Chapters Chapter 1. Life Under the Priests
Chapter 1. Life Under the Priests
I awoke like every morning, with the knocking of the overseers on my door
"Awake Liberty-3901!" he shouted as he pounded on my door, before walking off to wake the rest of us.
I yawn and sit up before looking out my window, the sun and moon were where they are every morning. I heave a sigh and climb out of my cot. I walk to my water bucket and swish the morning taste out of my mouth. Before doing my business in the aqueduct. I hear the ponies of the old world had strange pipes that carried water and waste, but such technology must merely be a dream. I look around my apartment, the red star hung proudly over my cot. Well MY is a bad term, the Temples own everything, I simply say my to make the point only I use it. I lived in one small room on my own. There was a kitchen to the right corner with an ice-box, pantry and small coal stove, my 'bathroom' was a small hole under a seat where my business went down into the aqueduct and a water bucket next to a tap. Finally my cot against the wall, next to the standard issue red star.
"Praise Syrinx" I say with little emotion before leaving the one small room I call home. I walk down the street as other ponies walk to their job, in uniform with their identification number visible on their right fore-hoof. I meet a familiar face at the wagon stop. In the old world he would be called a "friend" I believe.
"Hello Peace-2541" I say with a light smile, trying to be nice since he might be an informant for the priests, you could never be too careful.
"Oh good morning Liberty-3901" he says cracking a light smile, a sight which was rare for most. "Has your morning gone as planned?" he asks, routine was everything, Independence was considered a sin against Syrinx.
"Yes, just as every other, and yours?" I ask only to be polite and with no real interest,
"As planned" he said with a light nod. After a few minutes the other ponies arrived.
"Where is Equality-8247?" I ask looking for my good acquaintance.
"Equality-8247 was caught with forbidden knowledge" a white coated female states with none of those frivolous old world emotions.
"He was caught worshiping the false goddesses of old" a red stallion says with no care as he plucks a loose thread from his dark blue uniform.
The large wagon that takes us to our work stations pulls up, the large stallions wait for us to drudge on board before they embark down the cracked brick road. I bid farewell to Peace-2541 before walking inside the wagon factory. I go through this day as every other but that nagging feeling of emptiness eats away at me as I sand the wagon wheels. I find myself making a light vocal noise, I think its called humming. After my six hours of work my superior gives me permission to leave. as i was walking to the wagon stop I saw it... a white dove soars overhead, I thought them to be extinct. I know I should report it but it's elegance has me in a trance as is soars down a hill towards the woodlands. I do something that would make everyone question my sanity and devotion to Syrinx... I followed it... I move at a quick pace, I have heard this act to be known as "running". I never knew it would be so tiring, but the white bird of peace pushes me on. I follow it down another steep hill, I check the skies glow, it's almost curfew... but I've come this far, I must press on! I think as I push the thoughts of routine and obedience away. I push through some thick plants, I can't remember the name...
"were they shrubs, or bushes?" I ask myself
Either way after I push through then I see it, a peaked wall of stone, water runs over the edge into a shallow pond. I don't know how long I stood there, taking in the natural beauty, never in my life had I seen something so... free. I see a trail of large stones slightly peaking out of the water. After questioning myself I decide to walk on them. They lead behind the wall of falling water.
"I think I shall name this a... waterfall" I say quietly to myself. The stone walkway leads me behind the waterfall. And I need to stifle a gasp. Inside are objects of treason... books, paintings and even some technology!
"T-This must be a dream..." I say holding a dark blue cylinder with a red switch up, it has a writing stick inside
"Who would leave such a device behind?" I ask inspecting the device. I curiously hit the switch and the writing stick spins as a grinding noise is heard. I scream in terror and drop the object
"S-Syrinx protect me!" I say hiding behind a broken chair. As it shakes on the ground the writing sick pops out and the machine goes silent. After watching it for what felt like an hour I step forward and inspect the writing stick. The machine... it sharpened it. I look at the writing stick, something is written on the side
"Pencil cross lined symbol two? What does it mean?" I ask myself as I pick the cylinder back up and with some shred of confidence plunge the writing stick back inside as the machine sharpens it once more. I flick the switch off and set the machine down carefully. I turn and see rotting wooden shelves, some are collapsed. I use all my might to flip the old furniture and stare at the books. I look at the titles "Dictionary, of mice and stallions, Frankenstallion?" I ask looking over the names before a large book with a picture of the two old goddesses catches my eye. I crack the dusty book open and read, entranced by what I am reading. The Goddesses of old... Celestia and Luna... they raised the sun and moon...
