Author's Note

my people how have you been doing hope all is well I’m freezing my balls off it’s 15 degrees right now where I live until next time

Kurayami o tanoshimu/ revel in the darkness

I’M NOT THAT BAD PART 2

(Twilight 1st pov)
To say I was excited this morning would be an understatement. After breakfast, Sureiya had set up a time for our Q&A session, and I was currently on my way there. I was being escorted by two of his elite warriors—both from what he called the Demi-Monster race. They were Kijans, which I’d been told were an evolved form of ogres with incredible magic potential.

If I remembered correctly, their names were Benimaru and Souei. The walk was quiet and a little awkward, so—against my better judgment—I decided to try breaking the ice.
“Umm… so, how long have you two been Kijans?” I asked hesitantly, inwardly cringing at myself.

Both of them raised an eyebrow, glancing at me curiously.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to sound rude,” I added quickly, ears folding back as I looked down. “It’s just… from what I’ve been told, Kijans are an evolved species of ogres. I was just curious, have you two been Kijans for long, or…?” My voice trailed off under their continued gaze.

I prepared myself for silence and felt a bit embarrassed for trying to make conversation. But to my surprise, Benimaru spoke, a small smile appearing on his face.
“We’ve been Kijans for a little over a week now,” he said. “When we first met Lord Sureiya, we were just ogres. Thanks to him, we were able to evolve. In fact, most of the others here evolved because of him.”

“Wow, that’s… incredible,” I replied, scratching the back of my head. “I mean, after the one-sided beatdown we got, I guess that should’ve been obvious, huh?” I laughed sheepishly.

Souei looked at me curiously. “You know, I’m surprised you’re making the effort to talk with us,” he admitted.

“Well,” I began, “I honestly don’t see the whole ‘different species equals evil’ thing. I have a friend back in Ponyville—he’s my number one assistant. He helped me keep the library I lived in organized. Most importantly, though, he’s like a little brother to me… and he’s not even a pony.”

“Is that so?” Benimaru asked, his tone slightly intrigued.

“Yeah,” I said, smiling fondly. “He’s a dragon. Still a teenager, though—only 18. I actually hatched him during my entrance exam for Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.”

Benimaru raised an eyebrow, and Souei’s expression softened slightly as I continued.

“Originally, they were just going to send him back to the Dragon Lands, but no one knew where his egg had come from—it had washed up in a river. So, I decided to take care of him myself. We’ve been together ever since, and… he means the world to me.”

Benimaru nodded thoughtfully. “I see… You are indeed blessed with a kind heart,” he said. “We believe you’re not someone to be judged by your past or circumstances. Lord Sureiya thinks so, too. Perhaps you’ve just been… misled about a lot of things in life, same for your friends .”

His words lingered in the air, and I felt a sense of warmth at their sincerity as we continued walking.

Soon, we arrived at what I assumed was Sureiya’s room. Souei reached out and knocked. A few seconds later, the door opened.

“Well, hello there, Miss Bookworm,” Sureiya greeted me with an easy smile. “I assume you’re here for our little Q&A session?” he asked while stepping aside to let me in.

“Yes, I am! I have so many questions!” I said enthusiastically.

“All right then, let’s get started,” he said before leaning over to whisper something into Benimaru’s ear. Benimaru nodded and walked away.

Sureiya gestured for me to sit down as he took a seat in a chair. I glanced around the room and noticed it was one of the luxurious guest rooms—like the ones Celestia usually reserved for important ambassadors from other kingdoms.

“Okay, I’m pretty sure you’ve still got your notes from the questions I answered earlier at breakfast. So, what else do you have for me?” he asked, crossing his arms across his chest.

“Right! My first question is about your world,” I said, preparing my quill and parchment. “Since you mentioned earlier that you aren’t from our world, what was it like?”

He leaned back in thought, rubbing his chin. “Hmm… There isn’t one word to describe it. Some might call it ordinary, others chaotic. Fascinating at times, but also deeply flawed.”

“Could you elaborate?” I asked.

“Sure. Humans, as a species, are… complicated,” he began. “Don’t get me wrong; we’re big on love, friendship, and community. But we’re also incredibly messy. It doesn’t take much for us to turn on each other. All that harmony we work so hard to build? It’s almost always torn apart by our own hands.”

He looked at me with a serious expression. “My world has faced its fair share of bloodshed—all of it caused by humans, the only sentient and dominant species on the planet. We create most of our problems, usually over petty things.”

I felt my stomach tighten at his words but pressed on. “How so?”

“Well,” he said, leaning forward, “let’s start with how humans divide themselves. You know how ponies are separated by race—unicorns, pegasi, earth ponies, and alicorns?”

I nodded.

“In my world, humans are divided by nationality and skin color. For example, I’m what you’d call African American, or ‘Black,’ because of my skin tone.”

“But you’re not black,” I pointed out. “Your skin is more like chocolate brown.”

He shrugged. “Fair point. I’ve never understood the name myself. All I know is that my ancestors came from a continent called Africa.”

