Darkness' Light

One Week Later

One week, that's how long it's been since the day Flare came to visit Canterlot and catch up with me. She spent a total of three days here, catching up on everything that's happened since we last met as well as reminiscing on some of our past adventures with the others listening in. She also got to know everypony as well as hashed out some more details on having Luna and Celestia go and see the town Flare had founded. During that time I also spent some time with my herdmates, friends, and Flare before most of them, Hyperion, Ember, and obviously Diamond staying here with me, to get back to their jobs back home and get Dazzling and Brick back into school. Luckily the two of them didn't really miss much thanks to Cheerilee having grabbed their homework before the three of them left. Also managed to get all the paperwork done for us adopting them and Celestia and Luna fast tracked it so it was official, Cheerilee and I are now legally their mother and father. Of course there were a few request from Cheerilee, like moving in with her and stuff like that. I agreed of course but I wasn't gonna really be moving into her current house as we were going to be moving into another, bigger house in Ponyville so as to accommodate more ponies, or dragon in the case of Hyperion since it's seems my herd was possibly going to growing rather quickly if everything with the rest of the girls goes well.

The rest of the week seemed to crawl on by as I was left with little to nothing to do. I wanted to try investigate the strange feeling I had gotten the other day but the girls had me pretty much placed me under house arrest after Flare had left. I'm not too happy about it but I do kinda get why they did it. Of course I could just leave whenever since I highly doubt any of the guards could really be considered a challenge in any way, and they know that I could break any barrier they could put up, but I choose to stay anyway to show them that I'm willing to listen to them. Today though, I'm gonna break that as all the time alone as left me time to think on things, and one of those things was the fact that I hadn't gone to visit my family's grave since I've been back. Celestia and Luna have already told me where it is, and I've had plenty of time before all this to do so, but I can admit that I've been. . . reluctant, to go visit them. The fact that they're gone, even now, still hasn't fully set in and admittedly a part of me is still in denial.

May have to do with something Celestia told me when I asked about how they died. Till this day I still receive only a vague answer from her but I don't try to push her because she seems just as uncertain about it as I do, though one fact does remain, they're bodies aren't in their graves, something most don't know. That knowledge is known only to a few, Celestia, Luna, me, and Sun Spear seeing as she's perhaps the strongest of the current generation and the one one would bear carry on the duty of protecting the H.O.L. if they ever found it. There was more but they're obviously dead and gone now but the fact that Celestia is trying to keep it under wraps does peak my curiosity and is just one of the many things I have to look into.

Right now I was looking out into the distance while sitting on the window sill, back against the wall and one leg hanging out. I hear the door open but don't look to see who it is, thinking it's one of the guards, at least until I feel an arm drape across my shoulder and a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey there Great Uncle Dark, sounds like you've been causing trouble for the last couple weeks." Came Sun's mirth filled greeting.

I turn so I can give her a proper hug before replying back, "Yeah, you can definitely say that Sun, and I take you're here to berate me as well since you weren't here with the others."

"Nah, I think you've gotten enough from everypony else. . . .just please don't do anything like that again Dark. Hyperion told me the state you were in after everything and I don't want to have to bury you so soon after meeting you." I hugged her tighter, not needing to see her to know that she was tearing up.

"Don't worry Sunny, I'm not going anywhere, not as long as I have anything to say about it." She leans into me, sniffling a bit. I nuzzle her, letting her know it's alright.

"Thanks Uncle, I needed that." She says as she returns the nuzzle before letting go of me and standing straight up. "Been awhile since I've spent time with anything resembling family since I've joined the guard, and then you show you up and I don't feel so alone anymore so I definitely don't want you to go dying on me after everything we've been through mister."

I laugh a bit at that, "Trust me Sunny, I definitely don't plan on it, and even if I did I'm sure the lot of you would find some way to bring me back anyway."

"Most likely through your own research and spells, because I'm sure you've got some research into necromancy, or are gonna start it soon."

"I'm neither going to deny nor agree with that but before you ask, even I was doing it I'm not going to use it to bring them back. Even if I wanted to it wouldn't be very fair to all those that mostly like wish that they could do the same, and it would definitely throw off the natural balance of things, something even I don't want to mess with, too much." She gives me a sad smile, thankfully not having heard that last part, as I'm sure she has an idea of just how much I want to do just that.

