Another eight years had passed, with nary a worry about Poppy Blanch. Shady Crest would still occasionally send correspondence to Luna every few months, with updates on the young stallion and his wife. Apparently the wedding was lovely, and although Poppy did not expect Luna to make an appearance, the former Princess of the Night was still missed. He apparently made a toast to her, as his first ever friend that he met in his dreams, and who gave him the strength to make a new life for himself. She appreciated that.

Ironically, the newlyweds went on to purchase the land that Poppy had been raised on. There, they built a handsome new home and forged new, happy memories in it. They would go on to have a daughter together, and spend the next several years as a picture-perfect suburban family against all expectations.

Which only made the letter that arrived one morning all the more shocking.

Celesita hadn’t seen her sister in such a frenzy in years, but when Luna explained the situation, the elder sibling understood. Luna left immediately after, not bothering to wait for a chariot. She began the flight across the continent, alone. She needed to see for herself.

She arrived in Baltimare the next day, exhausted beyond words, but unflinching in her conviction. She still did not believe the letter. Surely it had to be wrong. Surely things could not have gone so, so wrong.

Luna crossed the town, ignoring the awed stares and whispers around her. She knew from past correspondence where to go to find Poppy Blanch’s home, and it did not take her long to arrive there either.

Shady Crest was right. The house was lovely. More importantly, there was a moving truck outside the house, as well as workers hauling out furniture and loading it into the back. Just as she suspected, the letter had taken many days to arrive at Silver Shoals.

Outside the front of the house was a familiar-looking green mare with blue eyes and a yellow mane. When the mare saw Luna approaching, her eyes went wide with shock and horror.

“Jade Brook,” said Luna plainly. It wasn’t a question, she knew who the mare was.

“P-princess Luna. You-” the mare stumbled on her words, tears forming in her eyes, “You really came. He said you would.”

“Please, just Luna. I am no princess anymore.” She paused, before asking, “I assume that it’s true then? Poppy Blanch has passed away?”

The mare nodded slowly, trying her best not to become overwhelmed with emotion. “I- I still don’t understand why he did it. We were so happy together.”

Luna knew Poppy Blanch well enough to know that likely wasn’t true, but she didn’t dare mention this to the grieving widow. “I’m sorry. I wish there was something I could have done. Is your foal well?”

Jade took a deep breath, wiping the tears from her eyes. “She’s fine, she’s- She’s with my parents. She’s too young to understand right now, so she thinks that her father is just on a trip.” The young mare bit her lip so hard that Luna feared it would bleed. “I don’t know how I’m going to tell her when she’s older.”

Luna wasn’t sure what to say. She looked past Jade Brook at the half-empty home behind her. The workers had apparently sensed the imminent drama, and wisely decided to take a break from their work, clearing out of the house.

“He left a letter for you,” said the green mare finally. “He wrote one for me too, but he didn’t explain very much in it. It was mostly apologies and vague explanations, but he asked me to make sure not to read yours. He said it was for your eyes only.” She seemed almost frustrated as she said it, and it was as she took the letter out from a saddlebag and handed it to Luna that the alicorn understood why.

It was addressed to “Princess Luna, My First Friend.”

Luna felt her heart clench, as she read that. She looked back at Jade Brook, who seemed to be reigning in her emotions. After a moment, she asked, “How did he die, if I might ask?”

What little composure Jade had cracked at the question, as she half-cried-half-gagged at the memory. “I… I can’t even describe it to you. I found him in the basement, and- Sweet Celestia, there was blood everywhere. They still haven’t managed to get the stains out! I just can’t understand how I didn’t hear him screaming…”

Luna pursed her lips grimly. Holding the letter in her magic, Luna stepped past the widow and headed inside. When she wasn’t stopped, she looked for the stairs down to the basement. When she arrived at the bottom, she found what Jade had meant.

A massive dark stain spanned half of the floor, and for the first time in nearly a decade, Luna recalled the fields of red that she witnessed in the mind of Poppy Blanch. She could only imagine what he did to himself down here, though she was certain that at the very least, he did not scream. He never seemed the type to flinch at pain.

It was only after surveying the basement that Luna finally opened the letter. Unfolding it, she found that it was neatly penned with careful, deliberate precision atypical of an Earth pony. She could tell that Poppy had taken a long time to write it out.

Dear Princess Luna,

I’m sorry that it had to come to this. I’m sorry that you have to read this. More than that, I’m sorry that I couldn’t have been stronger. I think you understand, though. You were the only other pony who had ever seen my dreams. You knew exactly what sort of sickness I carried with me. I think you already know what I’m about to say next, but I need to say it anyway.

It was no mistake that I killed that rabbit as a foal. I knew what I was doing. I crushed it to death, and I loved every second of it. My parents already kept me hidden away from the world, but when they found me covered in blood with a dead rabbit, they treated me worse than ever. I always wished they were better parents, but I couldn't fault them for their reaction.

I still killed them, though. I slit their throats while they slept, and then I tore them apart. I burned down my home, and pretended it was an accident. I was a young colt, scared and hungry, so when the townsfolk found me, of course they believed me. When I told them what my parents did to me, it only made it easier. I wish I could say I regret it, I really do. But I don’t.

I am sorry that I lied to you about it before, but I don’t think I could have handled your disappointment then. I’m only coming clean now, because I know I won’t be there to see it on your face. It hurts to imagine what you must look like right now, but that’s better than seeing it for real.

As for why I’ve decided to end my own life… It’s because I can’t keep dreaming anymore. I can’t stand it. Every night, I kill my wife and child. Every night I do unspeakable things to them both, and I enjoy every moment of it. It was easy when they weren’t ponies I knew, but it’s different when they're ponies I love. Even now, as I write this, I’m resisting the urge to go back upstairs and well, I think you get the picture.

I believed you back then, when you told me that I was a good pony. I doubted it sometimes, because I know good ponies don’t do bad things and then lie about them. But I think you always knew about those things, and you said it anyway. You always believed I was better than my urges. So before they can make me hurt anypony else, I’m going to take one last life. The life of the worst pony I know.

Thank you again, Princess. For being my friend.

Your friend,
Poppy Blanch

Author's Note

This story is dedicated to everyone who has ever had dreams that they didn't want.