The Darkness, She Lingers
The Darkness, She Comforts
Dark clouds glared menacingly down at the many people below, sparking with angry lightning and letting loose booming roars of thunder.
The wind howled as it blew in great gusts, pushing back all who dared approach, and the rain pelted the heads of those foolish enough not to prepare for such a possibility.
The city seemed to be cut into three parts. The first consisted of people running like mad to either their homes, or wherever their schedules so harshly dictated that they brave the elements to be in.
The second, of people who came prepared for such an occurrence as this. Those who came with umbrellas to guard against the rain, and coats to stave off the biting cold that seemed to be persistent in trying to freeze them to the very bone.
These were the people who mocked the storm. Laughed in its face and went about their night as if nothing had gone wrong. As if everything was just fine. As if the gods were not currently rampaging in the skies above them, trying to condemn them all to a turbulent hell.
And then there were those of the third, who simply remained in their homes, not daring to step out into the ensuing chaos that was the storm.
These people knew about times like this. They had experienced them before, and had long since seen their awesome power. the sheer amount of destruction a storm of this magnitude could cause was both awe inspiring, and absolutely terrifying.
These people, had long ago decided not to risk their safety on nights like this, preferring the comfort of the fire to the downpour of the rain.
One such person, was Jake Hallman.
Jake hated nights like this. Not only because of the storm, but because of what it meant for him.
He was currently sitting up in his bed, watching the lightning flash outside his window. He dared not even blink for at least a full minute, lest he get shocked into submission by the sound of the roaring thunder.
He stared, and stared, and continued staring.
He had sworn to himself that tonight would be the night he got over his fear. That tonight was the night he turned off his nightlight. Tonight was the night...he would finally go to sleep...in the dark.
Too bad the night had other plans for him.
Why did a storm have to start up just as he was about to get into bed? Now he was stuck staring for what had to be at least an hour at this point, at his window, instead of getting his well deserved, and very much needed rest for his job in the morning.
He had tried so many times already, but he just couldn't do it.
Jake finally shut his eyes tight, only to shake his head hard and open them again. He was disappointed in himself.
Here he was, 20 years old, and he still had to have a night light to sleep. What's worse, it was still the same little angel nightlight from his childhood. He had it when he was five, damnit! Throw it away already!
But he couldn't. That nightlight was his treasure. It was given to him by his parents to help him with his fears. The thought of his parents warm smiles as they handed him the light, as well as the warmth coming from the bulb when he held it in his hands was enough to make him lie back down, turn over, and try to sleep once again. That is until he realized something.
He never got over those fears.
'Mom. Dad. I'm sorry for being so pathetic.' He thought to himself, looking down at the dark blue sheets of his bed. He looked back up.
He had always believed monsters lived in dark places. That they prowled around in the shadows, and hid in dark corners, stalking their prey. Waiting for the perfect time to strike.
He just never could shake the feeling that if he ever lost his nightlight, and dared to close his eyes for even a second, a monster would sneak up on him from somewhere in his room and try to eat him.
He knew it was childish sure, but he couldn't help it. It was scary. He suddenly regretted making himself not use his nightlight tonight. He thought he'd be able to do it, but that obviously wasn't happening.
'i'll just...go and get it. Yeah! Go and get it from...my...closet...'
Jake looked over at his closet. Looking at it now, in the dark, surrounded by the very thing he feared most, it felt like it was miles away, despite being a few steps away from his bedside.
He chanced another look at the window, cringing for a moment when he thought something might attack him.
When nothing did, he relaxed, and let out a sight of relief. He looked out the window again before crawling slowly out of bed and trudging his way over to his closet door.
He didn't notice the flash of light near the cresent moon.
He gave it one last look over before giving an audible gulp and yanking it open with shaky hands.
he cringed and pulled away, tripping and falling on his bum. When he opened his eyes however, he saw that there was nothing there.
'Phew! What are you doing, Jacob Hallman? There's nothing there.'
He stood up and made his way back over to his closet, quickly sifting through his things and finding the nightlight he had hidden there.
As he reached for it however, he had one last thought of fear. He pushed it down, and grabbed the nightlight.
'Relax. It's like you said, there's nothing there.'
