The Abyssal Requiem

The next morning on the weekend, Flurry Heart and Tempest were walking around Canterlot, eating ice-cream with one another while looking at the statues. But while Flurry Heart was busy admiring the statues, Tempest was deeply troubled by last night. Perhaps Sunset was right. Starlight and Tempest have clung on to the past for so long that they hardly knew what it was like to live in the present. She already lost Grubber during the Abyssal Invasion, but she had to deal with learning that Twilight was evil the entire time and it did a lot to her psyche as a Pony of Friendship. But as she was dwelling on those thoughts, Flurry Heart asked,

“Aren’t you going to eat your ice-cream?”

“Huh? What do you mean?” Tempest asked.

“It’s dripping.” Flurry Heart answered, trying to cover her giggles.

Tempest looked at her cone and noticed that it was starting to leak. Immediately, she frantically licked the sides to keep it from dripping any further. Flurry Heart did her best to stifle her giggling, but she just could get enough of Tempest panicking with her ice-cream. Tempest herself wasn’t fond of this mistake, but she let it pass.

“Is something wrong, Aunty Tempest?” Flurry Heart asked.

“Huh? N-No. Why would you think that?” Tempest replied while licking her ice cream.

“Whenever we get ice-cream, you would lick it all the way so far as to eat the cone. I didn’t do anything wrong, did I?” Flurry Heart said, starting to feel worried.

“No, it’s not you… I’m just… there’s just been a lot on my mind recently.” Tempest answered.

“Like what?” Flurry Heart asked.

“I always told that story about the Abyss when you were much smaller than you are now. But there’s just a tad more to it than what I told you. There was also a baby dragon.” Tempest said while facing the statues.

“Do you mean Spike?” Flurry Heart asked.

“Just listen to what I have to say first. It could be very important to you later down the road. Are you listening?” Tempest asked, facing Flurry Heart with a serious look.

Flurry Heart nodded yes and Tempest spoke in a firm but not forceful tone,

“Before the Abyssal Invasion began, there was once a baby dragon named Spike. He was friends with Twilight Sparkle and your mother, but he was always alone. Because of that, he became sad and wanting. At one point, he left everypony entirely and while he was wandering inside a cave, he stumbled across the Malachite Crystal Heart. Tempted by its beautiful appearance, it latched onto him and he became a monster. Using his resentment against Twilight and her friends, he began to hate ponies. And later… all of life itself. If it weren’t for Twilight, her friends, and the Royal Sisters, we wouldn’t be here eating ice-cream and looking at the statues like we are now.”

“Is there a point to all this? And didn’t you fight against the Abyss?” Flurry Heart asked.

“I did. And it’s getting there. After some time had passed, we were heartbroken to discover what he had become. And then… we ended him. But he took so much from us… and there’s so little to go by after everything that he did.” Tempest said.

“But did he ever think about what he did it for? And why was he so angry in the first place?” Flurry Heart asked.

Tempest was hit hard by that question. Her insides were throbbing and she could feel her eyes start to tear up. But stomaching her emotions long enough, Tempest responded,

“I don’t know, but he was not always angry. But you need to understand that not every creature is evil. Some of them were just as nice before they were tainted by the Abyss. Spike lost himself because he had nopony to turn to… and I don’t want you to end up like he did. So please, never let your emotions control your actions. But someday, you will have to make a decision that will decide the entire fate of Equestria.”

Flurry Heart had no idea what Tempest meant. For all she knew, it could have been some lecture story she heard one time during one of her history classes. It may have even been part of a picture book that she read once. She was so confused that she didn’t even know where to start. But then Flurry Heart said,

“Okay, Aunty Tempest. But if it’s okay, can I please finish my ice-cream? It’s starting to melt.”

Having felt a little down in the dumps since this morning, Tempest chuckled and answered,

“Sure.”

Immediately, Flurry Heart went back to eating her half-melted ice-cream while enjoying the sight of the statues. But they continued gazing at the statues, they were suddenly approached by Cozy Glow, who was still selling cookies in the middle of the day.

“Hello, Your Highness. How are you?” Cozy Glow asked.

“Hi, Cozy Glow. Me and Aunty Tempest were just looking at the Statues of the Heroes of Equestria. Do you wanna watch with us for a bit?” Flurry Heart said in an excited tone.

“I’m sorry, but I still have my daily rounds to go through. I would like to come over, but my parents are so busy making ends meet that I barely have time to play.” Cozy Glow said in a forlorn manner.

Hearing this made Flurry Heart feel bad for the pegasus, but there was very little that she could to improve her living situation. But then Cozy Glow suggested,

“How about I talk with my parents tonight and then see about giving you my answer tomorrow? Does that sound good?”

“That would be wonderful! I can’t wait to hear your answer tomorrow, Cozy Glow!” Flurry Heart said in an excited tone.

“Now don’t get your hopes too high, Flurry Heart. It could be a no tomorrow.” Tempest said, trying to temper the young alicorn’s happiness.

“I know, Tempest. I’m just trying to be happy for my new friend.” Flurry Heart said in an annoyed tone.

“Right. Anyway, tell us your answer tomorrow. Okay, sweetie?” Tempest said with a small yet skeptical smile.

“I will! Thank you, Your Highness!” Cozy Glow said as she dashed away with her cookies.

“Huh? Wait! I didn’t get any cookies…” Flurry Heart whined, starting to feel depressed.

“You had enough sugar for one day. It’s time we walked off some of it in your body.” Tempest said as she stood up.

“Fine…” Flurry Heart said as she rolled her eyes.

“And no eye-rolling.” Tempest warned.

While they started to walk, Cozy Glow was watching from afar and she had a sinister grin on her face.

“They’ve fallen for it. Better tell him the good news…” Cozy Glow said as she proceeded to leave Canterlot.