The time in which certain events happen will be placed before hand, sort of like a short time skip between each important part. All of it is in Tobias's point of view.
Oh, and sorry for the wait. Please enjoy my final story.
Begin!
The Seventh Day
Part Two
8.17 AM – Celestia's Chambers.
"I love you."
Those three words, those three wonderful yet oh so terrible words. Oh how I wished I could ignore them, ignore the warmth that flooded my frail body as what she said, what they meant washed over me. I'd felt her love, all of it. I'd felt it fill me up to the brim and then overflow within, flooding not just on the inside but on the outside too.
How I wish I could just ignore this feeling, this distrust and…not quite hate, but close. How I wish I could just forget all that she did to wound me like she has, and only recall the good she's done for me, to me…but I can't can I, I'm just too fucking stubborn.
I loved her, LOVE her...but she betrayed me, poisoned me, and humiliated me. Almost every part of me wanted to forgive her, to understand her and stay with her for the rest of eternity. I saw her dream, the dream of a simple life, the dream of a wonderful, loving family. It's a dream, but it's a good dream. A dream I myself am not entirely against happening.
But I won't let it happen; I've played with staying and leaving, loving and hating this mare for what seems like forever. It's a story that refuses to conclude...but it will tonight. Because I'm going to fool this mare, I'm going to manipulate the manipulator with her own broken, twisted love for me. I don't know how yet, but I WILL find my way out of her reach…no matter the cost.
I looked up at her, crippled, practically dying in this bed as she too looks into my eyes, awaiting a reply. A reply that I knew she needed oh so desperately to hear from me…a reply I would use as the first step towards freedom.
"I love you too," I replied, truthfully, completely and totally truthfully. The way her eyes light up with utter joy, utter love and adoration show the first victory of that day, the seventh day of a hellish paradise.
Her kiss, long and drawn out is returned as such in turn. And with a little luck…removing any doubt from Celestia's mind that I don't want to stay.
A part of me does want to stay, a large part. But what I feel...I won't let blind me to what she's done. It's a tiny part of me that wants this, the rest is yelling at me to stay with her forever.
...I can't, I won't. It's all that's left of who I was before she poisoned all of me, body with liquid and soul with her love.
I will break free from her. I'm going to escape tonight. I'm going to flee into the dark with nothing, and somehow, someway...I'm going to escape Equestria and find a place so far out of Celestia's grasp that even if she finds me, there's nothing she could do to take me back. And maybe…somehow, I will find a way to ignore the terrible ache in my heart when I look and see her smile.
10.02 AM – Celestia's Chambers.
We had been cuddling together for near enough two hours, Celestia being on top of me the whole while…she was so warm, so light. Her incredibly large wings were splayed over my arms and legs, warming them with a remarkable comfort given they had pointy feathers. But her feathers were as soft as the rest of her; it really shouldn't have surprised me as much as it did.
Okay…it's time to move.
I turned my head slightly and looked at the mare atop me, a warm, happy smile on her beautiful face as she snored softly against my chin. It was almost enough to make me consider not waking her.
Almost.
But with a forced reflection on all she had done to hurt me, it was with only a moderate amount of effort that I carried through with my plan and woke her up…in a way that I knew would help towards my goal.
I gently extracted my right arm from her wing and placed it upon her back, rubbing it up and down in a way that could easily be realized as loving, as was the idea. But a step is more often than not followed by another, and so it was with reluctance that I leaned forward ever so slightly and kissed her on the lips. It didn't happen right away, but as a few seconds ticked on by I felt the co ruler's lips forming into a smile as she slowly kissed me back.
"Good morning honey," she whispered warmly, the sheer depth of love in her voice more than enough to make me smile back. Celestia's eyes soon became quite visible as she pulled back, lidded with all that I'd felt when I opened the second door in her mind. "I must say that I didn't expect such a lovely wake up call, but I must also say that it was more than welcome."
"I used to kiss you all the time when we woke up," I replied, grinning of my own accord as she leaned down and we kissed again.
"True," she admitted happily, shuffling as she repositioned herself into a little more comfortable position. "It just feels like an age since you kissed me with such open affection. It feels wonderful to have it again."
