Fear Of The Light

Modern Equestria:

Theo let out a long sigh, staring up at the castle looming in the distance. He was shaking, fearful at what would happen. Would they just banish him? Destroy his soul completely? Destroy… him? So much ran through his mind. He knew he had to do this.

Luna’s beautiful moon hung in the starry sky. The city for once was peaceful, the only sounds were distant and quiet.

It gave Theo a bit of hope, maybe it’d go well… maybe they’d both forgive him. He took his first steps off of the platform. Every step was filled with trepidation and angst. The fear from both mixing into an unholy cacophony of the purest form of dread. He’d hurt them both so much… Celestia probably the worst. Had he just played with her heart, only to break it? He shivered at the thought, feeling horrified at it. No, he did still love her. Nothing had changed in that regard, he was just scared he’d corrupt her like he had Luna.

His thoughts were cut off quite violently as he made it to the castle gate, it being still open as Luna had taken over for the night. The large unicorn took in a deep breath, slowly walking forward into the courtyard. His destination: the throne room, where at least one of them would be. As he walked through the garden and into the castle itself, the guards around him were reeling back when they saw his prehensile tail, the only really demonic part of him that still showed, obvious with its spaded tip. Not a single pony even made an attempt to stop him as he approached the throne room doors. His breathing was shallow, and in truth, he didn’t want to take the next step, second thoughts plaguing his mind now that he was mere inches from his destination.

Regardless, he pushed the door open and stepped inside, seeing Luna busy with her royal duties. But she wasn’t as lost in the boring administrative work as he thought she might be, and quickly noticed the doors opening with not a single announcement. To her absolute surprise she recognized who had entered, after only a moment's confusion. The tall, cardinal-furred unicorn stood silent, the anxiety clearly visible in his strangely dual blue and crimson eyes.

“H-h… Hello Luna…” He spoke up, barely getting the words out. She could tell time had been kind to him, but stress had taken a toll... he seemed tired, as if he hadn’t slept in days.

“...Th-Theodore?” Luna whispered, taking a small step towards him. “Is… i-is it really you? After so long?”

Theo nodded, tears forming in his eyes. He was bracing himself for whatever may come. “I-it is…” He mumbled, his voice quivering. He looked away from her, shamefully. “I’m s-so… I’m so sorry.” It was clear... stress wasn’t the only thing eating at him, there was so much guilt and regret pressing down on him as well.

Whatever else he had yet to say, though, was cut off, with Luna crossing the rest of the distance in a split second, the rush of wind making her papers fly everywhere as she hugged him as tightly as she could. “Theo! It… it’s been so many years… I, I have missed you so much… “ Luna whispered, effortlessly lifting Theo to her level.

Theo was stunned, only able to return the hug and press his face into her neck. The tears that were in his eyes now coming out in force. “I’ve… I’ve missed you too!” He whimpered. “I’ve missed both you and Celestia, so much! I’m so sorry I hurt you both… I never meant to… I-I never wanted to…”

“Shush, Theodore… we don’t need to think of that anymore, now. You’re back!” Luna said, pulling back to look him in the eyes, both of them having a pair of shiny orbs full of tears. “You’re… you’re really back…” She continued, squeezing him tight once more.

He smiled weakly, now his tail had wrapped around her waist. With a shaking hand he wiped away her tears. “It’s so hard to believe…” He said quietly, “B-but I am… and… and I don’t want to leave again…” He shook his head, squeezing her tighter as well. They both relished the tight hug, feeling as if it had been one destined to happen, and a small dread washed over them knowing they’d have to let go of each other.

They were forced to break apart much sooner than they could have expected, when- “Luna, are you alright?” Celestia called, slowly making her way to the throne room, having heard about the strange visitor to the castle and going down to investigate.

Luna saw Theo seize up, his eyes widening as if this was the moment he was dreading the most. She knew instantly why he would dread seeing Celestia again, and kept her hand on his shoulder, even as she set him down.

“Luna?” Celestia had finally entered the throne room, at first not noticing him… as Theo made an attempt to hide behind Luna.

“Yes, Sister?” Luna asked, wiping her eyes of tears.

