Here within the Dark

Chapters

Standing Alone
When the Sky Weeps
The Pain of Another
The One Who is Lost
Tortured Soul
Healing

Standing Alone

Standing Alone

Every pony always looks at me strange. I don’t know why and I’m tired of it. I’m no different than any of them. But they ignore me, they leave me alone. I used to not mind or really care but lately I have grown tired of the loneliness. It’s always so dark and cold and I can’t stand it anymore. Even when I am around so many, I am still alone. I hate it and I hate every pony else. Why should they have their friends while I get nothing? I’m sick and tired of all the love that they share with each other only to leave me out. I’ve tried to make friends, but I’m always shunned by them. I’m not going to fake being happy anymore. I’ll show them how I really feel. I’ll make every pony know what it’s like to be alone.

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The solitary pony wanders through the streets of Ponyville, acutely aware of the numerous stares from the other ponies. Even now he hates those stares. The looks of disapproval, even fear. He never really understood why. This town was supposed to be the one with the most love and friendship in all of Equestria, but even here he still gets the same looks that he got everywhere else. Just because he is a little different from every pony else.

His name is Blackwing, but no pony would know that. No pony cares to know. Many likely do not know he even exists. As for those who see him, he is an outsider. Always has been, always will be. But why should he be singled out like a leper or ignored like some pony who does not exist? Why should he suffer loneliness and solitude every day?

As the son of a pegasus and a thestral he does have some features of each, though with some slight differences. Instead of having either feathered wings or leathery wings he has both. His left wing is a turquoise pegasus wing while his right wing is a pitch black bat wing, hence his name. Everything else about him is normal. He has a turquoise colored body, a greyish-blue mane and tail, each cut short, and emerald green eyes. While he has the tufts of hair on his ears like other thestrals he does not have fangs and still he is looked at like some kind of bizarre creature.

Beyond the looks of distrust and fear, the other ponies simply ignore the pegasus, bat-pony hybrid, not out of the same feelings as the others but simply because they are busy with their own lives. Blackwing has always envied the ponies with even one friend, more so those with many. But for him, he is ignored and he hates it. The loneliness hangs over him, crushing him. He is not as outgoing as other ponies and therefore cries out for help in his own subtle way. But every time, the cries are ignored or go unseen by those that never look.

Over the years, sadness and despair are replaced and overpowered with anger and hatred. Yet deep in his heart, the sadness still remains. An aching black hole yearning to be filled, sucking in any and all attention in order to fill the desire for companionship. Outwardly, he hides his anger, putting on a disguise of false happiness and a veil of being contempt. Inwardly, he is hurting, even bleeding.

Blackwing makes his way to his home on the outskirts of town. The loneliness of the trek takes a higher toll on him than the distance. Every step is labored, every breath harsh. As he draws closer to his home, he falls farther into the blackness that is solitude. He wants to be away from the looks of despise but not at the cost of being alone. And such a cost it is.

As he enters the home, his first desire is to scream out in sadness. To release the floodgates of tears that have built up over time. But the tears do not come. His sadness is put down by the hatred and rage that fumes from those emerald eyes. He can only vent his anger whereas the sorrow can only be healed, and the healing never comes. The futility of ridding himself of this suffering only brings more pain. There was a time when he could cry, but now he has long forgotten how.

“I HATE THEM ALL!!!”

Wrath burn in his eyes as he screams. He looks about the house and the multiple trinkets it holds. Each item acquired to give him some semblance of comfort. But the attempt to fight the eternal solitude is in vain. He slams his hoof against the floor as he screams again. He fights himself to avoid tearing the home to shreds. Everything here is meaningless, worthless. What good is it if he remains alone? He drops to the ground screaming until his voice wears thin and his throat hurts.

“I HATE THEM!!! I HATE THEM!!!”

He pounds the ground as he screams. Every day he repeats the violent ritual in a desperate attempt to rid himself of the anger inside. But each day he sees those scornful eyes and feels their judging stares. For each pony that ignores him, he feels a violent shove as he is rejected by them.

“I hate them!”

Blackwing drags himself to his bed and curls into a ball, his voice growing softer out of exhaustion.

“I hate them. I hate…”

His voice trails off as he finally achieves sleep, the exhaustion taking its toll. His final thought as the mist of sleep overwhelm him is that no pony should suffer as he does. This thought is not out of care for the others, but envy of them. If he should suffer, then so should they. He will show them the results of being ignored and despised. Even as he dreams, he is alone. Though he occasionally sees the fair princess of the night she always keeps her distance, watching from afar.

