Author's Note

WARNING: I got pretty dark with this chapter but I needed to, to show everyone why Jon has fully cut off his heart.
This chapter is dark as fuck so read at your own risk.

Chapter 16: Showing The Truth (DARK AF)

Cleaning Darkness
Chapter 16: Showing The Truth

By: Major Frostwing

I walked solemnly through the castle keeping my eyes forward as I thought over the talk I had With Nova. It made me feel terrible that my own closed off heart had hurt Dash. I will have to explain it as best as I could why I had to do it. I gripped my hands into fist picking up my pace towards Dash's room. I stopped just before the door raising my hand to knock when I faltered. "What if she doesn't want to talk to me?" I asked myself as my hand began to shake. "What if..." My fist dropped to my side as I took a deep breath letting out a sigh. I leaned forward resting my forehead on the door with a thud.

"Hello?" I heard Dash as as I heard movement behind the door. "I swear to god Party I don't want to have a feel better party I just want to be left al-" I took a step back from the door as it was ripped open to reveal a disheveled Dash looking at me in confusion then her eyes filled with hurt. She went to close the door but I was quick to catch the door.

"Wait! I just want to talk." I said as she tried to shut the door with all her strength... The door didn't budge.

"Just go away. You already did enough damage as is." She said as I continued to hold the door. "Just leave me alone you heartless bastard." I winced at that insult but it was deserved.

"Please Dash. You deserve to have the truth." I said as she stopped pushing the door.

"It's about Bright heart and Red Line isn't it?" She said as my heart seemed to stop. "I know I can't compare to Red Line but I really wanted to show you that I am not just some speed Junkie or some athletic nut." I lowered my head sighing.

"They were only part of why I didn't return your feelings. I can show you the real reason but only if you want to honest truth. No lies and no misdirection. I will show you what happened to make me close it all off." Dash continued to stand there before she opened the door slowly.

"Show me the truth. Show me what hurt you so bad." She said a fire in her eyes. I let out a sigh pulling out my phone dialing a number.

"Luna. Come to Dash's room... I am going to show her the truth." I hung up as I stepped into her room sitting down in a chair.

We only had to wait a few minutes before Luna showed up looking between us a sad frown on her face. "Are you sure about this Jon?" Luna asked as I looked up to her before looking down at my hands clenching them before sighing.

"She deserves this so do it." I said moving over to the bed laying down. "Run her through the procedure." I said closing my eyes.

"Dash what I am about to do is put all three of us asleep. Jon's dream will be altered to be memories. His memories can not lie to you nor can you change them. You will be with me the entire time. The memories that Jon is going to show you... Are you sure this is what you want? Once we start I can't pull us out." Luna said as Dash looked to me before looking at Luna.

"Yes." Dash answered which was answered by Luna's sigh.

"Lay down next to me and I will begin the spell. Just... Just be prepared for the worst." Luna said as her magic seized my mind as I began to drift off to sleep.

A field so calm and peaceful. A gentle breeze moved the grass as I looked up at the clouds seeing them move at a lazy pace. I smiled as I leaned back in the grass continuing to watch the clouds before a familiar site came into view. "Princess Luna isn't this a beautiful day?" I asked as Luna sighed tapping my forehead as suddenly I became aware of my surroundings. "What the hell?" I asked as I sat up looking around only to see everything fall away. "I'm dreaming?" I asked confused.

"Yes. You wanted the truth." Luna reached down to me helping me to my feet. "Let us be off." Luna's horn lit as I found myself suddenly floating in a field of stars. "You are in the realm of dreams. Come Jon's dream is over here." Luna said grabbing my hand as we floated over to a shuddering portal of purple. The colors of the portal were shifting between black and purple but the jagged nature of the portal intimidated me.

"What is wrong with his dream?" I asked as Luna set her hand on the portal. The portal seemed to be more erratic.

"That was a nightmare... I just put him into his memories. I don't know which is worse. He is fully conscious of us going into his memories so if it jumps then that is him changing memories. You stay right beside me." Luna said as I nodded my head looking at the portal as it continued to spaz and freak out. Luna walked into the portal pulling me into the memories of Jon.

