Chapters From a distance it appeared a grey earth pony stood by Discord. Celestia and Luna prepared to confront Discord, but a creature they met earlier stood between them and his throne. It showed itself to be above outside influence when Luna failed to make mental contact, and Discord's corruption was shrugged off. Which made its aiding Discord of its own accord bewildering.
Discord turned to meet his guests, "This is so much fun! How about a game of pin the tail on the pony?" He showed off Celestia's tail.
They ignored the other as they had important things to do. "Playtime is over for you, Discord."
"Oh, I doubt that." He offered them some of his snacks, to which they ignored. "Suit yourselves." He continued eating while Celestia removed something from her saddlebags. "Oh, what have you got there?"
Celestia declared with finality, "The Elements of Harmony," Luna finished, "with them we shall defeat you!" The elements swirled around them generating a sphere of magical energy; the nearly transparent energy engulfed them while the elements orbited them rapidly.
While Discord did not take it as a threat, the third party did and rushed to stop them while Discord laughed, "You should see yourselves right now, the expressions on your faces. So intense, so sure of yourselves."
The creature exclaimed something in its melodic foreign tongue as it made to body check Luna as she was the smaller of the two, but was repelled by the magic.
They charged their horns and fired as Discord continued to laugh, "Hilarious!" and he continued laughing right up to the point of being petrified. The magic of Discord was lifted, leaving one last thing to finally put this event behind them and move forward. The creature was face down and struggling to rise, slowly leaking the magic it had absorbed when the elements dispelled it.
In this state mental connection was possible so Luna tried once more such that it might explain itself. The magic was charged and upon casting it was clear, the creature's natural barrier to foreign magic had been shattered by the elements. It would likely recover given time, but for now they were able to talk. "Why did you attempt to assist in the spread of Discord's chaos? Your punishment for your heinous actions depends on your response."
It finally rose, pointing at Discord and speaking with barely contained anger, "Nat is reciprocal elyntu of Shannon."
Celestia whispered to Luna, "Are you sure the spell is working properly?"
Luna, believing in her handiwork, pressed, "And what is that supposed to mean?"
He laughed off their ignorance and talked as if to a foal, "The two of you are short sighted. Throw a party, dance on the grave of Chaos. It's not like you will live long enough to see the consequences." He made to limp away. Sadly they clearly outclassed him in combat given how Discord is now stone.
Celestia motioned for Luna to let him go. "If it is willing to let the conflict end with Discord, then so be it."
He did not come across as mad like Discord. He had spoken with conviction from knowledge. She could not help but worry, “When do you suppose we will see the consequences it believes are to follow?”
With night courts being as barren as they were, Luna got into a bit of a habit checking in on the odd one. It started as just a glance to see if contact was still possible while it slept. The creature remained odd, with its sleep out of synch with the world around it. It would go to sleep at the same time as ponies, then as days go by, it would slowly but surely shift later and later to the point of sleeping through the day. The fact that its cycle had it awake for the full moons was a pleasant coincidence.
When it started to look like the wound it suffered might be permanent, she convinced herself to confront it. Tonight there was a waning crescent moon. It would sleep so close to morning that she could watch its entire dream should she choose. It dreamt it was soaring amongst the stars enjoying itself when the dream shifted to Discord’s defeat. Everything began to split apart in all directions. Small things went first falling to the ground until that too shattered. This continued until there was not a single star left and all was nothing.
Luna stood in what was supposed to be empty, a body was formed and faced Luna. “You can enter dreams, then? I shouldn’t be surprised.”
That had not come across as imagination running rampant in a nightmare, “Was that the consequence you spoke of?”
It was eerily upbeat given the subject matter, “Indeed. The big rip awaits, but don’t concern yourself over it. A perk of the end of the very heavens — us mere mortals won’t live to see the day.”
They both could agree that the outcome the creature saw was not desired. It certainly seemed capable of seeing patterns and applying logic, but its conclusion non sequitur. “By disrupting the natural order, chaos prevents the chaotic end... an odd stance to take. Chaos is not in the habit of keeping things like you desire.”
