In order to win the game, you must learn the rules, out-skill, out-wit, and out-perform others. And cheating, if necessary. - *Unknown***
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"Let me go!" She demanded, even if she was unable to move. And no. "You know you won't win!"
"Won't I? You're trapped. I believe you won't be going anywhere, and you're not in much place to take orders." I was a little amused at how she thought she was bigger than me in this moment. There was a pause in silence. "What? Nothing? No retort?" I'm a little surprised at how she didn't say anything there.
"You know that you won't win. You'll inevitably be imprisoned or banished again." She proclaimed. I wish I could laugh at her expression, but I'm not in much of a mood for games. At least not yet.
"You know, you could be right. But not right now." She growled in anger, maybe a hint of defeat.
There was a pause, as she decided to think of something else. Like she was stalling for something. There wasn't anything to stall for, and her sister is miles away. She should be. And they haven't gotten any closer to their intended target. Those little fillies. "How long have you been freed for?" That's the question you're going to ask? Well, I suppose it does make some sense. I did come out of nowhere. And it was quite the surprise.
"Well if you must know, about a few weeks." A few years, a few decades. "You know, I remember the time when I woke up that day. On that one, certain, day. When I woke up again, after a long time. And I laughed. When those little fillies gave me that power. When they trained me to become as strong as I am today. And that's when I broke free. The didn't realise what they had done, back then. That, was a long time ago. I can remember being back inside of my body, after so much watching, yet being unable to act. It was a long time, yet I stile remember what happened back then. And I most definitely remember you," I described, poking her nose, as she seemed to flinch. Before growling.
"My students and her friends will stop at nothing to stop you!" She proclaimed, fixing me with a stern glare. She attempted to use her unicorn magic onto me, where it was immediately nullified. She could only move her head, and the upper part of her body as her lower body was stuck into the ground. Made of a stone with a magical barrier. Now she knows how it feels, don't you?
"Maybe. If I even let them." I shrugged, not caring in the slightest at her threat. Like she is in any position to make threats at me right now. Heh, heh. You know, they don't seem to be getting anywhere at the moment. I can burn time. "Do you know what it's like to live forever." I asked, as I began to walk around her. Maybe even intimidating her. She refused even gaze at me in the slightest, when possible. And refused to also answer. Stubborn. "Not say, living a few thousand years, as you have." She looked a little towards me, gaining some attention. "I mean truly living forever." She looked away again, no facial expression being able to read. No response. "Nothing?" I continued to walk around her after a minute, before stopping in front of her. "Alright then," My voice and my entire mood turned darker, as I wrapped an aura around her neck, forcing her to look me in the eye. She tried to fight me, but it was useless. I may have even sensed fear inside of her. "I have lived longer than anyone else on this planet. For thousands upon thousands of years. Maybe even millions. Longer than you'll ever get to experience, and maybe even comprehend." There are a few things in this world that you cannot comprehend, no matter what you tell yourself. I decided that this was enough to get her full attention, if I really cared, and dropped her to the ground with a thud. Her gaze, one of a couple of emotions, didn't leave mine. "I have lived, ever since there was only one sentient creature that roamed this planet, before one became a handful. And I will live until there is only a few certain ones left, where peace will last among the ages."
I don't think she believed a word I said, but took these words into consideration. Knowing her, she would have. "Why are you telling me this, you monster?" I believe I've heard these words uttered before. Not-so long ago, in fact. It isn't relevant at this moment. And her biased ignorance is showing. I looked away into the sky. They seemed to be getting a little closer right now.
I had to sigh. "So you can understand. What I do and why I do it. Why I am the way I am. And maybe even..." I paused as I looked at a different direction. "Maybe, Celestia, maybe... maybe we can make a deal and end this." I looked back at her, straight into her eyes. A glimmer of hope washing over me, a feeling that I haven't actually felt in... a few days. Weeks, even.
“I would never agree to anything you say!” And the hope suddenly withers off into oblivion. "And how, based off what has happened in the past," She continues, interrupting be before I can ever state a retort or a response of anything. "Can you be forgiven for your own past actions?" Discretion is the polite word for hypocrisy, isn't it Celestia? So, you'll forgive anyone, anyone... but me? That is quite the statement. Not one that I am surprised of. Consider it is her, I didn't expect anything better. This could be typical, in a way. Ignorance is a pony trait I've picked up on. Trust me.
