Heart Of Light And Sorrow

This never got easier.

Morrigan groaned, pushing the changeling off of his sword. So many battles. So much blood. He felt like one fight mirrored the last, and those before that. He was forever in a loop of killing. Forever seeing emerald mix with red, like holly on a holly tree. Yet, there was nothing festive or joyous about the scent of death in the air.

Groaning further, he thrust his sword through the changeling’s heart, panting. This battle had been a long one, but they were victorious. Again. He allowed himself a meek smile. They had survived another round. Lived to fight another day.

He turned, looking at his men. There were 20 around him. Strange, he thought. There were so many now. He was certain more had fallen in the battle. “Cedar,” he called out. “We’re done here. Let us away for home once more.”

Home. He smiled softly at the word. Home was where Katrina was. Where his family, where Fiery was. He longed to return.

“I’m afraid we can’t, Morrigan.”

Morrigan turned to see Cedar there, his men behind him. All of them watched Morrigan with distrusting eyes. Morrigan backed up slightly, watching them all. They walked forward with him. “Cedar?...”

“Or, should I say, Changeling Scum?” Cedar charged.

“C-ceda-?!” Morrigan made no sound as the sword ran him through, slicing cleanly through his armor. He watched his blood fall to the ground, emerald. Watched his skin turn black in a green flame. He screamed in agony, not from the sword, but from what he had become. He was no better than the foes he had been killing all this time.

He was a monster.

“AH!” He sat up in bed, panting, his eyes wide. Beside him, his wife awoke, startled. Morrigan glanced at her. That’s right… He was home. It was just another nightmare. It wasn’t real. “K-Katrina…”

She sat up softly, her hair tumbling off her shoulder. “Morri… Changelings again?”

He nodded softly as she nuzzled him, taking a deep breath. “I’m afraid so… Accursed beings… They have no right to haunt my sleep like this…”

“Morri, it’ll be alright…” She gently kissed his cheek, smiling. “In the battles against them, thou hath served well.”

“Thou art correct… Yet those beasts still drive me to wake from my slumbers…” He groaned softly, rubbing his face.

Katrina hummed softly, rubbing his shoulders. He couldn’t help but smile at her. It hadn’t taken them long to get married. A year. A single year had passed, and here they were, together at last. Ponies had been surprised, and a little enraged in some cases, but a quick glare from Morrigan’s father stifled any signs of hatred towards the couple.

Morrigan kissed her, savoring it as he did each time. “Have I told thee just how much I love thee?”

Katrina chuckled softly, smiling. “How many times today, alone? Thou profess your love to me so oft’, one begins to wonder if a stallion could love a mare in any meaning other than our love.”

Morrigan’s smile grew. “Then allow me one more time today. I love thee, Katrina.”

“And I thou, Morrigan.” She giggled, blushing lightly.

Morrigan raised a soft eyebrow. She was blushing quite a bit lately – Almost as though she had caught a fever. “Art thou in good health, dear? Thine face is flushed crimson as of late…”

Katrina’s eyes widened and Morrigan could swear her cheeks became a far worse shade. “I-I…” She cleared her throat a tad bit timidly. “I’ll not lie to my husband…” She leaned forward softly, whispering into his ear.

The blush seemed to be contagious. Morrigan felt his own face flush red, and his heart beat a tad faster as he looked at her. “Katrina…”

She giggled again, blushing terribly bad. “I-It’s a tad bit embarrassing…”

Morrigan grinned. “Yet easily fixed~”

She gasped lightly. “Morrigan!” She hid her face in her mane slightly, her ears folding down in her embarrassment.

“I’ll not force that upon thee… But we are married, dear. It’s not like that would be a crime.” Morrigan chuckled softly, kissing her. She kissed him back, perhaps a tad more passionately than normal. He held the kiss, unconsciously moving himself atop her small frame.

T’was to be a good night.
*~*~*~

Morrigan hummed to himself the next morning, trotting through the village. Last night was still fresh in his mind. He couldn’t help but smile, sighing happily. He looked around at the village, glancing at the little fillies and colts running around.

While the children were enjoying themselves, Morrigan could still see sorrow in the town. A year was hardly enough time to get over such a great loss. Here and there, lonely women sat, talking. More often than not, they would talk with others who had lost their loved ones, seeking some comfort from those who had felt this before or were experiencing it now.