"T-This is preposterous! Slander against Syrinx!" I say placing the book down, but I can't help looking back at it. "Or... perhaps Syrinx is slander against them..." I say before clasping my hooves over my muzzle, what I said was punishable by live incineration!
"But... the book seems so logical... it answers so many questions..." I mumble in disbelief, was our whole world, and our beliefs a lie? I take a step back, shocked at the revelation before tripping over something. I look under me and see an strange black case. I try to open it but there is a small dial lock.
"A lock? But locks are forbidden..." I say, the shocks never stop. My curiosity will be the death of me, but I must know what's inside. I sit for about forty five minutes, trying combinations before a "Click!" breaks the silence. With shaky hooves I reach forward but stop.
"This is all so wrong... I've broken so many regulations..." I think to myself. I fear opening it, for I may never want to close it. Then I say something that shocks me: "Celestia give me strength..." Then it hits me... I've prayed to the old goddesses... even just a passing thought but still... the goddesses Luna and Celestia seem so much more... true, and fulfilling...
"No! I cannot cross that line!" I say standing up. I turn and leave the cave, but the whole walk back, the things I've seen, and that strange case nags at me. I must go back tomorrow...
Author's Note
((This is one of my first stories and I have no editor, so excuse any mistakes I've made, I re-read multiple times.
Below is a link to the song "Discovery" by Rush, it's the song I based this chapter on.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OzCNz8d6l6U ))
As I am scolded by my supervisor, the world around me floods back. All day that case occupied my thoughts, the lines of text from that book of old won't leave me be.
"This is shoddy work!" he says sliding the wheel off the table in frustration. I sanded it too far, an obvious groove was the result. "Fifteen lashes!" he shouted before the overseers grab me
After the first time they lash you, you realize there's no arguing. Even as the drag me to the post, the treasures from behind my waterfall come to mind. "Wait, my? As in possession? Everything belongs to the temples, why have I deemed those treasures mine-" my thoughts are cut off by my own scream, the nine tailed whip hits hard, blood seeps from the cut in seconds. Before the next his, almost over top the original. It's only been two hits, yet I'm praying for it to stop. I grit my teeth as the next blow comes, followed by another, and another. Ten blows later I feel the sting of rubbing alcohol douse my back.
"Now get out of our factory!" my supervisor says before the overseers throw me out into the street. I lay there, waiting for the pain to fade enough to move. I slowly climb to my hooves, tears well up in my eyes as I trudge down the path I took yesterday. As I trot down the familiar slope, I think once again of what life might have once been like. I make my way through the woods, eventually making my way through the bushes. The whip marks have finally started to stop hurting. I see my waterfall, my sanctuary. I walk across the stones. The water is cool, I sit with my back to the waterfall and scootch back.
"Ahh!" wince and bite my lip before the initial sting passes. It was replaced with the cool, soothing water. I sit there for a a hour, letting the nice refreshing water calm my scarred back. All the while I'm inspecting my cove. After my back no longer hurts I stand up, and walk back to the case. I take a deep breath and say a quiet prayer
"Please Syrin-" I stop myself and sit in silence for what feels like hours of inner conflict before starting over "Please, solar and lunar goddesses... keep me safe" I say before opening the case. I am met with an odd object. I brush away the dust from a better vanished time, in my hooves I hold a object, I know not it's purpose. Yet I know it's beautiful. I take out the object and see a patch inside the case. Apparently this is a "Guitar case". I smile for a reason I don't know and hold the guitar in my hooves. As I lay my hooves across the wires, the result is beauty... It has wires that vibrate, which gives forth sound. It sounded so different than the music of the temples. I struck the wires again and made my own music! I smiled and turned a key at the end of the long neck, It made the strings sound different. Truly, this was a miracle long forgotten. Why, It's sounds can build as high as a mountain, or fade gently like rain. For the next few weeks I snuck to my cove, my new home. I would practice on my instrument, always cautious and gentle though. After about a month I begin to remember how to make the same sounds, as I was playing I realized I was also humming. This joyously infectious sound gave purpose and fulfillment to me, it gave me a reason to carry on. I felt a new way to express myself, surely the priests would love this! A way for the ponies to bring joy to themselves! So I started practicing, I spent over a month perfecting my song. Then one day, as I finished a song it happened... With a small flash a picture of a guitar appeared on my flank. At first I was scared, I sought knowledge in the books. I realized it was a Cutie mark, a mark that represents my talent and purpose. I knew I found my calling in life. So I kept working on the song, once I knew it was perfect I carefully packed my instrument in its case and stood up. Before taking a breath of confidence I left my cove. "Priests, please praise my name this day" I say before walking away from my sanctuary.
