Your Darkness is My Light

 Scarlet awoke with a scream, bolting upright. He pawed at the ground, doing his best to regulate his breathing. A soft voice floated into his subconscious. “The same dream again, Scarlet?”

        The colt looked up, sweating. “It-it was different this time, Shimmer.” He rubbed his head with a foreleg, trying to think.

        Shimmer looked up from her bed, wincing. “How so?”

        Scarlet crawled over to his injured friend. “Well...I dreamed that I wasn't a colt...but a stallion. And that magic didn't just hurt you...it actually killed you.”

        The blue unicorn slowly lifted a hoof to rub Scarlet's mane. “Oh? Anything else?”

        “Well...you were pink with a black mane. You sent me into the future and I had a cutie mark and...” Scarlet shook his head in frustration. “It's just so wrong!” At his scream, Scarlet's horn flashed, teleporting him across the room.

        Shimmer sighed. “Scarlet...you need to relax. It gets worse whenever you are agitated.”

        “I know...” Scarlet grumbled. “It's just...I was shot in the horn...you were cursed. I should have been cursed...”

        Shimmer managed to smile from her bed. “Scarlet...you know they wouldn't have hurt you. I bet the Grand Master is kicking himself for shooting you in the horn.”

        “Wish I could kick him.” Scarlet moved to the center of the cave, sparking the wood there. A light fire rose up, prompting Shimmer to smile.

        “Very good, Scarlet.” She said. “Your Shadow magic is improving everyday.”

        Scarlet ran a hoof through his mane. “That isn't going to matter if I can't figure out Light magic. And if I can't save...” His voice trailed off as he looked down.

        “Come here, Scarlet.” Shimmer ordered. Scarlet did as he was told, sitting next to his friend. “Don't worry about me, okay? I'll be okay.”

        “No, you aren't!” Scarlet retorted, tears springing to his eyes. “You're going to...going to...”

        “Die, yes.” Shimmer sighed and gently pulled Scarlet into a hug. “That's the curse. Neither of us can change it...so let's do what we can, hmm?”

        The young alicorn looked up at her. “What's that?”

        “Well, I'm going to do all I can to make sure you're ready.” Shimmer smiled at him. “Now...do we have any food left?”

        Scarlet shook his head. “No, we don't. We ate the rest of it last night.” Scarlet winced and clutched at his head as a blinding headache rushed through it. “I'll grab more after work...okay? Will you be okay until then? I could go snag something...”

        “Scarlet...” Shimmer glared at the colt, causing him to buckle. “What did I say about stealing?”

        “Only if I have to...” He mumbled.

        Shimmer sighed. “No, I said 'not at all' You know how I feel about it.”

        Scarlet looked up at her, a gleam in his eye. “If you're going to die, Shimmer, I'm taking care of you until it happens. Okay? Stealing or not.” The colt stands up, stretching his small wings and messing up his mane to partly hide his horn. “I'll be back soon, okay?”

        “How safe are you going to be, Scarlet?” Shimmer asked, staring at him.

        Scarlet smiled. “Safer then a dark shadow in the middle of the day.”

        Shimmer's stern look gave way to a smile. “That's my colt. Go on, and I'll see you after work.”

        Scarlet nodded to her, turning toward a giant rock behind him. Sparking his horn, he slowly covered the rock in a black aura. Straining, he managed to shift the rock to the side. When there was enough space for him to slip through, he waved to Shimmer and squeezed through the opening. Shimmer watched as the rock slowly closed.

        The mare moved to lay back down when a flash of pain jolted her body. “Ahh!” Tears sprang to Shimmer's eyes for more reasons than just the pain. “Oh Scarlet...I'm not ready to leave you yet...and you're not ready to lose me.”

…

Scarlet dashed through the city of Manehatten, having used a concentrated spell to reach the city in a timely manner. It had taken a while for the colt to perfect the teleport, and that had only been with Shimmer's help. Scarlet was thankfully able to do it himself, and he wore that accomplishment well.

        Scarlet continued to dash through the streets, aiming for the center of town. He used his agility to dodge past humans and ponies alike, not caring. “Remember...keep my hair in front of my horn...and I'll be okay.” He thought to himself as he ran.

        It didn't take him very long before he reached his job, a massage parlor. Scarlet pushed the doors open and quickly sped into the back before anypony or human saw him. Once in the back room, he scouted around for a small uniform.

        “Darn it, darn it, darn it...” Scarlet mumbled to himself as he opened his locker. “Phew, I did leave it here. Alright...” Scarlet shook his head to reveal his horn and slipped the coat on. The coat hid his wings, making it look like it was an ordinary unicorn. As he shook himself to make sure his wings were fully hidden, his boss walked into the room.

        “Scarlet, there you are!” The large white pegasus yelled, strolling up to him. “On time as usual!”

        “Thanks, Snowflake.” Scarlet replied. “What do I have today?”

        Snowflake rubbed his chin. “That I know of...two humans, three earth ponies...a pegasus and two unicorns. And they both requested horn treatment.”

        Scarlet groaned. “Aww, do I have to? I had to do six of those yesterday! Got really weird.”

        “I know that you don't like them, but you are one of the best here, Scarlet.” Snowflake said. “And you are always paid well for them.”

        Scarlet turned his head away, shutting his locker. “Doesn't make it any less weird...”

        “Chin up.” Snowflake encouraged the young colt. “They're both rather good looking mares.”

        “Snowflake. I'm seven.” Scarlet said with an exasperated look on his face. “I don't care.”

        The large pegasus simply let out a guffaw of laughter. “Don't worry, buddy. You will eventually.” He placed a hoof on Scarlet's shoulder. “Now go on. If you do well, I'll let you off early today.”

