Once Upon a Time

Chapters

The Beginning of it All
Oh Death's Weeping Sorrow
How the Shadows Found a Purpose
The Tale of the Kind Crow

The Beginning of it All

Author's Note

Greetings Everyone,

This is a prequel/lore deep dive into the world of Shimmering Hope. It is not really spoiling anything for the main story, as most of this will be a mystery, and some parts will not be mentioned at all. I will go into greater detail into things such as Death's Absence, The Great Cataclysm, and much more.

The Beginning of it All

Long ago, before the days of the sun and moon, before Grogar and the Tree of Harmony, before the realms were split apart from each other, there was just the single plane known as the Void. The Void was a blank, empty place, with energy just existing throughout it, till a sudden event occurred. From the Void, of solid white and energy, came forth a sphere, pulsating and brilliantly gold, as the first being was born. They were known simply as Life. Life did not know what they were, how they came to be, but only knew one thing, she was alone. Out of this loneliness, for who knows how long as time was not yet an idea in her infinite mind, she floated in the void, searching and confused. Until, she then saw something new, energy forming behind her, little stars of pure energy tailing her, pulled into existence.

Seeing new things made Life then floated around, creating more and more stars, until she had billions upon billions of them around her. However, with so much energy from the void now in these stars, the void lost it's white tone, and gray. This, along with the fact that Light now existed, created a shadow behind Life. Life never saw a shadow before, and so she was intrigued by it. However, the shadow did nothing, but follow her, though now she had a companion to always be with her. Life also then started to try and make more things from the void, draining it more and more of energy, until it got darker and darker, with only the stars and herself making light, but only Life had a shadow.

Then, as life tried to make a bigger star, she broke it, killing it and started a chain reaction. Life heard the stars' cries, for they were alive to her, and went to stop this. By the time she was able too...so many stars had died...their dust scattered through the void, and she, for the first time, wept from sadness and guilt. That was when she heard his voice, her shadow, spoke to her, "You didn't know that would happen...also....who...are you?" This has never happened before, and thus Life was shocked, and asked "How can you, my shadow, speak? Only the stars could ever make noises."

The shadow simply sighed, "I don't know how I can do anything, all I know is, I am here now." Life was puzzled, and thus spent time, actual time, to talk to her shadow. It was odd, as her shadow made her recall how long it has been since the death of so many stars, and yet, she felt better with her shadow here with her. They two then stayed together, and thus, they chatted, discovered new things, and then, when both were chatting, Life decided her new friend needed a name, "I need to name you, I can't call you My Shadow, you're different from me."

Her shadow hummed, "Yes, but what shall you call me? What do you call yourself?" Life thought for a moment, as she thought hard on if she had a name, until she glows brighter, "I am Light and you are Shadow...wait..no...that's just...dropping the my before Shadow." She sighs, as her shadow then speaks up, "What do you do?" Life thinks hard on this too, for she never really thought about what she did, but now, she created things that existed, beings of light, she made...life.

"I guess, I make beings real, I make..Life." Her shadow nods, as it then pulls itself from the shadows, and forms a dark sphere. "Then I," her shadow declares, "Shall end what you make, so you can make again. After all, this is all you can use, so it must end one way or another for you to make more things." Life nods, though dimmed at this idea. "Alright, but..what would you call that then?" Her shadow grows darker, then hums in thought, before saying in a deep, mind shaking voice, "It shall be called, Death."

Life takes this word in, Death, her opposite, but her ally, as the void's last bits of energy are used by her to make Death into a stable form, free of her light, to exist on his own, as she pulsates brightly, with a mix of joy and worry. "Yes, now then, let us see what we can do now, my dear old Death."

------Time Skip------

Life and Death, the first and the last beings of the Void, have done many things since the time when Death was first given free will. Life began to create more things for the energy of the oldest and weakest stars, letting their tired struggle of existence end with the help of Death. They created the universe, planets, and many realms. Life made the realm of Light, where she made small stars into beings like her, to help her create worlds. Death, however, could not make such beings, though Life knew this, and asked seven Stars of blue light, to join him in the shadows.

Once those seven stars of Blue came to Death, they were made into black stars, and their light was used to make the realm of Shadows, where they roamed and existed, and also stored energy that life needed to use to create new things in her own realm. Thus, a cycle was born, Life made things, and was happy to do so, and Death, oh Death at first was just happy to see her work, and to help put a tired and long life of Stars from the beginning, the strongest ones, to a proper end, so they can be used to make more new things.

