Dreams, Nightmares, and Friendships

“-and then, out of just absolutely nowhere and to my extreme luck, Darkrai suddenly came along and the brown stallion was sent packing with his tail between his legs faster than Opalescence running after her favorite toy!” The five other mares stared at their friend, and the silence was broken only by Fluttershy’s quiet sip of her tea.

“Wow, that really happened?” Twilight asked in bewilderment, stealing a glance at the black stallion that she had found passed out on the floor, not five feet away from the couch. She had been too fearful to move him lest he wake, and now she felt bad for it. He HAD said that he was fine with sleeping where he could, but still. A cold wooden floor probably didn’t offer much, if any, comfort at all.

“It did; what I can’t figure out is why he couldn’t muster up the strength to make it all the way to the couch.” Rarity joked, but still looking a bit concerned.

“You say he just passed out?” Fluttershy asked quietly. Twilight nodded.

“I have to admit I’m concerned, but maybe he was just really tired.” She said, sounding more like she was trying to convince herself than the others.

“Hmm…maybe; I still have to figure out how to thank him for saving me. Who knows what that volatile brute would’ve done if Darkrai hadn’t shown up when he did- Spike, what’re you doing?” The girls turned towards Spike, who was currently sitting near Darkrai and staring at the collar of rubies surrounded the black Pegasus stallion’s neck.

“I’m just wondering what these are, and if they’re rubies then can I eat them?” The baby dragon said, pointing to them curiously. Rarity shrugged.

“You probably shouldn’t Spike, that necklace may be important to him. Anyways…oh by the way; Rainbow, are you really going to send him off when he wakes up?” She said, turning her attention back to the mare in question. Rainbow frowned and stared at Darkrai’s peacefully sleeping form.

“Well…I dunno. Something about him seems off, but he did help you out last night…so no. Only if he wants to leave.” She said thoughtfully. Rarity smiled gratefully.

“But if he’s gonna stay here, where will he stay, and work fer that matter?” Applejack asked. Rarity thought for a moment.

“He can’t stay here; I’m not exactly a piggy bank filled with money.” Twilight said regretfully. Rainbow Dash shrugged.

“Hey I’m not having that creepy dude in my house. As much as I might be grateful that he helped out Rarity, I still don’t completely trust him.” She said, crossing her forelegs.

“The cakes might like him.” Pinkie Pie suggested. Twilight let her ears fall.

“Actually, I don’t think…Darkrai doesn’t really seem like the type to love sugar as much as you do.” She said gently. Pinkie Pie tilted her head.

“Why wouldn’t he like sugary sweet stuff like cupcakes and cookies?” She asked. Twilight stole another glance at Darkrai and shrugged.

“Er…anyways, he might be able tah sleep at Sweet Apple Acres, but that still doesn’t cover where he’d work at.” Applejack commented.

“I know he won’t be working at Sugar Cube corner, and he can’t work here since I already have Owlowiscious and Spike; it’d just make them both feel a bit jealous. Applejack, might you be able to offer him some work?” Twilight asked. Applejack frowned.

“Sorry Twi an’ ah mean no offense at all to the type of pony but Pegasi aren’t the most well-muscled in terms of farmin’ an’ such.”

“Girls?”

“Hey what’s that supposed to mean?” Rainbow asked indignantly. Applejack held her hooves up.

“Ah’m just sayin’ that earth ponies are best suited to physical labor like apple-bucking!” She said.

“Um, girls?”

“Just because you guys are the BEST at it doesn’t mean that Pegasi can’t be GOOD at it!” Rainbow said, tapping her hoof against the table.

“Well ah never said that! Ah just said that Pegasi should stick to the skies!” Applejack said defensively.

“GIRLS! He’s gone.” Fluttershy suddenly snapped, then returned to her normal volume. All six turned towards where the Pegasus stallion had been, to find the spot empty. The door swung open, and, as if to mock the ponies for not noticing, a breeze blew in.

“Where could he have gone?” Rarity asked.

“Maybe he left? Y’know, cuz he said he would leave come morning.” Twilight suggested.

“Well that simply won’t do. By the way, I can offer him a job at Carousel Boutique. I’ve been in need of an assistant for a while now.” Rarity said as she trotted out of the door. Looking around she spotted Lyra and Bon-Bon walking by and called out to them.

“Hello ladies, if it isn’t too much bother, could you tell me if you saw a black Pegasus stallion go by?” She asked. Lyra smiled and nodded.

“Oh him? Yea, he walked by us. I actually asked who he was. Though he wouldn’t tell me, he asked where you guys had been last night. Do you know him?” She asked. Rarity nodded.

“Yes; thank you two, you’ve been a big help!” She said. Lyra smiled and with that she and Bon-Bon walked away, saying two quick farewells as Rarity turned towards the pathway that would take them to where they had met Darkrai last night.

“So where is he?” Rainbow asked as she caught up.

