Author's Notes:

This is the first of three uploads in a row that I am doing as I felt they all belonged together and to be read one after the other. I apologize for the long delay for these but I have been working hard on them, as well as various other reasons and excuses why there weren't here earlier.

I sincerely hope you enjoy them.
-Equinox Starshifter

The Alter Accords

Chapter Twenty Four: The Decline.

The Unicorn guard stood there as Lego was having a coughing fit which only abated after he had grossly coughed up a chunk of…well he would rather not say. Moving to wash his hooves off and throw the crimson hunk of gunk away he sighed before gathering up his findings.

“Sorry for the long wait. It is getting harder and harder to move around.” The dull gray Earth Pony told the guard who remained motionless as its brethren. “I wonder if this is what being old is like, to the age where you watch grandfoals and possibly great grandfoals running around. Too bad I won’t get to see that but oh well.” Shaking his head for a moment he turned to the guard. “Sorry again, didn’t mean to be melodramatic. I am ready.”

The guard pony moved closer before lighting up his horn as the sound of dislocated air filled the space where they were. Their destination was once more the palace of the diarchy specifically the waiting room in front of the throne room. The sick pony was told to wait by the guard as he went to inform the sisters that had had arrived safely.

Safety, strange that is what caused this now frequent service to be provided. He had managed to miss one of the scheduled appointments with the sisters by a few hours, only to be found by the guards later passed out and weak. Celestia then lectured him about keeping quiet about how bad his condition was becoming now that he couldn’t even walk to the palace anymore. True they said they were worried afraid he might have been accosted and from what he was reading in the paper about the serial murderer that very well could have happened.

Lego didn’t have time to worry about the past any longer though the guard came back and motioned for him to approach. Sunbutt seemed happy to see him arrive on time for once and safely though Lego could see the worry behind her mask. With how much he had been seeing them he had gotten a tiny look behind the mask she wore.

‘Time to start again, I don’t need to but it I don’t try I feel like I will succumb to it quicker.’ Smiling to the sisters he spoke “I have the latest chapters for your majesties as well as the multitude of translations. I am curious as to know if all of my work is helping out in other text and scrolls from the past.”

A quick dodge of a question thrown in there as he seen the looks on their faces with his chipper attitude but it worked. “Indeed it has my Knight.” Celestia spoke up. “There are a few works that we have found that were once praised for masterpieces of ancient literature now nothing more than a chore list of some pony long past. I actually wish I was making up that one but it is the truth.”

The smile he had placed on his face felt more real now as he got joy from hearing that. Motioning to open his bags he found that it was being taken care of for him with an equal of luminous gold and lustrous blue. Floating over to the monarchs he was getting ready to bow and leave when he was stopped with the voice of one of them.

“Sir Lego, we would like to ask that you stay, we have called in a specialist to see if there is anything that can be done to alleviate any pain you might be feeling everyday or any complications of your lungs.” It was Celestia that had said it but hearing the ‘we’ she spoke he knew that it was on both of the princesses’ minds apparently. His last scare must have been more worrisome then he thought.

Giving a bit of a bow and a nod he smiled up to them. “Sure, it is the least I can do since you both gave me a nice free trip here and back to my home when I’m done.”

A bell was rung and a maid came to escort him away. It was going to be a long day, but honestly he was just happy to move around and not be stuck inside today. Honestly it was embarrassing enough to have to be teleported to the palace but since then they had made sure that a pony came to deliver food for him as well as cook meals. He was officially an invalid and he hated it every time that pony came over with a smile on her face to help.

Walking down the hall looking at the cheerful maid he found himself resenting a lot of happiness in general lately and he knew he shouldn’t. His thoughts and fantasies that made him smile more often than not was putting those ponies in their place by showing them up, showing off his strength…that he no longer had. It was often in those depressing thoughts that he found his fantasies taking on a darker turn to the point where it disgusted him to have them.

‘I thought I would live many, many more years before I became the grumpy old pony that told kids to get off his yard but…I suppose this is what it is like for them.’ The feeling of sadness that usually accompanied those thoughts had long been used up and now Lego only felt emptiness inside, he knew he had come to accept his fate when he stopped feeling it.

