Author of Reality

Chapters

*That* Chapter
Second Chapter
Third Installment
# of chapters = 4
Quintet
Sept... no... sext... I don't know.
The Seventh Circle of...

That Chapter

Celestia frowned as she glanced at the papers on her desk, Luna sat across from her, sweat pouring down her dark blue fur as she thought about the promise they had made long ago, the very idea of it brought stress to her mind. Eventually, Celestia moved the papers into a manilla folder and attempted a half-hearted smile. “It seems that we have our end of the bargain to hold up then. We shall release him, as we promised.”

“But sister, he’s far too dangerous.” Luna exclaimed. “We can’t let him out, think of all the horror he would cause.” Memories flooded her mind of the attack, thousands had been severely wounded, none had died but it was hard to believe that was on purpose. Single handedly the creature had wiped all of the guards aside. He had claimed it had been done on accident, but regardless of why he had done it it didn't change the fact that because of his actions Discord had found his opening and had attacked the kingdom.

When Discord had fallen, frozen in stone, the creature came to them a cracked smile holding his shattered face together. He had offered them a deal, if he could predict an event an untold period of time in the future, they would be able to contain him until such as a time as the prediction proved true. They had eagerly accepted, no spell had been devised that could see into the future with any degree of accuracy, and they desperately wanted him shut away where he could do no harm.

Now though, the evidence of his truth did not only stare them straight in the face, it practically yelled at them waving it’s limbs widely like a mad creature trying with all it's might, mind, and strength to get attention it didn't deserve through stupid acts like writing a really bad story and then posting it publicly.... Speaking metaphorically of course. “We must though Luna. We gave him our word, and I shall not be known for going back on such a promise as this.” Luna had known her sister’s words before they ever met the air but that didn’t stop the alicorn of the night from gazing dishearteningly towards the ground.

As she did so her eyes came to rest on the corner of one of the paper’s, specifically the one containing the fortune from the creature that rested in the bottom of the dungeons. “On such a day as the lunar princess returns from her banishment she shall be corrupted by a force. She shall try and create eternal night but shall fail, on account of six mares. The leader of these six mares shall be the personal student of Celestia. She will be named after a time of day and she will originate from Canterlot.”

With a sigh, realizing she was beat, Luna stood and walked with her sister. The cell that held the creature was the strongest any magician could create and had been sealed by two horns. Celestia’s and Luna’s respectively. When Luna had fallen to her inner desires and was forced away to the moon Celestia realized that the being’s words were being confirmed and had gone to confront him. He had ignored her. She had lost her temper and had pulled him to the bars, pulling his body against the unforgiving steel. she had demanded that he explain himself. His answer had been a smile. Celestia had left in a rage. She hadn’t visited him since that day.

The door to the prison room creaked open slowly, and the princesses approached the cage. The being within rose onto both feet and grinned. “I assume I finally proved correct?” Without answering the two alicorns cast their spell and he stood, pushing lightly against the cage door until it opened. Light music filled the air, muffled as it’s source of origin was pressed into his ears. Slowly he pulled the devices out and slid them into the pocket of his clothing. He stood before them on both his feet, meeting them both at eye level. Then, he did something unexpected.

He hugged them. He swung his arms around their necks and brought them into a hug. “Oh thank you for keeping your word! I wasn’t sure if you would!” He said, grinning. “So, onto the next matter of business. I believe I was promised a trip to Ponyville.” Luna pulled out of his hug angrily, after Celestia recovered from her shock she did as well.

“I don’t believe we promised a trip to Ponyville, creature.” Luna stated angrily.

“Aww cmon, it’s been like... one thousand years or something yea? Can’t I choose where to go?” He stated in return. “And my name’s Author, don’t you remember? Well I suppose it has been a long time. And all that time alone.” He stated nonchalantly.

“Don’t you dare talk about my time on the moon.” Luna stated angrily, even before he had been put in his cage he had acted like a know-it-all.

“I wasn’t, I was talking about my time in that cage.” He responded. Luna gazed back at him and saw something in his eyes that frightened her, sympathy. “Of course, you don’t want to have someone who can share your pain. How horrible to be together in loneliness.” He smiled crookedly, as if trying to convince himself that he was happy and fine.

“Regardless, Author.” Celestia said, standing tall. “We have decided that while you did prove yourself correct in your assumptions you will not be able to leave Canterlot until we have determined that you are at least sane enough for normal interaction.”

“Oh, I suppose that’s good. Oooo, is this before or after the changeling invasion?” He stated simply. Luna and Celestia shared a look, he hadn’t mentioned the invasion in any of his predictions.

