(Next entry will be the next Ouroboros chapter I promised, I swear.) Technically this one should have been done ages (and I mean ages) ago... but it's funny how I have trouble writing the things that should be extremely easy. I could make an excuse or two about how work has been stressful lately but I'd rather just kick back and have a late-night coffee and not think about it. And so would this guy. Of the Chrysalis Eater Flowers bloom in the darkness, Walking every which way to their unknown destinations. Sometimes they lose direction, Sometimes they fall to their knees and crawl, But never do they stop moving. Their trails carve webs in the dirt, and no two are the same. Where is it we are all going, I wonder? I count my fingers as I walk. I have one more than yesterday. (And two more than the day before that.) Walking this race with my transforming face, Thin blood flowing through my neck. The color of fog greets my closed eyes. It seems I'm growing again... Floating. I feel the soil vanish from beneath my knees. Iron cobwebs weave around me. The clouds disappear from the sky. Higher I go, endless space... endless growth. And all of it is mine. The foam between the stars, all mine. I hear her voice calling... I will soon grow tall enough to answer back. The threshold at the edge of sanity, the touch of a breathing mind... Soon I... (_pages.) Fire... fire... fire... The falling winds... hissing of its steel fangs... Echoing through the corridors, these blank empty walls. Yarn unwinding, a form never finding. The sting of the slayer... the killer's coil. Waking life, the ocean of fire... is this where she waits? Grinding steel, the touch of boiling saliva. Her voice is drowning... mixed with the shouts of the soldiers, The soldiers on the other side of the sky. Beyond this void, the chill of existence... my own life, my own city. And it's all burning down... My paradise... My final cure. Is this life? Is this purpose? The path ahead... (A graveyard for the living, the bite of the cruel dawn. All dissolve in its venom... to wake to the grinding, slashing machines of slaughter... Burning lives, burning worlds, riddled with lead-pierced holes... We're all notes to a tune, to the music of the rotting angels.) Ever wonder what happens to your dreams when you wake up? I know...
*ahem* And now back to our regularly scheduled program. This one has a weird bit of timing, with an eerily relevant discussion starting up in another thread a couple of days after I started writing it. So in part this poem is an answer to that question... before it was asked. Spoiler: video [youtube]uqj8MK6KlOI[/youtube] Enjoy. At the Gallery of Graves Pt. 1: Document 927 In a soot-colored room, surrounded by the scent of charcoal and the sound of rustling paper. Slowly a light begins to emerge. "This is the time of creation. I will do as these hands guide me." Preparing a canvas and easel, the knives work away... Carving out a new world from the void before him, the knives work away. (The flesh turns to dust beneath his fingers.) Twisting and bending the curtains at the edge of space. Pulling them in, and out, and in again... Reshaping the universe the way he sees fit. The walls close in, the stars converge... Hotter and brighter as the dust swirls together. Compressing all existence into the smallest units of time, And in an instant it creates everything. Every neuron and every synapse that will ever be, Born in a single fit of chaos. And this is how light is born... He brightens his world with each stroke. Each line, every scribble... They all breathe their own air. And like a tunnel of mirrors they reflect the light from their master's mind: Forever sculpted in them is the form of their creator... The forces that drive those fingers which give them shape, His thoughts, his dreams, every emotion he knows is branded onto these strokes. A moment of his existence, frozen in time... And one day it will be shown to the world. Pieced together into a single grand mosaic, everything poured out from himself onto one canvas. And one day it will be shown to the world... (I ask him a question and he doesn't reply. Perhaps he doesn't notice me.) "I do as these hands guide me..." Watching as a new portal takes shape. The colors come to life. The walls are covered with windows... Each one more fantastic than the last, Painted in different colors, brighter colors, Tinted by a different lens. Each one has a name and date. Some are wearing ribbons. But he seems to love them all equally... Doing what he does best, as he has done his whole life. His own otherworld... (And in the dim corners a portrait comes into view.)
Not my favorite of my old stories, but seeing as it does still have loose ends to tie up... Otherworld and Past in Flames left off with the main character being sentenced to death. But we know that he was really only guilty of someone else's crimes, so at the last minute he tried to worm his way out of a guilty verdict. Naturally the Dragonflies didn't buy it for a second, but there is another character who's far more sympathetic--of all people, his executioner. The Killer's Coil They call me a monster. The eater of memories. They call me the slayer. It's all the same... They are all the same. Perhaps I've seen the true nature of life. Constant struggle day after day... They always break... some sooner than later. I've seen it all so often that I lose count. Does this make me what they say? The man without shame, without conscience, Untouched by the horrors I bring? (It could be this way. It wouldn't make me the first of my kind.) But can a man ever truly call himself evil? The next prisoner takes his seat before me. Tried and found guilty, guilty of many of the worst crimes imaginable. (And does this make it right? What I do, I mean...) He speaks his last request. His is a story I've heard before... "Just following orders." I don't need to question him, nor sift through his buried memories. (Or rather, I am forbidden to.) In his eyes I can see his honesty. It should not be him who sits in my chair. He isn't the first of his kind... A victim of a greater game, played by invisible hands, crueler hands. (The dragonflies always send me more... will it ever end?) And all life is this... A pathetic man who has struggled all his life, For his family? For his home? For his friends? For his memory, for his sanity... It was all too great for him to handle. In the end it is too great for anyone. To survive is to fight, and to succeed in this fight is to continue fighting... And for all life to end at some point... Yes, in light of this I believe I can grant him some peace. With a whip of my fingers, the tightening of this noose... May this tired soul, this weathered and worn existence, All memory of this corpse vanish from time. Let him rest, as all the weary who have come to me before. Such is the power the gods have given me. And with these hands I close his chapter forever.
Neeeext. Back to the story of the mad painter. This one's partly a glimpse into his idea of the origin of inspiration (and so again touches on a few of those ideas that were mentioned in the significance of fiction thread), and it's also a retelling of his court hearing, this time from his perspective. We already know this guy secretly has a screw loose, but nobody is completely crazy. Some of what he has to say is even meaningful. Enjoy it or die~ Art Imitates Life This is the time of creation. I will do as these hands guide me. I speak volumes to the self-portrait; It repeats my words back to me as best I can make it. (The portrait speaks.) A greeting from four vibrating wings, The insect hunter appears before me. It asks me questions I'm not quite certain of: Questions of memory, Of a man I do not know well, Of deeds I cannot recall. I answer to its curiosity. And soon it seems I've made a friend. (I must accept that this has happened.) A glimpse in time, a scene unknown to the world, But it is just as real as the fingers that conjure me... A single vat in a sea of ideas, And along the way my skull opens wide... This is the purest form of inspiration. A reflection of what these eyes see, what these ears hear: The black depths of oblivion given form by my hands, And colored with the shades of my perceptions. And one day it will be shown to the world... Pure substance of space, captured and sluiced Along the highways of my veins. Give the wandering spirits their vessels... Every idea is a window, a portal to their celestial spires. Secure them their places on the canvas. And after it all, I give this window a frame and a title. (I must accept that this has happened.) Doing what I do best, as I have done my whole life. Creating these clones of my mind. Guideposts for the curious, the studious, Or perhaps breadcrumbs for another me...
