Dangerous Alchemy

**Dangerous Alchemy

By: Brickbrock24

Chapter 2**

The day before I left Ponyville isn't a day I like to remember. It doesn't make feel anywhere near as empty inside as the day that ruined my life, but it does manage to shed a tear or two. It was the day I had to say goodbye to Nightshade. Looking back on the moment from the present day, I can also see it as saying goodbye to the friend I once knew, before he became the heartless tyrant he is today.

I remember the evening like it was yesterday. A waning crescent moon dimly shone through the thin cover of clouds as I walked up to Nightshade's door, trying to think of how to break the ice with him. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door Nightshade's mother, I believe her name was Dahlia, answered the door. She was somewhat surprised to see me at the late hour. I asked her if I could speak to Nightshade. Nightshade's mother nodded and went back into the house. A minute later, Nightshade came to the door.

He was happy to see me. I tried my best to look the same, but it was easier said than done. We talked for a few minutes; Nightshade was telling me about this book series he was reading and I told him about a few exciting new recipes I was working on. Then I told him the news. I told that I had been accepted into a prestigious alchemy school in Manhattan and that I was leaving Ponyville tomorrow. I probably could've spilled the beans a little more gently, because the facial expression Nightshade gave responded with just made the situation more uncomfortable for me. He tried to keep a poker face, but the sheer sadness I knew he was feeling cut right through it like butter.

I couldn't stand watching my friend get all down in the dumps. I quickly trotted over to Nightshade and gave him a hug. He buried his head into my shoulder and began to bawl. I felt awful. It was like I was one of those ponies sent to tell a family that a loved one died in the military or in the hospital or something like that. I did my best to comfort him. I stroked his soft crimson mane and whispered to him with the best reassuring voice I could do that everything was going to be alright. I told him that I was just as sad as he was and that he needed to stay strong.

Then he said something that caught me off-guard. He told me he was scared. I asked him why he would feel that way in this situation, and he told me he was afraid that all of his friends would leave him. Roger had apparently disappeared without a trace and Sky Blade left to join the Royal Intelligence Agency. I suddenly remembered that Nightshade's biggest fear was being alone.

I tried to fill his heart with whatever shred of hope I could give. I told Nightshade that I'd always be his friend. No matter how far we were from each other, no matter what happened to us, no matter how much Equestrian changes in the future, and no matter what crazy events may transpire, whether be an invasion of foreign creatures from a demonic realm or a zombie apocalypse or something else absurd like that, nothing would burn the bridges of our friendship. Then I did something that I would regret in the future. I made him a promise that I would try to visit him as often as I could. Unfortunately, I was never able to keep that promise. My work had gotten the best of me, and I never had a second to spare. I still regret it to this day.

Finally, it was time to let him go. I released Nightshade from my hug, said goodbye to him one last time, and began to walk away. I was tempted to run, but I decided against it. I didn't want Nightshade to misinterpret it and hurt his feelings even more. He was already suffering enough. When I got to the end of the walkway, I looked back at the house. Nightshade was still standing at the door, staring at me with those large, sad, glowing eyes. I looked away and headed for my house.

The next day was moving day. We went to the train station with our tickets and our belongings and boarded the train. As the train left the station, I look a long last look at Ponyville. I wouldn't see my hometown again for several years. While we were riding in the train, I tried to look at the glass as half full. I loved alchemy, and now I got to take that passion to a whole new level by being admitted into this grand alchemy school. I'll admit I was a little nervous moving to Manhattan. It was a strange new world that was different from Ponyville, filled with ponies that I didn't know. I had no idea what to expect when I got off that train.