“After.”

“Oh sweet, I can congratulate Shining Armor and Cadence on their marriage, I’ve been meaning to do this for a while. Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!” He said quickly, bouncing up and down near the door as he waited for the princesses to open it. Once again, they shared a glance of disbelief in regards to knowledge he should not have. The door was opened and the being took off, looking for the pair to congratulate them.

“He knows he’s heading the wrong way, right?” Luna asked Celestia as the biped disappeared around a corner.

“I have no idea Luna. He knew Ponyville existed but had no idea where it was when we spoke to him last, his knowledge is iffy at best.”

“So... you trust he won’t do something stupid?”

“I trust he won’t do something TOO stupid, sister. If he didn’t do something stupid I would question if he truly was who he claimed to be.”

“Who he claimed to be?”

“Don’t you remember? He claimed to be the author of alternate realities, surely only a madman would take that job.”

Second Chapter

Author backed away slowly, Shining Armor looked at the creature for a while, his eyebrow raised in an expression of puzzlement. “What’s the matter?” The stallion could sense no hostility from the creature, so he saw no reason to be rude to it. The creature had come barreling into the room in a hurry, proclaiming a congratulations that was cut off as soon as he had seen the captain of the guard, now he was acting as though scared of something, a most confusing demeanor swap. Author’s back eventually met the wall and the man stopped, his eyes wide as his pupils began to dart around the room again before settling on the white unicorn who stood in front of him.

“How many years,” Author asked hesitantly, not sure if he wanted to know the answer to what he was about to ask, “Has it been since the changeling invasion?” The stallion pondered the question for a moment, wondering why that was the first question that he had asked. With a trained eye, the captain of the guard examined the being and mulled over what he saw. He had no visible weapons, he didn’t appear to be a threat, his clothes weren’t extremely baggy and he wore short sleeves, meaning the chance of hidden weapons was slim. Deducing that he was probably a low priority threat, if a threat at all, the captain decided to answer the question.

“Ten years.” Shining Armor answered with a stiff, militarian tone, his moustache bobbing as his mouth moved. Author’s legs gave out from under him, in a similar manner as being hit by a large blow to the chest, and he dropped to the ground. His body settled into an odd sitting position, he placed his right hand over his face, hiding half of it. His left hand would have been mimicking the act but it was too busy holding the biped up. He began to mumble under his breath. None of the words that Shining Armor heard could he understand, examining the creature again Shining Armor was about to approach when the door opened.

Luna entered the room, her gaze flicked quickly to Shining Armor then toward the human who remained in his state of utter shock. She looked to the captain of the guard who shrugged at an unanswered question. She looked to Author, who was beginning to stand. “I think I understand why people drink themselves to death now.” He mumbled under his breath. Turning to face Luna his face twisted in rage. Before Shining Armor could react Author slapped the lunar princess across the face, his expression demented by confused anger as Luna’s head was batted away by the force of the blow.

“WHY DIDN’T YOU FREE ME SOONER! IT’S BEEN TEN WHOLE YEARS!” He shouted at her. Shining Armor quickly cast a barrier spell, targeting any who meant harm to the princess with it’s force. The pink shield passed harmlessly over Author. “I waited one thousand years for nothing! I wanted to... I wanted to...” His mind began to shatter. “One thousand pointless years. I don’t even get to... to meet them... I wanted to watch them grow up...” He said, his mind in shambles as his words became more and more inane.

Luna turned to look at the man, who was beginning to lean against the wall again, clenching his head as if a horrible migraine affected him. She had sensed the spell cast by Shining Armor, she knew what his qualifications were, she also knew that it had affected the human, it had just decided he didn’t qualify. The sound of hurried hoofbeats echoed through the hall and before long a mare entered the room, he three tone hair fluttering through the air from the sudden jog as her violet body came alongside the princess, she was no where near in as good a shape as the captain, indicated by the sweat droplets that had started to form on her brow.

“Princess, are you alright? I sensed Shining Armor’s spell and I came as fast as I-” She cut herself off, she followed Luna’s eyes and turned to look at the human, who seemed to be barely clinging to reality. His gaze raised to look at her as well, and he saw something familiar in her, something painfully familiar. The unicorn looked back with a surprised expression, wondering why he had taken a sudden interest in her.

“Twilight Sparkle.” He stated, his expression calmed but his inner turmoil was still raging within him, as strong as ever. “I see... I see that you grew up well.” It was all he could manage. With a sudden lunge he hurried away, his stomach revolting against the painful twists of emotion that Author had been put through.