Then, life suddenly vanished for a time, and Death was worried. Sure new things came and many were strange and new, but they were small, recent, and strange. Death then went to find Life, to ask her what she was doing. That was when he saw her, constantly changing her form of light, as she made things, small little green things, in the strange substance Death knows not of. Life then speaks to Death, in a happy voice, "I think I have done it, after so long." She then turns, and shows him a small little thing, with strange parts to it, as it is so small no one but them could see it without aid. "I have made something new, I have made something like us both, it takes energy, and fuels itself. I...don't know what to call it."

Death was confused, but then chuckles, as he felt joy for the first time, as this was something very new, something he could feel, like the Stars, but it was so small, so..special. "Then, let us call it, the first of many." Life giggles, and the two sit on this rock in space, bathed in warm lights, with the newest creation in a substance they dubbed "Life's Blood", they both finally had an idea, to make something greater. And so, on the sands of an ancient ocean, Life and Death created the first living things with their own little stars in them. Together, they created, the first being of matter, with a tine star in it, a soul inside a body.

This new idea made things harder for both, as now the body of Matter couldn't enter either realm they made, so the soul was taken, and the body left behind. This however, made Life's work easier, as the energy in the realm between theirs was now able to fuel the life of other beings, though, it was hard at first. Life experimented, and created many creatures. She kept on creating, until. She created a powerful race, one with four legs, tails, wings, and horns. She made them and gifted them a part of her own Light, and thus created the Alicorns, and Magic.

Death, then was given these new beings, and he gifted them his sight, to see souls, his shadows, to be able to use powers of the darkness, and, lastly, as he saw Life's Light in them, he made each and every one of them beings he could not claim, and thus him and his Seven Shadows, now Seventy due to the hard work of collecting the souls of the new beings all across the middle realm meant more hands were needed, could not end their existence, and thus harm Life.

Over the years, a concept the Alicorns' created, Life made more creatures, and the Alicorns, helped them grow, and to make each one become something more, and then told that creature to tell what it did to Death, and to ask tell him things they wanted to tell him, since they could not see Death often, and felt like they owed it to him for the gifts he gave them. Death, and his Shadows, loved the stories the souls told them, and became happier to do their jobs and guide such informative beings to their realm to rest, and stay a while, until Life needed their energy.

However, some souls became constant, and slipped out of the Realm of Shadows, and popped into new life, with the memories of old, and was more inclined to avoid Death, as they wanted to avoid being destroyed. They became fearful of no longer existing, and this sentiment spread rapidly through all beings Life made. They begged her to keep Death away, to help them, and they begged the Alicorns to help them, to fight death. Life and most of her Lights and Alicorns simply sighed, and told them it was natural. However, one Alicorn did not, and tried to fight off a Shadow of Death, and wounded the Entity. This had never happened before, and seeing the Shadow then take form, and attack the Alicorn, sparked a great cascade of fear, fighting, and the breaking of the Cycle. The fights and wars, soon massive conflicts destroyed almost all life, as the living picked sides, the Lights and Shadows took up arms, and the Alicorns were divided.

Life and Death could only watch as everything fell apart, and Death was angry, livid, as the Alicorns slaughtered so many, on all sides, and yet could not die due to his gift. However, he could not take it away, or Life would be hurt...but then, as he watched two Alicorns break the planet and slay a sun, he then had enough. With his great powers of Shadow, he stabbed his very self into the void, and ripped it into pieces, he then pulled from the holes, pure shadow, that formed barriers so grand and unfathomable, only he, Life, the beings of their realms, and the Alicorns could cross them. He then grabbed all the Alicorns, and tossed them onto each world, and then cursed them all, for that if they try to fight again, they must relinquish their souls, their Light from Life, back to Life, or they will be trapped in the Realm of Shadows. Each Alicorn took this differently, but eventually all agreed.

As time went on, many of the Alicorns, ashamed for what they did, went into hiding, and slept. Life hid away, letting her Lights, her Angels, work and watch over her creations. Death, however, took things personal, as he took souls, and made more reapers, and then, he tore into the void, and stole dark energy, and thus cursed all realms with it, so that eventually the Alicorns will fail and give Life back the pieces of her soul they were given, NO..stole from her. His rage and hate was massive, and thus, he ended many of the splintered realms he created, to vent and feel good about his decisions, and to take up his mind with stories, as Life was no longer there for him.

