Shattered Immortal

"I am sorry to inform you of this Mr. Voigt, but you have maybe a week left to live. The cancer has spread too far." I just nodded. I had been expecting that diagnosis, so I didn't come as a shock.

"It's alright Doc. I've lived long enough."

"Do you have any family that we can contact for you?" I grimaced slightly when he said family.

"No, I dont. They live far away from here and more than likely wouldn't care."

"Well as I said. I'm sorry that we can't do anymore for you" he replied as he walked out. With nothing else to be said, I got dressed and walked out to my truck to begin the one hour trip home.

It's hard to remember things sometimes, especially when your over three thousand years old. Yes, that is correct. I said three thousand, but that's a story for another time, if I'm still alive in a week. Sitting down in my favorite chair, I started to reflect on my life. I didn't try to stop the tears coursing down my weathered face. Why should I? There was no one else here. No one to care about me. So I let them fall.

I thought of my true home. My two wives and my daughters. I would love to see them one last time, but there isn't a way....or is there? Gingerly getting up, I walked out into the back of my home. It was a open area and would work. I hope this works I thought to myself.

"Faust. I only hope you can hear me, but I would ask a favor of you. Grant a dying old man his final wish. Take me home so that at least I could die where I belong." I stood there hoping that my plea was heard, but my money is on the fact that her daughters made sure I would never be heard from again.

Sighing, I turned to go head back in, when a bright flash occurred behind me.

"You are immortal, Jeremy. You can not die." She heard me! I couldn't believe it, but hearing her words was like a stab to my heart. Turning around, I asked one question.

"Are you sure of that Faust?" The look of absolute shock on her muzzle made my day.

"H...how is this possible? Discord's curse could never be removed." Her shock had turned to sadness by then. "Who did this to you?"

"Celestia." The goddesses ears flattened to her head and she started crying. As long as I've know her, she has never cried.

"But why? It's not possible. I know she stripped you of your magic and powers, but your immortality was a curse from Discord."

"I don't know either Faust, but it happened and I have maybe a week left to live. I want to go home and see them all one last time and die where I was born." Faust walked up to me and wrapped her wings around my body.

"I will take you back, but know this Jeremy. It's been over a thousand years since your banishment and things have changed. I will not tell you, but you may be surprised when you get there" she said nuzzling my cheek. "I still considered you my son in law and I still love you as one."

"Thank you, Mom." I got a giggle for that remark.

"Ready?"

"Yes."

"Good. Now, you will appear outside the throne room. Getting in shouldn't be a problem since the cloak I will give you has a enchantment to hide your features. Court is in session, just so you know. Oh, I should mention this. All four of your girls are there." I nodded in understanding. "Ok, here we go."

When I reappeared right in front of the guards, they was startled for a moment.

"Court is in session correct" I asked one of them. Getting a confirming nod I motioned for the door and the guard on the right opened it. Walking in I could see it was crowded. Must be a open court I mused. I always preferred dealing with the common pony. Nobles just rubbed me the wrong way. Finished with my nostalgia trip I shuffled along the red carpet until I was in front of the thrones. Celestia and Luna sat in the middle, while Cadence sat to Tia's right and Twilight sat to Luna's left.

Tia and Luna was as beautiful now as they was the last time I had seen them. As tall as my six foot three inch frame and statuesque too, but alicorns are always the pinnacle of beauty. Of course my daughters had grown into beautiful mares as well.

I gazed upon the four mares that was my life for so long. Celestia broke me out of my revelry with a question.

"Can we help you, my little pony?"

"That depends on whether your willing to help me Tia. All I want is to go home and I'm not a pony. You know that." I had their undivided attention when I called her Tia. Luna was leaning forward like she was trying to place my voice.

"Who are you?" Turning my hidden gaze to Cadence, I couldn't help but marvel at the mare she had grown into.

"That depends Cady. The last time I got to see you was a month after yours and Twilight's fifteenth birthday party." At those words the two older mares stiffened and the two younger mares grew pensive.

"SHOW YOURSELF!!" Celestia shouted.

"As you wish" I said taking off the cloak I knew what they would see. A frail old man, hardly able to stand on his own two feet. Shock, regret, sadness, I could see all of those emotions cross their muzzles, but for some reason rage was in Tia and Luna's eyes.

"What is it you want" Luna bit out.

"A chariot to take me home. Back to the land I was born and raised on." I could hear the crowd murmuring and wondering who was this thing that so boldly used the Princesses names.

"For what reason could you have there" Celestia asked through gritted teeth.

"So I can die in peace." That stunned the throne room into silence.

"You can not die Jeremy. Discord's curse..."

"Is no longer upon me. You saw to that Celestia when you stripped me of my magic and powers. I am a old man now and if I'm lucky a old man with a week to live" I interrupted her by saying. A despondent look crossed her muzzle when I said that.

"Don't give me that hurt look Tia. You knew exactly what you was doing. You wanted me to suffer for SOMETHING I AM INNOCENT OF" I roared at her. I shouldn't have done that because I started coughing when I finished. "Damn cancer" I muttered to myself. I looked at my hand and could see flecks of blood.

"What do you mean cancer?" I should have know that Twilight would have caught that when she finally spoke up.

"That is what's killing me Little One." Though they was born on the same day, Twilight was the youngest by a few hours. That's why I called her little one. I was growing tired and wanted to end this farce.

"Are you going to grant my request? I don't want to be here any longer and I'm sure you four no longer want to see me anymore, since I'm a failure as a husband and a father in your eyes."

"We shall not grant what you ask" Luna replied.

"Execution then. Going to live up to your final words to me are you, Luna?" Her stoic expression never changed. "Executions were banned five hundred years ago, though for you I believe we could make an exception. Alas, we will not."

"I have one question for you." I looked Celestia's way when she spoke. "How did you return?"

"Faust still loves me as her son in law, so your mother is the one that brought me back" I knew pretty much how this would end and sighed. "Since I'm not going to be executed and you're not going to help me, I will find my own way home. May the land always give you what you seek." I turned and started my slow walk out of their presence, but half way I started coughing again. When I stopped I felt faint and my hand was covered in blood.

"That's not good" I said aloud and that's when the darkness closed upon me.