A Second Life chapter 4

>For once, you actually managed to get a full nights rest, no doubt Luna somehow had a hand in it.
>Well, hoof. Whatever.
 >After going about your morning ritual of showering, shitting, and doing your best to give your best a proper shave, you took a look at your small bookshelf in your room.
>You wanted to find a history book, figure out what Luna could have possibly done to be demonized by her people.
>After a good hour of searching, it became clear most of the books up on the shelves were for recreational reading, pure fiction.
>Back to the dictionary, this time to figure out the phrase to ask the guard to the library.
>You studied the phrase on paper for a moment, sounding it out before opening your door to speak to the guard.
”I need to go to the feces.”
>The guard arched his eye, looking at you in confusion.
>”Do you mean the library?”
>You looked down at the dictionary, inspecting the words in the dictionary, blushing bright red at the realization of what you said.
“Yes, library. Please.”
>The guard shrugged, jerking his head in a way to let you know to follow him.
>The library was much bigger than you expected.
>Spacing between shelves were barely big enough for you to squeeze between, and went all the way up to the high vaulted ceiling, well beyond your reach.
>You started at the first set of shelves, slowly gazing through the vast collection of books. You were going to be in here for an eternity.
>A frail old voice drew your attention away from the shelves. ”Can I help you creature?”
>There was a small grey unicorn, her features wrinkled and saggy, her mane bleach white.
“Yes, history books?”
>The unicorn nodded, walking off toward the other side of the library, drawing a large black book, about five inches thick cover to cover.
>You thanked the librarian, and sat down at one of the tables spread out throughout the room, starting to skim through the book.
>”Demon… what are you doing here?”
>the words were familiar, as was the voice that spoke them.
>You turned your head, finding the white alicorn behind you, glaring down at you with her lavender eyes.
>You stood out of respect, giving a small bow, as you would a martial arts instructor.
“Hello, we have not proper met. My name is A-“
>”Anonymous, yes. My sister’s lessons seem to have done well.”
>It seemed so indeed. Speaking was still hard for you, but you could figure her sentences out after only a few seconds.
“What is your name?”
 >she allowed a small chuckle, remembering all the times the two of you had confronted each other, as she silently cursed you in her own language. “Princess Celestia. Now answer me demon, lest I throw you back in your cell.”
>Damn, she really did not like you did she?
“Searching books, practicing Equestian language. Learning.”
>Celestia continued her long had stare, as if trying to pin you with something illegal.
>”Very well, until next time.”
>She trotted off into the library, looking  around for a book of her own, leaving you to return to your own.
>”Ah Anon, there you are. I was worried you ran away.” Luna sat next to you, eyeing the book on the table. “Equestrian history? Interesting reading…”
>You were never going to figure out what Luna meant by…
>Oh, yeah, Luna’s here. Just ask her numbnuts.
“I had my reasons you see… about last night.”
>Luna’s face grew worried, “Perhaps we should discuss this in private my student.”
“I see… if that what you want-“
>”Indeed it is, it’s still somewhat of a… sore subject.” Her voice trailed off as she broke eye contact, staring at the floor.
>You closed the book, returning it to its spot on the shelf before returning to Luna.
“Shall we leave Princess?”
>She gave a small nod, looking up to you. “I have but one request. Once I tell you my story, you tell me yours. Explain the violence that fills your dreams.”
“You have a deal. A story for a story. Along with any questions you have to ask.”
>Luna seemed content with the deal, getting off her haunches and walking lightly alongside you back to your room.
>Luna decided to head to her own room, instead of yours, seeing as it was roomier, and much larger.
>She drew a pair of glasses and a bottle of red wine, pouring a glass for the two of you.
>”Shall I go first or do you wish to, Anon?”
“Whatever makes you comfortable Luna. Just remember you’re in the presence of a demon from Tatarus, it will take a lot to scare me away.”
>A laugh, good, the tension in the room seemed to melt away as the two of you sipped the wine.
>You never cared for wine, but this wasn’t so bad. It tasted more like fruit juice.
>”It took place over a thousand years ago…”
>Well, five seconds into Luna’s tale and you had already spit your wine out.
“A thousand years ago?! Forgive my rudeness but… how old are you Princess?”