The disdain towards the topic was apparent, “You sound like one of those heat death folk. Accusing chaos of spreading the warmth of your ordered system until it's lost amongst the sea of the void. The systems may have order, but it is chaos that allows them to be systems. All complexity lies in chaos. Pure chaos may not be useful for us living, but pure order would have everything spread evenly in a void that cannot be filled.”
It acts well versed in the nature of chaos, “You referred to Discord as Nat. Do you know from where he hails?”
“No," it clearly yearned otherwise, "Nat is short for natural unit of chaos in the expression of relation to Shannon. Nat is reciprocal elyntu of Shannon.”
He had been cordial since they met and yet she couldn’t help but think of him as, creature and it. Considering that from his perspective, she had ensured the end of the heavens, Shannon had been surprisingly patient with her, “My name is Luna, Shannon. Hearing your perspective on all this has let me put my mind at ease.”
Staying a notch below openly hostile, “No need for names, I don’t ever plan on seeing you again.”
Fair enough, she could only ask for so much, “It is hard to tell through this method, are you healing back to your normal state?”
The consequence of his actions were clearly being pinned on Luna and Celestia, “Can’t heal what can’t be injured. The change is permanent.”
Shannon might not ever forgive her, but given how he carried himself, he might move on with his life one day, “Most unfortunate. The connection it allowed then gave you opportunity, as it does now, and surely it will continue to do so. As co-ruler of Equestria let it be known that as long as you don’t do anything to threaten your fellow mortals, the future can be whatever you make it to be, even without Discord and his chaos. The moon must be set. Enjoy your sleep.”
Oh he was going to do just that. Alone and still lucid it took the opportunity to inflict various punishments upon the ponies for the curse upon his form and the death of the only known savior of all that is and shall be.
Celestia sat alone in the throne room. Things had calmed down enough to resume having court sessions as normal. She hosted the night court in her sister's stead. They were hardly visited before, but now… this was likely to be the final night court for a long while. The final night court's silence was broken by an outsider. Strolling to the base of the throne while telling a tale.
It opened with understanding, as one must steel themselves for an unpleasant necessity. “Action must be taken and the action is known. Knowing what must be done for the good of the land.”
It flowed into sympathy for having no time to prepare and no others to confer. “Knowing what must be done for the good of the land. Time is not on your side, and there are no others.”
It stood at the base of the throne, clarifying what brought him here. “Time is not on your side and there are no others, and there will be no others. Action must be taken.”
It gestured to the lone throne in the room, and continued somberly. “You walk alone, those beside you are now gone. Their path strayed and they left you behind.”
Now gesturing to the court, acknowledging the remembrance. “Their path strayed and they left you behind. You do what you can to honor their spirit.”
It stood at the base of the throne, clarifying what brought him here. “You do what you can to honor their spirit. Vanguard to a bright future, you walk alone.”
He should have only met Luna twice and that was nearly a century ago, “You might be the only other who will mourn Luna. My little ponies will not see past Nightmare Moon as easily.” He got here fairly quickly, “You didn’t seem to like ponies. Have you been in Equestria all this time?”
Being caught lying would be unwise and the truth is no better, “My relations with ponies was going to end with you sisters, but you sisters age better than I would have thought.”
Aside from a lightened patch on his chest, he didn’t really show signs of aging either, “Your kind certainly didn’t seem like one to be long-lived.”
Meeting like this, things did not play out as they should have, “The three of us were supposed to be fertilizer by now, leaving the memory of Discord to history’s records, leaving descendants to decide if it was embellished fact or pure fiction.”
He included himself, a gambit for revenge, then, “You sound disappointed.”
What an understatement, “I failed a Nat so spectacularly that I became corruptible. I can’t face my kin, not like this. I lived peacefully and waited patiently, but time mocks me.”
Waited for what? It is true, he did nothing in retaliation all this time, but there is a fine line between accomplice of the guilty and guilt by association. “Luna told me of your beliefs. You still hold Discord in high regard?”