Eventually, his curse worked, and most if not all of the Alicorns found and fought the darkness he set upon their realms, their universes, but some instead conquered it without fighting. One such case, was the Brightest of the Alicorns, Celestia, who instead turned her Dark Counter into her sister, and gave her new sister the Moon, and both kept their quadrupedal forms and decided to start being like Life and Death, and thus found the planet of Equis, and watches it from afar. Unknown to them, Death was watching them, as he felt guilty and sad, as he lost the joy he once had. His form was dark, empty, with only a slight bright red around it, the only sign of Life's effects on him. The decades went by, as Death began to watch each universe closely, and saw how little of life's creations were left, how scattered and weak they were, and he felt alone.

Thus, one day, he simply vanished, and went to a world to live out a mortal life, as he tried to take on a mortal form, and thus, took on a form of the natives. He became a tall, pale ape, with hair of black on his head, and his body showed no signs of life ever even being the being who helped make him, until you saw his eyes. Those orbs held that last spark of life in them, a fire of amber, glowing faintly. Life notices this, and watched her oldest friend, and knew he felt bad for the pain he caused her, for everything, and thus, she decided to keep him safe, and once he was ready, she would come down to either join or bring him back to her side.

That day did eventually happen, though, Death forgot one thing he could never change about himself, the part of him that made him and Life fundamentally different to all other beings. And that was, unlike the Alicorns of old, or the beings of new, neither Life nor Death have a physical body, they are just a soul. And thus, when he took on a body, he made it from his Immortal soul. Thus, Death couldn't ever die, and he might have known, or he might have not, but to find out, will have to wait. I wish you all a good day or night, and I hope to see you again...as I recount a tale, from.. Once Upon a Time.

Oh Death's Weeping Sorrow

Author's Note

Hello, and before you read this, know this has been a tool to get back into writing, and finally get ready to remake the lost chapters for Shimmering Hope. Know when I have time, the next thing I work on is Shimmering Hope's chapters three, four, and five. They won't be named yet, since that will spoil them.

I do hope your all alright with this chapter, as I personally loved writing it. If you have any constructive criticism, please feel free to tell me. I am more then happy to get better at writing from constructive criticism.

Anyways, enjoy the chapter, and if you want more of this kind of stuff, comment and ask questions about the lore, and I'll either dedicate a chapter to your question, or I'll just privately inform you your question is gonna cause spoilers to be mentioned. Have a great day or night.

Oh Death's Weeping Sorrow

Ah welcome back, did you feel inclined to return for another tale I have? Oh yes, excellent. Today I have a few, but I know just the one to tell you, the tale that made Death so kind and and want to change, you could say, he tried many times, to break the cycle, to help and push others from his grasp, but this is the tale of when he almost had it all, and lost it.

This is the tale of Death, and how he fell in love with a mortal woman, and how he gave a world without order, a way to combat the chaos of his own Darkness. Now, sit down, and get comfortable, for this tale is surely a good one.

The tale begins with Death, having taken on a mortal form, wandered the earth as a pale avatar of his namesake. During this age of history, humanity was similar to other ancient races still, mythical, full of magic given to them by the Alicorns, and also full of Life's creations. However, humans were a fearful race, and thus, fought and feared the others who were their equal. All across their world, humans were at odds, but Death knew this, and let it happen. He wanted to see how things played out, and oh he was surprised. He watched humanity fight, befriend, and kill witches, Dragons, Lycans, Vampires, and all other beasts of this world, but...he also say many respected, protected, and fought for the same "monsters" and even fell in love with them, or became their friends. Then, one day, he simply decided to stay a while in a place, but then, his presence was noticed.

Death was thought of as a Vampire due to his pale skin and amber eyes, and the humans tried to fight him, their soldiers running and showing no fear, until a spear tore through his side, and out of it, his shadows spilled. The mortals screamed, as from these shadows, formed the first ever creature Death created, and that was the Monster known as Crypt, the Steed of Death. The black, undead beast had large clawed forelegs, strong hoofed back legs, and was of shadows and darkness. It then ran so fast it caused the Earth to shake, and thus Death grabbed onto Crypt, to try and stop it from ending this world. He pulled hard on it's mane, and ordered it to halt. But, Crypt was an untamed monster of Death, and thus his steps caused chaos, so much so that the void itself, suddenly created a new being out of need to balance out the sheer unknown caused by Crypt.

