Heart of Shadows
by
TheDeinonychus
Part 2
To Say The Word
Is To Bring It.
To Take The Word
Is To Become It.
The building storm bore down upon the beach, it's powerful winds whipping the waves into a froth upon the shore. The sound of it's mighty thunder rolling out onto the plains. But ahead of the building tempest, a different kind of thunder made it's way over the grasslands. The thunder of frantic hoof beats. Sweat building up on her midnight hide, Moonlight raced in a panic. She ran as if she could escape the horror of what she had done, of what had happened there on that small hill overlooking the beach. But try as she might, the scene played out over and over in her mind's eye. The heat of her rage. The cries of her friend. The feel of Ember's bones cracking under her hooves. Tears trailed behind her, blown from the corners of her eyes by the wind whipping past, her pitch black mane flying into tangles as she tried to flee the horrible memory. Tried to escape back to her safe, warm home before everything turned insane.
She could see it, in the distance. Her tribe, the small camp they had made on the plain for the season. Oh how she longed to just forget everything that happened, to run right into her family's tent and curl up under her blanket. Her pace quickened, she could hear the sounds now, one of the tribe ponies had seen her and was shouting to her, but she didn't pay any attention to what he was saying. She just wanted to be home, to be safe. Other ponies had stopped what they were doing, some coming out of their own tents to watch the dark blue unicorn race over the gently rolling hills towards them. Soon, soon she could put it all behind her, forget the horrible things her friend had said, the horrible things she had done. Soon she could try to put her life back together from the broken remains left after what had happened. So lost in her thoughts, she didn't even realize the crowd of ponies that was forming around her, not till she almost ran head-long into the lot of them.
Her hooves dug into the packed dirt of the camp, stopping just inches from the now extinguished camp fire as she was forced into an abrupt halt. Her sides heaved as she gasped for breath, her messed mane hanging over her face. Moonlight was just glad to be home, somewhere safe, far away from that hill. It took a few moments for her breathing and racing heart to calm down enough for her to hear over them, hear the sounds of the crowd around her. Hushed gasps and shocked murmurs greeted her. A shake of her head managed to push her mane out of her face enough for her to see. The sight caused an icy feeling to creep up her spine. Every eye was upon her, each one trembling. But no gaze made her worry as much as the stallion in front of her.
Golden Fields, the tawny unicorn stallion, the one she had secretly longed for since she was but a filly. His eyes were filled with shock and terror as they looked her over, his mouth hanging agape. Slowly, as if her legs might snap in two if she rushed, she started to take a step towards him, wishing nothing more but to lay her head on his side and let this all be a dream. He cringed as she moved towards him.
"M-Moonlight? What happened? Is... Is that blood?!" Golden Fields gasped. His eyes shaking as they looked over her form. Oh no! The blood! It covered her, making plain what she had done for all to see. Her raised hoof lost the will to move. It felt as if her heart was refusing to beat as she looked at her love with pleading eyes. Begging for him to forget about it, to just let her forget. "Where's Ember?"
It was just too much. Hearing that name, the weight of what she had done just bore down on her in full. Fresh tears started to flow from her eyes, tainted red as they ran through the sticky mess that was drying on her fur. Her knees shook and she had to lower herself down, afraid she would collapse.
"I.... I didn't... Didn't mean to.. " she sobbed, shaking her head as the scene played out over and over again in her mind. "Sh-she tries... I.. I couldn't... It.. It just happened.." she struggles to say between gasps for breath. Between the sobs that wracked her body and the horrific images that flashed through her mind, the sobbing mare could barely form words. The crowd of ponies around her seemed to grow tighter. By now every member of the tribe had gathered to the spectacle. Their eyes and whispers suddenly accusing. Every stare seemed to drill into her, every whisper seemed to echo the same thing in her ear. She kills her. She killed Ember. She killed another pony.
"Moonlight!" The voice seemed to cut through the crowd and snap her out of her panic if just for a moment. The throng of ponies seemed to part to make way for the voice's owner. The tall gray stallion stepping through the crowd to stand before her. The spiral horn and elaborate head dress told her just who it was. Her father, Dawn Sky, the tribe shaman. Every other pony made way for him, with equal parts respect and fear, for as the shaman, he knew the secrets of magic. His eyes widened as he saw his eldest daughter, covered in what could only be blood. "Moonlight. What did you do?"
Moonlight winced at the harsh, firm tone of his voice. The same voice that had scolded her in the past for trying to chase fireflies across a crevasse. Only now, it was no foalish play she was being scolded for.