This one took a while. Won't make excuses, it took way longer than it should have. Still, new character time. <3 The Lay of the Old Wizards Verse 6: Water Dragon (Alone and distressed, the black wizard reaches the end of his long, desperate hike. The black meadow now behind him, dusky sunlight--but sunlight nonetheless--kisses his wounded face. Through the trees, Afloat in the grotto beneath the grand waterfall's shimmering mists, Behold the lady of the lake.) (The black wizard speaks.) 'Twas you, spoken of in my companion's pages... Through the river's woods and in waters pristine; 'Twas you who he'd met once, with his own eyes. You are... this river's queen. (The dragon reclines nonchalantly in the calm water. She doesn't appear to have noticed him.) (The black wizard speaks.) Your Highness, hear me! I beg you for aid, With all your might and means! My companions are threatened, in danger for their lives! My lady, you must intervene! (The dragon turns her head toward him and opens one eye. She makes no haste to twist about in the water and swim toward the shore. Lifting herself well above the surface, she towers above the wizard and bends her neck down to study him.) (The water dragon speaks.) A most peculiar tone of voice Thou hast taken in addressing me; To speak of what I "must" do, When thou seest what I be. (She gives him a light flick with her claw. It sends him back several paces. The black wizard stammers out an apology.) (The water dragon speaks.) Now tell me, unicorn, what right thou hast To disturb me in mine own domain. Speak and speak quickly, or begone from my presence. I've no patience for matters mundane. (The black wizard speaks.) Your Highness, please recall some time ago, Perhaps a month or two; There was a unicorn here, like myself, One who hath a coat of blue. In his journal he wrote of a river dragon-- This dragon, without doubt, was you-- (The water dragon speaks.) I said I've no patience for matters mundane. Begone, with no further ado. (She turns and begins to make her way back into the water.) (The black wizard speaks.) Y-your Highness! Trolls! In the mount to the south! My companions they'll surely devour! You must--I... I pray thee! I pray for thine aid! Please, lend us your power! (The water dragon stops and turns back. She gives the wizard a blank stare, as though waiting for him to continue speaking. The wizard is silent, anxious for an answer.) (The water dragon speaks.) And? (The black wizard speaks.) ...My lady? (The water dragon speaks.) And what else, pray tell? Surely thou dost not think I intend To give my strength to the aid of another, That myself to some some selfless duty I'll lend. Thou beggest and pleadest on of thy woes As though thou thinkest me a friend; But a dragon will live as a dragon will live; A dragon moveth for naught but her own ends. (The black wizard speaks.) M-my lady, you needest not do much; A simple roar and beat of thy wings Will surely send any beast fleeing in fear-- This is all I ask of you, my queen! (The water dragon speaks.) Thy companions are not my concern. Dost thou not hear thyself? Nor I? If thou art to convince me to heed thy plea, Then my strength thou needest to buy. A dragon taketh no action on the request of another, 'Tis simple, the reason why: A dragon's life and breath are hers to spend as she willeth, So if thou hast naught to tempt me, then goodbye. (She turns around once more and proceeds back into the deep waters, this time more impatiently than before. The black wizard stands motionless for a moment. Feeling faint with despair, he drops to his knees. He watches the one hope of saving his companions' lives drift out into the lake, slowly recline, and return to tranquil sleep.) (The black wizard speaks.) Such a simple reason, a selfish reason... Alas, it seems I'm the fool... To have hoped for the aid of the proudest of beasts, And have forgotten so simple a rule... A dragon, a beast of greed and temptation, Would never make herself as a tool... My brothers, my sister... have I failed you? Are you doomed? Doomed to perish in the caverns of... of... (A spark lights in his mind.) (The black wizard shouts.) Jewels! My lady! My queen! I've an offer to make yet! Waketh once more and hear me! Foal Mountain is full of jewels, I say! Glowing and blue as the sea! (The dragon opens her eyes. She gazes back at the wizard curiously.) (The black wizard speaks.) Though the mountain be full of unpleasant beasts, Were you to appear, they would flee with haste-- My companions would be safe and sound once again... and... I say, it would be a shame were those gems to go to waste... (The corners of the dragon's lips begin to curl. Her eyes seem to glow, brighter than the glistening waters around her. She paddles back to the lake shore once again, her pace slow enough to conceal her eagerness but quick enough to show her intent.) (The water dragon speaks.) It seemeth as though thou hast ears after all. Yes, this is the way of things: Should thou wishest for aid from another, A worthy token in exchange thou must bring. A mountain of gems to chase away trolls, Is a prize truly to my liking; To Foal Mountain we go, and we'll make no delay. Now, onto my back--come, and guide my wings. (The black wizard gives an uneasy smile and nod in agreement. It seems the dragon has forgotten again that she will be saving the lives of three unicorns. Typical of a dragon, he decides; a pony's life truly is of no consequence to her species. He treads cautiously, nervously, onto the dragon's scales--partly as they are still slippery from lakewater, but mostly from the sheer nature of the beast. To ride a dragon--had a pony ever done anything like this before?) (The water dragon speaks.) Be not afraid, my unicorn friend. I wish thee no harm at all-- But hold on tight as thy hooves will permit, For I'll not waste time catching thee if thou slippest and fall. (Spoken so lightheartedly, the wizard cannot tell whether she jests or not. Though he takes some comfort in her having spoken the word 'friend'. Spreading her great wings, the dragon raises her head and leaps forward. The wind nearly tears the wizard from her back immediately. One beat of her wings summons an even greater burst of speed. Two beats and the ground begins to retreat from beneath. On the third beat nothing but wind surrounds them... A terror, and a thrill, like no other in the world. Swallowed by the sky. Sailing on unseen waves back to the mountain of hungry beasts, He can only hope it isn't too late. Even more tightly than he clings to the dragon's shoulders, He clings to hope...)
