darkSpyro

"No Fate and Life?" Ideas cocked his head, frowning. "Huh. I swear the Queen mentioned to us that there was a sixth and seventh. Or, rather, a first and second. Faust and Iridia, wasn't it? Hm... maybe I'm thinking of somewhere else. Apparently they haven't- haven't been seen for a long time. Ah well."

He blinked. "Either way, with five or seven alicorns, whatever, I've never known of such a small pantheon. There are seventeen of us on Hyperborea."

"What? No!" Ideas quickly responded. "Well, um, yes actually. Just not the- the- the major aspects of the world, mind you. Technically, my younger siblings, my cousins and I are demigods. Alicorns with their domains, but only having one of the three pony subtypes and their magic. I'm actually a, uh, a pegasus kirin. Protocol, Progress - or Science, as she claims, anyway... Morality, Fact, Adventure, Passion, Logic, Determination, and Curiosity are my siblings. Mercy and Salvation are my twin cousins- odd ones, they are. Unnerving, to say the least."

Flicking back a strand of black mane, he chewed his lip. "My- uh- my nieces and nephews are a little more complicated. Um... ah, I shouldn't really mention them, they're just foals and we don't quite know exactly what they will be yet, but- there's no harm in it, I guess. The eldest is Duty and Protection, that kind of thing, I think he figured it out a decade or so ago, since he's still an- an adolescent. Wouldn't think he'd be approaching three hundred if didn't know. We- we think the- her triplets will be along the lines of Life, Death, and Fate, respectively, or something like that. Something important, anyway. They've almost figured it out."

He blinked, laughing nervously, "ahhh, look at that. I talk too much, don't I? Yeah, need to work on that... And- and seventeen isn't even a lot compared to where my- our mother came from. Hyperborea... Just our little backwards corner of the universe, full of unawakened foals and nearly a dozen half-gods."

After finishing eating, I leave my empty tray beside me. I hold onto Midnight's horn, tears streaming down my cheeks. Was she going to be alright? Who did this? How could they do it? Justice will be served, I swear.

"It's a lot, I know." Ideas smiled apologetically. "But- really, that's all I still remember. What little I've seen since I woke up a few months before we were accidentally sent here, some of those awful nightmares from what Arlon did to me, and the dreams the stars gave me to- to help-... and very little- barely anything- from before then - and that's it. It helps to talk. Clears some things up that I'm not entirely sure about."

He poled at the wing stubs subconsciously, staring up the stairs with an almost blank look in his eyes, as he pondered what he'd said. "Yeah... not a lot more."

"Uh- no, no, we'd- we just finished?" Ideas' expression creased slightly, frowning more at his vague question than at the interruption. "I dunno. I've said everything that I needed to get out, I- I think. Oh- um- where's my manners- hello!" He brightened up again, waving a hoof airily.

"Arlon has a lot of- uh- 'issues' that he needs to sort out before coming back." Ideas hummed. "I think he just needed a nap, or something. He's already gone to sleep. So- um- until then, here I am."

"Hm? Oh- oh! Yes, thank you!" Ideas smiled, his tail flicking as he went to consider his ascent up the tower, humming a vaguely familiar song.

-

Contrary to what the fragment of the Demogod of Ideas believed, Arlon wasn't asleep, though he was no longer paying attention to what was going on outside. Beating back the nightmares that he himself had brought upon his tenant over a thousand years ago, nightmares that had come back to haunt him, Arlon turned his attention within.

The logical side of his mind knew that his fears of isolation were unfounded. After all, the nightmares were designed to drive a rift between the mentally-captive Ideas, and the rest of his family, and had nothing to do with him.

It said nothing to the amount of regret he had for causing such needless pain to his little brother, and the physical and mental abuse he caused the rest of his family, all in the name of revenge.

And again, Cave Invictus continued to lurk at the edges of his awareness, whispering those foul words he had once uttered millennia ago, the pain he caused far outliving the dragon himself.

Ideas accepted the food with an appreciative thanks, thinking of how similar it was to some things Arlon had eaten on Hyperborea. As much as he tried, he himself couldn't recall eating anything like it when he was still a part of his original mind.

'Rebecca used to bake muffins like this... how could I forget the taste?'

Perturbed, Ideas headed over to the window that Flash Photography was sitting by, wanting to look at the night sky for himself.

I nod and picking it up with magic, I place it close to Southern Star. Tears stream down my cheeks as I hold onto Midnight's broken off horn. I need comfort, Midnight has been like the mother, I never had.

Ideas bit deep into the muffin, exposing a momentary flash of his fangs as he chewed into it.

"So there's still someone to raise them?" he asked quietly as he chewed, as much to himself as to Flash Photography. "The- the sun and moon, I mean."