After an hour Author’s mind began working again, he glanced down into the recently flushed bowl of the toilet and sighed. A feeling of utter defeat descended around the man as he stood from his position. He stumbled half-heartedly away from the bathroom, glad that no one was following him. He had made a few mental notes of the castle layout on his way through and was now heading back towards where he had started.

He entered the cage and closed the door behind him, though it didn’t lock. He slid slowly into place with his back against the wall and put his ear phones into his ears again. His mind was trying to find the silver lining to what had occurred but only came up empty. He wanted to see them all grow up, he wanted to help them all grow up, but they were already grown up, they didn’t need him, he was foolish to think they ever would.

Meanwhile, back in Shining Armor’s room Twilight looked to Princess Luna, having finally recovered from what had just happened. “Who was that Princess? Why was he so... so... broken? Why did he know my name?” Luna frowned and tilted her head downward. In all her fear of Author she had forgotten he was still a living being, when she had come back Celestia had forgotten about him, Luna had put off reminding her for as long as possible, out of fear. Only recently had the guilt gotten the better of her. True, Luna had no idea that Author had been looking towards a specific event. But it was clear that he didn't expect the need to tell her. Even if he had decided he wanted , well, it wasn't like anyone had gone to talk to him.

“Unfortunately Archmage Sparkle, I can’t answer any of those questions.” Came the cold response.

Third Installment

Twilight carefully pushed to door open, peering into the cage within. She spotted the creature reclining against the far wall and entered the room. Her steps were hesitant as she reconsidered the intellect in going to see the being. Eventually, curiosity won out and she approached Author with a surety in her step that had been absent a few moments prior. He didn’t seem to be paying attention, additionally a pair of objects in his ears made it so he couldn’t hear anything. Floating alongside the unicorn was a flask filled with a tropical punch, she wasn’t quite sure if he would enjoy it but it seemed a fair bet.

Circling around Twilight noticed that his eyes were closed, she thought for a moment that he was asleep, but his eyes seemed to be tearing up. Politely, Twilight coughed to get his attention, after a moment his eyes opened. They settled on Twilight Sparkle and a sad smile covered his face. He took the things out of his ears and leaned forward, waiting for Twilight to start.

“Hello,” she began. He nodded and waited for her to continue. Slowly, the unicorn passed the flask through the bars, which the man took. Without hesitation he drank the liquid within and his smile changed to one of cheer. Twilight pondered briefly on the blind trust he had put to her, she had handed him a flask and, not knowing its contents, had drank it down without fear or worry. As she pondered on this oddity, the creature built up the courage to speak.

“Did Rainbow Dash ever make it into the wonderbolts?” He asked bluntly, looking towards the ground.

Caught off guard, it took Twilight a moment to answer. “Yes, she passed the entrance exam with flying colors.”

“And I assume the Cutie Mark Crusaders got their Cutie Marks.” Twilight made to answer but he continued on without pause. “Pumpkin and Pound Cake are probably old enough to start looking for their cutie marks now. Heck, they might even have them already. I hope Fluttershy is doing okay, she was always very shy. Though I imagine she’s gotten better at standing up for herself. And Pinkie Pie, she’s doing okay yea? Still as cheerful as ever I hope. Spike and Rarity ever actually become a couple? Spike hasn’t gone all dragon-y again has he? I doubt it, he seems like he can take care of himself.”

Twilight stood in awe as the creature blathered. Author not only knew her and her friends, he knew about who they were, what they wanted. He seemed preoccupied as he talked, as if he forgot that she was even there to begin with. He continued listing off questions, not waiting for the answers. He even touched lightly on some ponies that Twilight had met only in passing. Lyra, Vinyl, Fancy Pants, even Photo Finish received a few words. Her mind was still whirring from the impossibility of him knowing so much about the world when he fell silent.

Eventually, Twilight caught on and looked worriedly towards Author. He was looking down to the flask in his hand. “I’m... sorry.” He stated finally. “I didn’t mean to...” He didn’t finish. An all consuming silence echoed silently through the still air of the air without sound so much so that if the silence could rule it would have done so silently. A small beeping filled the air, and Twilight glanced towards a small bell that hung from her hair.

“Ah,” she said as she remembered. “I forgot about the picnic that I scheduled.”

“That’s very unlike you Twilight. Something on your mind recently?” Came the reply. Worriedly Twilight looked toward Author who simply remained staring at the flask. Something had indeed come up, a special assignment from Celestia. After a solid week of working she had been granted a few days of rest. Though granted really is the wrong word, she had been kicked out of her laboratory forcefully and had not been permitted to enter again until the days had past.

