The Greater Power

by IBaBrony

Rating: everyone
Tags: Tragedy, Slice of Life
Length: 2310

In this short story, a philospher delves deep into the power of the princesses and finds their powers are limited and begins to question what actually started life.

I've lived all my life knowing Princess Celestia was the one who raised the sun and Luna raised the moon. I learned they had massive power, more than any unicorn alive, more than every unicorn combined. They are said to be immortal, but are they really? I have many questions and I want answers. They may be able to raise the sun and moon, but how did the sun and moon get there in the first place? If they can move mountain, why can't they just make them disappear out of thin air or drive it further into the ground? I found out they have limited power. Now, about their immortality. Are they really meant to live forever? It just seems highly improbable. Ever heard of the phrase, "Every pony and everything must eventually die?"

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-03-17 21:30:02 UTC

The Truth

"Ahh! Welcome, Phil Lucifer." The stallion prepares a seat and drink for me after a long day of work. He brings out a selection of weak, moderate, and strong cider on a tray.

"Thanks, butler. I'll take moderate." The butler hands me the cup in the middle of the tray.

"Going a step higher, hmm? What for?" I take a sip of the cider, feeling the liquid flow down my dry throat, refreshing me. Meanwhile, the butler places the tray by the counter in the kitchen in the next room to the right.

"I decided to take my career a step higher. I'm learning more about the princesses." The butler finishes putting the drinks away and makes himself comfortable as he listens intently to what I have to say. "I've studied their activities in the past. You know about pony war 1, right?"

"But of course. It's a famous event in history."

"Well, at the battle of Stalliongrad, The Lunar Republic had to cross a mountain to get to the city."

"You're history is correct sir."

"But. Celestia helped out the army, but only giving them more skill and advanced strategy. Tell me this. If Celestia and Luna ae so powerful, why couldn't they have gotten rid of the mountain?" The butler is left puzzling, trying to think of reasons as to why they never made the mountain vanish.

"I... can't answer that, sir." He leans in closer, glued to my words.

"Exactly. That got me thinking. Maybe their power is limited. This made me do more research. I went to the Everfree forest after finding something intriguing in the Princess's personal diary. There was..."

"You touched the diary of the most high princess? Have you gone mad?!"

"Just listen, okay? The entry said that her power was diminishing. She felt herself weakening. As she put it, getting a little old, despite being a so called "immortal." Said she needed to appoint Twilight, princess soon."

"That must have been days ago. The corronation already happened."

"It was a week old entry. However, there's more. It said something about the prophecy in the Everfree forest coming true. So I decided to check that out. I found those old ruins where Nightmare Moon became Luna. I did a little bit of examining of course, but I couldn't have done it alone and you wouldn't believe who aided. me."

"Celestia herself?"

"Tartaurus no! It was Daring Do! You know I'm a huge fan of her novels. I think... hold on..." I begin rummaging through my shirt pockets for a small photo of Daring Do that I always carry around with me, holding it up to show the butler. "I havei her autograph!" I put it back in my pocket to explain the rest of my expedition. "Anyways, We found a secret staircase leading below the ruins. A staircase in a staircase. Ancient ponies. Very clever. So we headed down and you would not believe what we found." The butler leans in even closer. "We found an ancient mural that explained the future. It showed it like a comic strip. Celestia would eventually grow weak and die." The butler raises an eyebrow.

"That certainly is intriguing. Twilight will make a good ruler when Celestia is gone."

"Butler, you're missing the point. Celestia will eventually grow weak, that is true, but that also means her power is weakening. This makes me think, how much power did she have originally? Something must have made the ground we've built our houses and towns on. Something must have conjoured up the sun, moon and stars out of nothingness. How else would we be here today? Speaking of which, how did we get on this Earth anyways? Who or what made us?" It takes a while, but eventually the butler straightens himself in understanding.

"I see... So what are you implying?"

"I'm saying, is there a power greater than Celestia and Luna?" After that, there is a moment of silence. Until I break it. "Why are we sitting like Lyra would?"