It was another of those meetings, ones where nothing really interesting was happening and as such the chosen instead had ‘chosen’ to gossip. Oh that is good I am leaving that in, anyways the gossip had turned from many subjects good and bad. For good, my new little girl was so adorable even if she was a hoofful and how my wife kept claiming she took after me. For bad, the missing chosen: Hopeful Dreamer.

“It has been almost two years now since he had vanished claiming he needed to go ‘see’ the world and the state it rested in.” Came the voice Graceful Gift. I had rarely ever had a chance to talk to her but she seemed like a mare that would do anything for those she counted as a friend. Her black luxurious coat seemed to enhance whatever light hit it rather than suck it up as did her flowing teal mane that reminded me of a river me and my wife seen on our honeymoon to the continent of the south. Her green eyes spoke out loud of her conviction more than her symbol did of her nature as the Alicorn of Sacrifice and the Tenth of the order: A white offering bowl with a green flame burning inside of it.

The leader of the chosen sat there passively letting the others talk since he didn’t seem to have any advice or opinion he wanted to share, though it was my suspicion that he enjoyed the missing Alicorn being away. A loud banging of a hoof brought me back to examining the Alicorns at the table as the next one was my least favorite but only because of his loud and boastful nature.

“If you are so worried about our missing ally then should we not head out and search for him. Why I remember this one winter I was flying back here only to encounter a freak blizzard over the ocean forcing me to land on an island. The blizzard lasted for five days and nights as I was braving the harshest elements known to Alicorn-kind!” The mane of the stallion, Ardent Bravery the Alicorn of courage, looked to have been spun from dusk’s light in its orange hue as he boasted about his venture on the island matched only by his brilliant youthful eyes the color of rubies. He had jumped onto the table and kicked at invisible enemies showing off his dark brown coat as well as his symbol which was an eye framed by a lightning bolt. Which he claimed was because he had the courage to look at even forces of nature and move past any fear an Alicorn could suffer.

The next to offer their voice was one who only spoke the truth as he represented Honesty as the third to be of the chosen. “While that is a proper idea, the problem I see is, do we want him back?” I wish I could say that there were a few gasps, but really it was closer to only a couple as he held up a hoof to continue. “I know, but honestly, he has been causing nothing but trouble lately with his crusade of keeping hope alive even though we all know it is well and plenty alive.” The deep voiced stallion known as Sincere Integrity had gotten a lot of nods to this making his own join causing his mane of orange and reds like a living fire to bob to the motions only marred, or enhanced depending on whom you asked, with stripes of cyan creating a rather contrasting image of his coat which was the color of burnished and polished gold. He was remarked as the king of honesty by many Alicorns as his symbol was that of a crown made of tree roots.

There was a cough in the room and everypony went silent as the eldest looking Alicorn in the room spoke. “The question is really are we his colleagues, friends, allies, or enemies. While we may not be his friends we are certainly not his enemies I don’t believe.” Her coat seemed to pale and gray as it got closer to her head and fore-hooves then her tail from the yellow of spun sunlight that is was near the rear, only for the coloration to reverse for her mane and tail as it went from yellow to gray near the ends. “That leaves us as his colleagues and allies and as such it is not even an option to be glad he is gone, but to wish for him to return to us and a healthy fashion.” Kindness was Magnificent Compassion’s calling and she embraced it well, melting even surly hearts with a gentle touch. This was displayed rather prominently on her with her symbol of a four leaf clover made of hearts instead of the actual leaves.

Tap, tap, tap came the sound of a hoof on the table drawing everypony’s attention once more to another, this time to Inner Jubilation, the mute Alicorn of Laughter whom held out her ‘speaking sign’. “Maggie is right.” Flip to the other side. “We shouldn’t wish him to never return.” Flip again. “We want him to come back to laugh, cry, and be all together with the rest of us just like before.” Again flips her sign once more to a side that had writing on it. “Even if he is a sourpuss who doesn’t seem to want to talk to anypony anymore.”

As long as I have lived I have never been able to figure out how she works that sign and I don’t think anypony ever will, that is the magic of laughter and how it can come from anywhere, anytime, and anyplace even if you least expect it. Her symbol was a heart with a smile on it, said to be the one that best represents all of the chosen in its simplicity, all of which is made even more stark compared to her completely white body against her flowing pink mane that had sugar sprinkled throughout it and made of sugar. Or at least that is what she claimed not that I have ever wanted to take a taste no matter how many times I had forgotten my lunch with Caeli Cor.

