It was the kind of day most people dreaded. The kind of day where you have to face something you’ve tried, or wanted, to avoid for a long time. There’s no choice, though. You have to go straight through it. It won’t be fun and might even leave scars, but deep down, it has to be done. You’ll be a weaker person if you don’t. It’s just the way it is. And he knew it.
He knew it when his wings spread out and he took off to the clouds. That alone made him feel uneasy in the stomach. His body was aware of what he was about to do, and he hated the mere idea of it. Yet, he kept going with his wings. Thankfully, there was a strong wind today, making it easier to lift off.
The skin on his wings felt so light as his home grew smaller below his feet. Many thought it was an ugly place, with the jagged rocks and seemingly desolate desert as far as the eye could see, but he saw the positives down there. The hidden pockets of life, the culture. You just had to know where to look. It certainly made a clear blue sky look even more beautiful.
Before he knew it, there was nothing but a wide open sky in front of him. Even from here, he could see Equestria in the distance. Canterlot would take some time to see, but he could spot Cloudsdale to the east. The rainbow waterfalls helped take his mind off from things, and every now and then, he could spot a pegasus drifting from and to the town.
Soon after, he saw Ponyville coming in the distance. When he first came to Equestria, Ponyville wasn’t even dreamed of. It was nothing but forests and wide open fields. Things had changed considerably since then. Now it was a bustling town, nowhere near as big as Canterlot, but it was narrowing the distance every day.
That was when the ponies started to spot him. It was only a few at first, and then many, and then the whole town saw the legend with their own eyes. He could almost hear the younger ponies wondering who this winged beast was. A few were scared, but most were curious.
It was easy to tell which of them knew their history; they were the ones gasping and staring at him in awe. Even if they were baking a cake or holding a bowl full of water, they dropped everything in their hooves to stare up at Scorpan, brother of Tirek, the one that helped seal the beast in Tartarus all those centuries ago.
“Here? Why?” he asked.
“Because we’re stronger by nature than equines,” Tirek explained. “Conquering Equestria would be as easy as opening the front door to your favorite shop, or picking a flower from a field. We could do it together, brother. I’m asking you because I know we’d be able to rule it with an iron fist.”
“Tirek…” Scorpan sighed and glanced at the fields. He couldn’t deny the beauty he felt around him, with all the flowers and fields there. “You’re right. We could do it. But you never asked if we should. What would our kingdom look like? Sombra’s? Are you merely interested in counting the amount of slaves we can muster?”
He didn’t want to stop to smell the roses this time. He could see his destination at last, all the way from Ponyville. He could see Canterlot embedded into a mountain nearby, and his heart pounded upon seeing that legendary city. It carried so many memories for him, and he tried not to let it show.
Despite his efforts, he could almost feel the tears swell. It took some effort to stop himself, but he got it done. Down below, he could hear ponies galloping below him. There were even a few pegasi starting to chase after him. He was more gifted in flight than any pegasus, and he used it to keep his distance. Maybe after he was finished, he could stop and talk.
But it might not be a good idea. All it would do would bring the dagger further into his heart.
“What are you talking about? Do you know how fortunate you were to be born with this kind of strength?” Tirek retorted. “We can’t put this talent to waste. We were meant to leave a mark in the world.”
“By conquering Equestria and grazing it to its roots?” Scorpan shot back. “Is that what you want? Tirek, there’s no denying you’re the stronger of us both. But let me ask you something. What do you see when you look at these equines?”
“I see a nation without a strong leader. One whose strength wavers in the wind. A species that exists to be conquered, not to make friends with. You’ve spent time among them. You know what they’re like.”
A flash went across Scorpan’s eyes. He didn’t dare look Tirek in the eye, but it told him all he needed to know. “I...understand. I’ll need to travel home before we need anything else. Our supplies are running low.”
“Very well. I expect you to be back before tomorrow’s nightfall.”
