Monsters, Chapter one: Tobis
I found him nearly four years ago, whilst returning from my centennial sabbatical to the east. He was lost, cold, hungry, and wandering around on a beach near Manehattan. I had never seen anything like him before. He stood on two legs, had no fur on his body, a short muzzle, and odd-looking claws on his forelegs. I had to help him. When I landed in front of him, his immediate response was fear. He stumbled backwards, onto his plot, and scooted backwards away from me. He begged me not to hurt him… in Equestrian. I was surprised, to say the least. The most I had expected were grunts and growls. I know, I should have known better, seeing as even diamond dogs have a basic understanding of our language. This creature fascinated me. I knew he wouldn’t let me get close enough without running away, so I… oh, I wish there were a better word for this. I manipulated him into a corner, between two very large boulders further away from the water.
I never said a word, in case it frightened him even more. But as I drew closer to where he was pinned, I saw something silver flash in front of him. He shouted at me to stay back. Then, he called me a beast. I grimaced, and he cringed at my expression. That cringe quickly turned to terror as I gripped his rather large knife in my magic and yanked it free of his grasp.
With a sigh, I laid down in front of him, neatly tucking my forelegs in front of me. I introduced myself. His reaction was almost comical, to tell the truth. I would swear, were I not forced to refrain from doing so, that his eyes grew to be the size of dragon eggs, before he fainted.
I carried him back to the castle, having tethered him to my back with some seaweed I found. What? Seaweed is very useful in many different ways. Of course, I gathered his knife, and now carried it in my mouth. Once I determined he was no threat, I would return it to him. Luna will demand I execute him for drawing the thing against me in the first place. I would argue that that is not the way things are done anymore. Yes, they once were, when Equestria was in her youth. We had to make it known that we were not to be trifled with.
I briefly thought about the consequences of returning with a strange creature tied to my back and a knife in my mouth. I had an idea. I would need tend to him myself. I drew close to the castle now. Sighing around the creature’s knife, I teleported into my chambers, surprising one of the servants, who nearly screamed at the sight of my new charge. I spit the knife onto my bed and shushed her. “Assist me,” I told her, indicating the seaweed ties. Trembling, she bit into the knot, and tore the aquatic plant away, leaving the creature to slide slowly towards the floor, until I caught him, and levitated him onto my bed, just beside the knife, which was promptly moved away.
I noticed that his clothes were soaked with ocean water, and his skin was extremely pale. I summoned a pair of ethereal scissors, and used them to snip away at his garb, until it could be easily removed without disturbing his slumber. His skin was also drenched, so I cast a quick drying spell, then turned to the servant, who had calmed down significantly. “What is you name?” I asked her gently, giving a kind smile.
“I am… I am Blue Lily, Your Majesty,” she replied quietly, and pawed at the floor.
“Well, Miss Lily, would you please fetch me several thick blankets? I believe our guest is in danger of becoming sick,” I said sweetly, ushering her towards the door. “And, please, try to keep him a secret, will you?”
“O-Of course, Your Majesty,” she said, and scurried away to fulfill my order.
I decided to take the opportunity to more closely examine the creature in my bed… which sounds considerably less decent than I would prefer.
He was intriguing, I will admit. My original assumption that he had no fur was proven to be incorrect, as I could see he had some on his forelimbs, in the crook of his forelimbs, some along his barrel, a generous amount on his hind legs, and some around his genitalia. There was a bit on his muzzle, but it looked as though it were growing back in after being shaved. Perhaps that was a custom among his kind? It was an odd one, to be sure, but I would be respectful of him. His body was somewhat muscular, but not beefy; he had the physique of one who performed manual labor for a living. I mused briefly that he might be considered attractive by the females of his species.
“Your Majesty? I brought the blankets you requested,” Blue Lily announced, creeping through my door with a mass of fabric on her back.
“Thank you, Miss Lily,” I replied, and levitated them off of her back. As I brought them over to the bedside, I noticed that Lily had not left. “You are relieved, Miss Lily,” I told her, without turning back to look at her, then set to work unfurling the four blankets the mare had brought.
“I… I was just curious, Your Majesty, what is he?” she asked hesitantly, before taking a few trepid steps closer.
I sighed, and finished laying the last blanket out. “I’m not sure, but I intend to find out,” I answered, sitting down beside my bed to wait for his awakening. I noticed that the servant was leaving. “One last thing, Miss Lily.”
Lily froze. “Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Inform my sister, the guards, nobles and vassals that I have returned, and am not to be disturbed until I have recovered from my trip,” I ordered, then decided I might as well lie down. I heard the door behind me shut and I let my eyes drift close. Yes, I am aware that it was a poor decision. But I was tired from my flight, and I wished to rest.
Some hours later, I was awoken by the sound of grunting and blankets being pushed aside. I quickly rose to my hooves to see the creature struggling to sit up in the bed. “I see. Man, I was really hoping it was a dream,” he mumbled, and shivered, before turning to me. “It’s Celeste, right? You said your name was Princess Celeste?”
I chuckled, and allowed myself to sit back down, and said to him with a smile, “You’re close, to be certain. My name is Celestia, one of four Princesses of Equestria, and the Warden of Sol.”
“It’s an honor, Your Majesty. My name is Tobis McCarran. I’m a cargo pilot for a privately owned company,” he said, giving as good of a bow as he could whilst having his lower body cover by blankets. “I hate to ask, but what happened to my clothes?”
“They were soaked with ocean water, so I disposed of them. I will craft you some new ones, if you’d like, Mister McCarran,” I offered, pointing to a pile of wet cloth on a table nearby.
“I would appreciate that, Your Majesty.” he said, before making his way towards the edge of the bed to stand up.
“Will you answer some questions in exchange?” I asked, as I stood, then strode over to the pale white curtains, with their gold accents. Yes, they would do nicely. I quickly pulled them down using magic, and walked back over to Tobis.
“I’d answer them anyway. I’m not sure if I’m a prisoner, or a guest, so it would be pretty foolish not to cooperate,” he answered, standing and holding out his arms. He seemed to have done this before.
“Alright,” I said, as I summoned the same ethereal scissors from before, and began trimming the fabric into an acceptable shape. “My first question, Mister McCarran, what are you?”
“You can call me Tobis, Your Majesty. And I can only assume you’re asking what species I am. I’m human,” he said calmly, as the curtain wrapped around his waist, and over one of his shoulders, to form a makeshift tunic.
“Where are you from, Tobis?” I asked, and levitated some thread out of a dresser across the room. I was no professional, but sewing did make for an amusing hobby, and after doing it for millennia… well, I guess I was a professional. I promptly began running the thread through a needle, and quickly started sewing Tobis’s new clothes together.
“Well, I’m not sure if this is another world, or universe, or what, but I’m from a planet called Earth, and a country called The United States of America.” he answered, wincing as I accidentally poked him with the needle.
“Apologies. How did you get here?” I asked, correcting an erroneous stitch.