"I don't know, sir."

"Thank you for listening."

"Anytime, sir." The butler resumes his duties before going to his quarters to sleep. Meanwhile, I think about what I found out, finishing up my cider. After drinking in the last sip, I feel a little disoriented. It takes me a few minutes to find my room and fall onto my bed to fall asleep, only to dream a dream I wish I never dreamed.

I stand up in my dream, still in my room at the dark of night, yet everything seems a little bigger than usual. I slap myself and feel no pain. Definetly a dream I look around to see Luna standing 10 feet taller than usual with a livid look on her face.

"Phil Lucifer."

"Luna."

"Big sister knows of your knowledge and that you have spread it."

"Only to my butler. He was the only one there at the time."

"We warn you, Phil. You must not continue your research and pick another subject to study."

"And why is that? Why do you want me to stop all of this immediately?"

"Because if you finish, you would just be spreading lies that everypony would believe."

"Or they would stop following you and your sister's rule." I get no response. "There is a greater power, isn't there? You must be trying to prevent me from learning because you're afraid that I can change evryponies' belief in a split second. I could..."

"You could continue your research and die for the lies. You are being decieved, Phil. This must stop at once!"

"I feel we've all been decieved." Suddenly, my vision goes blood red, her wings spreading out in offense.

"You have been warned, Phil. We will punish you if you continue. Make a wise decision, or it may be your last."

"Pfft! Like I'm afraid." With that, I wake up startled somehow.

"Are you alright, sir?" It sounded like his voice came from outside my door. "I was just passing by when I heard you gasp as if your life flashed befoe your eyes."

"Y...Yeah. I'm fine. Just had a little run-in with Luna." I get up and start to prepare for more research.

"Be careful with what you'e doing. I bet that conversation wasn't a good one."

"No kidding." Butler prepares a fine breakfast for me while I prepare. Once done, I head down to enjoy a nice meal before heading out.

"Take care, butler."

"Likewise, sir." I head towards Ponyville to ask a few ponies some questions.

I was just asking a pony a couple of questions when all of a sudden, royal gaurds surround me, scaring the pony, forcing me to surrender.

"You are ordered for arrest. Put your hooves up and get on the sky chariot immediately."

"What the hay is going on?" I ask the guards as I put my hooves up.

"You have violated law Alpha-66-C. Get on the chariot immediately." The gaurds get a little closer, pointing their spears at me, more menacingly.

"Really? Last time I checked, that wasn't even a law. Why are you really here?" I noticed the frightened pony give a questioning look and the gaurds looking over and taking notice.

"I don't know. Celestia wants to see you immediately for whatever reason and they didn't tell us, but we were given an order. Now get on that chariot right now!"

"Very well." Without arguing further, I calmly walk over to the chariot and get on where I am brought directly to Celestia in her throne room. Judging by the look on her face, she is vexed. Luna is on the throne next to her, sharing the same feelings as Celestia.

"Phil Lucifer. Care to explain yourself?" I step forward, fearlessly.

"Princess Celestia. Before I explain, might I ask why you brought me here before you?"

"You have broken law Alpha-66-C. I thought the gaurds already informed you."

"They have, but that law doesn't even exist. This only leaves me with another question. If you already knew the gaurds informed me, how come you didn't know about the rest of the conversation?" I notice a few gaurds exchange some questioning looks. "Is your power really weakening?"

"Silence! That is none of your business."

"Why shouldn't it? I am a philosepher. Therefore it is my job to question and get answers."

"Well here is an answer. You are medalling with something dangerous. You have no idea what you have been doing."

"Then what have I been doing?"

"Seeking the forbiddon."

"Why is it forbiddon?

"You're really asking for it, aren't you?"

"Asking for answers. Why is it forbiddon? Is there really a greater power than you and Luna?" Everyponies' attention turns to a door that opens.

"Princess Celesria, I've finished..." The third princess looks at me loosing her smile before looking back at Celestia. "What's going on?" Celestia shifts her gaze back to me.