Legerdemain stood and spoke as if to end the meeting. “Many of you had made good points this day and I will think about it. However I cannot promise to send Alicorns just to find him since it was he who left us. It was his choice to leave his duties behind and do whatever it is that he is doing. So as of right now if he comes back he will have to explain himself dearly or we may have to think about the possibility of expelling him from the chosen.”

Gasps of shock and outrage were heard from many in the room and while I want to say there was more shock then there really was, it seemed many knew of the leader’s disposition towards the wayward chosen.

“HOW COULD YOU?!” There was only one voice among all of the chosen with the commanding tone that was present now, the voice of loyalty itself: True Devotion. “Where is your sense of fellowship leader? How could you even think to abandon one of our own over something like a trip?” True was the leader of the guards and the Alicorns that had made sure to capture any trouble makers or dispose of monsters when they strayed too close. “I myself have gone out for years before on a crusade to kill off the dreaded Windigos though I am still in the opinion that some may still exist to this day.” Shaking her head causing her stripped mane of cold iron and cobalt to ripple as her bronze coloration on her body tensed. “Never mind that, the point is we are all allies we stand together as one even if we are not all here.” The fierce symbol that this Alicorn sported was also the same one that was the symbol of the guards themselves: A silver and gold with two lightning bolts behind it.

For a moment there was a slight fire in our leader’s eyes before it vanished making me often wonder if I imagined it that day. “Regardless you were on an important mission, Dreamer is out who knows where with no contact from him in this entire time. You sent letters with messangers. Even Ardent sends letters regularly when he goes off globetrotting. All we got from HIM is a letter telling us not to look for him and that he has gone ‘soul searching’ for hope in both him and in others. No check ins since then no nothing.” There came a ‘but’ from a soft voice only for Legerdemain to stamp his hoof down. “SILENCE! That is all I will hear about this subject, end of discussion.”

The voice he had silenced was Clear Absolve only to give a soft apology as she quickly excused herself from the room. Pain and regret was clearly shown over my employers face for a moment so strong it almost made me feel them myself before he rose up dismissing all the Alicorn’s in the room.

I wouldn’t let this continue, this being why there was a rift between my employer and Hopeful Dreamer. There was only one who would be able to tell me, one who would answer anything given of him truthfully.

“Excuse me Lord Integrity; there is something I need to ask you, something important.” This was it, if I spoke wrong or if he didn’t want to answer, it could very well cost me my job and with Celestia growing up I need all the money I can get to make sure her future is as bright as the sun itself.

Celestia had to stop for a moment as she was choked up with her feelings. “If only you knew father what your little girl would grow up into and what she represented you will know that her future was as bright as the sun indeed.”

Turning over the page to the next translated script she was surprised when it wasn’t more translations, but something in modern Equish. Something recent. Something…sad.

‘I, Lego Bright Star, of sound mind and sound body, do so swear that this is my final will and testament.’ Her voice cracked as she read that in her head. ‘Lego has made out a will and judging by the stamp it was notarized by one of the visitors that help to prep meals for him. Does he really believe his end is coming soon? Or is he just preparing for the worst. Then again he had been hiding how badly he had been doing at home, the condition of his lungs and other things, maybe it is worse than we all think? Even more surprising is that among all the things he is giving out the biggest things are going to Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight herself. Applejack and Rainbow Dash I can understand but why Twilight, unless there is something my student has not told me.’

Not able to stop herself, she set the papers down and after a bright flash, found herself at the specialists office and knocking on the door. After a moment the doctor opened up the door and kneels immediately.

“Rise, my little pony, I came to check on how everything was going with your patient.” She told her in her best calming voice.

“Y-yes your m-majesty, it’s just I wasn’t expecting you to come here to hear the findings yourself even if the tests aren’t back yet.” She was very young, judging by how she stuttered or maybe highly nervous, but highly praised which is the reason why Celestia had called her over in the first place.

Raising an eyebrow at what she said she asked. “Oh if the tests aren’t back yet how is it you have findings? Or are these an educated guess?” Celestia had only been teasing but when the pony winced and looked sad a cold pit formed in her stomach. “What is it Doctor Respite.”

