Devoran Chronicles: Fire of the Phoenix

Several days passed, each day with 3 meals of rather unimaginative gruel for food and constant staring at the walls of my cell.  If there was one thing about being locked up in a dungeon that I had not expected, it was how much time I would have to be bored.  That being said, in retrospect, I probably should have.  I knew there would be long expanses of time where I’d have nothing to do in this prison and I would likely get bored, but I hadn’t really known how much it scratches at the back of your mind.

On the 7th day of my incarceration, two guards approached my cell.

“Prisoner,” the first guard said starkly, “come with us”.

I simply nodded and proceeded to the doorway.  The protective field on the bars dropped and the two guards placed cuffs on my legs once again.  The magical restraint, which was still on my head, was left in place.

This was it, I thought to myself.  The princess was going to judge me.  In all likelihood I was either looking at life in prison or death by execution.  Personally, after spending 6 and a half days in prison, I found the idea of dying much more appealing than being stuck in that cell for the rest of my life.  If less than a weak was already starting to wear on me, several decades would drive me slowly into madness.

The guards lead me upwards once again through the same seemingly random patterns of paths until we emerged into the light of day.  The irony was how much I missed the sun, seeing as how the person I tried to kill was responsible for raising it.  Its warm glow felt good on my skin, which was rather accustomed to it from the darkness of the dungeons.  I shivered a bit at the sudden flood of warmth.

The guards lead me up the stairway to the Princess’ quarters.  As they rapped on the door, a very faint voice replied “Please enter”.  It sounded very much like Celestia, but with much less power than I was used to.  Entering the room, Celestia was lying in bed while Luna stood up from the seat next to the bed.  Two guards were posted outside of her bedroom entrance in addition to the ones escorting me through her living room.  Celestia motioned for me to enter.  I walked several steps, the clanking of my dirty chains seemed oddly loud in her presence.  Perhaps I simply was more conscious of them.  As I looked down, I saw that I was making a mess on the carpeting in the room and had been for some time.

“I......uhm.......I’m sorry princess.  My restraints are making a mess.....” I mumbled out.  It was a strange thing to be concerned about, but it bothered me anyway.

“Oh, that’s quite alright,” she stated.  “Guard.  Please remove the cuff restraints.  I don’t believe Mr. Devoran plans me or my sister any further harm.  Is that correct?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied meekly.  The guard quickly and efficiently removed the cuffs from my ankles.

“The magic dampener as well,” the princess clarified and the guard removed that as well.  Once removed, I reached up and rubbed it a little.  It had been itching for days.

“Please, join us.  If you would give us a few minutes of privacy, gentlemen, I would appreciate it”.

The guards looked rather concerned and taken aback.  “I beg your pardon, Princess, but I would feel neglectful leaving you alone with this criminal. Especially in your current state,” the highest ranked guard in the room stated earnestly.

“That’s quite alright, Mr. Armor.  I will be just fine.  I do, however, appreciate your concern”.

“As you wish, Princess.  I will be outside listening for your call, should you need anything”.

With that, the guard exited the room, leading the others out as well.  The princess motioned once again for me to come closer, and I did slowly until I was about a foot from the edge of the left side of her bed.  Her eyes were unnervingly calm and fixed upon me.  Unsure of what to do, my eyes shifted between the wooden planks on the floor and her eye.

“I’m sure you know why I summoned you here, Mr. Devoran,” the princess spoke softly and calmly.

“I assumed that you were planning on informing me of the punishment for my actions toward you and your sister, ma’am”.

“That is part of it, yes”.

“I deserve whatever punishment you deem fit, Princess.  I will not resist.  You would not be outside of your right to have me executed for my actions and I understand that.  I made a grave mistake in judgement and I nearly killed you and your sister out of revenge for something you had never intended to do.

“Yes, you did,” she said camly.

“And I assisted Chrysalis, a sworn enemy of Equestria”.

“Very true,” she continued to echo.

“I am to blame for your injuries and I deserve to die,” I said, looking down at the floorboard again.

It was at this point that I felt a soft touch on my right shoulder of a hoof.  I looked up to see Princess Celestia staring straight at me.  Her eyes showed no signs of anger or malice.  Only sorrow as her eyes and a misty look as if she was on the verge of tears..

“I’m afraid there is a great deal of blame to go around, Mr. Devoran.  The truth is my negligence and lack of concern for some things cost your parents their lives and easily could have cost you yours as well.  Even if I wasn’t the direct vehicle for the sequence of events, I certainly built it.  You were forced to run into the protection of one of my mortal enemies who twisted you and sent you bent on a path of destruction that could have been avoided had I simply shown concern where it was due”.

The princess paused for a minute to let her words sink in a bit.  I had not expected such a response.

“Unfortunately, Mr. Devoran, we still all must answer to our mistakes.  You still choose revenge.  Something your father would have been very disappointed in, I’d imagine.  I still remember the day I appointed him as one of my most esteemed enchanters.  I’m afraid things simply haven’t worked as well as they did when he worked here.  He was very gifted and an honorable man.  He always put others ahead of himself and it showed in his work and in his relationships with others”.

“Yes he was.....” I said softly.

“As a result of your decision, certain consequences must be put in place”.

“As I said, Princess, my life is yours”.

“You seem to think that death is the option I’ve chosen, Mr. Snapcaster”.

“I don’t understand.....”.

“I believe that someone of your.....particular magical talent.....would be most helpful to Canterlot and all of Equestria’s provinces.  It is with that, Mr. Snapcaster, that I am sentencing you to indefinite service to the crown of Equestria.  You are to serve under Princess Luna and I as a Mage of the throne.  Its been quite some time since we had a head Mage for the court.  I only hope that you will accept.  I, too, have consequences to accept.  I only hope that I can use this opportunity to atone for them”.

What the princess was saying didn’t sound like punishment at all.  In fact, it sounded like everything I’d dreamed of as a foal coming true.

“You want me to work for you, Princess?  On your court?” I asked.

“Precisely.  If you would do me the kindness,” she said softly.

I could help but burst out in excitement.

“Oh THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Princess!  I.....uhm.....thank you.  I don’t deserve such charity”.

Princess Celestia chuckled a bit at my excited outburst before recomposing herself, now with a smile.

“Everyone deserves a second chance, Mr. Snapcaster.  Excuse me, Arch-mage Snapcaster, as it is now.  I think you’ll find that the title is a lot more work that you think,” the Princess said.  I stepped away from her bed slightly and gave a very abrupt bow.

“Princess, I will follow you and your sister’s leadership until the end....ouch”.  I stood up, striking my head against the end of the bed.  I reached around to the back of my head to rub my injury before finishing “.....of time”.

This time, both Luna and Celestia burst into laughter at my apparent clumsiness.  I, too, couldn’t help but chuckle a little at my own foolishness.