The Tale of a Human's Sanity

Is this what you want to read? So be it...

I don't know what's real at the moment. Am I starting to lose it? Why am I being put through this? Damn you... I can't remember his...

I know everything now. He did it. All of it.

Everything blacked out after thinking most of that through. My head still hurts… and so does my body, for some reason. I felt dirt all over, mostly on my face, and I also feel bruised and had been in a fight. It feels real to me. It doesn’t seem fake. I feel hurt, mainly physically… I don’t know where I am.

And that’s when, slowly, I start to hear chants of people, coming from behind me, but it was too distorted to make out. I haven’t opened my eyes to check yet, I still wanted to think. Where did he put me? I’m going to assume that this is real, and that… I’m staring at a grey wall.

Where the hell am I? I opened my eyes, and this is what I get. I’m currently lying on a concrete floor of some sort. I turn my head ever so slightly, both left and right, to see that… I’m in some sort of a circular cage. The fuck? Did I do something wrong? What did I do wrong, is a better question. He… what did he do?

The yelling coming from behind me, is slowly becoming louder and clearer. I tried to sit-up, but my entire body was throbbing in pain, mainly around my head and my abdomen, but very slightly everywhere else. My face felt like it had been hit with a baseball. Was I beaten up by someone or did he make me suffer like that?

I got up to a sitting position, before I was hit in the head with something. I think I heard slight cheers. I lost my vision for a few seconds, when I then was in the same position as when I woke up. I turned my eyes and saw… an apple had hit me in the head. An apple? I think I may have done something really wrong, here. But… what? Why would someone throw an apple at me?

I then sat up again, rubbing my head in the process, when I turned to my right, at the cage doors. I saw… a blurry vision of different colours, in shapes that I couldn’t recognise. I think these multi-coloured things, they may have been ponies (although why they would attack me is beyond what I could comprehend), were facing me, I think, yelling and/or chanting something at me. They kept throwing small rocks at me, and occasionally apples. I was starting to get hurt by this. The pain that I was experiencing was somewhat minor, but it was growing.

And that’s when I noticed the clothes that I’m wearing. They had been effected.

They were the same clothes that I had before, but there were multiple tears in random places, small amounts of blood and (presumably) sweat, dirt scattered all over my shirt and my pants. And my boots were covered in mud and blood. Something felt wrong here…

I covered my eyes from the rocks that they were throwing, when my vision became clearer. And my assumption was correct. There were multiple ponies, all with different coloured fur and manes, looking like they were going to kill me, if it weren’t for the bars that looked like it was made out of bamboo were protecting me.

Some held up rocks, and a few help up apples. Most, if not all of the crowd that were there, which seemed like fifty to hundred ponies were there, glared and yelled at me. There was this pegasi which- Her? Wait, what? Why is she wanting to kill me? She was floating only a meter away from the cage, with a look that could kill you. I don’t know why? She hates me, still? Well, this is a real reality, if I’m correct. I don’t know whether to hope it is or not, but… she looked guilty when I last saw her. That reality turned out to be fake, but… He did something…

I could spot out one or two ponies which had the look of small pity, maybe. One was a green unicorn, which I could spot out. There was another, and this pony had a cream coloured-fur and a purple and pink mane, I think.

I couldn’t tell over the expressions of other ponies, wanting to kill me. Why? I don’t know why, which I keep repeating to myself, because nothing is making sense at the moment. I also noticed that there were two white unicorns, with silver and gold armour on. Don’t know why. Wait, are they guards?

Discord, what have you done? I started to feel slightly scared, not knowing where I was being taken. I’m most likely true at the statement that no one trusts me. I don’t get it. If this is real, then why does everyone hate me? They were all nice, or at least content, in the un-real world. But… realistically they hate non-ponies…? Are these guys racist or something?

I thought all this over while I was sitting against the wall opposite the bars, closing my eyes, hearing the thumping of this cage while it’s in motion, and the hateful threats at the ponies. And to think they were nice… I tried to make out what they were yelling.

“How dare you, foul being!” One would yell. “You horrid, and foul being.” One other pony would yell. “You think you can get away with stealing the crown?” Another would ye- What? ‘Stealing the crown’? What crown? I didn’t steal anything. Also, how would I steal a crown? I- remembering the rules of this land, I don’t even know where they are? Or what they look like, for that matter. But… I’ll think about that later, I guess.

