Redemption
Next day Kind Heart was slogging through the streets of Ponyville. These pretty houses, once holding welcoming ponies inside, now keep hateful and frustrated owners inside like cages. You can't look at a window without seeing a metallic bar. Nopony will say hello, nopony will even look at you - hunger drives them crazy.
But not it wasn't the surroundings that made Kind Heart think about his life. It was Twilight How did it come to be this way? Why does she trust him? He couldn't understand, and maybe never will. Some may call this idiotic, but even such a simple thing as a hug could change your life forever.
Kind Heart carefully walked around a big pile of mud in the center of the streets. As he continued his way, more and more piles of dirt and litter were standing in his way. This can't go on any longer, the town is literally drowning in its own trash.
Finally, Kind Heart reached the library. He came close to the door, but stopped for unknown reason, hesitating to come in. But, when he gathered all his strength, he opened the door and stepped inside.
"Twilight, are you here?" - he said loudly. Her smiling face appeared from the upper floor.
"Hello! How's it outside?" - she asked. Kind Heart just shook his head. "Oh, by Celestia. When will we find this stupid spear and catch that stupid Night Whisper?! Argh!"
She flew up and landed near him.
"Yes, I hope soon" - he said, and sat down on the couch. "Everything will be back to normal then. You will return to Canterlot, to rule over Equestria, your friends will visit you much more often, because they miss you, and I..I'll just return home" - Kind Heart said, looking at his things.
"Well..." - Twilight said, and sat down near him. "Do you really have to leave?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that it seems like you have little to no friends back home. And you sound like you really don't want to go back...um...I would really appreciate if you stay here. You became a good friend, you know. And being away doesn't really help friendship, right?"
"Right...Thank you, Twilight...I appreciate it." - he said, in a saddened voice.
"You may return home if you want, but sometimes...your home is where those you love are. Not where you were born"- she said awkwardly.
"Home...is where those you love are..." - he repeated silently.
"Oh, by Celestia! I didn't mean that you don't love your parents! Sorry, I didn't mean that, sometimes I can something stupid and never notice it" - she went on, but Kind Heart didn't listen. Your home is where those you love are. And right now, if he won't act, his home and those he loves will be gone.
"I need to go. I..I will be back soon. Don't wait for me if something happens" - he said, and went out of the library. Twilight felt horribly - how stupid can she be sometimes! Now he is probably angry with her. She shouted after him: "Wait! I said I'm sorry!"
He stopped and, after hesitating a few moments, shouted back: "No, it's all right. Everything you said is true. I just...need to set something right". He continued down his path. Twilight was confused about all this, she really wanted to follow him, but she figured that that would not be very nice. What if he has some important personal things to take care of? In any case, she decided to stay at home.
The lighting pierced the darkened sky. The clouds were gigantic and dark - the storm was coming. Kind Heart was rushing through the streets, looking as the ponies gathered together in groups. They sounded angry, some of them even openly called out the guards and Twilight.
"There ain't no killer! Our 'Beloved' Princess is just playing us for fools! Made Ponyville her private country!" - a big earth pony shouted.
"Yeah, enough of this! We're not taking this crap anymore! The murder, the blockade - all seems too convenient! She just set it all up!" - another pony rose his voice. More and more ponies joined this cacophony of hatred and desperation.
The crowd grew bigger and bigger. Then, somepony grabbed a torch...
Kind Heart rushed away, as this gigantic avalanche of angered ponies went to the library. He knew what needs to be done. There is no other way!
Twilight threw the coach at the door, blocking it. The angry crowd was storming the library, ramming the door. She heard screams of anger and demands to come out. The ground was shaking, and the walls were trembling. Twilight screamed at them to stop, ordering, asking, begging - nothing helped. This horde was out for her blood.
Suddenly, it all stopped. Then Twilight felt the temperature rising. Her worst fears have come true, as somepony has set the library ablaze in order to smoke her out. Twilight started to gather as many books as she could grab into one pile. Then she torn the curtains from the windows and wrapped the books in them. She ran upstairs, and got to the balcony. The view of hundreds of ponies surrounding her was scary. She didn't have time to think about it, as the tree, in which the library was located, started to collapse.