Scorpan wouldn’t return to Tirek that day. Instead of traveling home, he would go to Celestia and Luna’s castle…
...and this castle was nothing like he expected. Even from a few miles away, he could see the glamor and rich history behind the castle at Canterlot. Truly, things had changed since his last visit. It was to be expected that things would change. He just didn’t think it would look like this.
Still, he was willing to bet the security protocols were the same. They wouldn’t take well to someone like him just flying straight to the castle. He slowly drifted down to the entrance, careful not to look threatening in any way. Even then, he could see all the guards near the gate dropping their jaws just from his approach.
He took a deep breath as he touched down back to solid ground. A few ponies were passing through the gate, but all of them stopped from the sight of the gargoyle. Even the citizens that didn’t know who he was could tell that he was a big deal, and gave him the space needed for such a figure. Still, he went on his way to the main entrance, where a few guards served as a checkpoint into the city.
Despite the towering figure approaching them, the guards were steadfast in their armor and fortified hooves. A few were visibly trembling; they knew who he was. Another guard had her jaw firmly on the floor. Regardless, Scorpan came to them like it was no big deal, that it was just another day for the guards.
“I believe I have a meeting with the princess under the name Scorpan,” he calmly stated. His voice was scratchy from age, yet the deep, booming tone was still there. “Is there anything I need to do to gain access into Canterlot?”
“No, sir,” the lead guard replied. “She’s told us to expect you, but you could have just bypassed us. We all got the memo about you. If anyone deserves to skip the line, it would be you.”
“That’s very kind of you. Thanks for informing me.” He went around the guards just as calmly as he spoke. He could feel the stares, but he was aware that nopony would try to fight him or call him a monster. They would just be awestruck that they got to see him.
It was almost noon, and it wasn’t a surprise that the outdoor cafes were packed. Those that didn’t have a table set for them already, they were arranging to get one. Then he felt the stares again. Part of him was growing shy about it. There was no way that what he did was that significant. Either that, or they never saw a gargoyle before.
He could see the castle off to the distance, and that’s where he would go. Part of him heard about that being near the building, and he hoped to his gods that the rumors were wrong. But it wasn’t. He saw it for himself.
Right before he reached the home of the newest princess, he found the last thing he wanted to see. It was staring back at him. The statue of Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow. The changeling queen and filly were already notorious in the halls of history for their roles in the incident. But they felt like background noise to his senses, almost like they didn’t exist.
All he could see was Tirek’s stone form. There was no telling if his brother could hear him, but if he could see anything, he would catch Scorpan’s eyes widening. Part of him was pleading to believe this wasn’t real, that it couldn’t be real. It had to be a dream.
That wouldn’t change what he was seeing. He shook his head and felt his legs threaten to give out on him. It was from raw strength alone that he did not fall to his knees. It felt as if the world was spinning around him. His breaths grew short and painful, and he wiped the sweat off his face.
“I can’t believe you,” he said to himself. “You...you couldn’t do this to us. There’s no way you could be this set in your ways. Please, brother, give me a sign you can hear me. Something.”
The stone face of Tirek remained silent and still. A snail rolled over his chest, and nothing indicated he would do something about it. He really was set in stone.
It took everything in Scorpan to avoid doing something he would regret, but he could sense it in his nerves. How it felt like they were coursing with electricity. He hoped that if he blinked, Tirek would be standing before him, and it would be just like the good old days. But he knew that was a childish wish. That was when he heard something he needed to hear the most.
“Are you Scorpan?” a soft, feminine voice asked him behind his back.
He turned around to see who it was. Before him was a young, purple alicorn. The crown of Equestria rested on her head, there was a plate around her chest, and her hooves were gilded with the same golden sandals he had seen before. The figure seemed concerned for his well being.
“Yes,” he borderline whispered. “I am Scorpan, brother of Tirek. You must be Princess Twilight Sparkle. I heard the news that you were coronated a month ago...and the battle that occured right before. Is it true?”