Either way, the taunts would keep coming from them. I don’t know how long it’s been, maybe fifteen minutes, but the cage suddenly came to a stop. I looked outside the cage from where I was sitting. Some of the ponies from the crowd dispersed, disappearing. Dash was now on the ground, still glaring death at me. But the surroundings… these houses seem familiar. Like… I’ve walked past them before.

The medieval-like houses… Wait, were they the houses I walked past during the third time, when-

So am I being brought to the other’s tree home? It could be possible, after all. If so, why?

After a moment, the cage started… was it levitating? Wow. I’m not sure if it is, but I guess magic is a common thing around here. She was still glaring at me, for whatever reason. I guess grudges are a common thing to ponies, as well. The crowd that was around the cage didn’t come through the doorway to the house, but I could still hear the yelling coming from outside. The cage was moving towards the centre of this big room, which… is apparently a library. Well, I know that I’m in the other’s home, because I can see the outlines of the carvings on inside this big tree.

And then, there were six ponies, looking female to me, that came into my view, standing in front of the cage. Her, the ignorant bitch was one, she was one, looking… angry at me. That’s odd. She seemed kind and shy towards me before, but I guess that wasn’t the real... her. There was then a white unicorn, with a blue mane or something, looking at me with a mortified and dissatisfied expression. Next to her right, was a basic gold pony with a cowboy hat and freckles, glaring at me, like Dash’s expression, but only a little less timid. And there was a pink pony with, for a lack of a better word, poufy mane, raising an eyebrow at me, looking over me. Then, there was... her, who looked even madder than the rest.

I sighed, wondering what happened that got them so pissed off at me. I just remember blacking out in his realm, then appearing in this cage. What-

“What is t’ere thing, Twilight?” The cowboy pony spoke up, with a thick southern accent, after moments of silence, turning towards the one she called... Twilight. Twilight...

I was just leaning against the back wall, sitting down looking at them, trying my best not to get angry at the southerner-accented one for calling me a ‘thing’. But what could I od about it? Also, why am I here?

“I don’t know, Applejack,” She started off. Applejack? What kind of names to these ponies have, anyways. Seems... I don't know what to think... “I’ve never seen this kind of being before.” I just stayed silent, making them think that I can’t speak their language. That sentence also confirms that I’m definitely not on earth, which was obvious.

“Can we beat it up?” She asked with a tomboyish accent, along with a big evil grin on her face, pointing straight towards me. She flew to the bars of the cage, trying to intimidate me, most likely. I started to get angrier, but didn’t attempt to fight back, seeing as it wouldn’t be the smartest decision at the moment. ‘It’.

“No, do not do such a thing, Rainbow.” Rainbow? A different voice answered, coming from next to cage where I can’t see this new pony. That voice had some motherly-like feeling that I heard. All six ponies looked towards the side, at this being. I had no clue as to who this pony is. “Twilight, keep this being here in your basement. You can study the being.” She didn’t call me ‘it’, which was new, but- Wait, study? Oh…

Twilight seemed to have nodded, and then the cage was moving towards a different doorway, where it was much darker. I then blacked out for a moment.

I don’t know where I am now. I was knocked out, by… something. I’m now here, in the dark abyss. Not like his one, as it’s all pitch black with-

Hang on, a vision is forming.

I see… me. On a grassy plane. Just lying on the ground. Just me.

I seem peaceful. No danger. No chaos. No uncertainty. I was smiling. Enjoying the soothing sounds of the birds, as they chirp in the background, while also faintly hearing the wind breeze through the air. I felt really calm. I felt really peaceful.

Happiness.

Something I haven’t felt in a long time.

I was just staring up into the sky. Enjoying the light blue sky, the scenery of the flora and fauna of the landscape around me, several trees along with several different animals.

Happy.

Then the vision blurred and changed for a moment, where I now appeared to be lying on a cloud. In the sky. It was now night time.

The sky looked beautiful, with the shining moon gazing upon me in the night sky. The stars also shining, with the dark blue background of space. At peace.

At peace, I thought. Why am I seeing this? Is this just an ambition I have? It must mean something, right?

Remember. Remember. Remember. It will be the end of you.

