Better off Alone

Ace:

I looked at Fluttershy and she made me grimace. He features were gruesome and horrid, something I wouldn’t be able to explain. Her black soulless eyes oozing a pitch-black smoke, her green irises were the only color in them. They looked at me what seemed like worry. All I could do is feel…I can’t say what exactly I felt. “Ace?”

“Please don’t say anything. Can we just sit here for a little bit?” I considered those voided eyes, they looked surprised. This creature I was looking at was not the Fluttershy I knew. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to do this. Honestly, I cared so much for Fluttershy, and seeing this was a bit much. This whole world was as if it was decaying around me and I was beginning to smell that as well. I had to hold back myself from gagging.

“Ace, is everything okay? You’re acting unlike yourself.” I had to chuckle, I didn’t know Fluttershy for long, yet she seems to know more about me than I do myself it seems. “What’s so funny?”

“You are not you Fluttershy.” I sighed as I bowed my head. I probably shouldn’t be telling her this. But then again, I’m not sure what to trust right now.

“What do you mean.”

“So the writer told you didn’t he?” I looked up and the black ooze that surrounded Fluttershy had seemed to separate from her. Freezing her in place.

“What are you?” I asked horrified.

“I am the thing that she fears…I suppose. I am herself she locks away. Rotting in the self-wallowing pit of self-pity. She thinks so low of herself, yet she has such potential; I mean look at the world around you. If it wasn’t for her, nothing here would exist. Granted nothing will exist, but I will.” The thing gleamed with a wicked grin.

“But why would she think so low of herself?”

“Everyone has something they wish to hide, something they wish was different. A Sider’s role in this world is to suffer. Because you mortals do not understand your place, your role in this world. You all sit idly by letting life kick you down. You pass up opportunities that could have changed your life for the better. This one could have been much happier if she just opened up and got out of that damn shell of hers…or should I say, if she didn’t lock me away.” The creature looked to be in pain, like remembering a bad memory.

“So, what is it that you want exactly?”

“To exist, what else? I just wanted to be in the world with her. Yet she pushed me away and abandoned me. I sat idly by wishing she would accept me. She knew of me and pushed me down, kept me in the dark. I am different from the others, I wish not to take control. I only wished to live her life with her, not create my own. For the life she had was one I sought after.”

“You tell a guy to do one thing and he kind of goes in a different direction.” I heard Ash’s voice coming from the door. He limped in holding a would over his chest, he slowly made his way to me while coughing up blood. What in the hell was going on?

“Are you okay?” I asked alarmed, he was bleeding bad. I rushed over and he slumped into me, he tried keeping himself up. But ultimately, he fell to the floor coughing up a big pool of blood.

“I’ve been worse.” He said with a sly chuckle.

”Writer.” The creature said with a low growl. Not like it was angry, I wasn’t sure how to describe it. More like it was…attracted to him.

“Wassup,” he said squinting at the creature.

“Are you going to fix this? She has done allot of damage.”

“Ya know, I wish my Sider was like you. Atom would be more helpful if he was like that. Helpful and what not.” Ash paused as he took a deep breath and stretched his limbs. Even while bleeding he must be…well Ash. “I’ll try my best, but I’ll need Ace’s help.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“Well I can say it’s a good thing you didn’t kiss her, that would have just burnt your face off. No offence Punk Rock, well sort of Punk Rock. Your kind of in a weird situation are you not?”

“You have no idea.” The thing sighed like it was relieved.

“I hope you understand the worlds state now Ace. You’re going to have to do something you really, really don’t want to do.” He looked at me with sincerity in his eyes. I could feel a large knot in my throat so all I could do was nod. “You’re going to have to kill me.”

“Ash! I don’t…I can’t!” He grabbed me with such force I wasn’t sure he can have at this point.

“You have to god damn it! We don’t have a choice, both worlds will die if you don’t!” He spat out blood trying not to let the pain get to him.

“Ash we will lose you…I don’t think I can do something like this.”

