Shadows of the Night

It was Friday.

       Classes were done for the week, still needed to study some over the weekend though. As for the rest of the night, it was mine. Just a gangly six foot four, twenty year old, guy strutting it down the darkening sidewalk as the street lights began blinking on.

       Life wasn’t necessarily awesome, mostly due to a slightly pessimistic view of my own life, which my Dad was always trying to talk me out of. He was always saying that I treated myself as my own worst enemy. I really couldn’t disagree with.

I'm not a genius by any means, but I'm intelligent enough to know the shortfalls of my personality. It would certainly be easier if I simply had a set list of defect. But introversion comes at a price. Like being overly aware of myself in normal physical activities, like tripping over my own feet or being too ham-fisted at times, which is particularly bothersome since my hands are smaller than most guys shorter than me. But I was on my way to the local Starbucks to get me some of that, dark, delicious, hot chocolate so things would soon be changing for the better... or at least for the remainder of the night.

       Just a scant block away from my treat, through the din the noise that accompanies any city, I heard a shrill scream come from the alley I was crossing. I stopped; probably some weird cat. Shrugging I began to take another step when a clearly feminine voice shouted, “Stay away from me you brutes!” in a commanding tone that was clearly not working as advertised.

       My body started working before my mind could catch up, once it did I was already a third of way into the alley when I caught site of two guys wearing some black punk clothing with complimenting spiked bracelets on both hands and feet. They were both standing over the lady that I had heard from the street.

       This time my mouth decided to ignore my survival instincts. “You better leave her alone” I practically growled out.

       The two punks who had, until then, been leering over the lady finally turned around now that I had so brazenly made aware of my presence. Both were about six inches shorter than me, but their average built muscles were more than a match for my gangly build. The left one sneered, and in a strangely deep but naisily voice said, “Or what dumbass?”

       By this time I was flushed with enough adrenaline for my head to have caught up, but now wasn't a time for thinking, it was time for action. Having grown up in Texas, it was just a simple matter of taking my two and a half inch knife from my left pocket, followed by a, less intimidating but still deadly, Swiss-Army knife. It was just like my Dad had always said, you never know when you might need to use a knife, thank God I took that particular bit of fatherly wisdom to heart.

       Whether I really did look intimidating in the shadows of the alley, or whether the punks just didn’t feel like the situation was much fun anymore, I’ll never know, nor care, because at that point they both gave their approximations of a manly grunt and walked down the other end of the alley.

       Keeping my eyes on them as they left I let out a gasp of air I hadn't realized I’d been holding when the sound of crunching gravel caught my attention, the lady! Pocketing my knives I went over to see if she was alright.

       Man was she alright. Even though she wore what was clearly one of the finest gowns I had ever seen, deep black with such a high thread count its sheen was clear even in the poor light the alley provided, it had remained unscathed from her tumble to the ground, must have been silk, that stuff is remarkably tough. But all that paled in comparison to her alabaster face which seemed to shine with its own inner light with flowing black hair that was, somehow, even darker than her black evening gown. The only jewelry she wore was a single silver circlet, possibly platinum.

       I stuck my hand out, in offer to help her up, which she took without word.

       “Are you alright ma’am?” asking as she dusted herself off.

       “Yes good sir, I am quite fine. That was quite gallant display earlier, simply rushing into the darkness without heed. I must confess I would not normally be so easily overcome, but I’m afraid when I got here I was momentarily put out of sorts upon my shift.”

       I didn’t quite know what to make of that last bit, but she had just been through what could have been a harrowing ordeal, “Well I’m glad I was able to help you, might I ask if I may assist you any further?” A little formal, but I’m afraid I get a little stiff like that in new situations.

       She simply chuckled at my last statement and said, “Would thou be'st a knight?”

       “I most certainly would madam. Where may I assist you to tonight?”

       Giving a smile that outshone the stars themselves, “I came down this evening to find some good company and possibly have a nice conversation. Would you, perhaps, be willing to provide some of the latter since the first has been accomplished?”

       A truly beautiful example of a human female was not only asking me to spend time with her, but was indirectly giving me compliments. Okay, play it cool, just open your mouth and, “huh huh, sure”. Doh, thanks a lot brain.

       With nothing better to do, thank God, we walked out the alley and we went to Starbucks.

       Once I paid for both our drinks, hey I’m not gonna let a lady pay for her own drink after nearly being mugged (or worse) in an alley, we both sat down in a relatively quiet corner with nobody sitting next to the immediate adjacent tables.

