Moondog

Postscript: The Endless Wheel
~BlackRoseRaven

The experiment had gone better than expected.

She had forged this planet, ever-so-carefully, using the materials of a planet lost and broken many centuries ago, and techniques taken from both Odin and Valthrudnir. The beautiful little glass bauble floating above her hoof was nothing but a focal point, a visualization to assist her with reconstructing the planet that was now no longer necessary, but she thought she would keep it as a souvenir. It was a pretty thing, and a reminder of what she was capable of. Why she had taken the role she had. And everything that was at stake.

Not here, though. This planet was hidden away, a safe little secret, a guilty gift for the people she loved, so they could indulge watching the reflections that had never existed, even if part of her was so afraid: what if they didn't love her like they did in this reality? What if in that reflected world, they failed?

Ah, but they had accidentally woken up one of the few little things she'd taken the liberty of modifying and sealing away, and survived it... and as that Luna had said, she was not Brynhild.

She was not Brynhild, Twilight was not Morgan, Scrivener was not Nihete.

The mare cradled the toy gently between her forehooves, dwarfed so many times by the massive soulstone core embedded in her own body. Her soft eyes studied it intently. It was addictive: she wanted to watch more of their adventures. See more of what they were doing. And it was so hard to resist becoming the deus ex machina she knew she could be.

But she didn't want to rob this planet of any meaning. She would watch them. She would let them struggle on their own terms. She would keep them safe from outside influences, even if only for her own selfish ends.

And ultimately, she would let them survive or fail, on their own terms.

Sometimes, however, it was the actions you took that mattered the most, and not the intent behind them. A pony didn't care if you saved their life just because it felt good for you to do so; they only cared that you saved their life.

So she would protect this world she had recreated with all her power, and not worry too much about sharing the reasons why she had done so.

And she smiled softly as she lifted the tiny bauble once more to her eyes, admiring and envious of all the experiences they would have, all the stories they would make together, and the love they would get to share all over again.

For love, the world may shatter,

With love, the world may heal.

May 31st to June 12th, 2024