"Well, if you say so... maybe. Maybe..." I continued pacing back and forth in front of her, much to some annoyance shown. They're getting a little closer, yet got a bit side-tracked. "I have been stopped tens of times, if not hundreds. I have been buried underneath the ground. I have been imprisoned to stone. I have been banished under the oceans, to the moon, to the sun, and to other dimensions on occasion..." Those weren't the prettiest times of my life. Damned Chzo... "...bound by magic that has long since been lost. At least, up until around a millennia ago." She seemed lightly interested in my words, like she had never heard by story before. Or at the very least, a story that I'm making up on the spot. Whatever she thinks it could be, other than my truthful words... she is intrigued. "I have seen races come and go, thrive to their fullest potential and then wither away from existence. Some races, a subset of which still exist on this planet at this very moment, has managed to banish me at least once. Several different Kingdoms on the 'other side' have done it multiple times. Dragons have done it the most..." Really I think she has, or at least 'ponies' have, but I decided not to tell her. For a better sake. "Yet after so long, their minds seem to be polluted one way or another from my proximity, whether it was on purpose or not." Well I believe she certainly doesn't believe me, as she hissed. Ever so slowly, they are getting closer.
"Do not worry, there is no need to be alarmed. That only took about..." Several hundred thousand years. "Millions of years to do so." Am I contradicting myself from what I said before? Eh, doesn't matter. She can't change anything. "Ponies by that point will have long since faded into obscurity, withering away from existence by the time it might happen to you, to your sister, or to anyone." If at all. Scare tactics, minor ones at that, seem to work. At least most of the time. Aside that one time with Prance... I didn't noticed the hateful and distrusting look she gave me, not that it will faze me. I waved it away. "Oh no, don't get me wrong about this. Ponies are quite wonderful and magnificent animals, of course. Quite colourful and chock-full of personality." More than I can say for some species... "It's just a trend that I have noticed." And didn't make up, remember that. "Don't be insulted by it. I didn't intend for it to be that way."
She remained silent for a few moments, processing what I had say. She was conflicted about what to do, if to say anything. She just looked to the ground, clenching her eyes closed, as she murmured to herself while thinking. And... then refused to think anything, like she had made a decision and then proceeded to not say it. "You know Celestia, it won't kill you to be civil." Maybe... "I know you don't care for me, or for the people and beings that I care for." Who, if any, sadly don't live today. But she doesn't need to know this. "But think about this from a different perspective. One that is considerably more different than you. Possibly even the exact opposite." Though I doubt it. "Think about how I feel." She refused and glared. I groaned. So much for that. But then again, what was I supposed to expect from her? Any better? Yeah, right. "You locked me in stone for around two thousand years," It was much less, yet she doesn't exactly remember. So, nothing wrong here. "You even sent me to the moon. And the sun for that matter!" Yet still doesn't require the magical capability to sent me to alternative dimensions. Alternative universes. I question what ponies see in her, when they also see me. "And I can still forgive you." Mostly. But I'm not in a bad mood right now.
“You deserved worse than what you've earned.” Not what I was expecting, yet the response could have been worse.
"Maybe, I suppose." I wouldn't be surprised if she thought that I was the worst being on all of this planet. I would give Tartarus a run for it's money, but I'm not that evil and cruel. At least I haven't chosen to be. I have the power to be evil, but I decide not to, because I don't get much fun out of it. "But you would have done the same if you lived as long as I have." No response. "Do you think you know boredom at all? Do you think that you know loneliness?" Granted, she lost her sister for a thousand years, but that is nothing when compared to me. Nothing. She still did not answer, even looking away. "Of course you don't, and you know it. You're loss from Luna is nothing when compared to me." A twinge of guilt may have even raised, but it was swiftly evaporated. I walked in front of her and chocked her neck lightly. Insane, burning eyes met fierce pink and black. "You do not know a thing!" I shouted with a dark voice, ignoring whatever her response was. I stood straight again. "You are a long-lived ruler, the longest of this short-lived race." Well you're not the longest, but whatever. "And..." Pause. "And I feel I should apologize for my magic has done to you, and to others of your race. Some even your friends in the past." There were quite a few of them. Some of those being arrogant bastards, others being as nice as the Element of Kindness (but only just). But that was a long time ago. Quite a long time ago. "I never knew magic like the Elements could have that affect. They are usually only used by species that live longer than they should." Like the ancients, only they perished on this planet. They could still be out there, on other planets. Couldn't be bothered to check, and it would take a while. Then again... the length of my imprisonment...
"You knew about the Elements? Did you... create the Elements of Harmony?"
"Yes," No. "I created them." It would be very funny if I did create them, though it would also be stupid. And I'm stronger than those six Elements anyways. They didn't trap me... "I lost them soon after their birth." From about hundreds years later. "I always give my opponents some sort of trump card," No I don't. Never. There are only a few exceptions. "...that they can use to defeat me." 'Defeat'. Heh, heh. I continued pacing. "So your student and her so-called' friends' are out looking from them right now... to say it loosely." They aren't even in the maze, or in Canterlot for that matter. They're somewhere else. She doesn't need to know this. "I would wait some time before I give my enemies a trump card," If at all. Never. "But yet I have something different this time around." I stopped in front of her. "And do you know why that is?"