As she looked towards the man she let her horn lit up for a moment. Carefully, she tapped into his emotions, to feel what he felt. She was forced out by a crushing feeling of despair and emptiness. Uncertain, Twilight looked between Author and the door. “Would you...” His gaze rose to look at the unicorn as she spoke. “Would you like to come to the picnic with me and my friends? Pinkie always makes too much anyway.” She said, a smile slowly crossing her face.

“Though I appreciate the gesture, I think I’ll decline. I’d rather not make such a bad impression on your friends. Doing it to you was already bad enough.” He smiled a fake smile and stood from the ground. “I would like to go to the area where the picnic is, though. If only to see how everyone’s grown up.” Twilight nodded in response and they both left the room, heading towards the garden.

Author slouched as he walked, drinking from the flask occasionally to keep the taste on his tongue. Twilight walked alongside him and slightly ahead. Every now and then she would dare to glance towards him, as if that alone would sate her curiosity. Guards would stare at the duo as the passed, nodding to Twilight while staring uneasily at Author. Author didn’t mind the attention, he didn’t even seem to acknowledge it as they passed.

Eventually they came to the gardens and Twilight bid a farewell to the man, who remained at the threshold. She found her friends and began a joyful reunion with them, they talked about what had taken place since they last met and upcoming events. Once in awhile, Twilight would look to the archway and see the man leaning against the wall, a sad smile on his face, but it wouldn’t be long before her attention would be grabbed by her friends once again.

Silently, Luna stepped up next to the man. She was preparing to apologize to him when his voice met her ears. “You really shouldn’t feel guilty Luna, it’s unbecoming for a princess.” Author said, as if stating fact.

“How, how did you?” She hadn’t sensed any magic from the man. He smiled in return.

“Do you know what a blue mage is?”

“No, I can’t say I’ve ever heard of such a thing before.”

A heavy sigh came from the man. “Oh well, it’s not important anyway.”

# of chapters = 4

Author was wandering the halls, slow, dragging steps marking his passage. This had become the man’s usual pastime. His eyes traced the floor and his ears were filled with the devices that blocked out his surroundings. Ponies would move aside as Author travelled the castle, not out of respect but out of fear. Both princesses feared the being openly, a fact that had given more than enough reason to their subjects to act the same way. In his apathetic meandering steps he entered a part of the castle that he hadn’t before.

As he walked a voice made itself known, it was loud enough that it managed to make it’s way past the noise that Author pumped into his ears at a constant rate. Sensing a familiarity to it, he pulled the devices from his ears and set off towards the sound. After a few wrong turns the man found himself at the doorway to the room from which the voice came. As of yet those inside hadn’t noticed his arrival, a fact he didn’t really care much about.

Within the room, balloons and streamers stretched across the room. A fast moving blur of pink dashed around, talking to everyone who was already inside. It was obviously a party. Deciding that he would be rather unwelcome Author was about to leave when he spotted the guest of honor. A colt sat near the table, his mane was falling out, and a smile was plastered on his face. The smile proved contagious, and Author couldn’t help but cracking a grin as well. He was quite happy to see that Pinkie was still making everyone smile.

The sound of approaching hoofsteps made itself known, the one causing them clearly thinking himself quite important, judging by the volume of them alone. Author glanced down the hall he had just come from and spotted the approaching form of a white stallion with an extremely pompous hairdo. Instantly Author recognized him, and a feeling of encroaching despair formed in his stomach. The smile faded and Author began to slouch heavily. He didn’t move however, and stood at the entranceway waiting for, the obviously aged, Prince Blueblood.

All the party goers heard the approaching sound as well and turned to look for it’s source. They all spotted the man immediately, and a surge of whispers jolted through the gathered crowd. Author payed them no mind. Pinkie hesitantly approached, keeping a fair distance between her and the man, before she looked to see the approaching prince. The room suddenly felt very cold, Pinkie’s hair wilted slightly, but managed to keep it’s bouncy appearance. Author took notice and stepped forward slightly, putting the pink mare behind him.

Blueblood arrived in short order, and Author took notice of the ponies who followed him around. The prince took one look at the party and scoffed. “This is a party? Hardly.” He approached and Pinkie backed away in fear of the coming confrontation. Tears started to form in her eyes but she managed to keep it together. Author quickly deduced the Blueblood had become very tyrannical as of late. “I see you even got the monster to come, how droll.” Blueblood eyed Author, whose fists clenched subconsciously.