       I let her take a few sips of her beverage, one of those ones with French names coffee, while I took a few sips of my now clearly well deserved hot chocolate. Then she put her cup down and looked deep into my eyes. The world just stopped around us. My mind felt jumbled, almost like she was searching through it. I felt all… fuzzy, kinda like static. Is this love at first sight? Though I guess it would be at like fourth sight by now. I never counted myself as someone to be taken in by such a phenomenon, it’s just not logical, besides, what would someone like her, let alone anyone else want with some scraggily freak like me, I thought with a smirk.

       With that the contact broke. The lady gave a frown, and even though I’m not the best at picking up ANY social cues, bespoke of an immense sadness.

       “What’s wrong?” I asked.

       “You are.” She said in a voice that barely kept back tears. “You have done much good tonight, as well as most of your life. You are a kind good-hearted man, yet you are so full of darkness and loneliness.”

       My body went cold for a second after that. I had never heard it put so simply, not even by me, but she guessed me out pretty well there. I didn’t have anything to say to that. But hey, it wasn’t like I hadn't TRIED. I’d gone to social gatherings, been nice and polite, but when I called to see if anyone wanted to hang out they were ALWAYS busy. At least the polite ones said they were. The less polite would say they would join me, I’d even go out of my way for the most convenient time for them, and they just wouldn’t show up. Study sessions, going to movies, reading groups, all busts, eventually I just gave up. If it happened all those times with so many different people the law of averages meant that there wasn’t just something wrong with those people but also something had to be wrong with me as well. One could go so far as to put my whole life under the banner of ‘nice guys finish last’.

       Having been busy reminiscing, with a sullen look I didn’t bother to hide even if I was with a fine company, she then asked, “What if I said I could send you somewhere you could find some happiness and friendship.”

       “I’d say that it probably wouldn’t be on Earth, and therefore impossible,” my frown deepening.

       “Indeed, such places on this planet are difficult to come by, even with powers such as mine.”

       Great, just my luck to do a good deed and wind up having drinks with someone in need of a mental ward I thought. I looked back down at her dress, and took and added a pinch of salt to the previous thought.

       Her face suddenly grew stern.

       “I am not crazy, nor am I trying to trick you. But if being plain will help you to understand then here. There is currently a game of greater and lesser deities, both divine and demonic. I, Selûne, am offering you the chance to go to the world of Equestria, in place as my participant. If you wish to accept, follow me outside.”

       While she went on she began to glow, like actually illuminate the store with a soft white light from her skin. At that everyone in the restaurant quieted and turned to look at her, and turning their heads in unison as she got up and went out the entrance.

       I sat their, stunned. But even if it was a long shot, some lady claiming to be a goddess to send me to a magical land so I could find friendship, but I was willing to take those odds.

       I stood out of my chair so fast it fell over, and even though it irked me to do so I left it there, and ran out to catch up to her. Okay, maybe I was a “little” lonely, I’ll admit that much to myself.

       Despite keeping what looked like a slow walk, she kept on outpacing me. I eventually caught up with her, once she stopped, in the spot in the alley where I first met her. Her smile and relaxed nature contrasted greatly with my heaving breaths as I bent over to catch them.

       “I’m glad you decided to take up my offer, but before you accept you must know this, I will not be able to send you back once you have been sent. You will leave all of your life and family behind. Are you willing to accept that?”

       I thought about it, my family would surely freak at my disappearance, if not worse, but then again I was being offered a chance to find some happiness. In the end all I could say was, “Yes, but would you be willing for me to at least send them a letter off to them so as to spare them some worry?”

       She smiled, “That will be fine. But now the second part, I offer to let you choose your shape, which you must change in order to enter. What form do you wish to choose?”

       I certainly didn’t want to be an equine. I really like my opposable thumbs. Really, I just want to go in the form I already was, I’m pretty attached to it.

       “Could I go as a shade?”

       She winced, “Are you sure that is the form you would have?”

       “I’m afraid so, I really am attached to the form I have, but if it makes you feel any better, maybe you could tell your sister you did it as an attempt to try and breach the gap between you. After all, even the moon turns dark every time it renews itself.”

       To that she gave a small smile. But rather than happiness it seemed only to project a deep sadness. “ It's simply amazing how much you can know of our kind in a magic-less world like this, and how deep your compassion can go to those who have long since turned away from any rightful chance at redemption. But I've found that it is often the small things that can bring about the largest of changes,” she sighed as a glow came about her, literally, “and she’ll probably enjoy the rule bending as well.” Stifling a laugh, “thank you, though I’m sorry for this next part.”

       “Why, what’s goi…” was all I got out when what looked like black lightning erupted from behind her back and arched toward me.

       It’s hard to explain, while it did physically hurt, it was more profound. My very being felt invaded of its personal space and its shock vibrated me to my core. But thankfully after three unmerciful seconds of that particular eternity I passed out.