Because I'm bored? Because this is one of the only places on this planet that I can actually have fun on? Because other species are too ignorant and arrogant to even listen to a word I say? Because I want to take over the throne of Equestria? Well, that last one has some merit to it... I could simply take over, kill her and her sister, and nothing would stop me. But I'm not cruel, and that wouldn't be fair. Or fun, for the matter. Not enjoyable in any particular way. "Because you are too afraid to fight me and Luna again?" I held back laughter. Afraid of you two? I would wipe the floor with you both. There wouldn't be much of a challenge here. She sensed some of my amusement. "What is so funny?"
"Nothing, nothing." I waved it away, smiling in delight. "It's a guess that I didn't expect to be uttered." Kind of. "As I said, I want a deal. A truce. What would you say to a truce?" No response for moments. "Alright. I'm assuming you'll agree to me." She scowled. "Before you decide to say anything, I would like to explain my own terms."
She sighed in defeat. "I suppose that I don't have much of a choice." No, I suppose you don't. I'm honestly surprised you've been this co-operative so far. I shouldn't get my hopes up.
"You do have I choice, but I guess you don't have much of one to decide un-forcefully." Not that I would do that. Just instructing fear. "Now I need to state this. I have done... a lot of monstrous things in my life." Surprisingly no snickering from her. "I've created chaos in the past, before. I've created discord. I'm not denying that." Though it doesn't seem as fun as it used to back then. "I have torn families apart. I've ruined friendships. Nations. Empires. Species upon species. But, I won't ever hurt anything without reason. I've almost never hurt anything in my entire lifetime, aside from causing some few manners of torment." Those weren't the good days. "And I have never, EVER, killed anyone, or any other living being that has ever walked on this planet." Aside from deer as a food source. Sadly in those times, I didn't have much of a choice. "Yes, I have caused some to kill others. I have whispered torments into their minds to make them go insane, some may have even killed themselves, as a matter of fact." I don't know if this is true, the latter. It probably is, really. If you know who I am. "But I have never killed anyone, personally. Not for my own benefit, not for the benefit of others, not even for my own satisfaction," Because that is quite crazy. "Never."
"Even If I can and do believe you," Which may differ from here on in. "That doesn't excuse you from your responsibility."
I sighed now. "Yeah, I know." She blinked in surprise. Because she didn't get my impression just then. "Trust me, I know. I've been told this before, many a times in the past." Maybe one too many. "This is what they exactly said, the last time I tried to talk to someone who rejected my deal, to even consider it. The same thing as you." Yet I keep this possibly cycle going by making her forget each time an attempt is unsuccessful. I've learnt about having to give up too soon. And it ruined me that one time, long ago. She doesn't know that the last person I talked to was indeed her. This is about the eighty-eighth time, on record. All within the last few minutes, in fact. And her student isn't getting any closer at the moment. I think she may have even cheated. It's a little hard being in two places at once. Harder when it's four. "So I've been playing this game that I've grown so tired of, it just doesn't appeal to me. Maybe even saddens me..." Truthfully. "I've very tired of it. I just want it to end, frankly. I have been playing on the fence for a while about whether or not I should go through with this deal. For a while." I ended there, looking away at the bushes.
"So you just expect me to let you run wild within my country, while I try to teach you how to play nice?"
"No, no. You're misunderstanding me. And not necessarily. I don't really expect you to let me be free in this nation, not without the prejudice that I'll receive from everyone else." I've made that mistake before. "And I know how to play nice." She scoffed. "And I haven't been during this entire conversation? The only bad thing that I've done so far, within the last few hours, is trapping you temporarily, and sending the Elements on a wild goose chase for nothing. I haven't insulted you or anyone else, I haven't shown any arrogance or ignorance on my part (nor will I), and I haven't harmed you, your student or anyone else. And I have no desire to do so." No retort. "I will be honest as I possibly can towards you, when I say that I shall never lay a harm of any of your free ponies, for however long they live for." She gazed over me in many different emotions, saying nothing. "And another thing that I have done is explaining my reasoning to you. I haven't laid down any actual terms yet, as unappealing as it may sound towards you, and every other pony in this nation that currently lives and breaths. And you interested in hearing them in the slightest?"
She looked away in thought. "What if I say no?"
"Sadly in your case, you know you'll hear them whether you want to or not." She looked down at the ground. "If you don't accept them, or flat-our right choose to ignore them," Which you won't. "I will rule this nation, and eventually the world. Once more, in fact." She looked straight up at me in attention. Oh yeah, you didn't know this before, did you? Well, keep listening. "For a very, very, very long time. Longer than maybe even your lifespan. That is, if I don't choose to kill you." Her eyes widened a little. I don't think I'll kill her or her sister, but I can't guarantee it. "I’ve seen it already, in the foreseeable future. The reason dragons put me down so many times, you see, is that they live long enough to be able to do it. So have a few other species, that so few of those still live to this day. But dragons are corrupted by me, now. At least most of them are.They are some who are still mostly sane and nice, of course, but yet most are greedy and violent. Mainly greedy and arrogant. There are exceptions, and some can be trained well. Like your student's assistant, is an example. But if you choose not to accept my terms, I will hide the Elements of Harmony so well that they will never be found in your lifetime. Or I might just unmake them, destroy them entirely. I have the power to, I just lack the desire. I don't see much of a reason if it keeps the ponies of your land safe. I won't destroy them for my own benefit, or any other attackers' benefit. I don't see why.”