Twilight gathered all her strength, as she flew up in the air, holding this big improvised bag of books with her magic. She, of course, expected disorder in town after she declared the lockdown, but she didn't expect them to try to murder her, even going so far as to burn the library down! She flew to the town hall, trying to find refuge there.
She landed on the balcony, threw the "bag", into the corner, and approached Mayor Mare.
"What is going on?!" - Twilight said furiously.
"I don't know! I'm not part of this, I swear" - Mayor replied, scared to death. Twilight looked at her, right into her eyes.
"Listen, are you with me, or not?"
"Of course, my princess! I'm with you till the bitter end!"
"Let's hope the end won't be bitter" - Twilight replied and started pondering what to do next. Then, in the distance, she saw Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, flying towards the crowd. Twilight ran to the balcony.
"Dash! Fluttershy! I'm here!" - she shouted as loud as she could. They heard her, and quickly rushed towards the building
As they landed, Twilight saw that they were attacked too. Rainbow was covered in cuts and bruises, and Fluttershy had several of her feathers ripped out.
"By Celestia, they attacked you too?! Insane, this is INSANE!" - Twilight shouted.
"Whatever it is, we have to stop them! We can't hide in town hall forever!" - Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
"And what do you propose? Fight them! They are my subjects for Equestria's sake!"
"Maybe you could...order them to stand down?" - Fluttershy's weak voice reached Twilight's ears.
"I would have tried if they haven't tried to burn down the library with me. This mess is out of control!"
"Where is Rarity, Pinky and Applejack?! What if these maniacs got to them?!" - Rainbow Dash shouted, but in a few moments realizing that she just called her neighbors and friends maniacs.
"I hope they're all right. We can try to find them, but we risk luring this crowd to them, putting them in even more danger.." - she said, and sighed. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't declared the lockdown, this wouldn't have happened. I'll give in to them. Then, they won't hurt you"
"That is the stupidest I ever heard! It's not your fault, the circumstances forced you to do it!"
The sky got darker and darker, and, eventually, raindrops started falling. All three looked down at the crowd. Like a raging sea, they were shouting and moving, demanding blood.
Suddenly, the crowd went silent and slowly started to move apart. In the distance, right behind them, a pony walked proudly through the formed passage. He was dressed in the dark cloak with hood, his face was hidden behind a mask, that was glowing devilishly green. Near him a big golden spear was floating.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?! Princess Twilight, hiding from her own subjects!" - he shouted arrogantly.
"And who are you supposed to be?" - a pony from the crowd asked. The stranger cast a glance at her, and she immediately backed away scared.
"Who am I? I...am...god!" - he screamed, as green magic field surrounded him, and his mask started glowing even more. Twilight figured that this mask was some kind of magic enhancer.
"I am Night Whisper, and you, gullible fools, were all pawns in my scheme!"
"Night Whisper! But..." - Rainbow Dash said and stammered for a second. "But why...is he here?"
"I don't know too, but it doesn't matter right now. He has the spear, and that is not good!" - Twilight responded.
"All this time my spies were hiding amongst you! Keeping this beautiful weapon safe! The only weapon capable of killing a Princess!" - Night Whisper shouted at the top of his lungs. "All this lockdown was to prevent the spear from going to Canterlot, straight into Celestia's heart!"
"So, Twilight tried to... protect us?!" - one of the crowd asked.
"Exactly! But you were too stupid of a herd to figure it out. Now, my weapon is assembled, and she is going to DIE!"
"Yeah?! We'll see about that!" - Twilight shouted as she landed right against him.
"Yes, we will! Prepare to face your demise, Princess!" - Night Whisper shouted as he used magic to fence off him and Twilight from everypony else, turning this fight into a duel.
The weather broke out in a massive rain, as lightings pierced the sky, and rain was falling harder than ever. As Twilight looked into the eyes of her enemy, she couldn't understand - why? Why did he reveal himself? Hadn't he shown up, the crowd would have torn her apart, and he would have succeeded. Maybe it was just his pride, maybe he wanted to personally kill her.
"Meet your maker!" - Night Whisper shrieked and threw the spear right at her. Twilight easily dodged it and caught the spear with telekinesis. She then proceeded to stick the spear into the ground. Night Whisper let out a deafening scream and unleashed a shockwave. The dirt and the pieces of mud flew into every side. Twilight quickly created a shield, and the wave faded into nothing upon impact. The power behind Night Whisper's spells was surprisingly low. Even a beginner could counter that attack. Twilight decided to seize the opportunity and fired magic missile at him. Night Whisper didn't even try to dodge, he just let the attack hit him. He flew back a couple meters and landed into a puddle of dirt.