“Well he’s headed towards where we were last night.” Rarity responded in confusion as the rest of the girls joined them.

“Why would he go there?” Fluttershy asked.

“Maybe he recovered some of his memories? I remember once reading a book about amnesia, and it said that sometimes amnesia wears off gradually, sometimes abruptly, or sometimes it never goes away. It really depends on the severity of the mental or cranial trauma.” Twilight said knowledgably.

“So…Darkrai went to where we met him to try and remember something?” Rainbow asked. Twilight nodded and Rainbow tilted her head.

“Well that doesn’t make sense.” She muttered.

~-~-~

“Dark Void, Ice Beam, Rest, Hidden Power, Dark Void, Ice Beam, Rest, Hidden Power…” Twilight tilted her head as she watched the Pegasus stallion pace back and forth, chanting the same thing over and over again.

“What do you think he’s mumbling about?” Fluttershy asked timidly, intimidated by the slightly angry look on Darkrai’s face. The stallion suddenly jerked to the side and began gasping for air.

“Goodness me what do you think is wrong with him?” Rarity asked.

“Maybe he’s loco in the coco.” Pinkie commented.

“Pinkie I assure you that Darkrai is not…loco in the coco.” Rarity quickly rebuked. With that she stood up.

“Why don’t we just ask him?” She suggested. Everyone watched apprehensively as she strode out of the bushes.

“Darkrai, dear-” The stallion instantly froze and began shaking uncontrollably.

“Darkrai?” Rarity tried gently. Darkrai still did nothing and Rarity walked up and tapped his shoulder nervously.

“Are you okay?” She asked. Suddenly she noticed something. Perking her ears, she managed to catch something he was whispering.

“The darkness in your heart must be destroyed! If I cannot rid you of it, I will rid this world of you!” Rarity’s eyes widened and, now fearful, she nudged Darkrai’s shoulder and he suddenly shrieked, reeled backwards, and ended up on his stomach, gasping for air as if he had been underwater the whole time. This time the other girls all came out as Rarity blinked.

“Are you alright Darkrai?” Fluttershy asked worriedly.

“…f…I’m…I h-honestly do not…k-know…” The black stallion moaned.

“Do you remember anything of what just happened?” Rarity asked. Darkrai shook his head.

“The last thing I remember is going back to Twilight Sparkle’s library.” He muttered. Rarity cast a brief glance at Twilight then looked back at Darkrai.

“Very well then; come on, after what just happened I’d like to get a nice cup of hot tea.” She said. As the ponies left the scene, Rarity trailed behind. The words that Darkrai had spoken while in that state of…nonresponsiveness…it deeply troubled her. Did those phrases come from the mouth of another, or was he the one who had originally spoken them? And if they were directed at him and had not been emitted by him, did that mean that if he recovered his memory he would become evil?

Sweetie Bell smiled as she heard the door open and rushed downstairs, only to pause when hearing Rarity’s voice.

“I’m afraid I don’t have somewhere to sleep for you just yet, but I can assure you that the pay will at least be good.”

“I find myself hardly caring about where I sleep anyways.” Sweetie Bell tilted her head at the new voice. She’d never heard a voice like that before.

“Rarity is somepony with y- oh whoa…” As soon as she turned the corner she was met with the sight of a rather majestic looking black Pegasus stallion with large wings, a white mane and tail, sky blue eyes that almost seemed to glow, and an odd almost collar-like necklace made of large rubies. Rarity looked over her shoulder and smiled gleefully at the sight of her little sister.

“Ah Sweetie Bell! I was hoping you’d be here! I’d like to introduce a new friend of mine. Sweetie Bell, this is Darkrai. Darkrai, this is my younger sister Sweetie Bell.” Sweetie Bell felt herself grow slightly nervous. This stallion was absolutely magnificent! What if he didn’t like her?! She only tensed up more as the stallion turned towards her, but her fears were suddenly calmed when he smiled and bowed his head to her.

“It is an honor to meet you, Sweetie Bell.” He said. Sweetie Bell smiled back at him and nodded.

“You too, Mr. Darkrai!” She said politely.

“Anyways Sweetie Bell, I’d like you to know that Darkrai will be working here at Carousel Boutique for the time being. Or at least until he has enough bits to pay for his own house.” Rarity said, stealing a glance at Darkrai. He nodded.

“Indeed; however, I must be on my way. I should probably explore the town a little.” He said, turning towards the door. Rarity nodded and turned to do whatever it was she wanted to do. Sweetie Bell gulped before trotting forward and catching Darkrai’s tail.

“Would it be alright if I came too? I can introduce you to a few ponies!” She said happily, yet on the inside she was ragingly nervous. Darkrai smiled.

“Who am I to deny such a bright young filly? It would be my honor if you were to show me around town.” He said. Sweetie Bell grinned happily and led the dark coated stallion out.