If only...

One does not get over their greatest mistakes easily, especially if the mistake had affected many lives. Though none remember it but it will forever be engraved into the mind of the First.

Saanvodkiin, after leaving his daughters had taken flight into the skies and headed West, far to the West.

He flew over Minotaur country but did not stop, instead he continued towards the West until finally reaching the lands no one would dare pass through by air or by land.

Legends has it that whomever walk through these lands must relight the sacred Bonfires. Those of pure hearts will succeed while those of blacken hearts will be cursed to traverse the land in an endless search with no end and they will be known as Undead.

Spotting an area to land, Saanvodkiin flew down and landed, shaking the ground under his feet. Looking left, seeing a wall of sand before looking right, seeing another wall of sand before it moved away by some force.

He chose right, knowing that the other direction would loop him around. After traversing the sand he found the first bonfire, never lit in eons until now. Placing his hand on the hilt of the burnt sword, the fire sparked before completely engulfing the sword in its flame.

Through normal circumstances one must find all eight in this land but Saanvodkiin knew that he didn't need to do such thing, he was the one that made these lands cursed and for good reason.

The ground shook and crumbled around the lord. Taking a step back, the sword in the fire turned left as the ground started to split open, revealing a large broken tower.

After thirty minutes, Saanvodkiin opened his eyes and was greeted with the sight of an old kingdom in ruins. This was his kingdom, the city of Dovah.

Through mortal eyes one would see a derelict civilization of old but through his eyes, he saw his failure. The city was one of beauty to the eyes of mortals and to those who lived in it.

Walking on the crumbled streets, The First was saddened to see his old kingdom in a state of decay. He could still hear the panicked screams of that day.

Hundreds if not thousands have died to protect others while some were not so lucky to have someone to protect them. It all started with a simple flu.

In fact this flu wasn't discovered until it had already infected hundreds. The symptoms were a clue to it being different, increase of aggression, high blood pressure, nausea and violent coughs.

From a small disease to a virus, contaminating more and more by the day before a scientist had made a notable yet horrifying discovery. It wasn't a virus, it was a parasite and the evidence were solid.

Days after that discovery Dovah’s began dying from sudden heart failure. This caused an alarm to blare at Saanvodkiin, he knew something was going to happen but what he did not expect was for the dead to reanimate by the parasites.

Then it happened, it was like an apocalypse of the dead but worse. These dead corpses were sentient because of the parasite but could only do as the parasite says.

Even to this day those who lived mourn the loss of friends and family. In fact, some think that the First had nobody to mourn but none of them knew.

Saanvodkiin came to face the largest standing building, the citadel but continued on. As he walked down the mossy stone streets, he felt his guilt rise up. He couldn't save everyone and it costed him three things his two daughter and his newborn son.

“If only.” Was all he said as he continued on.

“And that's all there is to know.” Celestia said, finishing her story and purposely leaving out a few things. During her storytelling, she could see Spike looking at where her father once stood.

‘Is he remembering?’ Celestia couldn't help but worry about him.

“So that guy, God of all and beyond is your dad?” Rainbow asked, shocked by the revelation. Bringing her thoughts to the back her mind, Celestia nodded.

“Yes, though we may be of different species, he is our father.” Celestia said, hoping to have cleared that up before standing up from her crystalline chair.

“As much as I would like to stay here and chat with you girls, we have to back to Canterlot and restore order before something else happens.” Celestia said as her younger sister stood up as well.

“We do hope you enjoy your new home, Twilight.” Luna said with smile before walking out the door.

“Yes and do be careful, you may not be my student but I still worry for you.” Celestia said before giving Twilight a hug. Celestia then left the room and soon as she closed the doors, her smile faltered.

“Do you think..?” Luna said, not finishing the sentence.

“I just hope he'll understand, father only wanted the best for him.” Celestia said before both sisters began walking through the halls.

“But are we sure he wouldn't think otherwise?” Luna asked as they rounded a corner and saw the main doors.

“No, we're not.” Was her elder sister's answer.

Spike still couldn't comprehend what he saw, who he saw and what he felt towards the dragon. He looked and felt familiar but Spike couldn't remember.

He excused himself from the group before leaving the throne room and began traversing his new home. While it was amazing to see a castle made of crystal, it didn't match the beauty of the floating Palace Spike had seen in his vision.

After several minutes of room searching, Spike had found a bedroom and laid down on the bed, exhausted and wanting to sleep. As he closed his eyes, he said one word in a different language than he is accustomed to.

“Bormah.” Though he knew he said this, his tired mind didn't react and instead welcomed the sweet embrace of sleep.

A tower crumbles behind the First as he walked away from the scene. It seemed that some infected Dovah had survived the tides of time in the form of mutants.

But even with their new found strength and abilities, they were still no match for Saanvodkiin and his blade. Through decapitating and mutilating he crossed the infected district.

Through the blood of countless foes he made it to his destination and found the remains of his former General. His name long forgotten to all but Saanvodkiin and he kept it a secret, it was tradition for the former General for their names to be forgotten and The First kept it from the public.

He was an honorable Dovah but Saanvodkiin did not return to mourn for his fallen friend. In the hands of the former general was a book with symbol of fire. He took the book of the generals skeletal hands and dusted the cover before opening it.

Closing his eyes, he nodded in silence before opening them again and looked at the remains.

Standing on one knee, he placed his right hand on the skull of his friend.

“Praan Ko Drem, Wuth Fahdon.” Saanvodkiin said before the skull lit in blue flames. The fire soon consumed the remains and with that done, he stood up before turning around and began to walk again with the book in hand.

Author's Note

Here ya go.