"Heh, beginner's luck!" - he said, rising up. "Next time, it won't be that easy!"
He jumped in the air, glowing green, then fired a beam attack at her. The raindrops that were unfortunate to be in the way of the beam, were evaporated immediately. Twilight smiled, as she conjured a mirror shield, that deflected the beam right back at Night Whisper. He barely managed to dodge it.
"Hah, you got lucky!" - he screamed as he tried to cast another beam attack, but something went wrong and it backfired, as several little beams flew out of his horn and struck him instead. He fell back on the ground, smearing his hood in dirt.
This started to get weird. Night Whisper, the mastermind behind such a convoluted scheme, the pony responsible for deaths of hundreds back in his age, who is also UNDEAD, couldn't cast even the most simple attack spell.
"Ugh, I'm...just getting..started!" - he said, getting up and staggering.
"Too bad, because I'm done with you!" - Twilight shouted as she flew towards him, imbuing herself with energy to enhance the damage. The result was well expected - she crashed right into him, as they both flew through a couple of buildings, destroying lots of furniture. As they flew out of the last building and fell on the ground, Twilight couldn't help but wonder, what Night Whisper hoped to accomplish by attacking her.
The rain became even stronger, and wind was blowing furiously. Night Whisper barely managed to stand up.
"Oh, you're done...now! Got...you..where I wanted...ghah!"- he mumbled, as he slipped on the wet dirt and fell down. The mask fell from his face, and Twilight quickly grabbed and tossed it aside.
"No more games, Night Whisper! You're done!" - she shouted menacingly.
"...Good..." - he replied as he got up, and pulled the hood away. Twilight's expression changed in seconds from triumphant to shocked, and her heart stood still. Before her stood Kind Heart.
"You will not understand, I know. Right now, you have every right to hate me. You have every right to want my death. But right now, before you deliver the final blow, listen. Listen this one last time" - he said in a quiet voice.
"I went to Canterlot because I wanted to prove myself to my father. I wanted to become Celestia's student.." - he said, as Twilight backed away in shock.
"I dedicated all my life to studies...I spent nights and days studying. I was noticed, and my hour of glory was close. But then came the day when you tried to apply for the magical school. I was back there, watching. I was just interested. And then, that...thing..happened. You shown your true power, great and dangerous, that only Celestia was able control. That day, she took you as her student, that day I watched my dreams and life getting demolished. I was standing back there, I saw everything with my very eyes, and yet, I could not believe! I thought it was all a bad dream, that I can wake up at any moment. But, it was true. You became her student. And I was left in the shade. Ashamed, I hopped on the closest carriage and ran back home"- he stopped for a bit, delving into painful memories.
"What do you think you're doing?! Returning here, bringing nothing to prove your adulthood! You've always been good at magic, but this time, this one freaking time, you failed, like a complete loser!" - Iron Hoof shouted at him. Kind Heart looked into his eyes, and saw only disapproval and anger. "You are a disgrace, a stain on our honor! Our whole family worked so hard to attain this status, and then you come in and do everything possible to ruin it!"
"Father, I tried, but..."
"How dare you call me like that, you worthless scum! I've got only one son left!" - his father screamed at him.
"But I.."- Kind Heart was unable to finish his speech as Iron Hoof hit him right in the face. As he fell down, he saw his mother's face - completely indifferent and cold, even somewhat approving of what was happening.
A pair of keys landed near him. "Here's the keys for your cell. Make yourself comfortable there. And don't you ever show your face in my house, or I will kill you" - his father said, and walked away.