        “Wait, really?” Scarlet asked, his eyes lighting up. “I'll go right away!” Excited, the colt dashed out of the back room into the main massage parlor to begin his shift.

…

        “Whoa!” Scarlet moved his head back as the unicorn's horn in front of him lit up, releasing mana. She sighed and leaned her head down.

        “You did very well...” She purred at him. “Wish I could just take you home and keep you.”

        Scarlet sighed inwardly, his face flushing. This hadn't been the first time to hear this, and it was the reason he didn't enjoy massaging horns. Flicking his ears, he decided on his programmed response, “Thank you, ma'am. Will there be anything else?”

        The mare stood up, flicking her blond mane. “No, that's all dear. I'll make sure to put in a good word to your boss.” She rolled off of the bed, winking at Scarlet and walking towards the front.

        Scarlet sighed and stretched his back, feeling tired. There had been more ponies than just the once that Snowflake had told him about that wanted his services, keeping the alicorn from being able to leave early. Scarlet used his entire body to massage, which is why he believed he was popular in the store. But when it came down to it, he only cared about earning money to take care of Shimmer.

        Scarlet hopped onto the ground and trotted into the back room, seeing one of his coworkers back there. “Hey, Sleeping Giant.”

        The purple mare in question glanced at him, nodding. “Hey, Scar. What's with the whole name thing today? Didn't we talk about that?”

        “Sorry.” Scarlet walked to his locker, yawning. “Long day.”

        Giant threw her uniform into her locker, nodding again. “Yeah, but you the most. What do you do to get all those customers?”

        Scarlet shrugged. “I really don't know. I just do what I have to.”

        “Mmm.” Giant shut her locker and glanced around the back room. “Ya know Scarlet, you're so...mysterious.”

        “Huh?” Scarlet asked, a little shakily. “W-what are you talking about?”

        “Well...you always disappear after work...you won't undress with others in the room...” She walked over to the exit, looking out it. “What's your secret, Scarlet?”

        Scarlet shook his head, running a hoof through his mane. “No secrets here. Just your average colt doing what he's gotta do.”

        “Still never gonna understand why he hired a colt...” Sleeping Giant shook her head. “Whatever. I'll see you later, Scarlet. Be safe, alright?”

        “You know it.” Scarlet breathed a sigh of relief as she left the room. He quickly tore his uniform off, throwing it into the locker and slamming it shut. After he finished, he proceeded to hide his horn with his mane, leaving the room and the parlor itself.

        “Alright...” Scarlet said to himself. “I'll grab some food really fast...gotta get back to the cave.” Without a second thought, Scarlet dashed down the road towards the store.

…

        Shimmer quietly dozed in her bed, stirring as she heard a scraping sound. She turned her head just in time to see Scarlet squeeze himself into the cave.

        “I'm back, Shimmer!” The colt happily said, struggling to close the small hole that he had created. “And I got some fruit for us!”

        Shimmer smiled at him, ruffling his mane when he sat next to her. “We haven't had that in a while. What did you get this time?”

        Scarlet beamed at her as he lifted the fruit out with magic. “I got...a banana...some strawberries, and my favorite...”

        “Apples?” Shimmer guessed, hiding a light smirk.

        Scarlet nodded, pulling out two green apples and placing them on the ground. “Yup!”

        “Very nice, Scarlet.” Shimmer said. “Now, what do you want?”

        Scarlet scratched his head. “Well, all I want is the apple, so you can have the rest. You need the food.”

        “Scarlet...” Shimmer started, but was cut off as Scarlet pushed the fruit towards her, taking one of the apples for himself. Knowing that she wasn't going to convince him otherwise, Shimmer shook her head and started to eat.

        “Mmm...” Scarlet hummed to himself as he chomped on his apple. “Yum!”

        Shimmer chuckled to herself as she ate her own food. “Thank you, Scarlet.”

        Scarlet nodded at her, yawning. “Phew...that was a day alright. I kinda feel like sleeping.”

        “Do you have to work tomorrow?” Shimmer asked, wiping her mouth.

        Scarlet shook his head, digging a hole and placing the remnants of their food inside. “Nope. I was given the day off. Lucky me, right?”

        Shimmer nodded, wincing as a flash of pain rushed through her body. “They're getting more frequent...I don't have much time left.” She looked at her young friend busying himself by starting the fire and warming himself up.

        “Something wrong, Shimmer?” Scarlet inquired, noticing the older mare staring at him.

        Shimmer shook her head. “Oh, no. I'm sorry, Scarlet. I was just daydreaming.”

        “You always daydream.” Scarlet said, trotting over and sitting down in front of her.

        Shimmer slowly reached a leg out, ruffling Scarlet's mane. “There's not much I can do, silly. I'm stuck in here all day.”

        The colt batted at Shimmer's hoof, smiling. “Yeah, yeah. Don't worry, I'll get you moving again. Eventually.”

        “Yes, eventually...” Shimmer's voice trailed off as another flash of pain jolted her body. Scarlet did not notice, waving his hooves around like a foal and smiling to himself. “Come on, Scarlet. I bet you're tired, huh?”

        Scarlet yawned in spite of himself. “I guess so. I'll take a quick nap before I go scan the area.” He crawled over to Shimmer, curling up against her like she was his mother. “Night, Shimmer.”

        Shimmer wrapped a leg around him, pulling him closer to herself. “Goodnight, Scarlet.” Scarlet shifted a few times before finally falling asleep. Shimmer laid her head down, sighing to herself. “I'll protect you...for as long as I'm alive.” Slowly closing her eyes, she also drifted into the land of dreams.