Thus, popping into the universe closest to them, was born a creature like crypt, with parts made from what was alive, pulled and stitched together, to create a new being, of dragon, buffalo, pony and bat. With the eye of a chaotic combination, and with powers bound only to the source of all existence, the void, Discord, the God of Chaos, was born. However, like many beings, he was too young to do much, so he instead buried himself in a cocoon, and rested, to gain energy until he felt like he was ready to explore and learn.

As that happened, Crypt, the wild Beast of Disaster, caused civilizations to end, lives to be lost, and knowledge to be all but forgotten to the mortals. Death was tired, but with his resolve, and his imagination, he formed a harness pulled on Crypt, to the point the beast was staring up at the stars. This was when it stopped, and bucked off Death, before falling onto it's side, and panting. Death landed in the sands of an island, where volcanoes and rock was all that existed. Death then looked at Crypt, as he spoke at the beast with rage. "You just....DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE? ALL THOSE LIVES, ENDED TOO SOON...UGH!" All Crypt did was look into the stars, as the beast then spoke, "I only ran, because I was scared they would harm you. But, won't they come back, or will be made into new souls?"

Death sighs, "Of course, but that's not the point. I am trying to not do this, I have done enough killing." Crypt looks confused, "But, then why was I born to destroy?" Death stops, and thinks, then realizes, he created something that existed, in this realm. He MADE something without Life's help. The mixture of joy and anger made his head spin, and thus he fell onto the black sand beach, as he sighed loudly. Crypt, simply got up and laid down next to Death, as they both rested. Death then spoke in an astonished tone, "I made you, but, now what shall I do?"

Crypt looks at the stars, with big, black and blue eyes. "I think, we can help keep balance, and maybe, we can walk the world together, for I am, but shadows, my form can be anything." Death nods, as they then rested and planned for four days and night, and on the fifth day, they took off across the ocean, and left only a single patch of seeds on the island, to hopefully start something to look back on later.

------Time Skip------

Death and Crypt wandered the Earth, and watched humanity change. No longer were they colorful and bright, their skins changed to common colors or peach, tan, browns, and such. Only their hair remained strangely colorful. Over time, the other races decided to hide among the humans, if they could, or simply lived in places they could never find them. Many magical species made gates, to hope over into the other universe next to their home one, and sealed them with magics of old. However, many stayed to live on their home, and help humanity and themselves. Such was the case of Lycans, Vampires, Werewolves, the Fea, Dragons, and many others, though most simply let the humans believe they were dead, or nearly so.

Death had also noticed Humanity's cruelty and wicked ways fully, but also knew some were just. However, around the age when the short man of France was on his conquests, Crypt and Death were exploring England, and on this fateful day, Death saw a woman, barely older then thirty, get grabbed by a man, and pulled into an alley. However, what Death also saw was that she was strong with magic, the ancient magic specifically. Thus, he felt he should do something to preserve her, so she may pass it on to someone, as he saw many like her be burned and killed in the times of plague and fear.

Crypt read Death's mind, as both then entered the alley, and Death whispered a dark curse, "Let go thy woman, or be consumed by the darkness in your heart and soul." The man was in shock, and Death felt his breath leave him, then the man fell dead, as his heart turned black, and he bled inky ooze of darkness from his eyes and mouth. The woman, in shock but also awe, was left speechless, until Death and Crypt were almost out of the Alley.

"Um, excuse me kind sir, could you help me get back to my home, I feel, I may need some companionship to stay safe." Death nodded, as Crypt walked over, and Death moved backwards on Crypt's back, and helped her get onto Crypt. Death then spoke in a very calm tone, "Where do you live miss? My trusted friend here can take us anywhere in the world." The woman was small compared to Death, her height maybe only five feet and a few inches, and she looked to be built to survive, but he could tell she was rich and well fed from her body's condition and her clothing.

"Um, I can guide him, I rather not say out loud here of all places. Also, what is thy name good sir?" She asks, as Death stops, and Crypt simple lets her guide him, as he does go faster then what she expected, and the woman, in a tight corset, and rich noble attire, tried and succeeded in having Crypt slow down, which was a truly a feat for any mortal to do. Death then spoke, "I have but one name, and to tell you would mean to harm you, and that I shall not do." She looks back at him, having to look up with her small round face, and gorgeous green eyes. Death stared into those orbs of green, almost in awe of what they were, the pure color and kind life twinkling inside of them. If only he knew how she saw him, for what she saw was Death's soul, his form revealed to be truly a shadow of life, yet she felt sorry for him.

