A Fallen Comet (Complete)

> You sit across the table from the night princess.
> She is shaking her head in disbelief.
> "I cannot believe you could go to such lengths to avenge yourself."
> You've come to enjoy your talks with her, leaders comparing their successes and failures.
> This time, though, you had been telling her of your year-long quest for revenge against the ones who had killed your family.
"It was necessary, Princess. If I had not, they would have never let go of their power. They would have taken my father's teachings and twisted them to the insane extreme."
> "But your subjects-"
"-were angry, dispossessed, and blind to what had happened."
> She stares at you mournfully.
"By the time they woke up, it would have become even worse. Someone had to stand up for what was right."
> "What a painful world you must live in to find such extremes to be justified..."
> You raise one eyebrow.
"If I may be so frank, Princess, you have gone to extremes yourself in the past - to right a wrong as well."
> She pierces you with an angry look. "And I was wrong. So very, very wrong."
"But you do not disagree that something had to be done, to make right the neglect you faced?"
> Luna frowns; you lift your cup of tea to your lips and take a sip.
"My people - subjects, you would call them - also faced neglect. True, malicious neglect and oppression."
> "What I did was still wrong. To bring eternal night would have killed all my little ponies in time, when the endless winter came."
> Endless winter...
> It brings back memories for a moment.
> Of your last moment truly alive, before you came here.
"I, too, tried to bring an endless winter to my home planet."
> You pause, before murmuring a painful admission.
"And I was wrong as well."
> Luna's stare takes on newfound confusion, then awe. "You could do that?"
> Something begins to tickle on the edge of your consciousness, a familiar presence from that memory she had awoken.
"After all I have told you from what I came from, you are surprised? A story for another time, though."
> You give her a wry grin.
"It is the story of how I died."
> Luna nods in understanding; when you had first been introduced to the two ruling sisters, you had explained how you had been about to die in the instant before you had crash-landed on their doorstep.
> You... and your rival.
> She knew it was not something you cared to discuss.
"I am afraid I must go for now, Princess - if I am excused?"
> She rises as you do.
> "Of course, my friend."
> Striding through Canterlot's streets, you ignore the stares ponies still unused to your presence throw your way.
> Your entire focus is on the increasingly obtrusive familiar presence pressing against your mind.
> Running a hand through your straw-blond hair, you begin to face the unavoidable fact that -he- is somewhere in the city.
> He is, after all, the only other human here on this planet.
> The only other human you could always sense like this.
> The only other human with you when you died.
> After all, he had killed you.

> Your home is in sight now, a nondescript house on the mountainside outskirts of this fantastic city.
> The only hint it belong to one of two humans on the planet is the slightly taller doors and windows.
> You reach for the keys in your pocket, moving to unlock the front do-
> A shadow moves beside the door.
> He steps out in front, meeting your eyes evenly.
> His rust-red hair has gone long since you saw him last, but he still looks so similar to the first time you saw him, fourteen years before he killed you - albeit far older.
> He was just a kid then, after all.
> You have to face him.
"You're back."
> "I can't ever stay away forever. I have to see them from time to time."
> You grunt unhappily.
> "I thought you've made your peace with me?"
> Rolling your eyes, you start for the door again.
"I've accepted I was wrong. That doesn't mean I'm glad to see you yet. Coming in?"
> He pauses, then nods.
> Stepping in, you head to the kitchen.
"Are you going to be staying long?"
> He shakes his head. "I just want to see them again. See how they're doing."
> You pass him a glass of water.
"Why? You know they'll never fly again. Yours can't even boot up anymore."
> "I know, but I can still feel them. Always. Almost like they're alive."
> You suppose they were, in a way, for what they were.
"Well, I don't plan on going anywhere. I'll always be here watching over them."
> "You don't ever plan on building a life?"
> His comment provokes you to give him a stark look.
> "My life is over; you know that. My reason for fighting is gone."
> You can sense he disagrees, but doesn't provoke you further.
> Turning and walking back out of the kitchen, you motion him to follow you.
"Alright. They're downstairs still. This way."
> You open a heavily-locked, thickly built door at the back of your home.
> A dimly-lit stairway descends away under the mountainside Canterlot is built into.
> Wordlessly, you grab a lantern and start down.
> He follows.
> The cavern at the bottom is enormous, carved out in some distant age past.
> Unnatural light of the crystals lining the walls and ceiling gently illuminates it.
> In the center of the pit sits the mangled remains of your arrival, twisted and fused into permanent embrace.
> He stares at them, unblinking and silent.
"They're not going anywhere, see? Not even rusting."
> Tearing his eyes away, your killer looks at you again. "I see. I'm sorry for bothering you again."
"What will you do now? Go out travelling again?"
> "You know I've always been a bit of a loner."
"Except when my sister was involved."
> He is silent. That might have been uncalled for.
> Turning for the exit, he pauses and looks back at you. "When I come back, where will you be?"
> Your gazes meet. They're not friendly friendly, but are peaceful.
"Doing what I've always done: Protecting the things I love."

> A long time after he leaves, you keep staring down into the wreckage below.
> Two incredible machines, bound up in their death throes.
> One is barely recognizable anymore, a twisted mess of ruined metal. Only fragments still display the signature red paint.
> The other is white and black, still recognizably human if cripplingly broken from your spectacular collision with this strange world.
> Even now, they both still hum with the remnants of the energy that had stopped Axis and brought you here - an energy as alien and foreign to this world and yourself.
> The princesses had them moved here one it was clear neither of you were going to be able to leave.

> A soft brush of air on your hand drags your attention, incorporeal fingers across your skin.
> Another presence makes itself known to your mind, but this one is welcome.
> You smile, a soft and warm smile full of love. She is here.
"You didn't say hello to him."
. . .
"He'd still like to hear from you."
. . .
"I know."
. . .
"When will I move on?"
> You laugh a bitter, pained laugh.
"It's not so easy for me, love. I might be free of my war at last, but..."
> You motion to the wreckage in the pit.
"...I cannot let go of my deeds so easily."
. . .
"Luna? We are more alike than she understands. Both so different, so rare among our kind."
. . .
"I've been thinking of flying again. I could put together an airplane without to much trouble, I think. Put together a team again."
. . .
"I know it'll never be the same, but it's closer to the stars than on this earth. My heart's always been out there."
. . .
"I know, Lalah. I'll be coming all the way to you... in time."
> The presence fades, but you stay with the wreckage a bit longer.
> Eventually it's time to go.
> The stairs ascended, door locked again, and dinner prepared.
> You eat, but your mind is elsewhere.
> Among the stars.
> You can't help it. It's who you are, after all.
> A brotherly guardian.
> A vengeful son.
> A pilot.
> [spoiler]A Red Comet.[/spoiler]