Blueblood watched the action with a raised eyebrow. Inhaling deeply through his nose, Author let his muscles relax and turned his attention towards Pinkie Pie. Before he could say anything, however, Blueblood started up again. “Ah, this is that party then. Really pointless if you ask me. If I remember the doctor’s right he’ll be dea-” Before he could finish that word, an unknown force slammed him against a nearby wall, knocking the air from his body. Author’s body was tense, and he was glaring at stallion down his nose.

“You don’t get to decide death dates princey.” The tone was full of rage as Author glared down Blueblood. The child was looking towards the man with a shocked expression. “And if Pinkie Pie wants to throw the kid a party to encourage his recovery, then you can take your attitude and shove it up your arse.” Silence.

The prince began to growl in anger, then shot a bolt of magical energy at Author. It danced over his skin. Then he shouted in pain as it hit his system and filled it full of pain. Smoke came off of his hair after the brief period of pain. Still standing, he turned his attention fully to the prince, who still laid on the floor. Faster than anyone’s eyes could follow, he picked up Blueblood in a single hand and smiled wickedly as very similar bolts of lightning began to dance over his skin. A look of pure fear struck Blueblood’s face, but was quickly replaced with one of pain. He howled in agony as the spell was continually sent through his body.

Author’s smile widened manically until he at last dropped Blueblood to the ground. His body convulsed for a moment, then lay still. The entourage lunged forward but were stopped as the man leaned over the unconscious Blueblood. His hand began to glow green, then he pressed it against the stallion’s chest. Blueblood’s eyes snapped open and he looked up with fear towards Author.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.” Author admitted. “And I would gladly do it again if you push me. As a matter of fact I could torture you and heal you repeatedly for the rest of your pathetic living days, do you understand me?” The bravado was gone, and Blueblood nodded. “Good. Now I want you to go back to your little political party or wherever you’re supposed to be and if you tell either of the princesses about this I will treat you to a little of the same treatment, am I understood?”

Blueblood nodded and Author stood up, allowing the prince to flee with the ponies who had been following him. Author knew what to expect as he turned to face the party. Absolute fear and terror. It was on absolutely every face, just as he figured it would be after that display. Without a word, Author took his earbuds and slid them back into place, allowing the music to drain away thoughts that shot through Author’s mind. As he was walking away though, a tug on his sleeve caught his attention.

He turned and spotted the colt whom the party had been thrown for. He looked up at Author, silent, then asked the question that was on his mind. “Did you mean what you said? About me living longer?” Author let his gaze roam to all the ponies who watched him very intently. Pinkie Pie was standing a fair distance away, a look of terror on her face as she thought about the magic he had just performed and how easily he could use it on the pony in front of him.

Author nodded. “Stone is a horrible medium for stories.” He said with a grin, then walked away, music blaring in his ears.

Author's Note

There was another story where I very much regretted not beating the crap out of Blueblood when I had the chance. Just some resolution here.

Quintet

“I could save him, you know.”

The voice shattered the air and bit into the very psyche of the pony in the room who had, until he spoke, gone unnoticed. Fluttershy whirled around, her eyes wide. She hadn’t heard the door open, let alone the approach of the bipedial monster that had been terrorizing the castle. She breathed deeply and silently, trying not to show her fear. She was fairly certain he could smell fear. Or was that bears? Maybe it was both, they had some similarities after all, like being scary when they’re angry.

Fluttershy recovered fairly quickly, all things considered. She also had a great deal more courage than Author remembered her having. But it had been ten years after all. A lot of things change in ten years. Too many to count really. Six important things though. “Save who?”

“The balding colt.” He answered plainly after a moment, never looking away from the hat in his hands. “No negative effects involved. I could heal him completely, cure him of his ills, no pain, no displeasure, nothing. Just a cure.” He spun the hat around again, his hands being kept busy by the act but his brain far away from the head gear that he twirled. Fully occupied in some foggy battle that whirled through his mind with each passing second.

“W-why don’t you then?” It seemed the mention of his raw magicial ability had finally pushed the situation home, bursting through the shy pony’s mask and revealing her true face, or maybe it was an old face, one she had given up a long time ago. Either way, her shy stutter had come back. She was afraid of him. Just like everyone else. The pony that hung out around predators of great strength… scared of him.

The one pony he had hoped wouldn’t fear his mere presence…

Author decided that he should at least give her his answer, even if he knew with every fiber of his being that she wouldn't like it, that it might scare her more, that she would certainly be uncomfortable. “Because I don’t want to force him to stay here, I would be responsible for all his pains he has after I saved him. Truly I wish that I could swap him places with some spell or another, I’m not very keen on sticking around anymore. But, as it just so happens to turn out, immortality of my variety isn't the best thing in the world.”