I then suddenly woke up from my slumber, where a cold bucket of water was thrown on me. I blinked a few times, trying to process this, before shivering for a moment. I was lying on the back wall of the cage. My vision was still hazy, but I could make out six small figures with different colours, the six ponies from before. There also was a seventh one, which was half the size of the ponies. That must have been the dragon from before. The baby dragon.

I remember some of their names. Do I? But, they don’t remember me. And taking what he had said into consideration, they probably thought I would be some sort of spy if I said I knew their names. So all in all, hope was flushed down the drain.

My vision was becoming clear again, and I found that my cage was in a basement of some sorts. There were a few shelves of books in the back, while there was some sort of machinery to the side, like it was something out of a mad scientist’s laboratory. Wow, I wonder what these ponies could do to me.

They noticed that I was awake, and started to talk about something, but my ears were ringing and I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Twilight stepped forwards first, looking irritated and paused, probably waiting for an answer. I just stared at her, with nothing else coming to mind over what I should be doing. After a silent moment, she huffed and then the blue pegasi flew straight at the cage, yelling at me. I could make out the words of ‘say something’, or anything similar to that. I just closed my eyes, as saliva flew from her mouth, and onto my face, very disrespectfully. I was trying to contain myself, feeling many things right now.

Shocked, scared, angry, hurt. Just to name a few. But, what else would I be feeling. I’m locked up in a cage, treated as an animal. Feeling helpless, being looked down on, weak.

I took breaths, breathing in, breathing out.

“Hey, animal. Talk to me!”

Breathe in, breathe out.

“Come on! I know you can understand us!”

Breathe in…

“Rainbow Dash, please calm down.”

Breathe out.

“No! This animal can hear us. It knows what we’re saying!”

I flinched for a moment, hopefully it wasn’t really noticeable. I still tried to breathe in-

“See! Did you not see that? It just heard me. It just did!” The anger levels in me were rising, but I felt weak to express them.

My ears then started to ring again, and I couldn’t hear what they were saying most of the time, but I could hear insults, threats, language you shouldn’t hear being directed at anyone, racial slurs. I couldn’t exactly make it out, but I could take a few guesses at who.

Mainly Rainbow , occasionally Applejack would take shots at me, but would really just glare at me, the white unicorn would often criticize the way I looked, and the clothes I wore, Fluttershy would either glare at me or, what looked like feel some remorse, which seemed like a fake mask to me, the oddly-looking pink one just stared at me, looking like she had no emotion at all. Strange. Twilight was just glaring at me for the most part. She may have done something else, but I didn’t pay attention to that. What got my attention was the baby dragon, known as him, I believe. He…

He looked guilty. Like he didn’t think that I should deserve this. Well, maybe I’m making that up, but that’s what it seems to me. He looked like he didn’t want to be here, witnessing this. He locked eyes, just staring at each other. He gave a small smile after a bunch of moments. When I thought no one was looking, I smiled for a split second before going back into my shocked expression. I think I’ve made some friend.

Then again, suddenly I blacked out again.

Loneliness. Powerless. Anger. These are some of the words that describe Tirac, or who ponies called Tirek. He had failed in his mission to conquer Equestria, and he was not happy with it, not one bit. Defeated by the Elements of Harmony, using power from the Tree of Harmony, had drained him off all the magic that he stole from everypony, including Discord. That proved that Tirac was still inferior to the Mane Six, even with the magic that he stole from the Princesses’, Luna and Celestia. Without any magic, in his weakest from. His corrupt mind made him overestimate the Elements.  Now, he was back in Tartarus, back where he had escaped from some time ago, back to square one. And what did he think of this?

He hated it. Hated being a prisoner. Hates not ruling Equestria, with all of his power that he had gained. Hated that he failed, even with all the odds on his side. He wondered how he could have been defeated. How had those six ponies weld so much more power over him? He even took their magic from them, every last one, and he still lost his battle. He couldn’t figure out why? He hadn’t foreseen the Tree of Harmony, and the power that stopped him. He also was wondering if it was best to betray Discord, but quickly disregarded that is wouldn’t have made any difference, showing how weak he was compared to him, then.

Now he spends his days in this cage, isolated, in the depths underground of mainland Tartarus, inside a carved out mountain. His cage was floating above a giant white circle, which contained the cage and himself, stopping every last chance of him escaping. No one can get in, or can get out. He was vulnerable to any attack, which was not foreseeable to anyone, considering Cerberus was guarding the small pathway that led towards the mountain, guarding for everyday that Tirac still lives. His chances were slim to none. He couldn't even rationalize what had happened years ago. He couldn’t break out of this prison by himself, no matter what he did.