"Well that the mood has been lightened a bit, what were you planning on doing today, besides being stuck in here?"

"I was actually thinking that it's a bout time I go visit everyone."

"What do you mean 'go visit everyone'?" She asked with visible confusion. "You already said you had no real interest in finding anypony else from our family unless you happen upon them like you did me, and everypony else that we know is either here or in Ponyville and they know that you're going to be staying here until the princesses say otherwise."

"I think you're missing someponies there Sunny."

"Hmm, who else am I mis-sing. . .oh so you're thinking of finally going?"

"Yeah, but I don't want to go alone, I was thinking of gathering everpony here at the castle before I do. I-I could really use you all there if I'm being honest here." I tell her as I stare off into space, some of my memories of the good times replaying before my eyes as if I was there again, if only for a moment before I refocus on my Great Niece. "I don't know the state I'll be in when we get there but I know it'll make me feel much better having you all there, to let them all know that I'm doing well and that I've found others that I can call my family, my friends, and my lovers," I smile as my mother's, father's, and Tender Heart's smiling visage appears in my mind. "And of course to let them know that I'm on my way to becoming truly happy."

"Oh god, please stop!" Came Shadow's unwanted input, I was abut to say something but then came what sounded like a frying pan hitting something.

"Don't worry about him Dark Heart, just go and do your thing, I'm sure your mother would love to hear from you again, no matter where she may be." Nova chimed in happily.

I could only mentally roll my eyes as I jump up from the window sill "Alright, so how about we go gather everypony and make our way over there?"

"You sure that's a good idea, you're aren't supposed to leave the room unless they allow it, even then I'm sure they're both busy right now."

"Eh, I'm sure it'll be fine, I'm sure they'll forgive me for both disobeying them and pulling them from their work, they might actually be grateful since right about now I'm sure court is in session and I'm sure those snotty noble are making ridiculous demands again, like always." I state back casually, knowing that's exactly what's happening right now.

"Hmmm, you may have a point. I've never known Princess Celestia to be too happy about holding court when I used to have guard duty here at the castle, same for Princess Luna from what I heard from the night guards." She said, hand holding her chin as she went into a thinking pose.

"Well then I guess it's settled, let's go find us-" I was interrupted by a knock at the door, which was soon opened with a familiar white horn following before the rest of my surprise guest appeared from behind the door. "Oh, looks like we won't have to go looking for her after all."

This, of course, served to confuse Celestia, then after a second she was looking at me suspiciously. "Why would you be looking for me, what are you planning Dark Heart, especially since you know you're aren't supposed to leave this room without permission until me and Luna say otherwise." She warned me, though with no real malice or anything else of the sort behind it.

"I know, I know, but I'm sure you'd make an exception to go see some old friends Celly, you and Luna both." Her look of suspicion disappeared and was replaced with a look of concern before that was replaced with a sad smile and a look of understanding shortly after.

"So you're finally going?"

"Yeah, but I don't want to go alone. I'm sure you already guessed that Sun Spear is going and before you showed up we were going to gather you, Diamond, Ember, Hyperion, and Luna to come with me. I'm sure those two are bored, and you and Luna would like to get away from the paper and snobs for a bit." I tell her as I walk up to her, put a hand over her shoulder and am already walking down the hall before she knows what's going on. All she does is give me an amuse smile as she realizes what I just did and continues to walk with us, my arm still around her shoulder. We walk that way for a good bit, going over to Luna's room first since we didn't actually know where Ember and Hyperion were at the moment and Diamond was currently with Luna who was in her room. Wasn't long into the walk before the comfortable silence around us wasn't so comfortable anymore with no pony else to blame but me so it wasn't long before I stopped, which of course made them stop, especially Celestia, my arm still being around her shoulder and all. "Hey Celestia?"

"Yes Dark Heart, what is it?" She answered, still not moving away but looking right at me, though I wasn't looking at her.

