Nightshade

Nightshade decided that she would finally go to her favorite place once more: the ruined castle in the Everfree. She figured it would be quite a while before Lucky would be returning to Misty’s house anyway, since he had to fly all the way to Canterlot castle and back, even if he didn’t stay there long.

She wanted to experience the same feelings she used to have when she went on her treks into the forest; she wanted to see the place where the best flowers bloomed in the ruins of the old castle’s courtyard.

As she was arriving at the entrance into the forest, she pondered why it was that so many other ponies feared the Everfree. The explanation most gave was that it was unnatural or scary, but the only real difference she saw was that it was self-reliant. The weather worked on its own, the animals hunted and foraged for their own food, and even some of the plant life had a mind of its own.

Why does that merit the other ponies fears, though? They simply seemed to fear it because they didn’t fully understand it. Maybe the reason she had never feared it was that she had never understood her own life, so to fear what she didn’t understand was to fear herself.

The ponies in Ponyville never had to wonder if their harvests would be fruitful, or if it would be raining on the day they wanted to go out; they could just change the weather whenever they pleased to fit their needs. Her life had never been so simple.

Perhaps the few ponies that didn’t fear the Everfree were ponies like her: ponies that had no idea what was coming next for them. The forest reminded her of herself in a way, the way it had to care for and tend to itself, other than the handful of creatures that were brave enough to help it.

Self-reliance is a scary concept to those who haven’t experienced it. They can’t control things that are able to fend for themselves. Ponies fear what they have no control over, even if it isn’t out to hurt them. So, even though I could fend for myself physically, there was no substitute for having somepony to rely on emotionally. Because of that I grew bitter and lashed out, which only worsened the issue.

She could see the ruins of the castle over the treetops now. The sun appeared as if it were sitting directly atop the tallest turret, like some kind of beacon, for her. She shifted her saddlebags and slowed her pace slightly, wishing to enjoy her walk a bit longer.

The main difference between me and this forest is that this forest has left a mark on the world. Not only with because of all the history that’s held within the ruins, but because of the hundreds of ponies that live in fearful respect of the place, even though it rarely causes anypony any inconvenience or trouble. I have nothing like that to leave behind.

About the time she finished her thought she arrived in the clearing that held the castle ruins. The sun still seemed to sit atop the castle’s turret, and stray beams of sunlight were shining down onto the small area that housed most of the plant life that she had always come out here searching for.

She walked over to the spot and began looking among all the flowers, reciting their names, their effects, and what potions she used them for in her head. After looking around a bit, she plucked a large yellow flower which was shaped like a trumpet.

This ought to finish it up.

She opened her saddlebag and removed a few of her tools and a partially filled potion flask. Soon, she had prepared the trumpet flower and added it to the partial potion. She used a spell to increase the effects of the potion, which caused it to begin bubbling for a few moments before becoming still again.

Wrapping up her tools and setting them aside neatly, she took a seat in the patch of flowers, still levitating the potion beside her.

Be strong, Nightshade, for your friends. For Misty and Lucky.

She closed her eyes and quickly drew the potion to her open mouth, then swallowed the whole flask of liquid in an instant. There was hardly enough time for her to set the potion down before she began feeling it burn away at her insides. It was as if she had swallowed a vial of liquid fire.

The sudden onslaught of pain drug her to her knees. She didn’t want to fight it, but every instinct was telling her to try to stop the pain.

It should only be a few minutes more. You can be strong, just remember it’s to protect your friends.

“Hello? Nightshade are you out here?” a voice rang out near the edge of the clearing

Lucky?! What the hell are you doing here?

“Nightshade!” Lucky spotted her, and quickly flew over.

She was starting to mildly convulse at this point, so she knew there was no point in trying to make him leave.

“It’s t-too... late. P-poison,” Nightshade managed to tell him.

“But, you’ve got an antidote here in your bags? R-right? I’ll get it, don’t worry!” Lucky began searching wildly through her bags, but she hadn’t brought any other supplies.

“Stop,” she barely whispered, causing him to whip his head around and look at her, tears beginning to stream down his face, a look of pure desperation visible in his eyes.

Why is he even here? Wasn’t there some kind of emergency?

“Argh!” Nightshade howled out in pain. She didn’t have long left before the poison would shut down her vital organs.

This pain is unbearable, I don’t even care, I’m just glad... glad somepony is here with me...

Nightshade began trying to speak between deep breaths.

“Lucky... I’m... gl- gl-”

Seeing that she couldn’t manage to get the words out, Lucky moved over closer to her side and held her hoof in his.

“Don’t try to talk Nightshade.”

The pain and convulsions had stopped almost fully for Nightshade, and she could feel herself starting to lose consciousness.

“I was always your friend Nightshade... I’m not- I’m not like the others.”

Others... What is he talking... about...

Nightshade could see that Lucky’s face had drawn close to hers as her eyes fell shut.