He turned his gaze down, and pursed his lips. “You know,” he said, “I’m not exactly sure, Princess. I was flying over the… oh.”
“Oh, what?” I asked, cutting my eyes.
“There’s a place where I’m from, called the Bermuda Triangle. It’s a mysterious place, where all kinds of things go missing, cargo, ships, people, you name it, it’s vanished there,” he explained, letting out a sigh of relief as I finished sewing his robe. “I can only imagine that it sent me here. Say, this looks pretty good, thank you!”
“You are welcome, Tobis. Now, I think this is the last question.” I said, letting my face turn a bit red.
“Yes?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“What happened to the fur on your face?” I winced as he burst out laughing.
“Oh, I’m- ahem- sorry, Your Majesty. That’s just something we do in my world, either for style, or comfort,” he explained, whilst bowing in apology.
“Please, you don’t need to bow. Come, let me tell you of my world, and we can get something to eat,” I said, pointing a hoof at the door, and then I had a thought. His teeth would surely be suited for it… “Tobis, do you eat meat?”
“Yes, Sorry. I realize you probably don’t, is that correct?” he asked, twisting his muzzle into a grimace.
“No, we don’t. if you’d like I can have so-”
“Don’t worry, I can eat greens. Just something I’ll have to get used to, I guess,” he said, shrugging.
“I’m sorry, Tobis,” I said, casting my gaze downward. “You are a guest, and yet, I can’t accommodate your diet.”
“Like I said, it’s not a big deal. Veggies are cool with me,” he said with a kind smile, which I returned. I think I was already starting to like this ‘Human’ named Tobis.
~{(M)}~
“So, you raise the sun every morning, and your sister raises the moon every night?” Tobis asked, as we strode down the halls of Canterlot Castle, with our bellies full and our minds hungry for knowledge about one another.
Many of the staff and guards panicked at the site of Tobis, but I assured them that he was my guest.
“Yes, and I’m surprised that your people have developed a machine that can fly without the aid of a balloon!” I exclaimed, catching even more stares from the surrounding Ponies. Tobis was odd, but to see me excited about anything was unusual to say the least. After living for so long, I tended to find many things to be boring and tedious.
“Well, we don’t have Pegasi or Unicorns, or any magic at all, really. We had to use our ingenuity to adapt and survive,” he explained, giving a bit of a frown. “Sometimes that ingenuity if put to use to hurt people.”
“As it always is. But come, Tobis, you must meet my sister!” I said, grabbing Tobis’s hand in my magical grip, and pulling him away towards the royal tea room.
~{(M)}~
It has been three months since Tobis came to Equestria, and he did not seem too keen on leaving. Nor did we- nor did I really want him to go. Tobis quickly became my best friend, and we cherished each other’s company greatly. It came to a point where we were only seen apart whilst I did my duties, and when we went to sleep. Other than that, we spent almost every hour of the day together. He was kind, compassionate, and gentle towards any he met. The citizens of Canterlot came to accept his presence as well, even calling out to him when they would pass him in the street. He adapted well to the lifestyle we practiced, although, he did need some protein in his diet… a fish every few meals served him well enough. I was thankful that he avoided meat as much as possible, and tried to maintain a vegetarian diet.
Often times, I would find Tobis gazing out over a balcony watching the horizon, especially at sunset. He really liked sunset. That was where he found me that night. It was the night that changed everything between us.
“Tobis? Come to see me set the sun again?” I asked playfully as I heard footsteps behind me. I stood on the balcony connected to my roof, which had been built on expressly for this purpose. Tobis like this balcony, as it had a railing around it he could lean against, without kneeling.
“No, just came to see you,” he answered sweetly, coming up behind me. A hand danced across my lower spine and traced its way up and along my neck. It stopped at my ear and scratched lightly, causing me to squeak in surprise. “Huh,” he said, “I didn’t think it’d have that effect.”
“Oh hush. You’re such a tease, Tobis,” I scolded, and began the process of coaxing the sun down below the horizon. I glanced sideways, and noticed a bundle in Tobis’s hand. “What’s that?” I asked, already having a bit of an idea, but I was curious as to why he had it.
“It’s my knife. I’m taking it down to market tomorrow to sell,” he said quietly.
I blinked at him. That was his knife. His only possession from Earth. “Why?” I asked simply.
“It’s just not something I want to hold on to anymore. This thing’s seen a lot of hunting trips, by my fathers side. I… Celestia, I met a cow today. Do you know what I was reminded of?” he explained, getting really quiet at the end. I really didn’t like where this was going. “I thought about leather, and how it kept me warm in the skies. And steak, I remembered how it tasted in my mouth, and how it felt to sink my teeth into it. But then, when I imagined myself eating that steak, I saw a bloodthirsty monster tearing savagely into a piece of meat. I saw that cow screaming at me to stop… I hated myself for ever eating meat.”
“Tobis, you are not a monster. It’s in your nature to eat meat.” I said, trying to reassure him. It wouldn’t work. Tobis was far too sensitive for his own good. How he could have ever flown through the fabled Thunder Rush of 06, I’ll never be able to fathom. That was a story I was fond of hearing him tell the foals in the market.
“Not anymore,” he said with a bright smile. “When the supply of fish runs out, I won’t ever eat meat again.”
“Tobis, while I respect your decision, you need prote-” I was silenced as he reached into his robe and pulled out a small white pellet. I hesitated to ask, but I did anyways. “What is that?”
He smiled sweetly at me, and popped the little thing into his mouth, and swallowed. “It’s a protein supplement. The head alchemist made it for me. Now, I don’t have to burden the cooks, or anypony joining us for dinner. And I don’t have to see myself as a monster.”
“Tobis…” I started, but trailed off as I saw a tear roll down his cheek. Whatever I was going to say was lost as I trotted forward and nuzzled his cheek, soaking the tear into my coat. I felt his arms close around my neck, and his fingers entwined themselves into my mane. The last light of my charge faded across the horizon, and Luna’s moon came rising on the other side of the tower, casting a beautiful night shadow over the two of us. “Tobis, I’m so glad you came to Equestria.” I whispered to him.
“Me too, Celestia. Me too.” he mumble back to me, tightening his hug.
~{(M)}~
Two more moths passed, and Tobis and I grew even closer, if that was possible. Whenever we walked together, his hand typically rested on my withers, and sometimes he would scratch me in places that nopony could manage. It took a human’s- it took Tobis’s touch to make those spots feel good. My affections towards Tobis grew steadily, and I found myself unable to stop thinking of him. I found him squirming his way into my thoughts during meetings, and he and I would often giggle at one another for no absolute reason whatsoever. I do not know if we were in love, but… I liked to think we were at that time.
His hair had gotten very long, and I had finally convinced him to get it cut, instead of keeping it pulled back in that absurdly long tail. In reality, it looked ridiculous coupled with his beard, which I had also convinced him to dispose of. I remember walking back to the castle, a little uncomfortable with the absence of his hand from my withers.