“Why were you crying? Is… is something wroo…” Celestia trailed off, her entire body going slack for a few moments as she then saw Theo. For a few moments, it didn’t fully register with her, and she merely stared. “Theo?” She whispered, sounding so much like Luna had moments before.

Theo’s eyes widened for a moment, his fear fading. “Y… yes, C-Celly?” He asked uncertainly, stepping out from behind Luna and slowly approaching Celestia. He was growing happier by the moment, each step relieving a little bit of his guilt and dread, each one a bit faster than the last.

Luna noticed the strange smile on Celestia’s face. In no sense of the word was it happy… if anything, it was the exact opposite- sadness beyond comparison, perhaps only matched by her feelings towards having sent Luna away. But it was far, far too late to stop anything from happening. As Theo was a mere foot from Celestia, his arms beginning to extend to hug her, the Solar Princess’ horn lit up. The rage now coming onto her face, Theo couldn’t even breathe out a word, as he was picked up and violently slammed into the large banquet table in the room by her furious, overpowered slap, shattering it as he was dragged through the shards and pushed harshly into the stone beneath. In one more swift movement he was hurled into the thrones, shattering both of them on contact, leaving him paralyzed with fear and pain.

She would have done more, but Luna had finally found her will to move, and had caught Celestia’s arms in her own. “Stop! S-Sister, you’re hurting him!” She cried, her body shaking with the effort of holding Celestia still.

The being of rage that had been Luna’s sister seconds before turned to her- Celestia’s mane no longer soft, pastel colors, but burning plasma; her eyes the same as the bright, white-hot light stars made- and bared its teeth. “After he hurt me?” She asked, her voice a roar that shook the castle, pushing Luna to her knees as she fought to keep Celestia back. “After he hurt us!? He deserves every ounce of this! He abandoned me after I... a-after…” She trailed off, her rage simmering. “I s-sent you away…”

“But he’s back now, Sister!” Luna said standing back up, “Back to make amends… Theo is sorry, Celly, sorry he hurt us… hurt you.”

Celestia, her mane limp and lifeless, now, took a step back, her hands moving to her face as she glanced at Theodore’s limp body in horror, a sob wrenching its way out of her… but before anything else could happen, she vanished in a bright flash of light, blinding Luna.

“Sister!” She cried out, looking around, but unable to see her anywhere. “I-”

But Theo had finally felt his body again, and let out a weak cough, interrupting her. Pain now wracking every part of his body. He was already beginning to cry, the sound pained and heart-wrenching.

Luna snapped back to the moment, and rushed over to Theo, her horn aglow with magic as she healed him, battling through the dark stain of Celestia’s rage on his broken body. “Th-Theodore, it’s alright! I’m here, y-you’re going to be fine…” She said, trying to calm him, lightly pressing her hand against his cheek.

“Sh-she’s right… I deserved it…” He shook his head, “I broke her heart… after convincing her I’d never leave… convincing her I loved her! I-I never deserved to be with her…” He sobbed, shaking violently as he curled up. He couldn’t choke out anymore words as he hid his face.

Luna, finished with healing him- as best she could, anyway, as she could feel something left- lifted Theo in her arms, hugging his body to her own. “Theodore… please, please come back to me, Theo... “ She whispered.

Theo quivered even more and latched onto her, burying his face in her neck. Instantly soaking her fur as he continued crying. He was babbling incoherently for a minute or two longer. His crying soon slipping into a soft whimpering as Luna’s embrace comforted him more and more. “I-I knew it w-was a bad… I-idea to come here…” He mumbled quietly. “I-I knew she’d… d-despise me…”

“Shhh…” Luna said, gently shushing Theodore. “You… you made the right choice, coming back…”

“I… it doesn’t feel like it.” He mumbled, calming down a bit more. His quivering had all but ceased as he stayed in her arms. “Y-you’re the only one who… r-really wanted me back…”

“That’s not true.” Luna shook her head. “She does, too… I know it. I can feel it… and as soon as we go to her, she-”

“Princess Luna!” A guard shouted, bursting into the throne room, not noticing the destruction yet. Before Luna could shout back at him for interrupting, he continued, saying “There’s something wrong… P-Princess Celestia has collapsed in the doorway to her room!”