"I.. I didn't mean it!" she cried out, the words tumbling from her mouth between gasps. "I-I couldn't stop! She.. She just.. Just.." her mouth went dry as she saw something move behind her father. Timidly, a pair of wide, purple eyes peeked out from behind Dawn Sky's legs. The little violet filly was trembling at the sight of her. Starlight, her little sister, had eyes as round as apples and as big as melons as they looked at what her sister had become. "N-no.." a whisper was all she could manage when she saw those innocent eyes.
"She killed her" someone in the crowd whispered.
"No.."
"That's Ember's blood!" another gasped.
"No.."
"Murderer.." someone accused.
"No!"
"Monster!"
"NO!"
"M-Moonlight?" a tiny voice whispered.
"No no no NO!" she couldn't take it anymore. Her safe haven had turned into pure torment. Panic gripped her once again as her legs jerked, sending her up onto her hind hooves before she bolted off through the crowd. Everypony jumped back, fear in their eyes. Fear of what she had done. Fear of her. The angry shouts rang in her ears as she tried to flee them. To try to escape to someplace where no pony would ever find her. Screaming her anguish and pain, the angry shouts of her family and friends followed behind her, only to be drowned out as the heavens tore open with a violent crack, and the promised storm brought down it's violence.
-
The rain. It washed away the blood. But it didn't matter. She could still feel it, as if it had soaked down to her bones, down to her very soul. She had no idea how far she had run, but she knew it wasn't far enough. It could never be far enough. She could run to the moon and back, and the feeling would still follow her. As she sat there in the shadow of a small rock outcropping, her hooves shook and jittered. Every tap of a raindrop on them felt like bone breaking under her hoof. Every splatter of rain on her face felt warm like blood. She could of slunk back under the rocks, tried to escape the downpour, but she didn't. Somehow, the rain felt right. Maybe she deserved to be soaking wet. Or maybe it was just that it made it impossible for her to tell if she was still crying or not. She was exhausted, but she dared not sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, the stares of her family and friends would be there to accuse her. Each crack of thunder brought back those words.
She couldn't go back. How could she? She was sure they would find what was left of her friend soon. Then there would be no doubt about what had happened. They already knew anyway. She had done the unthinkable. They would just tie her up like some sort of crazy pony. They'd hunt her down, like some wild beast. A wild animal. A monster. A shiver ran up her spine, and her hooves clamped down over her ears as another crack of thunder shook the ground, and echoed that word again and again. Her whole tribe had called her that, they all knew. Golden Fields, the one stallion she loved knew what she had done. Her own father knew. But even worse, Starlight, her own sister, so innocent and pure, had seen her like that. Seen her covered in the proof of her own deeds.
Mud and rainwater splattered up onto her sides as she just collapsed onto the ground, hooves still held tightly to the sides of her head. She wished it could all be over. That a bolt of lightning would come down and take away all the pain. But as she laid there, release never came. The moonless sky raged around her, but not once did it offer her any pity or mercy. Even that was denied to her now, the shimmering crescent reflected in her Cutie Mark, hidden behind dark, brooding clouds. Just like the clouds that darkened the sky, mud had covered and be-smudged the silver moon and glowing stars that graced her flank. The night had always given her peace, ever since she was a filly, the stars and moon had been like family to her. But tonight, there would be no comfort for her. No bright, inviting moon or dancing, twinkling stars. Only the heavy weight where her heart was and the accusing crack of thunder.
##### Author's Note
First, I'd like to say thank you to anyone who's read this far. Second, I'd like to address to some worries that this story is too 'heavy'. As I mentioned before, this is a very dark, graphic tragedy. Think of it as something like from the early Greek period, or even something biblical, where harsh reality is often presented without care to sensabilities. The story isn't likely to get more cheerful anytime soon. Infact, it's likely to get far more grim before the end. And speaking of the end, I have no idea how long I'm going to carry this on. I do have a list of events I want to go through to lead to the end, but how many parts it will take to get there, I have no idea. Perhaps once it's over, I may try writing something a bit more cheerful. Maybe even some clop. Who knows.
Heart of Shadows
by
TheDeinonychus
Part 1
The Monsters We Face
Are Nothing Compared To
The Monsters We Make.
