Even in Darkness There is Light

I didn’t get much sleep that night.  I thought long and hard about what Fate said to me.  In fact I wasn’t in such a good mood.  The numbness left my body and it seemed I was able to walk normally again.  As Fate suggested we left early so that we could make it to Canterlot by the end of the day if we were lucky.  I wonder what Canterlot will be like.  Maybe I will get a chance to meet one of the Princesses.

“I see you’re up and walking again, I was worried I would have to carry you again.” I flicked my tail into his face.

“Indeed, let’s go.” We continued to follow the road which we assumed would lead us straight to Canterlot.  I have heard many tales of the city but I was actually going to see it with my own eyes and for the first time!  Though I wondered what the ponies there would be like.

“Canterlot is one of those cities where many wealthy ponies and aristocrats live.  They don’t take too kindly to commoners I guess you could say,” Fate explained. Ugh great, I’m a commoner I guess. “Yeah but we won’t be there for long maybe get a map and some more supplies at least for the journey ahead.”

“Do you think the Princesses will be there when we visit?” I asked desperately.

“I doubt it, they usually have other duties to attend to and it’s usually really rare to have an audience with them. It’s common sense why would the Princesses need an audience with a commoner?” Wow! You didn’t have to say it like that you jerk!

“Fate does make a good point Destiny,” said Crystal, “but don’t worry I’m sure one day you will get a chance to meet them.” I sighed knowing that they were right and I have no cutie mark.  “Hey what’s that?” I looked up to see what looked to be a Unicorn who was collecting herbs.  Something was peculiar about the Unicorn; her eyes were covered in bandages.  “You think we should confront her?” Crystal asked in a worried tone.

“She’s blind…” Fate stated.

“What she’s blind!?” I exclaimed in surprise.

“Why else would her eyes be bandaged?” The fact that she was blind it didn’t seem like she was discouraged by it.  She was humming and gracefully picking her herbs with her Unicorn magic.  She was beautiful with her sky blue coat and ivory colored mane.  We walked towards her in no means to frighten her.  She heard the clopping of our steps and became alert looking in our direction.  She showed her teeth and growled at us like some wild beast.

“Stop where you are, what is your business here?” The mysterious Unicorn asked.

“We mean you no harm,” I replied, “we are simply passing by on our way to Canterlot.”

“Canterlot… That place is so cursed… Get out!”

“Why do you hate Canterlot?” she didn’t reply with a bright flash she’d vanished.  I felt a sharp pain near my chest and noticed that I had been impaled, yet again by a horn of a Unicorn.  Celestia be damned why am I always getting stabbed by Unicorns!? It was harsh because she was blind but I pushed her with such force with my hooves to get her horn out of my chest.  Deep crimson blood streamed down from my wound I had just received.  I fell to a kneeling position.

“I just missed your heart, I’ll make sure to not make the same mistake.” What have I gotten myself into? This Unicorn surely possesses a lot of hate just like me…

“Let me handle this…” Fate stepped in front of me.  Crystal came to support me so I could stand properly.  “You have great potential, and I admire you for that but hurting innocent ponies I cannot allow.”

“How would you understand the pain I have experienced?”

“You have not accepted your fate! I must teach you the error of your ways.”  She teleported again vanishing from Fate’s sight, but he did not panic.  He remained calm and mysterious as he always did.  His eyes were shut like he was concentrating where she would appear.  His eyes suddenly open and he took flight and got a good punch right into the Unicorn’s gut.  It all happened so fast.  The blind Unicorn fell to the ground unconscious from the swift blow from Fate.  “Tie her up; we can’t have her causing any more trouble.”

“What do you plan to do with her?” I asked curiously.

“Take her with us, and talk some sense into her,” he replied as he slipped some sort of paper charm on her horn.

“What’s that Fate?” Crystal questioned.

“It’s a magic seal. It will prevent her in using magic to escape let alone try to harm us.  Enough questions we’ve wasted enough time and it looks like we won’t be able to reach Canterlot tonight.” I let out a big sigh.  Half of it is probably my fault in wanting to confront her. Why am I so useless? “Let’s get you bandaged up Destiny.  That wound could’ve been fatal given if she aimed a bit more to the left.”  He took some bandages that we had packed before in my saddlebags and wrapped it around my wound to stop the bleeding.

“Will you be able to walk by yourself Destiny?”

“Yeah I should be fine thanks Crystal.” We stalled long enough, Fate slowly picked up the unconscious Unicorn and we continued en route to Canterlot.

I guess I was wrong, the wound seemed to be more severe than I had thought it to be.  I only slowed us down due to the extreme pain.  Fate insisted that we set up camp for the night, but I argued back that we should press on.  I just didn’t want to be a hindrance to the others.  I have brought nothing but trouble to Fate, to Crystal, and even myself.  My body gave in to the pain and I agreed with Fate that we should rest.  Still, I feel like I’m always a burden. We were supposed to make it to Canterlot by nightfall. This is my entire fault…

“Hey, don’t look so sad Destiny.” Fate said trying to calm me. “It’s ok tomorrow we will make it to Canterlot.”

“Do you think I’m a burden? Be honest with me.”

“I think of no such thing, you can’t always be blaming yourself for everything. You’ve been acting very negative ever since Destiny. Is there something on you mind?”

“It seems everywhere I go I bring trouble along with me. Crystal lost her home near Ponyville because of me, we were attacked by a random bounty hunter because it was my idea to scavenge for food, and now we delayed our trip to Canterlot for me wanting to confront the Unicorn.”