Twilight gazed behind his back and realized Tirek’s statue was right there. “I’m so sorry, Scorpan. It all happened like you said. You came here for him, didn’t you?”
A deep seated snort came out of his nostrils, but he forced himself to calm down. “Yes. I had to see it for myself. It sounded like a myth. But I see this one has truth to it…” He gazed back to his brother’s stoned face.
Despite feeling justified in stoning Tirek, the princess couldn’t deny the guilt she felt when she saw Scorpan’s downtrodden demeanor. “He wouldn’t back down. He made it clear that if we didn’t stop him, he was going to end us all. If there was something I could do--”
“I know. Your history says a lot about you, Your Majesty.” For a moment, the scratchy tone in his voice broke, and she could almost hear the history in his words. It made her feel a lot smaller than she was.
“I made lunch for the occasion,” she offered. “I don’t know if it’s going to change things, but you’ve come a long way to arrive here. It was the least I could do for you.”
“Princess, that’s more than enough.”
The private dining hall was as cozy as he hoped for. It had a nice, circular table in the middle, with enough room for three more. There were tiny banners to celebrate the upcoming Summer Sun Festival, and a little fireplace gave the room some warmth. They could see the streets of Canterlot from the window off to the side. By request, the table was set next to it. Thankfully for Scorpan, he couldn’t see the statue from his chair.
On the table was typical pony food. Salads, soup, fruits, vegetables, bread, it wasn’t a bad spread at all. Scorpan was a meat eater, but he learned to give up that vice when he was around ponies. It made sense to him, and it wasn’t like this was bad food, either.
Still, he caught the princess fidgeting in her seat. She had a roll of paper with her magical grasp, and he could tell she was double and triple checking it. “What seems to be the matter?”
“I forgot that this is the day I have my first Friendship Council,” Twilight admitted. “I can push it back an hour if I have to. What we’re doing is important to both of us.”
He nodded and poured himself a glass of pineapple juice. “I don’t know where to start. Everything is different. Ponyville didn’t exist when I came here last. Luna was still banished to the moon. Yet, I can still feel the echoes of the past in these walls.”
“I know. I thought the same thing on my first day. So what did you want to talk about? I imagine there’s a lot on your mind, and I’m all ears.” She made her ears twitch to prove her point. It was the first time in weeks Scorpan found himself laughing.
Still, he sighed and took a small, calculated sip of juice. “Where to begin…” Then he discovered he could see the statue from the room when he looked out the window. Barely, but just enough to see Tirek’s expression when he was turned to stone, a mixture of fear and anger alike. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Scorpan, I inherited the throne from Celestia and Luna. That throne might have been destroyed a long time ago if it wasn’t for your actions. Hearing what’s on your mind is the least I can do. I should do a lot more, in fact.”
“Very well.” He got up from his chair, cup of juice in his hand, and opened the window. A breeze flew into the room, enough to rustle the fur on his head. “When I heard the news, it stung more than the time Tirek was imprisoned in Tartarus. Do you want to know why, Princess Twilight?”
Twilight felt her front hooves nudging together. This wasn’t going to be a fun ride, but it was still the right thing to do. “Why?”
“At least when he was in Tartarus, there was a chance for him,” he started to say. “He could still move around in that cage. There has never been a permanent imprisonment inside that place. Most that enter, they come out reformed, because they can still think.”
“Oh…” She let out an audible sigh. “And because he’s been turned to stone, it’s not possible anymore, is it?”
“You are a mind reader, Twilight,” he responded, half sarcastically, half sincerely. “But yes. I see that stone prison he forced himself into, and...he can’t change in this state. Not like before. There’s no chance for him in this state.”
“No chance? He’s not the first person that’s been turned to stone,” Twilight pointed out. “Discord had the same thing happen to him, and now he’s one of our closest allies. He can be a pain in the neck, but he’s not the same draconequus he used to be.”