His voice grew quieter. “My race doesn’t have the best history. At one point, nearly my entire race was enslaved.”

I froze, my quill pausing mid-air. Hearing him say that made my heart race. Enslaved? Oh dear Celestia… was that why he took things so personally? Was he still holding onto that pain? Was he—

My panicked thoughts were cut short as Sureiya placed a hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see him watching me with a calm, concerned expression.

“Relax,” he said softly. “That all happened a long time ago—centuries before I was even born. My people overcame it, though it left a pretty big scar on our history. And honestly? That’s not even the worst of it.”

My eyes widened. “Not the worst? How could it get worse than that?”

He sighed. “At one point, my entire world was locked in not one, but two wars. They called them the ‘World Wars.’ During the second one, there was a man named Adolf Hitler. He believed in something called ‘Aryan supremacy,’ which basically meant he thought white Germans were superior to all other races. Anyone who didn’t fit into his ‘perfect world’—especially Jewish people—was, in his eyes, a threat.”

I shivered as he continued. “He led a political group called the Nazis, and their sole purpose became eradicating anyone who didn’t fit into their vision. Millions of innocent people were massacred. By the end of that war, the world had changed forever.”

“By Celestia’s mane, his world has endured horrors the likes of which Equestria has never seen,” I thought, my mind spinning.

“I’m sorry… can we take a break? This is… a lot to take in,” I finally said, my voice shaky.

Sureiya gave me a soft, understanding smile. His black dragon-like wings shifted slightly as he nodded. “Of course. I don’t blame you. My world’s history is dark, but there’s plenty of good in it too. Whenever you’re ready, we can have another Q&A session.”

I nodded silently, still processing. Despite the heaviness of the conversation, I realized something: he wasn’t just a ruthless monster. There was more to him than I’d assumed.

(Sureiya’s POV)

With the session over, I knew my next step. Twilight was starting to see a different side of me, but I needed to reach another pony—Pinkie Pie.

Walking the halls, I hoped fate would help me out, and sure enough, she came around the corner. She stopped abruptly, nearly colliding with me.

“Oh! Sorry about that, Pinkie,” I said, stepping back to give her space.

“It’s fine,” she replied, but her voice was hollow, her demeanor subdued. Her mane, usually so poofy and bright, had deflated slightly. She looked away, avoiding my gaze, and I could feel her unease.

I sighed internally. She didn’t trust me. Not that I blamed her. Considering the circumstances, and everything that has happened, these ponies had every reason to see me as a threat. But I wasn’t here to hurt anyone. I was here to show them I wasn’t the villain they thought I was and that they could do better.

I tried a different approach, offering her a small smile. “Hey, Pinkie, what do you say we make something special for everybody ?”

Her ears twitched slightly, and she looked at me cautiously. “Something special?”

“Yeah,” I said, my tone light and inviting. “An ice cream cake.”

Her head tilted. “Ice cream… cake?”

“You’ve never had one?” I asked, already sensing the answer and not liking it.

She shook her head. “No. I… don’t think so.”

I froze, staring at her like she’d just confessed she’d never laughed in her life. No ice cream cake? How? Why? My brain struggled to process it.

“You’ve never had an ice cream cake?” I repeated, my voice incredulous.

“Nope,” she said, glancing away again, still guarded.

That was it. This was my chance to connect with her. Without another word, I gently scooped her up and slung her over my shoulder.

“Pinkie Pie, this cannot stand. We’re fixing it now.”

“Wait! What are you—?!” she squeaked, but I was already sprinting toward the kitchen, i was going to correct this injustice.

When we arrived, I set her down gently. She wobbled, looking more confused than ever. “What’s going on?”

I gave her my most sincere smile. “Today, I’m going to teach you how to make the greatest dessert my world has ever created: the legendary ice cream cake.”

Her eyes widened slightly, and I could see a flicker of curiosity, though her trust wasn’t fully there yet.

As we started, the kitchen quickly became a mix of chaos and laughter. At first, Pinkie was hesitant, watching me closely as if expecting a trap. But as we worked together, her guard started to lower.

When I handed her the mixing bowl, she accidentally, no fuck that, she purposefully flung ice cream onto my face. I froze, my expression exaggeratedly serious.

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” I said in mock accusation.

Her lips twitched. “Maaaybe…”

“Well then,” I said, grabbing a dollop of whipped cream. “Let me return the favor.” I flicked it at her, and she let out a surprised squeal before laughing—a genuine, lighthearted laugh.

The tension began to melt away as we layered cake and ice cream, decorated with frosting, and added sprinkles. At some point, her mane began to reinflate, her usual bubbly energy creeping back.

When the cake was done, she looked at it with wide, sparkling eyes. “It’s so… perfect!”

“And it’s all thanks to teamwork,” I said, wiping some frosting off my fingers.

Pinkie turned to me, her expression softer now. “You’re… not what I expected.”

I smiled. “I get that a lot. But I promise, Pinkie, I’m not here to hurt anyone. I just want to make things better.”

