It's Always Worth the Price. (2022)
Chapter 19: Full of Regret.
Previous Chapter Next ChapterAs I took my approach to the lonely pond; a smile overtook my expressions, as I thought of seeing my family. I was about to finally see them for the first time in close to a two month period; and I was filled with such joy, but then it happened.
A blast echoed around the dark tunnel; as I retrieved my new weapon, and gripped it tight with my right hand, the magic formed from my reserves, and were being channeled into the fuses of the gun. I held it up towards the entrance
of the cave, and waited. Whatever caused the explosion wanted to kill me; if I was going to die, I was going to be taking it with me.
"If I were you; I'd lower that gun." Called a voice, coming from inside of the tunnel.
"Reveal yourself, and I might consider it." I replied, as I swiveled around; searching for the noise' origin. A figure stepped into the dim orbs of light surrounding various spots. I turned the gun towards the movement in the room, and I could feel my heart lift in joy. I lowered my gun; but the sight sent my mind into confusion. "Wait, you're not supposed to be here. Why are you here, and aren't with them?" The figure was my father, Senior.
Senior's presence sent shivers down my wings, as he began walking through the room slowly. He held his hands together, behind his back; looking at the ground. He spoke, in a hushed tone,"Son, this is the Pond of Guidance. This is the only spot that connects Equestria, and our Earth. It got its name when the great; Star swirl the bearded, discovered it during the 'Pre-Classical Era'. He named it the Pond of Guidance; because he made this, his home." He explained staring at me.
"This is were he taught many guardians. The guardians used to be plentiful, and mighty; but during my time as one, a great war was held between the ponies of Equestria, and the gryphon kingdoms. We battled for many years; gaining, and losing lands, as the seasons passed. Day after day, Month after month, Year...after year. Once the war was over, and I was one of the last of my kind. Both human, and guardian. My brothers fell for a country that forgot them; I lived, and journeyed through life with this sense of guilt." He clenched his fists into a ball, with his eyes closed.
He opened his eyes, and stared into mine. "The guilt that I should have been killed too; but I continued to push through it. I continued to live for my fallen brothers, sisters, and for myself; and then I bore a son. Your mother lived on earth, as I resided inside Equestria. We met through the portal in a happy accident, and we loved each other. Two months passed with our visits, and your mother became pregnant, with you." He clenched his hands, as he looked to the floor.
"You were always meant to be my predecessor; and now you are, but something went wrong 27 years ago. While your mother visited back to earth, the portal shut. It wouldn't open, and it couldn't; no matter how much, and how long I tried. You were born on earth, but you were meant to be born here. The gods of this world, power much greater than Celestia's, and my own combined; found this troubling." He relaxed his palms, and looked saddened.
"In desperation; they created the one you know as Shadow Kin, to fill-in for your absence. He was made to replace you, but he couldn't find the missing piece to his half-soul. Without this piece; he couldn't exit the dream realm. Shadow was my son, I raised him through dreams. Loved him with all my heart, and he was the closest I could be; with you. When the gates closed, it put my mind through many challenges. The ponies I once called friends; the princesses, all of them...Not one, would raise a finger to help me; I begged Celestia to aid me, but was turned down." He yelled in anger.
"She believed that the old relic of the fortress should be preserved. She said that by chance; spells could break the wards placed on the portal that prevent dangerous forms from coming through; but never received the only answer I cared for. I felt rejected, and regretted ever setting foot inside of this land."
Surges of emotion were boiling inside my head. I felt angry; that my fate would have already been decided for me upon birth, and I was saddened from the love he felt for Shadow, and I. I could feel a single tear carve its way out of my tear duct, and leave an acidic feeling; as it slid down my cheek.
"Why are you even here, Senior! Why would you ask me to replace you; if you felt this way, in the very first place!?" I asked.
"I can tell that you are hurting from this. All these memories; not your own, but mine. I asked you, because I wanted to stay true to my path I'd chosen long ago; to make you a Guardian. Strong, like a Guardian. The only reason I chose to send you here; was to toughen you up, not for these confounded ponies! They do not deserve our protection, and I am here to end the continuation of the Guardians. I am here to close the portal, and if this is the only thing that connects our worlds together; it's closed. Guardians were many, but now only two remain. Once I close the portal, this land will be left to protect it's own." He exclaimed in a saddened tone.
"I am not betraying this land, nor my brothers. I have simply turned to protecting my beliefs; my life, my love, and my family. This land doesn't need the guardians anymore, peace has returned to this land; Power such as the Guardians, would eventually be thrown into oblivion. We should leave."
"You, and I both know that peace is only temporary. The Guardians are needed. When trouble rises; who else could, and would protect these lands? I will not back away from this, not without good reason." I replied to Senior.
The old guardian stepped into the pond, and sat down,"Son, whether you choose to come with me, or to stay; I am still closing the portal. Should you stay, you will be forever cut away from your mother Jenns, your little brother Nicky, and me; your father. Are you sure the residents of this world deserve to be protected? What have they done for you? What have they sacrificed for you? Their families? I've sacrificed my family, my life, my world! All to protect them!" Senior was in a rage; as he yelled to the top of his lungs, his face growing redder as he spoke.
I faced away from the fallen hero,"What have you ever done for me? You were never there. You never showed me how to live. I learned everything from my own experiences. I gave up my childhood; to protect my family, just to keep us going. I never made friends, because I was always working. You didn't sacrifice your family, you gave up on it."
"Don't you ever speak to your father that way; how dare you to decide what I sacrificed, or not! I never gave up on my family; they were taken away, from me!" He turned away from me, and looked into the pond.
"Taken? If you had any sense of family, then why weren't you with mom in the first place? Why weren't you on earth? Why do you feel this need to gain pity, from the son you never knew?" I could only gaze in his direction, as the anger muffled within my chest.
"..."
"Well?" I looked to the old man; bewildered,"Well, then? Answer me...Answer me!" I cried out.
Senior began to slowly edge himself into the waters of the pond, making ripples with his arrival. He lowered his body further down into the water. "I don't know...I don't know. I once thought that you; of all people, would see things the way I did. I was wrong, I suppose. Wasn't I?" He began to submerge his torso, and only his head was above water. With his mouth above water, he spoke,"I don't expect you to forgive me, but I love you son. I always will. This is goodbye." He sank his head; after his statement, and his body faded away. Once he disappeared, the pond began to empty rapidly.
I leapt into the pond, and tried to stop Senior; but I was already too late. The once charming portal disguised as a pond, now resembled my heart; empty.
I pounded on the empty stone crater floor, and cried out in anger; I could feel my insides filling with rage. Fire appeared around the room; but I could care less, I could never see my family again. My old life was lost. My world was gone. 'I' was gone. As the fire took hold of the room, I could feel my rage expand. I screamed to the gods loud, and fearsome; a cry that would make a demon cower, in fear.