Author's Note
(This chapter was again inspired by the song "Discovery" by the Canadian rock band Rush. I don't own the rights to any of Rush's albums or songs, below is a link to the song i based this chapter on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzCNz8d6l6U ))
Chapter 3. Presentation
I struck the last cord and listened with a smile as the sound of my music faded through the temple halls. Then the priests rose from their chairs and pulled back their hoods. Instead of faces of wonderment and interest I was met with scowls of annoyance. "What is wrong fathers?" I ask with confusion.
"You have only wasted our time" father Harmony says.
"This is merely another toy, that helped destroy the elder race" Father Stone said.
Father Mercy stepped forward and snatched my precious instrument from me. I watched in shock and horror as grinded the object of my joy into splinters under his hooves.
"Go! leave us be! We have our work to do!" father Harmony shouted as he snapped the neck of my prized guitar in half.
This was the heaviest lost I had ever felt... the one thing that brought me joy was now destroyed, and with it, are also my hope of a happy existence. I fell to my knees and cried over my beloved wooden beauty. I pulled the splinters and pieces of my guitar into a pile and hugged it close, before curling up and crying. I knew I would never find another, and I knew not of who could or how to make another... in a act of religiously driven cruelty, my one joy had been taken. I don't know how long I laid curled up, crying into the pile of debris. When I looked up I saw the priests wearing smiles of entertainment, as they laughed at my misery.
"Leave our sacred temple, and pray we do not incarcerate you" father Stone said with no guilt or remorse for the life he just ruined.
With heavy heart, and a cloud of sorrow over me, I picked up the remains of my love before walking out of the temple. I cried into the wooden corpse as I walked back to my cove. I was holding my destroyed instrument so tightly, that splinters were digging into me, yet I did not care. All the lashes in the land paled in comparison to the pain I felt as my inanimate love was destroyed. I trudged through the rain, the icy water chilling me to the bone. I placed my Guitar down with shaking hooves before I started digging in the dirt across from my waterfall. I put all my sorrow into my work, digging a grave not just for my guitar, but also a part of myself. I carefully put the guitar in the hole, arranging it to resemble it's elegant shape once more before piling the dirt on top. I then curled up and laid on the grave I made, before once again being reduced to a sobbing pile of misery and emptiness. I started losing feeling in my hooves from the icy rain so I slowly stood, and put a large rounded stone over top my instrument's resting place before shuffling back to my cove to cry myself to sleep.
Author's Note
((I know, such a depressing chapter, but it stays true to the (amazing) album 2112 by Canadian rock band Rush. below is the link to the song "Presentation" i based this chapter off of.
I don't own the rights to any of Rush's songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fve4_T2Omdk ))
Chapter 4. Oracle: The Dream
Chapter 4. Oracle: The Dream
With heavy heart, and dead dreams, I slowly trot into my cove. The tears flow from my eyes as the graceful waterfall never stops, it feels like it's crying as well. I fall to my knees and curl up, using the book of the old goddesses as a pillow, I drift to sleep hoping that this is just a nightmare, or that I won't wake up. As my teary eyes shut, I think of Luna. The goddess of night, the protector of dreams. I feel her sleep take me...
"Rise noble one" I hear a voice, as calming as the crisp night air speak.
I open my eyes and stand. I stumble back, the place I am, is unlike any other, I see only a swirl of dark blue and purple as the sky and shining stars. I see no ground as I look over the edge of the hoof-carved stone floor to see a endless void. I remember the voice that brought me to this place of beauty. I turn and see a tall mare, in a black cloak.
"Who are you? A priest?" I ask, fearing this stranger.
