Darkness' Light

~Later in the evening~

"And that was how I defeated two manticores single-handedly with my trusty Black Thorn here." Flare said as she finished her story while patting at the sheath that held her personal blade and I can tell you first hand that that damn thing packs a punch despite it's size. This is how it's been after introductions, everypony seemed to be getting along great with Flare, especially Brick and Dazzling after hearing about some of her own exploits, that mare never did know how to sit still for very long. Since then, they've also seemed fit to ignore me, and I mean completely as in even when I do try to add something into the conversation they act as though they didn't hear a damn thing I said. My guess is that all may not be as forgiven as they let on since I've been sitting up on one of the support arcs up by the roof just listening to all of them chat about, not a single one of them even bothering to ask where I went off to or taking a glance around to see that I'm gone.

"You know you kinda deserve it right, after the stunts you've pulled and what you've said in the last 48 hours. Can you really blame them for just ignoring you like this?" Nova said as I looked down at everypony.

"Lay off Nova, they said they forgave him but he didn't have their trust, that doesn't amount to flat out ignoring him like this." Shadow threw back at her before speaking to me. "Hey Drake, let's just go back to been a long time since I've seen Flare and I would love to get some time to chat with her myself after so long. They want to ignore me then so be it, I'll take it like I have in the past and move on with my day until they want to contact me for whatever.

"I know you may not think so but I can assure you Shadow, that I do believe they are rather justified in how they're handling all this. I also believe-" Nova was about to go on her rant when I decided to speak up.

'Nova,'

"Yes?"

'Shut up.' I growled at her using my darker, more demonic voice which I could feel the both of them giving me a wide-eyed look of shock through our link but I didn't really care seeing as how I already know I've fucked up but I don't need to be reminded, repeatedly, of it as well when I'm already trying to fix things. 'I know of your opinion on the matter, I don't need it repeatedly thrown into my face by somepony who should be helping me fix it instead of constantly reminding me of my mistakes, it's something I'd expect more from Shadow, not you, Nova.' I finally told her after hours of dealing with it constantly along with being ignored by my friends and family. Seemed to work rather well too seeing as though she has gone silent.

'Think it's about time I got home and check on some of those projects I left going.' I thought to myself before taking a glance at the group below to see that they were still engrossed in the conversations with Flare. My horn lit up with dark magic as I opened a portal in front of the window I was sitting in front of. I take one more look towards them before leaning back and falling through the portal and land on my feet in front of the entrance to my little, cozy cave I call my home. "Well, nothing seems to have off my perimeter wards so I guess they're finally working like they're supposed to." I told myself as I make my way inside. Making my way to the very back of the cave I channel my dark magic into the wall in front of me as another portal opens up on the floor. Jumping into the portal and into what is my private study/lab, making sure to close the portal once I'm through, and look around at the couple of projects I've been working on here and there whenever I have the time. It was only two at the moment but both were important even if they didn't seem like it. Towards the wall to my left sat three orbs of magic, one was a white orb that was my regular magic, another was a black orb that was my dark magic, and the last was a charcoal color with little wisps coming off of it like the remnants of a freshly put out fire, that orb was the remnants of Sombra's dark magic that I had managed to gather from outside the borders of the Crystal Empire when me, Hyperion, and Ember had arrived there The two orbs of my two different magics were hovering around the orb that was Sombra's magic with tendrils connecting the two to it. This particular project was to see what kind of effects my magics had the dark magic that most know of and what better test subject than the dark king of the Crystal Empire, or rather his remnants.

Seeing that everything was stable on that end, I look towards my desk on the other side of the room was something that would more than likely get me into tons of trouble if the others knew, even though it was for a good purpose. On the desk were various containers that had the body parts of the various species that we know exist, and that does also include pony, changeling, and dragon limbs. How I had gotten them wasn't anything really illegal as I had my shadows gather anything they could find out in the world from those caught in natural disasters or freak accidents, to those that were attacked my wild animals and the like. As for the reason I have them all, well I've decided to study up on necromancy. Honestly I'm rather confused as to why I've decided to study such a field as it's one of the practices of dark magic that I despise the most but for some odd reason I have a feeling I'm going to need it. Correction on that, I know exactly why I may need it, necromancy is used to bring the dead back to life, but does that only have to apply towards bringing back somepony from death's grasps or could I work it so that it could revive what are essentially dead limbs. Help those who have lost the use of their limbs, whether it be an arm, leg, eyesight, hearing, and what ever else that normal medicine and regular magical healing can't fix. When I said I was going to show the world that dark magic wasn't as bad as they all believe it to be. That with the right heart and proper training and supervision, it could change the world, and for the better if all goes well.