"The rest of my life up until my arrival here was in that cage. In that cell, my crazed mind came up with an idea, that this wasn't my fault. I blamed you for everything back then, for taking 'my' place..What an idiot I was" - Kind Heart said. "I sold the remaining things I had to hire ponies to spy on you, to keep me informed. After a while of spying, I started developing a plan. The more and more you learned about friendship and made new friends, the more and more details I added to my plan. Finally, the pinnacle of my plan was supposed to be my Mind Master spell. It allowed me to put certain ideas into a mind of a pony. I am good at spell craft, but spell casting is not my thing. The Mind Master worked as intended, but those under its control would turn into living vegetables. That's what happened to that guard, and that builder" - he raised his head and closed his eyes, embracing the rain. "I saw nothing but my vengeance. I lived so long in that cell, nurturing and raising my hatred. After you became princess, I saw this an opportunity, to strike you down at the pinnacle of your glory. I sent the letter about High Chancellor's son visit, and arrived instead of my brother. Then, you know the rest. The plan was to set the ponies against you, make them arise, using this legend about Night Whisper. Everything went according to the plan... except one thing. I couldn't do it. I couldn't continue. I was blind all this time, but now I see the truth. You are not to blame for my failure of a life. Nopony is. I was wrong all this time. But the gears were turning, and now the only way to stop all of this is to show the end of an act. The hero defeats the villain. You must kill me, the villain, in order for you, the hero, to triumph. Otherwise, they will tear you apart"
Twilight was listening to all of this, and slowly realized that she didn't start to despise him or hate him. Though he did all of this, he...wasn't really to blame. He did what he thought was right. Even if it was wrong, nopony shown him the right way. She thought that it was partly her fault his life turned out like this. Now, she was grateful for the rain. As those drops fell on her face, they could hide her tears.
"Now, it's time to finish this"
"Wait! There must be another way! Nopony has to die!"
"No, Twilight. I have to die. I want to die. I just can't live with it, with what I did. I can't live with the thought that I destroyed the lives of so many, while thinking myself righteous. My father was right - I am a complete failure..." - he said, picking up the mask and putting it on his face. "Twilight...if you think such an idiot as I deserves redemption...put a daisy on my grave. Just one. I love these flowers"
"Noo... it can't end...like this!" - Twilight said, barely maintaining non-crying voice.
Kind Heart didn't answer and just started approaching her. Twilight gathered all her will, and used telekinesis to throw him back on their previous battlefield. She flew up into the air and followed. The rain was hiding her tears, which were dropping from her face. Why does it have to be like this?! Finally she felt the feeling that is so rare to feel...but now...it will end before it even began.
She landed near him, as Kind Heart grabbed the spear with his magic. Only now she noticed that it was an ordinary spear, colored gold.
"Let's finish this, Princess!" - he shouted as he rushed towards her. She easily evaded him, and he slipped on the mud and fell down dropping the spear. Twilight caught the spear with her magic, and stopped. This doesn't have to end this way. Kind Heart's vision is clouded by his guilt, but she can find a way. He can redeem himself, in eyes of the ponies and his own. Suddenly, she felt that Kind Heart telekinetically grabbed the spear as well. She tried to hold it, she tried to save him. But in his final hour, Kind Heart used all his strength to pull the spear towards him. Twilight lost control of it, and in a moment, she could only watch as the spear impaled him. This very moment Twilight regretted how things are. Everything must be different, not like this. This is not fair! She quickly ran towards him and kneeled down
"Fool! I could have saved you..." - she said, crying.
"Maybe...but... then I would bring even more shame. My whole life was pointless, I lived for nothing...I lived in a fake world, around false friends...That little time I spent here, I saw how the true family looks...I wouldn't dare to destroy it... But I've tried, and now...I've got what was coming to me.."
"Shut up! You didn't deserve this! No pony deserves such fate!" - she screamed. He turned his head and looked her into the eyes.
"I'm sorry...for hurting you...for hurting all of you... My only redemption...is death. Goodbye, Twily. I hope you will be happy..." - he said, slowly closing his eyes. Twilight couldn't stand, and hugged his body, screaming, asking him to stay alive. She felt his life leaving his body. She still screamed and begged, even after he stopped breathing. The whole world froze for her, and time stood still. Kind Heart was no more.
Iron Hoof was sitting on his throne, fidgeting worryingly. His head was hurting badly - countless of sleepless nights made themselves felt. Since the day the servant ,who used to bring Kind Heart his food, burst inside his room and shouted that he escaped, Iron Hoof never had a good sleep. He woke up the whole borderlands, warned every town and village. But through all this time he received no good news. Kind Heart disappeared without a trace.
Suddenly, his guard burst through the door, trying to tell him something. Iron Hoof rose up from his throne. How dares he enter without invitation. That would earn him 20 hits with a whip, no less!
