Bliss in Darkness

First Impressions

A hoof to the face is a surprising way to wake up from what was essentially a three day, bitch-induced coma. There was now blood trickling down my face as I tried to choke out my first real words in days. There I was laying on the floor of the great hall, getting the absolute shit beaten out of me. They were making it very hard to change my outlook on life.

"Tell us how to fix her! NOW!" Shouted a pony with a vibrant rainbow mane.

"What... did I... do?" I choked out between coughs. If they wanted answers, they were sure making it hard to get them.

"The Princesses! They are dying! You touched them, and then their veins went black and... I don't know just help them.." This time it was a purple pony that spoke, trying not to lose the tears that were welling in her large violet eyes. She had a horn on top her head, so I guess I should call her a unicorn. This world was becoming more strange by the second. Trying desperately to contain my anger, and choosing my words very carefully, I answered.

"I have been locked inside my own mind for three days now. The one called Nightmare Moon possessed my body. I have no idea what's been going on, so ease up on me would you?"

The purple unicorn began to cry. Obviously she had a strong attachment to these 'Princesses' and it would make a great first impression if I could help them out. It was my powers that brought this on them, so I guess it was indirectly my fault. Although, taking a mind erase potion shouldn't have brought me to this place, so I didn't quite know who to blame.

"Hold on... if you promise to stop beating me I might be able to help them." I said knowing what I'd have to do. For the first time in my life, I was going to try to use my powers to heal another using my life as the siphon. I had no idea if it worked that way, but if anything was going to make me welcome here it would be saving the lives of the royalty.

Once it was understood that the rainbow one would cease the beatings, I stood up. The six ponies all gasped as they did not expect I would stand up a full four feet taller than they were. This was likely the first time they had seen me up close, and not battling the princesses. I'd probably be a bit intimidated too, especially considering I had the power of life and death coursing through my tainted veins.

I approached the first of the unconscious unicorns... wait, they had wings too? Pegacorn? Either way, I approached the first one with caution, the recent beating fresh in my mind. If I wanted to, I could have probably taken out all six of these ponies and eaten their hearts as a testament to my evil vampirous nature, but that would not help me in my recently acquired quest to become a good guy for once.

This pony was larger than the others. It was slightly bigger then I remember Nightmare Moon being, but she was much more graceful even as she neared deaths grasp. She was a blinding white, which my strange eyes did not appreciate. Her hair, or mane, was long and seemed to flow like water. It was all the colors I'd associate with spring, pink, purple, teal and emerald. It was beautiful in a way, but if I was going to save her I would have to stop gawking at her and get to work. I stretched my mind out easily, as I had now become accustomed to it. I felt the forest and many of the creatures within. I felt the life of the creature in front of me seeping away. With my new state of mind, I found this to be something beautiful. I could feel all the good things this world had to offer in this state. Too bad it wouldn't last... I reached out to as many animals as I could to lessen their suffering, and my own. I took barely noticeable fractions of their life force and almost doubled that inside me. I laid my hands on the princesses chest and pulsed forward with all my might. It hurt like hell, but I could feel it working. My life was going away, all focused into this magnificent creature before me. Physically it hurt, but inside I was joyous for doing something genuinely good with my power for once.

After I was done, I collapsed on the floor writhing in pain and exhaustion. My job was not finished however. I turned to the second princess who was the complete opposite of the one I just healed. She was smaller, though not by much. She was blue, and her mane flowed the same way. Instead of the colors of spring and day, she was adorned with the soothing colors of darkness. She looked like a peaceful version of Nightmare Moon. She was gorgeous. As I looked at her, something inside me burst and tears came to my eyes. She reminded me of Claire. I blinked them dry, and set my hands on her chest.

This time something went wrong. I was a little too generous, and I ended up giving her almost all my life. I desperately searched the jungle for something to drain but all the animals had fled from my painful grasp. I took some from the trees, but it was not enough. I collapsed to the floor adjacent to the one I had just saved. I got a look at her beautiful teal eyes opening as I closed mine forever.

***

It seemed fate was not done with me yet however, as I slowly began to feel the spark of life within me rekindle into a small but existent flame. I did not try to move just yet, I just laid there. Why rush myself? I had just done a lot of good and I felt fantastic. But then the pain reared its ugly head. My heart was beating in irregular patterns and I struggled to keep it beating. I must have had a hideous look on my face as I fought to stay alive. I heard the voices of those I had killed in my previous life. Claire being the most prevalent. I was caught in a nightmare, one that I was fighting to wake up from with all my dying might.

Then I felt a hand on my head. I opened my blurry eyes and found that it wasn't a hand, but a hoof. It was the first princess I had saved, the second right behind her. They were smiling. Once I saw the gratitude in their eyes I knew that all the pain was worth it. Again, the phrase 'Redemptio per adversitatem invenitur' drifted into my head. It seemed that it was my theme. Would there ever be a time I could live a normal life? Probably not, but at least now I was somewhat happy with myself at least. I closed my eyes again and let sleep take me once again, fighting the constant pain of death.