"Ah, that is alright," The lady exclaimed, "I know, it is rude to ask for your name when we just met, but my name Emily Walker, and it is nice to meet you Sir." Death nods, then sighs, as he whispers into her ear, "I am, Death, but I will not harm you, gifted one." She giggles and sighs, then speaks politely to Death, "Oh I know, I see you for who you are, but may I welcome Death and his Steed to my home?" Crypt nods, and takes off, as Emily is nearly knocked off, if it was not for Death to catch her with a hug. Crypt races to her home, picking it out from her scent of her soul, as Death kept hugging her, even far after Crypt slowed down, as he felt warm again, a feeling he hasn't felt since The Cataclysm.

Emily, Death, and Crypt soon arrive at her home, a sizable mansion in the middle of the woods of England, and as he looked around, he saw many beings of old there, living here with the humans in harmony. He then stayed for dinner, and met many new faces, though whose names only he may recall, and Death decided to remain there for a while. However, a while turned into weeks, then months, then several months. Soon, Death was always there, talking to the half-fea witch Emily, her Father Charles, and her mother Madison. Death never felt happier then with Emily and her family, her friends, and he felt like this could never end. But oh boy, how wrong he was.

As Death and Emily got closer, so did Life, and she was worried about them both. For she knows not what may happen if he tried to make life with Emily, and she felt worried and scared, as she should have been. Years later, Emily and Death, who had by now been given the name Xavier by her, married, and bedded each other. Then Emily became sick, so bad she would either die before, or during childbirth. Her family was so enraged, they forced Death away, banishing him with an ancient curse, and kicked him and his Steed into the river, then passed it. Death could not even try to help her, or be with her, as Emily did indeed die, but...unknown to Xavier, she survived long enough for Life to help her give birth, to triplets, two boys, and a girl. All of them shared his powers of magic, his amber eyes, and only the girl had a hint of green in her eyes. Emily then made life promise her, to take Death back and to keep him safe, and to help him now more than ever. Life agreed to, and then blessed each child with great blessings, and then, Life went to help Death, as Emily's soul passed into his domain, and was worshiped as the only mortal to make Death feel warmth.

Death was by the river still, crying into it, as he looked helplessly at the estate, and wished to help his lover and wife, his friend, pass on, to apologize, to take back his curse of death. However, Life soon found him, and comforted him, as she spoke, "You know, she will be reborn one day, as will her children, they shall be reincarnated to be your aids, to help you and I, and to help all alive find balance."

Death sighs, "I am not worthy to have you touch me." She then scoffs, and pulls him into a hug, as she takes on the form of a woman, though insanely tall, motherly in body, and with hair like vines and skin like the earth. Life then spoke softly, "I think my Shadow needs a hug, and to know, his wife loved him as much as I do, even more than I could ever. So, now let us go and spread her legend, make it known, she was one of the only beings to make you happy my old friend." Death sighed, and refused to move, and thus they sit there, for weeks, till Death finally fell asleep, and Life took him and Crypt back to her domain, to rest and recover.

------Time Skip------

Eventually, Death and Life went back to their cycle, though Death often tried to slow it down, as did life, and they cared for the Walkers and those they protected. Neither knew that Emily's children, who were named Martin, Theodore, and Alexandria, would become revolutionaries and help protect supernaturals, beings of magic and myth, from the shadows. However, they soon found out, as they watched them grow, live, marry and love many lovers, then die happy and peaceful. Their children and their children's children, and so on and so forth, all lived in the work of protecting supernaturals, being revolutionaries, and working in the shadows with the magics Death had given them. Eventually, they formed an organization known as the Foundation, and Xavier and Life, who took on the name Rachel, both took on mortal forms and names to help them, and often found it pleasant to help this family. Then, one day, on his way to talk to the eldest child of the oldest generation, the powerful witch-alien Madison Walker, Death stumbled upon a soul he has never seen here, a bright shining one, nearly as bright as the Alicorns, sitting in the cold, fading fast. Xavier, instead of wanting to save this being to study, saw she was going to die, and recalled the last time he saved someone, he saw Emily's ghostly form over this bacon-haired girl. with tan skin and clothing not suited for this night.

Xavier, right then and there, spoke to his old lover, "You always knew I couldn't resist your presence." With that, Xavier landed, and saved an unknown alien of the human world from his grasp, all the while, knowing his love wished him to help her, as this was his chance, to be a father figure to someone, and he took this with stride and passion.

And thus we know a part of why Xavier saved Sunset, and his past in greater detail. However, what makes Sunset's soul so strong, who is Madison, what is this Foundation, and more importantly, what ever happened to Crypt, Discord, and the lone Alicorn who conquered her darkness? Oh, do wait, for those tales I shall tell, another time. Good night or day, and may you all enjoy yet another story from..... Once Upon a Time.