He sighed in relief and was about to make his way out of his closet, when he felt something tickle his neck. It felt like...a draft. He looked back at his window yet again.
It was open.
'What the...that's strange. I know for sure I didn't leave my window open...'
Then a thought suddenly came to him.
'What if someone got in! What if...it's a burglar?!' He dropped his nightlight.
It gave a loud crashing sound. Jake looked down. It was broken. He was defenseless.
He tried not to panic. There had to be something else he could use. Something! Anything! Anything to help him survive in this dark, lifeless void that was closing around him...!
And then it hit him.
'My bat!'
He turned and ran for his closet, not even worried if the burglar might be in there, waiting for him. He scrambled through his things for all of five minutes until...
'I found it!'
Indeed he had. His trusty bat. A long, smooth, silver metal bat with black grips. This would save him. It had to.
He turned toward the darkness slowly closing in around him.
"Come on out, you burglar, or monster, or whatever you are! Me and my bat ought'a take care o' you!"
He waited for a minute after that, but nothing happened. This only served to make him more nervous.
He was paranoid now. Everywhere he looked was a monster, ready and waiting to pounce on him at the first sign of weakness. The shadows at the edge of his vision were beasts, creeping up on him from behind to take him by surprise.
"You won't get me!" He swung his bat around to strike at the monster. "Yaaarrrggh!"
Only to see nothing there.
"Phew. That was a close one!"
He was about to turn around and keep up his lookout, until he felt that same ticklish feeling on his neck.
He went ballistic. Over and over he swung his bat around in a mix of blind rage and pure fear.
"Damnit! You won't get me, ya hear! You'll have to drag me to hell kicking and screaming the whole damn way! Yaaah....what?"
Suddenly he felt his body stop moving. He froze. Had a monster got him? Did it intend to eat him here? Would it drag him to hell and eat him there?
He had another look around, only for his fear to be averted, when he saw that it wasn't him who couldn't move. It was his bat.
It was surrounded in some sort of strange aura, and wouldn't budge no matter how hard he tried to move it.
"What...what's going on here?"
"Have you calmed down now?" came a voice out of nowhere.
Jake froze again. He didn't recognize that voice. It was very clearly female though. Was it the burglar? Did they finally decide to show themselves? Or was it a monster? Either way, he couldn't do anything without his bat. He pulled on it slightly, but it still wouldn't budge an inch.
"I'll take that as a no then. I know you may be troubled, but I assure you that I mean no harm."
Jake smirked a let out a, "Ha!" of disbelief. "Yeah right monster. You're just trying to trick me so you can eat me later, aren't you? Yeah that's right. I know your tricks, and you can't get me! I'm not going down without a fight!"
The voice let out a sigh. "What is it with humans and your irrational fears?"
"Aha! I knew you weren't human! So you are a monster after all!"
"You are correct. I am not a human."
"Aha!"
"Not so fast, my fearful friend. I am not a monster either."
"Huh? Then what are you?"
"I am a pony."
Jake stopped pulling on his bat to process what the voice had just said. He fell onto his bum in laughter.
"What are you saying! A pony! Wow! Good job, guys! I can't believe this was all a prank!"
"What are you saying? I assure you this is no prank. I am indeed a pony."
Jake stopped his laughter in favor of a serious expression. "Oh yeah? Prove it."
"Very well."
Jake waited, watching the darkness for any sign of movement. He soon found some, but what he saw moving did not look human like at all.
Moving out of the very darkness itself as if materializing from nothing, was a dark blue coated pony.
"See? I told you I was a pony. Now do you believe me?"
"Y-yeah. I...I guess so..." was all Jake could say to this development. He looked her over and soon found that, not only was she a pony, but she had wings and a horn as well.
"Who...are you?"
"I am Luna. Co-ruler of the nation of Equestria along side my sister, and princess of the night. May I ask your name as well?"
"I'm Jacob Hallman."
"Well, I must say it is very nice to meet you properly Jacob!"
"Wait. What do you mean, 'properly'?"
"What do you mean, 'What do I mean'? You can't very well make a proper introduction when you swing that thing around like that, can you?" Luna gestured to his bat.