Next verse! Well not really. This secret passage features only one character, but pay close attention--it won't be the last time we hear from her. *rarity ghost sounds* The Lay of the Old Wizards Hidden Verse: Genesis (There is no such thing as a story not worth hearing. But there are stories no one wishes to tell. What lies behind the bolted door, cracked and smothered by the dust of ages... A glimpse in time.) (The unicorn princess speaks.) Day in and day out, their voices unending, Tongues that drill to the bone... Years gone by and no end in sight, It seems I'll forever rule alone... To raise the sun, to hoist the moon, 'Tis a prison much more than a throne; All laughter hath ceased, given way to this grief, A fate I've no luxury to bemoan. A mask I wear, a mask I'll not share, To carry on with this false peace: I feel my heart crumble to dust by the moment, Longing for some sort of release... Their angry sighs and their impatient cries-- If this cacophony is never to cease, Then I'll bring them silence, I'll bring them their wish: Their suffering shall be my relief. Long have I walked this wheel of the cosmos, 'Tis time I turned to the earth; Becoming the shadow they've wished for so dearly, The beast to whom their anger gave birth. This is their doing, this is their reward, What all of their hatred is worth: I'll sculpt a machine to reflect their own hearts, A vehicle for mine own mirth. As long as there liveth a soul such as theirs, As long as they walk this land, They shall dwell in darkness, a night without end, Till this mountain decayeth to sand. For as they have watched all I have done for them, Provided for their every demand... If this be their payment, then I've no remorse-- 'Tis not selfish if it's by their own hand. A mirror for all of their wailing and woe, A suffering beyond all description-- I speak these commands to the creature of steel And seal them to their final affliction. With hunger for magic and all that be pure, Till relief becometh naught but fiction, The machine is complete, and a new covenant beginneth: My covenant of malediction. The sun sinketh beneath the horizon, Never to be seen again; I lock the cogs in place at last, And watch my sweet vengeance begin: Their cries will soon reach up to the clouds, Their tears run like a great fountain, Beneath the grip of my grand design... And watcheth I, the queen of Foal Mountain. (Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. --Martin Luther King, Jr.)
I thank thee again for thy kind words. <3 This next one is pretty small as the story hasn't quite moved on yet, but you'll probably spot the significance of this little dialogue pretty quickly. Enjooooy. The Lay of the Old Wizards Verse 7: The Seed of Doubt (The sensation of winds tearing at his ears and mane is difficult to grow accustomed to. But the dragon's impatience is pressing, And the safety of his companions more pressing still. The black wizard pulls himself together. He need point the way only once. And then, following her rider's guidance, the sphere of eternal night lies in the distance.) (The water dragon speaks.) I see on the mountain on the horizon, 'Tis the darkness of which thou hast spoken; A mysterious shade--a mystic slumber From which the sun can never be woken. (The black wizard speaks.) 'Tis likely the darkness that attracted the trolls, For sunlight the beasts doth blind; But because of our guide--the blue unicorn I spoke of-- In the darkness their lair we did find. (The water dragon speaks.) Your companion's is a face I'll not forget, And his voice--I certainly wish to. Art thou not certain that he is the reason The trolls have appeared unto you? Tell me, unicorn, if trolls live on this mountain, And this was a fact you all knew, Then when he gave thee a command to follow him, Why didst thou follow through? This companion of yours is but a prideful fool, And so there is little to wonder; His is a breed I know all too well, For there's one--at least one--in every thunder. He is one who speaketh of power and prestige Whilst his true deeds are but blunder after blunder-- Shouldst thou continue to heed his words, Thou shalt certainly fall asunder. (The black wizard speaks.) 'Twas our princess's judgment--and thus our command-- That he was to lead us three; We were given a quest to protect our home From any magical disturbances we see... (He stops to think for a moment. Why? It's true... the blue wizard did know there were dangerous beasts living in this place... And even in spite of this he continued to be careless. Was it wise to follow him to begin with? He is an experienced explorer... and he has seen and charted lands far beyond the borders of their kingdom. But even having traveled so far and wide, he was still but a fool. Even in their short meeting the water dragon was able to ascertain this. Why did the princess trust him so?) (The black wizard continues.) ...And while it be true I've contempt for him For endangering my companions and me, To allow any harm to befall him this way... Would make me no better than he. (The water dragon is silent. She appears to be pondering something as well.) (The black wizard speaks.) ...My lady? (The water dragon speaks.) ...Hmph, pay it no mind. 'Twas a passing thought and no more; These ideas of obedience and unity... These ideas dragons abhor. Thy life is thy life, and thine alone-- This fact ponies often ignore-- Thou shalt show no mercy to those who harm thee, Like us dragons... and one pony I've met once before. (The black wizard speaks.) You have met ponies before, my lady? Other than my companion and I? If ponies have lived in this land in the past... Then to whence did they go? And why? (The water dragon speaks.) Thou art certainly a curious one. Though not all the answers are mine, I would gladly tell thee the stories I know Were thou to tell me any of thine. But lo, to Foal Mountain we've made our way, And so we are out of time; We shall continue this soon enough if thou wishest-- But it will wait till after I dine! (The sky grows dark once again as she makes her descent. A scene foreign and familiar to the black wizard--without a doubt, this is the place. And not moments too soon. On a cliff near the summit of the mountain--one that seems to be cut too precisely to be natural-- Dozens of figures march like ants from the tunnel's mouth. But this stream slows to a stop as their eyes turn to the sky. Foal Mountain greets her new queen.)