“Destiny I am grateful that you rescued me that day, and I could care less about the house. What matters is that you are my friend and that no one else has expressed their kindness towards me… They would all run away or spit insults at me knowing that I meant no harm.  To me you are my light in the darkness. You showed to me that day that all is not lost, that there may be a chance for change.”

“Agreed, you are no burden to us Destiny. Please do not think that way…”

“Thank you the two of you…” I felt at ease knowing that Crystal and Fate supported me.  Crystal especially, it was the first time I ever heard her talk like that.  Light in the darkness…

While all the commotion was happening the blind Unicorn regained consciousness and struggled trying to free herself.  Her hooves were bound and her horn was sealed from using any form of magic, she wasn’t going anywhere.  “Release me!” She sure had a lot of fight left in her.

“Relax, we just want to talk.” Fate reassured.

“You say talk but why are my hooves bonded with rope and why can’t I use my magic?”

“Simple, so you cannot hurt those around you who are innocent. You nearly killed one of my friends and I can see that there is something you are hiding. Are you going to talk or no?”

“Why should I…” It was clear she did not want to talk nor be friendly.  She was rendered helpless.  I decided to step in and see if I could talk some sense into her.

“We mean you no harm, but I can see you have a strong hatred for other ponies. You and I are more alike than you know.” I was trying to soother her so she would talk nicely.

“How so?”

“Ever since I was little I was never able to get my cutie mark, to this day I am 18 and I still do not have it. I was diagnosed with a strange case where I would never be able to obtain one. It’s the sad truth and at times I believed that I was not special. All the other ponies laughed at me or put me down.  I started to hate other ponies, and when I left and arrived at Ponyville I believed that things would be different. But I was wrong; I saw a group of colts bullying a type of pony I had never seen. It was a Changeling and I acted upon instinct and left one of those colts with blood dripping down his face. It made me angry that such ponies could do such a thing. I have never ventured out in the land of Equestria before but even now I know to see that there is much hate in this world. I want to rid that hate and change this land so that everypony can be treated equally. I am not your enemy and I do not blame you for attacking me, you must have your reasons and I have mine.”

“Sadly I am surprised that you didn’t kill me…”

“Why in the name of Equestria would we kill you?” Crystal asked

“I tried to kill you, and I would be more than happy to leave this world than live in it.”

“Don’t say such things!” I spat back at her. “Killing you would mean nothing to us it would just make us look evil, like I said before we are not your enemy.”

“Just end it now. Please… I do not wish to live any longer...”

“I don’t want to… You have done nothing wrong, you were only defending yourself. Any other pony would have done the same.”

“You lie! You pity me because I am blind! I do not need your pity.”

“That’s enough Aria!” Fate yelled out. Aria?

“How… How do you know my name when I had not told you?” she seemed surprised.

“It was fate that we would meet, but you should listen to Destiny. She forgives you for attacking her yet you still want her to take your life. Now I am uncertain if I should take off the bindings and the seal so you don’t do something foolish…”

“Aria is it? Hear me out… Tell me your story; I want to know why you are feeling this way. Maybe you would feel better at least telling someone then keeping in all this time.”  She stood silent for a while.  Then she seemed to muster up the courage to finally speak.

“I’m from Canterlot,” she started, “Ever since I was a filly I was blind. My eyes were covered in bandages ever since i was young. It was a nightmare for me especially for living in Canterlot. Ponies in Canterlot are too worried about their bits and style. My parents ran a clinic in Canterlot, the ponies there were always rude to them and saying that the lower class did not belong there. I felt I was most hurt, I mean I was blind. I had no friends, I was picked on for not having the ability to see. I thought of taking off the bandages one day to see if it would help, but even so it didn’t change anything... Then one tragic day my mother caught an illness unknown to my father. He desperately tried to get some medicine but the ponies there were stubborn and we did not have the bits to pay for it. We couldn’t do anything, and mother passed away that same day. Father decided we were going to move out of town after my mother’s death. In this forest isolated from others. In a way I was happy to be out of there. Sadly my father caught the same illness that my mother had and there was nothing I could do. He passed away but he told me this. Aria… Become the best medical pony in the world no matter what so others do not have to suffer the same as your mother and I have… And so far I kept my word…  I always blamed the ponies of Canterlot for the death of my parents. What can cause ponies not to help others in dire need?” I could see her bandages get moist, knowing that she was crying. I walk towards her and gave her a comforting hug.

“Aria… I’m sorry to hear that. You’re not alone though, we are your friends.”

“Y-you mean it?”

“Of course! Welcome to the herd!” Crystal said cheerfully.

“Fate was it? Could you untie me and remove this seal… I want to do something for Destiny…” Fate decided to unbind her. She stretched her body to loosen up from being tied up.  Suddenly her horn started to glow she was about to use her magic.  Although it seemed the light was somehow serene.  I felt a tingle in my chest where my injury was. Somehow it was being mended and shortly after there was no more hole in my chest.  Although the pain still remained.  “I healed the wound, and forgive me. The pain might still be there, mending doesn’t relieve the pain but at least you won’t bleed.”

“Thank you Aria. I’d say we should get some rest, we have a big day ahead of us.” We decided to put out the fire and get some rest for the night. Aria… I promise you, I will help you become the best medical pony there is. I don’t want anyone to suffer… I swear it on my life, I won’t let anything happen to my friends.