"Nay, tis I, Luna" she says pulling back the hood and showing her, the nocturnal Princess.
I can't help but stare, not only does she have wings and a horn, yet her beauty is far more than the book spoke of. I bow, it feels strange but I will respect my goddesses.
"Arise" she says with a voice as soft as silk.
I slowly stand and look up at her. "W-Where am I?" I ask her with curiosity only growing.
"Tis the place of dreams" she says turning around and looking with a smile.
"It's... It's... lovely isn't stronger enough of a word" I say standing next to the goddess I praise each night before sleep.
"Come, follow me, through my astral days, and galactic nights" she says, walking down a large spiral staircase at the edge of the platform.
I follow, not only because she asked me, but because I wish to know more. As I follow her down the stairs, I see the works of gifted hooves. Large arches in the side reveals chambers, filled with statues and paintings, the roof looks to be non-existent, and shows the sky even though there was no such hole above. I continue walking, the wall next to the staircase is engraved with images of ponies, presumably from the old world. I see them making statues and painting. I see six mares, beside the princesses.
"The Elements of Harmony..." I say as I look at the one known as Rainbow Dash. We come to the bottom, still no sight of ground, stones fly up from the void and make a walkway. She leads me through her wondrous land, as I hope I stay here for the rest of my days.
As we walk she speaks "Liberty, we know of what happened... we are sorry... me and my sister regret leaving" she says, placing her well kept hoof on my shoulder.
"Please... bring me to the rest of the elder race... don't leave me" I beg, holding her hoof like a scared foal, pleading for safety.
"Alas I cannot... I am sorry Liberty..." she says, with eyes of compassion.
"I... I see..." I say looking in the distance as a floating platform with multiple ponies carving a large statue of a mare pass by.
"I am sorry we left thine planet long ago, but we left to learn and grow" She says, answering the great question of where they and many ponies of the elder race went and why.
The world starts fading, the beauty leaving me "No! Please let me stay!" I beg reaching for Luna as I am slowly pulled into the void. She reaches out to try and grab my hoof, only for hers to pass through.
"Liberty! We shall-" her voice vanished as my eyes open.
I stare at the cave ceiling. I feel the tears return, not just because of my loss, but because I know I shall never live to see the old world. I know what I must do...
Author's Note
((Damn that was depressing...
well anyway standard stuff here, below is the link to the Rush song "Oracle: The Dream" of which I don't own but based this chapter on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hza5v3fcqNQ ))
Chapter 5. Soliloquy (The End)
The sleep is still in my eyes... the dream is still in my head... I heave a sigh and sadly smile, and I lie awhile in bed. I wish for it to come to pass, but I know it will fade like all my dreams. I lay on the uncomfortable mattress for hours, mumbling my goodbyes and begging the goddesses to understand my plight. I stand up, and sadly trot to the rotting desk where I once wrote musical thoughts. I take out the writing stick and a piece of paper I stole from my boss' office. My tears splatter on crisp white canvas as my last known words are written. As the writing stick makes the last line in the series of sorrowful letters, I sigh. I place the note, my goodbye to this cruel and empty life, in the Guitar case. I chuckle, it seems fitting that the case that once held my joy, now holds my sorrow. I walk outside the cove and say some words over my wooden beauty's grave. A tear drops from my eye and the water of pain seeps into the resting place of my inanimate love. I walk back to the cove, and take my last sip from my waterfall. I trudge to my mattress and collapse on it. I roll onto my back and stare at the blank ceiling, it only reminds me of the wonderful world of dreams Luna showed me. It may be blank now, but I envision carvings, like those on the spiral stairs of her astral night.
"Just think what my life could've been, in that old world I have never seen..." I say with a sigh as my tears still flow like a river of pain from the dead emotions that once filled my heart and mind.
I reach under the mattress and smile as I pull out my last blessing. A shining razor, it gleams in the ray of sunlight that shines through the falling water. I hold it by my teeth and press it to my left fore leg.
"Praise Luna..." I say around the gleaming blade as I quickly run it across, slashing deep into my leg I bite my lip as the pain comes, then goes. I watch the scarlet liquid flow out my leg. I take a deep breath and quickly cut into my right foreleg.
"Praise Celestia..." I say, making me drop the razor, that is now slick with blood.