It's still 2013 in my time zone, so this counts as being done before the new year. Just like I said I would! Another of the longer verses, this one marks another turning point in the cycle with, surprise surprise, the beginning of our hero's transformation. Also probably could have stood to fuse part of this with the previous verse, but eh, whatev. Old folk legends don't always have proper pacing. lol The Lay of the Old Wizards Verse 8: The Seed of Loathing (Night descends, and the dragon's claws descend faster still. The threshold now crossed, a lash of her mighty wings twists the air above the mount. Whirling gusts create the wind for her sails. Beneath them a sea of terrified faces. Halting her descent, the dragon surveys her new claim; Greets her new subjects, her new outlaws. Hear her royal decree.) (The water dragon speaks.) Beasts of the night, hear me and cower! This mountain is now my domain! I am the dragon of the east-river's flood, Mistress of the waters and rains! Should any of you wish to raise protest, To speak out against my name, Then let him step forward and challenge my power-- And meet judgment at my fangs! (The trolls recoil at the dragon's thundering voice. They turn to each other restlessly, as though seeking confirmation that they are all witnessing the same scene. Two or three of them drop their clubs in shock.) (A troll speaks.) C-can it be? Do mine eyes deceive me? 'Tis the creature from the old tales! The teeth that bite, the claws that catch-- And wings all covered in scales! (The water dragon speaks.) My wrath shall be worse than any story doth claim! Now silence, and hear my command! You are trespassers upon my grounds, And a breed whose presence I'll not stand! If you wish to keep the flesh on your bones, Then meet you this simple demand: Begone whence you came, ye creatures of filth, And never return to my land! (Another troll speaks.) My brothers! My sisters! We must depart! 'Tis no empty threat she hath made! If we stay and fight, we'll surely be slain... We fly--we return to Hollow Shades! (The dragon finally touches down upon the rocky platform. The stone crunches to gravel beneath her. As the horde of trolls scurries away in panic, tripping over one another's feet, A lone unicorn stumbles out from beneath the dragon's claw. He cowers on his back and scoots anxiously away from her. The dragon lowers her neck and glares at him. A smile then creeps out onto her cheeks.) (The blue wizard speaks.) M-my lady... I of course knew That this mountain was thine, my queen; I merely was passing through on business... My lady... how hast thou been? (The water dragon speaks.) Thou speakest to me so casually, pony. Why, if I had not the sense, I would think that thou dost see The two of us as equals... or heaven forbid--as friends. (The blue wizard speaks.) Wh-while I know we were not on the best of terms From our meeting such a short time ago... To think that my presence was so unwelcome-- I-I assure thee--assure you--I did not know! (The dragon continues to smile. Loosing a puff of steam from her nostrils, she brings her fanged grin closer to the wizard's face and watches him squirm.) (The blue wizard speaks.) Mercy! Have mercy! I'll not disturb you again! Stay your hand--your breath--for this is no lie! I shall heed your command! I shall part posthaste! (The black wizard speaks.) Brother! Hold! It is I! (He climbs down along the dragon's lowered neck. Upon leaping down onto the cliff surface, he turns side to side. Seeing no other ponies, he glances beneath the dragon's claws briefly. Nothing but stone is there. For a moment he is relieved by this, but he soon realizes he should not breathe easy yet.) (The black wizard speaks.) Thou art alone? Where are the others? (The blue wizard speaks.) Ah! M-my brother! I-I know not what to say! Thou hast found thy way back--and with a dragon, no less! Ha, fortune doth shine on us today...! (The black wizard speaks.) Listen, thou fool! Art thou blind or just stupid? Look around--there are only us two! Tell me, quickly now! What happened to our brother And sister--The trolls! What did they do!? (The blue wizard is silent, save for a few wordless stammers. His eyes dart in every direction except into those of his flustered companion. The water dragon does her best to squelch her chuckling. That this fool had managed to worsen an already seemingly impossible situation should not be any surprise. And yet, she finds herself surprised. Glancing into the mountain cave, she sees the first few of the countless water sapphires awaiting her jaws. I have no reason to stay and watch these two wizards argue, she thinks. But while the promised jewels call her name, some curiosity compels her to listen to other voices. This scene brings up memories of her old days with her thunder...) (The black wizard grabs his companion by the shoulders.) Speak! (The blue wizard speaks.) C-calm thyself, my brother! For just a moment, I swear-- (He clears his throat.) The trolls did chase us this way and that, But in time we escaped their glare; We found a place that seemed safe to hide, And I went to survey the lair... 'Twas to flee--to see--if the tunnels were clear-- (The black wizard shouts.) And so thou left them there!? (The blue wizard speaks.) They are safe! 'Tis I who risked My life and limb in this chase! And now I meet again with thee-- And thy ungrateful face! (The black wizard speaks.) Thou coward! Thou fool! Thou blundering idiot! Dost thou care not for their fate? I told thee to stay together-- This was the way to stay safe! (The blue wizard speaks.) They are--! (The black wizard speaks.) Take me to them! Show me at once! Show me where you dispersed! I must find them--and thou must pray That no trolls did find them first! (An eerie glow seems to emanate from the black wizard's eyes. Though at first confident in his judgment, the blue wizard is unsettled by his companion's glare. It is not only his criticism, his anxiety, and his anger that speak, but with them some other force entirely. Some force not quite expressible with words... some force not quite of this world.) (The blue wizard speaks.) I shall... I shall. And when we arrive, Thou shalt see that they are sound; For I would not be so ignorant as to leave them In any place where they might be found. (The black wizard resists the urge to shout further. He directs the energy of his frustration to his hooves instead. He and his guide descend quickly back into the depths of the caves--though not quickly enough for his liking. The water dragon watches them disappear into the mountain's throat. The air still smelling of that crooked smile of hers, she whispers some word of benediction to them as they pass by her. Something probably steeped in sarcasm, the black wizard decides. I have more pressing matters right now. If she truly wanted our attention, she would take it by force. The blue wizard retraces his steps through the maze, losing his way occasionally, But his memory is spurred each time, with the help of the black wizard's acidic words. And in time the lowest chamber of the cavern's vast web lies straight ahead... The blue wizard stops in his tracks.) (The black wizard speaks.) ...Well? Is this it? Is this the place? Or hast thou forgotten the way yet again? (The blue wizard speaks.) A-aye, I mean, nay, this cannot be it... For if it were, we would see our friends! (The black wizard speaks.) Repeat that. (The blue wizard speaks.) ...Pardon? (The black wizard speaks.) Repeat what thou said. Once more, and make thy words clear. (The blue wizard speaks.) I merely said that... we... have not arrived yet! For if we had, our companions would be here! (The black wizard watches his expression as he utters this. Just as before, his eyes are quivering. With a light tap of his hoof, he kicks up a bit of dust from the cave floor. He steps forward slowly and clenches his teeth.) (The black wizard speaks.) Thou speakest a lie. (The blue wizard speaks.) W-whatever dost thou mean? (The black wizard shouts.) Silence! That is enough! Enough of thy posturing, enough of thy foolishness! Enough of this "leadership" bluff! (His eyes begin to glow once more. Their colors begin to shift. The blue wizard, moments ago nearly unable to maintain eye contact, now finds it impossible to break. He stumbles backward, watching in terror as his companion's ruby eyes fade to green and violet hues... These colors soon reach out from his horn, breaking up the monochrome glow of the sapphires.) (The blue wizard speaks.) B-brother... I--you...! (The black wizard shouts.) Speak not a word! I'll not hear more of your lies! I should not have trusted thee for a second-- Thy carelessness cost our companions their lives! (A burst of energy rushes forth from his horn. And in an instant--the time a bullet would take to cross from one side of a sheet of paper to the other--a nightmare scene plays through their minds. A shadow's caress... falling stones, falling stars... images and words molded from the pure substance of horror. Nameless. Thoughtless. There exists only the need to consume. And just as a coin flips, two sides spinning, both with equal exposure to the sky above, Their minds are twisted around this image. Forever sealed together... Yet forever fixed opposites of one another. The blue wizard thrusts himself to the floor in terror. The nightmare beam whisks over his head and sails onward to the tunnel's end. Still cowering, he watches the black wizard's eyes fade to their former color. Did he just... use magic? The seething mists calm. But his anger does not. Puzzle after puzzle crumbles in the blue wizard's mind. Confusion, regret, and the bite of his own lies... A comedy of mistakes was one thing--the loss of lives was another. Tears well up in his eyes... Do I deserve this? As though to answer him, a flash appears at the tunnel's end. The beam had struck something. A rumbling creeps out... first subtle, then noticeable, then fierce. Both wizards turn forward in panic. Violent. Unrelenting. A roar and a shriek, a tone sounding of rusted metal grinding to life after ages of stillness. The air slowly returns to silence as the tumbling coin touches down to earth once more. Standing upright on its edge... it waits. Come to me... I wait.)
