Origin: Alaru

He shook himself as he started to run but froze as he was met by two yellow eyes from the shadows in the direction he was running. Nothing had scared him so much as this but he knew to keep his mouth shut. The creature crept forward and after a second Alaru realized that the only reason he could see it so clearly was because he was a shadow walker. The beast had lupine features though he didn’t want to call it a wolf. It didn’t quite look like the pictures he had seen in his books. It had spindly arms covered in clumped, matted grey fur that reached the rest of its body. It also looked unnatural for it to be creeping up on him on all four limbs as opposed to a real wolf.

He glanced around, not daring to turn his head as he looked for an escape. All he could see was the way he came but then he was starting to see the glowing residue. This time it was a dark, rusty color like the pegasus that had helped him and he was certain that if he followed it he would find a safe place where the ponywolf couldn’t get him. Praying that the path didn’t lead to a dead end Alaru took a slow step back, preparing to make a break for the path. In that moment the ponywolf surged forward and with quick reflexes Alaru managed to dodge out of the way though a few strands on the rope snapped, showing just how close he had come to being cut.

He dodge past the beast and started to run down that path instead, hoping that wherever it came from would offer an escape. He forced himself to believe that the Crow was on his side and would show him what he needed to do to survive if he really got into trouble.

I’m supposed to be able to enter shadows and travel through them, right? Why don’t you show me how to do that now? Alaru silently pleaded but a mocking reply answered, are you sure he won’t follow you?

Alaru began to fill with choking hysteria. He could feel the beast gaining on him, his harsh breath roaring loudly in Alaru’s ears as it came closer and closer. Pain seared his side as rending claws sent him smashing into a wall. He was afraid to move and not just because of how much it hurt. He was afraid that if he stood he would find his innards on the ground or his skin falling away.

You’re better put together than you think but don’t press you luck,” the Crow’s voice hissed in his mind, another pony wouldn’t have been so lucky but you’re still young. You don’t have enough control to waste how many times you get hit!”

“Okay,” he found himself replying aloud as he struggled to his hooves despite how his entire body ached. He found that the ropes were cut all the way through as they fell away and was grateful to find that his wings were now freed. The ponywolf was nearly on top of him though and Alaru had to focus as hard as he could as the beast’s claws came, ready to tear him apart. At the last minute he kicked off from the wall and flipped past its claws, springing into the air and taking flight.
Alaru immediately started to feel exhaustion dragging at him but he knew that he didn’t have time to rest unless he wanted that to be the last thing he did. He tried to look out for Darcian in case his older brother was now looking for him but he was nowhere in sight. What happened to Darcian anyway? Alaru noticed the ponywolf out of the corner of his eye and it was glaring at him with eyes that swirled with moonlight.

Alaru knew his wings wouldn’t hold him up forever, he was sure they wouldn’t, and the creature made him nervous as it watched him sharply as if it was aware that it wouldn’t be long before Alaru fell from the sky. The strange intelligence in its eyes scared Alaru worse than anything else. He started to fly swiftly, or as quickly as he could manage, back to the castle but as soon as he started towards it the ponywolf started to move as well. It ran across roofs that were close enough together that it only rarely had to break stride to jump to the next but in most cases the jumps were so smooth and well-placed it was hardly noticeable. At first Alaru thought it was just following beneath him but then he began to notice how it drew ahead of him. He realized, as he found himself glancing down more and more often, that it was heading to the castle. The beast was planning on heading him off at the castle and no matter how hard he tried, he was just too tired to fly faster.

After a moment he found himself too exhausted to continue paying attention to what the ponywolf was doing and just forced himself to keep flying. Relief filled him as he approached the large arch in the gate that was heavily enchanted to keep ponies and other creatures that weren’t allowed within the gate out, even if they were able to jump over it. It was decorated with spikes and black metal worked into the shape of twisting ivy and metallic black spiders with wicked pincers. He prepared to fly through it and to safety but his heart nearly stopped as he noticed the ponywolf waiting for him right in front of the arch. Static tingled in the gate as a bit of the ponywolf’s fur fell through the barrier but Alaru knew it wouldn’t hurt him. What he really was afraid of was that the ponywolf would be able to jump up and knock him out of the air before he made it through. The arch was huge and tall but it was just low enough for that to be a possibility.