Fluttershy slowly approached the creature, the larger part of her brain holding her back and slowing her down as she drug her hooves over the ground and towards the biped. She was scared to death of him, how bloody cute. How fantastic! One thousand years he had waited to meet the element of kindness, to have tea with her, to chat about animals even if she wanted too. Here she was struggling to approach him.

He would have preferred to hang out with Luna of course, he had always enjoyed the idea of being friends with the princess of the night. But turns out she was the one who had tried to keep him locked up for as long as possible. Everything was going just great.

Fluttershy could see the turmoil that haunted Author's eyes, she could see the anger that raged against his mind, fighting to get out and into the air. With a long glance at him, she decided to change the topic as she spoke up. “That hat looks familiar…” She stated, knowing full well that continuing on the topic that the creature had brought up wouldn’t go well, wouldn't go well at all.

“I bought it from Rarity.” Fluttershy nodded at this, instantly recalling having seen it in Rarity’s new Canterlot boutique. “I just had to promise not to be seen with her in public. I got the worst end of that deal, no doubt.” His voice sounded hurt, and he slowly set the hat down at his side. Silently, Fluttershy began to wish she could take back what she had said, he was even more emotionally damaged than she had thought. She didn't know why he was so hurt, he hadn't even known Rarity for the majority of his life, but here he was, wallowing over his promise to her.

Then again, it's not like ponies' emotions made any more sense. Nor gryphons', nor dragons'. You just had to be careful, and you had to respect them. But the biped next to her... he was just so very malevolent. He had attacked Blueblood, he had been spying on them over the course of the past few days, he had helped Discord those thousand years ago.

Author stood from his seat with some small difficulty and hoisted himself onto his feet, leaving the headwear behind. “I suppose I’ll go heal him now. Might as well even do it in front of his parents with my green glowing hands. Not like I can make them any more scared of me then they already are anyway.”

As he made to leave a call from the custard colored mare caught his ear. “If you ever need to talk to anyone…” She had to force the next words out of her mouth. “You can always talk to me.” Her voice reached near high pitch, and Author came to the realization he had just sent back her work on assertiveness by about ten years.

He looked at her, blinking slowly, and frowned. “Just two more bad introductions to go, then I can get on with my life.” He said simply. “Not that there’s much to get on with, but at least I won’t have to worry about first impressions anymore, I’ll be fully aware that everybody completely and totally hates me.”

His words went through Fluttershy, they weren’t meant for her after all. He was just talking to himself.

“Why is it so damn lonely at the top?” Were his final words before he closed the door behind him, leaving the pegasus to her own scared thoughts. At least until she tried to get him out of her memories anyway...

Sept... no... sext... I don't know.

The stallion rammed another hoof against the sturdy chest of the biped that had just acted uninvited, but it didn’t flinch under the flinch, just looked back at him with a pair of apathetic eyes. “Aren’t you getting tired? It’s been ten minutes.” Author said with a tone of beige and normal that bit at the air with an unidentifiable feeling beneath it. Author’s hands twitched slightly, as they had ever since he had done his magic, he still was trying to get his nerves and calm demeanor back together, luckily he was very practiced in the art of pretending he was fine.

“What did you do to my son!” Shouted the father of the child on the table, ignoring Author’s question. The mother had left to find a doctor to fix the situation, a fit of horror and fear on her face when she left. From here Author knew exactly how this was gonna play out, he'd run it through his head so many times by this point it would have been impossible not to. So far though, they hadn't buried him alive, so it he had that going for him, which was nice.

“Wonder what’s taking the doctor so long, I’d like this to be over with as soon as possible.” Author had decided if his own questions were gonna be ignored he may as well ignore everyone elses. Through all of this roiling chaos the colt on the table was managing to sleep peacefully, his mind far away from the room. Author decided he hadn't given the doctors enough credit, as the sleeping medication had been doing it’s job perfectly, and to such a degree that he was honestly surprised.

As if he had summoned them by words alone the doctor ran into the room, the mother just a step or two behind him. They both shot Author a horrible look and moved towards the child with all haste. The doctor’s horn lit up with every step until he was next to his patient, at which time he closed his eyes and focused on his work.

Silence permeated the air, the parents eagerly awaiting the diagnosis. “Wait, what?” mumbled the doctor, and the parents leaned closer, putting all their effort into not screaming questions at him as he worked. “But that’s not…” His voice died away and his magic intensified, scanning every square inch of the colt for his old disease. “He’s…” The doc ended his spell and looked at the parents. “He’s completely cured.”