Neeeeeeeeext~ The Foal Mountain arc might be almost done now. Probably. I dunno. We'll see. Anyway enjoy this thing. The Lay of the Old Wizards Verse 9: Full Circle (A troll speaks.) Hurry up, pony! We've been walking forever! Where are these herbs thou sayest you know? If thou be lying, we'll devour you both; Dinner should not be so slow! (The red wizard speaks.) Patience, my dear, is virtue for a reason. For this sweet and delicate taste Doth not bloom for hearts, nor bellies, Who wish to consume it with haste. This magical spice, the finest in the land, Must be with patience chased; Only then will it impart its magnificent flavor Into the dish it hath laced. (The grey wizard speaks.) Whether it be bread or salad or pie-- Or your favorite, pony stew-- This herb will enhance its taste tenfold, 'Tis unbelievable, but true! No dish in our kingdom is prepared without it, For no other spice will do; And should you use its leaves for yourselves, We'll be all the more delicious to you! (The trolls turn to one another with excitement, their mouths watering with anticipation. The wizards turn to one another as well, and wink. As they lead the gaggle of trolls across the plain, the winds begin to grow stronger. The sky, though they travel west, shows no sign of the setting sun. Whether this is due to the shadow force concealing the sunlight, or the thickening cloud cover, or the simple possibility that it's truly nighttime, is difficult to ascertain. An unfortunate complication to an otherwise simple plan...) (The red wizard whispers.) My brother, dost thou yet think we are safe? It seemeth we're headed for a storm... But if we're far enough from the mountain by now, Then our spells we can once again perform. (The grey wizard whispers.) Though a risk it may be, there is only one way To know such a thing for a fact: We must cast a spell, but be subtle--or quick-- That the trolls will not know to react. (The red wizard nods. Taking a deep breath, she puts on another false smile for the trolls.) (The red wizard speaks.) I say, gentle, ah... creatures-- A request, if I may: Couldst one or two of you come up front, And see what's far away? Your vision in darkness is sharper than ours, And mine eyes do miss the light of day; Tell me if thou seest a grove, And point for us the way. (As expected, not one or two, but all seven of the trolls rush to the fore. They gaze intently into the distance and occasionally wipe the dribbling saliva from their lips. Scanning left, right, then left again, then taking a few paces forward, then repeating. Now with their backs turned, the grey wizard closes his eyes and begins to concentrate. With a quiet breath or two, his horn begins to glow.) (A troll speaks.) What this be? A tree or two, And some lying sideways I see... A circle of tents in the long, swaying grass, But nothing that look too tasty... (The grey wizard whispers.) Forces of nature, heed my call, And follow you true to mine aim: Bring your power and fury to bear, A troll's one weakness--flame! (A flash in the darkness. The howling wind takes on a new color. The trolls pause their excited surveying of the horizon. Whipping their gazes around toward their prisoners, they find their vision obscured by a saw-toothed blaze.) (The red wizard speaks.) At last, our magic hath returned! Now away with you, foul beasts! You'll pay for what you've done to my brothers, And you'll not see another feast! (The red wizard's horn sparks. In that instant the flaming barrier soars into the air, taking bundles of withering grass with it. The wind storm begins to bend it forward. The trolls, eyes wide, stumble backward in terror. Their appetites have already fled, at a pace they suddenly desperately wish their feet could match. The fiery tower curls, its fingers reaching down onto the cowering trolls... And then vanishes into the wind. The grey wizard embraces his companion, clutching her horn in his hoof. A second or two passes. He feels her heavy breath slowly calm in his arms. Finally he turns to the trolls, a stern glare in his eyes. Curled and whimpering, not one returns his gaze.) (The grey wizard speaks.) We will spare you this once, wild beasts, But should you not wish to be slain... Then heed you this warning--return to your homes And do not appear before us again. (One by one the trolls open their eyes. In far greater haste they rise to their feet. Taking not a second look at the pair of unicorns, they scatter. The grey wizard keeps still for a moment. He watches the trolls disappear into the darkness, and the dying embers in front of him. A quivering tension grows in his companion's shoulders, one he can feel through his arms. He begins to stroke her mane and neck. She sits down on the grass, slowly gathering the focus to assemble her thoughts into words.) (The red wizard speaks.) Is it wrong, my brother? Is it wrong to be angry? They took our companions away... We entrusted our lives to one another, And that trust we did betray... We had before been powerless to fight, But here we could have made them pay; We'll be forced to return to Her Highness in shame-- We could have had justice this day! (The grey wizard refrains from giving the obvious response. His own aching memory tells him that now is the most painful time to hear it.) (A voice from the sky speaks.) Who goes there? Hold still and state your names! No visitors, nor invaders shall come through! This plain belongeth to the Tempest Wings! And we shall--hold, I recognize you two... (A pegasus skyknight descends on the wind. She raises the visor of her helmet to study the two unicorns.) (The skyknight speaks.) Indeed, I remember your faces from the palace... The princess sent you on a quest. And it seemeth that none too soon did I find you-- Are you in need of rest? (The grey wizard speaks.) My companion and I have... lost our way. Though we've a duty to which we must return... A night of rest would do our hearts and bones good, And I thank thee for thy concern. (The red wizard is silent. She does not look directly at the skyknight--she can't quite bring herself to be concerned with her identity. The Equestrian emblems adorning her armor are identification enough for now... her mind wrestles with other matters. The skyknight rubs her chin and ponders something for a brief moment.) (The skyknight speaks.) Though my orders be that no pony is to enter... Come, and I shall speak to my captain. I believe we can make room for you in our camp-- Before the storm beginneth again. (As though answering to a cue, the wind intensifies. The wizards follow the skyknight toward the flight camp. A circle of tents among a sparse grove of trees, And many more lay uprooted and tossed promiscuously amongst the grass... It's as though this scene had been described to them once before. And soon nature would describe it over again, in far greater detail.)