Even here where the watcher of dreams wanders, I am alone.

When the Sky Weeps

When the Sky Weeps

I’ve always disliked the rain. They say it rains to water the grass and other plants but it never looks like that. To me, the sky seems sad. The rain is the sky weeping for the ground that has left it. I feel for the sky. It sits above everything, alone and separate. The birds pass by only to return to the ground. The pegasi use the clouds in the sky to make their houses, even a city, only to ignore the sky, never once thinking about how alone it is. I am like the sky but I cannot weep. I cannot pour out my sorrow for being alone. When the storms come, that is the sky raging at its loneliness. The sun and moon beam down through the sky, always above it. The clouds pass under as it tries to hide itself from those who never look. The ground is so full of life and company, but the sky is alone. Even I do not see such solitude.

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Rain pours across Ponyville as the inhabitants rush to cover until only Blackwing is left standing alone, staring up into the sky as the rain pelts his face. The cold water chills his body but the pony never flinches. He stares at the dark grey clouds, watching the rain fall. If only he could weep as the clouds do and show the others the pain he is in. Yet the water dripping down his sorrowful face is the closest he can come to breaking the dam that holds back the tears of sorrow and pain. His gaze leaves the tearful clouds as he continues his lonely trek.

“How lucky the sky is to be able to show its sorrow,” he says aloud. “Yet even its mighty cries go unnoticed.”

Blackwing wanders through the now empty market square in hopes of finding even one stall still open and willing to sell. Each vendor is nowhere to be found leaving the stalls empty and abandoned. Despite being related to the weather, the weight of isolation stills presses down on the lone pony. Across the way, a small foal splashes in puddles as he plays while his older sister watches, even splashing on occasion herself.

“They all flee the weeping of the sky or dance in its sorrow,” Blackwing says to himself before returning to his search.

A large stall is finally found with a vendor within. But before Blackwing can enter, a sign is quickly put out to indicate that the stall is closed for sold out goods. The eyes of the owner hold the same look of disapproval that the pegasus bat sees in many others. He walks by without a word peering through a parting in the cloth covered opening to see a full stock within the rejecting tent. Blackwing says nothing as he turns away from the stinging eyes of despise. Even as he walks away he can feel the disapproval and fear from the stall owner.

He leaves the market square, having nothing to show for his efforts, and watches as a couple trots through the street. An umbrella hangs above the pair, held by the stallion’s unicorn magic. They smile and laugh as they hurry to flee the rain. As they pass Blackwing their attention never diverts from the other, never once looking at the poor misshapen pony soaked by the tears of the sky. The denial of even a glance slams into Blackwing like a violent kick to the side, nearly causing him to double over. Seeing their smiling faces, hearing their laughter, it is infuriating. Were they as kind as the citizens were told to be, they would have taken pity on the poor pony soaking in the rain. But these two never even noticed him.

Rage builds within the pegasus bat who struggles to control it. Every day, the rage builds. Every day, the well of sorrow becomes deeper. To judge one by sight alone. To ignore those in pain. This is not the town of friendship that all are told about. It cannot be if one is allowed to suffer so much without even a glance of care by even one other. Blackwing continues his trek with only the falling rain and the surrounding dark as his companions.

The path to his home is as harsh as ever. The solitude weighs down the pegasus bat while rain pelts his body, pounding on him like hundreds of hammers. The darkness that is loneliness is accented by the dark of the stormy day, causing near blindness. The mud covered pathway grips his hooves, forcing him to work harder for each step. The frigid wind chills his very core. Days of rain are always more lonesome than others.

When Blackwing finally reaches the door to his home, he fights against the bitter wind and beating rain to open it and enter into the confines of his lonely home. Inside, he can hear the wind and rain beat against the entire house, shaking its foundations. Lightning flashes in the sky as thunder roars. It is as if the sky is angry for losing its one companion. The only one to know the sorrow it feels every day.

As if feeling the same rage as the sky, Blackwing recites his daily ritual of violence. He screams out his rage, pounding his hooves against the floor. Water slings inside the entryway, soaking the sides and ceiling. As exhaustion takes its daily toll, Blackwing stumbles into the bathroom and stares at his reflection in the cracked mirror. Water drips from his face like tears. If only they were real tears. If only he could release the sorrow that is built up within and ease his pain. He gives a final violent scream, stopping just short of smashing the mirror for a second time. He dries himself off and slowly makes his way into bed.