“I’ve heard about that as well, Twilight. Now that you mention it, let me ask you something. I heard all about Discord’s plot involving my brother. He formed a group to fight against you, and Tirek was part of that group, correct?”
“Right…” Twilight sunk deeper into her chair.
“Then let me follow it up with another question. Do you believe Discord would have used him if he believed there was a chance Tirek could have been reformed? That he would turn against Queen Chrysalis and Cozy Glow, and fight along your forces?”
She felt her flanks sink all the way into the cushioned chair. “Maybe...but his plan failed. That doesn’t mean Tirek couldn’t change--”
“That’s not what I’m asking. What I’m asking is if Discord thought Tirek couldn’t change, based on how his plan was designed.”
Forced on the spot, she had no choice but to shake her head. It felt so wrong to do, but she knew he was asking for brutal honesty. “No. He wouldn’t have used Tirek if he thought reformation was possible.”
A sharp wince went across Scorpan’s face, but he still nodded. “Exactly. He thought my brother was a monster. Maybe he was. They worked together before...and…” He put the glass down and placed his hands on the surface of the table. He took a series of deep breaths.
Before he knew it, he felt a hoof land softly on his left hand. She was trying to comfort him. Not a single word came from her mouth, but he felt her sympathy in spite of it. He wanted to shy away, but there wasn’t a good reason for it.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“I know,” he whispered, too. “We grew up together, I know he had his strengths. There had to be some good left in him...I want to believe it’s still there.”
“It’s understandable. No matter how bad someone is, there’s moments you still want to see the good in them, right?”
“Indeed, and he was my very own brother. There’s something else I have to find out, though. Do you believe he could have been reformed?”
Twilight’s rubs with her hoof stopped as soon as the question was dropped. She lowered it back to the floor and spent some time chewing it over. Every second she spent thinking about it was more damning than the last. His heart sank from her body language, giving away how conflicted she was.
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “He was one of the fiercest, most stubborn people I’ve ever fought. If it wasn’t for the Elements the first time, and all the help we got the second time, nothing would have stopped him.”
“I...understand.” He went back to his seat and rested deep in its confines. “You are honest about what you think, that’s for certain.”
“I’m not the most honest pony ever. That would be Applejack--” She stopped before she went too far with her train of thought. “That’s not important.”
He clasped his hands and nodded again. “Thank you for letting me come back to Canterlot, no matter what. I hope your reign is long and prosperous, like the reign before yours.”
“Thanks! And, Scorpan...no matter what I think, I hope he does change one day. I’ve learned a lot about Equestra’s past and present. If there’s one lesson I’ve learned from it, the last person you think could change is the person that might just change the most.”
“Are you saying that just to make me feel better, or because you truly believe it?” He almost seemed to be pleading with her.
The look in her eyes told the entire story. “It’s what I want to believe. And I’ve seen it happen before.”
Scorpan could feel what was happening to him, and he pretended to wipe his lips from the juice. It was enough to get the tears out of his eyes before she could see them. “You have a kind heart, Twilight. Don’t let that become a weakness. I doubt it will, but…”
“No, I understand what you mean. Be kind, not naive. And you’re always welcome here.”
“Thank you.” At least there’s one face that won’t stab me in the back…
The rest of the lunch was uneventful, and Scorpan made it clear he wouldn’t take much longer. Despite Twilight’s reassurances that he could stay as long as he liked, there was a place he had to go see before the day was over. Sensing that he wasn’t going to back down from his commitments, she gave him a hug before he left.
Before he departed Canterlot for his destination, he stood and observed the statue one last time. Tirek was the same as he was an hour ago, and that wasn’t going to change anytime soon. Even then, Scorpan said something to himself and his brother. It might have been a prayer, it might have been a plea. Nobody would know but him, his brother, and the other two culprits turned to stone with him.
That’s when he heard something over his shoulder. He gazed and saw the public dining hall from the courtyard. Nobody would know he was there other than the princess, but he saw it fill up with four poniesc in no time at all, coming in to see her. One simple glance, and he recognized them as the bearers to the Elements of Harmony.