Unless someone breaks him out.

Teleporting behind Cerberus, an unknown figure which Tirac couldn’t make out, kicked the three-headed dog, in the back of the middle head, sending him towards a wall of rock. Cerberus was stunned by the sudden attack, unsure of who it could be. He tried to compose himself for an attack, if the being hadn’t shot a bolt of magic at Cerberus, knocking it out in one hit. Tirac tried to make out the silhouette of the being. He thought it looked… like a pony, most likely a unicorn, considering the bolt of magic it assaulted the guard dog with. Tirac started to get excited, thinking that someone was going to break him out of Tartarus, but then had some second thoughts as to why, and how, a pony got into here and took down the dog guard. Why was this pony here?

He waited anticipatedly for a few moments as the pony slowly walked, on the rocky up-hill path, towards Tirac’s cell. Tirac was trying to figure out who this pony is. He didn’t think it was any of the Elements of Harmony, because why they would show up here, and only one of them, didn’t make much sense. He also rules out the Princesses’ because the power that was shown on display didn’t look similar towards any of the four that existed in Equestria, and why they would show up like that made no sense. He then ruled out Discord for similar reasons, thinking he was probably imprisoned in stone for a second time, to Tirac’s knowledge anyways. He just couldn’t think of anypony at all, really.

And then the pony came into full view, standing in the walkway, with a facial expression of seriousness and slight angriness. Tirac observed this pony, which a male, and looked at him was while he just stood there, staring at Tirac as they locked eyes. And had couldn’t believe it for himself. This male pony was an Alicorn. He had a very dark grey coat, along with a full back mane, with two strains of his mane being a dark blue, and his cutie mark was a long blade that was slightly see-through, being the same dark blue colour. He also noticed other features, such as the left side of his face was blackened out being, what he believed, was ‘burnt’ off in some way, his right front leg had bandages around it, as with some parts of his back left leg. Several parts of his coat were covered in blood, and he looked slightly wounded, but walked fine.

He looked like a soldier. A harden battle soldier. One who had been through much, and knows much.

He could tell in his eyes. It was filled with anger, fear, and regret. He looked like he had been from all of Tartarus and back, in a place where he had seen so much, but had gotten used to it. Tirac didn’t know why at first of who this pony was, or what he did, but then… he figured it out. He knew who this Alicorn was. He had met him once before, but his name has been thrown around Equestria and Tartarus.

“You… It was you… You did…” Tirac spoke in a weak voice, wondering why he was here, and what he wanted from him.

The Alicorn with the unknown name, kept staring at Tirac, looking at what he had become. He watched the entire events unfold at Ponyville, the battle between Tirek and Twilight Sparkle, who became a princess months before, the five out of the six Elements get captured, Tirek capturing most of the magic from every other pony but himself, as he watched. He was also there when the Tree of Harmony activated, and Twilight’s castle arose. They both remembered the confrontation they had that day.

Tirek had already taken the magic that he drained from a bunch of pegasi, some being all of the Wonderbolts, while there were other ones as well. They were all charging at Tirek, before Discord froze all of them in place, while Tirek drained the magic from them, along with their cutie marks disappearing. They were then dropped to the floor, as they walked past them and on to their destination. They all looked dazed, confused and weak.

And I followed them. I followed the power-hungry Tirek, along with Discord who had betrayed Equestria, as they continued their search of everypony within miles of Canterlot, draining the magic from everypony they encounter. And they were doing a good job at it. They were going towards Appleoosa, while I was about a minute’s walk behind them. It wasn’t hard to spot the two figures. They were unaware that I was following them. The pegasi who were trying to recover their fall and their loss of magic, rubbing their heads, moaning in confusing, and shaking in fear over their cutie marks being gone and a great and evil power dominating them. You couldn’t really blame them. Nor, could you help them. Things are supposed to be set in motion for the moment.