The guard respired, and calmed down a bit.
"My liege..."
"What?! How allowed you to come in?! I don't remember issuing an order!" - Iron Hoof shouted angrily.
"Your liege, the princess is here!" - the soldier gasped. Iron Hoof froze in place.
"What princess?" - he asked, expecting no answer. But he got it.
"This princess!" - he heard an angry voice in front of him. Scared, the guard slowly went to the side, and Iron Hoof saw Princess Twilight Sparkle. He stood frozen for a second, then fell down on his knees.
"My Princess, I..I didn't expect you to arrive. It seems the message hasn't reached us yet.."
"I sent no message. This is an unofficial visit. Private matters!" - she said angrily, and Iron Hoof looked at her. She wasn't dressed like a royalty at all! No jewelry, no crown, nothing! Had you met her in the street, you wouldn't guess she's a Princess, unless she had both wings and a horn.
"Oh..then...what is it you wish to talk about?" - he said, rising from his knees.
"I'm here to talk about your son" - she said coldly, but in her voice he could recognize notes of sadness.
"Metal Mane? Is there something that he did?"
"No. Your younger son"
"...I don't know what you are talking about..." - Iron Hoof replied, hiding his eyes.
"..He was right then..." - Princess said, suddenly turning very sad. "He was honest..."
"What are you talking.."
"I know about your younger son, High Chancellor Iron Hoof. He escaped from your hold, seeking revenge. He set up an attack on the innocent ponies, used Mind Control on two more, including the attacked, and tried to turn the residents of Ponyville against me"
"Ah...my princess..I am...so sorry..." - Iron Hoof said stuttering. He couldn't believe his ears! This weakling had the GUTS to escape and threaten princess's life!
"Yes, you should be. Because he atoned for his crimes, and found redemption. But you have this ahead of you!" - Twilight Sparkle said, menacingly approaching him.
"What?..I...I.." - Iron Hoof mumbled as the words were stuck in his throat.
"He sacrificed himself to stop his own plan. His plan to exact his revenge and earn your respect, respect of his father. He abandoned the dream he was nurturing in soul for so long, because he had a heart. Something you definitely lack!" - she said and turned away.
Iron Hoof couldn't believe his ears. His son... sacrificed himself? To protect the Princess? He didn't even know that Kind Heart was capable of something like this. Sacrificing your own life is not a task for cowards.
"He died, so I may live. He said he died free, he said he had everything while being with us...But he was lying. He didn't have you beside him. When he needed help the most, you turned away and left him. You thought he was weak, indecisive. But he was far stronger that you. He found strength in his heart to fight his lust for revenge. And he won" - she said, closing her eyes. "I don't know much about his life...how he lived...but I know for certain, that it doesn't matter how powerful and strong you think you are...you will never be stronger than him"
Iron Hoof stood there, silent. The last remnants of his pride were gone.
"Right now, I wish I wasn't Twilight Sparkle. I wish I was somepony else, so I could punch you right in the face... But, since I am not somepony else, I give you a piece of advice - let go of your stupid pride. It hurts all those around you" - she said, and walked away. Guard proceeded to escort her back to her carriage.
Iron Hoof was standing in place, looking down the floor. He was broken, utterly destroyed. The one he rejected, the one he ignored, the one he never wanted to view as a son, the one he viewed as weak...turned out to be stronger than himself. Suddenly, Iron Hoof fell on the floor, as memories flooded his mind, tormenting him with horrible guilt. He never respected Kind Heart, never thought him strong enough. Unlike his brother, Kind Heart never was tough. He was never ready for true responsibility. When he was born, he didn't even arrive to meet his wife. he never visited him when he was a little foal, playing with White Shawl... When Singing Blade told him that White Shawl has to leave, he agreed without hesitation. Because he didn't care. When Kind Heart returned without accomplishing his goal, instead of helping him with it, he left him, abandoned him... Why didn't he help him? He did help Metal Mane...
Iron Hoof was lying on the floor, realizing, what a monster he was. When he came to power, he throught himself the greatest. So all those close to him must be the greatest. Including his family. Metal Mane was oppressed by his pride, his ambition to be surrounded by greatest. He wanted to make his son the greatest, even if it meant breaking him. Metal Mane withstood...Kind Heart couldn't. Just as he realized through what hell he made his sons go through, not for their own good, but for his ego...