He sat down at the other end of the window, pulling back the makeshift curtains to look at the sky for himself with a slight frown.

"Be hard to kill a goddess, but they wouldn't need to if the sisters- if they're incapacitated." Ideas said with a wry smile, a hint of pain in his eyes as he remembered vague details of a very similar scenario. "Or blackmailed. Tortured. But that's- that's beside the- uh- the point."

Focusing on the brightest star he saw, Ideas' presence almost seemed to expand as he added, "I wonder if I could- gah!" he winced, drawing back into himself, rubbing his shoulder almost resentfully. "No- no, I can't. Damn it, Arlon, I should've- argh."

Ideas' ears swivelled around at the scream, his bluish eyes widened as he immediately forgot his problems detaching himself to ascend into the heavens.

Following Flash Photography, he remained idle as the unicorn destroyed the mist creature, his antlers flickering intermittently. Ideas frowned, chewing his lip uncomfortably.

'I should've helped,' he thought. 'I should've done more... Arlon? Arlon, I need your help.'

I am totally unaware of what is going on, as I fallen asleep with tears running down my cheeks. Midnight's horn is clutched in my hooves and the box where I store her horn is closed just a short distance from me. I need comfort but am in too much pain to seek it.

It took Ideas repeating Arlon's name again to stir the elder alicorn, the silvery mass almost snarling as he responded. Ideas headed back upstairs to the window, knowing that he needed to be careful with the other mind to ensure that he could get his help.

What? Arlon growled. Didn't I say that I needed to mull some things over? I can't handle all your little problems with your new friends.

'I haven't had a friend in a long time, can you fault me for trying?' Ideas replied, before sighing audibly. 'It doesn't matter. I need to talk to the stars, or the moon, and I can't get into the heavens by myself.'

Arlon remained silent for a moment, thinking over Ideas' words. The heavens? Hm. Why didn't I think of that? Doesn't matter. I doubt I'm strong enough to do it alone.

'Together, though?'

Arlon merely grunted.

I slowly being to stir as I hear footsteps. Seeing Southern Star, I desperately try to wipe away my tears, but without success. Instead I nervously look toward the window and return Midnight's horn to the wooden box beside me, along with the dark note. If anyone wishes to know what has brought back my pain, all they need do is open that box up read the note and see the horn. Arlon, however if he was here, already knows.

"No..," I reply quietly, trembling with tears streaming down my cheeks. This is all I can manage to say, as the pain is too great. My horn glows as I bring the box toward me and hold it tightly in my hooves.

Perhaps, Arlon said slowly. Perhaps... I don't think it's ever been done before, but there's nothing to suggest that it can't work...

Ideas remained silent, pausing by the window, tapping the wall with a hoof anxiously. It took him a moment to realise that it was Arlon taking mild control over his own body again.

Okay. Let's try it.

'Are you sure you want to do this?' Ideas asked hesitantly. 'I mean- if you're still a bit out of it- it might not be safe for you, or us, whatever-'

Arlon laughed, stretching his neck. "We're a pair of fallen, fragmented alicorns. Who can stand in our way?"

"You're absolutely-?" Ideas began.

"Yes, I am." Arlon cut him off, sweeping back the makeshift curtains. He watched the moon for a few moments, his expression flat. The alicorn considered the absurdity of having a conversation with the demigod with them both using his own mouth, but he dismissed it. It wasn't as if the others didn't know he was crazy, or anything.

Crazy. What an odd thing to consider from the Principal of Protocol himself. He who breaks minds as easily as he does reality.

"You're getting off track..." Ideas muttered.

"My apologies." Arlon said.

Arlon's reaction in summoning a shield was surprisingly quick, considering his emotional state and the fact that he was sharing his body with another entity. The shield wasn't powerful, Arlon not wanting to waste what little he had on something meaningless, but it was enough to delay their adversaries.

"Is this really the best time?" he said, obvious sarcasm lacing his words. "No, really. It's not."

"That's your concern?" Ideas was a lot less calm about the proceedings. "Are you- are you serious? Oh god- oh god oh god do something!"

"'Do something.' I am, moron."

Still in pain but seeing who is attacking, a great rage engulfs me. My body starts to grow and turn midnight black, but my mane remains pure snow white. My eyes burn with fury. The entire house grows darker and darker. Amidst the darkness, they can see that I am fighting to contain him, but that he is winning. Almost all of my body is midnight black, only my head remains snow white. Fear is visible in my eyes as the darkness, fights to consume me.

"What- what are they doing? Can you see?" Arlon cocked his head, his bluish-white eyes narrowed slightly. Arcing bolts of blue lightning shot around his antlers, intermingled with frigid ice, a mix of the two alicorns' specialty magics.

"They're- they're just- they're just throwing... books?" Ideas kicked a back hoof at one that flew behind them.