She only licked her lips for a moment before she spoke some words that were as final as they were conclusive. “Even without the tests, the basics which I took from him were rather unfortunate. The best we will be able to do is make his final days and possible weeks as comfortable as possible. I am not sure how long but-”

The sun raiser, bringing of the dawn, and setter of the sun had heard that speech too many times in her lifetime to listen to how it ended. She knew that Lego was dying and soon.

“Ahh, nighttime what a wonderful time you are even with the wonderful weather you bring this day.” Came the voice of a stallion as he rode the air currents above the downpour. “So nice and delightful especially with that full moon overhead making Canterlot to seem like a wonderful safe place to live in its comforting glow…lets change that.” With a laugh and the folding of his wings he swooped down to land upon a rooftop ignoring the rain as it soaked him threw. He would glide from rooftop to rooftop as he was searching for his victim of the night.

“Oh you are making this too easy my little prey.” He said as he spotted his next target, wearing what looked like a waterproof cloak complete with a hood and judging from its make very high class. “Another noble gets there wish to be put upon the Canterlot news paper, oh how I love to make wishes come true.”

Swooping down into the alleyway in front of the stallion he gave the same smirk to him as all the others. “Hello there friend. I am hoping that I can help you out this evening.”

The stallion seemed calm for whatever reason even here in an alleyway like he was. “Oh, I could always use a bit of help, I am looking for somepony and I am wondering if you could help me.”

The hairs on the back of his neck was sticking up now, there we being watched, he didn’t like this at all but was too confident to stop. “Sure, but first I need help from you, you see I am a painter and this alleyway is my project, so I am wondering if you can contribute to it.” His grin grew this was what he was waiting for as his fangs became visible.

“Oh? Should I go get you some supplies to help with your painting?” The calm voice of the stallion said with confidence.

Giving into his laughter even at the expense of ignoring his instincts he spoke up. “No, no, no, I am sure your blood is the right shade of red for this.” Getting ready to launch at him he felt hesitation just long enough for the stallion to throw off his cloak. Or rather her cloak.

Before him standing in all her glory was the Princess of the Night herself with a rather angry look to her face. “Finally we have found thee, criminal.” Lighting her horn suddenly there were guards everywhere in the alleyway. “And we will bring thee to justice. Surrender and no harm will come to thou.”

Danger, he was out numbered. He was overpowered and out matched. He was…excited. All the guards in the alleyway suddenly looked unnerved as he started laughing in a rising pitch more and more and he loved the look on their faces.

“Oh that is just too good Princess. However I am going to have to decline your offer for a tryst in your bed sheets this day. You see, while you would make lovely paint for this alleyway, I find I can’t do my best work with anypony watching except the fading light of my victim’s eyes. So for now-” He gave a stamp of his hoof and mist rose up rapidly. “-I will have to reschedule for a later date. Tata till next time my precious paint.” Moving quickly through the fog he made he did what was now natural to him as shouts of confusion were heard.

“Thou shall not escape thine punishment!” Out came the Royal Canterlot Voice as it blew back the cloud of fog with both its volume and a bit of magic from Luna’s glowing horn.

He loved the sound of rage in her voice when she discovered that he wasn’t there, made all the more lovely as he watched the struggle to hold back profanities fail from his hiding spot. He continued to watch till the bunch dispersed their Princess first leaving with a flash of a teleport. Levitating a cup of tea up from its resting place the killer took a sip and smiled.

“Ahh such lovely tea, I am glad I got to taste it while watching a wonderful show. Oh, my sincerest apologizes to my hosts. I really didn’t give you the common courtesy that I should have when I let myself in.” He turned and bowed his horned head to the two in the room. “Such a shame that I couldn’t do a proper job but I really wanted to see how that played out over there and well, one doesn’t just seep into your home and expect one not to scream. Well, anyways, Tata and thank you for showing me your lovely home.”

The killer left out the front door as if he owned the place, leaving the couple that he left behind still skewered upon rods as he whistled an unsettling tune.

The nights after the killer was spotted Luna, being a rather surprisingly good artist managed to paint him for the guards to keep a look out for with a warning. Do not engage without getting proper word out. He had managed to slip away not only from just herself, but an entire regiment of her guards at night no less. The night vision of the Thestrals were second only to herself and the night vision enhancement on her guards armor who weren’t of that linage made them comparable to the bat pony’s vision. Even then he had not only used a smoke screen that he made from water but managed to slip away undetected.