How the Shadows Found a Purpose

Long Ago, in ancient times when men feared the darkness, Life and Death watched over the day and night, though as life grew more complex, they gave this power to other deities. However, only the Goddess of the Moon watched the night and often took time off to be with her followers in person and hunt with her sisterhood. Unknown to them all, humanity's fear of the darkness and what lay within did something, unique.

After only a couple of decades since humanity began to fear the dark and become more civilized in nations and with worship, the Darkness felt more, dangerous. Every New Moon small settlements vanished and cities were left still. Creatures of magic, vampires, and other beings were blamed, though in these ancient times that wasn't so odd. What was odd was that every Lunar Eclipse, when the Moon turned red, and when the Goddess became Spiteful of humanity for their crimes in her night, that was when Death noticed it.

The number of souls his youthful reapers had to collect was insane, and some reapers couldn't find souls lost in the darkness. The shadows themselves seemed to be alive, and halted them from doing their jobs. Death wondered what this was, and sent his best Reaper to handle this. The Collector was the oldest Reaper, a human man who was murdered for the valuables and goods he traded. He was soon sent out to find the one stopping souls from reaching their end and a new beginning.

Thus Collector took to the darkest winter night of the land and found an unnerving sight. The shadows moved in a mass, snuffing out fire and light, as humans hid and flee, only to be taken in it like the others. Collector landed, and drew out his weapon, a simple scythe used to reap grain, a tool the humans use to live, he uses to help them begin anew.

The shadows came at him, and so he fought them off, easily as he was a collector of many things. One of these things was a drop of Sunlight from the God of the Sun himself. This light cast the shadows back and trapped them inside of a small hut, as the Collector used his powers, and grabbed onto the shadows, collecting them up into a jar he found, trapping them. However, when he closed it up, suddenly the night's darkness vanished, into a twilight state, as if all the darkness and shadows of the world vanished.

This brought the attention of the Angels, and three came to the Collector, who told them of the shadow being and him capturing it. They then realized that this was a new god in a sense, the god of shadows, and they must teach it the ways of their duties and processes. Thus, they name the being Darkness, and freed them, knowing its name letting them control it, and help guide it safely.

Darkness however never liked the Collector, or the Angels, but preferred the reapers and supernatural who lived with it. However, it still hunted and claimed souls. Until the day Death called for him into his domain.

Darkness walked into the Shadowlands of Death, a place welcoming to him. The Library was not, for it was newly made of Moonlight, Magic, and Knowledge, growing with the knowledge of all living things. He disregarded it, and the fallen souls helping here. They are but his prey, delicious and empowering and nothing more. He arrives at the desk of Death, who stands there, tall and imposing as he looks at him.

"You still hunt I see, every night 10 souls are lost. What do you think you do? Destroying her creations? If you not made by humanity and their fears I would show little restraint in correcting you." He begins, before sitting down and sighing, "But you are born to prey upon them, though how you do it is my problem."

"WELL, They are fools to believe light can save me, and none worship me by name, only by the other begins under me. I have been here far longer than many, and I am due to offerings I deserve." He says, holding his ground, unafraid of death. Death looks him down with glowing eyes, the dark mask of patience cracking.

"You...deserve anything? What do you deserve if you kill and take? Obedience and Respect are needed first before you are given anything child. You kill these creations and hurt Life herself, harm her vision. You are nothing more than a parasite to this world and its order." He shouts, echoing as his voice carries force beyond Darkness's own, but still, he holds firm.

"I was not made by her, I am made by humanity, they shall suffer than for making me wish to kill and harm, wish to allow the evil to get close, to blind and take them in the night. Their Moon is their only grace from me, and why should I not take advantage of nights where she turns her back? Their torment and pain fuel me." Death looks on, before he sighs, and pinches his brow.

Darkness watches on, before Death speaks softly, "you lack to know what it is like, to be like them. You lack understanding and that is the problem. You fear the light and do not see what they do without your darkness. I have an offer for your child. You accept a gift, and walk the world like mortals do, in the light, and the night. See what they do, and why, they fear yet respect you, and maybe you shall respect them."