There was a long pause, before her expression turned stern. For at least a brief moment. "Will Luna know the terms of this 'agreement'?"
"Yes, I don't see why not. Well, not much of one that is important." I teleported Luna right next to her sister, as she felt to the ground and snapped awake. She looked around for a few seconds, processing everything. "YOU!" She shouted, her horn started to glow, where I just groaned and made her horn disappear. Temporarily, of course. She froze in shock at this, yet couldn't process it as her lower body was fully encased in stone.
"Do I need to remind you of who I am?" I asked her, as she was mad, yet lightly in fear, consider she knew that she couldn't do anything.
“You’ll never get away wi—” Ugh. This again.
“Yes, yes, spare me your tripe.” She glared at me. "Yes, you hate my guts. Yes, you think I'm a monstrous being that deserves a fate worse than death. Yes, you have me for the concept of who I am. You hate me because I was partially a reason that you turned into Nightmare Moon, and was entrapped for a thousand years on the moon. Yes, no one can take the time to consider me anything close towards the definition of 'nice'. Yes, you have an obvious bias against me where you probably won't ever listen to what I have to say, like everyone else. Yes, you fear me, because of the big possibility that I can take over your land, and you can't do anything about it. Yes, you think I'm some sort of sadistic monster who enjoys chaos and killing thousands of innocent ponies for no reason other than the possibility that I can be only considered as a 'monster' and 'crazy', without letting me explain my reasoning and what I do and why I do it, and expelling these rumours that simply aren't true. Yes, yes. Yes, yes yes yes. You have all these reasons and feelings. Now can we get on with it!" I shouted in anger and frustration, mildly, as she seemed to be taken aback, very much so. And so did Celestia, a little. She didn't say anything towards me, huffing as she looked away. "Nothing? Okay then." She definitely wasn't happy.
"This is kind of funny, actually.” Celestia... said out of completely nowhere.
"You're getting a kick out of me being frustrated?" Well I'm insulted if anything, as that tiny smirk across her face has anything to say.
“Celestia, what has he done to you?” Luna asked in shock. Celestia only smiled for a brief moment, before getting all 'serious' with me again and her expression turning stern once more.
I sighed. "If you must know, I'll just briefly catch you up to speed on what has happened, and what I told her." I replayed the entire conversation to Luna through her mind, which in reality only took a few seconds. When she caught up, she became silent for a few moments, before... bursting out in anger?
"You, of all ponies, you, expect me to believe your own words?" She demanded in a very angry tone, where Celestia only watched on. "You, who have killed innocent beings in the past—"
"I have never killed anyone, at least not directly, without purpose." I state once more, interrupting her as she displays her ignorance.
"—and has the intent of taker over our throne for no justifiable reason—"
"Well 'justifiable' wouldn't be the word I would use. And I have a reason..."
"—just because you would like to see the pain of others as you torment them in your own sickening ways!" No, I don't. It's sad that you won't listen to... what I have to say. "The power, the magic that you have has gone to your head! You have killed innocents upon innocents in the past," No, you won't listen to me. "And you will in the future," No. No! NO! "Because you know this is the only way that you can be happy, you mons—"
"YOU THINK THAT'S WHAT I WANT?! YOU THINK I FEEL HAPPY KILLING INNOCENT PONIES!?" I roared with absolute fury, where they both froze in place. I didn't stop. "YOU THINK THAT THIS IS THE ONLY REASON WHY I WANT TO RULE EQUESTRIA!?!" I went deranged. "NO IT IS NOT!! IF YOU WOULD EVEN DISREGARD THE IGNORANCE THAT YOU HAVE FOR WHAT I AM TRYING TO DO, YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT I'M NOT HAPPY EVER!!!" I boomed into the air, with absolute anger that this mare has the nerve of disregarding everything that I said because of what I have done in the past. I was breathing heavily, staring very intently into her eyes, as she seemed shaken, and so did Celestia, but not as much. I swayed away and looked into the distance, seeing the sun in the sky, the dusk forming.
I took a few slow heavy breaths, closing my eyes and counting to ten. And then hundred. And then thousand. Counting sheep. Hundreds. Thousands. Calming me down, slowly in my reality. In theirs? About ten seconds or so, as I have made it. For effect.
I turned back to them both, who seemed to be whispering fearfully something to each other, freezing where I looked at them. I didn't think I was that scary. And it's them. I'm surprised I was even that scary. And, lost control of my anger. Another breath. "Before I continue, I would like to apologize for my sudden outburst." And why I won't explain the reasoning, as you two should know. They both did a double-take, blinking once. Then twice.