“Eh, it feels weird,” he said as he rubbed his now bare chin, and stroked his shortened blond hair. It now only reached down to his shoulders, instead of the middle of his back. He sighed, and conceded to place his hand on my withers, saying, “Was it really necessary to cut my hair?”
“Tobis, it got caught in a door last week. Of course it was necessary,” I said bluntly, smiling at the memory of him struggling to get the someone to unlock the door. They had all teased him, in good fun, but I had been more than slightly annoyed by the guards’ actions. I had not punished him, but I had scolded them, somewhat playfully. But they knew I was still a little serious.
Tobis and I rounded a corner, and bumped into a mare levitating a bottle of red wine in front of her. Tobis fell over her, and she lost her focus, causing the bottle to drop beside Tobis’s head and splash wine all over his robe, permanently staining it.
“Oh my gosh! I am so sorry Mister Tobis, let me get that!” the mare shouted, removing her jacket to dab at Tobis’s chest. I couldn’t help but giggle, even as Tobis laughed hardily at the vain attempts.
“Don’t worry, ma’am, I was planning on getting a red robe anyways!” he said playfully, causing the mare to look up at him in confusion.
“But…” She trailed off as her eyes started to tear up. “It must have been expensive…”
I chose this moment to cut in and give her a bit of insight. “Miss, that robe was made from my bedroom curtains. It’s probably cheaper than that jacket you’ve got there,” I said kindly, putting a hoof to her shoulder.
“O-Oh… well, I’m still sorry,” she said defiantly, puffing out her cheeks.
“Well, you could always go get more wine and finish dying my robe,” Tobis said, grimacing when the mare stood and turned to run back to the shop she had exited. “Hey, I was kidding! Oh my gosh she’s actually going to dye my robe red with wine.”
“That’s rather amusing, I think. Should we depart before she returns?” I asked in earnest, laughing when he stood up, and the wine poured from wherever it had pooled in the folds of his robe, and stained even more of the fabric red. That was when I noticed his hair.
It had also been stained by the wine, though in a direct opposite of his robe, his hair was red from the ends, halfway up, and stopped a little unevenly. But… I was stirred from my thoughts when he spoke. “Yes, Celestia, I think that would be a grand idea,” he said, pulling his robe over his shoulder so that his torso was bare, and his legs covered. It…
“That’s a good look for you, Tobis,” I said, and enveloped us both in a teleportation field, then reappeared in his chambers.
By now, I’m sure he was used to me whisking him away so suddenly, but it still caused him to lose his balance a bit. It amused me. Once he regained his bearings, he turned to me and put his hand on his flank. “Think so?” he asked nonchalantly, and began to remove his robe. I would look away, but I’ve seen it already. It was understood that in his world, it was rude to stare at someone whilst they were nude, but that, well, wasn’t really an issue in Equestria… the reasons were obvious.
“Yes, I certainly do. It makes you look a little more… powerful,” a said, earning a confused look from my best friend.
“Because that’s certainly the impression I want to give off when I meet your subjects. Speaking of which, I’ve met Luna and Cadence, but when do I get to meet this former student of yours?” he asked, fishing one of his kilts out of a drawer.
“In time Tobis. Twilight is young, and… eager,” I explained, not really wanting to go into details.
“Well, Celestia, that makes two of us,” he replied, wrapping the white article of clothing around his waist. “I’m extremely eager to meet her.”
“Twilight is a scientist.” The sentence made the human freeze, and look to me with a bit of fear in his eyes. It was a look I had not seen since we met, when I had… corralled! I corralled him into that corner. I’m sure he understood the implications of that statement.
He swallowed hard, and said, “I see. That might not… that might not be a pleasant experience.”
“I do not think she would harm you, but she may be a little zealous in her excitement to study you,” I explained, walking over to help Tobis with his kilt. They were notoriously hard to fasten.
“Thanks. I trust you, Celestia, so I’ll only go when you think I’m ready,” he said, stopping to eye himself in the mirror. “Wow, this herbivore’s diet is really affecting my body.”
He was right, it was. I widened my eyes lightly at the realization that he now had absolutely no body fat on him, whatsoever. Tobis looked very good with his barrel uncovered. That is not to say I was attracted to him… but he looked good…
“I think it’s time you had some new clothes made, that suit your new physique,” I said calmly. I had a few ideas as to what would look good on him, and I couldn’t wait to see him in them.
~{(M)}~
Three weeks have passed since Tobis asked about visiting Twilight, and I became increasingly worried whenever I could not find him. I know, I was being a little overbearing, but Tobis was unlike anything ponykind had ever seen. I cared about for him, and I wanted to be sure he was always safe. It was for this reason… to my great shame… I tasked one of my guards, specializing in stealth, to follow him whenever he went into Canterlot’s city districts.
I’m sure Tobis would have been furious if he’d ever found out. I constantly thank the Great Writer that he never did.
Tobis was fond of visiting the children that often played on Bridle Street, and telling them stories of the world he came from. It was during one of these visits that I noticed the first hostile intent towards my human friend. I sat on the bench, watching as Tobis and a young filly unicorn, just out of foalhood, played with a large pink ball, bouncing it between each other, wearing smiles as big as Luna’s crescent moon. I smiled too, as Tobis bounced the ball high into the air, causing the filly to stumble backwards claiming ‘she got it.’ Oh, she got it too, right on top of her rather sharp horn, causing the thing to deflate on contact.
She started crying, and Tobis ran over to her to make sure she was okay. Such a sweet… what was a human stallion called? A man. Such a sweet man.
“Hey, heeey, don’t cry Twinkle, it’s okay, we’ll get you a new ball,” he said, and stroked the filly’s head, calming her down. Her mother didn’t see that.
“GET AWAY FROM HER!!!” a voice screamed, and Tobis was tackled from the side, and sent flying several feet away, by the filly’s mother, whom I recognized as a member of the advisory council, named Shifty. An adequate name, as she never did anything without a motive, unless she were protecting her children.
Which she now thought she was doing.
“Calm down Shifty.” I said from where I sat, before slowly standing.
“I will not calm down, Princess! Your pet MONSTER was trying to hurt my daughter!” she screamed, standing over the filly in question.
Tobis’s eyes got wide. “Pet?”
“Tobis is neither my pet, nor a monster! You would do well to remember who you speak to,” I said harshly, causing the mare to flinch as though my tongue were a whip. “Now, I was watching, Tobis and Twinkle Dust were merely playing, and her ball popped. Tobis was trying to comfort her.”
“I… Sir Tobis, I apologize… it was wrong of me to jump to conclusions,” Shifty said, stepping forward and bowing to Tobis.
“Oh, don’t worry, no harm done. Well, maybe a bruise, but nothing too serious,” the human said back to her, smiling. He was far too nice… Shifty could have killed him if I weren’t here. But then, I would always be there, through my silent guard.
“Tobis, why don’t we head back. I believe our dinner will be ready soon,” I suggested, hoping to get my friend back into the safety of the castle walls as soon as possible.
