Epilogue Unending

Discord:

“How does one describe one’s beginning, or rather lack thereof? My brothers and sisters have always existed so the idea of a beginning, as the way mortals see it, is baffling to us. I should say rather that my life began with a conscious effort on my part. It’s rather like the way you mortals wake from a deep sleep. I emerged from a dream that carried with it a song; the lyrics of which spoke of everything and nothing and something in-between…”

Consciousness, it begins with a series of questions:

“Who am I?”

“What am I?”

“Where am I?”

I awoke to the warm touch of both my elder sisters and brothers around me. My consciousness was without form, but I could sense them much like a blind man can sense the presence of those near him. Then came the light, It was blinding. The auras of my siblings showed me color for the very first time, some of which can only be seen within the Fade.

The Voices of my brothers and sisters, or rather their collective voice, spoke and from their words I was given form.

“Can you hear us little one,” They asked. The warmth of their words carried with it the fresh smell of spring air.

I was, at the start of it all, a little firecracker. My aura shot out, reflecting my siblings’ auras back at them. In a rather misplaced attempt to make myself appear strong, I puffed out my chest.

A collective laugh issued forth across the Fade.

“Now, now, my little spark we wouldn’t want you to scare off your brothers and sisters.” A single voice broke off from the whole. It was the voice from the dream.

“Who are you?” I asked; my young voice cracking.

“We are the Forbearers, but this one, you may call Mother.” The voice from the dream said.

“Mother,” I repeated, mulling the word over. My young mind inspected both its form and weight and found that it fit perfectly.

“Mother!” I said again, this time giving its shape meaning. My aura crackled and spurted red, yellow, and orange as I skipped across the Fade’s expanse. My young legs came to a halt as my small form peered up at the one I now called mother. Her aura was vast. From its depths emerged what I can best describe as a doe. Her coat was as white as a newly formed star. Her eyes, as blue and as vast as any ocean, looked into mine.

“Come, little one. Now that you’ve finally awoken, we can begin.”

“What?” my childish voice asked hesitantly.

She swept aside the ethereal mist that had collected in the valley. My eyes widened as I looked out across the vast expanse of the Fade. Above us was what appeared to be six pillars.

“No, that wasn’t right…” My mind picked apart the word; looking for the right form to fit its shape.

“Beams!” I shouted out.

“Yes, six beams that hold the Nexus, from it the Fade stretches out and envelopes us all.” Mother said. She looked down and nudged me forward with her muzzle.

“Come, I must introduce you to Grandfather.”

The Fade shifted, and swirled around us, bending to Mother’s will. We emerged from the ethereal mist. The vapor around us began to solidify. From the Fade’s mist, a vast cathedral emerged. Mother began to ascend the stairs. She looked back; a smile touched her eyes as she saw my hesitation.

“Come now my little spark. We mustn’t be late for your Naming.”

I slowly followed her up the stairs. My short stature at the time made it more of a climb then a walk. The large Cathedral doors sprung open, revealing its interior. Its high vaulted ceilings rippled and reflected the crystal floors. Out from the center of the cathedral’s nave grew a tree unlike any other; its size a world unto itself. As we moved closer, I craned my head up to see if I could judge its height. The longer I continued to stare at it, the taller the tree grew. It seemed to almost be purposefully challenging my perception.  Six branches flowed out from its trunk. Mother looked down at me as I gazed up in wonder.

“Yes, you were close in name. It Is Grandfather’s branches, or beams as you put it, which hold the Fade together,” she said.

We continued to move forward, are steps echoed through the halls. Nearing the trees trunk, we stopped as we came to the end of a line. The sisters and brothers in front of me were young.  Each one had a guardian sister or brother escorting them. I tour my eyes away from the tree, in front of us stood a large crimson stag. He stopped talking to his charge and extended one leg out, bowing his head down in acknowledgment of Mother’s presence.

“Mother Hemera , It is good to see your summons has been answered,” He stated.

Mother bowed her head in turn, “Likewise, Father Pyroeis.”

My attention turned to the Crimson stag’s charge. Like me, her form was in flux. Her Aura was a mixture, of peacock blue and sunburst orange and her eyes were the color amber. Pyroeis nudged his charge forward with his hoof.

“It’s time little one.”  He said simply.

They made their way up the dais. The Crimson Stag bowed, his antlers lightly touching the tree’s bark.

“Grandfather, bearer of the six paths, your summons has been answered. I ask that my charge be given name and form.”

  The halls grew silent as all of my siblings’ auras turned their attention to Pyroeis and his charge whose aura seemed to shy away from the tree as her guardian spoke.

A voiced boomed forth. It seemed to be coming from every direction.

“Your Summons has indeed been met Father Pyroeis, and with it the Sun,  Moon and Heavens below are born.  Henceforth, Hera, your form is expressed.”

Hera stepped out from her aura, her form was like nothing I’d seen before, but what would later be named by ponykind as an alicorn. Her wings spread out, from them the warmth of the sun could be felt. Her primary feathers were pitch black from the tips, their color gradually shifting from indigo, to blue, ending its transition from sunburst orange to white.

She bowed and proceeded to follow Pyroeis away from the dais.

I could not keep my eyes from her. So entranced was I, that It took Mother’s repeated nudging to get me up the dais.

She let go a sigh as we finally made are way up its final steps.

“More steps…”  I wined

Mother bowed and proceeded to speak, “Grandfather, bearer of the six paths, your summons has been answered. I ask that my charge be given name and form.”

….

The silence was palpable. The halls remained quite as everyone’s attention was drawn by Grandfather’s continued absence. Mother looked up, anxiety in her eyes. She began again,

“Grandfather, bearer of the six paths, your summons has been …”

She was cut off by Grandfather’s voice which came out like rolling thunder.

“He is not of the six paths. The summons goes unanswered.”

Pandemonium took hold of my brothers and sisters. Mother looked from the tree to her siblings in shock. She looked down at me. Her face riffled through a series of emotions simultaneously.  At the forefront was concern.

“Grandfather, I don’t understand…. He answered the call… he’s…”

The voice boomed out again, “He is not of the sixth paths child. His summons goes unanswered.”

“How dare you!” Mother’s aura shot across the vaulted ceiling and cracked against the cathedrals walls, momentarily sending the solidified mist helter-skelter.

Pyroeis took a step up the dais. “Hemera! Stop this foolishness at once.”

“He has answered the call and is of this world! If he is not given name and form he will be forgotten!” She yelled. Her eyes bore into Pyroeis.

At the time I didn’t understand. How can you ask a child to understand that his family has rejected him? That he’s a mistake. My mind wondered, “Who was I?”

“Look at what you have brought down upon us Hemera! He is throwing the Nexus into chaos. If he remains Hear any longer he will bring nothing but discord!” Pyroeis replied.

“Discord?” I thought, my mind once again feeling the shape and weight of the word. It wasn’t perfect, and did not express my true self but it would be enough to hold my form.”

“My name is Discord!” I shouted.

Silence followed.