Here within the Dark

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.”