“That late already? Alright, let’s got then.” Tobis stood, his new robe flowing gently around his legs. I smiled. This new garment, which could be worn with the top half draped down around his waist, or over his shoulders like a sleeveless kimono, suited him well. If I were to ring my own bell, ding ding, I was quite proud of my skill in crafting it.
Soon, Tobis and I were climbing the steep hill up to the castle, and I will admit, I wished I were a biped like him. His body was very much suited for steep inclines. It was admirable. I vaguely realized he had stopped walking.
“Celestia.”
“Yes?” I asked, knowing very well where this was going.
“I’m not… a pet, am I?” he asked, his eyes cast to the ground.
An idea crossed my mind. “Tobis!” I shouted, trotting over to him. I put a hoof under his chin, and pushed his head up. “Where is your collar?”
“What? I-”
“And why are you not in your cage?” I asked, cutting my eyes at him.
“I don’t have either of those!” he shouted back at me, pushing my hoof away.
“Then you are not a pet. You are free to come and go as you please. You are my friend, and I care a great deal for you. If you ever say such a ridiculous thing again, I’ll send you to the moon,” I scolded, my sly grin turning into a dark scowl.
“You wouldn’t,” he deadpanned, cutting his eyes at me.
“For a few hours, at the most, but I certainly would.” I said, returning my scowl to it previous state as a smile.
“Well, I know not to question you again,” he said, then smiled at me. “I’m sorry, I just… what that mare said bothered me a little bit.”
“Don’t let it.” I stepped back up to him, and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “Now come, you know how the cooks hate us being late.”
As I let Tobis take the lead, my smile once again faded in to a scowl
As much as I hated it, I had been treating Tobis like a pet. It tore at my heart to realize that.
~{(M)}~
I sat in my room, wearing an elegant silk gown, just because I felt like it, staring out into the night sky, when he came to me.
“Your majesty.” I turned to see a guard in solar armor creep into the room, his dark coat blending well with the darkness.
“Hello Night Feather. I have new orders for you,” I told him simply. He looked at me with stoic eyes that had seen many unpleasant things in their time… I’m ashamed to say, I was the one who put those things in front of his eyes. He was my watcher at night, one who surveyed that which others could not. His wings fluffed in response.
“And what of my duty in guarding Master Tobis?” he asked, coming closer to me.
“That is what these new orders concern. I wish you to cease guarding Tobis, and instead, return to castle surveillance,” I said, turning back towards the window.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” He turned to leave, but I stopped him.
“Before you go, tell me, what do you think my relationship with Tobis is?” I asked, letting the curiosity that was burning a hole in my skull release itself.
“Are you not lovers?” he questioned, his wings shuffling a bit in discomfort at the question.
“Thank you Night Feather, that will be all.” The guard turned to leave, and as his hoof beats echoed off into the distance, I pondered that one question, and the many that followed in its wake.
Are we not lovers? Could we even be lovers? Would he want to be lovers?
~{(M)}~
We stood on the Sunrise Balcony, looking out over the horizon, thoroughly enjoying the view, when I approached the most tender subject of his leaving.
“Two months,” I said, and turned to meet his confused gaze. “In two months, I will send you to Ponyville, and you will meet my former student, Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
“You think I’m ready?” was his reply, and that alone flooded my decision with doubt, yet I would not yield.
“I do not know, my friend, but I can’t keep you locked away in the city, now can I?”
“I suppose not,” he said, and sat on the balcony’s edge. “Hey, Celestia?”
“Yes, Tobis?”
“Before I leave, will you take me into the sky? It’s been a long time since I’ve flown,” he said, brushing a bit of red and blonde hair out of his face. He’d taken to dying it regularly, to maintain his phoenix-like appearance.
“I might, if you will answer one question.”
“And that is?”
“You seem very happy here. Do you not miss you family? Your friends?” I asked, watching his face darken as I continued.
“I didn’t have any of those. My parents died in a house fire when I was young, and I was never really good at making friends.” He stopped for a moment and gave a deep sigh. “And my job kept me pretty isolated, so I never really bothered trying. In short, save for my love of flying, I don’t have anything tying me back to Earth.”
“I-I’m sorry. I did not re-”
“Celestia, it’s fine. As much as you mean to me, it would be wrong to keep it from you,” he said, flashing me an incredible sweet smile.
“I mean that much to you?”
“You are my best friend, aren’t you?” he asked, tilting his head in confusion.
I laughed, in an attempt to hide the pang of hurt in my chest. “Yes, I suppose so, Though some of my guards have begun to think us more than that!” I told him, thoroughly intending to tease.
“Would it be so bad?”
My head snapped towards him, as my eyes grew steadily wider. He stood facing the horizon, with his hair blowing in the wind, and a frown adorning his face. His eyes were cut, to endure the harsh red rays of my sunset, and all of these things gave him a demeanor than made even myself feel a bit intimidated.
“No, Tobis, it would not. Would you have me?”
“I would,” he said, and those two words caused my face to shatter into a grin wider than one worn by the Element of Laughter. He turned to me, meeting with my lips, as I gently kissed him. His eyes fluttered closed, and his hands found their way up to my muzzle, and gently caressed my cheeks.
It was a while before we parted, and only because we were intruded upon.
“Well, Sister, I say it was high time you two confessed to one another,” Luna said, gliding down to land gently beside us.
“Luna! Um… how did you know?” Tobis asked, his face turning bright red.
“It is simple, my friend, I DO bear the title, ‘Princess of Dreams,’ do I not?” she said haughtily, before trotting off into the castle. “Oh, Dear Sister, Twilight has asked me to inform you that she will be absent in the near future, as she is going to attend Trixie’s performance in Las Pegasus. I am considering attending myself.”
“Trixie… Isn’t she the one who took over Ponyville?”
“Yes Tobis, but as I’ve told you, it is the pony way to offer forgiveness instead of condemnation,” I told him, pulling back out of the embrace. “Why don’t we go get something to eat? Afterwards, I can take you flying.” I wasn’t actually hungry, but I rather wanted Luna to be absent from our presence.
“Sounds good to me. I could eat a whole shrub!” my lover said with a big smile, and pat his stomach.
I laughed, as we went into the tower, and Luna remained to raise her moon.
~{(M)}~
Those two months passed far too quickly, and it was not long before I stood with Tobis on the airship docks, sharing a farewell kiss.
The pilot cleared his throat from his position on deck, and we separated, blushing a bit. Though, I do suspect that at that time, it was mostly from a lack of oxygen, rather than embarrassment.
“I’ll write as soon as I land, my love,” Tobis said, before trotting onto the deck of the airship.
“Be careful, and have fun!” I called after him, as the vessel slowly floated away from the docks.
I had no way of knowing what nightmare I was truly sending my lover into.
Author's Note
So, this was kind of cute and fluffy, but it won't be next chapter. It's going to be very dark. I hope you enjoyed this, and are looking forward to it's completeion... and maybe more... 