Rain pours within the dream, drowning the world. Crowds surround him, but he cannot touch them or hear them. Likewise, they cannot touch him, hear him, or see him. In each vision the night princess is present but is always standing at a distance. Blackwing pleads for her aid.

“Why must I be alone? Why must I suffer so much pain and anguish?”

The azure princess says nothing. She turns leaving a glitter of tears in her wake. The soft crying fills the void that Blackwing now stands within.

“Come back! If you are so sad at my state then come back and do something! You know what I go through better than any pony else! Why do you still leave me alone in this darkness?”

His cries are in vain as the princess is now gone, leaving him alone in the black void. He lets out a violent scream, begging his sorrow and tears to flow. But only rage is found. Only his wrath will show. He drops down, covering his head with his hooves, pleading.

“Come back. I hate being alone. I want to feel the warmth of another. Come back. Come back…”

The Pain of Another

The Pain of Another

I often wonder if there are others living in solitude like me. Going through life alone and rejected by others. What if I were to meet such a lonely pony? Would I welcome them with open wings into the comfort that I so desperately desire? Or would I reject them as so many others reject me? I think that is the real fear that we who are alone face. We desire the warmth of companionship but after being alone for so long we fear being rejected. How terrifying it would be to find some pony who knows the suffering you go through every day only to be rejected by them. Truly, that would be the breaking point. I would know, I’ve nearly crossed mine.

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Each day the streets of Ponyville become more lonesome for the pegasus bat. No matter how bright the day or what visitors arrive, each day only brings more suffering as yet another day passes in solitude. Blackwing watches as a little filly enjoys the company of her parents. They each smile and laugh at the antics of the young one who dances across the way, singing a simple song. Further on are two local members of the extensive Apple family selling their signature treats. Family is one attachment that Blackwing does know, though it was short lived.

As Blackwing grew up, he only knew the love from his parents. With each parent being a different kind of pony, they were rejected by their own for the love they showed each other. As for the hybrid son, only his parents put aside the physical appearance for what was important. After growing up and moving out, he lost contact with the only two ponies who ever showed him love. Never again did he see those loving faces.

Blackwing puts aside his thoughts of the past to maintain his façade of false contempt. He passes by the school and watches as three fillies are taunted by two others. Despite the rejecting the three face each day even they can find love in each other. The pegasus bat knows the torture they go through, the social stigma of being different. But why should he be left alone when even these children can find happiness? The mere thought of the situation arouses his rage once more. Why should he be left in the dark when all others stand in the light?

The façade of false contempt becomes harder to bear as the lonely journey through town continues. The smiling faces that mock and the eyes of despise that berate. Each step is another step towards the void of solitude. Everywhere he looks, the sight of happy ponies with friends or family provides a sharp jab while the looks of disapproval burn like fire. With each blow his anger is aroused.

The pegasus bat struggles to control his wrath as he trudges down the lonely road. After a short time he happens upon a covered cart sitting empty and abandoned, telling a story he knows all too well. The wooden object sits on the side of the road, as lonely as the pony who passes.

A soft crying stops Blackwing in his tracks. The muffled sound is familiar, not the voice but the emotions behind such sadness. He had long forgotten the tones of crying out of loneliness but here is a pony crying in a way only he could understand. It is the sound of another who sits alone in the darkness of solitude. A small light, a glimmer of hope shines within the cold darkness.

Blackwing peers around behind the cart to find a pegasus mare huddled against its wooden frame. Her face is buried under her hooves as she sobs. Her yellow body and orange mane and tail are darkened by the shadow of the cart she hides behind. She stops for a moment and turns to look at the visitor through her tear filled eyes as a strand of her straight hair falls into her face. Blackwing is stunned for a moment as he stares into the mare’s soft blue eyes. Expression fails him and words abandon him.

The mare stares at her visitor with a kind of wonder, having never expected to be found. She can say nothing as she watches the confused pony before her. Blackwing is lost in his emotions. The strange feeling he has as he looks upon the sorrowful mare is a mix of pity and care along with other feelings he never believed he possessed. He steps further around the cart still staring into those tear filled blue eyes only to watch the fear overtake the mare as she sees his black bat wing.