She stared at me for a moment before nodding. “Okay. I’ll give you a chance.”

As we carried the cake to share with the others, I felt a small sense of pride. For the third time, I felt like I’d taken a real step toward earning their trust. And judging by the way Pinkie was bouncing beside me, I’d say it was a most definitely a step in the right direction.

As we put the ice cream cake in the freezer to keep it cold, the kitchen doors swung open, revealing Souei, who gave a respectful bow. “My lord, we have done as you asked,” he said with quiet confidence.

“Perfect. Please retrieve Twilight for me,” I replied before turning to Pinkie Pie. “Care to join me?” I asked.

Her only response was to somehow magically appear on my shoulders, kicking her legs playfully like a child, a goofy smile plastered across her face.

Shaking my head in amusement, I began walking to my destination. I couldn’t help but think that Pinkie Pie and I were going to get along just fine.

As I left the kitchen and headed toward the throne room, I heard Twilight’s familiar voice behind me. “Umm… Mr. Sureiya, why is Pinkie Pie on your shoulders?”

I turned to see the lavender unicorn staring at us with a mix of confusion and curiosity. From her perch on my shoulders, Pinkie Pie waved enthusiastically.

“Hi, Twilight! Have you ever been up here? It’s so high! Although, given the fact that he’s an inch taller than Princess Luna, I guess it’s to be expected!” Pinkie chirped, clearly enjoying herself.

Twilight’s baffled expression begged for an intervention, so I decided to step in. “Never mind that, Twilight. I’m sure you’re wondering why I summoned you here.”

“Yes… I’m not in trouble, am I?” she asked nervously.

I reached out to gently pat her on the head. “No, you’re not in trouble. There’s just something I want to share with you.”

Twilight tilted her head, curious, as I continued. “One of my unique abilities is having extremely sharp hearing. My hearing is so precise that I can pick up the sound of your heart pumping blood and your lungs expanding as you breathe. It’s also how I can tell when someone is lying to me—I can hear their pulse quicken.”

Twilight’s eyes widened. “But… I haven’t lied to you about anything, I swear!” she said in a panic.

“Easy,” I reassured her. “I know you haven’t. I’m telling you this because I overheard your conversation earlier with Benimaru and Souei about your friend. And… well…”

I trailed off as we reached the doors to the throne room. Pushing them open, I revealed Benimaru and Souei standing on either side of a young dragon.

The dragon stood about 5’10”, his purple scales gleaming in the light. Green spines adorned his back, and light green fins framed his head. He wore a purple hoodie and ripped blue jeans, his emerald-green eyes glancing around nervously—until they landed on Twilight.

“Spike!” Twilight cried, zooming toward the young dragon with a speed that would’ve impressed even Rainbow Dash. She threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.

Spike winced slightly, though the expression quickly melted into joy as he hugged her back. “I’m so glad you’re okay!” Twilight said, her voice full of emotion.

“I’m glad you’re okay too,” Spike replied, his voice tinged with relief. “When I heard about everything that happened… I was scared. I was told that Equestria was… conquered.”

“Well, I wouldn’t exactly say ‘conquered.’ It’s just under temporary new management,” I quipped, stepping closer.

Spike froze, his eyes narrowing as he moved in front of Twilight protectively. “I’ve heard about you. You’re the guy Twilight and the others went off to fight. Don’t you dare get near her!”

I couldn’t help but admire his bravery. Despite his fear, he stood firm, ready to protect someone he cared about. There was potential in this young dragon.

“Spike, it’s okay,” Twilight reassured him. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… he’s not a bad guy. His methods may be a bit… extreme, but he’s shown us how flawed Equestria really was and how blind we were to it.”

Spike blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”

“We’ll talk about it later. For now, you two catch up. We’ll have something special at dinner tonight to celebrate this beautiful moment,” I said warmly.

“Ohhh! So that’s why we made the special dessert!” Pinkie Pie chimed in from her perch on my shoulders, making Spike look up at her in bewilderment.

“Umm… Pinkie?” Spike asked, utterly puzzled.

“Hi, Spike!” Pinkie waved cheerfully.

Spike looked back at Twilight and me, searching for answers. We both just shrugged.

“Right… don’t question it. Just Pinkie being Pinkie,” he muttered to himself. His resigned tone made me chuckle, but I couldn’t help but wonder what it really meant.

“Alright, I’ll leave you two to catch up,” I said, giving them a parting wave. “See you at dinner.”

With that, I turned and headed toward my room, looking forward to catching up on some reading. It had been a long day, but moments like this made everything worthwhile.

One thing was certain—there was something about that Spike kid. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but I could feel his potential. The fact that he was willing to stand up to me, even knowing who I was and what I was capable of, had earned my respect. That kind of courage and determination didn’t come around often.

I knew I could help him become something great; it was just a matter of getting to know him better. If I could figure him out, maybe I could take him under my wing, shape him into something extraordinary.

The thought of having my own apprentice brought a smile to my face. How wonderful that could be. Things were definitely about to get a lot more interesting.