Bliss in Darkness

Checkmate

The deep ocean teal of her stare was almost more than I could handle. It was becoming awkward. We had been locked in this state for far too long. One of us would have to speak soon. It was going to be me of course, but those eyes. They take me to a different place entirely, drowning me in the beautiful symphony that is the night.

"So you came to apologize and beg forgiveness, am I right?" I said in a dead serious, yet somehow joking manner.

"The Princess of the Night does not beg." She said simply, once again erecting her false power. I had to work faster, before she became too comfortable and balanced. I could not, however, just admit my feelings and let her win. Greater still, I could not let her lose interest and leave. I threw all my chips in on this gamble.

"Do you know why I brought you here?"

"Does it have anything to do with the fact that your heart yearns for me and you want to break me down and get me to admit it first? If so, then fine. I admit it." She said promptly and rehearsed. That sneaky mare. She beat me at my own little game I started. There was only one thing left that I could possibly do.

"You are quite cunning Luna. I am quite fond of that in a girl." I said as I walked around to her flank and gave it a little slap.

"Hey!" She yelped in surprise. I didn't reply. I knew she wanted it.

I circled around her and brought her face to mine. Those eyes. Those lips. That billowing soft mane. Everything was pulling me into her, slowly but surely like a vice made from the night sky. Our lips touched. Only this time, we were not intoxicated as we were previously. I was overjoyed and I had to work to contain a jump of excitement. Her face was so soft and beautiful. I felt her skin and... no... not skin.

It was then I realized something that put a bad taste in my mouth. She was a...pony. I had never really thought about it before then. Was this wrong? What would everypony think if they found out? Does this count as... bestiality? On Earth this would be a sick disgusting thing to do. Could I say the same for here? My mind again swam with unanswerable questions. The look of discomfort must have been evident on my face, as she broke the kiss.

"Is.. is something wrong?" She said, her beautiful yet alien eyes glistening in sadness.

"No I just... well... Where I come from romance between species is... well it's wrong. But I don't know here. On Earth, ponies are just mindless animals, incapable of speech and higher thought processes. Plus they are rather ugly. But you... I just don't know what to think." I said honestly. Was romance with a pony possible for me? Was it legal? So many questions poured into my mind like ice water on a hot day. It was a veritable brain freeze of thoughts that numbed my senses and made me weak in the knees.

Several seconds passed. I could not bring myself to look at her, for when I did it was sheer pain. Her face reflected the pain and anger my previous statement had just unleashed in her. For a brief moment, I thought she was going to turn around and buck me right in the face. I closed my eyes and prepared for the blow that never came. Instead her face turned to that of pure sadness as she choked back tears and opened her mouth to speak.

"Oh... I see. I... I should go..." She said as she took off. My heart exploded and my body flushed with adrenaline.

"No! Wait! Come back! I didn't... that wasn't!!" I shouted to no avail. I fell to my knees and cried tears of regret. My loving, caring and cautious heart shattered into tiny pieces and rearranged itself into a familiar pattern. The pattern of hate, anger, and revenge. I was powerless to stop my uncontrollable emotions, and something changed inside me that I had promised myself I would keep under control.

Using all my nocturnal might I shouted into the sky. A blood-rage boiling in my mind, shattering my resolve to stay calm. For the third time in my life, I lost control of my body. Good thing I wasn't in Ponyville. I opened my hand and struck the wall in an open-palm punch. Much to my astonishment, the wall cracked. I ran and charged a kick, striking the wall right where I had just punched. The wall gave way to my anger and blew out the other side, sending me along with it. I was not done, however.

More and more unanswerable questions filled my mind as I kicked and punched and cracked my way through the castle courtyard that had previously been my home. Why did I say that? What the hell is wrong with me? How could I hurt her like that. How could she just leave me here. I am a monster, so I guess I'll act like one.

I ran into the forest, throwing caution to the wind. My previously passive mind turned aggressive as I reached out into the heart of the forest. Manticores, cockatrices, diamond dogs, birds, trees, bushes and rodents all succumbed to my bloody anger. I ran for miles, following my instincts and my own augmented mind. I ran so fast, and with so much precision, I reached the center of the forest before sunrise. It was there in the center of the eternal forest, I balanced myself out.

Hate giving way to caution, anger giving way to passion, and sadness giving way to redemption, I returned to my normal state. I instantly felt wrong for my actions, and fell once more to the unforgiving ground. I looked at my hands bloody with the lives of innocent beings I had killed yet again. I really was a monster. I thought back to the events prior to meeting Luna at the edge of the forest. Twilight was right to expel me.

It was there I made my bed for the rest of the night, not even caring if some creature devoured me in my slumber. I was too weak with sorrow and self loathing to care. I turned onto my back and looked up at the sky, still dark with night, the beautiful moon coming closer and closer to completing its eternal arc across the sky.

'I can't stay here anymore... I have to go back to Earth. I've done far too much damage already.' I thought to myself.

'God dammit, don't be such a pussy. Your work here isn't finished, and besides things aren't as dramatic as you make them out to me.' I answered myself internally.