He looked back on his throne. What a magnificent piece of furniture. It used to remind everypony of his strength and position. Iron Hoof unleashed a heart chilling scream as he engulfed the throne in magical field. This is the monument he built for himself, the monument he built for his own ego...It has to be destroyed! Everything in this bloody palace! The power he never felt before stirred in him, as Iron Hoof crushed his throne into dust. He then proceeded to break everything that was in his sight - coaches, vases, pictures. Everything reminded him of his pride, and he was disgusted. He looked down on the ground, and saw the red rug, decorated with golden threads, forming his insignia. Enraged, he picked up the damn rug and start tearing it apart into tiny bits. Only one thing was giving his pride a last chance to exist - his crown, the crown he ordered to forge him the day he came to power. He violently threw it on the ground, magically grabbed a piece of his throne, and smashed the golden masterpiece with it. With each crushing strike, the soft metal gave away and crimpled. The red and green rubies in it shattered into tiny pieces, and by the end they were nothing but dust.
The guard came in, and was horrified by the chaos that took over the room
"You Highness...are you all right?"
Iron Hoof struck one last time, and threw the rock away. He slowly turned to the guard and smiled.
"Yes, boy. I am all right. Could you please call for Metal Mane. I need to talk to him"
The guard was surprised and horrified at the same time. Iron Hoof just...ASKED him! He never even softened his voice, but right now, their fearsome leader was asking with a relaxed voice. The guard quickly ran to the barracks, where Metal Mane was living, as the commander of frontier guards.
Metal Mane was hurrying to the throne room. The news the guard brought were disturbing. His Highness gone mad? He was always of the cold mind, and just a few minutes ago he went insane? Nonsense! Metal Mane hurried up as the feeling of unrest was twirling within him.
He rushed inside the throne room to see it completely devastated. The rug was torn into ribbons, the decorative statues were smashed, and, worst of all, the throne, the prime symbol of father's glory, was turned into pile of rocks and dust. In the center of the room, his father was sitting. Beside him was lying a wrecked piece of gold, that was once his crown. Iron Hoof lifted his head, and looked right at his son.
"Your Highness, what happened? Are you all right?" - Metal Mane asked. Iron Hoof didn't reply, he just got up and started walking towards him. This scared Metal Mane. Is his father truly gone mad? Is he going to kill him?
Iron Hoof came really close to Metal Mane, looked right into his eyes...and hugged him. If Metal Mane was struck by the lightning, that wouldn't be a tenth of shock he felt. His father, Iron Hoof, the ruler of borderlands, heart made of metal...just hugged him, just like that. For nothing!
"Please...call me father. Just..father...simple as that"
"F..f...father. What happened?"- Iron Hoof released him, and Metal Mane looked right into his eyes. He saw tremendous sorrow and guilt in them, but, somewhere deep down, he saw happiness.
"I was told the truth...my son...Please, forgive me for everything that I wasn't to you! Forgive me for not being your father!"
"But, your...father...why do you say that?"
"Because true fathers care about their children...not about their ego. I am sorry, son, I brought you so much suffering"
"Please, father, tell me what happened!" - Metal Mane shouted, starting to get very worried.
"I..killed him...I killed your brother... He is dead...My son is dead, and that is my fault"
"Oh...no...Kind Heart..you fool" - Metal Mane whispered to himself, as he remembered releasing Kind Heart several months ago. He said he will recover his honor and bring honor. Metal Mane just wanted him to escape... but the poor fool still tried to get his revenge. And yet...he found his redemption.
"Metal Mane...I am a weak evil idiot. I understand if you never forgive me, but please...accept my title, and rule justly"
"Father, I hold no grudge against you...and I am not sure if I am ready..."
"You are! I know that for sure...I no longer want to be who I am...please... let me go...and take care of your mother..."
"Yes, father...I will" - Metal Mane said, as Iron Hoof walked away. Where is he going? Who knows. Metal Mane didn't try to stop him. Iron Hoof finally understood what he really was. He needed some time alone. Maybe, he will return, but now... they all need some time to gather their thoughts and think. Metal Mane smiled sorrowfully, saying his last farewell to his brother. Sometimes incredibly cynical, sometimes quite foolish...he found his true nature. May he find peace in the afterlife...