I let my head fall back against the mattress, as I smile I
"We have returned..."
Author's Note
((Isn't that a painful ending? only seconds too late... well below is the link to the song "Soliloquy" by Rush, I don't own the rights to any of their music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szLVsv0QUvc ))
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Chapter 6. Reditum (Continued / Alternate Ending)
As I reach to accept Death's hoof I feel my body lifted, and coated in a tingling sensation. I don't know if this the afterlife, or my spirit leaving, so I just let it happen.
"No... do not let go of this life..." a soft‎ calming voice says, as I feel myself get lifted higher.
I try my hardest to open my eyes, I'm only partly successful. I squint through the dying vision of my right eye. I see a tall white blur, with what I'm guessing are wings unfurled behind it. I see a yellow glow around a sharp point of the white figure, the same that now holds me. I feel the warm yellow aura tighten around my hooves, just above my seeping wounds.
"N-No... l-let me..." am hushed by a hoof before I see more figures rush into my cove. I feel something placed around my muzzle and am forced to breath in air from the strange device.
"Please, do not leave us... we have returned for you..." The motherly voice says as she carries me out of the cave.
Outside I see only the sun in the sky, instead of it and the great moon. I see three large floating objects in the blue sky. I cannot stay awake any longer, my eyes shut. I have a dream where I am floating through the galactic night from Luna's dream.
"Wake... arise from thine slumber..." The familiar voice of Luna calls to me.
"No... please let me stay here..." I beg like a sad defeated foal.
I am met with a light chuckle "But why stay here? When you can wake and be free?" she says as the stars move to form her elegant face.
"Because I am not free... death is the only freedom for me..." I tell her, hoping she will grant me my last wish.
She opens her mouth to speak before the voice from earlier is heard, although now she lacks kindness, and speaks with authority. "Attention all ponies of the Equinus, Attention all ponies of the Temples, Attention all priests, we have assumed control... we have assumed control... we have assumed control...".
I listen, but it feels like I'm not being addressed. I turn to the star made image of Luna "W-Whats happening?" I ask, with fear, yet also hope. The stars a range themselves into a smile
"We have returned..." she simply says.
If I could fall to my knees in this void I would. I laugh, a laugh of hope, and triumph as I cry tears of pure joy.
"Please, wake up...we have something for thou" her voice says in a quiet and happy tone.
I feel myself fading and I keep my smile alive. "They came back..."
I say quietly before the world is gone. I slowly open my eyes and see myself staring at a white tiled ceiling as a electronic light illuminates the room.
"G-Goddess Luna?" I ask trying to sit up, but Ive been tied down by some strange material, I soon realize it is made of strong rubber.
I look at the strong rubber straps that deny me freedom, it makes me want to cry as I think of how I am now trapped in a bed away from my goddess. I hear the door open with a squeak, making me freeze. Every muscle in my body is scared, yet also excited.
"L-L-Luna?" I stutter like a scared colt running from his father's belt. Then I see her beautiful face, carefully maintained with a look of seriousness but just the faintest angelic smile forming. As she sees me the smile grows. Her mane so exquisite it could put her night sky to shame.
Beside her is her sister, the Goddess of the sun, Princess Celestia. With her comes the feeling and scent of warm summer air and serenity she radiates calming compassion, and each step closer makes me think I did die, but that I went to the fabled Paradise noble ponies were said to reside after death.
"Liberty... we have something for you" Luna says with a smile that no stallion could stand against, in her magic aura (which is the same elegant blue as her coat), is...
"My Guitar!" I scream with a joy that could rival any newborn's parents.
She gently lays it on my lap, every crack and chip left by father time, gone! Yet I know its my guitar, my inanimate wooden beauty. I feel Princess Celestia's magic undo the straps and I pull not only the guitar but Princess Luna into a hug. The guards are ready to fight me for daring touch our Lunar goddess, but Celestia dismisses them.
"T-Thank you... bless you Princess, you're a saint..." I sob, like a mother meeting her son after war.
"Well Liberty... do you think we could hear your song?" Luna asks, rubbing my back like a lover comforting their partner after loss.
I look at her before wiping away any tears that didn't fall and stain the white sheets. "With great honour..." I say before running my hooves across the wires as the music, my very purpose in life, flows through the halls...