Some looked at me with confusion as well, as I walked past them. They didn’t know who I was. Although, one or two had seen me before. I didn’t care for the looks that they were showing me. I had a job to do. One may have asked me a question, and if they did, I ignored it. It didn’t matter of what they did, because it wouldn’t have made a difference with the following events that has to go in motion. I have a thing to do, and for now, I just wait and watch. I, interrupting the course at this moment, confronting Tirek who was getting stronger, didn’t help me with anything. Although, there are some secrets that he doesn’t know of.

Discord had rounded up a bunch of earth ponies, farmers really, as they were attempting to run away from Tirek, who had burst through the front doors of a saloon. The ponies were shocked, and started to shake as he approached, while Discord just watched, feeling very little regret at this stage over if his choice to side with Tirek was wise. It soon wouldn’t be, but he didn’t know that right now. Tirek’s eyes became slightly larger and redder, when draining the magic from the farmers. They were satisfied with draining from the last ponies in the colonial town, and started to move towards Canterlot, to confront three princesses of Equestria that only he knows of.

Tirek was stomping towards the doors to Celestia’s throne. Candace and Luna were also there, on the side of the throne, all being weak after draining their magic, giving it to Twilight, who Tirek did not know of. Not that it currently mattered, as she was elsewhere, trying to learn as much as she can, with the magic she gained to use in combat. I believe she may have been in the Evertree Forest, or in her tree home. Digressing, Tirek burst through the doors, throwing the pieces of what was left in his hands, over to the side. He had just come from his confrontation with Shining Armour, taking his magic, while Discord was starting to feel some guilt over his choice. He would regret that choice.

I was watching from outside the throne room, next to one of the giant windows that they had, listening and watching the conversation. Mainly, watching Tirek getting angry after realising that the three princesses had no magic on them, and that it was gone. To put it lightly, he wasn’t pleasant with this. But he was somewhat amused that he thought that this was their entire plan. Oh boy, was he wrong. In his giant from, he sat on the big throne, taking up much of it, as he send the princesses to Tartarus, to where he was imprisoned, and told them to send Cerberus their regards.

Then Discord went back to Tirek, and gave Discord some necklace thing, which took the shape of a gold pyramid of some sorts. Tirek then looked amused at the window that Discord had made, with was him riding on top of Tirek, who was welding an iron sword, while Discord was welding a break stick. And he’s the self-proclaimed ‘God of Chaos’, believe it or not. Then, Tirek saw Twilight’s window, and then grabbed Discord by the throat. Why Discord didn’t tell him earlier is beyond me, really. He said he wanted Tirek to gain his trust, which was stupid, considering he hasn’t turned on you… yet anyways. They then proceeded to go to Ponyville, where Tirek melted Twilight’s window in the process. And meanwhile, I was just floating in the air outside, watching it all. I need to make sure they don’t see me now, but they won’t, because they aren’t aware of me yet. And Discord forgot all about it.

Discord had led the bearers of the Elements, to a small field, out in the opening, where Discord spawned a cage out of nowhere, and trapped six beings, while I was hiding behind a bush and a tree where no one could see me. There was Applejack, the southerner farmer who was the Element of Honesty, Rarity, the dresser in Ponyville who was the Element of Generosity, Pinkie Pie, who, surprisingly, I can understand most of the time, was the Element of Laughter, Fluttershy, the easily-scared of everything who’s the Element of Kindness (go figure), some random baby dragon who is also there, and is Twilight’s assistant, which I don’t get to this day, and… I sighed.

To this day, I still don’t know if I have a crush on this Pegasus. I honestly don’t. This tomboyish, brave, courageous, gullible to some extent, mischievousness, brash, and overconfident, and probably more, pegasi is… interesting to say the least. Rainbow Dash. I have mixed feelings with this one. I love her and I hate her. Some of her traits are good, and then she’s an egotist, who doesn’t really trust anypony other than her friends and friends of those friends. If she hasn’t met you before, she will think you’re a spy for some reason. Sorry, this is just personal experience talking.

I’ve seen her before in person, and she has seen me at least once before. In one of the many scenarios I have gone through. That is a long story for some other time. But yeah, they were caught in a cage, where they didn’t notice Tirek walking up towards them, for some apparent reason. I don’t get it either.

Then these things happened. Discord reveals to them that he has sided with Tirek and betrayed them, Fluttershy cries over this, Tirek then betrays Discord… blah, blah, blah. It’s boring. I already know that this will happen, so I just have to wait patiently still. When Tirek took the Elements’ magic, I felt somewhat heartbroken over looking at them. Dash’s eyes had become shades of grey, and all of them looked grayer and weaker. Except for Spike, the baby dragon, who hadn’t been effected at all.