Looking at her almost ecstatic expression, a thought found its way into my mind, my plan. It was thought I almost disregarded instantly, thinking it far too revealing of my nigh desperate intention for her to trust me completely. But as I thought on it some more…I wondered if perhaps it was just enough of a step in the right direction to accelerate my plan a little.
And thus…I went forward and carried it out.
"Do you remember the morning after I'd tripped and banged my head against your throne?" I asked, a coy smile worming its way onto my face at the confusion on Celestia's.
"Yes, you worried me half to death when you didn't get up," she answered, an upset expression rapidly coming to pass. "Why would you ask me such a thing sweetie?"
"Well," I began, shifting myself ever so slightly as I continued. "Do you remember when I woke up the next morning with you practically on top of me, and you wouldn't stop fussing over me until I…did something?"
"What are you…" the way her frown morphed into an open smile was almost comical as she realized where I was going with my tale. "Well, yes I do. If I recall correctly then you soothed my fussing with a very forward…thrust."
"Best morning sex we'd ever had."
"Was it?"
"I think so."
"Hmm, care to change that?"
"Maybe I do."
The sultry grin on her face as she leaned down, the way she moved her body as it warmed up considerably, the way she manipulated her tail to touch and tease my own was far more than enough to…get me started, so to speak.
"Don't worry baby," she crooned lovingly, nibbling on a lobe ever so softly. "I'll be really gentle."
…
It was the definitely the best morning sex I could remember having.
11.13 AM – Celestia's Bathroom.
I took a long, deep breath as I fully relaxed against the tub, smiling happily as the perfectly warm water soothed my aching form.
This feels nice.
It was only with slight hesitation that I admit Celestia leaning against my chest made it turn from nice to pleasant. It was strange really, to see what to her subjects was an almost god-like figure, to see her lying against me so blissfully, as if without a single trouble to be had. Like…a girlfriend, a lover. For the first time in a while, I saw her as something other than a crazy ex, and something more like she once was to me.
It made me feel quite sad.
"You're troubled sweetie," Celestia said suddenly, her voice quiet yet no less warm than it usually was. She opened her eyes and looked up with concern etched all over her face. I could feel her right hoof stroking my thigh lovingly and the action…well it made me feel all kinds of everything. "You feel tense. What's the matter?"
Mind racing to find the right answer to placate her, I glanced down and wrapped my left arm around her, my hand stroking her stomach reassuringly.
"I guess I'm trying to figure out where to go from here," I replied, a half-truth being more than enough, or so I figured. "Everything's happened so fast and I'm not too sure what to do now."
Celestia smiled warmly and leaned up to kiss me chastely on the lips. "You stay with me, Tobias. You stay with me and we plan it out together."
"But I don't even have a job now," I pointed out, mind throwing out ideas and questions that would hopefully work in my favour. "I'm jobless, can barely walk and-"
"Shhh," Celestia nuzzled my neck and wrapped her tail around my leg in what I assumed was a comforting manner. "Stop worrying so much honey. You still have to heal before you move normally again, and you don't need a job Tobias, You never needed to pay any rent, both Luna and I have said this many times you know."
"I know," I admitted. "But I don't like living off someone else's charity, and I like working. It gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning; you know I don't like doing nothing Celestia."
Frowning slightly at the full use of her name for but a moment, Celestia pursed her lips and apparently contemplated on something or other for a few seconds, before smiling widely and glancing up at me with an almost hopeful expression on her face.
"Then you can work for me," she decided, nodding her head with finality, as if that was all that needed to be said. "I offered you this before remember?"
Oh yes…I remembered all right. What she said and what came of my refusal.
"Vaguely," I replied, drawling the word deliberately. "Something along the lines of carrying your paperwork and…"
"Looking gorgeous," she finished, a cheeky smirk on her muzzle. "Not something you ever really need to put any effort into doing."
"You flatter me," I chuckled, closing my eyes as a pang of hurt tremored through me.
"I try," the mare laughed softly, her barrel vibrating pleasantly against me. I smiled at the feeling, and then frowned as I fought to repress it…but with her sighing contently, with her expression, the light in her eyes more happy and bright then I could remember…
"Everything is going to be alright my love," she said, her voice confident, reassuring even. "Together we can do anything. And I'll always be here for you."