It was possible that Velox’s former friend had taught others the ways of the current then they thought, or possibly, and more likely, it was just a Pegasus who had abnormal control over weather. Either way, she had sent some ponies to Tartarus to double check the grounded pony was still there, which he was. Though he refused to speak if he had indeed taught anypony else his ways.

With all of this going on now Luna now had to sit with her sister in the counsel room explaining why there was going to be a curfew set in place, much to the bickering of the nobles.

“This is outrageous just because some individuals are getting hunted down doesn’t mean it should affect all of us.” One noble with a monocle said to the others.

“I agree.” came the voice of a nasally mare. “We should be able to go out any time we wish in defiance of this lower life that preys on others.” The weirdest thing was Luna felt that opinion wasn’t exactly wrong, if just not worded right.

A scoff was heard next. “Why should we even care if this killer is taking down minor nobles and random ponies, maybe we should in fact congratulate him on weeding out the riffraff?”

A moment of silence ran through the room, not only because of the insanely stupid thing that noble just said, but because the glare coming off of the Princess of the sun should have melted him. Quickly excusing himself he departed from the room in haste after realizing the huge Faux Pas he had committed. There was hope in Luna’s heart that the scum of a pony would move out of Canterlot after that display. A pony could dream couldn’t they? The discussion continued for another hour with only one other pony leaving and its cause Blueblood got bored he said.

“Then it is decided.” Celestia said tapping her gavel to its home on her desk. “A curfew will be set into place and only a pass from myself or Luna is given to ponies allowed to wave that restriction but only if a reasonable excuse is given.”

The dark blue Alicorn groaned internally as now there would be many nobles clamoring for a pass that she would have to hear their ‘sob’ stories over. In the end though she would doubt she would give more than a dozen or so to anypony not on active duty at night. Luna was so caught up in her musings of what a ‘good’ story might be to give out a pass that it took Celestia a second call of her name to get her back to reality.

“Oh we are sorry sister, what is it thou wished?” Luna spoke gently seeing they were alone. Her sister only giggled and looked at her with playful eyes before the younger sister rolled her eyes and smiled. “I am sorry sister, what is it you wanted?”

“I don’t know why you keep insisting you talk like that sister dear.” The sun raiser asked of her. “You speak modern Equish fluently now and don’t need to keep up the act.”

Throwing her mane back dramatically in a show that Rarity herself would find masterful the Alicorn of the night smirked and remarked. “I do have a reputation to maintain and will slowly show my subjects of my progress to show that anypony can improve themselves with time as long as they keep trying.” Slowly looking over to her sister she giggled and went to nuzzle her “Besides it is fun.”

Giving out a giggle from behind her hoof before returning the nuzzle Celestia stretched out and asked her sister. “Have you read the latest translation of our father’s book?” After giving her sister a nod the subject continued. “I find it rather amusing that Premier let some of the others go look for Dreamer.”

“That is only because Clear asked him to let them. Though that didn’t stop him from being shocked that she went to join the others and speak out against it, not that it did any good.” Luna sighed and looked at her sister. “I know this tale is supposed to be what happened to the other Alicorns but I find myself excited each time we get another chapter. What is more I feel as if some kind of conclusion is about to happen, even though from what Sir Bright Star has stated that the book is only about halfway done maybe a bit more than that.”

She watched her older sister nod and seemed to think about her next words. “Indeed the fact that Hopeful Dreamer of hope is being searched for by Ardent Bravery of Courage, Clear Absolve of Forgiveness, Graceful Gift of Sacrifice, and Resolute Choice of Determination all of the Alicorn chosen that are the representative of the missing elements are all going worries me. I worry that the next chapter will state their downfall at the hooves of Dreamer and the remaining Alicorns will have to do something drastic.”

Luna had not considered that at all and had to ask the question on her mind. “What makes you think that sister?”

Giving a sigh as they both knew this from first hoof experience, something they didn’t like to do but was sometimes needed. “The winners write history my sister, and we only know of Magic, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, Loyalty, and Kindness. Where are the others, why are they missing, it is because their marks in time were removed from the history books no doubt.”

It made too much sense to disregard out of hoof and may indeed be what occurred. “Well I am not giving up, I am hoping for a happy ending.” There was a smile seen on her sister’s face before it was wiped away with the next thought that came from Luna’s mouth. “Though it does beg to question, if there are six physical manifestations of the elements, where are the other five? Or were the six elements created by the six Alicorns they represented as a tool or weapon?”