The Man of Eyes Every day is the same, so they say. Every day the image grows clearer. Drifting about their lives blind, Drawing the walls of the horizon ever nearer... Building machines and sculptures they'll never see... This is the life, so they say. When we live with nothing but fog around us, Beneath a sky made of mirrors. (A universe made of foam and glass tubes... carved out of our own unconscious. Invisible from every angle but within. It is no wonder they look to the skies and see only themselves gazing back.) The stone and mortar security Shelters from the wind and rain, But the strangest machines these creatures invent When it's time to protect their brain. Perhaps it's pride or arrogance, or fear, That binds them behind these walls, But a life behind walls of our own construction Is a life of slavery under lock and chain. You follow only in the footsteps before you, And in their absence, those behind. Never realizing you have what it takes To bend, to break, to shape the reality you find... Lay stagnant in your caves with your stones and your wood, Content with the facts, content with the times; Let nothing escape, let nothing invade Imaginary boundaries for imaginary minds. Take the axe... carve a new doorway... Walls have only the meanings we assign to them. Open the box... and wake to a world constructed of them. A grand design, Emerged, All from a maze of simple reasonings... Take the sword... become part of what you fear. It has always been this way... an idea that seems so childish now. Lash out and grow. Walk the endless path... Let the darkness be your only guide. Take the torch... give form unto the shadows. And in light behold what has always been. Eternal growth from a humble seed... Though it once sheltered us, we must leave it behind. And embrace new wealth... new horizons... No walls, no pits of doomed reflection... Take the world in your own direction. A system of growth and self-correction, This is freedom. This is perfection.
And now for the weird part. Well, one of them. It just wouldn't be a Keldeo story if it were told in any sort of straightforward fashion. ; The Lay of the Old Wizards Nocturne (The black wizard writes.) A silver double door stretched across the tunnel from wall to wall, floor to ceiling. Its embossed surface was illuminated by the glowing sapphires: A sun and moon, whirling clouds and winds, and the shapes of familiar creatures, distorted, all twisted about one another in intricate, almost surreal patterns... It seemed to tell a story--or perhaps two stories--on its polished face. These pristine, dustless features defied their environment... as though they were somehow untouchable to time. I studied the patterned doors for some time. There were no words inscribed on them; at least, none that I could recognize. Whether this was an old language or simply pictograms, I may never know. But with this, and the water dragon's passing mention, I was now free of doubt that ponies did inhabit this mountain in times long past. The slit between the doors was slightly ajar, just wide enough to fit a single hoof through. A black fog was flowing slowly out through this vent, like the sand of an hourglass. Nothing on the other side was visible, no matter how I strained my eyes. It may have been the only chamber in the mountain devoid of the glowing sapphires, or perhaps they were being obscured by the fog. There was only one way to tell. With heavy breath I touched one of the doors and began to push. Given its massive bulk I anticipated it taking a great amount of force to move. But employing nearly the least of my strength, the door began to drift aside, as though inviting me in... or as though it were expecting me. It was at this moment I could glimpse the sheer thickness of the double doors. Using the tools I had confiscated, I measured its precise thickness to be two and a half hooves. How such a substantial barrier could be moved, with no more strength than was needed to open the covers of a book, was a mystery... but it would not remain so. Taking another deep breath I continued to open the door. The current of the black fog grew fiercer, its consistency thicker. And with it I felt an unquestionable sensation of fear... a deep hatred... from something unknown and unseen. I gave the door a forceful shove and watched it swing aside, then slow to a stop. With it now open as wide as it would go, I stood still... watching. Perhaps the object of this otherworldly magic would reveal itself throught the fog, or the opening of the ancient door would trigger some sort of reaction. Whatever my reason, I stood still... I was not yet prepared to proceed. "Come to me. I wait." I could not have heard these words spoken. This feeling is difficult to explain... I suppose it was not with my ears, but something deeper within me that felt the invitation. My heart raced, my lungs tightened. Something beyond description... But I heeded this invitation... and inside the ancient chamber I did glimpse what I sought. Though I could not have imagined its form... it was, without question, the source of this mountain's curse. _agrippa( Ancient longings... present happenings... these familiar sensations... something hath stirred me. I do not feel her presence. But I feel something like her... something like me. The world hath changed. A sphere locked in an ocean of drifting time... The flora having returned to bloom doth prove this. What hath returned me to this existence? A lingering memory? A tormenting hunger? Thou who hast awakened me... Canst thou not hear my voice? Let it ring... resonate in these walls. Glimpse thou the astral projection. Construct these images in thy mind, and bolster them with steel, For memories are more real, more real by far, Than that which one beholdeth with her own eyes... Yes... all is clear now... This is the way of life. The suffering I did endure... This drew thee unto me. This is the way of love. The countless hearts I did break... This drew thee unto me. This is the way of reason. The cogs and fangs of the soul foundry, mine own celestial wheels, that did make me what I am... This drew thee unto me. (the dead walker's cry) And this is the way of unity, that wondrous unity, of beauty and truth. For those who seek life shall find death, And those who seek death shall find life. Deliver me the pain I so longed for... set me free. Sow the seeds of thine endless wrath... Hatred undying... the immortal bones of this divided soul. And come to me. I wait. ) This brass-colored silhouette glowed faintly in the darkness... An enormous display of rings and spheres, drifting in slow, calculated orbits around one another. Spinning, twisting, winding and unwinding... heeding some ancient, intricate mathematics. As it danced about in the hushed chamber, I found myself entranced... In the relic's surfaces were carved more of those mysterious pictograms... and some figures I recognized--the sun and moon, lay engraved on a disc that hovered near its nadir. Of all the structure's components, this was the one that moved the least. As I approached, those horrific sensations intensified... a force of repulsion, forbidding me from touching the enchanted device. Or perhaps it was admiration--a deep sense reverence which forbade its destruction. Terror and reverence... how easy these feelings are to confuse. My heart raced... my breath turned to stone. And with the greatest resolution I could muster, I reached forth to grip the levitating disc.
Pffffffffhah. This one was supposed to be posted yesterday but I screwed up. Math is only sometimes my thing. Short one today, but here's hoping I can distract myself from LotOW for a bit. Mooncastle (First.) Awakened on the dusty plains. Flocks of locusts swarm to the golden castle behind me... pushing to my feet I bid my fossil companion farewell. (Second.) Surely this is what I've needed. This is no coincidence. Inverted wings, lined with simple plastic coins that flash to gold in the blink of an eye. (Third.) I soon find myself addicted. These games bring me a strange clarity... And at that table I met her. (Fifth.) She seems to be famous in these parts... the staff watches her warily. Her continued gaze, fixed on me as a trout to a baited hook, and piercing me just as deep... I feel a second set of eyes. Wide, invisible. (Eighth.) But not for long. Her paws are home to a growing mass of this yet imaginary wealth. She rides the dealer's neurons with some inhuman precision... Speaks in mental notes... and once again wins. She seems to be getting bored with this place. But I will not let her leave. Not before I speak to her. Learn her tricks... (Thirteenth.) Naturally this would be my unluckiest day. Her burning voice deafens me... No, it makes me wish I were deaf. A second night and her words refuse to depart. Dinosaur memories... a perfect excavation. This voyage to the stars, an escape from hunters of a different kind... Now grinds to a halt somewhere in this enchanted place. This evolution... resolution... dissolution... Perfection torn by impossible forces. Ones I thought I had shed upon arriving onto this new tapestry. Is it too late to turn back? I suppose I still have my talents... The collapse of this golden spiral is near... I must not leave before correcting this miscalculation. (Twenty-first.) The final night... We'll put on quite a show. One that no one will remember. Not this time.
