Chapter 27: Becoming destiny

The black swirled around my mind for what felt like hours, but was probably just minutes, I didn't know. The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the throbbing pain in my head, beating like a drum from the constant use of magic throughout the castle. Okay, so I still had the built up magic. Now it's time to get Celestia or Luna to let it out.

I stumbled out of bed, grabbing onto anything in reach as the pain went from unbearable, to intolerable in record time. I staggered to the door, throwing it open, which scared the hell out of the guards.

"S-Sir? I thought you were going to be sleeping for a while!" One of the guards called out to me as I continued to stumble down the hall.

"Change... of plans." I called back, faltering when one of the guards shut the door with magic. It felt like someone wedged an ice pick in between my brain! I could hear their hoofbeats coming closer and held out my hand, stopping them cold. No one was going to help me! I was going to do this myself! Pain or not, I had a responsibility right now, and that was fulfilling Mother's wish.

"Luna... Celestia. W-Where are they?" I asked breathlessly, my lungs refusing to work correctly.

"They're in the dining hall, having dinner. But you really should-" I ignored the rest of his pleas as I gritted my teeth for the run down the hall. My feet seemed to be magnetized to the floor, refusing to lift all the way. But I kept running, not stopping for anything, which is probably why I caught Shining Armor and Cadence so off guard when I ran by.

"Nathan?! W-What... How are you-" Cadence began, but I kept running. "Wait!" She called out, her and Shining chasing after me.

It wasn't far now; only a few more doors, and....

Bam!

I burst into the dining hall, panting like I had just ran a marathon with 100 pounds on my back. Luna spit out her tea and Celestia nearly choked on a piece cake when they both saw me. I would have laughed, if I wasn't a bit peeved at the situation.

Cadence and Shining Armor soon came in behind me, seeing the scene unfold. I slowly walked forward, stumbling to the ground, but quickly regaining my footing before anyone could help. I looked Celestia dead in the eyes and pointed at her as I said, "You. Me. Talk. NOW!" I shouted the 'now', getting her to understand just how infuriating all this was becoming. If they had been forward with me about it, I'd be more understanding. But, since both her and Luna were being deceptive about the whole Alicorn prince thing, I was, understandable, seeing a bit red.

Celestia put her cake down and smiled lightly, trying to calm my nerves, if not for my sake, then for hers. "N-Nathan, you're supposed to be in a magic induced slumber! H-How did you-"

"NOW!" I repeated, shouting at the top of my lungs. Cadence winced and backed away, Luna stared at me with... concern, or fear, I couldn't tell. Shining stood stoic, watching the scene in its entirety, and Celestia didn't move a muscle. She just gave me the same, vague expression from countless centuries of practicing a poker face.

"You don't have to be rude." Celestia pouted, getting up from the table as she walked towards me. Luna visibly gulped as she stared at the fire burning in my eyes. In my time here, I had never once been like this. It was probably a bit of a shock for everypony to see my dark side.

I led Celestia towards the ball room and out to the gardens. The moon was just coming out, casting the sky in a silver light. I brought Celestia down to the ponds edge, bringing her to the lone bench I talked to Applejack on at my birthday party.

"Take a seat." I said, nay, commanded. Celestia did as she was told as I stood before her, my body still quivering from the adrenaline and pain.

I took a deep breath and gave her a hard look. "I know everything, Tia. The buildup of magic, what happens when someone becomes intimate with an Alicorn, and what you don't think I'm ready for. I know everything."

Even with Celestia's great poker face, I could still see the hint of surprise in her eyes. "How? How could you know all of this? All that information is kept secret, even from you..."

I shrugged. "A little birdy tolled me, and decided that I needed a push in a direction that I have to go in. She told me that, in order to fulfill a destiny, I had to be given this... power."

Celestia's face seemed to take on an air of fear, like she was a concerned mother. I could just see it in her eyes. "W-What destiny? What were you told?" She asked quickly, getting to her hooves. I gently laid my hands on her withers, sitting her back down.

"It doesn't matter. All that matters is what I was told, and that's that I need to become this, Tia. I have to." I said, not truly holding my resolve in my words. Honestly, how could anyone want to go through something like this? What would happen to me? What would I come out as? I was afraid, and I'm sure Celestia was, too.