"Oh...yeah...sorry about that."
"It is fine, dear Jacob." Luna waved a hoof dismissively.
"Uhhh...can you remove whatever this is blocking my use of the bat?"
"What? You mean my magic? Sure!
With a quick flash of her horn, Luna released the magical hold on his weapon.
"I trust you won't try and use that on me again?"
"No...no, I won't."
"Good. Now.."
"Wait! What's going on! Why are you even here?!"
"I came to help you, dear Jacob."
"Help me? With what?"
"Your fear."
"My...fear?" Jacob was confused.
"Exactly. I came here to help you. And based on what I have witnessed of it, I would say I know exactly how to help you."
"You...you do?"
"Indeed I do, Jacob. You fear the darkness. More specifically, you fear the harm that could befall you, should you let your guard down while in it."
"Yeah, that's right." Jake said, turning to face the pony. "But how can you help me?"
"Were you perhaps not listening? I am princess of the night, no? I am well versed in fear, and all its forms. There is a reason I walk the realm of dreams."
"The realm of dreams? As in, you see people's dreams? Like, literally?"
"Yes. I guarantee you that what I am saying is the honest truth."
"In that case..."
"You are wondering if I have seen your nightmares, yes? Indeed I have, and I must say, they are not pretty."
"Well, they are nightmares, after all..."
"I suppose you are correct. They are nightmares. But they do not have to be."
"What do you mean, Luna?"
"What I mean, dear Jacob, is that the darkness you hate, and the monsters you fear, are all manifestations of your anguish. What you see in the dark is caused not by a looming threat, but by the perception that there is indeed a threat to begin with."
"So...you're saying it's all in my head, then?"
"Correct. Tell me, what do you see when you look in that corner?" She pointed to the top left corner of his room.
"I see..." Jacob studied it hard, examining the wall. "A...monster ready to pop out and swallow me whole?"
"Right. Now look at me. What do you see?"
Jacke turned and looked at Luna. He looked her up and down, perusing her carefully. "I see...a pony."
"Correct. Now, what is the difference between me, a pony, who just came from the darkness you so feared, and has not harmed you in the slightest, and a dark corner with nothing but a wall behind it."
"A...a wall?"
"Correct. There is nothing but a wall there, dear Jacob. No monsters."
"And how do you know?"
"Because that is the corner I hid in to get your attention."
''Wait. You hid there...watching me?!"
"I am princess of the night. It is my job to watch over those who sleep and keep them safe. How many times must i reiterate this fact?"
"So you were keeping me safe?"
Luna nodded.
"All this time?"
She nodded again.
"And there's nothing in the dark that can hurt me? At all?"
"Not unless you make it yourself."
Jacob stood there for a moment, stuck in contemplation of her words.
Then he sighed and sat down on the floor of his room. "I'm pathetic. And all this time I thought I was in danger."
"There is no danger in the darkness. I guarantee it."
"You just said that."
"I thought I might repeat myself, just in case you still have doubts."
"Well, thanks, Luna. I really needed this." He made his way back onto his bed, and laid down on the sheets, not bothering to get under the covers.
"You're very welcome. Although..."
"What? What is it?" Jacob's fear came back a little, as he wondered what the pony could mean.
"I wouldn't say there's no danger at all in the dark." A mischievous grin spread across Luna's muzzle.
A grin Jacob could see. "Oh no. no, no, no, no. No, no, no. Nooo-!"
"Ahahahahaha!" With a cry of mirth, Luna jumped onto his bed, crashing down upon him with enough force to cause the bed to creak.
Jacob was hyperventilating. That is until Luna cupped his face with her hoof.
"All is fine, dear Jacob. Be at peace. I will join you in your dreams for tonight. Surely that should help get rid of any lingering nightmares?"
Jacob relaxed at the feel of her hoof and smiled down at her. "That would mean a lot to me. Thank you."
And so the two slept, wrapped up in each other's embrace. The human man, and the pony princess. Both were happy, but none were more happy than Jacob. He had passed his self given test. He would no longer need his nightlight. He could sleep in the dark now. And it was all thanks to Luna.
He smiled and gave on last, final, "Thank you." before drifting off into a nice, long, dream.