There was a cool breeze blowing in from the beach, the tang of salt carried on the air as the spray from the breaking waves were caught up in the wind, drifting up towards the lone figure settled atop of the hill overlooking the sandy dunes that separated her from the ocean. A contented sigh escaped her lips as the dark blue mare idly moved a small collection of stones around with her hooves. It was a silly game, one more suited to fillies than to a mare well into her fourteenth season, but the simple pretend time held another meaning for her. She moved the two larger stones around, while the many smaller ones were bumped about and made to scatter about every which way. In her mind, the unicorn didn't see just some little, dirty rocks. No, she saw something far different, they weren't just stones to her. To her eyes, she saw a stallion and mare, madly in love even with their innumerable foals running and playing around their hooves. It was a scene that danced through her mind on more than one occasion. A scene she all too often would flee from her duties as the shaman's daughter just to go experience with stones or sticks or acorns if she had to. This was all she wanted, not the responsibilities of a shaman, not the fear or respect because she could command powers greater than her friends. No, all she wanted, all her heart really desired, was the love of a family.
"Moonlight!"
The voice broke her daydream like a bolt of lightning had struck one of those little stones. Moonlight's eyes widened, one hiding behind her pitch black mane, as she sat up from her little foalish games and looked back over her shoulder, spying a bright yellow earth pony running up the hill towards her. The fiery red mane and spear strapped to her side told the unicorn just who it was, and that brought a smile back to her lips.
"Ember! W-what are you doing up here?" she chuckled, a nervous rear hoof gently kicking the small stones which had moments ago been her pretend family, hoping her friend wouldn't notice her silly, foalish hobby. As the earth pony made her way up the hill towards her unicorn friend, her pace slowed to a brisk trot, her eyes, normally as bright and flickering as a bond fire, were now lidded and seemed more interested in the grass than her indigo friend. Moonlight could tell something was wrong. Usually she couldn't stop Ember from talking, but now she had barely said a word. She lowered her head a bit, the dark curls of her mane lightly brushing the tips of the grass, trying to look comforting. "Um, is.. Is everything alright, Ember?"
"No", was the curt response from her friend, the earth pony finally looking up. Her eyes were tense and dour, something was troubling her, something serious. Ember was one of the tribe's warriors, the ponies that everyone depended on to protect them if wild animals or monsters thought to attack their little camps. The simple stone-tipped spear was what they used to defend themselves, a skilled pony could with but a flick of her head, send the spear sailing to it's target with deadly force. Right now, it rested in it's lashings, held to Ember's side tightly, should she need to charge into a fight. It was how the tribe's warriors kept their spears should they ever need to get in close with whatever they were fighting. This fact wasn't totally lost on Moonlight, but in her mind, the worry that her friend was in trouble weighed more seriously. Ember turned from her indigo friend, taking a few steps towards the long tree that grew atop the hill Moonlight had been daydreaming upon. It's branches were tossed about by the wind coming off the ocean, it's leaves starting to be torn free to flutter about wildly. It was a sure sign that a storm was brewing just off shore, drawing closer and closer to land. However important that may be, it paled in comparison to the storm what was about to brew between the two friends. "Moonlight, we need to talk. Now."
"O-Of course, Ember," she unicorn said, her friend's dark mood starting to make her worry, "You know you can always talk to me about anything. What's troubling you?" Moonlight took a few slow steps towards her friend, but the narrowed glare that greeted her rooted her hooves to the ground.
"It's you! You and Golden Fields!" Ember blurted out. Golden Fields. The mention of the stallion made Moonlight's heart jump, half in joy, half in terror. Had something happened to him? Was he in trouble? Was he hurt? Panic had started to grip the poor mare, she wanted to take off to find him, the pony she loved, the pony she had yet to profess her love to. But that look, those eyes, her friend's stare kept her in her place.
"D-did... Did something happen to him? Is.. Is he alright?" she asked hopefully, maybe her friend was just exaggerating things, playing a game with her just to see her panicking like a filly found playing were she was told not to. That hope died little by little as her friend came back from the base of the tree, turning her body as she did slightly, just enough to keep the sharpened stone tip of her spear aimed right at the unicorn, right at her aching heart!
"You happened, that's what! I cant believe you!" her friend lashed out, her eyes blazing, golden yellow as they burned holes through the unicorn's terrified teal ones. With every word she spoke, venom seeped into her words, it almost dripped from her lips, all of it meant for her friend. "We.. We're.. We were friends! Don't tell me you didn't know!"
"K-knew what? Please, E-Ember.. You're scareing me," Moonlight managed to squeak out under the earth pony's death-gaze. She cringed back, her legs shaking, knees wanting to buckle. Right now she wished nothing more than to become one of her rocks, a clump of dirt, anything no pony would notice, no pony could hurt. Slowly she watched Ember circle her, the spear never leaving it's aim, always pointing at her with as much murderous intent as it's owner's words.