Celestia looked a bit more fearful now, trying her best to stutter out a response. It was hard to see her like this; her caring side mixing with her authoritative side made her look so vulnerable. "I-I can't just give it to you! From what I just saw, your temper can be quite... intimidating. Add magic to the mix, and I don't know what we'd end up with. You must understand, that I need to give it time, learn more about you, and make a judge-"

"Learn more about me? You sucked my dick, you should already know plenty!" I shot back, making Celestia blush and duck her head into her shoulders. I took a deep breath and shook my head. "S-Sorry... I'm just a bit angry that I was deceived like this... I love Luna and you to death... but you need to be honest with me. And you're right; under any other circumstances, I would say no to this, but... what I was told was so real, so... frightening, that I fear of what might happen if we don't do this..." I took a seat next to Celestia and pulled her against me. She needed a reassurance, and I had to make sure she understood that this needs to happen. "Tia, I know you want what's best for your ponies, what's best for your sister, and what's best for me, but this is something out of our hands, or hooves. You have to trust me, Tia... Have faith in me. Please?"

Celestia leaned against me, placing a hoof on my thigh. I stroked it idly with my thumb, which got her to let out a hiccup. I looked up at her and... Oh Lord, she's crying!

"Tia, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to upset you with this, but... Damn it all, I don't know what to do!" I groaned, squeezing Celestia's hoof tighter. She responded with a full body hug, bringing both her and I to the soft grass bellow.

She held onto my body as hers were wracked with sobs and fits of uneven breathing and crying convulsions. I did my best to comfort her, but she freaking lost it! Why the hell did she loose it so quickly, and for what?! She seemed just fine!

"Tia, talk to me! What's wrong?! Why are you crying?!" I shouted, grabbing her cheeks in my hands to bring her face to mine. As I brought her head up, a trickle of tears fell onto my cheeks. I didn't let her go to wipe them away. I couldn't let her go. She had to know I was here, and whatever was bothering her, I was going to help her with.

"You're just like him... You're every bit like him! Your kindness, your generosity, your arrogance... W-Why... why do you have to remind me of him?!" Celestia raised her hoof and brought it down on my shoulder with every insult she threw out. I let her vent. She needed this. "You stupid, crazy, inconsiderate, cocky, idiotic... You can't do this! Please?! You can't change!" She sobbed, bringing her lips to mine in a crazed attempt to change my mind. She held herself on me for minutes, her lips feeling like they were melting onto mine. When she did pull away, she seemed to have calmed down quite a bit. "Please... don't make me loose you the way I lost him..." She pleaded.

Him? Who's him? But then I realized something, something that popped into my head to make me realize that, she never had a pony suitor. I remember that day at breakfast, where I... you know what, to Luna. She had looked Luna and I straight in the eye, and said, "I guess that's revenge for me doing that with my old suitor". Celestia's old suitor was a human!

"Tia... I-I didn't know you were with a human..." I gasped, making her inhale sharply as she let her head fall to my chest. I could feel her pressing her ear to it, listening to my heart. The sound seemed to sooth her immensely as her breathing returned to normal. I waited a few moments before speaking again. "Tell me what happened, Tia... I want to know."

Celestia shook her head, but I insisted. "Tia, tell me or I'll throw all your cakes in the pond." I joked. Celestia shot up, glaring at me, but her mad looked cracked into a small smile. Good, she's smiling again. Phase one complete.

"Well, if my cakes are in danger, then I have no choice... Well, where to begin? I guess you can say it all started when I was a young mare, barely over nine hundred. It was a glorious day in our old castle, which now lays abandoned in the Everfree Forest. There wasn't a cloud in the sky as I skipped along the path in the woods, picking flowers for my mother. That's when I saw him, just laying in the dirt. I didn't have a clue what a human was at the time, since there were only small tribes around the world, but here was one, just laying unconscious on the forest floor. I got my mother, and she brought him into the dungeon until he woke up. I didn't leave those bars, not for a second. Something about him was so intriguing, so different from everything I was used to. I liked different; very, very much."

I stoked Celestia's mane as she spoke, offering a few words of encouragement to boot. "Well, I guess it runs in the family, huh?" I teased as my fingers moved to Celestia's ear, making her hum happily.

"He used to do that... All the time his hands would be either on my ear or on my rear." She giggled, inching her body up so that her head could rest in the crook of my neck. "Now, anyway, when he did awake, he didn't know where he was. He said his name was Alexander... He came from earth, which was a place neither my mother or myself have ever heard of. Apparently there was another world of existence, laced between the meshes of reality, combined with our own. When word about a human from a different world got out, the human tribes across Equestria worshiped him as a God. He hated that... He said that no man should have that power, nor should worship someone they think does."