It was overwhelmingly difficult to accomplish.
12.10 PM – Celestia's Chambers.
After we'd both dried off, though most of it was done with Celestia's magical guidance, I found myself facing a problem in my plan. You see I needed to get out of Celestia's chambers in order for it to even start to work, but in that was the problem.
I needed to get out, Celestia on the other hand seemed quite content to cuddle with me for the rest of time. And thus I found myself struggling to figure out just how to get out, not just out of her chambers but also out of her sight.
And after struggling valiantly to figure something out for a good while, my brain finally decided to kick in and I actually managed to come up with something a little…clever.
"Cel?"
"Hmm?" the response was clear despite her muzzle being buried in my chest.
"I…never mind."
The deliberate longing in my tone was apparently more than enough to make her lift her head and look at me, with a rather bizarre mix of both curiosity and worry intermixed in her expression.
"What is it honey?" she asked, tilting her head as she did so…it was weirdly adorable.
"It doesn't matter," I dismissed, or tried to in any case. But as I knew, Celestia was extremely persistent when she wanted to know something. And when it was something to do with me, well…her urge was amplified.
She moved her head from my chest and leaned on her side, smiling at me in a way I'd only really seen her use on children and unhappy individuals, some of which she got in her day court. Ha…it was one of the things that made me fall completely in love with her to begin with.
The expression was welcoming, as if to say that you could trust her. Warm and kind, loving even…like a mother I suppose. I don't even know if she realized that she was doing it, because it made me feel bloody weird.
"Toby you can tell me anything, you know that," she said soothingly.
"I know," I reassured, making sure my tone was just the opposite. "I just…well I don't want to upset you is all."
Celestia smile persisted as she laughed softly, before she moved forward and…well, sort of nose booped my nose. "I might get sad sometimes baby, but you could never truly upset me. I promise you that."
I made sure to give a subtle show of hesitating, before eventually smiling back and nodding, conveying with all the skill I possessed that I trusted her.
"I want to get out of here today, maybe go and see Luna for a bit," I almost said Chrysalis instead of Luna, but remembered all too well just how cautious Celestia was around her, believing her to have more than friendly affection for me.
Celestia frowned at my request and bit her lip nervously, clearly unsure of whether or not to comply with it. And just when I felt the horrible wave of defeat wash over me, the frown and bit lip turned into a happy expression with a smile.
"Okay baby," she agreed, nodding as if to emphasize that fact. "I'll get a wheelchair sorted out for you and then we can go and see Luna, okay?"
The wheelchair bit wasn't really what I wanted. What I wanted was to go out on my own, but I guess doing so was a bit too farfetched given my frail body.
Don't think I didn't notice how you missed Chrissy out of your plan Cel.
I still couldn't understand why Celestia felt so threatened by the ex-Queen. Maybe Chrissy did like me as more than a friend but I didn't return those feelings, I just didn't. It wasn't anything to do with looks or personality, because to be honest I kinda found both of them really attractive.
But not attractive enough to tear me away from my once beloved Alicorn. No one could ever do that…except the mare herself. Not that she would ever understand either.
Forget the past Tobias, the future is all that matters now.
"Thanks Celly," I said, relieved as she sighed happily and nuzzled my neck. "I know you probably don't want to do this, but it means a lot to me that you are."
"I'm just worried about your health Toby," she replied, honesty surprisingly noticeable in her tone. "The poison has more or less worn off now, but you're still going to be very weak for a few weeks and I just don't like the idea of you doing any more than is healthy."
"I'll be fine Cel…you'll be there with me."
The way her face morphed from concerned to tearful and joyful was almost, if not beautiful. In fact…it was very beautiful, and I was worried by how easy it was for me to say those words…say and mean them. I didn't want her anywhere near me, hell I wouldn't touch her with a ten foot pole if I had a say in the matter.
But then why does this fucking plan hurt me so much?
Ignoring the doubt creeping up in me, I smiled at Celestia and gracefully accepted the loving smooch I was apparently being rewarded with for my brilliant compliment.
"You always did know just what to say honey," she all but purred tenderly. Her hoof was rubbing my right thigh absentmindedly as she spoke, her entire attention focused on staring into my eyes. "And you're right, I will be with you the entire time. I'll protect you, I'll…I'll keep you safe."