Anger and rage are aroused in the pegasus bat once again at the sting from the look of fear. He grits his teeth and turns away from the fearful eyes. Just when he had found one who could understand his pain, just when he found a light within the endless darkness, it is stripped away from him. The light quickly fades before his eyes, taunting him.

“Wait!” the mare cries, but too late. Her visitor has left her alone once again.

Blackwing charges through the town, fleeing from the rejecting eyes. Tears build in his eyes, eyes that have been dry for far too long. But these are not the tears of sorrow he seeks. These are tears of rage and wrath, the tears of hatred. He bursts through the door of his home, slamming it behind him before crying out in his rage. He pounds the wooden floor repeatedly until his leg is sore and the wooden plank is cracked. The raging pegasus bat continues to cry out as the tears of wrath stream down his angry face. Finally, he drops to the floor, covering his head wishing that the wrathful tears were tears of sorrow.

“It’s not fair! Why must I be alone in this world? Why must I be given hope only to watch it be torn away from me? It’s not fair. It’s not fair…”

He lies on the floor in his rage until sleep overtakes him. His dream tonight is filled with the darkness that he sees every day. There is nothing. Not even the watcher of dreams is there. He is alone as he always is. Should he have any companion, the darkness is it. Should he feel any emotion, rage and hatred fill his being. It seems that no matter what, he will always be alone in the dark.

The One Who is Lost

The One Who is Lost

Those who have been lost at sea or lost in a desert know the loneliness and fear that comes with being lost. To look around and see the same unending scene in all directions, to feel the weight of being on your own. I feel that way every day. For me, I am lost at sea, struggling to stay afloat as the ships sail by, never once seeing the drowning soul. I am the desert wanderer, trying to get to the oasis only to watch it vanish before my eyes or draw farther away, taunting me. Each day I sit in darkness watching small lights float by, always out of reach. I have given up hope on being saved.

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Rage fills the very being of Blackwing as he steps out of his home. The sadness he wishes to release has been buried deep inside covered over by his wrath and hatred of every other pony who shuns or ignores him. He saw light yesterday but even that light, that one chance at hope, was snuffed out in an instant. All his life he has lived in the darkness of solitude, watching helplessly as comfort and joy were stolen away or dangled in front of him only to vanish and reveal a cliff leading to deeper solitude. No more will he stand for the darkness that haunts him while others dance in the light, mocking him. If he cannot have the light, then neither shall any other pony.

A soft noise causes the pegasus bat to turn back. Before him is the pegasus mare he saw yesterday standing up from the grass in front of the house. Her mane is matted with a few blades of grass stuck to her face. She stands on the bed of grass staring at Blackwing carefully brushing the grass off her face and brushing her mane with her wings. Blackwing simply stares back in rage and anger but cannot seem to bring forth his full wrath against the one who had given him hope only to vanquish it. On her face is a look of sorrow and regret.

“Um…I’m sorry about yesterday,” she says in a soft and gentle voice. “I shouldn’t have acted like that. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Blackwing tries to respond but his emotions are caught in a storm. Her reaction to him had aroused more anger than any pony before but she was the first to speak to him, even apologize for her reaction. Her appearance alone arouses other emotions once again which blends with his rage, diluting it and causing chaos. He does not know what to think or how to act and remains quiet.

“Why do you live so far away?” she asks, looking at the simple house.

“It’s better that way,” he replies with almost no control over his actions now. “No pony wants me around anyway.” He turns to leave but is stopped short by the mare’s next statement.

“It’s a lovely home.”

The storm of emotions builds within the pegasus bat. Unable to understand his own thoughts and feelings, his anger continues to boil. This time it is directed inward. He spins around and shouts at the yellow mare. “Who are you and why are you here?”

“I wanted to apologize for how I acted yesterday,” the mare replies, never changing her tone despite being shouted at. She brushes a strand of hair out of her face as a somber look falls across her face. “Why are you so sad?”

The question strikes Blackwing straight in his heart. The storm of mixed emotions becomes more agitated, making him feel nauseous. Was he really sad? For all the anger he has shown this pony so far, she asked why he was sad. Despite the anger and rage, she could see the sadness buried deep within his soul. The part of him that cried out to others only to be pushed further into darkness. Once again, it reaches out to the glimmer of light and hope only to be pushed back once more, this time by himself.

“What do you know about me?” he yells, he face boiling over with rage. “What does any pony know about me? Nothing!”