“Ace, please we don’t have a choice.”

“But what's going to happen to it all once you're gone, how are we going to handle moments like this…we’re going to need guidance.” I had tears in my eyes at this point.

“Trust me I don’t want to leave, it’s not going to be easy. I’ll still be watching just not exactly how you may think. I'll basically cease to exist…” He trailed off as if he didn’t want to think of it.

“How will we…”

“Ace, everything will be fine. You have Twilight and everyone else, they will all be there. Everything is going to be just fine, you all will be there for each other. I can promise you that.” With that he moved his hoof and showed what was ailing him. A blade what looked to be made from a red and black energy. His body went limp as he laid on the floor he looked dead already. “Take the blade out, with my blood you need to draw something.”

“Oh Celestia, please forgive me.” I grabbed the blade and purged it from Ashura’s chest. He grunted a little as it left his flesh.

“Have you ever had to stab yourself to stop a world from collapsing? I don’t suggest it.” He said chuckling, I wasn’t sure how to react. After he caught his breath he described the design to me and had me promise not to tell anyone else of it. “As you trace it out you need to plunge that blade deeper into me until it pierces my heart.”

“Why the hell is this gruesome!” I spat in disgust.

“Because this is a dark art that shouldn’t have to be used, now man up and kill me already. I’m not getting any younger and this stress is not helping my complexion.”

“Man, I have no idea what to say when you say that kind of shit.” He traced the design and plunged the dagger into Ashura’s flesh. Once I was done tracing it out I pushed down on it making it go deeper into his flesh. He gasped and grunted, trying not to scream. I could feel warm come over me, the area around me began to glow with a bright light.

“I’ll check ya later Ace.” Ash said before he and myself were engulfed in light.

~ ~ ~

Twilight Sparkle watched her friends from her balcony. Ace and Fluttershy were playing with her critters enjoying a sunny day. While Punk Rock sat by a nearby tree watching them, avoiding the sun like she usually did. It was so good to see them happy she thought, she turned her gaze to the other side of the town. She could see her sweet little town was just like usual, ponies going about their business.

Rainbow was trying to get Sky to race with her, but like usual she was calmly flying after Rainbow. Dash let out an aggravated sigh. It was good to see everyone enjoying the nice warm day. But something just didn’t feel right to her; she had a cold feeling on the back of her neck. Like as if someone was watching her, but she was alone today. Spike was out helping Rarity and Owlicious was asleep in his cage. He was after all nocturnal.

She shrugged off her feeling and went back inside. She tried to go back to her studies but, that itch just wouldn’t go away. It was like ice was on the back of her head. She decided that a hot beverage would solve her issue. She went to her kitchen and got out some tea. She reached for a box she was using to grabbing day in and day out. Except it wasn’t one she was expecting, “Raspberry tea? I don’t remember getting this.” She shrugged it off and decided it was as best as anything else. Once she had her water ready she opened the box and found a note.

Dear, Twilight

You will not remember me, but I will remember you; no matter what happens I will always watch over. You are my love, my flower, and night sky of stars. You are the love of my life and I wish to never see you in harm’s way. Damn this is cheesy.

But there is a danger that will be coming, and my influence will be fading from this world. This is a last attempt to keep any part of myself here, granted it won’t be much. But like a seed it may grow to what we may need. Hey that rhymed…I think. Oh, never mind that. You always did hate it when I got off topic.

I may not be there, and you may not remember me. I just wish there was something I could have done. Something I could have done better, to change what happened. Please watch over everyone, and be safe. Please tell Pinkie not to worry too much, she might go a little nuts. Just tell her it’ll be okay, maybe I don’t know. I never was one for writing letters. I love you Twilight.

~ Ash

She tried reading the letter again, but it was now a blank page. She stared at the piece of paper with glazed eyes. Not really thinking, but also trying to remember something. She felt like she forgot something, but she wasn’t sure what it was. Twilight let the paper fall to the ground as she prepped her Raspberry tea and returned to her studies.