Chapters That friendship we call love
It was a warm breezy day, a slight breeze flowing through the forest. I was down by the stream collecting fresh water for drinking and brewing tea with. The slight breeze ruffled my pitch black mane slightly, and splashed cool water on my dark grey coat. I was humming a tune while I gathered water.
"Are you, are you, coming to the tree? Hmm, hmm." I hummed softly as I stood up once more to find the leaves and berries I used to make a herbal tea that soothed head aches. I was again humming my small tune while I gathered my herbs. It was only when a small rustle in the leaves behind me did I become alert to the two ponies approching me.
"Miss, can you spare me and my friend some food? We're making our way away from Canterlot and are very hungry." One spoke in a smooth voice. I turned to see two ponies that looked tired, hungry, and sickly. They looked like they might have been about thirty years old. Both earth ponies. The one who had just spoken had a light gray coat and light blue mane, with a cutie mark of a green star. His friend had a purple mane and dark blue coat, his cutie mark was a simple hammer and nail.
"And you two are?" I asked as I raised a brow.
"I'm Amythist, this is Stone Cold." The dark blue stallion said. His voice was a bit more deep. I suppresed a small giggle.
"Amythist, eh? Pleased to meet you. Yeah, I have a bit of meat back at my cave if your interested." I said, they looked at each other and nodded.
"Alright, we'll go with you. By the way, we did't catch your name." Stone Cold said.
"Nightwake," I responded as I turned and began heading back to the cave.
It was around noon by time we got back to the cave. Up on one of my poorly fastned shelves I had a couple slabs of cooked meat that I pulled down and offered them. They both sat down and held their hooves out hungrily. I gave them their meat and they dug in. Within mere minutes they had devoured what would normal last me a week.
"Can you spare us some water to?" Stone Cold asked me hopefully as he licked his hooves. In response I handed them both a bottle of water and watched them gulp it down thirstaly.
"Don't neither of you worry, you don't owe me anything. Kindness is something the forest needs more of." I said making them both smile.
"You wouldn't mind if we rested here tonight would you? It seems wrong to ask, after all you've done." Stone Cold asked as they both stood up, looking a lot better than before.
"There's always a little room for those in need." I said as I pointed a hoof to my loft that would easly house us comfortably. They nodded. "I'll be out collecting plants for dinner, you two can stay here."
"Thank you kindly." Amythist said as he sat up against the wall. I spent the evening out in the woods looking for ediable to put on a salad. It was sunset by time we actually ate. It wasn't anything special, just some berries, mushrooms, and other greens. Still, they seemed more than happy to eat at all. Amythist was the first to climb up into the loft and go to sleep. Stone Cold and I stayed up for a while longer.
"Kindness is hard to come by out here anymore. Thank you. You might have saved our lives." He said as we sat at the mouth of the cave and watched the stars in the sky.
"It was the least I could do, Equestria is dying. We all need to stick together now." I shrugged. "At least thats what I belive."
"Let me cut it to you stright, life is short and hard around here." He said as he looked me in the eyes. I returned his gaze, looking into his perfect eyes. "Your the first pony thats been kind to us any, and I was thinking your kinda cute. I was also thinking about if you might kinda like me?" I smiled at him, and he smiled back. I retsed my head next to his in response and looked back up at the sky. Maybe he would stick around. He'd be the first.
"I'd be glad to be yours. Just don't leave my side no matter what." I said as I staired at the endless night above us. We spent the next few hours cuddled up asleep. A warm feeling of happiness I hadn't felt in a long, long time. I felt safe again, as if maybe I would wake up tomarrow and my life would be normal again. I knew it wouldn't, but a pony can dream.
It had been only a few short weeks since I'd met the two stallions I'd come to call my best friends when it happened. This old cave had become my home. I didn't even notice how lonely I was. I missed the lively talking, exchangin stories, laughing at each others jokes. The fire pit almost always burning bright, the cave walls seeming to radiate warmth rather than coldness. This wasn't anylonger just a shelter. This was my home. It was where I could relax. Where I was safe. My home had always been in Canterlot, but this almost felt the same.
The moon, as always, was high in the sky. The stars twinkled and seemed to dance about the sky merily. We had the fire going strong as we cooked a rather nice sized rabbit I had caught earlier. The meat began to drip juice halfway done that made my muzzle water. When it was finally ready the skin was a bit blackened and juices sizzled deep inside. Perfection. I took a knife and began to cut the meet. By time I had each slice on some old plates I'd scavanged my lover and his friend were drooling intensly. A few minuts later we sat with full stomaches.