Stop. He calls out to himself attempting to put aside his anger.

“Every pony ignores me or despises me! Every pony goes about their happy lives while I sit alone! How could you understand the torment I go through every day?”

What was he doing? How could he push away his one chance at peace, his one chance to rid himself of the suffering and darkness? Yet the damage was done. He is truly beyond saving.

“But-” the mare begins before being cut off by Blackwing.

“No! You don’t understand anything!” he screams before turning and charging off. It didn’t matter where he went, as long as he was alone. But was that really what he wanted? Tears begin to streak down his face, burning him like fire. Were these the tears of sorrow he so desperately desired or more tears of rage? They must be of wrath for it is the only emotion to harm the one feeling it more than those around.

Blackwing takes to the sky and continues to flee farther and farther, never turning back. He stares straight ahead as the tears of wrath continue to sear his face. Confusion stirs within his mind as the storm of emotions rages on, threatening to split his head asunder. Finally, he lands just outside of the Everfree Forest. A forest of darkness and terror, a place just like him. Such a place of dark magic must hold some key to giving him what he wants, what he deserves. As much as his heart desires to go back to the mare and her soft, caring eyes, he cannot bring himself to even turn and look back. Nothing matters now. Nothing ever did and nothing ever will. The pegasus bat enters the forbidden forest, blending into the dark vegetation and vanishing within its vile mist.

Just outside stands the princess of the night, Princess Luna. She stares at the mangled opening with worry, inwardly begging and pleading for the tortured soul to return. He has gone down a treacherous path, one which only leads to more suffering.

“Is this what you believe is the right path oh tortured one? Have you truly lost all hope?”

She moves forward, following the poor pony through the dark tunnel of vegetation. Hopefully, there is still time to save him. Hopefully, she can restore his broken spirit and bring him back from the path of hatred. The princess knows full well that there is always hope, even when all hope seems lost.

Tortured Soul

Tortured Soul

Within darkness, pain and suffering resides. Anger and rage do nothing but torture you, increasing the torment. Sadness pulls you further into the depths of suffering. For so long, all I have known is the dark. For so long, I have endured the torture of loneliness. I have searched for a way out to find the light. I may have found it finally. And yet, the light of love burned like fire as I was rejected. Or did I reject it? I have been in the dark for so long, have I become content in my suffering? Am I the reason that I suffer so much?

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Blackwing trudges through the muck of the forbidden forest as darkness surrounds and presses down on him. The burden of isolation is exasperated as the denizens of the vile land keep their distance, eying the lone wanderer. Even a place such as this rejects one who is like the creatures within. As the pegasus bat wanders through the foul vegetation he cannot help but wonder about the nature of such a place. Is it truly the land of evil that so many claim? Or is it simply the fear of the unknown or that which is different? Either way, it is a place more befitting the lone pony than the supposed town of friendship.

As he moves deeper into the dark forest the path becomes harsher, more lonesome. The solitude hangs over as a familiar demon, one which refuses to leave yet is content to remain in its place and pursue no further. The pegasus bat has grown used to this demon over the years though it does not ease his suffering. The weight of the loneliness crushes him now more than ever, threatening to destroy him where he stands. For years he fought against it, now he embraces it. Now he accepts his cruel fate.

A soft rustling from the bushes stops Blackwing in his tracks. He searches for its source to see movement within the foreboding tree line. Expecting to see a Timberwolf or some other dark inhabitant emerge, he is shocked as he watches the yellow mare appear from the shadow of the dark forest charging at a near gallop and skids to a halt, stopping just short of colliding with the pegasus bat.

The two ponies stare into the other’s eyes for what feels like hours. A bizarre sensation surges through Blackwing like some sort of warm chill. His body shutters as his emotions stir and shift. He watches the mare’s face flush red as she quickly scurries back a few steps and begins to shift and fidget. The storm of emotions takes a heavy toll on the pegasus bat, causing him to feel nauseous. He tries to hide and bury the unfamiliar feelings under his rage and anger but only succeeds in strengthening the storm.

“What do you want and why did you follow me?” Blackwing asks, struggling to draw upon his anger and hide the other emotions that torment him.

The mare stares down at the ground as she fidgets, brushing a hoof across the ground. Her face relaxes from the previous bright red yet her voice still quivers. “I…You wouldn’t let me apologize.”