Darkness ponders this, his unconfirmed shadows dance, and soon he finds this enticing enough to accept. "Very well then, but if you are wrong, every time the night outlasts the day, it shall be a new moon, and I shall roam it free." He offers, as Death chuckles. "Deal," he says, as both shake, and Darkness grunts and shifts, his form becoming condensed. A head, arms, and legs form from his shadows in pale skin. He can feel his dark power is contained, and Death soon snaps, as Darkness stands now before a small city in the morning, and has clothing and a small tablet of writing on it.

Darkness scoffs, as it shows he is a trader and has a small cart of goods. Soon he figures out how to move it, and begins to head inside. He is amazed at how many beings can live here, humans, ents, mages, everything is so, different here. This city has blazing torches never dying and guards well armed with Bronze tools. He walks and is given shiny metal things for goods, and finds this to be, silly and yet funny. He soon finds these humans not too stupid as he thought, though also smelly and weird. He feels hungry and confused until a woman with brown hair and green eyes walks over to him.

"Hello, stranger, you selling those bricks? I need some for my home." The dark-skinned lady says as Darkness blinks. 'Uh..yeah sorry, just, pain." He says, holding his midsection. She blinks, and then chuckles, "Here, I'll cook you some food, come." She says, as he blinks, not sure what food is, but reluctant and wanting the pain to leave, he follows. Soon he walks into a home with several folks making, weird things from the flesh of animals and plants. It smells, weird and they use fire to make these things.

He soon is told by her, whose name is Anatu, that this is making food. He soon begins to eat some food and finds it delicious. He spends his time during the day with her before at night they go to sleep, but he wanders. Guards talk to him, and seem not afraid of him, though soon beasts of the night attack, though many mages cast spells and fighters battle them, he sees one rush in, a main with twin blades and a scar along his face. He uses the darkness to hide and attack from the flanks of the enemy, along with many folks with spears and shields.

Darkness smiles at this, and helps, as he feels some power here, and casts out from himself, a long black rope, which wraps around the alpha of this pack, and entraps it, allowing them to pick him off and kill the alpha, making the pack flee. The guards and mages thank him, though soon grow weary of him, until he talks to them more.

This continues for days, him helping folks and living as mortals do until he is asked to help the guards hunt down a dragon, who endangers their lands, to which Anatu worries for him, but he tells her he will be fine. However, upon this hunt the ones there are actually enemies of the city, and it is a trap. They ambush them in darkness, but that is his domain. He knows it, and soon speaks, "You wish to attack us...ATTACK ME. YOU VILE BEINGS SHOULD BE WEARY OF WHAT LURKS IN THE DARKNESS." He says as he calls forth the alpha whose soul he stole, and released upon them.

Their victory came at a cost, as they soon saw in the light of dawn their city burning, left in ruins. They fell upon the straggling enemies and found many survivors, and Darkness found Anatu, dying and being taken from him. He felt pain, in his deepest part. Collector walked over, and put a hand on his shoulder, as he spoke. "You two will meet again, as you walk among mortals, you can find her again, reborn as all shall be." He states as Darkness holds her close.

"Is this my lesson? Being human is pain?" He asks, but Collector shakes his head. "No, it is that maybe one day, folks will use your darkness for good, just wait, and you'll see." He says in both parts, Darkness helps bury the dead, and Collector guides them all to their next life. The soldiers with Darkness asked him what to do, as his divinity returned to him. He looked at his friend, the warlock, and speaks. "Join me in a grand march, against those who destroyed our homes. With new tools and weapons let us descend upon them and make those who did this pay. But do not butcher or maim, for, in the dark of the night, justice shall be given." He says as they all raise their weapons with him.

On that evening, each man and woman was given a piece of Darkness' power and became his fury. They transformed into beasts and dark beings, with nightmarish faces and abilities. Darkness led them against the attackers, traveling along the lands, but not like monsters. No, like fury they sought out and killed criminals or evil beings, and soon formed the race known as the Nightdwellers. Over eons Darkness helped and saw what Death promised, humanity changed accepting the darkness and using it for both good and evil. He saw armies fallen by ambushes, robbers, and murders stack the streets with guards and supernatural. He saw how humanity is so complex, and yet neverendingly silly in its behaviors and fears.

Thus Darkness decided to love his silly creators, and accept them as they are, becoming humble and wandering the world as a living god in disguise. However, one day, the Foundation asked him for help, and he came to them. He arrived in the year 2017, nearly fall, his favorite time, to find them all freaking out, as a group of young girls sat together, with chaotic powers flowering through them.

He recognized the green eyes and presence of his long-lost friend, and smiled. "I finally found you Anatu, and your wonderful." He says as he walks into the room to help them all.