Anyway, getting back to what I was doing, I went and checked the containers holding the specimens I've managed to collect and making sure they were still in good condition and once I was satisfied with that I checked on the notes I've written down so far. After all it was still possible for somepony to find this place as it was actually a part of the cave that I've made my home that is naturally sealed off. Spirit could easily gathering quite the following and send them out to do some recruiting so it's not too far fetched to say that there's always the possibility that a rather skilled diamond dog could find this place and stolen my notes, and all without leaving a trace of their presence ever having been here. Looking through everything, it seemed it was all fine and I was about to make my way out when I got a signal from one of my shadows. Heeding its call, I channel some magic into my eyes and established a connection with the shadow calling out to me and found out it was in Canterlot Castle and started to have the feeling that I knew what this was about. Once I fully establish the connection, I look around through it's eyes before I notice Flare staring straight at me, tapping her hoof on the ground with her arms crossed in front of her generous bust and narrowed eyes.

We stare at each other for a bit before she finally speaks, "Well...... ?" I sigh from nodding to her and disconnected from the shadow before teleporting the where it had been.

"Yes?" I asked and she growled at me.

"I come to visit you after a millennia and you decide to just leave without saying a word?"

"You were talking the everypony else, who clearly didn't want to have me be a part of any bit of any of your conversations and had been sitting up on that window sill for a couple hours before I finally decided I wanted to do something while all of you were getting to know each other. I'm actually kind of surprised that any of you noticed I had left so soon, I suspected it would've taken another 30 minutes at least." I stated truthfully, not caring about the offended looks I got from the others, or the emotions that came with them that I felt through my dark magic.

"This isn't a joke Dark Heart! You just up and leave without saying a word after having been in the hospital not too long ago and yet you don't really seem to care about what could happen to you!" Flare shouted at me to which I raise my brow at her.

"And makes you think I don't care?" I asked but put up my hand to keep her answering. "I told them I was going to try stopping my reckless behavior and I meant it. I just went home real quick to check on a couple projects, maybe get a little work done on them, and be right back before you used my shadows to call me back." I told her which seemed to make her simmer down a bit but she still looked a bit miffed with me. "Besides, what would you have done if were you left out the group and couldn't be a part of it no matter how you tried, not because you don't too, but because nopony else does? What would any of you had done being left out for a good couple of hours?" I asked them all now as I wasn't going to sit here and be the object of their scrutiny. I've had enough of it throughout my life and while I know I'll never be able to escape it I don't need it from the ponies that are supposed to be my friends, my family.

'Goddess, I really wish my parent and Tender Heart were here, I think I could really use a familiar face, besides Flare, right about now.'I thought sadly to myself, not realizing a single tear was shed, or that everyone else saw it until I felt hands grab my face as the thumb from whoever had grabbed my face had wiped it away. My vision refocused in on my surroundings and I saw Flare with a worried look on her face. Looking away from the look she was giving me, I saw that everypony else had similar expressions.

"Dark Heart, what wrong?" Flare's question drew my attention back to her and I give her a smile in response.

"It's nothing Flare, just thinking about somethings, nothing to worry about." I told her with a convincing smile.

"You were thinking about how much you missed your parents and Tender Heart, and were wishing they were here, weren't you?" Did I forget to mention that this mare seems to be able to read my mind whenever it comes to stuff like this. Ever since we've met, whenever I seemed to get any kinds of emotional she seems to be able to tell what thoughts had lead to that state and it's not through magical means, I, or the two that share my mind, would have felt such an invasive probe that is that type of magic.