“Well now you have so leave me alone!” Blackwing demands and turns to leave, desperate to end the storm of emotions that ravages him.

“Marigold.”

Blackwing stops and turns back, staring in blatant confusion at the spontaneous word. “What?”

The mare shifts again in agitated embarrassment with an awkward smile across her face. “My name is Marigold. You asked earlier but I didn’t tell you.” She continues her fidgeting as red begins to flood her face once more. “So…what’s your name?”

“Blackwing,” the pegasus bat says, shocked at how willing he was to tell his name. The emotional storm surges stronger than ever, slamming him in the gut. For having been so angry at everything, he finds a sense of ease softly tapping at the door of his heart. Yet that emotional storm rages still. His eyes fill with confused tears as he quickly turns and leaves. “I’m sorry.”

Blackwing charges through the forest as those cursed tears stream down his face. They burn and chill with no means to identify them as the tears of wrath or sorrow. Perhaps they truly are tears of confusion and chaos. The anger and wrath that he once felt is now diluted within the storm of chaotic emotions. There is only one emotion he can identify, fear.

What is it that I fear? Have I truly become so content with being alone that I fear being with another?

He slows his charge and swaggers as the raging storm within him makes him more nauseous. He leans against a tree to keep from collapsing. His breathing is heavy and ragged. The surge within turns his stomach and wrenches at his throat, threatening to cause him to vomit. Confusion plagues his mind and his vision begins to blur. The tears streak down his face, scraping and chilling his cheeks before dripping to the ground with a near audible sound.

Blackwing looks around at the dark, forbidding forest. He is lost both in surroundings and within himself. He braces against the tree with his wings and struggles to stand. His legs shudder with one leg buckling underneath causing him to drop to a knee. He fights his weary state and growing exhaustion and lifts himself up, once again bracing against the tree. The pegasus bat inches forward, finally releasing the tree, and continues on into the dark woods. There is neither destination nor direction, only the need to move.

Time seems to slow and darkness seems to grow. The seconds feel like minutes and the minutes feel like hours. Still the pegasus bat moves on, stumbling and swaying in his nausea from the storm of emotions that batters his weary mind. Every step, every breath, every twitch of each muscle is labored and painful. The tears that streak down his face burn and chill. They grind and scrape as they slide down before dripping to the ground below. He moves his lips to speak but no sound emerges.

So lost. So confused. Please help me.

Finally, Blackwing comes to a clearing in the desolate woods. Before him lies the ruins of an old castle. A rickety bridge of wooden planks strung together by old rope spans the chasm that stands between him and the ancient dwelling. The dark of night builds as the sun now sits below the horizon and the moon takes its place in the night sky. The pegasus bat creeps across the swaying bridge, hardly mindful of each step, and soon emerges on the other end. A familiar sight gives Blackwing pause.

Before him stands the princess of the night in all her royal beauty. Her horn glows deep blue as she moves the moon into place. Yet a tear softly slides down her lovely cheek. Once finished placing the moon, Princess Luna turns to face the misshapen pony before her. Sorrow and pain fill her face and her cheeks show signs of the tears that have recently scarred her beloved face. She looks at Blackwing with a look of care and pity that pierces his very soul.

Finally, the dam breaks. After years of torment and solitude, years of anger and hatred building within, years of pain, the sorrow is finally released. Those wondrous tears of sorrow and sadness burst forth from Blackwing’s eyes and flood his face falling to the ground like a mighty waterfall. The tears cool and sooth his tortured face, healing the wounds of anger and wrath. Yet the confusion and chaos that hounds him lace those welcome tears. Blackwing gives in to the weariness and drops to the ground. He buries his head within his forelegs and weeps.

Healing

Healing

Why do the wounds of the heart hurt the most? Why does it sting so much to be alone? Why does my anger hurt me more than it hurts others? When some pony hurts you, you feel your heart bleed. When you hurt them, your heart shatters. At least, that’s how I feel. I have been hurt so much. I have raged and hurt myself so much. Can I ever heal this broken heart of mine? Am I doomed to go through life with a heart that has been ground to dust? Just like a body that is damaged beyond repair, is the heart the same?

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Princess Luna looks upon the broken soul before her as he weeps in anguish upon the cold moss-covered stones. Blackwing looks up at the Night Princess through tear filled eyes to see a face he knows well. It is the face of sadness and loss, the face of torment and suffering, the face of anger and betrayal. Could she really know his pain? Could the Night Princess really understand the torment of solitude? Could she know the anger and wrath that comes from being hurt by others, or yourself? He cannot speak. He can only stare at her sorrowful face as he weeps in anguish.