Monsters, Chapter two: Judgment
Six months passed, following Tobis’s departure, and I will not lie, I became very concerned. He had promised that he would write when he landed, and yet, he did not. I tried to convince myself that he was merely too busy to do so. Yes, he was merely having too much fun to write his lover.
It worked, for a time. It worked until I saw a letter on my desk. It was the letter I had intended to send before Tobis’s departure, explaining who, and what, Tobis was… but it was here, and that meant I had not sent it… which in turn meant that Twilight had not expected his arrival. That meant… but surely, Twilight would let my love explain himself!
Regardless, I could not be certain. As ancient as I was, I knew that even the slightest misunderstanding could spark an entire war. It has happened in the past, and it could easily happen again.
How could I have been so foolish?
~{(M)}~
I stood on the prow of my personal airship, approaching Ponyville, when she came out to greet me. Her navy mane waved gently in the wind , and she flashed me a bright smile. But he was not with her. As my ship came to dock in the town square, I quickly embarked from it’s deck, and glided down in front of my former student.
“Hello Celestia, it’s nice to see you again,” she said, giving a slight bow. These bows I did not mind, as they were merely a courtesy from her, out of respect for equals.
“Twilight… where is Tobis?” I asked, and immediately began to hate the look that crossed my protégé’s face. It was a look of disgust, and malice.
“I don’t know how you know about that monster, but I digress. Please, follow me. He’s being held in a cell under my library,” she said, and turned to trot away. As I followed her, I felt my face break into a scowl, and my wings twitched as we drew closer to Twilight’s home. I was led inside, then quickly to the basement. “There, Celestia, in the cage.”
I approached the enclosure carefully, dreading what I knew I would see. Tears began streaming down my face as I looked upon Tobis’s huddled form.
He sat in a corner, in what he called the fetal position, shaking in fear. “She’s back…” he muttered, no doubt referring to my former student. Even with him curled into a ball, I could see that he was in poor health. His ribs poked through his barrel, and his spine and shoulder blades were all clearly visible on him.
“Why is he in here?”
“He came on one of your airships, I assume it was stolen, and claimed that you had sent him. Obviously, he was lying, so when the beast landed, the mayor had him arrested, and I was tasked with keeping him held. Why do you ask?” she said, puffing out her breast with some pride.
“So he never actually committed any crime against you?” I asked, trembling on my hooves. I was furious, but I would hold in my anger, until I was positive I had a reason to unleash it.
“No, but a lion doesn’t need to kill for you to know it’s dangerous. I had Fluttershy examine him, and she says that he has the teeth of a carnivore. That alone is proof enough that he is dangerous,” she said, giving me a bit of a confused look. “Here, I kept a research journal.”
A small, kelp leather-bound book appeared beside my head, and I caught it in my magic.
“Celestia, what’s going on?”
I turned to her slowly, and, in as calm a voice I could manage, I said to her, “Twilight, please wait upstairs. I’d like to have a word with Tobis.”
“Of course,” she answered, and trotted up the stairs, calling for spike to make some tea for us. I was in no mood for such things.
Once I was sure she was gone, I kneeled beside Tobis’s cage and gently caressed his chin with my magical grip. “Tobis, my love, please, look at me.”
His eyes fluttered open, and tears started pouring down his face, which was dotted with a number of large bruises, and a few cuts. “Cel… you came for me…” was all he could manage before passing out.
“Tobis!” I hissed, “Wake up!” When he did not, I slammed my hoof down on the wood floor, and bit my lip in rage. “Please, Tobis, hold on. I will return momentarily for you.”
I stood and walked toward the stairs, flipping through the pages of Twilight’s journal, growing angrier every second. Nearly the entire town had been in support of Tobis’s imprisonment. A few individuals, a large enough number to make some noise, were against it. Among them were the Element of Kindness, and Laughter. They would be spared.
~{(M)}~
“Ah, I trust you… Celestia? What’s wrong?”
I stared at my former student with a look that put the fury of Nightmare Moon to shame, causing her to take a few steps backwards. “Twilight,” I said harshly, “You have disappointed me.”
“What?” A look of terror flooded her face, and I felt sorry for her, for only a split second.
“I sent Tobis here. He is not only my ambassador, he is my lover. He was my best friend, and now… now, you will serve your punishment for your abuse of him.” Twilight’s eyes grew wide as a sphere of magic formed around my horn.
“Please… I’m sorry! I didn’t know!” she hollered, stumbling backwards. “Please, forgive me!”
“You are too late in your remorse. You never gave him a chance! You locked him away, and you DIDN’T EVEN GIVE HIM A CHANCE!” I screamed, and unleashed a blast of arcane might straight at Twilight, who did not even try to dodge. When the blast subsided, Twilight lie with her forelegs covering her face, screaming in agony. For a long time, I simply stood there, and let her scream. “You tortured him. You locked him away, and you tortured him. It is as though you have learned NOTHING from your time here.” I leaned in next to her, almost gagging at the smell of burnt flesh. “An example will be made of you, Sparkle,” I said, summoning an iron cage.
“PLEASE NO!!!” she screamed, attempting to crawl away, surely knowing that her horn was too damaged to use anymore. Her wings were singed, and that ensured she could not fly away from me. I gripped my magic around the middle of her tail, and pulled her back towards me, leaving a trail of blood in her wake. “NONONONO!!! PLEEEAAASE!!!”
“SILENCE!” I shouted, causing the mare to stop struggling. As I threw her into the cage and slammed the door, she looked at me with utter fear, and sheer despair in her eyes. “You have NO right to beg forgiveness!” I told her, and cast a spell to keep her forelegs pulled apart, as though she were crucified, then sent the cage floating to the middle of town.
Gathering a bit of magic, I cast a projection spell, and summoned a visage of my own face above town square. “Denizens of Ponyville, this is Princess Celestia. I require that all citizens gather in the central plaza. That is all.”
~{(M)}~
I stood in her door, scowling down at her. She had not come to the square, as I had asked, and I was given no choice but to bring her by force. In a flash, we vanished, and reappeared in town square, on a stage I had summoned moments before. On said stage, resided the hovering cage that housed Twilight Sparkle, for all to see.
Rarity’s makeup was running after having cried for a while before my arrival. I could tell she was afraid, and that was good. Ordinarily, I would wish that no creature fear me, but today was different. Today, that fear served me in issuing a their punishment.
“Rarity, Bearer of the Element of Generosity,” I said, using my magic to amplify my voice.
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty?” was her timid response.
“What do you fear most?” I asked, cutting my eyes at her.
“Th-That my sister, Sweetie Belle, will hurt herself. She’s always off doing these crazy stu-” She stopped as I raised a hoof.
“I understand the feeling. I worry for my sister as well. I also worried for Tobis.” Her eyes grew wide as I continued. “From this day forth, until a year has passed, there shall not be a day when you do not fear for your sister’s safety.”
