Dwindling Light

March 23rd 2014, 1:38 P.M.

Location Unknown

Here I sit, hollow and alone. Devoid of thought and feeling. Lack of light in my soul and mind. Everything ripped away from me in an instant.

I tried standing up but my legs gave out as soon as I put any weight on them and fell to the ground, feeling nothing. I waited a couple minutes and tried again. With effort I was able to stand on my feet and stumble forwards towards the coffin.

“This was your fate all along.” Zeke's voice echoed through my head. “Open it Robert.” I let my hands rise underneath the lid but stopped as it cracked open. “See what your fate was Robert.” He pushed. With one final movement the coffin swung open.

I felt nothing for what I saw. “Now you know the truth.” Laying there in a black tuxedo was myself.

I stood there simply staring at my body, nothing came to me. No sadness, no anger, no hatred. Nothing. “Now you see why they’ve given up on you.”

I reached out and laid my hand on my bodies heart. “ego velle revertetur ad tu unum die. Quod cum facio, ego velle faciet pacem cum eis. (I will return to you one day. When I do that, then I will be willing to make peace with them.)” I lifted my hand from his heart to mine and turned it as if locking something. “I swear this on my honor.”

I closed the lid to the coffin and turned around towards the funeral members. All of whom were still listening to the preacher. Michael had received the necklace from me and I clenched mine. Briefly I saw a bright yellow light come from his clenched hand that seemed to surprise the both of us as mine flashed as well. I looked down to my necklace finding that I now had a wolf pendant present on it, confusing me. I shook it off as my emptiness returned to me.

I turned and started walking down the path, further into the graveyard and away from the sad scene. I heard something start walking behind me, I ignored it as it was probably someone walking among the gravestones to find a loved one. “Wait Robert.” a feminine voice said as my body froze up.

I turned around to see Luna standing in front of me with a sorrowful expression. She flinched as she saw my face, no doubt it was broken. I looked at her with soulless eyes that lost all light that they had not even an hour ago. I mouthed something but no words came out as I put my hood up and started walking again.

“Robert, we are sorry.” Luna said as she continued to follow me. I shook my head. “Those words you spoke, were they true?” I turned to her and tried to give a smile but when I couldn’t I decided to answer.

“Anything I speak or write rings true to what I feel Princess Luna.” I said emotionless.

“We thought you-”

“What you think and who I am are two polar opposites Luna.” I stated coldly as I turned and started walking again.

“Sorry. We did not mean to offend you.” She stated.

I shook my head. “I am as well. It’s just…” I stopped as my leg gave out but I was quickly steadied by Luna as she stood next to me with a worried expression. “Thank you.”

“All my life, I dedicated my time to making everybody happy. To giving everybody a reason to keep being happy even in situations like this. I know I’m not dead because I am alive in Equestria, what’s more is that you’re here as well proving without a doubt I’m alive.” I explained.

I stopped underneath a tree and sat down on the bench, Luna sitting next to the bench. “That language you spoke, what was it?” she asked.

“It was Latin, a long dead language of our world. I don’t know much Latin, only some phrases and other bits and pieces.” I pointed out.

“Sounds much like old Equestrian.” She stated as I let out a small laugh.

“I wouldn’t doubt that considering modern Equestrian is modern English here.”

“I do want to ask you something.” I looked over to her with a blank stare and raised my eyebrow. “Were those your final thoughts?” She asked.

“Both yes, and no. My final thoughts before I ‘died’ were of never seeing my family ever again. I always thought that when my time came, I would die happy but I can now see that I was wrong. The fact I’ll never be able to tell them about my secrets in person hurts because when they read them. I don’t think they will see me as their son or brother anymore.”

“All they will see me as is a liar, a monster, a demon. There’s a lot that they will read but nothing that they will understand.” I let the air sit between us for a while, waiting for a response but getting none. “I’m sorry Luna.”

“Tis alright Robert, I know exactly how you feel.”

“I know you do, but far better know this loneliness. Care to tell me where that loneliness comes from?” I turned towards her when I asked this, her flinching at the question.

She nodded her head. “Regret, loneliness, sadness, anger. All emotions I wallowed in while trapped in my own body.” She stopped and sighed before continuing. “I was known as Nightmare Moon. I was jealous of my sisters day and all the ponies that relished in its glow and slept during the night when the world was cast in the beautiful glow of my moon and starry night sky. It eventually led me to my prison within Nightmare Moon, swearing to bring upon an eternal night.”

“To defend the fair ponies of Equestria my sister, Celestia, locked us away on the moon for a thousand years. We were trapped within two prisons. We returned a few years ago, bringing with us an eternal night and trapping Celestia within the sun. Twas short lived as Twilight and her friends found the elements of Harmony and freed me from my prison inside the Nightmare and subsequently freeing Celestia from the sun.”

She visibly shook as she finished. I reached over and gave her a hug, feeling her tense up as I did so. When I pulled away she gave me a smile. “I must admit, hearing that from your point of view is sad.” I said without thinking.

“What do you mean by that?” She asked. I shook my head.

“I read the many tales, fables, myths, and legends of Equestria in a few of the books present in the library as well as Twilight's library that she lent me. I read about the mare in the moon,Nightmare Moon, as well.” I stated as I stood up.

“Sadly, that legend is a true one.” Luna said flattening her ears against her head and looking towards the ground. I walked over and placed a hand on her head and ruffled through her ethereal mane as she looked at me slightly annoyed.

I gave a small laugh. “Sorry Princess, used to doing that to people to comfort them slightly. I want you to know that even if everybody doesn’t see the beauty of your night, that I am far more alive at night and revel in the moments I get to bask in the glow of the moon. As long as I’m in Equestria know you have somebody standing by your side, even if we don’t get along at times.” I gave her a happy smile before turning around and walking down the path.

The gate at the end of the pathway turned into a blinding white light, causing me to shield my eyes. “This portal will return you back to consciousness Robert, and to what it may be worth I am sorry.” I heard Luna call from behind me. I turned and gave her a slight bow before walking through the blinding portal.

No matter the darkness I face, I will always find a light in a forever expanding abyss.