"Perfection, I couldn't make it better myself!" Stone Cold said. I smiled at him. Life was beginning to become perfect. Happy. Straying away from the theme. Still, it was nice. I even enjoyed it. We sat around the fire pit a little while longer. Telling jokes, exchanging stories, laughing. It was a feeling a pure happiness. Topped off with comforting lullaby from all the creatures of the forest, and you might even call it peacefull. We would always and up going to sleep first, Stone Cold and I. I enjoyed his warm embrace. A moment of pure, blissful, peace.
Sometimes life can be cruel. Sometimes its kind. Other times its just plain mean. The story of my life though, was cruelness. So when something went right, it didnt stay right. It started one day, not sure when exacly but it felt like morning, Amythist had been acting odd ever since he woke. I always kept my sword on me, because wolves could show up at any moment, but I'd never known him to even keep one around. He skipped breakfast in favore of polishing his sword. Than spent a full hour sharpining it. I never really expected vilonce out of him. Yet, isn't the things we least expect the things we can count on to play out? It was around the time I made lunch when he approched me and Stone Cold.
"Why is it that I'm always the third wheel? Why do you always get the girl? Why can't I ever be the one that gets the happy ending?" He drew his sword on us, and I could see it in his eyes. He wanted our blood. "It's my turn to get what I want!" he thrust his sword my way, but I ducked just in the nick of time. His sword still hit a target though. In a single instance Stone Colds blood spilled all across the ground. In another instance he was gone. Stollen from my life, from my heart. I drew my sword in blind fury.
"We trusted you!" I screamed at him as I charged him with my blade.
"Stone Cold was my best friend before we even met you! You have no right to steal him from me!" Finally our blades met. For a time that felt to me like forever, but was more like ten minutes, our blades met each other over and over. Finally I put everything I had left in one powerful swing of my neck, and his sword flew from his grip. He laid in front of me with a pained expression.
"Well, you did it. Come on, kill me! Let me loose!" he yelled at me. With one final stab, I lost another friend. I was again alone, again cold, and again sad.
I spent the next few hours digging two holes just outside the mouth of the, not my, cave. All the while feeling numb. Before me were two graves, one from a friend, one from somepony a little more. In my heart laid two holes as well. Ones that nothing could fill.
I opened the gates slowly, quitly, not wishing to be spotted by any guards or Nightmare Moon herself. I got down low to the ground and stuck to the darkest of shadows. I saw things that a normal mind couldn't dream of. Methods of slowly killing ponies in manors so brutal they wish for death. My ears flattened against my head as I heard the agonizing screams. Yet at the same time I felt some kind of satisfaction deep inside myself. Was Nightmare Moon inside me as well as my mother. In just under two hours I was at the castle doors. I knocked on the door softly, than a little harder.
"Mother! Mother! I need to speak with you!" I called out. All the while I gripped my sword in my magic. The pony who opened the door was bruised, scratched, and beaten severly.
"You shouldn't be here. Go, get away while you can!" She exclaimed in a hushed whisper. I ignored her, pushing her out of my way as I continued into the castle. I drew my sword and kept on guard. The little resistance I met was weak, and barly required any effort. Finally I made it to the balcony.
"Nightwake. I've been waiting. This has been long coming hasn't it?" Nightmare Moons voice rang out. She looked out over the city, barly registering I was there. I didn't say a word but approched the balcony and looked at the slave pits below. I felt passive for a moment. Like this view was what I'd been waiting for forever. "Beautiful isn't it? Being able to see my judgement. Celestia still owns the after life, but I own life as it's known." I saw what she meant, why she said it.
"I remember the city from before, it was so colorful. Now it just feels gray." I said as I looked at the fifty diffrent shades of gray below me. It wasn't the most beutiful thing I'd seen, but it was amazing. Amazing somepony so innocent could turn to darkness and create this.
"This will all be your's one day. In the far distant future, when I'm gone." She said as she put a hoof on my shoulder.
"No, it won't be." I said as I pushed her hoof away. "I'm gonna free them today. I'll restore the world!" I yelled as I unsheathed my sword once more. She stood in a readied stance, creating a swords of simple magic energies. I was so fucked. I rushed at her, swinging my sword at her neck. She easily deflected it with her energies and swung at me. I gasped in pain as I looked down at the peice of my ear in the ground. Blood trickled down the side of my face as I winched. Suddenly I was filled with rage. I found tons more strength in every blow.
"Urrrraghh!" I screamed as I swung my sword at her with everything I had in me. I long gash from the top of her ribs down to her cutie mark appered. It gushed her goddly blood, making her cry out in pain. Our eyes locked, both of us filled with rage. Then we charged each other, blades ready to tear each others flesh apart. I dig my sword deep into her left hip, and she dug her sword into my right hip. I flinched in pain, just as she did. Pulling away.
"You at least are giving me a bit of trouble." She grinned, as if this was amusing to her.
"This has to end now!" I screamed.