"Knew how I felt! You.. You think just cause you're the shaman's daughter you can just do whatever you want! Take whatever you want! Whoever you want!" The enraged earth pony started shaking with barely contained fury. Never had the unicorn seen her friend in such a state. To watch it was almost as painful at the words flung at her like knives. "That night you just prattled on, just let it slip out like it was nothing. About how you would just walk u to him and make him yours!"
It all came crashing into Moonlight at that moment. What has pushed her friend into such a rage. Golden Fields, he was the love of her life. But he was also the love of her best friend's live too. Her mind raced, flooded with memories of every time the three of them were together. Years flew by, every little thing she never really noticed, never really considered, each one now felt like a beacon, shining at her to be noticed, to finally be taken for what they were, declarations of love. Her friend's love for the stallion she wanted for herself. The weight of it all was too much to take, her flank fell to the ground as tears started to well up in her eyes. Each breath felt as if it was her last as she struggled for another. "I... I'm s-sorry.. Ember.. I.. I didn't.."
"No.. And you never will..." her friend's words seized her like a maw of pure ice. The fiery mare had circled around her, down the hill a small distance from the sobbing unicorn. One hoof dug at the ground, pulling grass and dirt up as she lowered herself slightly, that spear almost singing it's want to find it's target. Moonlight couldn't believe what she was seeing, her friend, the one pony she thought would be with her to the end, was moments away from ending her life. "I'll never let you have him!" And with that cry, rearing to her hind legs, Ember charged, her spear aimed for her friend's heart.
Everything seemed to tick by in slow motion. Her best friend, her every hoof fall hitting the ground like thunder. Every leaf blown on the wind cartwheeling in a lazy tumble. The tears cascading from her cheeks to soak the ground seeming to take hours to splash onto the dirt. She should let it happen, just let her friend end her right there, and be with the stallion she loved. It was her fault, wasn't it? She let this happen, let her own wants cloud her mind, make her blind to what was really happening. Her friend would be happy. Golden Fields would be happy. Everyone would be happy without her, wouldn't they? But still, something, something deep inside wouldn't let it end like this. Wouldn't let her sit there and accept what her broken heart told her had to happen.
Those deafening hoof falls drew closer, that murderous spear mere moments from ending it all. With her belly pressed to the ground, it was the last chance, her only chance to stop what was coming. "NO!" she cried, the sound carried on thunder from the distant storm bearing down upon the beach. With every fiber of her being, she pushed off from the ground, from the muddy puddle of tears she had made, and slammed hooves first into her friend, past the tip of that spear. The ground surged up to meet them both, breath leaving them as they landed and rolled. End over end, tails over manes, that spear snapping in two as they tumbled down the hill, grass thrown up and rocks kicked loose as they made their way, a blue and yellow ball of tears, fury, and sorrow.
Maybe it was chance, or fate, or the will of some unknown god, but as the two finally came to a stop at the foot of the hill, Moonlight found herself on top, her friend pinned under her. Ember's spear had snapped in half on the way down, now just a useless haft strapped to her side. The unicorn's chest as pounding, every breath she took burned in her lungs as she kept her weight down on top of the earth pony. Her teeth clenched in a mask of fury, anger enough to rival the hate that still burned in her friend's eyes. "No.." she breathed out, bringing her fore-hooves up above her head. The hate of he friend's face turned to shock as she realized a moment before what was about to happen. Those hooves came down, the dull thud of them striking her face bringing a cry of pain from the earth pony. The sound wasn't enough to snap the unicorn out of her fury.
"No!" Again her hooves came up, Moonlight's limbs moving as if on their own as she raised them, only to bring them down again, forcing more cries of pain to escape the yellow mare under her. "No!" Each time the word left her lips, her hooves struck down, soon the cries turned to sobs of agony. "No!" A muffled crack, accompanied by a struggled gasp. "NO!"
"NO!" *crack*
"NO!" *crunch*
"NO!" *splatter*
It didn't seem to end. It seemed as if it would last forever. But eventually, as tears flooded down her cheeks, her limbs started to ache, and she had lost the strength to raise them again. As if a mask had been pulled over her eyes, the reality of what had happened, what she had done, came into view. Her best friend, the mare that had tried to kill her, was unrecognizable. Hardly anything remained of what had once been a cheerful, feisty yellow mare poisoned by hate. Slowly, the horror of what she had done crept over Moonlight, her aching hooves covered in her friend's blood, it was splattered all over her, like some sick warpaint. It was on her legs, her chest, her face, broken only by the steady stream of tears flowing down each cheek. She had never seen anything like it. Never had she ever seen, or even heard of a pony spilling another pony's blood. The building storm took pause, it's fury and the roar of it's thunder drowned out for a moment by the scream that ripped through the sky.