Then Tirek betrays Discord and steals his powers, which looked somewhat majestical. And hilarious that Discord had been defeated, again, again, and again. I tried to hold in my laughter, as Tirek stormed away, looking for Twilight. Discord was looking very weak as well, trying to get up but failing, feeling heartbroken as well that he had been betrayed, and then Applejack may have said something. As soon as Tirek was out of view, I couldn’t help but laugh from behind the tree. I mean, why Discord would side with someone who, at the time, was weaker then he is a mystery to me. They all looked in my direction but couldn’t see me. Discord then knew who I was, and widen his eyes. “What…?” He murmured in disbelief. I then teleported away, towards a lone cloud in the sky, getting a bird’s-eye-view of the field where Tirek was yelling out to Twilight Sparkle, essentially challenging her to a fight.

I spotted Twilight in her tree house, using here telescope, looking for Tirek in the distance, and when she did spot him, he was already charging a bolt at her. She then, with a split second just flew out of the way, with her owl in hoof, from the tree house, which had exploded from the blast of Tirek’s power. The explosion made the atmosphere change, changing the colours in the sky, and on the ground. Twilight was laying on the grass for a few moments, looking at her former home, with was still partially there. Most of it had blown off. She then teleported into the sky, and that’s when things got very interesting.

The fight between the two went on for about two minutes. It was kinda epic, but really boring for some of it. It was mainly Twilight trying to dodge Tirek’s attacks using his magic and the earth changing from him smashing into the ground, or throwing gigantic rocks at her. While he was putting a force field around himself from Twilight’s attacks, which didn’t do anything. Then they both shot bolts at each other once, and made a blinding explosion for a minute. When it cleared, something happened which I didn’t expect to see.

Twilight was hurt from the blast. She wasn’t mean to, which was the interesting part.

Tirek was covered in a bunch of rocks, before the Minotaur stood up and walked over towards Twilight, who was struggling to get up after being flown into a big rock. He laid on the ground for a few moments, with some blood, cuts and bruises covering her entire body. She was grunting and breathing in pain, and once she stood up, for where she struggled for more couple of moments, she then limped over towards Tirek, where she still wanted to fight, but was unsure over whether or not she could physically continue. From my brief observation over this, she couldn’t continue without getting seriously hurt even more.

They locked eyes for a moment, where Tirek considered fighting still. He noticed the condition Twilight was in, and barked a laugh. Twilight moaned in pain, with her legs shaking rapidly, starting to give way. A tear may have formed in her eye. She knew that he was winning this fight, and that she was losing. She started to get slightly scared, that her last hope was being burnt to ashes. She then went into a stance to keep fighting, with her whole body throbbing in pain. She winced in her eyes as she, slowly, was starting to collapse to the ground. She knew that she couldn’t continue in the fight. She looked down as she tried to stay up, and after another moment, stared at Tirek weakly. He slowly walked up to her, knowing that he had one, laughing in victory and dominance.

Twilight then tried to blast Tirek with all the strength she had left, but Tirek had suddenly blasted the ground in front of Twilight, sending her backwards, unable to fly, she landed on rock, back first. The impact temporarily paralysed her, making her unable to move any body part or to use her magic. She knew she had lost, and that Tirek will rule Equestria. And she thought that… she will be murdered by Tirek. The Minotaur himself was approaching her again, with a giant smirk on his face.

Now, at this point, you think I should be intervening here before Tirek makes his move. But no, these events are supposed to happen, so I still have to wait a little bit longer. Even if sacrifices had to be made…

And if he didn’t do it…

“Was it? Now, what did I do?” The Alicorn had spoken after a small pause, with a foreign accent which made him sound intelligent towards Tirac.