"Now, I have never killed another being. Not a pony, a dragon, or anything else. Ever. I have commanded others, directly and in-directly, to kill, yes, but I personally did not kill them. I do take responsibility that I have done such things, in some cases uncontrollably. That does not mean that I have pleasure in taking others life. In fact, I am quite the opposite. I hate killing people, ponies, whatever! It's probably the most unforgiving thing that I can do in my life time. And believe me, I am quite old and wiser than both of you. Possibly even combined. I wouldn't exactly know. And... no. That is not why I want the throne of Equestria. I do not have any intention of killing innocent ponies, because I feel... feel... happiness or pleasure from it. Nor will I ever. Nor will I even kill you both, now that I have decided, even if I have to, just to gain the throne of the land that you rule (at least at this time). I won't. Because that's not the being I am, what makes me so. That's not who I am. You can believe whatever rumour, legend, myth you have about me. I won't take that belief away from you. But if you do believe these rumours, you are entirely wrong." They didn't look away from me once. And remained quiet when I paused for them to even say anything. They didn't for ten seconds, before I continued. Another breath. "And I don't care whether you both believe me or not. But it's the truth. And if you can't agree with me, then fine. I wouldn't blame you, quite frankly. So many others haven't. And it's been a long time since someone has.
"You know, all I ever wanted in this world was to be happy. But it was apparently too much to ask for, in this world. I learnt the extremely hard way. Very harshly. And I know not to make that same mistake again. Of wanting happiness and peace. Because quite frankly, it is next to impossible for me, where I truly am at peace and happy. Even if the ponies of this land are very nice and all, they still won't like me. No matter what I do. They'll always be sceptical, hateful, cared. Just to name a few emotions. I could change their emotions, somehow, but it still won't make me happy. So I gave up on that pursuit long ago. And no being can change my stance on peace and happiness, no matter what they do or what they say. Because I'll still be hated by everyone, at the end of they day. This is the closest I'm going to get. Ever. Period. Is not to make me happy, personally, but to make others as happy as they can be. And I can enjoy that. I'm not exactly like Chrysalis. I don't feed off of love. But happiness, and maybe to an extent love, makes me feel happy in a way. That's the closest that I'm ever going to be happy in this world. And I don't want this structure to change for the worse. I'm not some malevolent god, as you may see me as. I'm still a being at heart. I still have emotions as everyone else. I just hide them much better. Lock them away, and the key withers away in time. No one really cares about I feel, so I don't see any point to express the emotions I have. The best possible scenario that I'll have, is when I am stand corrected. When someone can make me truly happy as the ponies that you rule over can make themselves as happy. When their in love, perhaps. I've learnt that this wish is nearly impossible, as stated before. I just wish I could be wrong.
"But I won't be. You know it. I know it. And the terms that I'm laying down here is going to get me the closest that I'll ever remember for the rest of my life to this feeling that seems non-existent in my world." I sighed as I looked away for moments on end, in silence as my words went through their minds. After some time, where neither spoke anything, I spoke. "So, will you listen to me or not?"
They both looked at each other, the ground, at me, and in some other direction for a few minutes, contemplating their decision. While her student and her friends weren't getting anywhere, apparently stopping around the time that I was yelling (they shouldn't have heard me), Celestia looked into my eyes. And maybe softened a little, but still remained stern. "I believe you," And I did a double take. She actually does? Well, I shouldn't be too surprised. It was, after all, a possibility. Just... not as big as I thought it may be. Even Luna was a bit shocked. "And I will listen to your terms... rather unappealing as it could be." Yeah, I said that. Before Luna came into this picture. And my rant, explanation, exposition... and shouting. Luna looked at me hesitantly, before nodding as well. She was still spooked, which was still surprising in my book, but the feeling seems to have faltered over time.
"Well, alright then. I thought you two would." I still manage to smile, whether they think it's genuine or a show, devilishly. "The first term I present to you is that I get to live in your lands, or at the very least among them, while being hidden the entire time." And maybe disguised if necessary.
"No powers?" Celestia asked.
"Oh, I'll still have my powers, there's no doubt about that. But I'll only have a few, very little. I won't ever use them unless I absolutely have to, or if I feel like they are needed for any other specific reason. My physical body will age, and maybe even myself if you let it. I won't, however, drop my immunity you magic, whether I am put in danger or not."
Pause. "Go on, keep talking." Quieter, she murmured, "I never thought I would say that."
"Keep thinking that. You would feel better." She rolled her eyes, as I still smiled. "Alright, be that way. I can't change that. The second term is that no one is to know of me, unless I personally tell them, directly or non-directly." The last part doesn't really matter, but I figured it would be better to state it. "I will be in your land, among everypony else, hidden, possibly in plain sight, where not a single soul on this world can know of me. They would either think that I would have disappeared mysteriously, imprisoned or banished, one way or another."
"Will both of us know that you exist?" She asked intently, as I paused for a second.