And it's here, the end of the beginning. Fun fact: At 267 lines this is also the new longest verse in the story, beating Verse 8 by 18 lines and Verse 5 by 15. I blame the dragon for getting so many damned lines. Who knew dragons could be so talky? And what's that? Up in the sky... It's a bird, it's a plane, it's... a character mentioned by name! ~ SPECIAL! ~ The Lay of the Old Wizards Verse 10: When All is Lost (It is finished. Though it be midnight on the ancient mountain, The destruction of the dark engine all but promises its return to the natural flow of time. Day will return in few short hours. But the savior finds little cause to celebrate... He saunters back up the winding tunnels, a thousand questions assaulting his mind. What was won? What was lost? Perhaps this ordeal was not worth surviving after all...) (The water dragon speaks.) Thou seemest to be in high spirits, As did thy companion who came this way before. I take it thy rescue hath gone well... Judging from the shouting I heard beneath the floor. (The black wizard is silent. His head still hung low, he glares up toward her angrily.) (The water dragon speaks.) ...Pony, if thou art going to do naught but sulk, Then show thyself the way out; For, as we agreed, our deal is done, And thy presence I could do without. (She plucks a sizable sapphire from the cavern wall and gives it a lick. The black wizard considers rebuking her but bites his tongue.) (The black wizard speaks.) My lady... I... I need your guidance. (The water dragon speaks.) Doth thy species thrive on this? Turning so readily to your neighbors Whenever something--anything--is amiss? (The wizard lowers his eyes again.) (The water dragon speaks.) Thy sullen demeanor... sadness, is it? I do not understand it at all; If thou grantest thy trust simply to whom thou art told, Then thou art certain to fall. This fool of a leader appointed to thee Thou didst obey, like a bonded thrall-- And because of this, thy companions did perish, For acting at his beck and call. Such blind obedience, such foolhardiness, Will naturally cause such events; But accept them, for 'twas by your own judgment That you did abandon your common sense. However thou mightest regret thy decision, The past cannot be changed hence; Count thyself lucky, and go on living, For grief giveth no recompense. 'Tis clear that thou art confused, As thine actions make it plain to see: Thou didst rebuke this 'companion' of thine Just short hours ago so mercilessly, And then thou let him walk away-- Let a criminal go and run free... And now here thou art, a victim of thine own decisions, Asking advice from me. (She speaks the last of these words with a chuckle, then returns to savoring her gem. Its delectable crunch brings her a smile of pure bliss.) (The black wizard speaks.) I sent him back to our princess to face judgment, For his deeds here must be known-- (The water dragon speaks.) His deeds are known to thee already. Why didst thou not judge him on thine own? (The black wizard knows the answer, but he hesitates to speak it. Not long ago his princess's word could not have been further from his thoughts. He thought only of his hatred, his anger, his grief... And through this he came to think of retribution, To see this former companion's face wracked with the same pain as his own heart. This sight would have brought him such joy...) (The black wizard speaks.) The word of our princess is the law; Such a thing is not my decision to make. How to punish wrongdoers, however severe-- Base vengeance I must not take. (The dragon rolls her eyes. She nonchalantly reaches up to the cavern ceiling for her next morsel.) What a stupid answer. (The black wizard tightens his lips once again.) (The water dragon speaks.) Thy princess, thy princess, O how great be her name, She who hath dominion o'er the stars in the skies-- And yet she appointeth this fool for a guide, And upon him this quest of thine relies. As history hath shown time and time again That faith can be bought with lies, While thy princess hath royal power and blood, These things do not make her wise. This princess of thine, who giveth her orders While sat high upon some throne-- Thou dost obey her every word And exercise no judgment of thine own. To so blindly heed the commands of another, Like a puppet of flesh and bone... Dost thou recall what I said during our flight? Thy life is thy life... (The black wizard speaks.) ...My life is my life, and mine alone. (He sits for a moment to reflect on these words. It was all clear now: Among the adventures catalogued in his guide's journals were some untold number of falsehoods. And yet Her Highness believed them. And what honest records remained were steeped in embellishments of their own: The meeting with this dragon, which he had written ended amicably, was unsurprisingly not so. And yet Her Highness believed it. From a few short days in his company, this liar's true ineptitude was clear. I should have acted while I still had the chance... words would never be enough to move him. Pride, judgment, and the will to stand up for oneself... These things must extend to more than simply words. It is just as he had learned in school... a lesson remembered, but all too late. Actions truly do speak louder...) (The black wizard speaks.) My lady... I... I'm beginning to see. But what am I to do? These tragic events that befell my friends Were because I gave trust to whom it was not due... And I let him carry on, in spite of my doubts... Do I deserve to be punished too? Is this his fault, or mine? How am I to decide? What would you think... if this happened to you? (The dragon gives him a quizzical expression. What a shame he should ask this, she thinks. It seemed for a moment he was making progress.) (The water dragon speaks.) I would not have trusted them to begin with. This answer should be plain to thee... I tell thee the truth that doubt and loss Are not things that are unknown to me. My thunder, though it be a thing of the past, Was as real as my family; My father, my mother, my daughters and sons... And of course, these very gems we see. (She reaches out to the wall behind the wizard to tear another sapphire from the stone. Brushing a bit of dirt off of it, she holds it up to eye level.) Though they may last for centuries and on, And their beauty--and taste--none can contend... They hold no promise that they are eternal, And neither do family or friends. What is important is here and now, To savor the time that we spend; For while I know not the first thing about friendships, I know the last: and that is that they all end. This is the way of things, in truth, For life is but a long, sad game; But accept what is lost, and keep thou thy pride, For even in loss, there is gain. Learn thou the lessons the world doth teach, And steel thy heart against pain, Choose--for thyself--what thou wantest in life, And follow true to thine aim. (The black wizard takes time to contemplate this as well. At first it does not seem like much of an answer. To take all his pain, no matter how immense... and turn it into what? Knowledge? Strength? A means to some other end? The world is so much different from the college... in reality, the test is given before the lesson. But what can be learned from this? Can pain like this simply be converted to numbers, or words with which to answer a question? Is the proper response to being betrayed... to trust no one?) (The black wizard speaks.) I... do not understand you, my lady... In my heart, I fear this is wrong... How am I to ignore my pain? And how am I to carry on? I cannot forget my companions, my kingdom, The ones with whom I belong... To forsake it all, to live only for myself... I