He drops his head between his legs again and allows the tears to continue their violent flow. He lies there, weeping, for what feels like an eternity. The emotions rush about as though being washed away by the torrent of sorrow. But the sorrow only leaves a void where so many negative emotions once were. Then the princess begins to speak.

“Once, so very long ago, I ruled by my sister’s side as I do now. Yet, despite all that I did, I was abandoned by those we watched over. My sister received so much attention and adoration, while I was left alone. I began to resent my sister for the love she gained while I was left in the darkness that I watched over. She began to drift away from me and I only felt more alone. I allowed my jealousy to build upon my anger towards her as I slowly drifted further into darkness. I pushed her away and plunged myself deeper into solitude.

“Eventually, I rose up against her to dethrone her. Outwardly, I hated her and despised her for allowing me to drift into solitude. Yet deep within I knew that it was I who had sought out the darkness. I was banished from the kingdom, sentenced to spend one thousand years of true solitude on the moon. For that thousand years, my bitterness built and my sorrow deepened. Regardless of what my sister had done, I was the one who had caused the most harm. To her and to me. I fell to darkness for my hatred at being left alone. Please do not fall into the same torment I suffered through. All you shall receive is torture and grief.”

As the princess spoke, Blackwing could hear the sorrow in her voice. Her voice quivered as she recounted her story. He could hear every emotion she presented, as though they were his own. Such sorrow, such anger. She knew the solitude he had suffered for so long and still found light and love. Could it be that he could find such love?

Blackwing tries to move or speak, yet his body refuses. He can only blubber as a newborn. In the voice of the Night Princess is care and compassion which strikes at the heart of the pegasus bat. Only once had he known such love. But that time was long past. Only recently had he known such care. Yet he shunned it. And still, the light had found him again. Perhaps the light had always been there and he had simply ignored it.

He ceases his blubbering and struggles to stand, staring at the Night Princess as the tears continue to flow. The tears of sorrow chill his face along with the cold of the night, nearly freezing his cheeks. He wipes his face with a hoof and looks through clearer eyes as Luna begins to slowly walk forward. Her face holds the look of a caring mother and her hoof steps are soft, almost silent. A warm smile sits on her face as she approaches cautiously as to a frightened animal. Blackwing eagerly awaits the love she brings and takes a step forward to embrace that which is to come. Yet at the sound of his step, he is stopped by a near stampeding sound from the dark woods.

The two ponies cease their approach and turn towards the sound to watch as a yellow pegasus bolts out from the forbidding forest and charges towards Blackwing. The pegasus bat can only stare in shock as Marigold barrels towards him. A second later, he is caught in an embrace as the mare slides across the moss laden ground and grapples him as she skids to a halt. The second after the embrace lasts for hours as Marigold holds tightly as her soft wings fold over Blackwing. A soft crying can be heard, yet this is not the sound of sadness but care, even joy.

“You don’t have to be alone anymore,” the mare says through her cries. “I may not know exactly you are going through but you don’t have to go through it alone. From now on, you will never see solitude.”

Blackwing simply sits on the cold ground in stupid confusion. He can hardly comprehend such an action and care. For so long he has been alone and now he has witnessed, even felt, the compassion he sought for so long.

Never be alone?

A dumb smile etches its way across his face as he returns the embrace of the yellow mare and wraps his own misshapen wings around her. He sits there as long as possible to drink in the warmth of love and care. The void of emotions fills with joy and happiness that he had not known in his life.

Oh that this moment should never end.

Princess Luna watches over the two ponies, locked in a loving embrace. As the night passes, the two simply hold to one another even as sleep overtakes them. They slump to the ground yet they never release each other. Luna uses her magic to conjure a warm blanket and places it upon them and sits nearby to watch them throughout the night. Each sleeps peacefully and they share in one another’s dreams. Now, after so long, the young pegasus bat’s dreams are no longer filled with darkness and solitude. Each dreams of the other and the companionship they shall share. The very sight brings tears of joy to her eyes.

“Yet another lost in the dark has found the light that always shines. Sleep well you who were once so alone and dream no more of the darkness that plagued you for so long. Dream of the light. Dream of those that care for you.”