It was passive from failure, and had slipped into an orderly routine, “I could have forgotten about you two, nearly did. Recent events reminded me of something Luna told me a lifetime ago: ‘the future can be whatever you make it to be.’ The future and you are all that remains of my life. I plan on making Equestria into a utopia to atone for my failure.” It was time to be active and move forward.
Being cut off from magic was tied to aging? His wound that will not heal, that he blames us for, extends his life? “Shannon, I don’t understand. Were we not villains in your eyes?”
Is it so hard to understand that she speaks to that which is other? The lack of understanding no doubt lies in projecting a ponies mindset onto it, “You act in accordance with your beliefs, while the masses rejoice that one you care deeply for is gone. You can understand why, but it hurts, none the less.”
Empathy? Truly? “The scope of our misdeed according to your beliefs should not be easily put aside.”
Fighting off frustration, “It is not easy holding onto a grudge this long.” Without being candid misunderstanding stems from the speaker, “Let me be clear, my kind can expect to live between 20-30 years. I have outlived my grandchildren and likely a few great grandchildren as well. I am not so strong that I could go back a stranger and failure. You however know me and see my failure as a good thing.”
Silence fell upon the throne room. Celestia was unsure how to respond to Shannon’s earnestness. Shannon hadn’t really done anything to aide Discord, despite wanting to and he did nothing in retaliation for all this time. He came to her with goodwill and was met with doubt. “Utopia is not such a simple thing.”
No task is impossible given enough time, “There’s no rush. I’ve got time.”
Many before have tried, “Even with time, what steps could you take?”
“Baby steps.” That’s the beauty of it, “What is tolerated by one generation can be embraced by the next. One day there will be no need to tolerate differences since they will be embraced.” There is little active action that will be needed. “As long as the populace faces no fear to themselves and their families it can be done. A famine or war would do heavy damage both short term and long.”
Celestia let herself smile, “And while you are busy ruling Equestria to make sure those steps are followed, what shall I be doing?”
Smiling back in rapport, “The main burden will fall to you, as the ruler of Equestria. I will roam the land and see things as ponies cannot and do things that a pony could not. Hopefully your neighbors know ponies well enough to see my actions as independent keeping needed actions from having a political blow back.”
What started as a time to mourn ended on quite the high note, “Well we both know what each of us needs to do going forward it seems. For me that is raising the sun.”
This is not goodbye, “See you in a generation.”
Shannon stood alone in the throne room. Luna’s dissent ended, order restored and court sessions resume as normal. She had hosted the night court in her sister's stead. This was to be the final night court, a chance to lament the fallen. The final night court's silence was broken by an outsider. Strolling to the exit while telling a tale.
The ponies must be ended along with their quest for order. “Action must be taken and the action is known. Knowing what must be done for the good of the land.”
Those that will not live to see such times can not be troubled to prevent them. “Knowing what must be done for the good of the land. Time is not on your side, and there are no others.”
Such short sightedness, these selfish beings hardly care for their young. “Time is not on your side and there are no others, and there will be no others. Action must be taken.”
The nat felt above resisting order’s agents. “You walk alone, those beside you are now gone. Their path strayed and they left you behind.”
Shannon must act in accordance to nat. “Their path strayed and they left you behind. You do what you can to honor their spirit.”
Shannon shall act in the stead of nat. “You do what you can to honor their spirit. Vanguard to a bright future, you walk alone.”
Don’t complain and call the future of ponies a grave, after all it's the future you chose.
Author's Note
I planned on building a backlog for steady release but it wasn't meant to be, these first two chapters were finished back early June. I know the major points of the story but not how we will get there. Here's to hoping that posting this encourages me to get on with it already.
“Ah, there he is what did I tell you.” The young stallion gestured to a figure in the distance, approaching the small village. “Reliable as the seasons this guy. I told you I wouldn't have to travel alone.”
His mother, News Teller was a levee containing his excitement, “We didn’t doubt you about him passing through, but you can’t just invite yourself to accompany somepony during their travels.”
“I’ve known Shannon for years, I’m sure he won’t mind.” As far back as his memory could go in fact.
While it wasn’t a lie, “Meeting him a long time ago is not the same as knowing him for a long time,” the total of their interactions couldn’t be more than an hour.