"Hmm... maybe. I haven't concluded on whether or not you should know." They didn't seem pleased with this answer. They can't do anything about it. I waved my hand, still pacing. “Yes I know, it's vague. But that’s only two of the terms that I've currently stated. What say you?”
“You’re going to keep going either way, you know.” Celestia finally said, after sharing a short glance with Luna.
“Yes, I am going to,” I answered, my smile falling. I stopped right in front of her, raising an eyebrow. “What do you think so far?” I queried.
“If you are telling the truth about them, and will keep to your word, I see nothing to object to so far. Aside from the second term, possibly.”
"Well it's better than... what could be worse. Good enough." I shrugged it off, resuming my pacing. "The third term is after some time, I won't specify how long," Not that I need to say. "I will regain my powers, or some of them. Slowly over time. They will be at random, however, nothing either of us here will have any possible influence over. I will not use them against you, unless I see reason otherwise, but I might use them to protect myself against you, if I only feel threatened by you both, or any other power like yourself. Only then, will I regain the full extent of my power. In any other situation, against anything else that's power doesn't compare to either one of you, I will only use the power that I have."
“Okay,” Celestia simply said, seeming to accept everything I've stated so far, even if a bit sceptical. And so does Luna, surprisingly.
"'Agreement Number Four' is that I will not die, no matter what. I might get injured, sure. Severely injured possibly. I might even get hurt so badly that by all right I should be dead. Ponies and other beings will, of course, question the logic of this. A solution to this is that I will give you a certain type of magic, and to all unicorns by this extension (just to be on the safe side), that enables healing and the transfer of life force from one creature to another, maybe even their own lives if they choose to. Let me give an example, for perspective. Even the, no matter how odd this sounds, even the 'power of love' has the ability to heal others. What I mean by this is that if a being, let's say a pony is dying, and their loving partner kisses them as they die, then they will be revived to a certain point. Like their cheating death. But depending on the being, or just entirely random, they will be fully healed. No injures, no diseases, no scars. Nothing. All disappearing." I looked away briefly. "It is ancient magic. When I mean that it is ancient, I mean that its very old, so old that I barely can even remember how long this type of magic has been around for," A lie that I decided to put, for no particular reason. Other than I can. "And I can remember everything perfectly, which is saying something." Luna rolled her eyes, disbelieving this last part. "Okay, fine! You don't need to believe that last part, but everything else is genuinely true." Celestia smirked a little, before disappearing. Odd. "So that is currently four terms that you can or cannot agree towards. I'm not the only one benefitting from this, ponies and every other being even gets something out of it. From something that hasn't existed in years. I’m sure you’ll think of a way to explain the magic to your ponies, somehow. It takes some energy to use this sort of spell, and it’s hardly perfect as it could take the wind out of you, but you're good at making stuff up, aren't you both? I mean, you two are over a thousand years old." They got ponies believing they control the sun and the moon, I'm sure they'll be fine. I paused, both in my pacing and in my dialogue.
The silence stretched. Those six ponies are nearly there, and they're breaking the rules. It shouldn't be that hard to follow rules. I mean, the Element of Magic basis most of what she does around order. Well, they do have the Element of Loyalty and Honesty... “And?” Hmm? Celestia finally broke whatever thoughts I was having there.
I blinked. “Sorry, I also froze time in the maze outside. A bit of a problem with an intervention caused by two pegasi. They were the only ones that really gave me any sort of trouble that were ponies, aside from alicorns. You two. I believe... it should be taken care of now."
“Yet you seemed to have missed us, somehow." Luna accused, as Celestia seemed to have groaned. “And look where that got you!”
“And why do you think I let two female alicorns go?” Yeah you better stay quiet. "Now the sixth term is the most intriguing one that I have," It's the fifth term correctly, but why not mix it up? "I will report everything that I do, at least mostly everything, to you Celestia. And maybe to you Luna, on occasion. Unless you tell me not to write something down that you do not want to read, and I will leave out certain details, some that you wouldn't find important or interesting, or that I will not report for a reason that I will not state. I may not put down everything I feel in some cases, I'll just leave up to your own interpretation because... you know how it goes. If it makes you feel any better in some way, your student doesn’t report everything to you either."
“But you won’t touch her if we agree to this little truce of yours.”
"I have no intention, as stated before. If you would live, this can be the fifth term. Term nine will be that I will not corrupt any minds using the magic that I possess at the time or that I gain if I feel very threatened. Unless they choose to follow me down the road. Or if I just feel like it, if they piss me off to an extent. Or when this plan all falls apart and..." I sighed. "It will be to no avail..."
"What do you mean by 'Falls apart'?" Luna curiously asked, as Celestia whispered something to herself, that I could still hear.