When the world came into focus I saw Jon playing with a small child that couldn't be happier. They were laughing and giggling as they tossed a ball around. It was adorable to see Jon so happy. Suddenly the dream flickered to Jon standing before a grave before cutting back to Jon and the child playing.

"What was that?" I asked as Luna sighed.

"Jon's memories trigger darker memories. Every happy memory is just a dark reminder of what happened." Luna said solemnly.

"JON! BRIGHT!" A woman called as I looked to the owner of the voice. She was beautiful as she smiled to the boys. Jon looked up smiling at her. A rush of memories flicked across my vision before settling once again. "There you two are. Dinner is almost done come and get cleaned up." She said as Jon got to his feet passing the ball to Bright smiling to him. They both walked to the woman as Jon gave her a small peck on the lips.

"Thanks Red." Jon said as he held the door open for Bright and Red.

The memory flickered and shifted to a now grown up Bright standing in a line of soldiers he was saluting Celestia as Jon walked down the line of soldiers. He had his armor on sans the helmet which he carried under his arm his blades rested on his back as he inspected each soldier carefully. A few of the soldiers sweated under his gaze but he moved past one before they would break. Bright on the other hand didn't falter as Jon turned fully to him looking him over.

"He grew up so fast." A rumbling voice echoed through the world. "Not a single piece of gear out of place and not even so much as a scratch on his armor. He really went all out to make me proud." Jon stared right into Bright's eyes. "When did your eyes change Bright? When did you get so mature?" Jon broke eye contact moving down the line once again not once looking back.

"Before you ask that was Jon talking to himself. He has a bad habit of muttering to himself when in private as well." Luna said as she looked at Bright. "His son was a great soldier hell bent on succeeding his father as The Fist. He was tough but kind. A big heart for all of his men and only justice for those that would harm the innocent... Just like his father." Luna said as she seemed to slip into her own memories.

"DO YOU SWEAR YOUR LOYALTY TO EQUESTRIA!?" Jon bellowed as the soldiers stood at attention answering his call.

"YES SIR!" They all answered as Jon shook his head.

"SPEAK UP YOU FUCKING WORMS!" Jon yelled back. "I'M FIVE FEET AWAY AND I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" Jon turned walking the line once again. "DO YOU SWEAR LOYALTY TO EQUESTRIA!?"

"YES SIR!" The yelled even louder.

"DO YOU SWEAR TO PROTECT EQUESTRIA!?" Jon asked as he finished walking the line before turning again.

"YES SIR!"

"DO YOU SWEAR TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT!?" Jon asked as his eyes focused on Bright once again but this time only one voice was heard.

"YES SIR!" Bright answered

"If I can protect everyone then I can be stronger than you daddy." A childish voice rumbled through the memory.

"PRINCESSES! MAY I BE THE ONE TO INTRODUCE THE 112TH BATTALION! THE EQUESTRIAN HAMMER!" Jon yelled as the men saluted the princesses not moving.

The memory shifted once again to Jon sitting in a hospital room holding the hand of an aging woman. He looked so young compared to her. "Jon... How is Bright doing?" the old woman smiled sweetly asking Jon. He smiled to her yet it was filled with sorrow.

"He is doing alright Red." He gripped her hand tighter but continued to smile to her. "He is captain of his battalion now and he knows how proud you are of him." Red smiled as she went to speak only to let out a ragged cough. Jon was there to help her with a glass of water.

"He is such a good boy. Always trying to make his parents proud." she said once she got her breath. "You'll keep him safe won't you?" She asked as Jon took a shuddering breath before nodding a tear rolled down his cheek as he held her hand close.

"I'll always protect him Red. I promise." Jon said as Red's eyes went distant before they settled on Jon once again.

"I'm sorry but who are you?" Red asked as she looked confused at Jon.

"It's ok Red. It's me Jon you remember me." Jon said as he smiled to her once again. Recognition sparked in her eyes as she smiled sweetly to him.

"Jon... How is Bright doing?" Red asked as the memory dissolved shifting to a new memory.

"Red was diagnosed with magical decay. Her own magic began to eat away her memories... She began to forget who the ones she loved were. Jon stayed with her the entire time until she stopped remembering. Even then Jon tried to remind her who he was until her passing day." Luna let out a sigh as she wiped away her tears.