From who. The only one I need to be protected from is…
"I know," I replied, smiling as she got off me and trotted over to the door.
"Now don't go anywhere baby," she said, grinning coyly as she winked at me. "I'll be right back."
And with that said and done, she opened the door and left me completely alone, her hoofsteps slowly but steadily becoming quieter and quieter as she walked away.
"Fuck…"
I covered my face with my hands and sighed heavily into them, finally allowing my emotions to get the better of me. I felt like…like shit to be honest, not ill but simply as if was a piece of shit, doing what I was going to do.
The plan, leaving her…I hadn't figured it all out yet, but with each second that ticked on by I felt my resolve to do so waver. Already I could feel the urge to fess up what I was trying to do to Celestia, to hold myself to her, to bury my face in her fur and apologize for even thinking about it over and over and…
"Fuck…this isn't fair, I shouldn't feel like this." Whispering made it easier for me to say out loud, and I did need to say it out loud, thinking it only made me more mixed up. "I should hate her, I should WANT to do this…but the more I think about it the less I do. God…do I really love her so much? So much that I WANT to ignore all she did to me?"
Suddenly, a thought came to me from nowhere, bringing a shiver that wracked my body as I mulled it over.
"Or…is it more than love? This need, this…dependency, this…sympathy I've felt in the back of my mind. The urge to be with her all the time. Is this why I'm fighting my decision? Do I actually feel sorry for her?"
Another shiver came and went as I realized the truth of my realization.
"I do sympathize with her," I said, aghast at the understanding. "She was all alone for so long before I came, even Luna has only been here a short time and before that Celestia was left with nothing…she told me as much when I was in the hospital."
And as if a switch had been flipped, I remembered her words all that time ago.
I was alone once," she admitted softly. "For a thousand years I was alone, the only one of my kind in all of Equestria and it…hurt so much."
I blinked in surprise at her apparent confession. It was not that I knew nothing of her sister's banishment, for I did…but I had never truly taken Celestia's side of the banishment into account.
"You had your subjects," I rebuked, a part of me trying desperately to dismiss her honest understanding.
"True," she agreed. "But they weren't Alicorns Tobias. They were Ponies of the Earth, Sky and Spirit, and had only just recovered from the Discordian Age. To me they were not just my subjects, but also my children…and a child never truly understands the emotions of their parent, no matter how old and wise they may become."
She looked down at me as I lay in my bed…and for the first time I gazed into her eyes and really saw just how old she was.
No, not just old but tired…so tired.
"I was alone for a thousand years Tobias, do you not think that it ever occurred to me how easy it would be to take my own life?"
It hadn't at the time, not when I was too busy trying to take mine. But that loneliness, her loneliness and how she'd described it so easily, so…wearily. Thinking back on it now I could truly understand how my attempt to leave her alone again had caused her mind to snap, to go to a dark place and come up with the plan to both poison and cure me, all in the name of her love for me.
I couldn't help but wonder what she would do if my plan worked and I made it to a place out of her reach, where she could never touch me again, where…where we would never see each other again. Where we would never kiss, never smile at each other, never hold each other, never sleep together and feel so happy as we kept the other warm and safe.
Never again…
A lone drop of wetness trailed down my cheek, shocking me out of my thoughts. Unfortunately I was too late to realize the door being opened before I could wipe it away…and unfortunately it was the first thing she noticed as she came back in, with a wheelchair and some clothing floating alongside her in a golden aura.
"Hey sweetie, I've got your chair for you," she said, smiling widely as I turned to look at it, only for her smile to instantly twist into an expression of worry, her eyes shining with it. "Oh honey what's wrong?"
She placed the chair and clothing to one side and all but dashed over to me, encompassing me with her immensely large wings and pulling me close. She then…well, kinda licked the tear away. It felt weird yet also quite pleasant.
"I'm sorry Celly," I apologized hastily, the reasoning for the tear unknown to me too. "I didn't mean to worry you. I just…missed you."
My choice of wording was yet again apparently quite brilliant. Her eyes lidded and shone with happiness as she pulled me even closer, until my face was quite literally buried in the fur of her barrel.