'I just called the one I love an animal. I'm not even sure if what I'm doing is right.'

'Who gives a flying fuck if it's right? These are our feelings Charlie. If we aren't accepted, then to hell with them. Besides, this world started as a show to teach the values of friendship. I'm pretty sure acceptance of others is one of the staples of this land.'

'But... but... you're right. I do love Luna. It might take awhile for me to feel comfortable being with a non-human lover physically...'

'Oh to hell with that, you know you have wanted a piece of that fine flank ever since you laid eyes on it.'

'Hey thats private information!'

'Look who you're talking to, dumbass!'

I snapped out of my mental conversation with myself. Feeling silly, and marginally insane, for talking to myself I decided to suck it up and take this blow like a man. There in the heart of the forest, I grew up. I stood with my head held high and started walking out of the forest. My first stop, Twilight sparkle.

***

As I made my way back through the forest, I couldn't help but notice all the dying animals and plants about the place. I felt much sorrow, and healed them all back to where they were. I spent most of their energy already, so a lot of it had to come directly from me. The pain was a fitting punishment, and served as an excellent reminder to think before I act. This whole thing could have been avoided if I had that internal conversation before speaking to Luna.

Thinking back to the fight I had with Twilight Sparkle earlier, I remembered what I did to calm down. I set my mind to an internal playlist and sung slowly and softly to myself, letting the lyrics flow through and change my emotions.

"Setting sun can't shine, now you're gone

Inside sleeping, my heart beating

You know that you tried to hide it

Couldn't you have said what you meant?"

I sung softly as I used more of my waning energy to restore the damage I had just caused. Barely able to walk, I limped and wheezed out of the courtyard once more. I felt a sense of pride and renewal since my internal conversation, and it showed as I walked with my head held high, despite the agonizing pain. I turned my gaze to the main castle building thinking back to the time of Nightmare Moon and all the pain she put me through. I was silently grateful, after all she gave me the key to my memory. I whispered a quick 'thank you' as I made my way over the castle wall, and into the forest beyond.

"Time heals, time congeals around us

Endless hours of wasted moments

Understanding, not demanding

Your eyes tell what you feel inside."

I sung as I contemplated the meaning of the words. Music has always been an inspiration to me, and I could find great inspiration in the words echoing from the minds of great lyricists such as Maynard James Keenan. I hummed the tune of the song when there was no words to sing and I felt a sense of calm wash over me as my pain subsided briefly.

"Setting sun can't shine, now you're gone

Inside sleeping, my heart weeping

You know that you tried to hide it

Shouldn't you have said what you meant?

You Lied."

'You Lied.'

'I know, its a great song huh?'

'No, I meant you lied to Luna. You don't care about her not being human. You were just scared of what others would think.'

'Well, that happens when you spend your whole life getting picked on...'

'Now is the time for the future, not the past. You said so yourself.'

'When?'

'Just now. Remember, I am you.'

I chuckled as I recited the last words and thought to myself their meaning. I sighed as I came to terms with my thoughts and returned completely to a state of balance and calm. I was at peace with myself again. Even more so than the last time this happened.

Using my mind's connection to the animals to guide me through the thick trees and bushes, I followed the forests natural aura back to where I had entered many hours before. My body ached and I looked like hell, but internally I felt better than I ever had. I looked up at the moon, which was now barely relinquishing its nightly reign to the sun.

"Hey Charlie, could you give us a hoof... er... a hand?" Came a certain bubbly pink pony’s voice from the direction of Fluttershy's cottage. I turned slightly to find a very odd situation taking place up the road from the humble abode. Applejack and Pinkie Pie were dragging Fluttershy through the street unceremoniously. I laughed, and walked over to lend a helping hoof. er.. hand.

***

"How could he say that to me! I am the Princess!..... I thought he loved me..." Luna cried as she floated into her room surrounded by a dark magical aura. Her immortal heart experiencing pain equal to a thousand years of solitude.

She got in bed and curled up into the same position she had used whenever she was cold and lonely on the moon. She cried for hours on end until her moon gave the signs that it was ready to give way to the morning sun. She ignited the magic deep within herself and brought it forth to end the night. She gave a sigh and returned to her bed. She felt like crying some more, but her eyes were already soggy from the dampness, and no tears came from her aching heart.

It was then a familiar and sinister voice whispered into her head. A chill found its way from the base of the alicorn’s flank all the way up to the mane in the back of her head.

'It has been... a long time my dear, sweet Luna... We always knew you would come back to us.'

Authors Notes: Sorry for the massive romantic letdown here. I can't just give it to Charlie without making him work for it I suppose. Muahaha. By the way, the song is 'You Lied' By Tool. Check it out, adding the tune to the lyrics really amplifies the effect I'm trying to give my story. Thank you for reading, new chapter will probably be up tomorrow. Now for another six hour work day for me...

Edit: How do y'all feel about clop scenes? There is a romance tag in this story for a reason... If you all really really want one, I guess I'll bring myself to write it. Only if you all really want it though.