The next memory appeared showing Jon standing before Red's grave he stared down at the grave with Bright next to him. The body was buried only a few hours ago but Jon had yet to leave.

"Come on Dad." Bright said setting his hand on Jon's shoulder only for Jon to seize Bright by his suit lifting him off the ground rage in his eyes. As fast as his rage boiled it just as quickly disappeared only to be replaced by shock and concern as Jon released Bright. Jon took a step back away from Bright looking terrified at what he had just done.

"I-I'm Sorry I just..." Jon looked back at the grave sadness filling the atmosphere of the memory before become a crushing depression.

"It's ok Dad." Bright said as he reached out to Jon only for him to back away once again. "I'll be here when you are ready." Bright said as Bright turned walking away leaving Jon alone once again. He stepped back to the grave as memories flowed across my vision. Some looked happy and then the dark ones started to overtake the good.

Suddenly the memories stopped as Jon sat in a room a gun in his hand. The memory looked different almost like it was coated in static the only things in the room that had clarity were Jon, the gun, and the stain on the wall. The room smelled of death as Jon continued to sit there staring at the gun. "This time for sure." Jon said as the gun went to the side of his head and the memory disappeared.

I couldn't help but put my hands to my mouth in horror. Luna looked even more shocked than me. "I never knew... He was trying to forget that he even did this." Luna said as the next memory kicked in with Jon in the same room yet this one was clean and seemed to have been repaired. He was doing paperwork for something before he raised it with a smile.

"Red Line Memorial Orphanage." Jon said as he double checked all of the paperwork. "Did I miss anything Moon?" Jon asked as what we were seeing shifted and began moving.

"Not a single bit of info was missed Celestia will have to approve especially since you are funding the entire project out of pocket. I'm glad to see that you are coming back to us." A female voice said as Jon Smiled.

"Red would approve of this." Jon said as he got to his feet making his way for the door.

The memory disappeared before reforming to Jon standing with Bright's head in his hands. Luna gasped in horror as the memory began to play. "This was... The day Jon lost everything." Luna said as the memory seemed to jump and stutter before a deafening silence.

"Bright..." A soft voice said echoing through the memory. "Who would... Why would..." The soft voice continued before the memory began to shake and shudder. "Hunt them down." Jon's voice returned rumbling in distortion. "Slaughter them. They shall pay for this." Jon let out a piercing wail of despair. "I failed you Red." Jon's voice rang as the corruption began to pour off of him. "I couldn't protect him. If I can't protect the one closest to me... then what good am I?" Jon asked himself as he disappeared. The landscape changed to a town over run by Minos. The memory jumped between scenes of slaughter and bodies being turned into stains on the ground.

The memory flickered to Jon walking past Twilight. "May I never have to do this again." Jon said as he teleported away. "If I let no one in... I won't lose them." Jon's voice rumbled as the world began to shake as fall apart.

"Jon is forcing himself to wake up. Come along Dash." Luna said as I looked at Jon standing before me a sad smile on his face suddenly everything went white.

I awoke slowly sitting up rubbing my eyes. I looked over to see Luna comforting Dash she was giving me a sad frown as I looked away. "Sorry. You wanted the truth and I gave you all of it. The two people that were the closest in my heart and what happened to them. If you hate me for it I understand." I said running a hand through my hair. "I know I do." I said as Dash crashed into me hugging me as tight as she could.

"You put yourself through that hell. Everyday just because of one mistake you can't do that. It will tear you apart." Dash said as I sighed setting my hand on her shoulder. "Why can't you just forgive your mistake?" She asked.

"The promise to my late wife was made with all of my heart. When I failed to keep my son safe I found just how weak I really was. not because I let people into my heart it was because I couldn't keep one simple promise. That promise..." I felt Luna's hand on my shoulder. "That promise haunts my every waking moment. But it is my burden to bear and serves it's purpose." I said getting to my feet. "I will never be weak ever again. I will protect the last things that mean the world to me no matter what. At any cost." I moved to the door opening it before smiling. "You are one of the people I want to protect no matter what Dash never forget that." I walked through the doorway closing it softly.