*Sigh* "Yeah, I was thinking about how much I missed them, I know it sounds to include my sisters into that but we've never met so I guess those feelings are a bit muted for them as compared to my parents and Tender Heart but I do miss them all the same." I said as I returned the hug that Flare had enveloped me in when I had sighed. I held onto her tightly as it seemed a bit of the dam of emotional baggage I had put up had released a bit of said baggage as I silently cried into her shoulder with her holding me in her arms and whispering comforting words. While this was happening, I still had my emotion sensing abilities active and I could feel their anger and irritation waning as they looked at me, including Nova, and it seemed to remind them all that despite everything I could do, despite all the foes I face without fear of my own safety, despite the fact I can give the finger to any, and all of the gods and goddesses without fear of retaliation, I'm still stallion with feelings. I can still feel pain, anger, sadness, and sorrow. Seemed that was the moment they all realized that no matter what I said, what I did, that there was still a part of me that is stuck in the past, before Nightmare Moon imprisoned me in the amulet, before I ran, shit even before I discovered my special talent and got my cutiemark. That teenager that was happy going about life the way he was, everything nice, calm, and peaceful with a loving mother and supportive father with a family friend that was basically aunt with two cute little sisters to show up a few months soon after. Part of me wished for that life back so badly if for nothing more than to be able to spend the rest of my days with the family I knew and loved when I had my place in the world and was actually happy about it. Those selfish thoughts run through my head a lot, and I do mean a lot, but then I remember everything I've done so far since my release. I remember saving Fluttershy from both Spirit here at the castle and then at Ponyville from that the pack of Timberwolves where I got to meet Ember, I remember finding Brick, Gleaming, and Sun over in Glade and saving Hyperion from the control of the Demon Lord, I remember meeting Diamond and think back to the rescue operation I put together to rescue her. Then there's getting together with Luna, becoming friends with Pinkie, Cheerilee, and Zecora. Going to much more recently with what just happened a bit ago, finding out Cheerilee loves me mores than a friend, same with Zecora and Pinkie, with Hyperion, Diamond, and lastly Luna already having said and shown me their own love already it all starts making me think, What have I done to deserve any of this? Which is then followed by the thought, You have been yourself, From a voice deep inside my mind says, and I know it isn't either Shadow or Nova.

'Damn it, why does this keep happening, I thought I more control over my emotions than this but here I am, breaking down once again in front of all of them. They shouldn't be seeing this, they should be able to look at me as their pillar of strength, not like I'm an ordinary stallion that needs to be coddled, that needs to be comforted like a child!' I shouted inside my head, not really looking for an answer from either of my roommates.

That didn't stop one of them answering anyway.

"Because Dark Heart, at the end of the day, that's what you are. Even with your all your magical power, even with all the responsibilities laid upon your shoulders, even with all the things you have endured that no ordinary pony would on a daily basis, you are a still a normal pony once you're back home, safe and sound within the arms of those that you love and who love you. You are indeed destined for greatness with an unknown path that could take you anywhere and you could become anything but remember this, in the eyes of everyone in that room right now, they do see you as you want them too but they also see you as one of them, a stallion with the same needs as any other, especially emotionally." Nova said in the same gentle and loving voice that had me endeared to her once I had ran away. The same voice that I needed to hear when I felt I was alone and full of fear. The voice of a mother trying to soothe their scared child when the world starts becoming too much too handle. Nova was my mother when I was alone for all those years, both before and after I had been sealed in the amulet.

Back then I felt trapped and scared beyond belief because of what had happened and the consequences of said action, I had a break down for the first couples hours and it to-

"Dark..... Heart" My eyes shot open and I pushed myself away from Flare's grasp when I heard somepony call out my name though it was incredibly faint. I looked around, trying to listen for the voice again, putting my hand up when one of the girls tried to say something. After a few minutes, and not hearing anything else, I put my hand down back to my side and sighed as I scratched my head.

"I must be hearing things." I finally said as everyone let out a sigh of relief. Think they were afraid that this would start yet another little adventure for me or something like that, not that I can blame them. Every time I seem to hear voices nopony else does I get thrown into some mess or another.

"Well that aside, are you feeling better Dark Heart?" Flare asked me as she put her hand on my chest, rigth above my heart.

I gave her a grateful smile, "Yeah, I am feeling a lot better Flare, thank you." I said as I grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it which seemed to get a cute little blush to appear on cheeks.

"I'm glad.... you know we don't mean to be so harsh on you but-" She started but I stopped her with a finger over her lips.

"It's alright Flare, I get it, I really do. I've been invested in my own image for so long that it's been blinding me to everything I have been taking for granted lately and that little break down was just what I needed to let my guard down enough to let some words of wisdom to really reach my ears and through this thick skull of mine." I told her as I sent a 'thank you' to Nova.

"Glad to hear that you have finally come back to your senses Dark, you were starting to worry me there." Luna said as she grabbed my other hand with both of hers, looking away as I saw the beginning of tears appear in her eyes. "We were beginning to fear that your dark magic was corrupting you after all."

I brought my hand up, after Flare had let go of it, and brought it up to cup Luna's muzzle and gently guided it so she was looking straight into my eyes. "That won't ever happen Luna, I would much rather give up on my dark magic then put the rest of you through seeing me like that." I declared with a strong conviction which made them all gasps, including the two inside me.

"I thought you were against doing such a thing Dark Heart, isn't that what started that whole fiasco a millennium ago?" Celestia asked, thoroughly confused at my declaration.