They were all thrilled to be there, and they greeted Twilight with a group hug. They would talk about things, although the windows blocked him from hearing any of it. The pink one seemed ready to start a party, with her confetti cannon and the presents she brought with her. Wasn’t there supposed to be one more Element.
Almost as if to answer his question, a portal opened up behind the ponies. The last remaining bearer, a yellow pegasus, came out of it. Right behind her, he could see the embodiment of chaos himself, Discord, waving her on from the other side. The gentle smile he carried with him, the way he seemed happy that Fluttershy could be with his friends...it made Scorpan think about things.
Twilight sensed that Scorpan might still be around the castle, and she took a look out into the courtyard. By then, there was no sign of the gargoyle, save for one brown feather drifting to the ground. He just left.
I hope he finds whatever he’s looking for…
“I’m sorry. I don’t doubt that what you’re saying is true, but I find it hard to believe you’re willing to do this to your own brother,” Luna responded. “Do you know how grave this could be?”
“I would not be doing this if there was another way,” Scorpan answered. “I pleaded with him for days, doing whatever I could to change his mind. He wouldn’t even listen to me after the fourth day. This is the only way we can stop him.”
“Your position isn’t one I envy,” Celestia admitted. “I’d hate to do this to somepony within my own family.” She tossed a look in Luna’s direction, making sure she caught it. The princess of the moon could feel the sympathy her sister tried to give her, but it didn’t register in her mind. Why that was, she wouldn’t know for another year.
“Then we can’t delay any further. Tirek’s already putting his plans into motion. We have to move if we are to have any hopes of stopping him.”
“But what will happen to you? Your homeland might see you as an outcast, or worse,” Luna butted in. “If you do your part in this plan, Equestria will always have its doors open for you. But we don’t wish to see you suffer in exile from it, either.”
“Let me worry about that after we’re finished.”
That happened over a thousand years ago, but Scorpan remembered it so clearly. It was the moment his heart ripped in two for the first time. Yet, there wasn’t one bit of regret over what he did all those years ago. That’s how dire the alternative was.
It wouldn’t be long until he found himself at a beach. He figured it would take another hour to get there, but he was ahead of schedule. By that hour, it was deep into the afternoon. Sunset wouldn’t be for a while, but it wasn’t far away, either. He could smell the scent of the sea from there, carried by the guiding hands of the wind.
The beach was nearly empty when he got there. Strange, given how it was in the middle of the summer. Maybe it was an off day. He scanned around the shoreline to see if he could find what he was looking for. When he did, it stuck out like a sore thumb. He wasn’t sure what to do or say, only knowing the satisfaction of finding what he wanted to see for so long.
A white alicorn lounged on her side on the nearest beach chair. She just finished applying a round of sunscreen to her coat, and she sighed blissfully. “Don’t forget to re-apply every hour. It’s the key to avoid sunburn.”
“I learned that lesson a long time ago,” a blue alicorn snorted on the chair next to her. As it turned out, she was smothered in sunscreen, far more than her sister ever used. “Nopony ever scolded me for being overprepared.”
Celestia lifted her sunglasses from her eyes, amused by the sight. “Luna, that’s enough for three ponies, let alone you! Not that I don’t blame you. The first time I got sunburn, I did the same thing. How are you feeling?”
“Much better, sister. This is what I was looking forward to the most about retirement, more time with you. It’s long overdue if you ask me. But...I keep thinking our story shouldn’t be over. Does that make sense?”
“We’re still advisors to Twilight, and it’s not like our magic just went away with age. But--” Her eyes exploded from the figure walking their way. “Luna. Is that who I think it is?”
Luna lifted her sunglasses up, and it took a moment for her to recognize the gargoyle. The moment she did, she gasped and got off the chair in record time. She could scarcely believe what she was seeing, and Celestia was very much the same.
