, sorry Otium." Twilight apologized. Otium smiled warmly.

"It's fine, Miss Twilight. But if you don't mind, I'd rather not remember what life was like back then." He turned back to the now recovered Celestia. "Again, I ask, what is the state of the world? Is it back to normal?" He asked, seeming concerned.

"It's much better than it was then, I can tell you that. There have been some...changes, that might surprise you, along with some troubles over the years, but it is quite peaceful now." Celestia informed.

"That is good news," Odium said with a sigh of relief.

"Otium, I have an offer for you, if you would indulge me," Celestia began. Otium quirked an eyebrow and motioned for her to continue. "I would like to have you live with us, get accustomed with the world again, make friends, have fun, be happy. What do you say?"

Otium was silent for a long while. 'It's a tempting offer. But...No, I'm sure they've forgotten by now. The only ones who knew were those who had witnessed it and had heard about it, I doubt any would remember something from so long ago. At least, I hope so.' With a smile, he looked back up at Celestia.

"I would be delighted to see the world again." He answered. Celestia smiled brightly.

"Wonderful! Then we shall leave now!" she declared. And then she realized that none of them knew how to get out. She turned to Otium with a sheepish smile. "Could you tell us how to leave?" Otium chuckled, the first in millenia.

"Allow me," he said, and then snapped his fingers, causing a flash of light. And they were gone.