"No, what started it was you two trying to forcefully take it from me and expecting me to live with it for the rest of my days." Was my response, no malice or hate in my voice, just an indifference that still made the two of them flinch, especially Luna who I had tightened my grip on to let her know I still love her all the same. "Had that not have happened then things wouldn't be as they are but whether that's a good or bad thing I don't know but I can tell you that there are definitely pros and cons to both." This got looks of understanding from everyone as they all seemed to know just how much of a mess that is to figure out as anything could happened between then and now.

After that we all had moved over to the dining hall for dinner, which Celestia had asked to kitchen staff to bring a feast since we had all missed lunch. This time I was sitting to the right Luna at the head of the table with Flare to my right. We were all holding hands as I could feel the love radiating from the both of them, more from Flare than Luna though I know that was more from the fact that Flare was eating up that love from Luna. She would try to eat from me but I'm covered in a veil of darkness at all times so getting to my happier emotions is next to impossible for changelings, unless they wanted to poison themselves that is. The others were watching with rapt attention at a changeling's way of eating up close and personal, and I could see Twilight taking notes as well, and they seemed to be fascinated by it. Got to admit that it was a little creepy, so I was glad when Zecora finally said something.

"Excuse me Queen Flare, She started, getting the mares attention, "I thought a changeling feeding left those they fed on quite tired and feeling down but Princess Luna doesn't seem to be suffering any ill effects, why is that?"

"That's quite simple my dear Zecora. When love is extracted forcefully, and yes, that does include means such as mind control, it drain the emotional and physical energy of the victim. Given willing on the other hand, it provides so much more of the energy and nutrients we changelings actually need to grow healthy." Flare explained which got intrigued looks from everypony that hadn't already known. "And despite recent events, I can happy say that I've helped found a small, hidden away, little village where ponies and changelings are living together in harmony even after Chrysalis' stunt at Princess Cadance, and Captain Shining Armor's wedding." She added in happily and with no small amount of pride.

"Is that so well then I would very much like to see this village one day and see if I can't try doing to same for the rest of Equestria." Celestia said, obviously happy about the news.

"That's fine by me Princess, I know the citizen would be happy to hear that you not only accept them but would like to use them as an example of the rest of Equestria and I'll be glad to help however I can. Dark Heart knows where it is so whenever you would like to come, I'm sure he'd be more than happy to show you the way should I be unable to do so personally." She stated, getting the others to stare at me.

"Yes, I know where it is and we set it up before my imprisonment after finding them being chased by an angry mob. Flare offered them a place where they could live when peace without having to worry about such a thing again when she learned why they being chased and the ridicule they had suffered before finally being chased out." I told them before they could actually ask.

"Just how much are you involved in stuff like this DarkHeart, you hadn't been gone that long after the day you ran away before you were imprisoned?" Luna asked with a questioning look.

"Not enough I can tell you that." Was my simple response which made Luna sighed while she shook her head but I could her smiling as well.

"DarkHeart,"

"Yeah hun?"

"Never stop being the kind stallion I know you really are." Luna said while smiling warmly at me, a smile I've been missing these last few days.

"I'll try, but you know I can't guarantee anything." I joked, which got me a light slap on my arms from both sides and made me laugh a bit. "Love you Luna, love all you girls and I gotta say I'm really thankful to have you all as my friends, family, and lovers." I said as my eyes scanned over everyone at the table as my eyes landed on the two foals here. "Same goes for you two, Dazzling and Brick, and if you really want me to be your new dad then it would be, to my greatest joy, to be one of your new parents." I announce with a big, rare kind of smile that I've ever made in my life, one that seemed rather infectious as everyone else had their own slowly make their way to each cheek. Almost everyone I should say as Dazzling and Brick had their own teary eyed smiles as they both jumped from their seat and bolted straight for me. I got out of my chair and was kneeling down on my knees with my arms wide open as the two bolted right into me and I wrapped them in my protective embrace. I held onto them tightly as they buried their muzzles into my chest as they tried to wrap their little arms around me as much as they could, also trying to hold me just as tightly. Smiling down at the two foals with all the love I had to give them, kissing the top their heads. I could feel the eye of everyone else on use and could feel the happiness emanating from all of them at the scene.

Feeling my own happiness rising by the second, feeling the joy wash over me, feeling all of the negative emotions that are normally within just vanish, it was then that I felt.... something, a foreign feeling well up deep inside me, deep inside my soul but it had soon vanished when I tried to focus on it.

'What wasthat?' Was the only thing that was said between me and my tenants.