“It was you…” Tirac started off, still in disbelief over seeing this pony. “You were the one that did-

“Now, I’ve done many things before,” He interrupted, knowing what he was going to say. “And I have regretted those and accepted what I’ve done. And so have you. Some which I believe that you regret, and other that don’t. Things that you can’t accept.” He said this, getting closer to the cage, until he was standing right in front of it, with a deadpanned and fixed facial expression. It was really unreadable to Tirac. “But, we don’t live in the past, now do we?” He started to walk back and forth, slowly and collectively. “Because we are all living in the present. The present, show that you are locked away in your cage.” He tapped the side of the cage to Tirac’s left, while he was still staring at him. “And I could break you out, so you can escape once more.” Tirac’s eyes started to widen by what he had just stated. “So you can attempt to conquer Equestria’s throne once more, and live in glory at the fact that you are the ruler of all earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns.

And now you could prepare for the future, prepare for the challenges of the princesses who managed to thwart your plans, somehow. King Tirek. It has a ring that name.” He stopped, putting his hoof on the far right bar to Tirac, staring at his hoof. Tirac meanwhile, while listening to this, was still astounded at the fact that this Alicorn was willing to let him go free. Free from the loneliness of this cage, to weld all the power of an entire kingdom, which spanned most of a continent. Tirac wanted revenge from all of the time he has been in Tartarus. But while he was thinking this, the alicorn sighed. “But before all of that, let’s take a few moments to consider.”

He then summoned two pieces of paper, one of which he floated towards Tirac, who was confused, but grabbed it from the air, as the mysterious pony stared at his. “Origami,” He started off with, looking at Tirac for a moment, before looking back as his paper. “One of the ways of representing an object or an animal.” He then focused on the paper, and then using his magic, folded the paper several different times in a pattern, as Tirac only watched it unfold, wondering why he is making Origami in the first place. He thought that there had to be some meaning. The alicorn, after a minute, folded the paper into, what looked like a dragon. “Tatsu,” He said, looking at his construction. “A symbol of power, wisdom, mastery and success. It also brings strength, luck and fortune.” The Origami dragon floated in front of Tirac’s face. “Something that you want. Something that you think you are. Something that you think you deserve. Something…” He paused for a moment, looking away uninterested in something.

“Something that you are not.”

The construction floated back over to the alicorn, while Tirac was looking confused, and felt angry. ‘Something that you are not. What does he mean by this?’ Tirac was slowly getting frustrated over what he said. He wanted to know why he could not ever have strength, luck and fortune.

“Now, you may be wondering why I compared you to something where, which I stated, that you aren’t, well…” He trailed off, not finishing that sentence for a few moments of complete silence, as they stared at each other, letting time pass, and giving Tirac thoughts over what this alicorn is really going to do.

Then the black stallion walked up to the cage, in front of Tirac, and sat down, crossing his legs. Tirac was utterly confused and angered by this pony’s actions. He wanted to know why he hadn’t been released from this cage, but he wasn’t getting an explanation out of him. He wanted to yell at him for an explanation, but thought better of it, considering him relies on his only escape from this place. Though he won’t get an answer saying why. The Alicorn then looked at the piece of paper in Tirac’s hands. He followed his line of sight and held up his piece of paper. Tirac wasn’t sure of what to do with it, as he looked at it in confusion for a few moments, before the aura of the pony snatched it out of his hands. He then proceeded to make another animal, while Tirac watched. After another minute, when he had finished…

“Tsuru” The pony started off with, stating the creation’s name, which was a variation of a crane. “A symbol of happiness, good luck, and…” He paused, looking at Tirac. “Peace…” ‘Peace’ rang in Tirac’s mind. Something that he didn’t want. He wanted control. He wanted power. He wanted fortune. He wanted glory. Wanting peace came into none of those in the slightest in Tirac’s mind. What Tirac didn’t know is that the pony knew what he was thinking there. “None of which you want, I presume.” The crane floated away from Tirac and into the pony’s right hoof. He held up his hoof, looking at it for a moment before turning back to the Minotaur. “None of which many perceive those words as.” He then continued, before pausing for a moment, looking even more serious at Tirac, who looked stern.

“I know who you are.” The Alicorn started, with his voice sounding gruffer than normal. “I know what you’ve done in the past. I know that you want power. I know that you can’t accept what you’ve done. I know that you can’t forgive either.” He lowered his hoof, as they locked eyes one more, looking angrier. “I know what you did all those years ago, in the southern Badlands.” Tirac widen his eyes ever-so-slightly. He knew what he was talking about. “And what you did to the many, all… all for a distraction. A distraction. All the murders, all the crimes- all the slaughter you committed… for a distraction. To distract Celestia from you trying to claim the throne of Canterlot, once more. And who took that blame?” Tirac knew, and didn’t feel any guilt of passing the blame for his own gain. He didn’t. He was selfish, and only cared about himself. If he needed to get rid of anyone in his tracks, then he would get rid of them, and even use them for his own personal gain, for power. And the being that he passed the blame. He remembered those events. “You remember don’t you? And you don’t feel bad about anything that you did.” He didn’t. Tirac didn’t. Those lives meant nothing to him. And Tirac smiled evilly. And the pony’s reaction was a raised eyebrow.