His father, Bank Teller was a diversion canal allowing a safe vent of his son’s growing desire. “I just wanna hear this, Shannon, say he is fine with having you. Then you can get this wanderlust dealt with so you can come home and focus properly.”
Running ahead to greet him, “Good afternoon Shannon. How are the roads treating you?”
“Good afternoon to you Story Teller. It's been peaceful as always.” He’s this old already. It’s nearly been a generation.
“Sorry to hear that.” A hero needs trials to overcome.
News arrived, “Surprisingly few ponies here know you Shannon, yet my son thinks you would be willing to let him travel with you.”
“I don’t mind. But, what about you? You hardly know my character.” Aside from the one source.
“Story is known to embellish both the good and bad of a ponies character, and I’ve only heard good things.” Not surprising seeing as nearly everything he knows he was told. Not many pony would talk about their flaws.
“If you don’t see a suave criminal commit a crime he’s just a charismatic fellow. It’s all about perspective. You ponies are an optimistic lot.” Wouldn’t put it past these ponies to hug a manticore.
News handling the conversation, “I would imagine we appear optimistic.” A lot of elderly are distrustful since the Nightmare Moon incident though. “Best not keep him waiting Story, go get your things.” Story galloped towards home. He was finally going to leave.
Bank finally throwing in his 2 cents, “He packed the night before you arrived,” finishing with a smile, “nine days ago.”
News got serious now that the minor was gone, “You like to pass straight through without talking to the locals and are unfond of your peaceful journeys. An anti-social old fellow who goes out looking for trouble. Sure sounds like somepony feels they’ve lived too long.”
Shannon confirmed for her, “You are not wrong.” Almost sounds not right. She might make the faulty logical jump.
Bank showed his special bonds, “Story grew up only knowing peace. We appreciate that you are willing to aide him in his desire to see the world, but he doesn’t need to see all of it.”
“No worries there. If I can pursue trouble and find nothing for this long, it's probably not there.” That or I am incompetent.
News knows violence, “Oh, I can assure you it is.”
“Where?!” The Griffins made no move on Equestria despite the internal conflict.
News refused to disclose information actually being pursued, “Don’t need you going there with my son. You should try conversing with ponies in the future, you might learn something.” Story returned ending that route of conversation
Shannon was rather done with the parents, “Glad to see you are all set. Let’s head out.”
Bank gave his forecast, “You won’t reach the next village until well after nightfall if you leave now. You can stay the night here.”
“I have neither the desire nor the capitol to sleep in the pony settlements I visit. Enjoy the rest of your day, as for me and your son, the road beckons.”
They were setting up camp within earshot of Equestria’s Eastern Ocean. “I never got a chance to ask with you passing through so quickly. How are you going to make a name for yourself? You don’t have an earth pony’s strength, pegasus’s flight, or a unicorn’s magic.”
“My kind uses the knowledge of the radix to accomplish our goals.” It helps if I have a proper read on the situation. Cowardly griffins can’t be bothered to test Equestria. After a short while of no comment Shannon continued.
“If I were to ask you to alphabetize all the words in your favorite story I would wager you get a word put it in a general location and later go back and compare words until you were sure they were where they needed to be.”
“Yeah something like that.” Don’t know why I would alphabetize the words in a story though.
“Radix tells us that we only care about the letters not the words as a whole. Go through the words looking at the last letter and group them in order of the alphabet. Gather your stacks in order and move on to the next letter and repeat until you reach the first letter. They will be alphabetized and you never even compared the words.” Reactions to radix from the youth were always a treat.
Story was underwhelmed, “That’s certainly a neat trick, but I still don’t see how it will be useful to defeat your foes and help you make a name for yourself.”
I guess he can’t grasp how amazing radix is, “I have an alternative if Radix fails. A gift from when I met the two princesses long ago.”
Story lit up when he heard that, “Why didn’t you say that from the start?” A hero bestowed a magical weapon from the princess is story material.
“I think it's time we go to bed.
Author's Note
Forgive me for I have sinned.
This is the start of the Champion of Equestria Arc