I continued to stroke Celestia's ear as I spoke so softly to her. "Then what happened?" I asked, hoping to coax this monkey from her back. Celestia took a deep breath and continued on.

"Well, eventually the two of us became inseparable, constantly by one another's side. One night, he snuck out of his room and stood below mine, throwing pebbles at the window in an attempt to wake me up. That was the first night that we secretly made love. Then, he'd do the same routine again, then again, then again... The two of us were constantly in the throws of passion. When my father found out, oh, was he mad! He nearly banished Alexander to the sun! But, Alex had a better idea to make everything better. To take my hoof in marriage. My father liked the responsibility that Alex took, calling him a good man, if not a bit idiotic. Alex took this as a compliment of course." Celestia giggled again, shaking her head. "He was such a buffoon. Anyways, well, eventually what happened to you, happened to him. I was so scared for his safety until I learned what it meant. Alex was becoming like me. He would be with me forever if he transformed. I begged and begged him to stay with me forever, until he finally caved in, saying yes. Well, he.... He didn't survive the transformation... I was so hopelessly lost after that, angry at myself, my family, my kingdom... And that's not all who was angry. The human tribes across the world banded together, outraged that their God had died, saying it was due to our carelessness. They declared war on Equestria, and declared me the devil."

I let out a low whistle, taking in the real truth that was being dished out to me. "I thought you said you banished humans because they were trying to overtake Equestrian territory." I pointed out, remembering the story Celestia told on my first day here.

Celestia sighed and looked up at me. "That was only the half truth... I'm so sorry I deceived you... Since day one, I've been doing nothing but telling you lies." I could feel more tears leaving Celestia's bloodshot eyes, so I held her closer to me, hoping to stop them.

"Hey... No more tears, okay? I forgive you. You did what you had to do. Now, tell me what happened next. With the human tribes."

Celestia sniffled once and continued. "W-Well, I was just so lost in my despair, that I hated the sight of humans, despised it even... All they did was remind me of my Alexander... As soon as the human armies entered Equestria, I used the Elements of Harmony to banish them to Alex's world, where... they all obviously became a great society... your society... I'm so sorry I didn't tell you. I never imagined things would become like this... You coming to our world in the first place, becoming Luna's suitor... But, I can't let you do this. I can't have you end up like my Alexander! Please! Please, for me! Don't do it!" She pleaded, digging her hooves into my shirt.

I remained silent as I stared up at all the stars twinkling into existence. I wish I had a choice in the matter, but it was out of my hands. What Mother had told me, what she said had to happen... I could see no way around it, and if it meant saving Equestria...?

"Princess. I will live. You have to believe that nothing bad will happen. I promise you, I will be alright. I have to be." I assured her, making sure the truth was evident in my voice. She screwed her eyes shut as tight as she could, her pain radiating off her in sheer waves. I could feel it, and I knew she knew I could, too.

There was a very long silence after that. The two of us just laid in the grass; me stroking her mane and ear, and her snuggled up against me for comfort. The whole thing seemed to stretch on for an eternity before Celestia finally broke the silence with a very fragile voice.

"...You're the first soul to love me in this way in a very long time... You aren't afraid of my power, nor Luna's, you don't try to gain from it selfishly, and you treat everypony you meet so kindly. I was blind to think you weren't ready for this... but, I still think it's too dangerous. If we lost you, then-"

I put my pointer finger over Celestia's lips, keeping the last bit of words shoved in her mouth. It was adorable the way her cheeks puffed up and her lips puckered on my finger as if the words were solid objects. I released my finger slowly, keeping my smile.

"Don't worry about me, Tia... Don't. I want you to be strong. Stronger than I am now, because... I'm scared, too. Scared more than anything. But, I know I'll be okay. I promise." I stood, lifting Celestia to her hooves. She was shaky at first, but when we looked into each others eyes, she seemed to relax, softening a bit.

Celestia smiled down at me, plating a loving kiss on my lips. "You must be in considerable pain still." She said, her words somewhat muffled from the fact she was biting down on my lower lip, which she released with a pop after she finished her declaration.

And, yes; I was still in pain, but I wasn't focusing on it. Right now, I was focusing on Celestia, another mare whom I love dearly, and one who loved me back just as much.