“Scorpan?” Celestia asked quietly. “Is that you?”
A weary smile spread across Scorpan’s face. “Yes. It’s been far too long, hasn’t it?”
Before they knew what they were doing, the royal sisters dropped everything and galloped to meet him halfway. Even with the excessive sunscreen dripping down Luna’s body, neither one of them could stop smiling. Before long, they met up with Scorpan after what felt like forever.
“It’s really you!” Luna exclaimed. “You aged like fine wine. My goodness, I was afraid we’d never see you again.”
“I might have lost a step or two, but I still have it,” he grinned. “What about you two? Retirement treating you well?”
“Beyond well,” Celestia gleamed. “Twilight told us you might be coming over, but I had no idea it would actually happen! I’m so sorry for not visiting you all those years ago. We shouldn’t have abandoned you for so long, you mean too much for us.”
“I’d be busy all the time if I ruled over an entire kingdom, too,” he countered. “But enough about that. This is a wonderful beach out here. Looks like the perfect place to catch up on things.”
“Believe me, it is. Just be sure to use plenty of sunscreen,” Luna advised. “You’ll thank me later.”
A deep seated chuckle came out of Scorpan’s mouth. “I’ll take your word for it.”
The rest of the afternoon turned into a massive blur. Scorpan brought a chair next to Celestia and Luna’s, they talked for many hours, and Scorpan discovered the joy of swimming...for a few minutes. It wasn’t meant for people with thick fur like his.
Still, he couldn’t help but be astonished when he heard about all the things that happened in Equestria while he was gone. It got his mind off of things for a bit, and he couldn’t help but think over things. Before they knew it, the sun was about to set.
“It’s so strange to see this happen without my help,” Celestia commented. “Or that Luna’s not the one raising the moon.”
“Eh, Twilight’s doing a good job on her own,” said Luna. “I learned to let it go a long time ago.”
“Something I need to learn myself…” Scorpan sighed again, and he relaxed deep into his chair.
“I know that look. Something is on your mind,” Celestia thought.
“It’s been a rough day,” he admitted. “I...I saw Tirek’s statue. It’s hard to take in. I want...I just want there to be a chance for him. But I can’t escape the feeling that he has blown all the chances he’ll get…”
He could feel the quiet gasps from the alicorns, and he caught both of them looking his way. “I thought the same about myself a few years ago,,” Luna thought. “It’s not as hopeless as it looks.”
“That’s what I hope...but I’m not sure. It helps that Equestria still sees me as a hero, and I never lost the friends I made along the way. Might even have to come back more often...or stay.”
“If that’s what you choose to do, we’d be more to have you here,” Celestia smiled. “But only if you want to.”
“I’ll have to think about it.” The sun was mere seconds away from setting. “There’s only one question I have left. Do you truly think anyone can change?”
That left an eerie silence on the beach for a moment. “Yes. But not everyone chooses to,” Celestia answered. “In some cases, it comes down to time. I have my sister back, so I know it can happen.”
“Which I’ll forever be grateful for,” Luna nodded. “But for your brother, Tirek...she’s right. That’s an answer only time will be able to give to you.”
“I had a feeling you would say that.” He let out one last sigh. “At least I’ll have friends like you along the way, and who knows. I have a lot of time left on this earth. If he needs time, I am more than willing to give it to him...as long as it means I’ll have my brother back.”
The sun finally set over the horizon of the sea.
Author's Note
Well, this was something. It was partly inspired by all the people I've seen that didn't want to see Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow get reformed in the season 9 finale. At the same time, you know someone like Scorpan would be willing to move heaven and earth to have their brother back.
As for the dilemma....I hope the answer was just as vague I was hoping for. It's true that FIM has done a lot of reformation of villains, but Tirek always felt like a special case. At the same time, was there still a possible answer? I wanted to make it so the reader would decide for themselves, while understanding why Scorpan wishes the answer is yes.
I'll leave it up to you if I succeeded.