"Please don't apologize Toby!" she said somewhat frantically, nuzzling my hair lovingly as her wings squeezed me gently. "It's my fault, I was too slow getting you something to wear. I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
The panic in her apologies was amazing in what it showed. She believed herself the reason behind my distress because I said I missed her. My being distressed was something that I knew she absolutely hated and would do anything to cure, but with HER being the reason behind it, in that moment she hated herself…and believed that I might hate her because of that too, thus the panic.
And before when I'd asked for the wheelchair, it was obvious that she really didn't want to comply. But when I felt defeated it must have shown on my face. My apparent distress made her change her mind instantly, because she really, truly wanted me to be happy at all times, and never to be upset because of her.
Did she think my hatred before was only anger talking? It makes sense if that's the case, but now…
Now, it didn't take me too long to realize how I could potentially use this to my advantage. Of course I'd have to be sparse when using it and subtle whenever I did do so, but still this was a win for the hour.
"It's okay," I soothed, rubbing her back comfortingly. "You're still my favourite mare, promise."
Yet again the right words just seemed to slip from my lips, causing the once panicked mare to calm and squeeze me softly. From the position I was in, I could just about hear…
"Love you…"
"Love you too," I mumbled, unable to move and say much more.
By the time I was let go, it was to a smile of utmost happiness. A smile…that made me feel so disgusting and wrong, which made my plan feel so disgusting…and wrong.
Why do I feel this way?
12.49 PM – Canterlot Castle (Dinning Area)
It didn't take very long for me to get dressed and then wheeled into the grand dining area. Celestia was smiling and making small talk the entire way, about how Luna would be so happy to see me, about how they had my favourite lunch (a vegetarian one mind you) being cooked to perfection as she spoke.
As the small talk continued and I once again noticed that Chrysalis was left out, I contemplated on doing something a little daring to advance my plan some. It was risky and potentially very dangerous, yet with all that in mind I still mentioned the ex-Queen that and noticed once more, another emotion aside from utter joy on Celestia's face.
Loathing.
"Is Chrysalis going to be there?" I asked curiously, internally debating on the use of getting a psychotic mare potentially riled up against keeping her passive and chipper.
"I imagine she would be, yes," she replied curtly. The smile was still ever present on her muzzle, but it was certainly forced if the jealous glint in her eyes were anything to go by. "Why do you ask?"
"Oh I've just missed her is all," I admitted, carefully mind you so as not to go overboard and make her suspicious at my reasoning. "It's been a long week and although you are a wonderful bit of company, I do miss talking to others…you know?"
She nodded but remained tight lipped, the forced smile not ever there anymore, a neutral expression replacing it. Her eyes were…cold and powerful, internally I winced at what could be a disastrous result of my wording.
If I was Chrysalis then I would be very afraid right now.
A few moments later I was wheeled into the dining area, instantly noticing two of my closest friends and smiling a true, happy smile at seeing them again. My smile however was nothing compared to the one on their faces as they spotted me, the both of them instantly leaving the table and dashing over swiftly.
"Tobias! Tis a joy to see you again!" Luna cried happily, the mare reaching over with her right wing and gripping my left arm with it gently. It was one of her outdated signs of affection, a friend using their wing or tail to grasp the other's hoof being to her the ultimate sign of friendly warmth.
"You too Luna," I replied, grasping the wing weakly and smiling somewhat wearily. "It's been an ordeal, but it's good to see you again."
She smiled and squeezed my arm once more before letting go and looking up at Celestia, who in turn was smiling at the scene warmly. "Hello Tia, I trust you remembered to leave your…clothing in your chambers this time, yes?"
Her clothing…does she mean that she actually walked around in that thing?
I'd thought that Celestia had spelled it to look different or something, but that she had actually kept it how it was was bizarre and surprising.
Celestia's face was only slightly flushed at the question and she did laugh along Luna…but the glint in her eyes, the intelligence…they told another story, a story of Celestia wearing them publicly and doing it with the knowledge of everyone remembering it.
But why…why would she do that?
I caught the smile and secretive wink as she looked down at me, those calculating eyes all but confirming another agenda to her accident.