Everyone looked at Author then, and he blinked in response. Then, mumbling lowly and under his breath, “And then you say…” He said, looking at the father.

“What else did you do to him!? What scheme are you planning with our son!?” Author sighed, just because he had seen it coming didn’t mean it softened the blow of the words actually hitting the air.

“I’m out of here, take good care of your son, I’d rather my magic not go to waste anytime soon.”

The father immediately moved between Author and the door, a dark glare on his face. “You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what you did.” The phrase brought anger to Author’s face, he hadn’t bothered to play the scenario out this far, and now he was getting pissed by the continued, so called, loyalty of this father. With a mere clench of his hand, a small explosion of power sent the father to the side, freeing up passage for the biped out of the room.

“Don’t you dare threaten me ever again.” Author said through gritted teeth, not looking to anyone particular as he spoke. After leaving the scene he soon heard steps following him from behind and he turned on his heel to see if the father had decided on a death sentence.

As it turned out, he hadn’t, and instead the mother was now slowing to a soft canter as she approached Author's tall form. She looked up at him with moist eyes and began to speak in a rippling, fragile voice. “I- I don’t know why you did it…” She began. “But if you really only cured him, then you have my deepest thanks for saving my son.”

Author dropped to his knees so he could look the mare in the eyes. “That’s nice, but you know what?” She shook her head. “If people talk bad about me I would bet fifty to one odds that you still wouldn’t stand up for me, because I’m still a monster to you, you’re just confused by all the emotions welling up inside of you, so you think I’m a good guy right now.” Author raised himself from the floor and began to walk away. “Just give it an hour or two.”

The mare stayed behind, thinking about the words for a minute, before she soon went back to her husband and son. Author, meanwhile, made for the exit, and passed by a pink pony carrying several ‘get well’ balloons. Author grabbed one with a deft swipe, not pausing for a minute. When Pinkie turned to look at him in confusion he already had his back to her.

“Thanks.” He called over his shoulder only moments before he disappeared out of the door.

He drew gazes as he walked the streets of a twilight bound Canterlot, sunset and moonrise bidding each other greetings from the horizons. The two princesses sharing the moment as they swapped each other the waking shift. “Wow.” Author said to himself, his steps taking him back to the castle, a joyfully bouncing balloon in his hand. “I’m a jackass.”

The Seventh Circle of...

It was quiet in the cell room, no longer needed by the princesses. With the peaceful stillness encircling him, Author wished it would stay that way, but much like his wish to see the ponies grow up it was denied him. His earbuds lay cast off to the corner of the room, deathly quiet in their banishment. He had closed his eyes and sat down on his pockets, letting his mind run wild. In this particular day dream he was trying to imagine that just once he could be somewhere else and just when he was about to manage it his attention was broken as he heard the hoofsteps outside the door, followed shortly by the opening of the door itself. Author couldn’t help but wonder in the empty darkness of his self induced blindness who it could be.

Whoever it was, they were angry, he determined. The loud smashing giving it away without even slightly pretending they weren’t. This, he discerned, ruled out the sisters, who would mask their feelings almost as second nature. The anger to begin with ruled out Discord, who wouldn’t be caught dead being so cliche as to have reasonable emotions. So that simply left the mane six, the only ones remaining from the list of those who would dare to approach him. The voice quickly gave away the answer.

“How dare you!” Rarity. Certainly would have been his last guess, after all, she didn’t want to be seen with him. He opened his eyes to look at the white mare, anger steaming out of her face in waves of deep exhales.

Author closed his eyes again. “You’re going to need to be more specific.” He didn’t think he’d told anyone besides Fluttershy about the origin of his hat. Perhaps she had told on him? He had thought her above that, but Rarity was miles more important to her than some scary monster. It made sense in the long run.

“How dare you scare those parents like that?!”

Ah, she’d heard about the hospital, of course, it made sense now. He briefly considered not talking to her, letting the silence drag on, but then changed his mind. Just as he was about to speak though, she cut him off. “You walk into the hospital, cast some unknown magic on a sick child and then have the nerve to treat the parents like they’re the ones at fault? Have you no conscience?”

Something inside him snapped at those words. His eyes opened slowly and he slowly took in the entire form of the fashionista. Her clothing spoke well for her standing, radiating importance and style with every thread. Yet woven deeper than that was a feeling of warmth and kindness. A large obtuse hat sat on her head, as always, and thick eye liner hung from her lashes, easily the most prominent make-up, and the only thing he could point out if asked about it.