“You know that I don’t. All I want is power, and revenge on Celestia. And you seem to know that.” Tirac stated, speaking in a voice that made him sound weak, in an old man’s voice. “And nothing will change my opinion. Not yours, not the ponies I killed, not the dead, not even my brother, not ANYone.” He stated bluntly, raising his voice in the process for a moment.

“Because you wanted to feel like something you’re not, a king.” The Alicorn replied with. He let that sentence sink in for a moment before continuing. “The power you wanted, the power you gained… corrupted you, and for what? You’re not some leader. Your talents lie elsewhere.”

The alicorn then held the crane with two hooves, studying it, while Tirac was frustrated and angry over what he had just called him. He said that he wasn’t a great leader. He thought that he just wasn’t some leader, but a great one at that. And he thought that he wasn’t corrupt, but that everyone else was, and he becoming ruler of Equestria would solve all the corruption of the ponies in the land. At least, that was from his perspective, and how far from the truth that was is too long to count. The need for power had corrupted Tirac’s mind severely, that he couldn’t tell.

“You see,” The Alicorn said after a few moments of silence, with Tirac feeling tense while the pony felt very calm and comfortable, almost… like he was savouring this moment. “You think that I’m here to rescue you from your imprisonment, to destroy this cage for your freedom, to leave Tartarus once more.” And something happened which surprised Tirac, the alicorn slowly grew a devilish smile, with an intent on something. Something that Tirac didn’t anticipate happening. And something he had hoped he’d never hear in this situation.

“You thought wrong.” He then said, with his voice becoming much darker and gruffer.

Holding the crane by the tail with two hooves, he suddenly, quickly and swiftly stabbed Tirac in his chin, with the point of the crane’s tail. Tirac couldn’t react to this action fast enough, as was about to back away from the pony… before he froze still from the impact. Stock-still, he was paralysed. Had no ability to move. He looked at the alicorn, who was still smiling, with worry, over what he had just done.

“Oh this?” Now standing up again, the pony referred to the crane that was on top of his right hoof. He slowly unfolded the creation with his magic, until it revealed a lone piece of paper with several different folds, and a small sharp object. “Well, you see this thing here in the middle, came with a dose of Atroquinine.” Tirac widen his eyes in even more disbelief, and realised what he had just done. “Yes, Tirac. I just killed you.” Tirac had a single tear come down his eye, knowing that he was going to die from some random stranger. That the stranger had been sent here to kill him. “Let me tell you why.” He continued, dropping the paper and the object on the floor, standing on all four hooves. “Because I want you to pay for what you have done to the innocent lives that you killed.” His facial expression went to one of pure intent to kill, glaring right into his face. “And what you have done… to me over the years. The torment that you put me through, the trauma that I had to face and deal with. Things that I will never forget with my life.” He took one breath before speaking calmly and evilly, like a sociopath. “You decided to make me suffer for decades, so now I think it’s only right to pay all of that with your life.” He then stood up and backed away from the cage in a few steps. “Die in hell, you bastard.” And then turned around, and slowly walked away, with a smile on his face.

Tirac, meanwhile, was slowly dying inside, he couldn’t feel anything in his body, for the poison had attacked his central nervous system. Tirac had his hands on the ground now, coughing up blood, thriving in pain, and suffering. He didn’t know who this pony was, but he knew that he had ended him. After all these years, he was the one to kill him. And he didn’t even know his name. “W-Who ar-are y-you?” He struggled to ask the question, as it was seemingly almost impossible for his current state.

The Alicorn stopped, and lowered his head. He was looking at the ground, with nothing coming to mind. He then moved his head to the left slightly, looking back on the Minotaur that had caused him so much harm, and then slowly stated his name, a name in which Tirac knew very well, but realised it wasn’t him till now. When it was too late.