No answers were given to either Alicorn at that time but they both hoped the book held the answers to those questions.

The loud noise grew stronger and stronger slowly waking him up from his nap. More and more his head rose off the couch where he had fallen asleep wondering what the noise was only to find it coming from the door. Sighing and standing up took more time then he wished it would before he called out that he was coming.

Seeing it was day time he had no worries about the killer if it was him, even if it was what could, Lego have done to stop him. “Yes who is-mmph.”

Lego had only opened the door for a half second before his mouth was stuffed with a sweet sugary treat that he knew only came from one pony. “Hey there Waffles, I figured you might be a lazy bones of a pony so I got you that treat to help get you moving with lots of energy!”

The gray pony just rolled his eyes as other voices were heard calling to Pinkie Pie. “Gosh darn it Pinkie, give a pony some warning before you stuff things in their mouths, what if he choked?”

Pinkie gasped loudly. “Or spit it out in shock?!”

That got a laugh out of everypony present as Lego opened the door completely, the next gasp was from the ponies there seeing his current state. He had lost a lot of weight since he has last saw them for sure and his coloration was even more of the dull gray then last time but he didn’t think he looked that bad.

“Look I know I didn’t put on my face today but no need to look so shocked everypony, surely you seen Rarity without her makeup on.” His joke didn’t go over too well. “Would you all like to come in?” With a few nods he let them in and closed the door behind only to be stopped by a claw. “Ummm…what?”

The surprise in his voice came as the claw was attached to nothing, though a creature of mix matched parts and proportions reached out from behind him and took it only to screw it on his leg arm like it was machinery. “So sorry there, sometimes I just would lose my head if it wasn’t attached to my shoulders. I am just lucky Spike had to babysit the animals for Fluttershy or I couldn’t have come on this trip so easily to see wonderful Canterlot.” As if to demonstrate his head came off and he rolled it from one arm to another like a ball.

Whatever this thing was it had two mismatched horns, a single sharp tooth in his muzzle, a goatee like…well a goat, a claw off what looked like either a griffon or an eagle and the other being a lion or some other big cat, a cloven hoofed food and one with claws and was green. Not to mention the myriad of other things his body length itself was made of.

Something in his head was nagging at him, that he should know what and who this was yet for the life of him he couldn’t think of who- “Discord, be nice. Lego isn’t used to you yet and he is sick, take it easy on him ok?”

The voice of Fluttershy came and seemed to stop Discord in his tracks. Discord, the same chaotic avatar that wrecked havoc on Ponyville not even that long ago, the same one that was an evil ruler over ponies in the distant past, right there in his home.

“Hmm…neat.” Inside though, he was half shouting at himself that he should be worried, while the other half said that he should get some snacks for the tea he was going to have to make. “Anyways everypony…and…honestly not sure what you qualify as Discord but I think part of you is a pony so that counts for that, stay here and I will go make the tea.”

He went into the kitchen and was slowly getting the things he needed out onto the table to organize as his stove started to heat up and carefully setting the pot of water onto it only to drop it with a clang, or at least it would have if the pink party pony of Ponyville had not caught it when she did before setting it on the stove. “Lego, is everything ok? Twilight is saying you shouldn’t look this bad and that you should have stabilized. The doctors said you would so why do you look so bad?”

He wanted to lie, he wanted to joke it off and tell her that it was cause he was living a more scholarly life, he wanted to say anything but the truth. Sadly he had promised he wouldn’t lie to her anymore especially after that incident in the cave, even though he had let others lie for him.

“I have been letting others tell you a truth that doesn’t exist Pinkie. While it is not me lying they are lying for me.” He closed his eye before turning to look at her with the remaining one and spoke. “Truth is I am going to die Pinkie and soon if my declining health is a sign. Days, maybe weeks, but I won’t make another fall for sure. I doubt I will even make it half way through the summer.”

A gasp again rang out in the kitchen though this time not from the pink pony but the lavender one that came to see if she could help judging from the tea bags in her magic that had just fallen to the ground. “Wha-what? But I thought, I thought that the doctor said you were a Stable type and not a Choking type.”

