Shadows of Doubt

The leaves rustled as the wind whistled its tune, causing a rain of dewdrops upon the soil below. A lone figure rested on the trunk of a grand old oak, one that withstood the test of time for centuries, one of the eldest trees in the forest. Its roots reached far below the earth, and made a comfortable seat. He was a unicorn stallion of light blue fur, with a silvery, unkempt mane and tail. His Cutiemark, that of a gray heart with craters like a moon, was covered by tattered, silk robes that eveloped his body entirely.

There was a flicker of movement from the shadow of the figure, nigh imperceptible. Most would think it a trick of the eyes, seeing the shadow supposedly grow, an illusion. But it was moving. It grew as more dewdrops fell on the lone figure. Then, the shadow opened it's maw, revealing a frightening set of large, sharp teeth. A serpentine tongue reached out of the maw and caught a few dewdrops, growing slightly with each one that touched its otherworldly tongue. The lone figure moved not throughout this. He remained still. Unmoving. Frozen.

The shadow leaned down to the figure's ear, and spoke softly, with a sickeningly sweet yet terrible voice.

"Remember me—" it spoke, its tongue moving slightly, simulating a voice. "Remember me—" Not a question. Not a command. It spoke again, "Remember me—" The lone figure moved. Turning to face the maw of the shadow, he spoke, his voice bitter.

"How can I? Why should I remember one who hath caused me such sorrow? Thou art a gluttonous, greedy being that leaves nothing but grief in thy wake." he spat. The shadow laughed cruelly, its head shaking with mirth, its tongue bouncing up and down.

"Indeed. But thou art forgetting, I am born of thyself." the shadow said, playing with the stallion. And the stallion knew it. He grit his teeth.

"Why dost thou plague me so? Must I be burdened by thy incessant whispers, whispers tempting me of forbidden action!? This I implore!" the stallion asked angrily.

"Forevermore, mine companion." replied the shadow.

"Monster! Devil dare conceived by the bleakest womb, what say thee of thy crimes? Will thou not atone for thy sins? Dost thou not feel guilty? Must thou make me responsible for thine crimes?"

"Forevermore, mine companion." spoke the shadow.

"Monster! Devil dare conceived by the bleakest womb, must I hold the weight of the pains thou hath placed upon me? Must my hopes be lost to the wind?"

"Forevermore, mine companion." the shadow spoke.

"Monster! Speak not! Cease your accursed ramblings and toy not with my heart!

"Nay, fool. I will haunt thee forevermore, for that is mine purpose. To cause doubt, to instill fear, to harm, to drive as mad as I. Never shall I leave thee alone, for mine place is by thy side." the shadow claimed.

"Cease! Desist!" the stallion demanded.

"Thou art a fragile being, with a frail heart. Weakness is thy very being. Thou hath always and shall forever be, weak." taunted the shadow.

"Lies!" cried the stallion.

"Thou lies to thyself, knave. Thou shalt never know true happiness, thou shalt always end up alone! This, thou cannot deny! Thou know it in thy heart to be true!" the shadow tormented.

"Silence!" said the stallion defiantly.

"We art monsters! We do not cry for those who hath fallen under misfortune! Nay! We laugh at their expense! We embrace destruction and chaos! Face it, knave! Thou shalt be consumed by thy bloodlust!" the shadow cackled. "Thy fate was sealed when thee did nothing to help that girl! Thou will succumb!"

"No! I will not believe thee! I cannot!" the stallion shouted.

"Blue?" called the familiar scratchy voice of a tomboy. Immediately, the shadow resumed its normal size and position, leaving the stallion glaring at where it once was. A cyan pegasus mare with a rainbow mane and tail touched down in front of the stallion, her four hooves making nary a sound as they landed on the soil. "Who were you talking to? And why were you speaking Old Equish?" asked the mare.

"Nopony, Rainbow. Just...myself." said the stallion known as Blue Moon. Rainbow looked at him skeptically for a moment.

"If you say so, Blue." she conceded. "So why are you in the forest? You had everpony worried sick! Especially Puddy!"

"Sorry. I just needed some time to myself." Blue replied.

"Whatever. Come on, let's get back. It's getting dark."

"Right."

The two left the grand old oak without another word. As soon as they left, the boughs of the tree shook violently, spraying dewdrops everywhere. As Luna's pale moon rose in the sky, shining light down on the forest, a fair few rays pierced the shadows beneath the grand old oak. Smoke rose from the area the light touched, burning the tree slowly. Minutes passed before the burning stopped, revealing something not previously seen.

The burning had hollowed out a part of the tree. In that hollow, lay a mound of dirt. In that dirt, was a flower. The flower was small, but unique. It had eight hundred sixty-five petals, and the center of it looked like an eye. As the light touched the flower, it glowed and grew, inch by inch. Eventually, it stopped just before the ceiling of the hollow. What would have been the pupil of the eye glowed a dark blue. Laughter emitted from the flower. For a moment, one could see the same shadow that had tormented the young Blue Moon, but it disappeared from sight.

To this day, that stallion is still tormented by his shadow. His demon. And he will continue to be tormented, until his sun sets on that distant shore.