Author's Note

OKAY...So this was a spur-of-the-moment chapter for insight on one minor character in Shimmering Hope, not very well made probably. Just a rough, weird thing I made with no plan. Is it canon? Maybe?

Should it help you all understand the backstory? I hope. But it is just for fun. So enjoy it.

The Tale of the Kind Crow

Long Ago, in the dark ages of the world, often believed in the gods or higher powers of salvation or comfort. It was true these beings existed, but not many cared or could help the poor mortals. Yet, one Goddess, the Maiden of Death, the caretaker of all lost souls, decided to try and help those she could, with her flock of caring crows. This is where in Equestrian Myth where the crow comes from. A cloaked watcher and keeper of secrets, who guide the souls of the lost.

Yet, one of her crows sought out where the souls go, and the beings who helped them fight off the beings of the spirit world and claim the restless dead. He flew along the spiritual paths the dead must take and for a time he found not a single sign of where the dead go until he found a beast of a being soaked in blood, violence within his heart, and the champion of his maker standing before an unknown river. The crow, curious about the river, looked in and saw his reflection.

His eyes were like stars, and wings of rainbows, his confusion was clear, as the warrior spoke. "This is the river of the dead, it leads into the lands of the souls and hallowed world. Best not get too close crow." He warned as the Champion nodded, and both soon tossed offerings into the river, which were carried by it. Both soon parted with farewells, but the crow was transfixed by the reflection.

"That can not be me I see," he spoke, as he checked himself over, in awe of colors he could not see on his wings. He then spent many days coming back to the river, staring and admiring his beauty and colors, before he realized he was not alone. A little pony, a pegasus with a white mane and teal coat, watched him, as she seemed to find his behavior funny. He did not really care and kept admiring himself.

However, over the days, he noticed more folks gathered as if waiting for something, all pale and sad, but seemed to be merry and smile when he came around. Confused, he soon landed on a branch by a stallion, and asked, "Why do you all gather here?" He asks as the stallion speaks. "We come to see our loved ones, every year when the sun is dark, they come out and we say hello." He says as the crow speaks. "But you know you can not get too close right?"

The stallion nods, as he speaks, "We know, we sit by the edge, wave to them, and toss gifts to them all, but none make it over the river." He says as they see the little filly, waiting by the water, as the stallion sighs, "Some here only get to see loved ones this way, and we all hope one day to give them something to know we miss them." He says and trots off to the filly, who cries.

The crow, confused, asked more questions, and soon had an idea in mind, and upon the day of the darkening sun, when the spirits began to be visible on the other side of the river, he told all present his plan. "Put all your gifts in this basket, and I'll fly across to them, and fly back to pick up more. That way, the gifts will make it." The many ponies and others present agreed, and loaded his basket up, before he took flight, struggling but managing to fly to the other side, and soon set down, as the dead thanked him, and were finally able to see their gifts.

He did this two times before the sun was shining through, and he was on the other side when a pale mare spoke to him. "Give this, to my daughter, oh crow." *She held out, a letter, as the crow looked up, and took it carefully, before flying off. As he was trying to cross, he saw the others begin to become blurs, and pain wrapped through him, his inky blackness peeled away, as he pushed against a force he could not see. Soon, he freed himself, a shining rainbow of colors, as flames ignited around him, and he landed in front of the filly and gifted her the letter.

The folks were in awe, as he defied death, even as a mere crow, a mortal being made by a god though, he cheated death, and now the fiery rainbow of life adorned his wings. He looked back in the water and saw eyes stare at him before the pale filly thanked him, and they welcomed him to their village. Soon, other crows came to help them, and thus, the rainbow crows, soon called Phoenixes, were brought forth to the world.

Celestia closed the book, as she looked at the sleeping pony beside her. The fiery mane and coat of the young filly, who lost so much, reminded her of the story. Philomena rests nearby, as the Solar Monarch spreads a wing over the young student and sighs. "I wonder if you will carry such burdens as I or the crow my student. If so, I only hope you can bear them. Sleep well Sunset." She says, as she gets ready to do some work, as she sadly can not afford to sleep, after all.

The sun never rests, nor can she.

Author's Note

Just a fun little idea I had come up with. Hope you all enjoy it.

Does it link back up to Shimmering Hope? Maybe, or maybe it can is just to tell everyone, the burdens you carry, and the struggle you go through, can better you, if you let them, and make you amazing. You just gotta see it in yourself.

Be good to each other everyone.