He gave it a few tests dives before he actually dove forward, trying to make it through the gate, knowing that if he hesitated much longer the dots just beyond his sight would swallow him into darkness. As soon as he was low enough to get through the beast reached up with grasping claws and grasped at Alaru’s leg but he managed to twist free, though just barely, and made it safely through the gate. His wings fumbled and he tumbled to ground beyond the arch, skidding in the dirt. The beast reached for him and the young pegasus looked back at it and scooted away with horrified eyes. The barrier stopped its claw and it reeled back with a growl of pain. It looked as if the beast had slammed its claws into a stone wall that was also a bug zapper. The beast glared at Alaru and for a moment he wondered if it was faking or if he was really safe even as it gnashed its teeth.

“Don’t think this is over. We will meet again. I promise you that,” the beast growled in a grating voice though there was something about it that conjured the image of a prince in Alaru’s mind.

“You can speak,” Alaru replied stupidly and the beast gave a tremulous laugh.

“Of course I can,” it replied and added, “don’t forget. I’m not a monster against my wishes though the consequences of being a monster is dire indeed. Still I was a sinner by choice and I destroyed those I loved as if they were mere inconveniences.”

“Did you come after me because I’m Starstin’s son like the others?” Alaru asked wincing as he stood up and felt red hot pain flare through his back leg.

“Of course not,” the beast replied. “I’m far beyond being choosy on who I attack. You were the only fool that dared to be out when the moon rose. Even that villain’s fake sun burns my fur and I can only stand the less judgmental, though ever watchful, light of the moon. For being naïve I actually like you though. I want to warn you that this is not a path for someone of greatness and the only way to truly get anything in life is to be kind. Also don’t ever mistake me for the true wolves of nature. This was a punishment for trying to grasp a gift that I didn’t really have the heart for.”

“So what does that mean? Are we friends now?” Alaru dared to ask.

“Don’t ever make that mistake again,” the ponywolf replied, bristling. “I’m a monster to the core and I won’t hesitate to rip you apart if we cross paths again on the same side of the gate. That’s lesson number three; never trust someone that has already revealed themselves to be evil. They will never care about you and will just as quickly destroy you. If they do care for you then they’re using you.”

“That can’t always be true,” Alaru began. “Isn’t there a chance for redemption and what defines someone as evil?”
The ponywolf bristled more violently, angered at being questioned like this by a colt, but before he could reply a thick shadow began to grow around him and seemed to grow more and more solid. The ponywolf howled in pain and darted away, disappearing from sight as the shadow became a sheet, blocking the beast from Alaru’s sight. Fear began to drown Alaru’s senses as the strange shadows seemed to creep closer now and cross the gate’s boundaries. The shadows began to dissipate though and Alaru realized that it was only his father as felt a chill go down his spine and turned to see him standing there.

Starstin glared down at him and ordered him icily, “Get to bed. You shouldn’t be out at this time of night.” Alaru forced himself to give a small nod before darting past, inside and through the stony corridors and back to his room He just felt relieved by the time he reached his bed.

The next morning Starstin saw to his leg. It was swollen and infected and Alaru could barely move from his bed when he woke up that morning. He was glad that he had somehow managed to keep from getting badly scratched anywhere else and he silently thanked the Crow, knowing that he probably would have died the night before if he wasn’t a shadow walker. Pins and needles went through his leg as his father used his magic to heal it and Alaru whimpered, “Why can’t Sterling do this?” He remembered back when he last got hurt and Sterling healed it for him. The house wizard had never acted proud and would often talk with the younger Alaru about magic despite how the young pegasus would never actually use it. Alaru had to wonder why he never saw him anymore.