>”This year I will be 1418. A typical alicorn lives ten thousand years.”
“I see… sorry for the interruption, and my rudeness. Continue please.”
>”It’s fine Anon, as I was saying, I became jealous with my sister. She ruled the night, making each day beautiful so that the p0nies of Equestria would always be outside, playing, living their lives.”
>She paused taking a sip of her wine.
>”The p0nies always slept through the night, no matter how beautiful I made the sky, and the constellations in the sky. Naturally I became jealous, but I kept my tongue.”
>She kept her composure, yet her voice sounded shaken as she fought off tears.
>You placed an arm around the back of her neck, squeezing tight, bringing a small smile to her face before she continued.
>“Well, I did fine until Discord came to me one night, giving me the idea to keep the moon in the sky, preventing Celestia from raising the sun. If the p0nies wouldn’t stay up to see my work, I would cover Equestria in an eternal night.”
“You were tricked by Discord, whoever that may be. It wasn’t your fault.”
>”Discord is the embodiment of chaos, a trickster of sorts. I should have been stronger…”
“It’s not your fault-.”
>”I would have caused a mass genocide of Equestria, had my sister not stepped in, banishing me to the moon with the elements of harmony!”
>Normally, you would have probably shit a chicken at the thought of being “banished to the moon” but you just accepted the fact that something s in this universe were just plain crazy.
“How long were you there? On the moon?”
>”A thousand years… A thousand long years of loneliness, of isolation. When I came back last year, legends were still going about my crimes. I was hated by a few, and feared by almost everyp0ny.” There went her composure, tears streaming down her face. “Things haven’t changed that much either…”
>You held her tight in your arms as more and more tears streamed from her face and onto your shoulder.
>A few minutes passed before Luna drew back, allowing you to wipe the remaining tears from her face.
>”Thank you Anon, it’s nice to have a friend to talk to for once.”
“Any time princess. Anytime.”
>Luna’s mane shifted as a breeze drafted through the open window, wrapping around your head in a small piece of heaven.
>The scent of flowers gently kissed your nostrils, her wispy ethereal hair tickled your skin.
>”Now, I’ve shared my story, tell me yours. Why were you fighting? How did you end up here?”
>You paused, thinking over the years you spent in the army.
“I joined the army when I was 17, still just a boy in many eyes. I wanted to protect my country; you could say I was a… patriot.”
>Luna sat there, listening intently.
>”My world is dying, full of greed and corruption, war and poverty. A terrorist group, humans that use scare tactics and violence to cause the public to go into a frenzy attacked innocent civilians one day, killing thousands.”
>”That’s horrible… did they get caught?”
“No, they killed themselves in the act. Needless to say, we went to war with a bunch of farmers and shepards. Poorly trained, poorly armed, one on one they were never a match. They resorted to ambushes."
>“It sounds like you did what needed to be done. You were only following orders, like a good soldier.”
“That’s what I told myself at the beginning. But eventually, every time I closed my eyes, I would see face of the people I killed. Regular people just like myself. They believed in something that mattered to them.”
>You downed the remainder of the wine glass, this was harder than you expected.
“Then I lost my friend, Rex. Watched him bleed out in front of me. After that, I just wanted to kill everything in front of me, no matter what. Then, a few weeks later I shot a little kid. That just…”
>”I remember the dream.” It was Luna’s turn to hold you, her feathery wing wrapping around your body.
“Anyways, after that is when I started having trouble sleeping. I couldn’t pay attention as well as I used to, and it cost me my life.”
>”So you… died? How are you here then?”
“Patience Luna, I’m getting there.”
>You reached over, stroking her mane, her eyes closing and a smile spreading from the sensation.
“After I died, I was sent to Hell, a place similar to Tatarus, all because I didn’t believe in a god while I was alive. I made a deal with the king of hell, fought my way through Tartarus, and past Cerberus. The rest is, as they say, history.”
>”You seem justified with all of your actions Anon-”
“Justified or not, I feel like a monster. If someone barged in my home, pointing a gun at my head after killing my parents, I’d try to kill them too.”
>”You are not the monster you make yourself out to be.”
“You don’t know that. But thanks.”
>You felt Luna nuzzle against your cheek, her warm face and soft hair tickled your cheek.