"Just go to your room, Twilight. There is nothing for you to see here." I chuckle.

"How pitiful. Sending your soon to be successor to her room when she should really have full permission to join in on this affair."

"Celestia, I want to know what is going on." She's quite persistant.

"Just go to your room."

"No, he's right. If I'm to be your successor, why don't I have any say in this?"

"Because it is beyond you."

"If it is beyond me, then it is beyond you as well because we all share the same rank here." For once Celestia has nothing to say. I wonder if this is the first time that happened. Celestia gives a long sigh.

"Very well. Make yourself comfortable." Twilight seats herself on her throne and turns her gaze to me.

"Now, what is happening?"

"Well, Princess Celestia here has been watching me for the past few days and disagrees with what I have been researching."

"What do you do for a living?"

"Philosophy."

"I see. What exactly have you been researching?"

"The existance of a greater power." Twilight leans against her throne in shock.

"Th...That's absurd. How could there possibly be a greater power?"

"I don't know. Why don't you ask Princess Celestia?" Twilight looks at Princess Celestia worriedly.

"Is this true, princess?"

"Of course not, my dear Twilight. He has been looking in the wrong places for research." Twilight looks to me again with a more serious look.

"Where have you been looking?"

"Oh, just around town asking a few harmless questions to some of the local residents, not to mention the ruins where NightmareMoon became Luna... and where else..." Luna shares a worried look with Celestia.

"Wh...Where else could you have looked? My magic only showed you talking to some ponies and searching the ruins." Perfect! Now Celestia is in hot water!

"That's all? You mean to say that he saw more, but that's all your magic showed you? Celestia, what is he saying?"

"Oh yes! That's it!" I give Princess Celestia a menacing look. "The princess's personal diary." Everypony in the room's eyes shrink in great shock, everyone gasping.

"You didn't!"

"I did. On page 1,253,469 it says that you can feel your power diminishing and that the prophecy in the depths of the Everfree ruins is coming true. I know you're not immortal. You are going to die. That's why you needed Twilight to pass corronation. To rule when you're dead. I can see it now. Your eyes. They show fear. Why? I'm just a simple, worthless, pathetic, wimpy old earth pony. I'm weaker than you by far. Is it because of my knowledge? My understanding of the cosmos, the world, and possibly even the supernatural?"

"Guards, cease him!" They do nothing.

"They're beginning to see a truth. Isn't it just wonderful? You know, it surprises me. You've kept this secret for millions and millions of years. How come you never let the truth out?" I notice Twilight's horn starting to glow.

"Because every pony in this damned world will always believe the strongest and most powerful being, physical or supernatural. They're all idiots! Never bothered to see farther than what they already see! They bow down and worship me because I am all they have ever known! That's the way it will be until I really do pass out and die in a rotton old corpse with no magic left in her body!" Then it seems like the world gasped. "What was that?" Twilight's horn stops glowing.

"That was all of Equestria." Twilight gets up and begins walking to the door leading to her room. "You best explain yourself to everypony because now, the secret's out. You better do it ASAP. I think I see a mob forming out there." Twilight exits the room and slams the door with a loud bang.

"So this is how it all comes to an end. The fall of an ancient tyrant, ruling for centuries and milleniums. Ruined. Broken. Distressed. To think you would have been a good leader if this had never happened and they all knew it since the beginning of time itself. Who was the true evil one? Luna when she was NightmareMoon? Or the both of you since the very start of pony civilization? Oh, my little pony. How rulers fall."

"I will end you!" Celestia jumps off of her throne, charging at me with her horn, nice and sharp, raised in front of her. Knowing I've done all I needed, I stand on my hind hooves, reach out my arms, close my eyes and smile. Then it was all over. She pierced my body, right through the heart, and burst out the door, stopping immediately, causing my body to fly off of her horn and land right in front of an angry mob of thousands upon thousands of ponies. Then it was over for her.