"Think they're a little mindless?" A smirk curled around his muzzle. "Not that it matters. I can feel the essence of Nightmare Moon in them as clearly as I can feel you rattling around in my head. Broken fragments of a maddened goddess... It's a little painful, actually."

Hearing the voice and what it says is the last straw. My anger consumes me and with a sinister laugh, He has returned, Fallen Star has returned. My eyes burn with a great fury. Lightning forks from my horn and strikes the mist. Then a voice so sinister and dark, that it chills one to the bone speaks. Shrouds of darkness gather around me, as I, Fallen Star stand before them, a dark shadow.

"Oh, is that a challenge? Fool, you have no idea just what you have done. Soon, you will know true fear," my alternate self, Fallen Star says, my eyes flashing in the light.

It is then that a brilliant light begins to engulf my alternate form. I grow smaller and my body starts to turn pure snow-white. Within minutes the little prince, that they know as me, Prince Astrello is back. My deep, dark midnight blue eyes glow brilliantly as I speak.

"It is You who is the fool. You will be defeated. There is no stronger power than love and friendship. My love for my big sisters, my family and my home as well as all of my friends will destroy you. Together, united, we will end you."

"Don't listen to the darkness, we will prevail. Together, united, we will destroy this evil. Together we will end this and return Equestria back to what it once was. The darkness is just trying to make us give up, we must not. For my family's sake, for the sake of all of us, for Equestria, we must succeed."

"'I'..." Arlon muttered, scratching his beard. The fallen alicorn hadn't moved as the mist spoke. "It referred to itself as one being..."

"I'm more concerned about the 'extraordinary power' it- it mentioned." Ideas laughed uncertainly, chewing his lip. "Oh gods. Oh no, oh no, no nononono. She said it was coming. It's- it's- it's in Tartarus, isn't it? It's coming?"

Arlon froze, putting his hoof down slowly. "That's... that's a troubling developement, actually." Turning to face the other ponies, Arlon asked, "How close is this forsaken world's entrance to Tartarus, by any chance? Is it far? My, aheh- depending on how fast it is, I think... Damn it!"

Ideas coughed, continuing where Arlon left off. "He - and by that, we - believe that there's- um- something in Tartarus that could either help us, or... um... not."

"Yes, I do, keeping the location of the Tartarus secret is but one of my big sisters' and mines' duties. I warn you, Tartarus is not at all like anything that you have been to before. Stay close and we should be fine," I say as I look toward the horizon.

"I'm fully aware of the dangers Tartarus presents." Arlon scoffed. "I've seen what our kind keep locked up down there. I'd give anything to ensure that they stay there."

Ideas shifted "But- how far is it, though? We- we- It's just... there's a shade... A- um- a ghost, if you will, of an alicorn... sort of. I dunno."

"We've never known of an alicorn that managed to split in half - mind and power." Arlon said. "My fault, I suppose. I have a talent for splitting things. Either way, this shade... it has the ability to break reality, if it so wanted."

"It's-" Ideas took over the shared body's voice again. "It's just- it's near mindless. All a shade wants is some... some perverted desire it once had when it was, um, alive. Arlon wanted power, so long ago... it must be what Protocol wants now."

"Naturally, it'll be drawn to whatever can get it to its goals first. Me, or the Nightmare." Arlon concluded bitterly.

"You all get some sleep, if you must. I doubt I will be able to. I will rest, if I can, as I guard and watch over you all," I say, swishing my mane as well as my tail and raking the ground with my hooves. I lay beside the main window of Southern Star's house, gazing out at the rising sun.

Arlon sighed, curling up in the corner.

The stars. Do you still want to try and reach them? he asked quietly. See if they know what happened to the alicorns here?

'I dunno...' Ideas sounded troubled. 'Are you sure that you're up for it?'

No, not really. If it helps, it helps, but I don't want to risk being vulnerable to them. Arlon's antlers flickered, summoning a piece of paper.

--

Nio-

Sorry I haven't gotten back to you. Things have been- well, I'm beginning to fear I won't be able to make it back. The lingering whispers of his presence... I fear that I'm going to lose my mind, if not my life.

Father... Nio, he still terrifies me. He's been dead for a long time, I know, kept alive only through the Aperture hivemind, but I can't help but wonder - what if?

What if I had never succumbed to my anger and hatred? Would the worlds have been a happier place? How much blood stains my existence?

I'm sorry. This is unnecessary prattling. You can't change the past. I must shape the future, for good or for ill.

Perhaps this is my repentance. I ruined our world with my delusions. Perhaps I can save this one.

- Arlon

--

Arlon settled his head on his hooves, staring out the window wearily. Never in his life had he felt so old.

"Astrello..." he eventually began, somewhat hesitant. "I wanted to ask something... You care so much for the mortals. Why is that?"