"I just wanted to say thank you, for everything. We haven't had the best start to our relationship but you've done what you can to make it up to me and have been patient with me, just as most of the others have," I move around to stand directly in front of her, my hand on both of her shoulders. "I do hope I can be better than I have been since my release so I don't make you lot worry so much. I know none of you want to lose me, whether it be through death or corruption, and are willing to do whatever needs to be done to prevent that. Thanks to the time I've had being in my room alone I've come to realize something important with the relationship with me, you, and Luna."

"Important you say, and what would that be?" She asked, thoroughly confused yet intrigued.

I give her a little smile before pulling her into a hug, "I've realized that I've been a shitty brother to you and I want to change that." Don't to she her face to know that she's smiling, especially when she returns the embrace.

"Apology accepted Dark Heart, and while you're right about a bit of a crummy little brother, I won't really hold it against you, after all, all little siblings are like that to their older siblings right." She says with a bit of mirth in her voice. "I'm just glad that you've forgiven me and Luna for our own transgressions against and have not only found a relationship with Luna, but with me as well. I can't tell you how much it warms my heart to hear that you consider me your sister, even though you and Luna haven't officially married yet."

"Hehe, even if me and Luna were to break up I would call you my big sister, though of course I definitely don't want to lose her. just as much as I don't want to lose anypony else I've become close with. I've found ponies I want to protect, something I didn't think I would find when I was freed." I rest my head upon her shoulder, feeling very relaxed in her embrace thanks to the natural warmth she gives off.

"Dark Heart, you have your rough patches, but I know you're willing to work through them to become a better pony, to prove all those that doubted you wrong. I know if your parents were here, they would have properly laid into you just as the rest of us had when you came back, same with your sisters and Tender Heart, and then told you just how proud they are that you went through such lengths to save somepony you hardly knew." She holds me tighter, squeezing me till it's almost painful, but I don't really mind cause I like being in her embrace just as much as I loved being in my mother's. "We were all scared that you wouldn't come back us, we had no doubt that the three of them would have came back because they had you there, because we knew that if worse had came to be, that you would sacrifice yourself to get them home. Imagine our surprise, and more importantly our dismay, when we heard that you had almost done just that when you had reached the safety of the Crystal Empire. I know we haven't shown it all that well thanks to everything but we all love you deeply Dark Heart, in one way or another, especially now that you've allowed us to see more of the pony you've kept hidden away from most everypony all this time. I know I may sound a bit like a broken record when I say this, but you can let go Dark Heart, you don't have to hide from us, you don't have to bare your burdens alone, and more importantly you can count on us to help the best we can. Let us protect you just like you're willing to protect us cause that's what friends do, what family does, and you Dark Heart are my family, from now and forever more." By this point Celestia's tears are running down onto my shirt and making a bit of a wet spot on my shoulder and her grip had actually become a bit painful, but I endured it because I could feel her pain, her sorrow, almost reminds me of the way my mother would hug me whenever I ran off by myself when I was little. I would be out for most of the day and not show up until a little after dinner would have started. She freaked out a lot back then even though I had done it for almost a year straight. Of course I stopped after a while, mainly cause I didn't like seeing my mother like that, seeing her so afraid when normally she's so fearless, not taking shit from anypony. I definitely understand why she was like that now that I have Brick and Dazzling to look after.

"Sorry. . .Big sis, I'll try to not make you worry so much in the future." Was what I whispered in her ear after it seemed like she had nothing more to say.

She giggles a bit before responding, "Please see that you don't, I don't want to lose my new little brother so soon." She lets go of me as she pulls back enough to look me in the eyes. "Now how about we go find the others, I'm sure your parents have been eager to hear from you again." A happy nod is her only response as we pull apart a bit more to look directly into each other eyes, or at least that was the case until Sun Spear wormed her way between us.

"You two haven't forgotten about me have you?" She asks as she wraps her arms around us. Celestia and I shared a look before wrapping our arms around her as well, giving her a tight squeeze. "Ack, okay, okay, I feel the love, you can let go now." We laugh at that, including Sun Spear after we let her go.

"Well ladies, shall we?" I gestured down the hall, and after they walk past me I start following behind them as we head towards Luna's room once more.