As the magic charged around my horn, I could see the tailor cowering before me. Her eyes darted to her friend behind me, still bleeding from her burnt face, though the flow had begun to subside. Were it not for the occasional whimper, I would think my former student dead. “Please, don’t hurt my sister…”
“I will not,” I told her, and cast my charm. “However, whenever you are away from your sister, you will constantly worry for her safety. You will always assume that the worst has happened to her. And whenever you think of there being any remote possibility of danger, you will be haunted by visions of what that danger could result in. So… What if she were to walk in front of a wood chipper?” I asked cruelly.
“No…” I watched Rarity’s eyes tear up again, indicating that my charm had already began working. “No… please, I don’t want to see this… I can’t… it wont… stop… Sweeetiiie!!!” she screamed, falling back onto her rump. The tears began to pour freely from her face, dripping onto the stage. I decided to let her suffer for a moment.
I knew what she was seeing, and afterwards I truly felt that maybe it was too much. By the end of a year, she may have very well lost her mind… it was of no matter to me at the time.
“Rainbow Dash, Bearer of the Element of Loyalty.”
The cyan pegasus trudged forward, hanging her head low. “I’m here, Your Majesty.”
“What are you most afraid of?”
“Losing my flight,” she said shortly, which was honestly the answer I had expected.
“Then, from this day forth, until a year had passed, your hooves will be bound to the ground, and your wings rendered useless.” As the magic swirled around my horn, I had fully intended to cripple her wings, perhaps by breakage, but as I looked upon her defeated form, with her wings held out above her I had a better thought. In my room, under my bed, was an object. One that I perhaps was not entirely proud of owning. A wing harness, used to keep the wings of a pegasus bound and unusable. So I changed the makeup of my spell, and instead summoned said harness, along with a number of locks.
A collective gasp ran through the crowd as they recognized the indecent artifact. As I forced the mare’s wing to stay open with my magic, the device came wrapping gently around them, but soon tightened to the point that Rainbow Dash’s eyes grew wide, possibly believing I was going to crush her precious wings.
As angry as I was, I had genuinely considered it.
Before a moment had passed, Rainbow Dash’s wings were now coated in a number of buckles, straps, and locks. Satisfied at my handiwork, I pinned them to her side, and looped two straps under her barrel, and three over her back ,then buckled them.
“Flap.”
Rainbow looked to me in a mix of confusion, anger, hate, and sadness, but despite these things, she complied, and strained against the tight harness. “I prefer the ones with a solid restraint, instead of straps,” she said sharply, and I was fairly certain she was being serious.
“I prefer straps. Off the stage, and take your friend with you,” I commanded, watching as Rainbow wrapped a foreleg around Rarity’s barrel, and dragged her away. “Fluttershy, Bearer of the Element of Kindness!”
“No! Please! I didn’t do anything! Plee-heeease!!!” I heard her scream from the back of the crowd, as she was dragged forward by a unicorn guard I had brought with me. “I tried to get him out! I wanted to help him! I was on his siii-hiide!!”
“Guard, be gentle with her. Show her the kindness she has offered my lover,” I said, eliciting another gasp from the audience.
“Yes, Princess,” he said, as he gently let her go and wrapped his magic around the yellow pegasus, and lifted her onto the stage, before letting go.
“Fluttershy, look to me, my little pony.” She tentatively opened her eyes, and lifted her head, looking at me with a terrified eyes. “You, my child, have nothing to fear. You have done right by trying to save my love, and I wish to reward you. I see your wings are broken. How did this happen?”
“I-I broke them so I could try to slip out of my shackles, your majesty. I just had to get Tobis out of that cage… but I couldn’t save him while I was still in my own cage,” she said, standing up, and for the first time ever, I saw her puff out her breast proudly. It brought a warm smile to my face.
“Then allow me to heal you,” I said sweetly, and enveloped her wings in my magic. “You, Element Bearer, will now become my regent, and bear rank equal to that of Knight. Your orders will outrank that of even the Mayor. I trust that you, of all ponies can be trusted with this power. No one will ever harm you again, my little pony.”
As the bones in her wings creaked back into place, a tear ran down her cheek, and a smile spread across her face. “Thank you Princess, I’ll ensure that everypony is treated with the kindness they deserve.”
“I’m sure you will. Do you wish to stand by me now, or would you return home?” I asked, laying a gentle hoof on her shoulder.
“I need to get home, and tend to my animals. Discord’s been taking care of them, so I don’t know how well that’s gone…”
“I can only imagine. Take care of yourself, Lady Fluttershy, and give our friend my regards.”
“I will, Princess,” she said, before she flew away towards her cottage.
The smile I sent after her quickly faded, as I scanned the crowd for my next victim. Yes, I now call them victims, because I now realize that I had been a bit too harsh with them. After all, I hadn’t sent that letter. “Applejack, Bearer of the Element of Honesty!”
The mare didn’t even bother moving around to climb the steps on the side of the stage, she simply leapt the entire six hooves onto the front of the stage. “What’s it gonna be? Gonna ban me from my farm? Or you gonna cut off one uh my legs? Those all sound pretty bad.”
“I was debating both, but I think I know of one even better,” I told her, causing her eyes to grow wide. “I’m going to take away all of your strength. From this day forth, until a year has passed, you will be as weak as a newborn foal.” As the magic bean gathering around my horn, the farmer stood tall, and faced her punishment without flinching. I had to respect her resolve to hold up, but she seemed genuinely proud of her heinous actions, as though she believed they were justified.
As my magic finished charging, I let the spell loose, enveloping the mare in a red glow, that almost made me squint my eyes. When the glow subsided, she staggered on her legs, and fell down on her side. Gritting her teeth, she groaned, and picked herself up, staggering in place. Her breath was heavy, and she struggled to even remain standing. This was an adequate punishment. I could see Apple Bloom of to the side, scowling in our general direction, and I did not know if she was glaring at me or her sister… until a moment later. Her mouth began moving, and I was able to read her lips fairly easy.
“Serves her right,” she said, though I am not certain if she knew I could tell what she was saying. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t receive help from anypony.”
I nodded to her, and her eyes widened in shock, before I turned my gaze back to the farmer on stage. “Be gone, Infant!” She shakily nodded, and slowly turned, and walked off stage, and over to her sister, who slapped her hoof across the elder’s face in anger, then led her off to the farm.
“Now, I draw close to finishing the issuance of penalty to the Element Bearers, yet, I do not see Laughter. Where is Pinkamena Diane Pie?” I asked, glaring at the crowd of guilty ponies. Those who were innocent had been seated behind the stage, watching from a set of bleachers. My response came quietly from a very unexpected source. I turned to face Twilight as she mumbled an answer to me. “Speak up, traitor!”
She flinched, if only barely, and took in a deep breath. “She… nnng… went back to… mmm… the rock farm. Said sh-” I cut her off as I wrapped my magic around her muzzle, causing a muffled scream to escape her. I briefly thanked Faust that I had remembered to confine Spike in the library...