"When something gets me, finds me, figures out who I am. When I'm caught. When some being of the planet knows that it's me, and the deal will fall through. Or if either of you two decide to end the deal for whatever reason you see fit. Even with magic I should die, but I won’t. Someone will figure something out eventually. This leads me to the seventh term. When it all falls apart, you two will deny any involvement, if rumoured to be any involvement, and will take no responsibility whatsoever. We'll have this, sort of 'mock battle', where I'll lost on purpose or otherwise, and you'll banish me from this land. Or whatever other fate you have install for me. Or I will simply flee from Equestria, never to return for a long time. I will have regained all of my magic by this point, keep in mind."
“Something just... all of this... this seems so… wrong, Celestia,” Luna whispered, looking at me in many different emotions. And so did her sister, who did not answer her. I just continued.
"The eighth term, my favourite number mind you, is that I will obey you, as any other subject of this land. Of course, I'll make some suggestions here and there, and there are some orders that I might conveniently not hear, on purpose or not. But I want you to keep in mind, if you..." I paused for a second. One thing these two will not understand is being in a few certain places at once. I saw them staring at me in confusion where I didn't say anything for a few seconds. “No matter. Nothing of importance happened. I think we were on my last term. Term ten, I believe. At any time that you may choose, for whatever reason you have, you may destroy this experiment I've created. I'll go back to the way I used to be with all of my powers, and you two go back to being the rulers of Equestria, my enemy if you prefer. If this is the case, I will not go easy on you in any way. I will dominate this land, and in time the world. This is a possibility, that no living soul on this planet can remember what happened before I became the ruler. I won't burn the history of what happened in the past, keep in mind. You'll always be in the history books if you, for some reason, are not alive. This is assuming that you don't defeat me, which personally, I highly doubt, but that is just me." They both shared a look while I looked off into the distance for a brief moment. "But, do you know what the most interesting part of the deal is?" They looked at me, expecting me to say something. I'm not sure if I'll go through with this part, but it certainly would make things more fun.
"That I'll help you fight... me!" As expected, they were completely lost. "How can I fight myself, you ask? Well aside from making an exact clone," Which I'm definitely not doing again after last time. "Or just splitting into to... Well it will be a question that I'll answer if you only accept my terms and the truce, first." Luna didn't take this very well.
"Sister, he is clearly lying. You know what and how he is!" I don't think you know the scope of it, Princess.
There was a pause. “Surely you won’t consent to being a pony, though,” Celestia said. “What kind of disguise will you take?”
I don't necessarily need to disguise myself. "...I won't say. To be honest, I don't know exactly. Maybe I'll just stay as myself, and erase myself from the history books, or from everyone's memories. I could become a male Alicorn, a Griffin, a Hippogriff. Maybe one of the species that is extinct. The 'Ancients' as I like to call them. Do you even know anything about the ancients?"
"No, I can say that I do not." Celestia finally said after sharing a short look with Luna.
I paused for a second. "I was one of the first sentient beings on this planet. As old as the first sentients beings on this planet. Ever. You can't imagine how long ago that was." About 100,000 years... I think. "Think your entire lifetime, both of you. Think of all of it. Imagine that thousands of times. Now millions of times. They thought they knew so much… They thought they were so wise… Some were, others weren't. They didn't perish because they refused to change. Oh let me tell you, they changed. Quite a lot. Many different cultures, some of which have adopted today, and none of them even know this. The founders do, but that was thousands of years ago. They had methods of war, of fighting, of killing, that rivaled anything I have seen since. I’ll admit, they produced a few souls that gave me a run for my money. They didn't last long. They always fell in the end, and when they did there was usually renewed violence. And then their species died out, after time. At least on this planet. They could be out there, among the different planets revolving around its each star. But we will never know for sure." Or you both won't.
"I remember the first ancient I ever met. Or seen, rather. No, met. He was quite the character, he was that one. He didn't live for long, sadly. Ever since they took him away. But that was a long time ago. You know, I could take the form of him. He is quite similar to me, in fact. In a number of ways." I decided, “That is the form I will take if you agree. I’ll even give you the knowledge to change me around if, in the end, you don’t like that form. I can be anything else, or what I am.” Neither spoke up, even if they both felt hesitant.
"You have heard my terms. I think they are a bit fair, personally. Hell, they give you a pretty big power over me.” I shrugged. “But I knew that is what it would take." The stone around both of them evaporated into thin air, as they both flinched at first. "So what do you say, Celestia?" She looked at my gesture, biting her lower lip, and looking away. First at Luna, who seemed to have shrugged. Odd. I expected more resistance from her. "No, this is your choice, Celestia. Yours, and only yours. Keep in mind at what I'm giving you here. Control over me."