A sudden jolt of pain woke me from my slumber. I looked around the room, this time my eyes were functioning perfectly due to the night. I felt my strange pupils dilate to large spheres to allow the faintest traces of light to access my retina. My heart was beating properly, but there was still a constant ache coming from my extremities. It felt like the blood was only just returning to my feet and hands. I dearly hoped there wouldn't be an amputation required. The last thing I needed was to be handicapped in a strange world that I knew nothing about.

Speaking of knowing nothing, I decided to analyze my surroundings. Growing up as a child who had been born with his intestines on the outside of his body, I spent many days and nights in the hospital while they performed tests on me. It was because of this that I immediately recognized my surroundings as the inside of a hospital room. I knew I wasn't on earth anymore, but I couldn't quite place a finger on why everything looked the same in this hospital compared to those on earth. There were all the machines and equipment necessary to keep me alive. I wondered how it was possible for the ponies who seemed to be the dominant species on this planet to use these machines without hands. My thoughts were interrupted by a 'Hmph' coming from the far side of the room. I turned my gaze towards the sound and found that form it originated from. In the beautiful light of the moon, I saw the second princess I had saved. The one I nearly died for.

"Good, you are awake!" she said enthusiastically, her teal eyes glimmering in the night.

"Yeah, I am. What do you want?" I said, still partially asleep.

"Oh.. I uh.. heard that you almost died saving my life and I wanted to say thank you!" She said with a smile.

"Oh, it was no problem miss...?" I inquired, genuinely returning her smile. There was something about her that I couldn't quite identify. It was as if she could identify with me in a way no other could. It was like we were... connected somehow.

"Princess Luna." She stated officially, her head held high. "But you can just call me Luna." She added quietly.

"Well Luna I wish we could have met under better circumstances, but thank you for your concern. It brings me joy knowing I saved such a beautiful pony so don't feel guilty either. My pain was my choice and it brings me comfort knowing I did something honorable... for once..." I muttered the last part under my breath. I didn't want to reveal too much about me. The nature of my life before this world would likely scar the poor thing for life.

"Oh.. well.. Thank you! I should be going now... please enjoy your time in the hospital!" She said quickly, a blush appearing on her face. She had not been called beautiful by anypony for a very long time and she did not quite know how to deal with it.

"Well that was odd... but hey, what hasn't been odd the past few weeks?" I whispered aloud to myself.

"I'm sorry about my sisters brash actions... she hasn't had the opportunity to meet anypony that isn't afraid of her for quite some time." A voice said as the door opened and the first princess entered my room.

"Were you eavesdropping on me?!" I said, surprised that the royalty of this land would be spying on me.

"Luna wished to have a private audience with you, and the only way I would agree to that is if I could listen in. Don't take it personally, my sister has been through quite a lot and I don't want her to be hurt anymore."

"You keep mentioning Luna is hurt, and people are afraid of her. How is that possible? When she was talking to me she seemed sweet and kind..."

"You are not the only one that has been affected by the influence of Nightmare Moon... It was Luna herself that created it." These words made my jaw drop. When I saw Luna for the first time a wave of happiness and calm splashed over me. She was beautiful, and perfect to me. To think she could have created such a monstrosity was a stunning revelation.

"Wait.. you mean... what?" I said, unable to choose my words more carefully in front of royalty.

"A thousand years ago, Luna became jealous of me. The ponies that we loved and ruled over would frolic and play in my day, but sleep through her night. Hundreds of years of repressed jealousy and guilt twisted her into Nightmare Moon. I banished her to the moon when she tried to take me over. One thousand years later, she returned. It was only through the combined efforts of six ponies, the wielders of the Elements of Harmony, that she was defeated." She recited with a sigh, as if she has told the story hundreds of times

"So, Let me recap. Nightmare Moon is the embodiment of Luna's greed and jealousy? And those six crazy ponies who beat me within an inch of my life are the wielders of the Elements of Harmony? I might need to take a while to wrap my head around this..." I said, my mind swimming with thoughts. This was like something out of a cartoon. Elements of Harmony? Could they have come up with something more cheesy...

"I do not doubt that you are confused. It is only your first day awake for two weeks, please relax and we can talk more tomorrow." She said as she left and closed the door behind her.

“Wait! What’s your name?” I shouted.

“Princess Celestia.” I heard through the door.

'Two weeks?!!?' My mind exploded as the thought sunk in. ‘That revival really did a number on me. I guess it was worth it though. The rulers of the land seem to care for me, which means I can stay here.' I thought.

I really did want to stay. The people of this land, although ponies, seemed to be very intelligent and kind. A perfect place to start a new life. One free of the evil and death I was subject to on earth. I thought I could be happy here, and maybe fit in one day. I briefly stopped to think that my past would try to catch up with me, but when the time came I thought I would be ready for it. I hoped I would be ready for it...

I closed my eyes, thinking of my new life and the ponies I had saved two weeks ago. I was happy, I was content, and most of all, I was proud of myself. From now on, that was the way I wanted my life to be.

Authors Notes: There we go! A peaceful resolution. The bad guy is dead, the good guy is happy. Will Charlie's dark past catch up with him? What would a story be without conflict! Muahaha