His eyes were dead in response to her words, and as Rarity fully grasped what she might’ve done he suddenly stood to his full height. He towered over her, easily twice as tall as she was with her neck upright. He glowered at her from his new position and sneered. “Get out.” The words hissed from between his lips and bit into the air, suprising Rarity with their force.

She fumbled for a moment, surprised, but quickly regained her composure. “Or what? You’re going to hurt me? Pain me? Cut my hair? Then do it you monster! Perhaps then the sisters will see you for what you truly are and then we will be free of your presence!” Drama swelled behind her words, but Author could tell that the words themselves were empty. Knowing what she currently knew, sure, she would most likely do as she had said, but she made no account for the great amount that she didn’t know of him.

A burning laugh cut from Author’s throat, hitting Rarity in the stomach and filling her with a sudden unsurity. “You want to know why your princesses haven’t already kicked me out? Huh? You think they’re blind to everything I’ve done? I assure you they know full well everything that has occurred because of me. I know it as perfectly as I know that you still get a cutting feeling in your gut whenever you make something. A feeling that tells you you aren’t any good, that you should just give up.”

He gave her a moment to take that in, and the apprehensive look quickly turned to rising panic. “Do you know why the sister’s haven’t stopped me? Why they haven’t tried to reform the elements on my head and set me in stone? Huh? No?” He looked her deep in the eyes. “These bars here behind me? The ones that bound me for millennia? These bars are wrapped in the magic of Celestia, Luna, and the Elements, a perfect unbreakable spell forged over three months in the purest steel. If you don’t believe me you’re free to check.”

He saw in her eyes the sheer terror she had done so. Author grabbed a bar with one hand, and almost immediately it began to melt away, turning to slag and running down onto the floor, where it pooled and hardened. “The only reason I stayed in there so long was because I agreed to it. I had been foolish enough to believe that the absolute pinnacles of virtue would keep their end of the bargain to the letter. Can you imagine? Geez, how foolish of me right?”

Rarity made a break for the door, only to watch it slam in her face. Chains surged up from the solid puddle and wrapped the mare in their binds, sapping her magic from the broken spell that still haunted it’s mutilated host. “Oh no no, you wanted to talk, let’s talk.” His face was malevolent as he stepped closer to her, looking ready to punch her square in the jaw.

Then, instead, he knelt down and whispered in her ear. “Do you want to know what I did for one thousand years of confinement? Hmm? I spent GENERATIONS trapped in there, you want to know what I did that whole time?” He stood up, a look of manic and craze tipping into his expression. “I came to terms with the fact that you’re all real. All of you. You shouldn’t be, but you are.” He grabbed his hair in anger and looked ready to pull it out before he caught himself. His face settled and his hand ran through his hair with ease.

“See. You’re all a show where I come from. An animated book. Well, sort of. Because you aren’t quite that, very close though, you’re based on that show. You want to know how I can break the perfect spell? How I can read minds? Cast impossible magic? See who you are and what you want? Cure the incurable?” He paused, as if coming to a dramatic conclusion. “I’m the author of this world, I made this world. All of it. Every last thing.”

“You can call me a god if you like, but I’m the worst kind. I don’t even deserve the title. Because, you see, I’ve wrote worse stories. If this one is true, so are those others. I’ve wrote murders and deaths. I know so many death tallies it’s stupid. But hey, one thousand years, what else am I gonna do?”

“I killed you in three of them, Pinkie in one, Rainbow in two,” His words seem to grow and grow as he said them, “Fluttershy in two, A.J. in two. And I made Twilight WISH she was dead in four total. I killed your sister and her friends, I killed Celestia and Luna and everyone and else several times each and do you know why? Huh? Do you know why I killed all of them? BECAUSE IT WAS CONVIENT FOR THE PLOT!”

Rarity was shaking in fear, not knowing what the madman might do now. She was much more at risk than she had thought she was when she had first come into the room. She feared what his next step would be on this path of escalation, each word more panicked than the last. Then, suddenly, as he came to a close, all the anger left his body. He slouched and let his arms hang loosely by his side. The chains unraveled from around her and even helped her to her feet before they collapsed into the pool once again. The door opened and Rarity looked at the man, as if not believing him.

“You should have listened to me when I told you to get out.” All the fire was gone from his voice, now he only sounded sad, his voice choked by tears that never came to his face. She looked at him briefly, thinking how she might help him, before the overpowering voice of reason took over and gripped her heart. She left quickly and quietly and shut the door behind her, letting the monster of the cell enjoy his solitude.

He didn’t settle back into his imagination, he didn’t want to be there anymore. Instead he collapsed to the ground and drug himself over to his strange device, plugged the small buds into his ears, and let the noise drown out the world.