He kept walking, only realizing as he arrived where he had been headed – Fiery’s house. His old friend. They hadn’t truly spent time together in a few years. Last he had seen of the pegasus had been at he and Katrina’s wedding. He smiled and trotted up to the door.

However, as he went to knock on the door, it opened. Before him stood his friend… but not as he had known him.

Fiery had lost his flame.

His amber eyes no longer held spirit in them. They were deadened, as though he had seen more than someone his age needed. He was 20 now, yet his eyes looked older than time itself. He wore a dark grey cloak over his wing. He looked a tad bit surprised to see Morrigan there. “W-what…”

“Fiery?” Morrigan looked him over. He raised an eyebrow as he saw a suitcase by his hooves. “Art thou going on a trip?”

“Morrigan…” He sighed softly. “Yes, I’ll be leaving.”

“For how long?”

“Until…” He turned his head, sighing again. “Until forever, Morr. I’m not coming back.”

“W-what?” Morrigan took a step back as Fiery walked out with the suitcase. “What dost thou mean? Why?”

“I must leave. You’ll n’er see me again, Morrigan.” Morrigan noted that his speech had changed with his eyes. Fiery sighed, listing the suitcase onto his back.

“But, why Fiery? Why art thou leaving? We’ve lived here all our lives! Why now, of all times?” His friend didn’t respond. He simply kept walking down the road. Morrigan followed him, grabbing his hoof. “Fiery, ple-“

“MY NAME IS ICARUS.” Morrigan recoiled as his friend turned. Morrigan’s eyes widened as he didn’t see his friend in those eyes anymore. He saw blood. He saw the changelings and their evil tactics, he saw weeping mares and children, he saw Icarus with flaming wings, falling from the sun – He saw his friend, lost and alone, and him being nowhere to save him. The knight had failed to save the innocent.

“Icarus… I…”

His friend sighed, turning his head away. Morrigan could tell he was crying. “You know my powers, Morrigan? How trails of fire follow my flight paths, how my wings almost seem to burn?” Morrigan nodded. Fiery moved his cloak aside, revealing his burnt wings. “Seems the flames caught up with me. Anytime I try and fly now, if I try to fly too high…” He shut his eyes tightly, letting his cloak flutter back into place.

Morrigan watched his friend, sighing. “Thou…” He shut his eyes tightly. “YOU’VE not answered me yet.” His friend looked up as he changed his speech pattern. Morrigan sighed. “I’ve stolen thy attention at last… Fiery, Icarus, whoever thou hast chosen to be – Listen to me. Thou hath and shall always be my friend. Please, tell me why thou art leaving. Tell me why thou must away…”

“You would never understand, Morr…” Sighing, Icarus turned to the road ahead. “I’m sorry, Morr… But, my mother was right, all those times. This village isn’t safe. Not for anypony. We’re on the brink of a war with beasts from the Outer lands. We’ve lost a lot of good men… The kingdom has stopped providing for us…” He hanged his head lightly, shutting his eyes. “I’m sorry, Morrigan. But I’m not safe here. Not anymore.”

“Icarus, please. I swear to thee, I alone will stand and protect this village to my dying breath!”

“That won’t be enough, Morrigan!” Icarus shook his head, tears falling from his face. “Don’t you get it!? You’d be DEAD. You would leave Katrina on her own. What if she got pregnant?” Morrigan tensed up lightly. “What if she got pregnant, and you died because you were slain in battle? What do you think, Morrigan? Could you be me, watching her cry? Watching her foal cry for their father? Knowing I would never see my best friend again, only because he died?” Icarus shook his head, ignoring his tears. “I prefer this to be my choice. My way to go, y’know?”

“I…”

“Don’t say anything more, Morr. Just… Just take care of your family. I…” He turned back. He grinned through his tears. “Hope to see you again. Right, Morr?”

Morrigan nodded, his own tears rising to his eyes. “Right, Fiery.”

Icarus smiled and turned back to the road. He trotted along with his suitcase. As he reached the hill, he turned back only once to see his friend there. They waved to each other, for the last time.

“Goodbye…”