“Do you really think he has time for a brat like you,” Starstin replied stiffly and Alaru yelped in pain as a particularly sharp pain went through his leg. “He’s busy keeping the barrier strong so threats like the one that you brought to our gate can’t get through. It would hurt just as much anyway with a wound like this.”

“I’m sorry,” Alaru grimaced and another sharp pain went through him, sharper than any of the others before it and he went unconscious.

In the next few weeks he rarely saw Starstin or even Darcian and when their paths did cross the most his brother reply was a grunt. Is he mad at me? It wasn’t my fault we got in trouble. I didn’t want to go in the first place and when I did Darcian left me behind. He was also the one who had told me that the ponywolf wasn’t real and now I have scars from it. I wonder why the ponies in the village hate us. Why?

He knew that he shouldn’t be bothered by it but it kept eating at him. Each time he went down to the garden to talk to his mother about it she avoided his questions and made up excuses. She seemed colder towards him as well and he could only guess it was because his brother and him left her with clones and tricked her while they ran off to do their own thing.

“Please forgive me,” he finally pleaded with her. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted to become better. I wanted some recognition for once and I wanted the truth. I don’t know what I was thinking. It was Darcian who tricked me!” He struggled to think up more reasons and began to shake as he realized that there was nothing more to it.

“I’m not mad at you. I understand perfectly,” she said warmly but there was something hollow about it that made him feel cold to his core. She started to go back to her gardening and his eyes welled up with tears at the frustration before he finally ran from there. He began to shake as he realized how fake it all was. It was far too bright and a far cry from the desolation that had awaited him outside of their gates. It wasn’t fair that they should have their barricades and good health while those that lived in their shadow should suffer.

Life’s not fair, the Crow hissed and cackled, get used to it!

“I don’t want to,” he whimpered miserably as he finally found a place to hide himself in the corner.

“It’s not as bad as you think,” Darcian said and Alaru looked back at him, somewhat startled. “Starstin won’t last forever, no matter what he says. He probably doesn’t know half as much about alicorns as he says as well. We’ll take over one day and we’ll be the ones who decides how this nation is run. You and I will change things for the better.”

“You mean…you would rule with me? I thought you were mad at me and that’s why we weren’t talking,” Alaru sniffled.

“Of course I’d rule with you. Just you and me and perhaps our mates. We’ll be able to travel and see the world once we rule this country since there’s two of us. I suppose you wouldn’t care for the name Starstin Brothers, would you?” Darcian joked.

“So you’re not mad?”

“Of course not,” he replied with a slight smile, “I’ve just been very busy the last few days. I guess that wasn’t the intended use for those seeds. I made sure to take all the blame though since I was the one who convinced you to use them. To think you almost died because of me!”

“I was really strong and brave though,” Alaru said, starting to grin. “I faced off against a ponywolf and I won! Well sort of. It really is real. Why don’t we call ourselves Shirokuro? I read it in a book once. The first part means white and the second part means black. It would represent what we’d be together.”

“But you’re really not black. You’re a dark grey,” Darcian replied teasingly.

“And you’re a light grey but together we’re black and white,” Alaru said with a grin.

“I suppose we are,” Darcian replied warmly. “Want to play a game?”
***

A bit more than a year had passed and Alaru awoke in the middle of the night trying to stifle a scream. The last few nights—as well as much of the last year—he had been learning things from the Crow about being a shadow walker in the dreamland but the Crow hadn’t come that night. It had been reason for surprise when the Crow had appeared suddenly and shrieked in his face in the middle of his dreamless sleep. He laid in his bed, trying to keep his breathing slow despite his sudden terror after he noticed a figure in the doorway. He realized, with some initial apprehension, that his night vision was sharper tonight. He forgot about that though, being more interested in the fact that the pony in the doorway was his brother. Alaru could see him clearly, from his white fur to his bright red mane.