"Tobias," a duel toned voice spoke my name, effectively quietening the laughter on the spot. She sounded angry, very, very angry. "Who did this to you? Do you know, do you remember?"
Looking at the once Queen's eyes with the knowledge I'd gained from Celestia's, I realized instantly just why she was so wary of the Changeling. The way she stood, the sheer concern and love in her eyes as she looked at my frail form with righteous anger…in that moment I found her more beautiful than I'd ever considered before.
And her question…how was I supposed to answer that? I knew who had poisoned me, she was right behind me. But I knew if I admitted to such that one of two things would happen.
Chrysalis would believe me and attack the solar monarch, most likely getting tossed around like a rag doll in the process. And with her word against the law the Changeling had no chance of winning any trial. I wouldn't even put it past Celestia to fucking execute her just to remove a supposed romantic rival. The ruler could weave a tale and make even her bloody sister believe it.
The other potential consequence would be that Chrysalis didn't believe me at all. And who knew what would happen after that. Would Celestia punish me for trying, or would she play along and recommend me professional help. I mean after all, how could the beloved, benevolent Princess be responsible for my poisoning. She loved me and would never do that, ever, ever, ever.
Basically either way, I was fucked and fucked hard.
And so with no choice but to lie…
"I don't know, I don't remember," I lied, hating myself more and more for my inaction. But I had no choice, I had to lie to protect her and me from Celestia…maybe in time I could prove Celestia to be what I knew her to be, but today was not that day. "I was eating and then…I don't know, I just collapsed."
Chrysalis was fucking staring right into my eyes the entire time I bullshitted my way through the explanation. I couldn't tell if she believed me or not, normally I'd say my emotions would've given me away but Celestia had already protected me from that.
And yet for a whole five seconds of silence something in the Changelings eyes told me she knew I was lying anyway. They narrowed and then for but a moment flashed in realization…but what she'd realized I did not know. I wasn't going to let myself hope for something that wasn't going to come true.
She moved closer and put a hoof on my knee, her eyes flashing once again as I tried to hide my fear…fear of Celestia all but frying her where she stood.
"I will punish the one who did this to you Toby," she vowed, the intensity in her gaze making my cheeks go red. "If it takes me the rest of my life, I will use all I have on the one responsible and I will kill them."
I couldn't even begin to formulate a response and thus simply nodded, reaching out and grasping the holed hoof. She smiled warmly at me, flashing her fangs and for a brief moment leaning over to nuzzle my cheek.
"I know," she whispered, so softly that even right next to my ear I had trouble hearing her. But once I did…once I understood what she'd said…
She squeezed my thigh gently and kissed my cheek, only moving back a second or so after moving before smiling up at Celestia and walking back over to her seat.
Know what? I thought frantically, staring at the mare as she sat down and took a sip from her cup. What does she know, she can't possibly…can she? Celestia's far too manipulative to be found out so easily, Chrysalis isn't even in her league…right?
I hated hope. When it was taken from you, you ended up feeling useless. But her whispering, her words…even with the deck so heavily stacked against me I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of that hated emotion.
I looked up at Celestia only to already find her gazing down at me, an expression of clear jealously right there in her eyes. But then it was gone and only the warm smile of Princess Celestia remained.
"Come honey," Celestia spoke suddenly, her voice smooth and silky. "Let's get some lunch down you shall we, you must be starving."
The rich and honeyed tone all but confirmed my suspicions. Something had gone wrong in Celestia's plans and she knew it too. Unfortunately the one that had caused it was also the one Celestia would have her eye on the most, She hadn't said it in her mind but it was still there, and the Changelings actions today had done nothing to cool her paranoia.
I knew in that one moment that Chrysalis was the only one I could trust here. I couldn't tell her what Celestia had done, not openly at least…but maybe, just maybe I could still find a way to explain my predicament. Maybe it wasn't so impossible that I could escape Canterlot and Celestia after all.
I could only hope that her feelings for me didn't get her hurt…or worse.
End of Part Two
It's all coming to a close now, with but one last chapter left. I had hoped to get everything done here but I just couldn't find a way to fit everything in the same part. The final hours of Tobias's story will happen and end…soon.
So here's to the final part, let's hope I can get it finished before Christmas eh?
Cya next time folks.