Knock knock knocking on heavens door
Our fight lasted many hours. Each of us sastaining life threatning injuries. I didn't give up though.
"You'r a fair fighter. To bad your going to have to die now." She claimed. She was standing near the edge of the balcony, just behind her a fall long enough to kill a dragon. I suddenly came to understand what was going to happen next. A tear of saddness, rather than pain, escaped my eye. I charged her with everything I had left in me. I swung my sword only to deflect her attacks. Finally my body made contact with hers. I hit her hard, knocking the wind out of her as we both tumbled over the edge. I held her tight, gripping her wings to her sides to prevent her from flying away. She struggled hard against me, but my will outweighed her power. I could feel every slave, solder, and otherwise turn and look our way. We fell for what felt like forever, it was almost like that moment of peace when you come to terms with your untimly demise. In a single instance we both felt the impact of the hard ground.
I didn't even notice my death. It was almost non-existant. I knew I was safe in Celestias hooves now because I felt no pain, only peace. Before me stood gates made of pure gold. I approched them and waited. I was at terms with myself. I knew my death meant something.
"Nightwake? Your here early." I heard Celestias voice call from the other side. "I thank you for what you did. My kingdom can finaly flurish, thrive, heal." I just smiled humbaly and whispered a singel sentance.
"Your Welcome." I nodded my head.
"I belive somepony is waiting for you here. Welcome home Nightwake." Celestias voice rang. The gates opened, and standing there was Stone Cold. He waved a hoof, and I waved back. I could rest easy now. Now and forever.
~I'm coming home
It was another bright and warm day in Canterlot. I was only nineteen at the time, but I had been matured quickly. The life of royalty left little time for foaling around. I was out of town desscussing some financial matters with a high class buessness owner in Manehatten. That may be the only reason I survived The Fall as it's come to be known. In the castle, locked away in her bedroom, mother had fallen ill. I don't know the exact details of it, but Nightmare Moon arose once more with a burning desire for vengance. In one day see killed Princess Celestia and enslaved half of Canterlots population. The elements of harmony attempted to stop her, but she merly killed all six. It didn't take long for the sun to die and the moon take it's place. I was devistated, but more fearful for my own life. I fled into the country side. With the never ending night fallen upon equestria, civilazation crumbled and crops died. Soon Equestria was nothing more than one large forest. I cryed as I watched the once beutiful lands become savage hatred. It didn't take more than a year or so for nature to retake the land. The wild animals, ponies, and whatever else lurkes in the shadows all living together in one place. It doesn't take long for conditons like this to drive ponies insane. Small tribes of savages arose, feeding of the very flesh and blood of others. Savages that pray to the aniamals, sacrifice live foals to timber wolves. I never understood them. I had my own peaceful slice of forest near the mountains. Using an old cave as shelter. The dark cave became homey with a few animal skins and magical lights. Unicorn magic made it possible to creat a small loft in the stone for me to sleep peacefully at night. More than once I woke to the sounds of hungry wolves hunting my scent. Everyday life became a challenge just to survive. Of coarse many ponies fell victim to the forest, but there was always hope. Hope that someday Luna would return. She never would on her own though. This was a fact I always knew deep in my heart. It took years for me to care though. When I did care though, it put me through more heartbreak than I imgined possible.
Learning to leave them behind
Sometimes we have to learn to let those we loved go. It's painful, but that's the only recovery. I curled up on my soft, cold bed and cried. I cried until I was numb, then I died. My heart still beat, my brain still thought, my blood still flowed, but my soul was gone. I drank because the thirst was unbearable, I ate to fill the void, but I did not wish to live. I was learning, thinking, healing the entire time. I had to let go, forget, forgive. It took a few days, not that I could tell, but I finally got up. I took my sword and left. I wasn't coming back. I was going home to take back my throne. My life. I was going home. The dust path still sat where I remembered it being. It still led up the mountain towerds Canterlot. This was the road I'd remembered walking hundreds of times. This time though, it felt diffrent. It felt like the last road I'd ever walk. I walked it slowly, taking in the sight. Smelling the fresh air. Hearing the birds chirp. Once I was near the city all I would be able to hear is slaves working and dying. Might as well enjoy the sights while I still could. When I was just outside the city I stopped. This would be the end. Of who, or what, I'd learn another time. Now was the time to knock on my own door. But first I took a nap. I'd have to be fresh to see the horrors beyond those gates.
I saw them, both of them. They filled my dreams. I forgave Amythest. I understood him. I loved Stone Cold, because his love was genuine. I hated Mother for making equestria what it was. Thoughts mixed with eachother to form one picture, the ending. I then saw nothing but whiteness. I heard a voice of love and caring. One that belonged to my Mother before she dissappered. Maybe, maybe I wasn't ready. I would be lucky to leave wrapped in white linen, much less alive.