Lego watched as tears were running down her face, a face he didn’t want to see cry ever and seeing them do so, made his own water in return. “Yeah, I asked the doctor only to tell the Princesses’ the full extent. I am a declining Choking type that uses up more mana then my body can now produce. I am going to die Twilight, I am sorry I didn’t tell you but-”

He never got to tell her why as she bolted out of the kitchen door and judging by the slam of his front door farther than that. Sitting at the kitchen table he let his tears flow, ones he thought he ran out of but found a fresh supply of when it concerned that particular mare. His other friends came in quickly to see what was up asking for an explanation to what happened. He had seen Pinkie look to him briefly before he nodded and decided to let her tell them what was discussed.

AJ spoke up first asking the question he knew she would ask. “Y-your lyin’ to us right pardner?” He only shook his head before he watched fresh tears burst from her eyes as well as she buried her head in Rarity’s neck.

“But, like there is a cure right, some kind of egghead treatment you can do to pull back right. It is not like you are giving up or something right?” Rainbow Dash always the brash one and fighter of the group asked with almost as tender a voice as Fluttershy might have spoke with.

Shaking his head he watched her eyes also get misty. “It is terminal Dash. There is no cure or treatment, it continues till the pony who has it can’t.”

For the second time that day a pony left his house in a rush, only this one went out a window instead to be followed rather quickly by her best friend and supposedly weak flyer.

Hearing the door again open and close and no longer seeing Rarity or AJ Lego sighed. “Pinkie, can you see to it that everypony is alright?” Giving a nod she left, her mane flatter then he had seen it in a long long time. He was not alone however as there was still one presence left. “I don’t suppose you could help me could you Discord?” He asked of the multipart being of chaos as if making a deal with a demon. Sadly he only received a pat on the back.

“Sorry old chap, while I can honestly say I have done some despicable things in my time, I have never killed anypony before. Chaos can’t really help here plus even if it could I don’t think your body could handle it in your condition.” Weirdly he expected the Draconequus to be sarcastic, rude, or even mean about it, but hearing the rather normal and strangely sympathetic voice he sighed again.

“You can’t blame me for trying.” Lego said with a defeated chuckle only to receive another pat on the back before Discord was just gone. “The most powerful forces of Equestria, Celestia, Luna, even Discord cannot help…this is really it isn’t it?”

The streets of Canterlot blurred from both the speed she was running at as well as her tears. She couldn’t believe what she heard, she just couldn’t. This had to have been some kind of mistake or lab error and she had to see The Princess right now to make her make the doctors rerun the tests. If not she would do them herself. “He was supposed to be a Stable type, he wasn’t supposed to die for saving us, he was supposed to continue being our friend, my friend, my…” she couldn’t get the rest out as the palace scenery, something she was always amazed at even when she practically lived there for her lessons, blurred by using muscle memory to find her way where she needed.

Two guards tried to block her way though she barely registered that they were teleported away in a purple hue before she burst open the throne room doors. “Princess, Princess please!”

The out of breath and tear streaked face of the most faithful student was cause enough for the solar sentinel to close day court and tell everypony to leave for the day. “What is wrong Twi-”

She never got anymore words out as she found herself comforting a crying unicorn. “Lego, Lego said, he said-”

Twilight could only sob not baring able to say it as she felt wings wrapping around her gently. Twilight wanted to hear her teacher say words of comfort, something to help, spill some kind of secret treatment to her that might work. She wanted to hear anything but what the Princess actually said.

“Twilight, I am so sorry.” The words cause the lavender mage to pull back and look up to her teacher, a mare just like herself as she too had tears in her eyes.

She had to ask, she had to have hope, she had to…to…to “The tests, are…are wrong right? They can’t be right if they said he is a declining type, please Princess tell me they are wrong!”

She watched as Celestia, Alicorn of the sun, swallowed down a lump in her throat as she spoke. “S-sometimes bad things happen to good ponies my student. Sometimes things that can’t be undone, things that…that…lead to them dying young. Lego is one example of a pony like that.” She could feel it. she could feel her heart breaking apart. “I have asked a specialist and she confirmed it herself. No matter what we wish, no matter what we want, Lego’s condition won’t leave. He is a declining type that only has a very small amount of precious time left.”

She doesn’t remember doing it, but she was later told by Celestia that she let out one of the most heart-rending cries she had ever heard. That was how her friends had found her, and they knew as well that Celestia had told them that there was nothing to be done just by the look and hopeless cries of their friend. They all knew then that Lego was going to die.