>”You’re right, I don’t know. From what I have seen though, you are not. You are as kind and as gentle as anyp0ny I’ve ever met.”
>You turned to look at her, chuckling at the irony of her words as the spot you had hit became somewhat swelled.
>Reaching over, you traced a finger on the swelled spot, causing Luna to draw back, bringing your hand down with a hoof.
>”I told you it was fine, don’t fret about that bump.”
>Something seemed so peaceful about her eyes and her mane… Her face was just… majestic.
>You blinked, and the next thing you knew, a soft set of lips pressed against your own, accompanied by a warm tongue that sank into your mouth, teasing your own.
>Your eyes shot open, and your mind raced.
>It was so wrong, but it felt amazing
>You honestly didn’t know what to do.
>Go with the flow, or push her away?
>You didn’t like having to make decisions under pressure.
FOR YOU NAUGHTY PEOPLE, GO SEE THE CLOP POST BEFORE CONTINUING
>The air around you and Luna was silent, save for the sound of you gently brushing her mane and her coat.
>Her wet mane had plastered itself against her neck and head in the shower the two of you had shared, and you insisted in helping her brush it.
>”My sister can never find out about this…”
“Yeah… I know. She’d kill me no doubt.”
>”Sadly, I believe you to be right Anon.”
>Another long pause, as you focused your attention on Luna’s mane.
>It reminded you a lot of taking care of a dog back home, getting all of its loose hair off in the spring so it wouldn’t end up all over the house.
>Luna stood, looking into her mirror, then reaching back to kiss you once more.
>”Thank you Anonymous. I think you may take the remainder of the day off. We shall continue your lessons tomorrow.”
“Ok Luna, I’ll be in my room if you want to see me.”
>You stood, walking silently toward the door, and down the spiral stair case escorted by one of Luna’s guards in its bat like armor.
>”Ah, Demon! There you are.”
>You froze at the voice of Celestia from behind you.
>With your poker face at max, you turned to meet her eyes as she totted up to you.
>”Where have you and my sister been? I looked all over the castle.”
“Oh, we walked around the castle…”
>Could she tell you were lying? She didn’t look convinced.
>“Strange I did not see you then…”
“Yes, very strange. Life is strange.”
>”What did you talk about?”
“Uh… no speak Equestrian well, sorry.”
>Celestia did not look amused at all, staring you down for what seemed an eternity.
>”Very well, I will simply ask Luna. I am curious of you after all, since you continue to claim yourself not a demon. Farewell… Demon.”
>Well, now you know she was fucking with you. Did she smell her sister on you?
>You did your best to scrub the scent off of you in the shower, but maybe p0nies noses were stronger than yours.
>You kept your nerves under wraps until you got in your room, hoping Luna would think of the same excuse when Celestia found her
>Back to your books for the rest of the day, seeing as you didn’t have much else to do.
>”Oh Luna? Are you in here?”
>Luna gracefully leapt to her feet, opening the door for Celestia.
“Yes sister? What is it?”
>”I was wondering where you and the demon have been off to. I looked all over the castle.”
“Oh… We went tooooo the garden! Yes, the garden.”
>”Really? It said you went for a walk.”
“Well, yes, we stopped in the garden for a bit though. Why are you asking me when you have already spoken to Anonymous?”
>”Oh you know, it can be a bit hard to understand. Like a child almost.”
>Luna clearly gave a look of annoyance to her sister.
“Would it hurt to call Anon by his name? Or at least refer to him as ‘he’ instead of ‘it’?”
>”Again with this-“
“Yes! Again with this. He is not a demon!”
>”Why do you care what I call it?”
“Because the Princess Celestia I remember used to care about every living thing in Equestria.”
>Well that rustled Celestia’s jimmies quick fast and in a hurry.
>”I allow this demon to reside in the castle as a favor to you. Do not DARE to accuse me of being uncaring to those who reside in Equestria.”
>Celestia turned and made her way back down the stairs in a huff, frustrated with the constant bickering between her and her sister.
>It hadn’t been like this until that demon showed up.
>She knew what she would have to do.
>The gate of Tartarus may not let the demon back in, but there was surely a spell somewhere that would send him back.
>Luna would be angry for a time, sure, but in the long run it would be best.