"More or less." I laughed a bit, earning a small smile from Celestia herself. "But... I'm ready, Tia. If not for myself, but for the safety of Equestria. I promise, I will love and care for your land as much as you do."

Celestia stared at me firmly, her judging eyes looking over me in every detail. I felt so small under them, to be honest. Always have. But, finally, she let a small smile creep upon her lips and nodded.

"Very well... If I can't talk you out of it, then you shall... become a Prince. Prepare yourself, for this won't be pleasant." She said, approaching me with her horn flaring. Before the bright light came, I was able to say one last thing to her, that had more than one meaning at the time to me.

"I know..."

Luna just continued to sit in her seat at the dining hall, mulling over what had just occurred. Her husband, who should have been locked in that week long sleep, somehow awoke himself after only a scant eight hours, and seemed to be very, very angry about something. Luna could only guess, but it probably had to do with the entire situation. To be honest, she couldn't blame her love in the slightest for being angry.

But, the look in his eyes... It was so... feral, untamed. It was as if a beast was locked deep inside his tender soul, barely skin deep, waiting for the moment to break loose. Luna had been the same as Nightmare Moon, and to see the same thing in her beloved? It hurt her in more ways than she could ever admit.

"A-Auntie..? Are you alright? You're crying..."

It was Cadence's caring voice that finally snapped Luna out of her thoughts. She hadn't even realized that warm tears were trickling from her pained eyes. Her breathing was coming out in hitches every so often and she didn't even realize it.

Luna tried to compose herself, but in the end, it made her look even more vulnerable to Cadence. "I-I am fine, Cadence... Why would I not be?" She asked, standing from her seat. Cadence gave her aunt a sideways glance as she sighed.

"I don't know; probably because Nathan was supposed to be in asleep to expel the magic from him. What's going on anyway? Why is he so angry?" She asked. Cadence had no idea of the situation that Luna, Celestia and Nathan were in. it was so easy when Cadence became a Princess, which happened before she could even walk. Nathan wasn't a pony, he had no natural magic. If he were to turn now, before he was ready, the process could, and most likely would, kill him.

Luna let her head fall and shuffled her hooves. "Well, as for why he is angry, I do not know... Why he was suffering because of magic, it is very simple to explain. When anypony becomes intimate with a pureblood Alicorn, magic transference can be... rapid. Either myself or Celestia have the right to grant our lovers the gift of an Alicorn... But, we did not tell Nathaniel of this, for fear he wasn't ready to handle said responsibility... I was against that idea from the start."

"Whoa, hold on a minute!" Shining Armor said hastily, bolting forward towards Luna. "That night when... You know, we-" He coughed once and shook his head. "Anyway, does that mean I'm going to-"

"Nay, it takes many trips into euphoria with a pure blooded Alicorn to have such an alteration take hold. Thou art fine, Shining Armor. Relax" Luna confirmed, striding towards the window. "I just wonder as to what my human is so angry about..? It can't be that he knows, nopony has said anything about this event in well over a thousand years time."

Cadence took a look towards the gardens, then back to Luna. "So... What do you think Celestia's decision is going to be?" She asked. Luna, honestly, didn't know what her sister would say or chose when it came to Nathan. Celestia cared for him deeply, that much Luna already knew, but to put his life in danger like this was just out of the cards.

"Well, I certainly hope she goes with our first suggestion; giving it time to see how my beloved grows, if his character is fit to officially rule. But, I'm sure there's no need to worry. Sister will make the right-"

Before Luna could finish, a deafening roar, like a sonic boom, erupted from the center of the gardens, followed by a blinding pillar of light shooting into the sky. Guards all around the castle, outside or in, looked up to the sky in confusion and wonderment, as did countless citizens all across Equestria. It was as if the light itself had become a tornado, funneling down to the earth. Luna knew exactly what that was, and finished her sentence out of self-beration, although it came out more like a scared squeak. Celestia had made the choice Luna had feared most. And that's what it was all about...

"Choice..."

Author's Note

Ho doggy! This is just getting better and better. :D So, I like it when people make really long comments about the stuff in my story, and I'm just like, "yeah, I'll address this now."
So, sorry these aren't coming out sooner. I've just been really busy getting involved with a company called Vemma. I'm trying to get out of my crappy job and live a good life as just an advertiser to sell this energy drink, so... yeah. lol Enjoy this chapter, until next time.
Allons-Y