“Enough. I read the journal entry detailing her grievances. Since she is not present to receive her reward, I will now issue your TRUE punishment.” Her eyes grew wide as my scowl deepened even more, though I am not sure if such a thing were possible before my attempt. “You, Bearer of the Element of Magic, which is the representation of harmony and friendship itself, have committed the worst crime of anypony here. You, my former student, to whom I entrusted the fate of Equestria, whom I praised as my star pupil, who has betrayed my trust, and my praise, and has tortured the man I love! Your fate will be that of an eternity!” I said, my voice becoming even louder as I went on, and summoned the mare’s journal beside my head. “For as long as you shall live, you shall bear the visage OF A MONSTER!” The book separated from its cover, the pages being held together by only a thin strip of paper and some glue. “THE MASK I FORM, IT SHALL BECOM THY SKIN!!! THOU SHALT LOOK IN THY MIRROR EVERY MORN, AND THOU SHALT SEE WHAT A MONSTER IS!!! THOU SHALT LIVE WITH THY CRIME FOR AS LONG AS THOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO DRAW BREATH!!! THOU SHALT NOT PERISH BY THY OWN HOOF, NOR SHALT THOU FALL TO ANOTHER’S BY THY WHIM!!!” I screamed, my breath growing ragged. I cast a simple reconstitution spell, and formed the… the real leather… by Faust it was Tobis’s skin… I grew even more furious. I formed the leather into a mask, resembling the face of a Giant Timberwolf. I sent the tanned hide into the cage, and wrapped it around her muzzle, causing a bloodcurdling scream as I forcefully grafted the new tissue to her old, burnt one. “THOU SHALT BEAR THIS NEW SKIN, AND THOU SHALT NOT HIDE AWAY, THOU SHALT FACE THE WORLD IN ALL THY HIDEOUSNESS, AND THOU SHALT NOT WAVER IN THIS!!! I SHALL REMOVE THEE FROM OFFICE, AND THOU SHALT BE NO MORE THAN A COMMON PEGASUS WITH A POINTED STICK ON THY HEAD!!!”
So absorbed in my rage was I, that I did not notice as a small yellow hoof came to rest on my shoulder. “Princess, please. Calm yourself. I do not disagree with your verdict, but I must ask you to calm down. My first task as your regent is to ensure that your rage does not carry on to the other citizens.”
I turned to glare at the kind pegasus, and I came to the realization that she was right. The citizens of Ponyville all cowered before me, terrified of what their sentences would be. I sighed, and finished grafting Twilight’s new face. She sat there in her cage, wide eyed and hyperventilating as the tears rolled down her new face, stinging against what bit of burnt flesh was left exposed around her eyes.
As I turned to the other citizens, I sighed, and used my magic-amplified voice to address them. “My subjects, you shall not be punished. I have read of this town’s endeavors through this journal… which I seem to have destroyed… oops,” I said, with a faint(though utterly fake) smile. A nervous chuckle rippled throughout the crowd. “But be forewarned, and let these mares be a testament, I shall not tolerate such prejudice in my kingdom. Is that understood?” a collective nod made the audience appear as a tidal wave.
“Good,” I said, and turned to Fluttershy. “Would you please release, the former princess? And do me a favor, pick a suitable title. Twilight ‘the something,’ preferably.”
“Yes, Princess. But may I ask, where are you going?”
“To fetch my love,” I said simply. “And once he is secure, I will travel to the Pie family’s rock farm. I should like your company during the trip.”
She nodded, and I galloped off towards the library.
~{(M)}~
He had still not awoken. As I delicately levitated him out of the cage, I scanned his body for injuries. The most obvious was a large rectangular patch of skin missing from his back, where Twilight had extracted his hide for her journal. As well, there were a few burns here and there along his skin, a number of poorly stitched incisions along key points on his body. They would leave horrendous scars… scars that even I could not take away.
“Discord,” I said solemnly, and waited for him to heed my summon. “Discord! To ME Draconequus!”
A bright flash before me signaled the former villain’s arrival. “You don’t have to be so pushy, Celestia. What do you want... and why do you have that creature?”
“This is Tobis, a human, and my lover,” I said, flinching as the chaos spirit scowled.
“It can never be just a pony, can it Celly?” he asked, and began drifting about, lazily scanning Tobis’s form.
“No, I suppose not. Discord, why didn’t you help him, or Fluttershy?”
“Twilight anti-magicked their cells. Seems miss purple pants still doesn’t trust me. I’d have contacted you, but Fluttershy, in her infinite kindness, asked me not to get involved… was worried more about her animals and her friends than herself. Now, if you‘ll excuse me,” he said coldly, and raised his hand to snap his fingers. “I have things to do.”
“I understand. Wait, what things? You don’t do things.”
“Yes I do. I take enthusiastic walks through the woods,” he stated, and it was obvious he was making a reference that only what he called ‘The Audience’ would understand.
“Right. Discord, I need you to stay here with Fluttershy, and deal with Twilight.”
“Right-o. See you later Celly,” he said, just before vanishing.
~{(M)}~
“By the crimson mane of Faust!” Luna shouted, as I carried Tobis into the castle. “What happened?”
I felt my teeth clench hard enough that they should break steel, and I growled at the thought of my former student. “I… just read this.” I summoned the journal, and trotted off towards the castle’s hospital wing, hearing a gasp behind me. As I continued down the hallway, I staggered about as I used my hooves to remove my regalia, and my crown, and deposited it all on the floor. A servant would pick it up sooner or later.
My thoughts lingered on the cruelty I had exercised only a few hours earlier, and of how monstrous my own student had become. She was MY student, and her actions had some base in my teachings; there was no other logical reason she would behave in such a way. I scoured my memories for something, anything I could have ever taught her that would prompt her to think in such a way.
I could find nothing. I had always taught Twilight to be a kind filly, and later, a gentle mare. I had taught her to be respectful of others, and I had taught her restraint over her power. Her power that was so great it could open a rift between heaven and hell. I had taught her responsibility, and many, many other strict things.
Her lessons in friendship, they have taught her so many things as well. To list all of the things she had learned would take all day. And yet, she had thrown it all away. Upon the arrival of Tobis, she became dark and twisted, and her instabilities manifested. She became torturous and vile.
My pupil was, at the deepest level of her heart, a monster.
And it sickened me.
~{(M)}~
“Well, it looks like he’s stable, Princess,” the doctor said to me, as a series of wires were being attached to Tobis’s body. “But, he’s in shock, it seems.”
“Will he ever wake?” I asked, leaning my had down to nuzzle his hand.
“I… I can’t say for sure, Your Majesty. I won’t make a promise that I can’t keep, but I will try my hardest to help him.”
“Thank you, Doctor. I have business to attend to. I shall return in a few hours,” I said, before standing to leave.
It was time to visit the Bearer of the Element of Laughter.