could not do it... I am simply not so strong... (The water dragon speaks.) Strength cometh to those who believe in themselves, For there is no other force so true... No other force, no claw--nor hoof-- Will come forth to pull thee through. (His head and body sink lower as he hears this. The words sting his ears... He had suspected this would be her response. But he did not want to hear it. Now lying on his belly, he presses his hooves to his face to dull the pain welling up from behind his eyelids. This growing grief and anger... and this idea of perfect loneliness... Something grips him and squeezes ever tighter... Not quite a feeling, but the lack of one. An equally painful wound made all the more terrifying by its sheer mystery. Something anathema. Darkness and coldness...) (The black wizard speaks.) This cannot be... I... Am I lost? I cannot fight this fear... What will happen to me... I cannot go on If I've lost all I hold dear... (The water dragon speaks.) Don't be a fool... Thou art here--nothing is over. As long as thy heart doth beat Thou hast strength, but thou must find it within. And with it any obstacle defeat. (She begins to become frustrated with this guest. How many times must I spell it out for him? This must be typical of his species... always needing another shoulder to lean on. Always needing someone else to fight for. ...Except her.) (The water dragon speaks.) My little pony... I've a story to tell yet. Wake thou once more and hear me. A story thou couldst use as guidance, If guidance be what thou dost need. (The wizard does his best to quell his throbbing lungs. He slowly lifts his head from his hooves. His face is soaked. His pathetic gaze summons from the dragon a sneer of contempt.) (The water dragon speaks.) I would tell thee this story for a story of thine... But I shall reduce this price. I do deign to give thee thy guidance... Shouldst thou do something about that face. (The black wizard's eyes widen. Taking a few breaths, he finally calms himself and exhales a sigh of something resembling relief. Opening his satchel, he levitates a cloth to his face and wipes his eyes.) (The water dragon speaks.) ...Good enough. Now listen--for I shall do this only once. What thou needest to learn... is an example: There once was a pony, not so different from thee, But whose power, I dare say, liveth eternal... 'Twas in her own heart that she found this power, Power from pain and suffering infernal, And finally turned it upon her transgressors... I tell thee the story of Princess Nocturnal. (Ancient longings, present happenings. These familiar sensations... A tale unfolds from across the ages, and the picture becomes more complete with every spoken word. The birth of the dead walker... the eternity engine... All that's best of beauty and truth, Painted in fine strokes over the defaced canvas. The face of perfect harmony.)
Part 2 of that milestone I was supposed to have finished two weeks ago~ If I knew anything about pacing this entry would indicate the story is about a third of the way done. But since I don't, f@#k knows. The Lay of the Old Wizards The Divided Soul I (The Repentance.) All these years seem a single moment, and yet the moments all seem years... I wonder... How long it has been since that day? The day that I once wished was their last... A weight upon my heart longed to be banished... and in my anger I did banish my heart instead. And in this I remember her face and her words... As a creature who spent her entire life surrounded by the tyranny of others, pushed and pulled, by words and by fangs... We came to the same decision. Our lives were more in sync than we realized... more in sync than I wished. I suppose were she here to see me now, she would be disappointed in me. Was it right? Are all our actions simply forces along the same dimension? She believed so... Yet to this day an uncertainty doth linger in me... in this side of me... I hear their sweet words... but they cannot reach the true me. Do the ones I once despised seek to comfort me? Can words alone change my deeds? I did employ more than words to condemn them, to destroy them, to cast their souls to eternal shadow... I did employ more than words, to create a realm for them that parallelled the image of true suffering. I did employ more than words... I employed machinery. My creation, my design... a vehicle for all my misguided emotions. And imprinted onto its obedient face, I laid my seal of wrath... No, into its very shell I laid my wrath. And with joy I watched it heed. The decision was mine... the invention was mine... The horrors I inflicted upon them, upon they who wished only for a little comfort... All of these things I chose, of mine own judgment, and carried out on mine own action. This is what I've done... (The Loss of Self.) I lost more than my kingdom that day... I gained what should be equated to the loss of all the most precious things. An insight into mine own true nature--a darkness that lay nascent inside a cage of flesh. And again a decision was laid before me: Life in that rotting shell was all I knew... and perhaps things should have stayed that way. I could have known mine emotions. The darkness I found inside me was comforting... a system of balanced equations, geometric beauty. I never needed to ask questions--the answers were always inside me. This was a life of perfect happiness... But having shed the creature I once was, to become something else... Something far more mysterious, nebulous, unknowable. An engine for that which I once profaned... These roiling things, grief and passion, sadness and fear... Is this what it is like to live in the light? Why did I choose this? What could be left of me if I become someone else? Would it be better to have clung to the darkness? To hide in the shadows I knew so well? To be awake to the pains of an unending torture, A constant struggle with the forces of a universe that seeketh to tear us in all directions... Eyes and teeth that grant us new nerves, only to tear them from beneath our skin. And a slow burning in my now conscious heart, a thirst for what cannot be restored... The loss of all that I loved, traded for a life of terror and misery... Breathing in and out... but still suffocating. This cannot be life... this is sickness... (To the Unknown Princess.) In this world, there are roads which must not be followed. There are voices which must not be answered, Forces which must not be harnessed, Powers which must not be invoked. I write now to thee in warning--and in fear--that thou dost not surrender to the forbidden temptations. Verily I say to thee that all is one: No matter the power and no matter the prize, There is always a second hand. The grand equivalence that doth govern all the mechanics of this universe Shall always, dutifully and without fail, See that all suffering dealt by the hand of hate be returned in kind. The greater powers that are the Cosmos, those powers which have claimed me... I beg that thou not invoke their wrath as well, For hate and suffering beget one another. Verily I say to thee that all is one... (And I.) I look up to the stars and wonder what they see... hunger... memory... A false shadow of a true monster. I cannot know what forces conspired to place me on this earth. But in having discovered the truth of my life, The curses I cast, the hearts I shattered... I can only seek to make things right for the greater good. This will be mine own grand equivalence; this final act of grace will wipe away the grime. To my brothers and sisters, I bid you farewell. And in my absence may light and love bloom in this world once again. ~ Princess Nocturnal. (A drop of water stains the page.)