Reluctantly as they were, they made no immediate move to attack or harm me in any way. Nor did they even attempt to flee. A minuted passed. Then two. Three. Five. A sixth of an hour. She shook on the terms, slowly as they both turned fully into stone, before being fully encased within a second or two. "Good. I'm honestly surprised you actually agreed. Now both of you relax, I'm not trapping you in here forever. You both can still hear me when your both fully in stone. You just can't speak, or ask questions. Now I promised a few extra details to both of you. I did not lie. If you both ever wish to pull the plug on this, scrap the deal, you must speak a few certain words. To make it more interesting, I won't ever discuss what these certain words are, their part of the mystery." Both of them were slightly mad. "Calm down. You must speak them in order, with nothing in between. You'll find out in time what these words are. Trust me, you'll know Ortum." They both didn't know what to think of that last word, which they've never heard before. And how funny it will be when they learn the meaning of it. Now, you see, this is where things start getting interesting. If you recall, one of my terms was that no one could know of my existence here." When I fully decided this right now. "Not a single living being on this planet. Or ever, as a matter of fact. And you both are still alive and kicking. Encased, froze in stone, but alive. So when I'm done talking, you both are going to forget about this conversation. It never happened. Not to you two, anyways." They both felt horrified, and a little scared. "I know how you both feel, but you, Celestia, shook on this deal. And you both remember it quite fresh in your minds. And... do you know what the even more intriguing part about this deal that you didn't foresee, Celestia?" She didn't have an answer, but Luna knew.
"This was all predicted. From the very beginning, before you two were even born. By me, of course. But aside from me, Luna predicted this. Twilight would have predicted this in time. Candace may predict this. Even Chrysalis could have predicted. Tirek, maybe. He isn't important." And never should be, not when I'm done with him and his brother. Damn Starswirl screwing everything up. "I wouldn't be surprised if a child or a foal could predict this. Even the damn Dragons predicted this, and most of them are corrupt by this stage. Luna didn't want to mention this to you, because when she could still remember about it," When I didn't wipe her mind, about a week ago before replanting the memory back into her mind. "She thought it would be best not to mention it to you. Oh, only if you had felt the horror when you shook on this deal... So you'll forget me. Both of me. You'll learn of the code in time, but you won't know of it's meaning, and it's purpose. You'll forget that you were given access to certain magic, yet still being able to produce said magic. Actually, I may put the magic in some old book for someone to find... Another mystery to this world, that no one will be able to understand.
"I'm not stupid. No matter how much you think I am. Far from it."
Celestia's mind shifted onto something else. "I am getting to this next part. If you somehow know and remember how to unleash me and decide if you wish... then wouldn't it be interesting, wouldn't it? I think it's somewhat ingenious, but I would be bragging. You see, the only way that you'll know is that you utter these words by complete stroke of luck." The horror grew. "And if you somehow figure out what the words are... well it would be a possibility. The only real way is if I tell you, which I won't. Because I don't exist." Horror expanded even more exponentially. "So you understand, most definitely. Both of you. You're both scared, aren't you." To be honest, if they weren't encased in stone right now, they both maybe trembling. Though this could just be imagination. Still possible, seeing as how frightened Celestia really is, and how much she regrets this already.
“So you understand, I see. Yes, a lot of things will occur. I already foresee it. And do you know what else I foresee for you, Celestia?” The horror was still growing. “Remember term six of our agreement?” A single tear dropped from her stone face. “I corrupted one sister a few years ago when I wasn’t even able to move. You just bet your entire world that I won’t be able to corrupt the other one now.” I let that sink in for a minute. "Well, I must say adieu. I must be off now, planning everything that will or may happen. And for that, I am off."
Before I did leave, I moved to the other side of Celestia, away the furthest from Luna, and whispered into her ear. "And good luck to you, mea magna prioris. You'll need it." I smiled at her, as she was frozen in shock for a moment, before feeling like she wanted to burst out in tears. Of many different emotions. "Good luck indeed."
The planet froze. Then the world shifted backwards. Time reversed, up to about a day before I revealed myself back into this nation. I was still in my 'spirit' state, as I then ghosted invisible across the nation, before the entire world. I whispered certain things to certain people, setting things up as I want them to. I told Celestia I wouldn’t use my magic to corrupt minds, but you don’t have to break someone to make them do what you want them to. Loopholes are very intriguing, aren't they? They always benefit me with some occasional lies.
I drove a being nearly mad from his own loneliness.
I altered the mind of a griffin, making her feel slightly different about her world and her old friend.
I forced a forgotten 'species' back into existence.
I drove a king mad.
I made a certain mare jealous with envy.
I gave a certain old dragon some interesting dreams.
I made a living hell more tolerable than it should be.
I gave two ponies what they ever wished for.
I gave a certain king some magical power and some wise knowledge in order to be a threat to her throne, once more.
I teleported a few beings from the abyss they almost went into as they cheated death.
I brought back certain buildings from the ancients' civilisation.
In time, I will make a certain pony an Alicorn.
And I brought back the device to possibly end all life on this planet, and the galaxy as we know it. Both buried deep beneath the ground, vanished away, and floating in the sky, with debris all around. Only this time, it makes sense of how it works and why it exists.
But finally... I made the relays work once more, deep in space, at the furthest reaches of the solar system, and through out the galaxy.
Thou shall not remember thy name. But thou shall remember in time.
For the show to kick things off, a show of a lifetime that simply cannot be missed.
Yours.