~{(M)}~
The airship touched down over a barren field, devoid of any plants, with only a few clusters of giant rocks keeping the flat expanse from being completely empty. My regent, now clad in a slightly regal and position appropriate dress, stood beside me, ready for the task at hand.
“Princess, what if she panics?” she asked, as the crew lowered the gangplank. “When she left Ponyville, she claimed that you would come and punish us. She knew exactly what was going to happen, and when she sees you, she may believe you’re here to punish her.”
I sighed as we embarked from my vessel, and trotted off towards the lone house occupying the land. “That is why you are here, my regent. You are my insurance that she will understand my purpose in this visit.” She flew a little ahead of me, and turned to hover before me.
“Maybe I should go first? I can make sure she doesn’t run,” she said, waiting for me to nod before flying off ahead.
I waited for a while, until I heard a scream I recognized sound across the farm. I stretched out my wings, and lifted off, bolting towards the house’s front door, and slammed through it to find a grey mare pinning Fluttershy to the floor, with a hoof against her throat.
“I never thought you would betray Pinkie like this. You don’t deserve to be her friend,” the mare said calmly, and pressed harder on the regent’s neck.
“Enough!” I shouted, causing the mare to look up at me, in time to see my hoof crash across her face, and send her careening into the wall. Or, it should have sent her into the wall. It just made her stumble a few steps, before looking at me with such an intense hate in her eyes that even I felt a little taken aback. “Where is Pinkie Pie?”
“None of your business. I won’t let ANYPONY hurt my little sister!” she said, finally showing a bit of emotion. “Now leave, or I will make you!”
I forced myself to remain calm and looked at the mare with cold eyes. “Though I doubt the possibility of you doing such, I am not here to harm your sister.” She snorted, narrowing her eyes. “I am merely here to issue a reward, for her objections to the happenings in Ponyville.”
“I don’t believe you,” she said, her voice fluctuating with her anger.
“Wait,” Fluttershy cut in as she rose to her hooves, “It’s true. I tried to free Tobis, and the Princess made me a regent. Pinkie helped me, and she deserves the same.”
She paused, and seemed to think things over for a moment.
“I… I’m going with you.” She started towards the door, looking back at us over her shoulder. “You promise you aren’t going to hurt her?”
She waited for me to nod, before continuing outside.
~{(M)}~
We were led out across the field, heading towards a cave with numerous stacks of rocks guarding the entrance. It was not until we drew close that I saw the stacks for what they were: statues, shaped( and quite masterfully so, I must say) to resemble some of the citizens of Ponyville, her friends, and other loved ones. I felt a pang of sorrow as I beheld the display, knowing how much she would hate me for what I had done to her closest friends.
I gestured for Fluttershy to go in first, and quickly heard an excited squeal from inside, followed by the muffled sounds of Fluttershy assuring the party mare that she was okay. I smiled, reveling in the small bit of light in my dark day. That changed, as I heard a terrified ‘What?!’ emanate from the inky blackness, signaling that Pinkie was now aware of the reason for her friend’s visit. More muffled conversation ensued, and I started to grow impatient.
The muffled noises stopped and Fluttershy emerged from the darkness, glancing behind her every few paces.
“I’ll warn you Princess… She’s a little unstable.” I turned to look at the grey mare beside me, my eyes widening as her own began to tear up. “I trust you dealt with the reason for her damage?”
“It was taken care of. Those who began this cycle of despair have been punished,” I told her quietly, as I watched a pink form emerge from the cave’s shadows. “How long has she been out here?”
“Three months. And it was you that started it,” the mare said, giving a very faint edge to her voice, as her precious little sister emerged fully from the cave.
“And… I have been punished…” I said under my breath, as I took in Pinkie Pie’s features. Her normally vibrant, messy, cloud of a mane was now dull and flat, and I could spot a few tangles here and there along it’s length. With a dejected sigh, I took a slow step forward, causing the poor mare to flinch. “It’s okay, Pinkie Pie, I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Like you did my friends?” she said, tilting her head to one side, gazing at me with blank eyes. The left one twitched a bit, and she tilted her head to the other side. “I mean, it’s okay, the were really mean and all, but then, so was I… Am I going to be punished too?”
“How were you mean?” I asked, lying down and gesturing for her to come closer. I saw out of the corner of my eye as Fluttershy raised a hoof and wiped her eyes on with a fetlock.
“I… I didn’t try to save him. I ran. I ran all the way here. I tried to warn them, but they wouldn’t listen. If I had stayed, then Shy-shy wouldn’t have been arrested… and she wouldn’t have broken her wings. It’s my fault, Princess…” I could see the tears start forming in her eyes as she recounted her self proclaimed cowardice. Her face scrunched up, and she did something I never expected. She raised her right hoof, and smashed it across her muzzle, and furrowed her brow. I heard stifled whimpers from both my regent, and Pinkie’s sister. “No!” Pinkie exclaimed, “No tears! You don’t deserve them, you coward!” My eyes widened, as her tears did not stop, but intensified, prompting her to punch herself again. “Stop… CRYING!” The tears only got worse, but I did not allow her to strike again.
I rose, and lunged towards the mare, wrapping my forelegs around her neck, and took the punch with my own muzzle. “It’s okay, Pinkie Pie. You can cry. Just as everypony deserves a smile, everypony is allowed to cry at some point, whether they feel like they deserve it or not.”
“B-But…” She couldn’t form another word, and I felt her face scrunch up, and heart wrenching wail erupted in my ear.
I just held her, and let her cry in my arms.
~{(M)}~
“You’re sure you won’t reconsider returning with me to Canterlot?” I asked, as I stood atop my airship’s deck, looking down at the pink mare, whose warm smile beamed back at me. “I could use somepony like you as my counsel.”
“No, but I thank you. I’ll return to Ponyville, and I’ll work with Fluttershy to keep things peaceful. But I need to say my goodbyes first,” she said, her smile never fading, but it was never forced. It was a genuine smile.
“Very well,” I said, nodding my head to the pilot. “My offer will stand, Miss Pie, should you ever change your mind.”
“Thanks, but I won’t. Say hi to Tobis for me when he wakes up!” she called, waving a hoof to me.
“I certainly will!” I called back, smiling at her.
~{(M)}~
After everything was done, I returned to Canterlot, and immediately went to my loves side. I refused to leave him, and I had him returned to his bedroom, so that I may continue to keep an eye on him.
For the next four months, I stayed by his side, and delegated a small amount of my duties to council and Luna, making sure not to give them too much, but just enough to clear up a few hours to spend at Tobis’s side.
My life would become bleak in his absence, but I would endure, and I would be there when he awoke.
I would never abandon him again.
Author's Note
There, Chapter two is finally done! Faust, this took a long time to finish. There will be one more chapter, the epilogue, and it'll be a bit of a doozy. The dooziest. Rated Ponystar has been absolutely wonderful in helping me stick somewhat to his original ideas, and offering constructive criticisms here and there. He is just a peach. I hope you all enjoyed this, and are looking forward to the next chapter.
Peace!