Alaru kept silent despite how he burned to ask him what he was doing and he took care to keep his eyes narrowed in case any light caught his eyes and gave him away. After a moment Darcian started to walk into the room. Alaru could tell that he was trying to tread softly so his steps wouldn’t echo against the stone floor and give him away. Alaru was nearly holding his breath as his brother drew closer and closer. There was something wrong but he couldn’t imagine what. Why would the Crow wake him up like that when it was just his brother? He was starting to doubt that his brother was just checking on him the longer he waited.

As he was trying to figure it out Darcian drew closer and closer until he was nearly upon him. Darcian paused for a moment and whispered something and Alaru strained to hear him before realizing that he was mouthing a prayer. The two colts hardly knew anything about religion but Alaru was familiar with the practice, or at least the reason for it and it had become a habit between the two brothers that their father didn’t seem to oppose.
MOVE!

The voice, sharp and commanding, scared him and he quickly threw himself off the bed and to the floor beneath his brother just as Darcian slammed his hooves down where Alaru was laying a moment before. Without thinking about it Alaru slammed up as hard as he could, flinging his brother back and making him stumble against the wall. Alaru jumped to his feet, and charged into his brother, anger and fear flowing through him.

“How did you know?” Darcian gasped. “I was going to kill you in your sleep and you wouldn’t have felt a thing. It was supposed to be painless.”

“I thought we were going to rule together. I thought things were going to be different,” Alaru cried and jostled his brother again, “and it wouldn’t have been painless the way you did it!”
In that moment Darcian flared out his wings, trying to scare Alaru so he’d get a chance to fight back. As Alaru stumbled away from him the spear that hung on the wall above their heads fell and the tip, sharper than it appeared, dug itself deep into Darcian’s side. Blood trickled from the wound and stained the grey-white of his fur and it began to drip from his lips as he struggled not to cough and jostle it more.

“D-Darcian…why?” Alaru choked, bumping against the far wall as he tried to get as far from him as possible. “B-Brother.”

“I’m f-fine,” Darcian replied through gritted teeth and Alaru tried to stop comparing the color of his mane with his brother’s blood. “Everything is going to be okay, Alaru. You’re finally going to get what you wanted.”

“I didn’t want this; I wanted us to rule together and for us to save the ponies in the village. I wanted you to be there with me and for us to travel together and—“

“It is better this way,” Darcian coughed. “I just tried to kill you. I’m evil to the core and I deserve to die this way. I don’t want you ever to be black. I want you to always be dark grey like you’re supposed to be.”

“You’re not evil. You’re just acting crazy because you’re scared,” Alaru whimpered. “It’s just like with the seeds. Starstin is the one who put you up to this, didn’t he?”

Darcian’s voice was growing thinner as he replied, “You wouldn’t have done it if it were you. This might have been an accident but I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had killed me on purpose. Just…Just watch out for Starstin. Don’t listen to him; don’t ever believe him. He knows what you are now...a s-sh-shadow w-w-walker”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Alaru muttered, “it was just like in that one book—Darcian?” The grey pegasus’ eyes were closed and he was no longer breathing. “Darcian!”

Alaru called his brother’s name again and again. After a while he finally touched him, thinking to shake him awake. As soon as he touched him Alaru knew he was dead and began wailing in despair.

Starstin seemed to appear out of thin air beside the grieving colt. He growled darkly, “You killed your brother.”
It sickened Alaru as he thought, he sounds so pleased. “I didn’t kill him!” Alaru screamed at him, though he hadn’t forgot who he was talking to. “The spear fell and killed him!”

“It wouldn’t have fell if you didn’t slam him against that wall,” Starstin replied insidiously.

“You were watching all this time and you didn’t do anything about it! I thought he was your favorite. He was your eldest son!”

“You’re my favorite now and incidentally you’re also now my eldest. In any case he was the one that was older and should have come out the better but you proved that wrong. That in itself makes you more special in my eyes,” Starstin muttered.

“I hate you!” Alaru yelled at him. He couldn’t think of anything else to say and the longer he glared at him the more violently the colt shook.

“Just follow me,” Starstin commanded, only looking amused at his display of rage, “I’ll be able to explain everything to you.”